I want my skin to be bright and dewy

[daisygatsby]

Im 36 - and my skin is OK but lately ive been feeling it looks a bit dull. what are your tips for making your skin look brighter?

In my experience, the things that make the biggest difference most quickly are exfoliating and facial massage. What is your current routine and skin type?

I dont do any exfoliating at the moment

I do a 'double cleanse' at night with a flannel, with a couple of different products, one being the Liz Earle cleanse and polish. I also use una brennan superfacialist rose hip oil and, boots botanic facial oil, which both give good effects but not lasting imo.

I use boots botanics bb cream, maybe its time for something a bit more hard-working. am dying to get the givenchy teint couture balm as recommended by Sali Hughes

my skin would tend towards being dry, but not excessively so on my face

Watching thread with interest! I found a photo of DH and myself from about 11 years ago. We were so slim and shiny! I guess we can try and be slim but getting that youthful glow is even harder!

Water, exercise, lots of vegetables and good fats, lots of sleep, not much booze.

Only thing that works for me in my thirties, unfortunately.

Kiehls midnight recovery concentrate, I've been using it for about a month and I absolutely love it! It's made such a difference to my skin, just fantastic stuff

itmustbe ugh, thats too hard! I want a quick fix please

Acid toning has made a HUGE difference to my skin. I follow Caroline Hirons cheat sheet so - remove makeup, second cleanse, acid tone, serum, night/day cream. I use Nip n Fab glycolic pads most days as my toner and the dragons blood pads a couple of days

really sooper ? thats tempting. its very spendy though.

what about that pixi glow tonic stuff ? anyone use that

so the nip n fab pads are the acid tone bit ihate ?

Yes it's spenny I know but honestly I love it and I rarely splash on expensive creams and ting, see if they have any samples you can try first? My skin was getting horribly dry and dull especially in the morning but it's made such a difference

I'd start off with a mild acid exfoliator. AHA (so glycolic or lactic) would probably be better for you. Nip+Fab pads a good place to start. Give your face a nice massage with your second cleanser in the evening. YouTube has loads of videos on this if you're not sure.

If you like BB/CC type products, I can really recommend the Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging CC cream. I don't really use it for anti-aging but it does feel lovely on, gives light coverage and glow. I love it. Otherwise, an illuminating primer under foundation or on it's own works wonders.

I have both the Givenchy Balm Couture and Pixi Glow Tonic. Wouldn't repurchase either. The Pixi Glow Tonic is fine but the pH really isn't low enough to be a proper exfoliant so I'd go the Nip Fab route as long as you're not sensitive to anything in that (fragrance has ruled it out for me ). The Givenchy is nice and all but it's slightly matting and nothing special, I prefer my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser and only grab for the Givenchy to mix it into the LM TM to get a teeny bit of extra coverage (but mostly to finish it up).

I've just finished the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I've used it on and off for years, it's nice, a good blend of oils but there are others that I prefer but they tend to be pricier so I alternate. It really calms the skin down and makes you look very healthy by morning, it's the thing I grab when my skin is being a pain in the ass. I would just advise unless you're oily skinned I wouldn't cleanse with cleanser in the morning, just wash with water instead since you tend to remove all the good it's done otherwise. Ask for a sample they're really helpful with those at Kiehl's.

OK am sold on the nip and fab pads then and will see if i can get a sample of the kiehls

thats interesting about the givenchy botemp , might have a look at something else then.

and must must must get on the water - i used to be so good at it but have got out of the habit

I'm trying out the Shiseido Synchro foundation currently and it is really nice, someone else on here recommended it as a much improved version of Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua. It's not super shiny but not matte either, has a surprising amount of coverage while still looking very much like skin but you just look really healthy with good skin.

I'm a bit of a cheapskate - I do an aspirin facepack once a week and it makes my skin glow as much as it's going to (I'm 45). Just pulverize 4 or 5 aspirins, add some olive oil, put on face for 10 minutes or so avoiding eye area, and wipe off with flannel. Worth a try!

I'm not bowled over by the givenchy thing either. Nice enough but not worth the cost.

Lancs, have heard of that and keep meaning to try. Do you know what it is about the aspirin which gives the glow. I always thought that zinc was supposed to be good for this kind of effect. Does the aspirin make your face tingle?

mix rock salt, sugar and olive oil. face scrub with that (gently!) until you cheeks are pink (technical name: erythma, basically increased blood flow to the cells) obviously avoid eyes etc. any kind of oil overnight is a good shout. Also Simple do a really good illuminating lotion about £6 or thereabouts - I use it on its own or add a touch to my foundation and makes a huge difference. I get compliments all the time when I use it. I'm 44 and I trained beauty therapist so I've tried most different brands, natural ingredients works just as well and costs nothing.

Cheap as chips and works almost instantly- I'm 36. I use bio oil day and night. Nivea blue tin at night or aloe gel and Nivea. Don't have a single wrinkle yet and my face is dewy so it works I guess.

You know these new essences? Slightly more viscous than water toners.

I had a Bobbi Brown sample and read somewhere that you can mix wth a drop of facial oil and press into skin and it works, gives you a very glowy skin.

I bought a Foreo Luna about a year ago and I have noticed a real difference in my skin, you use it with a foaming cleanser and it massages and cleans your skin leaving it glowing straight away. I would definitely recommend.