Aged overnight! How to look healthy when you don't feel it??

[clucky80]

I will start by saying that I am incredibly lucky to be alive, I had life saving surgery 7 years ago and I am thankful and grateful for every day :) I had seemed to escape the effects of the illness until recently when I've noticed that I look so much older and seemingly overnight! I have become so sallow and when I'm unwell I become very yellow toned. I have brown circles under my eyes, around eyelids. I've also got quite bad cataracts and lots of other visual problems that I'm hoping to get treated next year but have left me with deep lines in my 11's from squinting so much. My skin doesn't look smooth and in certain lights I can see tiny little lines.
My skin has always been quite dehydrated and I know that I need to drink more ( because of my illness I lose a lot of fluids) and I think/hope this is what's causing the lines. I just feel like I've lost the 'youthful glow' I had. So as not to drip feed, I'm 34 and have 2 DC, DC2 doesn't sleep so I'm sure again this isn't helping!
I have always been told that I looked young for my age but lately I just don't recognise the person I see in the mirror. I was always very well groomed, nails, pedis, blow dried hair every day, fake tan moisturiser every week etc. I've got less time at the moment although still wear make up, regular hair cuts and colour etc. I'm not sure whether I need a bit of fake tan (pretty cool sallow Irish skin)? I'm using a Philips clarisonic style face brush that is helping a bit. Has anyone got any other advice? I could spend up to about £100 on a face cream, I don't scrimp on make up or lotions and potions. Anything to counteract the yellowness?
Sorry for the epic post, any advice most welcome!

I've been using a 10% glycolic cream at night and I think that's helping my skin. I certainly haven't needed to exfoliate much since using it.

Firstly you're very young and I'll bet you're not nearly aged looking as you think. In my opinion the best way to look youthful Is to look healthy and that means regular exercise, lots of water and a decent diet. I think botox for your elevensies if you wang to go down that road. I've had dermaroller which was ok but I also like having salon exfoliant treatments. I usually have at least one lot of treatments a year. Nothing better than a good night sleep

Agree with above, water, diet, exercise.

I have an app called 'water my body' which is useful if you find yourself forgetting to drink regularly through the day.

Try and include loads of veg and some fruit in your diet.

Cut down/out processed carbs/sugar

Regular exercise that you enjoy.

Above all though, be kind to yourself, your body has obviously been though a lot, be gentle with it.

Thanks so much everyone :) I will definitely download the water app Gobblersknob. I think lack of water is definitely key, when I'm in hospital and have drips up my skin is amazing. In terms of diet, I eat lots of fruit (too much probably in terms of sugar content, have a big tub of carrot and coriander soup every day but in between I have far too much in the way of sweet things. I've been trying to have Activia yogurts, eat cheese. I could do with more protein. I read something yesterday that having too much sugar can age you by 4 years!
In terms of exercise I try and get out with the DCs every day for a walk but I don't do any specific exercise. I've got quite a lot of nerve damage in my legs so they can be quite painful at times but I really used to enjoy swimming so would like to start that again when I can.
peasandlove what is a glycolic cream? Does it sting?
Big, I would try Botox but I'm a bit scared to go down that route straight away. I would definitely be open to trying some salon treatments. Would you recommend the dermal roller? Are there any other kind of treatments that you would recommend? I used to be the kind of person who spent lots on make up as you could see an instant effect but as I'm getting older I am realising that a good skin care routine is more important!
Should have said, as a moisturiser I wear a SK:N factor 50 cream every day (I need high SPF as my drugs make me more likely to get skin cancer). I don't use serums, eye cream or anything like that though.

I did dermal roller. It had a very modest effect. It's apparently great for acne scars but it's very painful (even with the numbing gel) and you look like raw mince for a day or two after each treatment. Botox is practically painless and very effective on 11's.

Cutting out sugar cleared up my skin and made it radiant. Fell off that wagon and broke out again.

Hydraluron gel (available at boots) under a serum like Olay Regenerist, topped with a moisturiser has improved my skin, as well. Hydraluric acid increases water absorption.

You may need a makeup overhaul. The products and shades we use have to change as we age. I now go for more coverage, use a bit of contour, and highlight my cheekbones and brow with a light dusting of a highlighter (I use a pale ivory eyeshadow with shimmer, applied very lightly with a soft blush brush).

Talk to your gp about the sallowness. S/he may do a liver function test. (very simple blood test).

peas which glycolic do you use? I'm looking to change from the liquid I use now.

Agree, sadly, about sugar. It's ok now and again but I cut right back and my skin improved in a couple of days.

If you eat a big tub of carrot soup every day, then there is a high chance that excess carotenoids in your system are contributing to the yellowish hue of your skin. Google " carrots cause yellow skin." It's a thing!

