My new year resolution is to take better care of my skin - advice?

[ChristmasCabbage]

Hello!
I turn 30 in April this year and I've decided that now's the time to start putting in work to look after my skin for now and for the longer term.

Up until now, I've never done anything for my skin. I always moisturized everyday and exfoliated once a week but that was it.

The trouble is, I don't really know what to do! I've resolved to only wear make-up when I need to; to cleanse and tone daily (although I'm not really sure what I'm doing with this); to use proper face wash rather than soap; to exfoliate twice a week; to use masks; to drink plenty of water; to cut down on my alcohol. I've never smoked.

Can you lovely style and beauty people help me- what else should I be doing? Are there any products I should be buying? I'm willing to invest a bit of money but I'm not loaded so please don't recommend £200 face creams!

Any advice and help is much appreciated!

I found the biggest difference was eating well, getting enough sleep and getting out of doors. Dull, but true.

I use a face flannel and Boots no7 Beauty Balm to clean my face and dab a bit of moisturiser on.

Japan Oh thanks! Is a face fannel one of them muslin face cloths? Sorry for my ignorance!

Just a face flannel - like a small towel. Use and then put in wash. I've got 7/8 of them so there's always a clean one.

www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-hygro-cotton-face-cloth-heather/285-6935.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=285-6935

Oh thanks Japan

Any other advice....

Shameless bump..

Following. Had my eyebrows done recently, and the beautician asked me what I use on my face (Simple) She said it wasn't that great, but stupidly I forgot to ask what would be better. Am fairly clueless...

JustABig I had some Simple moisturiser a few years ago but I found it a bit 'thin' IYSWIM. My best friend, however, swears by it and thinks I'm crazy!

Could you (and you Just) give some info on your skin type and any concerns you have? What you need to use will depend on this kind of thing.

Nabootique I think I have combination skin. My forehead and chin are quite oily but everywhere else is 'normal'. I am prone to breakouts around the time of my period which can take a while to heal. I used to have adult acne quite bad but cleared up now.

I don't really have any concerns as such, I just want to put in work now to give my skin the best chance when I'm older. I guess my only concern would be black bags under my eyes but that's genetic and not much to be done by all accounts

When I turned 30 I felt the same as you. I vowed to take better care of my skin and I have kept this up for the last 16 years too!

My advice, eat well (most of the time), drink water (most of the time), & enjoy yourself.

I started using a good moisturiser (that is sadly no longer available). But I would say that using a SPF of 25 on your face every day is a great idea. I have used Soap & Glory's Feel Good Factor, it's not too expensive, it's in a tube (so I don't have to stick my finger in a pot, which I personally think is a bit unhygienic) and it goes on very well. It feels rich but not too heavy or sticky.
I always used to use cleanser and wipe it off with damp cotton wool, but I have now discovered the joys of Una Brennan's VitaminC+Brighten oil and a clean terry face cloth soaked in hot water as per Japan. The cloth is sufficient as an exfoliator.
Because it's simple, I never fail to cleanse my skin and moisturise every day. My skin has never looked better. Good luck!!!

Am decade older than you so most damage already done and I'm useless on skincare regimes...but my simple resolution for 2016 is to drink more water, dammit (find it hard to drink unless hot and mixed with lots of lovely caffeine).
But one day over Christmas while on some mad mince pie baking frenzy (as you do) I actually found myself sipping regularly from glass of water. I probably did get in around eight glasses that day - husband walks in, looks at me and says "your skin looks lovely" - and it did!!! Must look like a dessicated husk rest of the time...
Note to self: go drink some water, woman

Take makeup off every night, eat food high in good fats, nuts, avocados etc, drink lots of water, find a moisturiser that's right for your own skin ( I like La Roche Posay personally but used Boots No 7 for years and it was good ) and don't sunbathe/ wear sunscreen. It's not rocket science and I don't think there's a wonder product that will give you amazing skin.

I'm 50 and look a lot younger but think that's down to not sunbathing and good genes! Worn make up since I was 13, but have always taken it off at night and moisturised.

( and there's always Botox...! )

Sunscreen. Sunscreen. And sunscreen. If I could go back and tell my 20 something self this...

