@BriocheBriocheBrioche
Considering the time of year I’m expecting there will be a few requests similar to yours -pretty normal unreactive skin that can be neglected without too much issue but in recent times it isn’t as forgiving about it as it used to be and a new year makes for resolutions- so I’ll preface it a bit for all before getting to the specifics of your routine.
Skincare 101 or How to Get Started with a Proper Routine When You Haven’t Got One or Something Vaguely Resembling It
Where to start
The basics: Keep your face away from the shower water, it's too hot. All skincare happens at the sink, including cleansing. Tepid water, clean flannel every day. Wash hands before starting routine. Acids need to be introduced slowly, some purging may occur but should not continue, nor should continued irritation with any product. Generally (hard in your case I'm aware) introduce products slowly (cleansers are exempt from this), 2 weeks apart.
- In terms of informing yourself, you’re probably well on your way. The most important thing is to start mapping out the time you’ll take for yourself on the daily. The most important routine in the PM is always at the risk of being hurried or forgotten. It really is a point of it becoming a habit which it’ll become soon enough with continued use but some tricks to actually make it happen are the following:
-Tying it to dental care: cleanse first, then brush teeth etc. (assuming you’re at least dedicated to this 2x a day), then finish up routine.
-Doing your routine as soon as you get home from work/after dinner/with DC around bedtime or equivalent to have it done early in the evening around a set moment and not needing to worry about it or feel too tired for right before bed.
-Moving everything but your cleansing routine out of the bathroom so you can’t be harassed out of there during the morning rush, take time in a more peaceful setting or whilst doing other things, etc.
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In terms of tools it’s probably worth getting a set of dedicated flannels to be used once a day (I prefer the plusher top of the line ones from Primark, the ones from Ikea 10 for a pound or thereabouts are a bit rougher and not suitable for sensitive skin but may be fine for others, some may prefer muslin, etc.)
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Product wise you’ll want to find an SPF you’ll enjoy wearing on a daily basis and not an SPF in another product such as moisturiser or makeup. These are rarely broad spectrum and often don’t provide the promised coverage. You’ll want an SPF30+ in winter and SPF50 come summer time. If you can find one you like that is sweatproof great, otherwise, you’ll most likely need a separate one when spending long periods of time outdoors and/or doing exercise.
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If you can only manage the bare minimum on the daily then it should be cleansing + SPF in the AM and cleansing + moisturiser or facial oil in the PM. In saying that it’s also a good strategy to keep your routine small to start to keep it both manageable and achievable but also to avoid the inability to track possible incompatible products.
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Relegate products that aren’t working for you now to body care.
Order of things to buy and try
Phase 1: SPF + Oil Cleanser (for PM) + Cream or other gentle cleanser (for AM and possibly double cleanse if necessary/wear makeup)
Phase 2: Moisturiser and possibly a Hyaluronic Acid based serum for hydration
Phase 2.1: If at this point you still feel like you could use a bit of extra moisturiser a facial oil at night will help out.
Phase 3: Start researching Active Ingredients that will address your specific needs/help address your skincare goals eg. Exfoliating Acids, Vitamin C, Retinol, Niacinamide, etc.
Back to Brioche specifically.
30 is a bit on the youngish side for deepening crows feet, have you been a sunbather/smoker in the past? I’m half suspecting this is down more to a bit of dehydration and poor water quality than true ageing, or a combination of factors.
AM :
Generally a wipe over with bioderma micellaire water and then wash with a Caudalie foaming face wash, then I moisturise with a Caudalie cream and dab a bit of eye cream on too. Sometimes its just the Bioderma and then on with the moisturiser!
Honestly, the Bioderma + Moisturiser is probably preferable to the ‘normal’ routine (I’m assuming you’re using the pink Bioderma). The Caudalie foaming wash is not your friend in combination with the shitty French water (it’s not the worst cleanser out there but probably better for you in summer than winter considering the change in skin type with temperatures) and using it after the micellar water is effectively double cleansing in the AM which is really unnecessary especially if on the dry side. My suggestion for the AM would be:
Micellar Water followed by a spray of LRP Thermal Water (or the Caudalie Grape Water if preferred), dab off excess with a tissue if necessary (prefer this to another flannel as it saves washing and doesn’t absorb all the water like a flannel would).
A Hydrating Serum (I know there are a few French ones out there but something like The Ordinary Buffet will probably serve you well and they deliver everywhere pretty much)
Caudalie Eye Cream + Cream
SPF what do you normally use, LRP Anthelios Fluid is good for most, plenty of options out there in French pharmacies, what have you used in the past and hated/loved?
PM :
Im really bad at taking off my make up and often sleep in it (bad start I know!) when I do take it off I use Bioderma Micellaire water and then out on a bit of cream (either just a standard moisteriser or sometimes I slap a thick layer of nivea or Welda baby bum cream!!!)
Bioderma for eye makeup to be followed by Oil Cleanser - if we’re sticking to the French availability, I believe Aurora quite liked the Caudalie Oil Cleanser, not one I’d universally recommend due to the possible irritation with fragrance but you seem to tolerate it fine in other Caudalie products so doubt it’ll be cause of issue. Just massage onto dry skin (max a minute) then remove with wet warmish flannel to minimise shitty water exposure.
2nd cleanse: you have a few options here, you could make a go of it with the Caudalie foaming wash but see reservations above about time of year, you could go in with Bioderma again (though not the biggest fan of this as an actual face cleanser too much) or LRP Toleriane Dermo Cleanser, and taking in the shitty water once more, for you it might be preferable to use on a cotton pad. Again follow all up with Thermal Water spray and tissue off excess if necessary.
Buffet Serum for dehydration - not a major problem if you don’t get this in at night provided you did in the morning, this slot is also open to other targeted serums in the future once you’ve got the routine settled.
Caudalie Eye Cream + Cream and you can look into a Caudalie oil Aurora loves with a passion (but I’ve forgotten which one it was so she’ll have to chirp in at some point).
Wrt to the crow’s feet, first line of attack is daily SPF and hydration and you can also look into LRP Redermic R for eyes to try and reverse if it is indeed more than dehydration.
Wrt suffering from red flaky patches currently, Weleda Skin Food if it’s localised is good for this and also works as an incidental overnight mask as a final layer or as an instant mask - after cleansing place warm flannel on the face for about a minute then slather on Skin Food and leave for 10 mins before removing. If it's truly very dry and in need of more than incidental TLC then look towards adding in an oil to the routine.