catgirl1976
I’m half tempted to get you to delay your fillers appointment. Not that I’m against fillers if you want them but I think a few weeks of proper and consistent skincare and especially cleansing properly may help address the issue without the price tag.
Where to start
The basics: Keep your face away from the shower water, it's too hot. Baths aren’t any better. All skincare cleansing happens at the sink. Tepid water, clean flannel every day. Wash hands before starting routine. Acids and retinoids need to be introduced slowly, some purging may occur but should not continue, nor should continued irritation with any product. Generally introduce products slowly (cleansers are exempt from this), 2 weeks apart.
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 first 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 based gentle cleanser
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.
Order of product in a skincare routine:
AM
Gentle (cream) cleanser
Serum to address specific need, eg. hydration, anti-ageing, acne, etc.
Moisturiser
SPF
PM
Oil based cleanser
Gentle (cream) cleanser
Acid toner
Serum to address specific need
Moisturiser and/or facial oil
Specifically for you, anti-ageing, relatively resilient skin, combination with dehydration routine when fully kitted out:
AM
La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser (take off with a flannel or rinse off if preferred)
The Ordinary Vitamin C 23%
The Ordinary Buffet
LRP Toleriane Fluid (whilst still available, not the Ultra though your skin probably won’t have issues with that one). Alternatively, the Face Theory Signature M1 moisturiser.
Biore Watery Essence SPF or LRP Anthelios Fluide SPF50
PM
Clinique Take the Day Off balm or oil (Bodyshop Chamomille Cleansing Butter is a cheaper alternative)
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (get the travel size and use on oily and blemish prone areas only, 2-3x a week up to (every other) day according to need)
The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2%
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc
LRP Toleriane Fluid, alternatively, the Face Theory Relaxing Night Cream M10
An AHA (as opposed to only a BHA) may be of interest too long term, I always rec the Biologique Recherche P50 but you could try others that are glycolic based.