Idiot's guide please - starting to look after my skin in my 30s?

[pongping]

I've always had really good skin and have never really bothered looking after it at all. Wash and moisturise once a day, then remove makeup with a wipe in the evening if needed.

I only wear very basic makeup about 3x a week - some BB cream, benetint and powder. In the last three years my skin has aged horribly, a combination of hitting my thirties, not looking after it and very poor sleep (have had two children in that period.

I saw a video of myself when DS1 was very small the other day. My skin was freaking luminous :(. Very porcelain and dewy. Now it is rough, congested, puffy and dark-circled eyes, and I've started getting spots again.

I have no clue where to start. Should I have a facial? Take supplements? I don't even know the basics, like what a toner is or which moisturiser to use or if I need a separate night time one etc. Help!

I really recommend heading over to Caroline Hiron's blog, Beautymouth - lots of advice there on routines and skin care. Lisa Eldridge is good for make up advice.

If possible more sleep ( I know!!) and as much water as you can.

For me, a little like you, I hit my mid thirties and suddenly noticed I needed to look after my skin.I keep it simple because I know I would not sustain anymore than I do.

I wouldn't use wipes,I don't think they get everything off.
I use a hot cloth cleanser,you put on a glob and leave it for 2 mins and them using the cloth that comes with it remove with warm water,it really cleanses my skin. I splash with cold water and blot and then put on a moisturiser. I do this morning and night.

Depends on your skin type but thanks to this board,I found products that are affordable and good. I use Soap and Glory unmelt cleanser and La Roche Posay moisturiser.I have sensitive skin.

Im in the same boat - never needed much make up at all until now.
I have just invested in the superdrug vitamin E hot cloth cleanser, the aldi lacura day cream, eye cream and botanics bb cream following recommendations on here - early days but it seems to be helping a bit!
I have always used benefit hoola bronzer anyway and I'm still using that.

My skin suddenly aged once I hit 30, I need more sleep now. Also if you wear makeup double cleanse, I like the liz earl cleanser there are loads of similar products think the results come from the cloth. Wipes alone are no good, I will admit to sometimes removing my makeup with them and then using the liz earl. Mostly I use a cleansing water and cotton wool and then the liz earl. At night I moisturise with an oil, during the day it's important to use a high SPF for your face and worth spending money on. I'm not a fan of the sun and don't have any lines yet, but compared to friends my age who love the sun I do look younger. I think a high SPF is the most important thing. I don't drink or smoke either which must help.

As for makeup bare minerals really suits me, you only need a little bit of product and really need to buff, you also need to moisturise well first. I'm told heavy eye makeup ages me and makes me look tired.

I think that what you eat is the most important thing, lots of oily fish, nuts etc and don't eat low fat and then sleep is the next. Get as much sleep as you can, whenever you can, it really keeps your skin looking young cause of the way the body repairs itself when you sleep. No cream can do anything except topically. Its all about marketing. Sun creams are not good for the skin. A lot of evidence to suggest now that they actually age your skin as all the chemicals in them sink into the skin and the system. Sun is good for us just not at the hottest time of the day.

My skin is looking better than ever now that I'm following Caroline Hirons suggested routine + taking fish oils. I have a 4 month old and in all other ways feel knackered and old so it must help!! I'm 34.

What is Caroline hirons's routine jumping?

Right, I've bought the body shop chamomile cleansing oil she mentioned as a good budget cleanser, and will start using that with a hot flannel.

Jumping, I would also appreciate a quick summary of CH's routine! Does she recommend a particular fish oil? I take cod liver oil but think I could do with an omega 3 supplement.

Rules - I agree. I really need to overhaul my crappy diet.

She recommends Lamberts 1100mg fish oil 2x 3 times/day although I only take 1 x 3 times. I'll be back to link to products/routine in brief that I've been doing in a few mins.

Enough sleep and drinking enough water are the best secrets for good skin!

And, always apply moisturiser to slightly damp skin as it traps the water and doubles the beneficial effect. Also, as you skin dries a bit with age, sometimes tinted moisturiser can look more natural than full on foundation.

I'm fast approaching 50 and all of the above are helping to keep the inevitable ageing skin at bay... for now anyway!

Sleep I can do nothing about :(

Anyone want to have a word with my kids?

I eat salmon, chicken, lots of green leaves, nuts, fruits and seeds and try to not eat too many processed carbs.I eat good quality chocolate. I have always loved my sleep but can get by on very little if I have to. Im very happy with my skin and have few lines or wrinkles. The little ones around my eyes im proud of cause I laugh a lot. My skin is not sagging yet. I use baby wipes at night and morning and a slick of pure coconut oil. I also do face exercises to tone and lift the muscles. People are very surprised when they find out my real age as they think im mid to late 30s.....im actually 52 and have two children. I think that it has a lot to do with genetics and the type of food you have eaten your whole life as every cell in our body is made from the food we eat so you really are what you eat.

OK, on my mobile and I'm not sure how to do links on here so I'll write out things in brief. To start if you google 'Caroline Hirons routine cheat sheet' it should tell you everything you need. Will be honest that ive spent a lot more on products than I normally would but my congested, greasy skin was really getting me down. In short it is:

Cleanse- then cleanse again. First one removes products (ESP. SPF) second cleans skin.

Tone with an exfoliating toner.
Then tone with a gentle (alcohol free i think) toner.

Serum.

Moisturiser.

SPF during the day.

So, I use:

Clinique Take the Day Off. Have also tried Sanctuary Rich Cleansing Balm which I like a lot.

Then REN Clearcalm Cleanser.

Clarins Exfoliating Toner. Then La Roche Posay Serozinc (also used Liz Earle here and liked).

Hydraluron (brilliant, brilliant, feels like giving your skin a drink)

Pai Geranium and Thistle Moisturiser.

I have two littlies and sometimes these steps are quite spread out

Once a week I do a cream exfoliant and mask. One other day a week I skip the tone onwards part and put Alpha-H Liquid Gold.

Rules, having written all of that ^^, I totally agree with you that food has the biggest impact. I have a baby that wakes every 1.5 hrs at night and am completely painfully sleep deprived and reaching for less good food at the moment. I really started the routine as a little bit of luxury to look forward to every day. But it is making a difference to my skin.

jumping when you have little people you do whatever you can to deal with things. Its nice to enjoy a beauty regime but I have never bothered. Don't even take my mascara off just do it in the morning. I'm very low maintenance.

SUNSCREEN
(shouting because it's v v important! :o )

Is sunscreen necessary all year round in the UK? Or just when it's sunny? (Sorry if that's a thick question)

Reading thread with interest, I should really do a lot more with my skincare.

if you want to stop UV damage to your skin then yes, all year round

Sorry, yes I forgot to add sunscreen after the moisturiser. I use Clarins SPF 40 which feels good on my oily skin ie. Not greasy.

Ok, was in London today so stopped by Pixi to pick up some of the toner recommended by CH. Excitingly, they had an offer for serum or a moisturiser half price if you bought the toner, so I picked up an anti-ageing serum for the bargain price of £17.

My skin is starting to look better already. Still no sleep though :(