What skin type do I have, and how can I make it better!

[Somanyillustrations]

I've ignored my skin all my life, and now it's catching up with me...

It seems oily, make up slides off easily, but I get dry patches on my forehead, as well as spots occasionally. Pores are huge and saggy, blackheads on my nose and chin. Fine lines under eyes and sides of mouth. Puffy dark circles.

I want to look younger and less tired- where do I start?!

Hopeful bump

Looks similar to mine, combination I think? It's the hardest skin type to have as it's hard to know what to use to combat both the oily bits and dry bits! I've been using coconut oil as a moisturiser recently and it doesn't seem to cause any breakouts.. Yet!

Yes, I seem to provoke it into spottiness if I try to sort the patches out, or get all flaky if I treat the greasy nose and hormonal spots... Attractive

I have some coconut oil, I've used it as a cleanser before, but not a moisturiser. Do you just leave on overnight?

Same skin as mine unfortunately, it's trial and error with most stuff.
At the moment I've been using Lancôme absolue premium bx Moisturizer and it's the best thing by far I've ever used (and I've tried a lot) but it's so expensive.
I also cleanse & tone everyday without fail which helps with my pores. Clinique 3-step programme is great, the clarifying lotion takes every bit of grease and dirt it's like magic. And it stops any spots. I'm using the oily one but there are others and I think there's a 'combination' one so that might be best for you

Just a word about coconut oil, if you have oily skin anyway then I'd avoid, it made my pores worse and skin even greasy so is a no go for me

Combination. You can buy products for this or the new thing is to use different products on different areas of your face to target different problems. Facial oil is good for all of the above even oily skin according to Grazia magazine. The Body Shop The Oils of Life os nice. I put that on last night an my skin feels and looks lovely this morning. I put it under my eyes too, The Kardashians -for what it's worth- use oils. Kim uses Bio-oil all over her face and I just read Courtney uses an oil instead of a cream for under the eyes which is what reminded me I had that oil languishing in the back of the cabinet. The No7 protect and perfect serum is supposed to be good but Ive only just started using it. Smash box pore minimising primer is great for over moisturiser but under make up. It fills in all your pores, smooths out bumps and makes your makeup go on smooth and stay on all day. It's over £20 but I use it every day on most of my face and I've had it for months.

Can't wait to hear other people's helpful tips. There's some toners like Pixi Glow, I think and another one people have suggested here before for pores. I got Liquid Gold stuff in the M&S Advent calendar which leaves your skins lovely and soft the next day.

I love the fact that autocorrect changed the spelling of Kourtney's name.

I've had a look at liquid gold and smashbox. Both look worth a try!

The lancome is totally out of my price range unfortunately!

Update: I've just washed my face (Cetaphil really cheap and super gentle and used by Jennifer Aniston - can you tell I'm a trashy magazine junkie? ) and my skin feels utterly soft and lovely, That facial oil seems to work. I'm going to do this more regularly now.

I usually wipe the coconut oil off after a few minutes which is what I read you're supposed to do if you have slightly oily skin.

Ahhhhh - welcome to the combination club! The crappest form of skin to deal with! I would recommend going to see and beautician (who sells some really decent products - I would recommend dermologica but it's rather expensive) and have a facial. You need to start a skin care regimen i.e. Cleanse, tone and moisturise.

Once you have that sorted then I would look into some decent makeup - all mattifying! I use Clinique foundation and always use a finishing powder. Oh and my final tip is to use a makeup setting spray, I'm currently using an urban decay one but L'Oréal do one that is ok too!

Good luck

Right, I've found some rosehip oil in the cupboard, would that be ok?

Have been looking at the Caroline Hirons site, and I'm lost

Thinking to try to cleanse, then use a toner ( would clearasil pads be ok? I have some of those too), then liquid gold, then moisturise. Does that sound right? What cheapish moisturiser do people use? Where does the oil come in in that sequence?

I'm so clueless...

I'm out in the sticks, so harder to fond a decent facial place I suppose. There seems to be so many types, I'm a bit lost by it all.

I jave recently changed my make up to double wear which seems to stick all day, but does show pores up. Have tried benefit pore professional primer, but it seems to ball up on my skin. Have ordered the smashbox one to try, and will have a look at fixing spray too.

Superdrug have Cetaphil on offer at the moment, both for oily and normal skin.

I find the Manuka Doctor products very good. www.superdrug.com/Skin/Face/Face-Oil/c/pt_skin_facial_oils?q=%3AbestBiz%3Abrand%3A412011&text=&minSel=2.0&maxSel=32.0&minSlider=2.0&maxSlider=32.0&resultsForPage=20&brand412011=on

I use the wash off cleanser. Then an oil with the moisterisor on top. Night and eye cream at night on the neck and face.

Also diet is important. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and drink a lot of water.

Haven't read the whole thread so sorry if repeating. I have similar skin. The only way to sort out the blocked pores/congestion is with a Bliss Porefector. AMAZING and worth every penny. No facials have done what this does. (And you get to see the disgusting gunk which comes out of your skin. Daily ugh). Start with that. Then Argan oil. Decent quality (£10 ish mark www.arganplus.co.uk). Use this morning and alternate nights. On the oil nights, top with Marks and Spencer Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep cream. In the morning use the oil, then any decent moisturiser (I'm currently using the Ren calming one I got in my M&S advent calendar - It was amazing this year and I am now a convert to many of the products it contained. You can pick up the sample sizes on Ebay still cheaply to try out before committing to a big spend). I use Ultrasun factor 50 ontop of these for day then just use any face powder though mineral is good (Lily Lolo, online, also do tiny samples very cheaply so you can again try before you splurge). On the other nights I use Nip+Fab extreme toning pads (I never get my face wet but tend to use any oil based cleanser, usually no7) followed (since December!) with Liquid Gold. Amazing! After years of being utterly horrified and ashamed of my skin it's at long last righting itself.
If you only do one thing though, buy the Porefector. I'd at it's a lifechanger, certainly for me and can't be replicated by any facialist (you need to use it daily or at least 3 times a week - It is quick and easy) or product.
Let us know how you get on!