Had my first " your skin looks amazing" comment-- THANK YOU Caroline Hirons!

[bigbuttons]

A colleague said this at work today, I was so chuffed.
I'm 47 and was looking not so good. This last month I have invested in serums, acids and what not have gone back to Caroline Hirons properly this time. I have been religiously cleaning and tending to my face AM and PM. I use a 30% glycol peel every couple of weeks and use tretinoin every 3 days.
I must say even I have noticed a difference, it has knocked years off me.
All blemishes gone, skin is ultra smooth, wrinkles reduced.
There is hope for us more (ahem) mature ladies!

Acid toners sound scary but your skin is acid in pH so a proper acid toner will just work with the pH of your skin. If you use one of the peel products (which don't peel at all so the name is scarier than they are) you do get a tingle. But with the other products I've used (Effaclar Duo, Paula's Choice 2% BHA, Clinique Mild Exfoliating Lotion) there is no tingle at all and they are lovely.

I think we just think acid = scary.

I just use masks for fun I'm not sure they do anything lasting but I'm turning into a bit of a product junkie and sometimes they just feel nice to do.

Ok I'm going to get
the superdrug hot cleanser
The first aid toner
Serum (can I carry on using my aldi one?!)
Moisturiser (one from body shop?) I have very oily skin & have never used one
Alpha h for occ use
How does this sound buttons?

I've got a hydraluronic serum from Aldi - where does that fit in? Do I put it on at night and then moisturiser over the top?

The idea of hydraluronic acid (I think) is that it's a massive molecule which can't be absorbed by your skin. So it sits on your skin and draws water to it, through the top layers, plus keeping the water from the gel it came in on top of your skin too, making them look plump and hydrated.

I've used my Hydraluron before serum and moisturiser but not totally convinced it makes a visible difference and it makes my skin sort of tacky.

Doesn't mean I'm not going to try another hyaluronic product though

Can anyone recommend me a nice gentle and cheap cleanser sold in Boots please? I don't live near a Superdrug. I have oily spot prone skin

Thanks Kundry. I think all I need is an acid toner. A while ago I made one with aspirin and witch hazel, which seemed to me to be just like Clinique clarifying lotion. Have you ever seen that mentioned anywhere as an acid toner?

The Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion is a BHA toner (salicylic acid like asprin), so great for degunking pores rather than getting rid of dead skin cells.

Coconut - Cetaphil is recommended.

CoconutAmaretto - is £7.99 ok? Really lovely thick and creamy m.boots.com/h5/cat_hub?unCountry=uk&path=/en/Superfacialist-Rose-Hydrate-Cleanser-150ml_1277154/

they also do a neroli one. I recommend the whole range really.

Cetaphil is great.

I've never gone for the aspirin face mask thing but aspirin is salicylate so it should work. I'd skip the witch hazel though as it can irritate and isn't the ingredient actually doing the work.

CH says the Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion is the one to go for. I quite like it but there's always something else to tempt you

Does anyone have problems with SPF giving them spots? Have tried no 7 facial sunscreen, and soap and glory SPF bb cream, plus various moisturisers with SPF, but I always seem to end up spotty?

Thank you ladies. I've actually just used the last of my Cetaphil tonight. Didnt realise I could use it with water and a flannel, i've been using it with cotton pads. Really want to try hot cloth cleansing though. My skin is shit lately. I've heard good things about Una Brennan too so might just have to try her cleanser too .

See the rason i stopped using the hot cloth method was that the water made my face feel tight. Is that normal?

Place marking

Sunsense Daily Face is good for not giving spots. It's oil-free and has niacinamide which helps prevent spots.

I liked it and didn't have too much trouble with balling. Haven't tried it under makeup as don't often wear foundation.

BigButtons what acid serum do you use on your knees? I really want to do something about mine and they have dark patches on them, although strangely my elbows are OK.

Some great advice on here, thank you. I've upped my skincare over the last month using lots of tips from here and CH. Was wondering how long before I start seeing real results...
On the advice from Kundry on another thread I've bought some Paula's Choice 2% BHA (thanks Kundry) but ... now realise I need a SPF and this is what worries me as sunscreen on my face has always felt oily ... don't want to go to all this effort and then get spots from the SPF.

Also, should do you wait between applying serum or effaclar and moisturiser and SPF or just keep going? Do I need to let each stage sink in/dry?

I just keep going

I like the CH idea of wash face when you get home from work and then just do the rest of the steps through the course of the evening.

Of course, I've forgotten and just done the whole lot in 2 minutes

Am now realising that possibly Sunsense is my holy grail SPF as it avoided spots so well.

Does the Una Brennan range have a serum suitable for normal/ dehydrated skin that anyone recommends?

I thought you were meant to give it 5 mins or so after the serum stage before moisturiser? I do anyway!

nigella I buy from an ebay shop called novo peel , I currently use a lotion that contains 4 different acids . I really recommend that you check them out. They have excellent customer care. They answered all my questions really quickly. They were very patient with me when I spent days dithering. Tell them what you want to happen and see what products they suggest. They are cheap too!

What about the retinol - can you just use a serum at night containing a weak retinol e.g. Roc or does it need to be a separate product?

Is sunsense available on the high street?

Found it for anyone who wants
secure.pharmacygeoff-uk.md/Tretinoin-Gel.html