What skincare product(s) do I need to look less shit before applying make-up in the morning?

[frankietwospots]

So this morning it really hit me how terrible my skin looks first thing in the morning, although admittedly I'm a bit sleep deprived at the moment. I've got redness on my cheeks and red veins around my nose, plus dark patches around my eyes. I find myself slapping on my Estee Lauder Doublewear in several layers, along with my Collection 2000 concealer. I occasionally use a Laura Mercier primer but I can't really see that it makes any difference. What skincare product would make a real difference before I apply make-up? Would it be a redness corrector?

Btw, my skincare regime in the evenings is Simple face wipes followed by Superdrug's Naturally Radiant hot cloth cleanser, followed by the Naturally Radiant serum, eye cream and then Superdrug Vitamin E oil on top. In the morning, I use the same serum, the same eye cream and then a Bobbi Brown hydrating moisturiser.

Thanks in advance.

Your evening cleansing might be a little harsh - wipes are quite harsh to skin, and hot cloth cleansing while satisfying can pull and rub at delicate skin. I'd try a more gentle routine for a bit and see if that eases the redness. Shu Uemura cleansing oil will remove makeup with massaging rather than scrubbing - use twice for a proper clean. Then a face oil, then some kind of gently exfoliating face cream for overnight? I'd try that before changing your morning routine tbh. I don't personally like the Superdrug Vit E stuff but I know lots on here like it. But all your makeup should need is clean, moisturised skin. Get more water, take some supplements? Tis the time of year to look a bit grey though, I have just done a DIY facial involving Nutrogena pink grapefruit scrub twice, then a clay deep cleansing mask (Superdrug) then Nuxe face oil and Nivea blue pot cream massaged in. I will wake with the skin of angels.

i love L'Oreal's new stuff. this for cleansing or this, toning with the toner from the same range but I cannot see on the boots website and their serum. I'm using their eyecream, though not their moisturiser as I've got some lancome on the go still from mothers' day. I exfoliate 1-2 x a week with Olay. My skin is really the best it's been in years, if not ever. No spots, no dryness, skin tone even, pores smaller, less shine in my t zone. I sound like an advert! I've never been one for make up, and had recently got in the habit of wearing BB cream and concealer, no more with this regime. People actually comment on it. Oh, and I do this all once a day, nothing at all at night.

Not skincare, but have you tried a primer under your foundation? Works really well on me to just kind of blur the less than perfect parts, and make it all a bit smoother. I'm using the Clinique one in the pink tube, would def recommend.