My skin looks awful help....

[NotInTheMood]

Its is dull, grey, bumpy, open pores and I am starting to get creases around my eyes. I am 31 years old and eat all the wrong things, I do not exercise and I get late nights!!! So all of the wrong things. How much sleep should I get, does drinking water and excercise work or is it just a myth??? I feel rally yucky in every way as I seem to have fallen into a bad cycle.

Hi Im 31 too and my skin has become dreadful, red spots, oily t zone,patchy red areas, people keep asking me if i feel ok as clearly i look like death warmed up! I eat healthily mostly and sleep a lot (12 hours a night!) due to fibromyalgia so I don't know if more sleep helps or not!

hows your neck? mine is getting deep lines around it and crinkly skin.

sorry to hijack, but if anyone can recommend a decent but gentle moisturiser and eye cream that would be great, i feel a bit confused as to what is worth it when it comes to face creams. I have been using a cheapy one but its a bit too heavy and my eyes go puffy and watery if I use any kind of eye cream.

I think it was Lulu who said 'after 30 you get the skin you deserve' very true, my skin has gone noticeably down hill since the big 3-0! I wish I had taken more care of it in my 20's!

There's a retin-a thread on here.

Failing that, treat yourself to a facial, buy lots of goodies and enjoy.

Yes, of course diet and exercise influence your skin. Buck up your ideas and you'll be glowing in a week!

I have given up on fancy creams nothing seems to work. I just use witch hazel to cleanse and simple to moisturise

I know nothing of fancy creams I am poor and I reject the idea of putting a load of strange chemicals on my skin. Have you tried Bio Oil/Rescue Oil? that minimises blotches.

you can try eating stuff for skin as well Aloe Vera juice is wonderful (wish I could still afford it) and drinking Almond Milk made a clear difference to me.

Ok, first you need to address your diet, plenty of fresh food and no junk.

Then moderate your alcohol intake.

Dont smoke.

Where a high factor sunscreen every day. Even in winter.

Drink 2ltrs of water a day, boring but effective.

Take your makeup off with cleanser and a hot muslin cloth (I use boots muslins cut into 4 pieces), then cleanse again, then apply cream.

It all works but it takes time and commitment.

Whats your budget? are we talking eve lom or boots no7?

Its is dull, grey, bumpy, open pores and I am starting to get creases around my eyes. I am 31 years old and eat all the wrong things, I do not exercise and I get late nights!!! So all of the wrong things.

I think the answers are in your post!

Diet is really important- at least 5 fruit and veg a day, cut out/down on booze- no more than 1 unit a day- ditto caffeine and fizzy junk soft drinks, and sugar- bisggest skin ager of all apart from smoking and sun.

Exercise is needed to boost circulation and get th blood to the skin.

There is no point doing anything with fancy creams until you clean up your lifestyle- and at 31 you should be able to get away with a simple cleanser and a moisturiser with sun screen.

and 7-8 hrs sleep a night.

Oh and there is no need to spend a fortune on skin creams etc- brands like L'Oreal, Boots No 7, Simple and Olay are just as good as the pricey brands.
Just take off make up every night, and use a facial scrub once a week.

Honestly- at your age the less you do to your skin the better. But start eating better- Omega 3 found in oily fish and nuts, and no rubbishy cakes, biccies , etc etc except as treats.

And do some exercise!

Creams and stuff are all well and good - but the best thing to do to get good looking skin is to treat the whole body.

I have crap skin - at times horrible spots, greasy etc. But at the moment, touch wood, it isn't too bad. Not perfect - but good enough.

I have been doing a heck of a lot of exercise - been training for a half marathon this wekend - which requires a good diet, sleep, minimal booze - and I quit fags many years ago.

Try and sort it out from the inside first - drink a lot of water, eat well - good carbs, protein, plus a little fat. Get some exercise in - walk, run - they are free and get you some fresh air.

I don't use anything fancy skin care wise - as I don't believe that they make THAT much difference. Am currently on The Green People cleanser www.greenpeople.co.uk/gentle-cleanse-200ml.aspx and moisturiser www.greenpeople.co.uk/day-solution-spf15-50ml.aspx

Can I just say how fab organic coconut oil is. You can buy it in the supermarket/ health food shops.

It's non-greasy and it's a miracle cream. Morning and night with tinted sunscreen during the day. When I wash, I use a flannel to wash off my face wash; it hels with dry, flaky skin around the nose.

manuka bee venom range has really sorted my skin out as been using a few weeks now

if you are prone to candida..do a candida detox. That can really help your skin.