Have I left it too late

[LegoBitcho]

Just turned 41 and it's like the wrinkles appeared overnight

I had been reading about retinol for about 6 months but didn't actually do anything until about 2 weeks ago when I bought some face cleanser and started using it and tonight applied retinol for the first time.

The wrinkles aren't deep but my forehead and mouth (I don't even smoke!) have made me feel my age.

Please tell me I haven't left it too late! I've read such good things about retinol 🤞

I have (genetically) very good skin at 60, some laugh lines but nothing else. Two years ago I saw a dermatologist for a suspicious looking mark on my nose. The mark was nothing, fortunately, but as an aside he offered me a retinol prescription for what he described as overall skin texture. Even at my age, and with relatively wrinkle free skin, the difference has been amazing. Everything is just more refined, somehow - skin looks smoother, pores look smaller etc. Be aware though that it’s prescription only in the UK, and for cosmetic use rather than acne you will probably need a private prescription. But it lasts forever, because you only need a small amount, and I only use every second day. And you MUST, no exceptions, use sunscreen every single day when using it. I now buy an annual supply over the counter in Europe.

I would continue with the retinol. If after a couple of months you don’t see the improvements you want consider seeing a cosmetic skin specialist. There are lots of non surgical interventions that can help with wrinkles ( I found red LED light therapy worked wonders for vertical wrinkles around my mouth).

And yes, yes, yes to the sunscreen every day. The doctor I see tells me ‘there is no point in having these treatments if you don’t back it up with good SPF. You’ll just be wasting your momey’

I've been wearing spf 20 mosituriser along with spf 15 concealer for years but added spf 50 a few months ago also.

Just on another thread that said The Ordinary was very ordinary, and that's where I bought the retinol from.

I don't think I'm any good at this skincare malarkey