My skin is shit and I don't know where to start to improve it

[Dullygreygirl]

I am so fed up of my skin it is dull, rough, feels incredibly coarse to the touch and gets very dry but also gets very oily at times. I get three or four spots a month around my period, which is annoying, but I'm not sure qualifies as acne?

I have no skincare regime (just wash my face in the shower) and I know I need to start. This is where I am totally, utterly lost. There are so so many skincare brands and while I'm happy to invest in good quality products like Dermalogica or Clinique etc, I really can't afford to waste hundreds trying them all out.

I would love to see a dermatologist for advice, and would love a facial to kick start everything. But again have no idea where to find good ones?

Where do I start?

Can anyone help?

Has anyone used Proactiv? I keep seeing the advert with Nicole Scherzinger and Adam Levine and it sounds really convincing of its ability to work miracles.

Why do you have to cleanse twice if you've used moisturiser with spf?

Hi! If you have a good diet and drink plenty of water and exercise regularly that's all good. I use aloe vera products and drinking the gel helps your skin from the inside out. Other supplements can help I'm sure but this is what works for me.

I'm amazed anyone still uses Clinique products. They continue to test on animals in a day and age where most respectable companies don't :-/

Agree diet helps with skin, lots of water etc.
I wish I could afford to use Elemis Marine Cream all the time, because it always makes my skin feel and look great. It's non greasy, plumping, makes it look smooth and dewy... It's an occasional treat when I can find it cheap on ebay!

Mostly I protect during the day and nourish at night as many beauticians have told me this is the best way. I use a factor 50 in place of moisturiser, (Sun sense have some good ones, anti ageing etc.) tapping an cheapy organic eye cream underneath.

At night I do a hot oil cloth cleanse or use cotton wool pad and micellar water to cleanse (loreal is best and Nivea the worst IMO). Then apply rose hip oil and Strivectin AR retinol eye cream. It's AMAZING. Expensive at over 60 quid but lasts months and months so actually better value than other cheaper seeming eye creams as they're usually smaller, this is 15ml. Got it before Christmas and only halfway trough.

whatthefuck as I understand it, you double cleanse to ensure that you get all the SPF off your face as if you keep it on it can cause spots. You can (and some people do) use the same product but just twice.

If you're not keen on using facial scrubs, the other option is using a facial wash with a facial sponge. Its a sponge with some roughness to it and Boots sell it for about £1.49. As I have sensitive skin I don't like using scrub too often but this sponge is great!

When trying new skincare products and cosmetics maybe consider doing a patch test before you apply them?

Products sometimes causing skin irritation are anti-ageing creams, toners and face-masks. If your skin is sensitive you may experience itching, burning or even rashes.

Apply a tiny drop of the product on an elbow crease and check for any reactions within the next 24 hours.

If your skin breaks into rashes and bumps, then you'll know the product isn't suited to your skin type.

(Voice of bitter experience ).

Get pregnant. My skin has been amazing since becoming pregnant and I have not used any products on it!

'Except when required by law' meaning China, as China requires all products to be animal tested. Dermalogica is another skincare brand that allows this.

On a more serious note, I have used Liz Earle hot cloth cleansing and it is fabulous. Leaves your skin soft and moisturised unlike many face cleansers. the muslin also exfoliates your skin.

Hi there, I have cut down on dairy and within a week I have noticed a difference in my skin. I only use cheap products like Simple and Astral but have noticed a real change in my skin since cutting out the dairy. It might be worth a try and it's quite easy to do.

Organic sweet almond oil if you have dry skin, put in on before bed, wake up with amazing clear soft beautiful skin. I also use it with a muslin cloth to exfoliate. It really is a miracle product, and totally natural. Clinique, Clarins, etc are full of chemicals.

Luckystar my skin was amazing while pregnant too. And my hair. God, it was great - I looked like a shampoo ad, all swishy and glowy and carefree.