Thanks for all of your replies.

My other (obviously related) resolution is to drink at least 2l of water a day. so far, going well.

Thanks for the advice about hot towels as well. This isn't something I've come across before.

I should also say that I steam my face twice a week when I use the steam room at the gym.

Thanks for the recommendations on your trusted products

Christmas cabbage! Are you me? I turn 30 in April and have just started making an effort to look after my skin!!

I use a hot cloth cleanser(superdrug naturally radiant or nspa hot cloth polish from asda), have started using pixi glow tonic(you can get cheaper glycolic toners), and I just use cocoa butter as a moisturiser. My skin has been looking better already and ive been doing this about a month.
Made the mistake of getting new makeup and i think ive had a reaction to a bb cream(the nspa one) so skin isn't as good as it was but still, it is far better than before Christmas. I have combination skin, dry cheeks, oily nose and forehead and have been getting annoying hormonal spots. Seem much better since starting this routine.
Also planning to look after my hair and nails too.
Good luck with it all.

You need to :

Drink loads of water. Like, loads.
Sleep lots.
Fresh air.
Cut down on caffeine. I strong cup max per day/
Zero alcohol.
Loads of veg.
Reduce the sugar - 'tis the devil.

Sunscreen (as and when)

Moisturize. I've recently re-discovered Nivea and it is so bloody good.

Cleanse and moisturize every night. Eye cream if you need it.

The hot cloth thing works a treat too.

Hello everyone

I've been at my new 'looking-to-the-long-term' skincare regime for about a month now.

I've;
(1) Not had a drop of alcohol
(2) Eaten lots of vegetables - I'm not all that keen on fruit
(3) Eaten oily fish nearly everyday
(4) Used sun screen everyday
(5) Used night cream every night
(6) Stopped using foundation- the truth is I ran out and just thought I'd see how I got on without it
(7) Tried to get as much sleep as possible, which has been very hard with work
(8) Exfoliated once every week followed by a deep pore cleansing face mask
(9) Been out in the fresh air without make-up almost everyday
(10) Drank about 2l of water everyday, as much as possible without squash or caffeine.

I haven't tried the hot towel yet. I've not been to a chemist for a while to pick one up but it's on my 'to do' list for next month.

So far, it's going really well. My skin feels softer and looks glowing. I also get far fewer blemishes- I had a spot appear last week but it disappeared within a couple of days where usually spots take at least a week to bugger off.

Thanks for all the advice. Any more, most welcome

Hot flannels - just buy cheap flannels, Primark, any of the big supermarkets, M&S etc. They exfoliate just as well as any exfoliator scrub (which I wouldn't use)

Add an acid toner, more effective than any other step I'd say. I use 2% BHA acid because I still get spots before period (and I'm nearly 50 ). I've made this change only since Xmas and my skin looks much better. It's a revelation!

amazonian Oh, thanks for that. Can I ask why it is you wouldn't use the exfoliator scrub?

Do you tone after the hot flannel, before moisturising?

A lot of scrubs are harsh. I think some even contain little beads of plastic? Combo of rinsing off cleanser with warm flannel followed by acid tone much better imho. Yes, I leave the toner to dry then follow with moisturiser. Also use a serum between toner and moisturiser in the evening.

Tone between washing your face and moisturising.

This is a good acid toner:

www.bravuralondon.com/collections/tone/products/purifying-calendulatoner

Thank you both! I will invest in some acid toner

Get some omega 3 capsules and some acid toner
Face oils like grapeseed are great at night
And lanolips 101 around eyes at night
Just bought low molecular weight hyluronic acid which I like as it works temporarily to plump up skin

I realised last week that I've actually been using Salicylic acid since new year without realising.

The night cream that I've been using has got 0.5% Salicylic acid and the face mask that I've been using once a week also has 0.5% Salicylic acid.

I only found out after properly reading the bottle whilst waiting for my bath to run.

So I'm wondering if it's necessary to also invest in acid toner since I'm already using Salicylic acid? What's the difference between salicylic and glycolic acid? Can I use both?

Sorry for all the questions!