Decided to up my Game in the Skincare Stakes! Need help Please!

[BaconAndAvocado]

Until now have only used moisturisers from the likes of Simple, No 7 and Aldi.

Whilst they've done their job I'd like to spend a bit more on a daily moisturiser. I recently trialled some foundation from Clinique and Estée Lauder and was amazed at the difference in quality, compared to my usual stuff.

I'm willing to pay up to £30ish but no more!

I like Clarins moisturisers, but it really depends on your skin type. Are you normal, combo, oily or dry? And is your skin dehydrated?

I like Origins and Lancome. Perhaps you could go round a dept store and ask for samples before commiting to anything?

I'd say my skin is combination. Not sure if its dehydrated!

Think I should have a built in SPF.

Oh, I have thread veins on my cheeks and my pores are getting bigger. Yuck!

What's your cleansing regime?

I also do the cleanser/muslin - it's fab! I use an Avene cleanser which you can get from Boots. This has made a big difference to how bright and lively my skin looks.

Then a serum - still experimenting with these so don't want to recommend yet. Then at night I use Clarins blue orchid oil instead of or as well as my moisturiser as I was very dehydrated and my skin has responded really well. Noticeably less dehydrated. You can get oils for different skin types and I would definitely recommend you look into them as it's had such a noticeable effect for me.

Def try and get samples of any you are interested in before committing.

Also look at a separate SPF - the built in are often too low SPF for summer and may only protect against UVB whereas you need UVA protection as well as those are the ageing rays. I use the Clarins UV Plus SPF40 and have heard good things about Clinique City Block too.

I like decleor. They do some lovely oils and creams. Their excellence eye cream is very good.
QVC often do good deals on their skin care - worth checking them out. They have some good brands. The today's special values are always a bargain and you can send stuff back for a refund within 30 days after you've tried it out.

I also do the cleanser/muslin thing. Use Elemis pro-radiance cream cleanser followed by (at the moment) Estee Lauder's advance night repair and Clarins Blue Orchid Oil. Daytime moisturiser is Elemis pro-marine cream mixed with Dermlaogica's SPF 30 serum.

My skin is much much better than it was a year ago after really paying attention to my skin type and not just relying on things I had used for a few years (am 42)!

So are we talking just a normal muslin/cloth or is there something specific to look out for ?? Do you rinse off the cleanser and then use the cloth or what do you do ???

I just use the ones I used to use to mop up after my babies

Rub cream cleanser on then instead of removing with cotton wool, use a muslin or flannel soaked in hand hot water.

There's more info and some recommended cleansers here

Wow! Thanks all,for the top tips!

I do,have a cleanser and muslin which I occasionally use, though more often than not its a baby wipe, naughty I know!

hmm, well, cleansing is Very Important and baby wipes just don't cut it. Iinadequate cleansing is probably why your pores are getting bigger, doing it properly will repair some of the damage but there;s no way a mosturiser can sort it. TBH, If you wear foundation you really should be double cleansing at night.

But, yeah, back on topic. I tink there;s a lot to be said for the old school light day cream and richer night cream thing.