Please help a skin care virgin!

[sunshinemeg]

I'm 33. I have never really used any regime to look after my skin and I really need to start. I've recently suffered a spot outbreak which is quite unusual to be this strong, but a spot now and again isn't unheard. Around my nose is frequently dry and flaky. My skin tone is uneven and I really need to give myself a kick up the arse. I wear eye liner that I take off with a make up wipe each night, I use a dove soap and water other than that to wash my face. Please be gentle!! I am a virgin of far too many years!!

I've hopefully attached a photo of my face to help the more knowledgeable than I!

You need to ditch the wipes and buy a creamy cleanser, eye make up remover and an eye cream and pot of moisturizer.
Maybe buy a moisturiser for normal to combination skin. I have dry sensitive skin so I'm not sure what to suggest.
I use baby lotion to cleanse, I rub it all over my face and eye make up, then remove it with damp cotton wool. I then use a eye make up remover to remove the rest of my eye make up. I tend to use a clear water one rather than dual oil one.
I don't tone as my skin doesn't need it being dry, I then use a eye cream, at the moment I'm using The Body Shop Aloe Vera as I have eczema on my eye lid, then I use Astral all over my face (not eyes) and down my neck. At night I sometimes use a facial oil for an extra blast of goodness.

Thankyou buster. Any particular names/brands you recommend?

I've got to say that my skin is clear and super soft. For me the key to my skin care regime is moisture! I will always choose a thick cream over a lotion and I NEVER use wipes or facial washes!

If I were you I'd maybe try The Body Shop Vitamin E range. My friend with dry/odd spot prone skin loves it and I also think it's great quality.

I'm not an expert but I would recommend trying a cleanse/acid tone/serum/moisturise routine and seeing how you get on.

Products needn't be hugely expensive to start off with either- Superdrug do some excellent skincare products. (I don't work for them or anything! But I think they are really great at budget skincare, and I'm guessing you don't want to dive straight into suddenly spending a fortune on skincare products!)

Avoid wipes, they are a bit harsh and not very effective for cleansing. I use Superdrug's Naturally Radient or Vitamin E Hot Cloth cleansers. Massage into dry skin, then wipe away with a flannel or muslin cloth wrung out in warm water (they come with a free muslin in the box- works best if washed before first use to soften it up).

Acid tone - try Nip+Fab, First Aid Beauty or again Superdrug Naturally Radiant acid toning pads. Then a serum - this is personally what I spend the most money on, but I recently bought this on the recommendation of Sali Hughes in the Guardian, and it is very good!

Moisturiser- a cheap one will do!

Hope that is helpful as a starting point :)

Don't use wipes and never use soap on facial skin no matter what they say about it being gentle. Cleaners that foam have detergents in them that can be too harsh on the skin. You do not need and expensive complicated regime. Cream cleanser that can then be washed off with water then a moisturizer and possibly an eye cream. I would not use scrubs to exfoliate as you are experiencing dryness. 'Green People' do gentle organic skin care with no nasties in them.

I agree Vass Keep it simple. Over the years I've tried anti aging this and that, skin resurfacers, retinal stuff but at the end of the day my skin looks its best with simple products that don't aggravate it and simply moisturise and leave it looking healthy.

I'd second the first aid beauty radiance pads.

For a standard, really good moisturiser I like The Ordinary at £4.99. Seems to sell out a lot though & AFAIK you can only buy online.

I would concentrate on cleansing and exfoliation. Similar to the double cleanse recommended by Caroline Hirons. If your skin is clean is will sort itself out.

I use Liz Earle cleanse and polish to take my makeup off.
A Nip+Fab night glycolic fix night pad every day after cleansing - the night ones have salicylic acid which is good for dealing with breakouts.
Then I use the Superfacialist by Una Brennan neroli serum.
Then a moisturiser- I get whatever I fancy ah the time - at the moment it's the Nip+Fab bee sting fox deluxe cream.
I have the Nip+Fab under eye roller that I use when I feel like it and I use Nuxe lip balm every night too.
In the morning I quickly wash my face and moisturise.
I do a mask once a week, again, I'm not loyal to one specific one, just whatever I fancy trying when one runs out. At the minute I'm using the Superfacialist by Una Brennan salicylic acid mask which helps again when you're prone to breakouts.

Like you, all I used to do was a makeup wipe at the end of the day. I've been doing the above for about a year now and the changes in my skin are amazing. It's softer, brighter and I don't mind nipping out to the shop or wherever if I have no makeup on now. I'm still prone to breakouts but I think that's more diet related which is what I'm working on now.

You are right Buster. I think over time the skin can be damaged by overloading on products there are more cases than ever now of adult acne and skin problems. You have to be careful with retinoids as they can make skin too sensitve. You may get on with various serums and exfoliating now but as time goes on it could create more problems than you had to start with.

I agree with the above, less is more. Superdrug products are great value. Try a cream cleanser and/or a hot cloth cleanser, and perhaps a hydrating serum and a plain moisturiser. Use a clean flannel every day.

It might be worth trying not using any creams etc at night. Cleanse thoroughly and allow your skin to rebalance itself. I used to do this when I was a Dr Hauschka devotee and I think there is something in it - my skin became less dry and less sensitive. I still do it about one night a week.

Use an spf during the day.

Yes and no need for night creams let the skin breathe.

Thanks Vass, it's taken me quite s few years to realize a simple routine is best!

You are welcome Buster :)

Everything you need to know is here...

www.carolinehirons.com/2013/06/routines-cheat-sheet.html

Everyone has given you tons of product advice so I'll just add : spf 30 sunblock and a lot of water & diet rich in antioxidants, fermented foods, and healthy fats. Stay away from hard alcohol or other dehydrating habits. Your skin will thank you

Not everyone rates Caroline Hirons. She does things with humour and states things like it's the law which can suck you in. She is not a dermatologist and a lot of products she uses are sponsored. For some reasons she bangs on about 'The double cleanse' it's just another way to get you to spend more money with no scientific evidence to back it up and could aggravate sensitive skin. Bit of a bossy madam actually and looking at her own skin I don't think she is a good advocate of what she preaches.

Thanks everyone. I popped to Superdrug and bought a cleansing cream face wash and a cleansing cream (currently pinned under baby so can't take a photo to show) also got a moisturising serum. Ill hold off using the serum before bed but do the double cleansing and see how things look in a week.