I've been using one I got from caci clinic here in NZ, it's not really branded as such. I've seen one on iherb.com for $20 that I will probably get when this runs out. It doesn't sting me, but I think it does on sensitive skin.
I also do dermal rolling at home which I think is slowly having a good result.

Thanks peas, I order regularly from iherb.com so I'll try that one.

Estée Lauder's Illuminating Primer is your friend.

I wear this under makeup or BB cream and it gives my skin a healthy glow when I feel awful even when hungover.

magicrealism may well be right! I had forgotten it and didn't really notice you said you at a lot of carrots.

Thanks so much for the replies! I'm out today and will read the posts properly later. I've just quickly glanced at the post (apologies can't remember who from) about carrot soup! I've just worked out that I have probably the equivalent of half a big bag of carrots every day plus I sometimes have carrot batons too! I can't describe how yellow I am, almost like Bart Simpson! I wonder if it's that?? If I am unwell, I do look more yellow and consumption of carrots doesn't increase! DH just said that I'm going to be like the Sunny Delight kid
In terms of liver function, my LFT's were slightly increased a few weeks ago but not to the point of needing my immunosuppressants adjusted. Thanks so much again, I will read everything properly later.

look after yourself and treat yourself to a nice massage now and then. It will help you really relax and reduce stress levels in your body--- stress can be very ageing and you must have been through a lot.

use coconut oil in your cooking - it has all kinds of wonderful benefits!

I agree with everyone about the water drinking - this will be good for the darkness around the eyes as well as all the other benefits. And sugar reduction - a big yes to that one!

I believe all of the above is more important that products to put on your skin because it really does start from within. Are you taking any vitamins? Sleep deprivation is another thing but that will be hard to tackle yet if DC2 isn't sleeping through yet.

You could use a colour correcting foundation - everyone recommends the Bourjois one! And for skin care, a nice face massage with THIS will work wonders. I dollop it on and my skin soaks it up, and the smell of it is very calming. I would not go for any fake tan especially at this time of year but that's a personal opinion.

I wouldnot go for fake tan either (well, I mean I wouldn't anyway). Personally I think it does look ageing. Go for a peachy/salmon coloured concealer under your eyes (not right under) to cover up the dark circles.

Instead of fake tan - find a glowy blusher - if it is natural enough don't just put it on your cheeks but on your forehead too (a little bit) so you look like you've been for a walk.
Go for a creamy rather than frosty lipstick/gloss as well - anything that says 'moist, glowy'.

Thank you for all of the replies. I'm definitely going to focus more on the inside - drink more water, do some exercise and reduce sugar. I take a vitamin c supplement every day and because of the medical things, I take a calcium and vitamin d supplement weekly.

Nigellasguest, I like the thought of a massage but my body seems to never relax. It's like I'm always tense and I'm a very nervy person. My consultant has said that it could be to do with being under general anaesthetic for so long. My first surgery was 8 hours, that night had a further 4 hours due to internal bleeding and 2 days later more complications and surgery. Since then I've definitely been more tense and have become very nervous of things. I think this does show in my face and probably makes the elevens worse as I always look worried!

It's good to read opinions on fake tan and I'm quite relieved as it's such a faff!

I'm going to make a list of things recommended on here and start buying/trying :)

Gosh, it sounds like you've been through an awful lot, I hope you continue to get better.

When I wasn't breastfeeding, I used glycolic peels from bravura London, recommended on here, they were brilliant and really improved my skin massively.

www.bravuralondon.com

Can't wait to be able to use them again, but 14mo DD is not keen on the idea of weaning :/

I am also quite a an anxious and tense person and have found that relaxation mp3s help a lot. I listen to Andrew Johnson, also recommended on here : www.withandrewjohnson.com

(Mumsnet is my life coach...)

I also like the guided meditation from headspace, only 10 minutes needed:
www.headspace.com

Sorry, I know this is not what you asked about, I hope you don't mind the suggestions.

Thank you so much Duende, I really appreciate the suggestions :) I am going to look at the relaxation and meditation, it sounds good.

I will also look at the peel on the website.

Ah thank you, in general I'm pretty good. I'm very positive and I truly think of myself as so incredibly lucky to be given a second chance at life. I've always kind of liked the fact that on the outside, no one can tell what's happened and that I'm not always feeling very good. I've had so many surgeries now, I'm a bit of a mess in terms of scars but it's great to hear some tips on how to pull off a healthy look but also to hear about how to improve on the inside and calm myself down a bit! X

Duende - thanks for those links, I'm finding the relaxation ones very interesting and thinking about signing up! I've recently been reading about how stress is very ageing and I do wonder if all my worries show on my face sometimes. As for the Bravura - do they really work? I use Retin-A so probably I shouldn't use both at once but I'm going to investigate.

OP - go and drink some water NOW!