Face skin care routine - have I got the order right?

[IAmNotDarling]

Hello, please help me figure out if I have the right order for my face!

AM
Wash with foaming cleanser
Toner
Chemical water based sunscreen
Hydraulic gel
Day cream

PM
Oil cleanser
Hot cloth cleanser
Toner
Facial oil
Night cream

[Bunbaker]

I must admit that I am struggling to understand why I would need sunscreen in the winter in northern England when it is damp and gloomy most of the time. We very rarely get crisp, sunny days round here, I spend very little time outside at this time of year and I'm not convinced that sunscreen is that good for the skin when it isn't required.

I don't have fair, sensitive skin BTW. In fact, at 57 I can pass for a lot younger because I have always looked after my skin. But I don't use half the products that so many of you do.

[Caprinihahahaha]

Ah , you are blessed with good genes Expat. I used to swerve the sunscreen and in some lights I look like a scrotum.

[expatinscotland]

I never use it. I'm nearly 45 and barely have any wrinkles, either. I have olive skin tone, though and is naturally a bit oily.

[CookieDoughKid]

Sunscreen is an absolute MUST even in UK winters. It's the one proven thing that slows down the effect of aging. It's those deep uva rays that age you. Not so much the uvb rays that burn you.

I use sun factor 30. I am 39 years old and barely have any wrinkles and often get mistaken to be 10 years younger.

[hunibuni]

I do lymphatic face massage 3-4 times a week because I have sinus issues and it helps to relieve the symptoms. I follow a YouTube tutorial by an American lady who shows therapeutic self massage after my ENT specialist recommended her tutorials. It really helps to keep the puffiness down (total chipmunk face)

[Caprinihahahaha]

It's the threads I should keep away from that suck me in too. I never learn.

Old dog. New tricks.

[Wolpertinger]

If you like Clinique the only toner they do that is good is Mild Clarifying (as everyone else has said already) - salicylic, right pH, no alcohol. The rest are horrid and drying.

Nightly facial massage for lymphatics is prob a waste of time. If you look at professional lymphatic massage for people with lymphatic issues it bears no relationship to facial massage as done by the beauty industry at all.

I'm not as anti products as Floisme as I've been lucky enough to have pretty resilient skin but the sense of being conned is quite high when 99% of products seem purposely designed to be badly formulated.

[Floisme]

Oh don't worry Caprini. I should know better than to get sucked into skin care threads

[Caprinihahahaha]

That's fair enough Floisme. I wasn't arguing with you - it's your choice.
I was just saying that people wearing make up can't easily avoid cleansers so, for the vast majority of people wearing make up, it isn't simple.

I'm sorry if my post upset you for some reason. I was talking in general terms. I have no idea what your skin issues are/were.

[BeeeeAve]

I definitely don't think I am being conned by beauty companies. I take care of my skin because it makes it feel and look better.

I 100% think the reason my skin is holding up well in my late thirties is because I use factor 50 sunscreen religiously, even in winter. Yes, healthy food and water and looking after your skin from the inside are crucial, but sun causes damage and ageing to skin, especially fair skinned people. Thats fact.

As for the other stuff I use, I dont think its overkill.

The cleanser is a cheapo Superdrug one. I long ago clocked that it does the same job as Eve Lom - removes make-up and grime, basically.

The facial oil is a nice way to give myself a nightly facial massage, which is relaxing and good for lymphatic drainage, so reduces puffiness. T

The moisturiser makes my skin soft.

And my latest addition of Alpha Gold was a whim, but really works. Its like using a super scrub, without all the nasty scratchy rubbing of the skin. I only use it once a week, but I wake up the next day with noticeably educed fine lines and closed pores.

Gotta do what works for you, I guess.

[Floisme]

Caprinihahahaha Skin products fucked up my skin. So yes, I do view it simplistically.

[hunibuni]

Where I grew up having good skin was always the beauty goal, so I've alway had a good routine for both face and body. I always moisturise after a shower and will exfoliate once a week if not when shaving/waxing, so my face care is just an extension of that.

I love my evening routine and it can take me 5 minutes or 30 minutes, depending on what oil/cream/serum I use because that is my time to massage my face/not be disturbed/relax enough to sleep. I don't wear makeup everyday, in fact I've only started wearing it at 38 because I still look ill after a bad bout of flu that left me looking like the cast of The Walking Dead.

My skin is my one vanity. I don't mind going grey or the boobs going south (ok, maybe a bit with that one ) but I like that my skin is in great condition and feels as smooth as a babys bum

[Caprinihahahaha]

Floisme
I have to use a cleanser because I wear make up. I don't wear one that strips the skin and I rarely use a moisturiser. I do use oils at night because they do other things too including just feeling really lovely.

So I get your point but the 'selling you cleansers just to sell you moisturisers' is a bit simplistic for everyone who chooses to wear make up.

Of course that leads to the 'being sold make up you don't need' line of discussion but tbh that ship has sailed. I am not stopping wearing make up.

[Caprinihahahaha]

I use a block by Zelens but I think Clinique do a good one called super city block. I'm sure there are lots of others.

[Floisme]

Facial oils add back what you take out from cleansing (so I understand).

Op, what you wrote there (and no-one has challenged it) just about sums up the skin care industry for me. Selling us products to strip stuff out of our skin so they can sell us more products to put the stuff back in.

Absolute madness.

[Salene]

What sunscreen do people use please..??

[Nabootique]

No, sunscreen doesn't have to be on bare skin.

That toner is chock full of alcohol. A bit isn't too much of a problem, but there is loads in that stuff. If you need anti-blemish and like Clinique try the Mild Clarifying Lotion. I recommended the exact same switch to a friend and she is very happy!

[IAmNotDarling]

Toner I use is Clinique clarifying anti blemish - think that is acid. Feels quite tingly.

[IAmNotDarling]

Ok on the face wash, was using kiehls but will swap to something cheaper and non foaming when it runs out.

[IAmNotDarling]

But doesn't chemical sunscreen have to bond with bare skin?

[Nabootique]

Just use your second cleanse from the evening in the morning instead. And what PPs said, sunscreen last before make up (if you wear it).

[Caprinihahahaha]

Don't ditch the sunscreen.

[Caprinihahahaha]

Foaming cleansers tend to be way too drying.

[IAmNotDarling]

Please can you explain about non-foaming cleansers?