Omg my skin is awful- help!

[Doinmummy]

I have neglected myself badly over the last few months. I looked in a x10 magnifying mirror today and my face is shocking . Enlarged pores, some with blackheads , dry patches yuck! Most of my pores are blocked , I ran my fingernail over my skin and 'stuff' came out of the pores.

How can I improve my skin? Where do I start?

I'm sure an expert will come along shortly, but how about booking a facial? If that's not possible, getting a clay mask (from boots) might help, steaming the face to open up the pores, and possibly investing in a Clarisonic brush?

I fancy a facial, I'm just embarrassed at how awful my skin is.

Mind you I braced myself and had a pedicure yesterday . Everyone in there was laughing as I kept apologising to the girl doing it about my skanky feet and hairy legs!

im no expert but i would get a good mask from the shops and exfoliate. I have combination skin and clay never really suited me as i would break out with it, but i find personally that the simple tesco one pure pores by along came betty at £5 really really good and leaves my skin looking great and reduces pore size. Once you have done that a good regime of moisturising / and with serum if you are older like me [ anti-ageing] I use no 7 protect and perfect and my skin has been looking great. At night i use a facial wash and also in the morning - applying serum then moisturiser and thats it. Plenty of water, good diet and there you have it!

I would start with a hot cloth cleanser Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish or Super Drug's own brand which is excellent and really cheap. Massage it in really well and remove with the warm cloth. Once your pores are open you can just gently remove all the debris with a squeeze, don't press too hard.Then rinse cloth in cool water and apply to face. A clay based mask also helps to clear pores.Follow this with a good moisturiser to suit your skin type. I'd order more cloths from Amazon so you can have a clean one each day. Hopefully your skin should improve rapidly and then you can think about daily SPF, eyecream and perhaps a Clarisonic.Good diet and plenty of water helps too.

Thankyou ladies , I'm 50 this year and need to get my act together! I'll have a trip to Boots tomorrow and stock up .

Please don't be embarrassed to book a facial!!

Is there a 'type' of facial or do I just ask for a deep clean?

I like the Dermalogica Hydradermi facial, makes me look glowing and is about £50!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] anti-blemish cream - 'tis the berries. On offer at Boots right now too.

Yes to Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser - v gentle but effective and natural ingriedients. Don't use harsh exfoliantes as it increases sebum production which just makes more oil and more blockages.

My skin always feels very fresh and deeply cleaned after.

If you can shell out the 50 odd qud, hydradermie facials are great for cleaning and plumping up skin. You may break out a bit atfterwards (I do) but they use this weird electric roller thing on your face which really stimulates all the blood cells (fuck knows what the technical terms are, bit it works, and makes your skin smooth and glowy).

If you want a cheaper fix, run a hot bath with some essential oils, sit in it and sweat whilemyou do your wn DIY facial. I like Clinique face scrub (thenoriginal, grainy menthol smelling one), Simple face mask and then slap on a good facial oil afterwards (Weleda almond oil is lovely even for oily/combo skins).

BUT - Drink shit loads of water, lay off caffeine/sugar/booze - thats the real solution, sadly.

Right, I've steamed my face and scrubbed with exfoliating face wash, I used a face brush to massage it. My skin feels much smoother and properly clean. Will a hyrdadermie treatment reduce the enlarges pores? Had a look at a local salon and they do a microdermabrasion treatment for £36 - what do you reckon?

Book the treatment. And drink 56 gazillion pints of water between now and then.

Seriously though - drink water. Loads. I drink minimum 3 litres a day (mostly with sugar free cordial to make it yum) and at 31, I pass for 23

I second guinot hydradermie or whatever they are called. I wouldn't bother with microdermabrasion.

Look at local training colleges, ours does dermalogica prescription facials for £11.