Aging help

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Currently can't sleep because I'm so freaked out by my face. I turned 40 recently and I feel like I've aged over night. It has been a hard few years, I have been ill, so maybe that is why. I can't afford treatments like Botox or fillers and feel a bit overwhelmed by all the different creams available. I don't smoke or drink and my diet is good I think. No junk food. My nasal folds are horrible, I look haggard. I have wrinkles on my forehead and between my eyebrows. I feel really self conscious about my face just now, help!

Sorry you feel like this. I'm no skincare expert so can't really help that way but have you tried a fringe to cover the lines on your forehead? I know they'll still be there but I don't think there's a cream been invented that will actually get rid of wrinkles so it's more a case of camouflage.

Sorry to hear you're feeling bad. I noticed when I turned 40 subtle changes too, it does seem to happen all of a sudden. It sounds like you have a good diet - no junk food and alcohol is a great starting point. I'd keep sugar minimal, as well as drinking a lot of water. Then see if you can get some good oils in your diet, like fish oil/hemp oil, whichever you'd prefer?

Make sure your skin is well hydrated and not irritated, what skincare are you using? Perhaps incorporate an acid toner, the Nip & Fab glycolic pads are really good. Hope this helps and you're feeling better about yourself soon.

Thank you, middle of the night is not a good time to be thinking about these things!

I currently just Eucirin, one for day and one for night. My skin is quite sensitive and tends to be dry and this is the only moisturiser that I've found so far that doesn't irritate it and keeps it hydrated. I used to use a Clarins cleanser but it made my face dry so I just stopped and now I just use water. I was quite happy with just the moisturiser but now maybe I need something more. But there are so many products I don't know where to start.

Have you considered oil cleansing? I found that really helped my skin to look better - it gets the skin clean and is quite moisturising. I rub coconut oil into my face and then remove it with a hot cloth (do this twice over if I have been wearing makeup and/or SPF).

The other thing I have found that really helps (apart from cutting out booze, which you've already done) is lots of sleep.

Ps. Rosehip oil is a good, cheap treatment for the skin. The results are quite subtle, and you have to use it for a while before you see them, but I am sure it has softened and reduced my forehead and under-eye lines.

Thanks, where do you get your coconut and rose hip oil from? I would like to try that.

Sorry you're feeling this way and I've been there.
Do you get your eyebrows threaded? A defined brow can help 'lift' the eye and look more youthful. If you've never done it be prepared for it to hurt while she does it, but it's fast. Make sure to ask her to apply soothing lotion immediately after. It's about £7-10 in London but cheaper elsewhere I imagine. I only need it every couple of months but I guess that's different for everybody. Upper lip worth thinking about too.
Facial exercises?
Wearing a white shirt - white near my face -makes me look better, but again depends on your skin tone I guess.
Sleep!
Nip+Fab glycolic cleanse pads are great and nip+fab dragon's blood serum plumps the skin. Both under £10 and ofter on sale in Superdrug.

I get my oils from a company called Naissance (www.enaissance.co.uk/mobile/). I've always been pleased with their products and service. I get the refined coconut oil. I believe the unrefined one is more nutritious and so better for the skin, but personally I am not keen on the strong smell. I think the Trilogy rosehip oil is well regarded, and that The Ordinary one is probably also very good, but I buy mine from Naissance as it's way, way cheaper, and I want to slosh it on without worrying about the cost.

For the hot cloth cleansing bit, I just use Tesco value dishcloths - 75p for 5 and they are coarse enough to give me a good bit of exfoliation. Bargain! Otherwise, I think Caroline Hirons recommends Primark flannels.

Ps. You might want to do a bit of googling/ trial and error to work out if coconut oil is the ideal choice for your skin. I believe others use almond oil, olive oil, jojoba, castor, etc, etc.

YY to the previous poster's suggestion of brow threading. I find it really gives my face a lift.

Thanks, I feel better now I have some things to do. I've started some facial exercises and am researching oil. I do get my eyebrows done, literally they only thing I do! Will give the nip and fab stuff a go too.

Glad you feel a bit better, OP. Good luck with your experiments.