I'm 37, it's been a very rough few years and my skin has AGED. Tell me what to buy to fix it. Pls

[Grobagsforever]

Hi all

First post in this section. Have realised my youthful bloom has completely gone due to being widowed when pregnant at 33..so nearly four years of lone parenting, grief, stress, sleepless nights have really taken their toll.

I'd like to be pretty again. Pls can someone help me by recommending a good skincare routine that will help control the wrinkles and also a foundation/other products to help me look less old and washed out!

Also any really good teeth whitening products?

I've started work on my wardrobe. Thankfully stress keeps me slim and I'm tall so I can rock the skinny jeans etc. And found a hair colour that suits to cover the bastard greys!!!

Any other brilliant ideas for transforming washed out, living in jeans and old tops, tired skin etc gratefully received!

sorry to hear of your loss, and well done for getting through it. I would recommend superdrug naturally radiant hot cloth cleaners and glycolic pads. Then a light moisturiser for day and on an evening a regional (ordinary do a cheap one) followed by a reship oil or similar, rose oil is great for plumping skin. Drink loads of water, if you can afford a brow shape and tint then go for it! you're still young, bet you look lovely to start with.

growbag so sorry for your loss. I think I remember your post back in Aibu when your DH was poorly in hospital...

what worked for me -

• double cleansing,
• decent sun block (Clinique city block or Ultrasun)
• rosehip oil
• blusher. I look like a ghost without.

-get your eyebrows sorted if it needs doing. good eyebrows make such a different. -and drinking water. I look a lot worse when I don't drink enough (I aim for 3l).

Sorry for what has happened.
Eat properly. Wear sunscreen. Get enough sleep. Don't smoke. Get exercise.

Unless it is surgery or botox, nothing works. If there was a magic cream to reduce wrinkles we would have heard. There are only so many because they are all the same - useless.

baby steps, take baby steps and before you know it you'll be looking more like you have in mind

What is good, inexpensive rose hip oil please?

Still confused by The Ordinary website

I like the green keratin rosehip oil. about £12 per bottle (Amazon) but lasts several months so works out pretty cheap.

Thanks @saison4

Rosehip oil really makes your skin glow, to be honest it's probably the stress that's doing it. My sister was widowed young and ages so much when her DH was ill and after his death. Then she met her current husband and looks so much younger and less, should I say it, haggard

theordinary.com/regimenguide

Scroll to the end of this link and there are example regimes. I started with the general signs of ageing one, then added Glycolic acid toning on alternate nights to the retanoid after reading about it all.

I have round Aldi Lacura Serum to be amazing for my glow (and I have serious health problems as well as years of stress from kids and grief). It is about £3! I have always been a designer brand addict but having to save money forced me to investigate a cheaper option and this really is superb. My skin is quite oily so I use as a moisturiser but you could layer with a thicker cream if you are dry. Drink tons of water and have a green smoothy every day.
I’m sorry for your loss OP, but I am happy you feel it is time to be pretty again. You deserve to enjoy it and whatever comes with it.

@goose1964 LOL I don't think a new husband is the answer to my looking less haggard - have you seen the state of single men in my age range 😂😂. No one is near meeting my standards ;-)

I've ordered rosehip oil and the hydraulic acid from The Ordinary. And crest teeth whitening strips...cutting down on wine...

Botox

slap some Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask on before you go to sleep. makes me feel much better towards my face in the mirror first thing in the morning.

Thanks @MelonKim but I think/hope I'm a bit young for that!

Sorry for your loss. I am a widow too. I no longer drink wine regularly and I found that my skin looks better for it. Second the comments above re exercise, water, sleep and especially good sunscreen. I don’t think that Botox is a viable solution long term. Look after yourself.

So sorry for your loss op, wonderful you feel you want to take time on yourself best of luck with it all
I’d say water and I’m about to splash out on some Estée Lauder
Revitalising moisturiser
Most expensive I’ve ever bought so better bloody be worth it

I am sorry for your loss.. I am same age as you. What (really) works for me:

1. botox (just started)
2. water (no need for 2 litres, just remember to drink throughout the day)
3. avocado+milk+honey smoothies with various add-ons (cocoa, strawberries whatever you like really). I read recently that milk is more efficient than water to rehydrate.
4. yoghurt
5. walking/taking stairs etc and if time permits a short run outside.
6. Pixi peel and polish (for exfoliation)
7. no-frills Hyaluronic serum every day
8. sunscreen every single day
9. apivita face masks for hydration/antioxidants

10. Face oils at night instead of face cream (got some of LoveLula)

generally trying to keep face products at a minimum, as I have combination to oily skin and only need to avoid dehydration. Plus I don't believe the anti-aging creams hype.

I follow Dr Lim's advice

AM: cleanse, B3 (niacinamide) serum, Vitamin C serum, moisturiser, sunscreen
PM: cleanse, Vitamin A derivative

You can use niacinamide at night as well - I think Dr Bunting says it helps the skin tolerate Vitamin A if you're sensitive.

(I believe combining ascorbic or l-ascorbic acid with niacinamide is fine, it's pure vitamin C that's an issue)

I'm 33 and just had my first lot of Botox and it has made a massive difference. It's not obvious, I just look less tired
I find using an illuminator under foundation helps, a bit of highlight and blush. Less foundation and less powder and more glowing stuff helps. A decent under eye concealer
If I look shattered then it's tempting to pile the makeup on but it can make me look worse!

Products I can recommend are nip and fab dragon's blood serum, I use this am and pm and notice my skin looking duller and not as smooth if I run out of this. La roche posay anthelios fluid is a nice light sunscreen under foundation. A cream cleanser is gentle and wiped off in circular motions with a muslim cloth dampened in warm/mildly hot water helps to exfoliate skin as well, I've used garnier, nivea and loreal ones, all are good. I like the garnier skin active moisturisers to hydrate skin.

For make-up, long lashes and a nude eyeliner such as the rimmel scandal eyes one in the waterline makes eyes look more awake. Also a little highlighter on the cheekbones and a little blush helps brighten skin and laura mercier radiance primer is good.

OP, you've made it through the hardest part, how awfully hard the last few years must have been.

My fave product of recent years has been a dermalogica microfoliant- not cheap but has lasted me over a year and that's with almost daily use. Gives soft, glowy and radiant skin - perfect base for soaking in lovely potions and applying make up.

Well so far I'm impressed by the two The Ordinary products I've tried, Hyaluronic acid and the Rose Hip oil. Skin looks smoother...