Can my face recover? Any skin experts?

[cardicollection]

I've aged very quickly over the last 6 months (am late 40s), I think it's due to really bad insomnia, which is better now but I still have the odd bad day. I have bags under my eyes like an old politician, some quite deep lines between my eye brows and mouth, and little bumps under my skin on my chin which ca be squeezed to produce little white 'strings' and is making my chin look uneven.

Can I reverse what's happened? I was considering buying a clarisonic which I hoped would solve the bumps - has anyone had good results with this? I thought eating better and drinking water (as my diet had more sugar and prepared meals in as I was so tired). I also need some skincare products, have just been using Neals Yard Frankincense Cream for years, but think I need some anti aging products - but what??? And am I missing anything??

Hopefully you will continue to get more sleep and that should help.

No topical product will do anything about lines (except maybe a little bit for the most superficial lines.) I do think that botox will make a real improvement on the lines between the eyes. It's possible to do it sparingly and not end up looking like an angry android. There are perhaps fillers for the lines around your mouth but I don't know too much about them and you would want to give that a lot of thought. But I can vouch for Botox as being excellent value for money.

As for your chin... I have had similar bumps. They sound like clogged pores full of sebum, but are they not red like regular acne? If they are red, I would recommend trying a tiny bit of Sudocreme before bedtime to reduce swelling and redness. If they're not red, perhaps you could go for a facial and have an aesthetician extract them and recommend something to prevent reformation?

There are a few anti-aging skin care lines that are reputed to be pretty good. For general freshness of complexion, I would think that following the Clarisonic with Hydraluron gel (the one in the tube) and then a suitable skin care line (serum and moisturiser) will help with the superficial texture and luminosity. I use Olay Regenerist products. There are other lines that are also popular.

I'm older than you and although I cant reverse the effects of ageing, I have found the following has improved the general appearance of my skin. It has taken several weeks so not an instant fix.

1. Drink plenty of water. Decaf tea. Cut out/down on alcohol.
2. Eats lots of fruit, nuts and vegetables.
3. Floradix twice daily if your iron levels are low. That improves dark shadows under the eyes.
4. Hot cloth cleanse the skin with Cetaphil cleanser and moisturise with Cetaphil moisturiser (very gentle products)
5. Alpha H Gold to exfoliate twice weekly. Brilliant stuff
6. A drop of Argan oil on face at night time. Makes the skin lovely & soft.
7. Invest in a really good concealer for the eye area. Clarins instant concealer is fantastic.
8. Brush some Guerlain meteorites onto your face. It makes it glowy and luminous.

Anti-ageing products dont exist, imo. It's all about illusion and making the best of what you've got.

Agree with the touch of Botox between the eyes - the only thing that will make a real difference.

If you have the budget I would have a visit with a good cosmetic dermatologist. There are a plenty of options. A few glycolic peels or a few IPL sessions would brighten and 'refresh' your skin. Then maybe Botox, and fillers. And they might suggest a regime of sorts. You really need very little once your skin is 'well' IYKWIM. I know it might look like a fortune but really when you break it down I think it's far better value than buying tons of random 'wonder if they work' products.

I would recommend a really good facial, not just the slap a load of cream on type but something like an Environ facial where electrical currents are used along with stronger products. I have these occasionally and look 10 years younger afterwards. They do wonders for baggy eyes.

The other thing I have experience of is the insomnia and I was totally freed from it by hypnotherapy. Life changing.

Botox is the only thing that will help your lines between the eyes. Please don't be scared off. It really can give great results without you ending up looking like Nicole Kidman.

I have a clarasonic and whilst it is good for cleansing and I like it, it won't give you miracle results.

I'd also suggest hydraluron, a good serum (I like Vital C smells of oranges) and an anti ageing moisturiser with acids. I like Garnier ultra lift and its not expensive. Use them religiously.

Water is your friend though. Plenty of this is better than any miracle cream.

Agree with Jalopy

Simple non-foaming cleanser like Cetaphil.
You need acid for the bumps - Alpha H would be great
You can't change the under eye area - concealer is your friend.

And from now on use SPF (at least 30 and UVA and B protection) every day to try to stop it getting worse.

If you are really serious then Retin A and/or botox.

Thank you so much for your replies, been out all day and just got back. I tried to get the Cetaphil cleanser in Boots but couldn't find it, so I'll order online. jalopy I thought low iron might be a problem, as I get restless legs, stopping me sleeping, I've been taking iron for a few weeks and have been better, the Floradix looks look, so will try those when mine run out.

ChoclolateOrange do you mind me asking what caused your insomnia? Just wondering if hypnotherapy would help all types. Sometimes mine's caused by anxiety - I recently changed careers recently, and whilst I love it I worry as I'm a bit of a perfectionist. But sometimes I just lie awake for no reason.

Where do you go for Botox? Is it best to have a recommendation? And how much does it cost? I haven't considered before so have never looked into.
Similarly never thought of going to a cosmetic dermatologist, I was hoping to get a long way with self help, but I can see what you're saying, trying lots of products is an expensive business. I guess I want to know if I can make much of a difference, or all I can do now is stop it getting worse.

Today I ordered a Clarisonic - should arrive tomorrow, bought an eye cream, got some samples of Redermic R to try retinol and an antioxidant day cream with vitamin c.
I already use a Clinique liquid soap and clarins toner - are these products good to use or should I change?

So I was planning:

AM
Cleanse - Clinique Liquid Soap (am going to try Cetaphil)
Tone - Clarins toner (I think its for dry skin)
Moisturise - I bought Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Skin Defence Daily Moisturiser
Eye cream - I bought L'oreal Dermo-Expertise RevitaLift Double Lifting Eye

PM
As above but Redermic R instead of moisturiser - should I get a night cream too? at the moment I have some nivea q10 plus both night and day cream, before that I had Clinique turnaround and youth surge

Does this sound a good routine??

Sorry bit of a brain dump - really need to go to bed and get that sleep I desperately need!

If it's lack of sleep it can be improved in my experience. When dd2 was waking up a million times a night I aged a lot (I'm 35) and even had some grey hairs. Now she's much better and I'm less exhausted and stressed (had huge work stress too) I look loads better and they greys I yanked out haven't returned yet.

I swear by protect and perfect serum though I can see a difference after just a couple of days. I'm just using the night cream now as the serum is v spendy.

When I have skin breakouts I find a tea tree or similar foaming cleanser really effective and not too drying on no teenage skin might be just enough to shift what sounds like blocked pores but not strip dry skin.

Lastly the mn method of powder before foundation has made me look amazing. Well a lot better anyway.

I had a big groove coming on between my eyes - it's gone now

I personally wouldn't use the liquid soap. If you like clinique I'd switch it to the foaming cleanser (which is all good to use with the clarisonic). Soap can be drying which isn't good when you feel your skin is ageing.