I want to start really looking after my skin - tips please!

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

OK so in a nutshell, current routine is:

• Whatever 'face wash' comes up when I search 'face wash' during my tesco online shop - currently a grapefruit thingy, used every few days in the shower with my spinny face brush thing. Too-hot water probably, as often my skin ends up very tight.

• When skin is feeling too tight, as mentioned above, I put on some moisturiser, either Simple or 'Nivea Light Moisturising Day Cream', which actually feels very heavy.

• Use the blackhead extractor tool if I ever have any (rarely at the mo).

Not sure what type of skin I have, how do I tell?

In between my 2 pregnancies my skin was truly awful, both dry and wrinkly and teenage-spotty, so that wasn't ideal. I think I was lacking some vitamins. Now I'm pregnant again it's all lovely and nice so I'm assuming whatever my body is producing now is something I'm lacking usually.

Rarely wear makeup day-to-day but if I do I usually don't take it off til the morning.

Age 27.

I think the main place to start is actually finding some nice products and getting into a routine, and using an SPF daily.

Should I do day/night creams? Oils, acids???? Micellar things? I am pretty much clueless. I don't want to spend tons, I guess I'm probably looking at mid-range. Maybe I just need a few good quality products.

I had a spell in between my pregnancies of using La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, which seemed good and cleared my skin up (doesn't need clearing anymore). Also tried Pan-Oxyl but that did nothing but bleach my towels and I think that's meant to be a short-term thing anyway.

Very grateful for any guidance!

You need Caroline hirons cleansing cheat sheet. Google it.

Caroline Hirons here too!
I always had goos akin without putting in any efforts, but once I stopped breast feeding my first son, I went through skin hell! That's when I discovered Caroline.

My only advice would be to take it slow... She recommends a lot of products and it is tempting to go and buy the whole lot in an attempt to get fabulous skin. Don't do that as you don't know what may or may not suit your skin... So try one thing at a time. I learned the hard way!

Also google the oil cleansing method. It completely changed the way I clean my face! Caroline also recommends cleaning with an oil based cleanser, but this method used pure unrefined oils.. May seem weird washing your face with oil, but it works

That's good skin.. Not goos akin!

I am older, 40, but have always been lazy with my skin. Now I wear makeup to work I've made a simple routine that's made a big difference.

1. Cleanse properly while bathing toddler. He 'helps'.
2. Half the time I will also do a quick exfoliation. The trick is to have both items close to hand!
3. Use a nice moisturiser at night.
4. Morning - put a quick moisturiser on after shower, then brush teeth (to let is settle in) before putting on makeup.
5. Sunday night facemask night. I buy single use ones, especially the Korean style paper ones, or whatever single use one I like the look of.

It's hugely improved my skin. I notice quickly if I get lazy and use makeup wipes for a few days, or skip the under makeup moisturiser especially. And the various masks really brighten up the skin.

All cheap stuff. I have some samples of really nice night cream in a tiny pot. When that runs out I'll consider if I will invest in night cream.

Always take your makeup off at night!!!
Even if you're completely exhausted and/or tipsy, swipe a few cleansing wipes over it and you'll thank yourself in the morning.
Also, drink ALL of the water. It makes such a difference and costs nothing

Cleanser: something gentle and non-foaming so it doesn't strip the skin. Lots of people like Cetaphil, Aveeno is good too. I did spend a bit more on La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser but it should last ages as it's a big bottle.

I've recently started using a Hyaluronic Acid for hydration and I think it's made a big difference. The first few times in particular I just felt my skin "whooshed" it up with grateful thanks! The Ordinary do a 30ml bottle for £5.90 but you only need 2 drops each time. Another brand that's recommended a lot is Hadalabo Hyaluronic Acid It's £10 but 170ml so it works out a lot cheaper than The Ordinary one and a very good hydrating product.

They also do something called Buffet (£12.80). It's a general all-round serum with peptides, anti-ageing stuff like Matrixyl and again, you only need 2 drops each time (AM and PM) so it will last quite a while. After I've used these 2 products I feel like my skin doesn't even need moisturiser anymore, which is very strange to me, as I always thought I had dry skin. I think now it was just v dehydrated

I've never spent anything on skincare, but I think a few carefully chosen products can make a difference and don't have to be particularly. And a good SPF.

*particularly expensive, I meant.

Thanks for all the advice!

I googled Caroline Hirons' cheat sheets and didn't find them that helpful... how the heck am I meant to know which type of cleaners will suit my skin?

Could I do something like:

Cleansing oil for second and first cleanse. Could you even just use coconut oil?? So 1x cleanse am, double cleanse pm??

Hyaluronic Acid (that sounds amazing Bagel) after cleanse - I'm assuming it's in place of moisturising?

Where does SPF come in? Just put some sunscreen on on top of all that ^^? Surely that would gunk up your skin?

Good idea to wash face while bathing children! Makes sense.

I did take my makeup off last night before bed Lavender :)

HA before moisturiser (you need both)
SPF is good, I wear it every day and use Biore watery essence off eBay, doesn't clog my skin as long as you CLEANSE AT NIGHT
Take your cleanser off with a warm flannel, you don't need scrubby things. Can use acids for exfoliation if you need them

I second LRP dermo cleanser and the ordinary recommendations

No7 do a good range, go to one of the counters and they can look at your skin type. If your oily you will normally know it and the tightness might be dry skin or just the wrong cleanser. Defo no7 hot cloth cleanser is good but better getting someone to recommend toner and moisturiser.

Never uses baby wipes to take off makeup, best to cleanse properly or at least micellar water with a pad

OK thanks! I might try and pop in to Boots or somewhere for some recommendations.

So I'm thinking I could:

am: oil cleanse, hyalauronic acid, moisturise, SPF

pm: micellar water (found some in the drawer), oil cleanse,, hyalauronic acid, moisturise

Sound ok?

I did used to do hot cloth cleansing, was nice. I guess you can do that with an oil cleanser too? My mum gave me a spare Bobbi Brown Oil Cleanser a few years ago, I really liked it but half of it spilled in a house move and I was too cheap to replace it

I've been making my own for two years.
A tin of lavera cream, shea butter, coconut oil, frankincense essential oil and a capful of whatever I have in, neem, jojoba, avocado, vit e , wheat germ etc

Exfoliate twice a week. Always remove make up with a hot flannel, put in cream ...morning an d night.
I just blot if. Abit oily before make up.
65 and skin is quite good.

Bendy oil cleanse in the morning might leave your face too greasy and will block other goodies/serums that you're trying to get to go into your skin.

I would use the Micellar water to quickly cleanse or just wash with water. Then on damp skin, put 3 drops of HA, let it dry for 30 secs, then put on any other serums, moisturisers or oils. Lastly sunscreen.

PM you could use coconut oil to cleanse, but I'd think you might need to double cleanse, then HA, moisturiser etc

While you use skin treatments, it is also important that you have nutritious meals/food too. Try consuming more fruits and vegetables. Have more of papaya, beets, tomato juice, pumpkin seeds, avocados and also lemon in your meals. Even some Vitamin E tabs is sure to help.

I do eat a good diet actually, usually have a big salad for lunch every day and love fruit and veg in general. I don't stop drinking water either. Funnily enough though, now I'm pregnant I'm eating a lot LESS F&V and my skin is better that ever

Off out to Boots now!! Excited!