Then the four month postnatal hormone crash happened :( I went from Cindy Crawford to Worszel Gummage overnight! Gutted

I'm 41 and having had fairly good skin throughout my 30s suddenly noticed last year that it was looking ashy and sometimes dry and sometimes spotty, and just uneven and a bit bleurgghh. I started reading Caroline's site and realised I had dehydrated skin, rather than dry. The biggest game changers for me have been:

1. cleansing make-up off properly at night with a double cleanse. I used to sweep a micellar water round with cotton wool, see the filth on the cotton wool pad, and think job done. Now I do that followed by Emma Hardie cleansing balm wiped off with a flannel, and realise that only now is my skin actually clean!

2. using this at night: www.bravuralondon.com/purifying-calendulatoner.html, stronger than Pixi Glow Tonic, but not so much it stings or causes sensitivity problems.

3. using the MN-recommended (cheaper!) version of Bravura's dermaflannel to remove a cleansing balm (I use a cheaper one than EH mornings) in the shower in the morning: www.amazon.co.uk/SINLAND-30cmx30cm-Microfibre-Dishcloth-Cleaning/dp/B00MILA2RK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433500653&sr=8-1&keywords=waffle+cloth+6. Don't go too hard with it!

4. discovering facial oil and applying morning and night underneath a moisturiser. I chop and change products but am currently using Balance Me radiance oil in the morning and REN Omega 3 Optimum Serum Oil at night. Aldi have introduced a £3.99 version which I will try at some point.

I now find that whilst I choose to wear make-up most days, I can go without it and not be bothered. For me that is a big change.

Hi OP

Another recommendation of Caroline Hirons. She really knows her stuff. There is a difference btw between dehydrated and dry skin and she goes into this in detail.

To add to the epidermis-tastic advice you've been given:

I'm 49 with red hair and pale skin and my skin is the best its ever been. I've done a bit of experimenting and fiddling to find the regime that works best for me, so pick what suits you. You'll find that if a load of us say (for example) lots of fish oils, it's because they work.

1. Oily fish or omega 3 fish oil supplements.
2. Plenty of water. I drink a lot of weak tea as well. Yeah real party girl.
3. I've cut down on sugar - not boringly Gwynethly but Caroline Hirons suggested it.
4. I eat butter and olive oil. I don't think fat free diets are good for my skin.
5. Yoga.

Skin care:

Double cleanse at night if I'm wearing makeup. It's made a real difference. I've lived in London and the country and my skin gets so much dirtier in London.

Oil cleansing - coconut and castor oil as base. Use with a clean facecloth wrung out in hot water. You can use all sorts of oils depending on your skin type. Almond oil/conconut oil is also good. Seven cheap facecloths a week.

I second cleanse with Eve Lom. Yes I KNOW but I like it. There are plenty of cheap alternatives. Superdrug is good and Lush's Ultrabland (£6)

I use a Body Shop serum at night and/or a Boots nightcream.

In the morning I use a soap free cleanser followed by a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with a tint (Sun Sense SPF50) In winter I like Oil of Olay SPF15

I don't buy any makeup product without checking out here or on Makeupalley.

The other thing I do regularly is have my brows threaded.

I hope this helps.

Gingexxx

3CheekyLittleMonkeys I use a glycolic acid exfoliatetor called alpha hydroxy soufflé can find it on amazon. I mix it 50/50 with my moisturiser and it works a treat for keeping my spots at bay. Have to say I am not a massive fan of daily wash cloths. Irritate my skin and they make me break out in spots. As for double washing, I have super dry skin and that's the worst. Found an oil based cleanser works a treat at lifting even full coverage foundation. I tried a few cheaper ones but was given the Elemis pro-radiance creme cleanser to use and it is fab for removing my makeup and cleaning my skin without drying it out in one go and I don't have to faff with cloths or flannels that need a hot wash after each use. i think the things that will make the biggest difference to skin is daily exfoliating (acid not scrub variety), moisturising, washing your face twice daily, always removing make up (although that depends on your make up) and a nutritious diet. Nothing extreme but when I was ill and technically malnourished that's when my skin flared up. Interesting to read other people's stories though.