New skincare please!

[TheGrallon]

So 36 is just around the corner and what used to work now doesn't!

I have fairly sensitive skin, oily nose/forehead/chin which are prone to blackheads/larger pores and red flaky cheeks.

My only wrinkles so far are under my eyes.

I presently use Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser, protect and perfect serum and Eucarin hylaron filler eye cream.

I've dabbled with the Superdrug simply serum but didn't like the sticky feel. I swap and change moisturiser or just use tinted moisturiser. I like my eye cream but wonder if there's something else with more oomph that would smooth lines a touch more.

The Liz Earle is also making my face a touch tight these days.

I'm wondering if I should use an acid toner (though I'm scared I'll react to them!)

Should I be using separate items at night?

I've looked at the Caroline Hirons site and am overwhelmed plus I'm just not prepared to use that many products!!

Can anyone suggest a simple, age and skin type appropriate routine and some new products??

Dr Haushka, simple products, mid-priced and all organic.

I use cleanser, toner, rose day cream and night serum.

Skin has never looked so good.

I also use a La Roche Posay eye cream (the one with the best reviews can't remember the name).

Speak with a Dr H consultant (the assistants in jonn Lewis and marks were very informed). Or do the online questionnaire.

Honestly, acid toners have made the biggest difference to my routine. I sweep Pixi glow tonic over with a cotton pad in the morning (post-cleanse, pre-serum) and in the evening use Nip and Fab pads which I get on subscribe and save from Amazon. Reasonably priced, quite gentle and very quick.

What heyhey says about acid toners. Biggest difference ever. Don't be put off by the "acid" word.

The only moisturisers which have ever made a visible difference to my skin have been Neal's Yard Frankincense and L'Occitane Divine. I occasionally treat myself to one of those, but otherwise use Astral or Nivea.

The cleansing, toning and serum-ing are what makes the difference.

I used Dr H rose cream years ago, but never tried any of their other problems. I do tend to trust not-heavily-advertised German/French brands though.

Thank you! furiously scribbles down names

Try a cleansing balm like Cliniques take the day off (my favourite) or the body shops camomile balm which lots of people rave about but I am yet to try it.

I would switch the C&P to something gentler and add the occasional acid, could be toner or mask.
If your skin feels tight after using it then it's not right.

Personally I think it's about rotation when it comes to skincare.

Like you op, I wear protect and perfect and was really REALLY happy with the initial results. Was getting loads of compliments, some in the form of ID requests almost the day after using it! I thought I'd found "the one", but as soon as my skin got used to it, the "wow" effects wore off and I lost that initial glow and noticeable difference. I also have the same with advanced night repair (EL) so I now just swap and change between the two. I've been meaning to swap back to the advanced night repair for a while now, but haven't been able to afford it So I'm back to that in-between stage, where my skin looks meh.

A good (double) cleansing routine, facial massage etc does go a long way though.

I agree with Ferret about Clinique TTDO cleansing balm - it's so gentle and lovely!

Do I need two acid toners? Will one do just in the evening? Which is the best 'starter option'?

You don't need two - I use a glycolic in the morning and salycylic in the evening. Google them both and decide which one suits what you want to target first. And wear SPF!

I've just added a salycylic acid toner on my t zone at night. In morning and on cheeks I use rose water.

Hada labo toning lotion is amazing and helps my skin slurp in the (p&p) serum and (garnier hydrobomb) moisturiser

I use Una Brennan superfacialist cleansing oil and a cloth followed by her normal cleanser with a Konjac sponge to gently exfoliate.

Sheet mask once a week and a dry clay and rose water mask once a week (sometimes I mix it with the salycylic acid toner for a spot zapping mask!) and I think I've turned a corner!

Brilliant info thank you.

Is an oil better for cleansing with a flannel or a balm?

I prefer balms because I like the thick, luxurious feel and I find they rinse easier off the palms :) But oils are nice too. Coconut oil is great and v v cheap!

I found body shop cleansing butter lovely but needs a flannel, the oils work with a Muslin cloth.

They're not all equal either: I've used a few and the Una Brennan one is far 'lighter' on the skin.

Thank you for this thread, I am a little lost with the whole skincare routine. I need to get a decent cleanser, I currently use a foam wash, toner, moisturiser cream it isn't enough

If you have blackheads I agree that a salicyclic acid toner plus a flannel wash will really make a big difference.
The rest of your routine looks nice though.