I am happy to answer your questions metallica121 but as an aside, there's no need for the apologetic I'm a man thing. MN is not an exclusive reserve, anyone is welcome on here regardless of sex and/or possession of offspring. My knowledge about skin care came about out of interest and is fed through research, trialling, and discussing it on forums like these with plenty of male and female input. It wasn't something bestowed to me once under some dark cloak of mystery in the name of sisterhood. You've shown a better basic grasp than the average poster seeking skin care advice and you've probably had two more facials than most MNetters on the S&B boards so there really is no need for it.
Retin-A seems primarily for acne and has a long list of side effects which has made me little cautious - but will research that more.
Yes, Retin-A has a bunch of side effects which is one of the main reasons why I'm not a proponent of going it alone. The reason you'll read about it as an acne prescription is because a GP/NHS Derm can prescribe it for acne but they won't prescribe it for anti-ageing purposes. A private derm will cost a few hundred £ so the number of people who get it prescribed for 'free' vs. those that seek it out privately account for that disbalance. It's effective for both and it remains the only scientifically backed anti-ageing ingredient with a proven track record but I believe in terms of use less than 50% manage well with it.
If you are prone to sensitivities than you might be better off with retinol or simply starting with that to test your tolerance. It gets a little complicated with % though. Retin-A is retinoic acid at a certain concentration (usually starts with 0.5% then gradually built up), Retinol breaks down to Retinoic acid upon contact with skin, however manufacturers never quite disclose at what rate so 1% Retinol from Paula's choice sounds like a really high dosage, and it is pretty strong for an OTC, but it might break down to a concentration of maybe 0.1 or 0.2% or even less. In general Retinol only really sees results after 6 months so it's really a long game.
I see you have suggested retinols, Vitamin C serums, sunscreens, Acid toning, Niacinamide , peptides, EGF. As part of anti ageing prevention regimen do you suggest all or some of these or SPF + one of above?
No, I'm not suggesting using all, and certainly not starting with all, simply pointing out what are the possibilities. Most tend to use a combination of several products at different times in their routine. It really depends on what you're trying to achieve, what your skin type is, what other concerns you have, etc. For example I don't acid tone much, just a few times a week at night whereas someone with acne or very dull skin will most likely use it daily if not twice a day.
The most basic anti-ageing is just Cleanse + Moisturise + SPF. One can add retinol for reversal and repair, EGF and peptides show promise in performing these tasks with less/no irritation but lack the scientific backing and history of retinol. Niacinamide and Vit C are more like support players that boost the efficacy of other anti-ageing ingredients or make up for some of their side effects.
Lets assume you have normal skin without any specific issues a routine would be something along the lines of this:
Morning: Cleanse (with or without a cleanser), Vit C, Eye Cream (if using), Moisturiser, SPF
Evening: Cleanse (with a cleanser), Acid tone or Retinol (choose one or alternate on different nights), Eye Cream, (Niacinamide) Moisturiser.
Morning routines are always about building up protection while nighttime routines are always about restoring any damage incurred during the day.
EGF I really would only recommend if your skin is in really bad shape, eg. you've had chemotherapy, you lived your entire life under the burning sun with no SPF, a history of addiction, you've just had a really bad time of it (illness/stress) and it's showing all over your skin, you got slap happy with too many cosmetics and ruined your skin, etc. to bring you to a better starting point.Think of it as a factory reboot. I was really impressed with the Bioeffect serum but had no real need for it (received a deluxe freebie that's about half the size of a full product), it improved my skin texture immensely in a very short period of time but would have been fine without it and unless something awful happens I'm unlikely to shell out for it anytime soon.
I actually received an EGF eye serum from a different brand as a gift with purchase but it contains ingredients I can't tolerate so you're more than welcome to have it. Since you mentioned that area is your main concern it might be just the thing for you.
Peptides are the newfangled kids on the block but it's really individual as to how well they work for people.
You could consider using peptides on nights you don't use retinol as you can use it in conjunction with acid toning (if you're using one of decent strength like the lotion p50) unlike retinol. I'd be tempted to add in Vit C at night as well with the retinol as it has shown to boosts the efficacy of retinol. You may also choose to skip acid toning (or do it in the morning but due to photosensitivity less advisable) and only do retinol.
However, when starting out just start with one thing. So as soon as you get to grasps with an SPF you like move on to the next product. See how you tolerate it for about 2 weeks then add in anything else but keep it as minimal as possible. Acid toning needs to be built up gradually from once or twice a week to every (other) day, it's all very slow going I'm afraid.
Do we need sunscreen in British grey winter?
So officially I believe the national guidelines are that yes, you need to use it every day year round. The WHO is slightly less conservative and states only when the UV index is above a 3. I generally adhere to the latter (I have an app on my phone for the UV index) and tend to use sunscreen regardless of weather when I used retinol or acid tone the night before for precaution. In winter there may be days I don't use sunscreen, eg. you leave for work in the dark and return in the dark and provided you don't work in front of a giant window with no blinds it seems pointless to slap on sunscreen for those 5 minutes of possible sunshine. Rest of the year I'm pretty much wearing sunscreen (SPF50 in summer, SPF30 the rest of the year and I pretty much always wear sunglasses), you'd be surprised how often the UV index reaches above 3 despite not a ray of sunshine in sight.