I'm turning 30 next month, the crapness of my skin is starting to bother me, and I'm considering treating myself with some kind of 'proper' skin treatment. I was wondering if there's anything people rate: a friend recommended IPL photo-rejuvenation, so perhaps something like that.
I'm very pale and freckly, and in the last year or so I just feel my skin has started to look a bit crap: dull complexion, cheeks a bit red. I spent a lot of my early/mid twenties working in Africa, and while I've always applied factor 50 in the morning, I wasn't so great at reapplying and I think there's definitely been an impact. I also have a lot of stomach problems, and am having tests for thyroid problems/PCOS, so think all that may be an issue as well.
Finally, the thing that annoys me the most, is I've started to get '11s:' those frown lines between your brows. This is because of an eye condition, I've v poor sight in one eye and 20/20 in the other so basically I squint when I read: my dad has the same, (eye condition and scary scary frown lines) and he just looks really angry (and opticians say there's nothing I can do about my sight or the squinting except switch to a job where I don't have to use a computer 
). Whatever about looking older,I really don't want to look cross all the time.
So I was wondering if people have any suggestions? I have spent quite a bit on skincare, and while some things make a positive difference (eg estee lauder advanced night repair still makes the small '11s' disappear by morning, though they're back by lunchtime!) I would like to do something up a level. I am totally freaked out by the idea of botox though, or any injectibles of things that stay in your skin. I was wondering about going to a dermatologist, but my skin isn't really 'bad' in the sense that I don't particularly break out, and I don't think I look ten years older or anything, so I don't know if they'd take me seriously.
Any ladies who've had a similar quandary or have any recommendations, would love to hear what's worth spending money on.