Facial Care...Help a Newbie

[Abrahamkin]

Up to now I have been very relaxed about how I take care of my skin (read: have done basically nothing). However, now that I am well into my thirties I can feel that I need to up my game. I don't even know where to start though! I was hoping if I say what I am doing, you guys can help lead me to what I can do better?

The products I have at the moment are a mask (leftover from my wedding...some 5 years ago!) which I have started using before my bath around once a month. I have an exfoliator, which I use also around once a month in the bath. Should I use an exfoliator after my mask? I have a toner, which I mostly remember to use same day of the mask but after the bath. Then I have a moisturiser, which I use when my skin feels tight (sometimes every day, sometimes once a month). And I have just discovered I have a cleanser I had forgotten about and can't remember when I used to use it.

So help me out here! What should I be doing? And what products do you recommend? I'm happy to buy new products, but not really looking for a long routine as I know I won't stick to it.

Cleanse with a facial wash or micellar water, follow with toner, and moisturiser (with a SPF 30 or above for the day). Exfoliate once a week, before mask. Sounds like your mask needs binning at 5 yrs old. I use a Lidl face wash, garnier micellar water, and spend a bit more on a moisturiser. Currently using Clarins, but often no 7.

Wash, moisturize, and then protect with sunscreen. If you're worried about skin aging, invest in a prescription tretinoin.

@SpongeBob: I'm quite sure the mask needs binning but it's what I had when I started this around 2 months ago. I plan to invest in new stuff once I understand what I need. What kind of a facial wash would you go for? I can see there is exfoliating, purifying etc. The exfoliator I spoke about is a facial wash really I can see now.

So facial wash - toner - moisturiser for daily
exfoliate - mask - daily routine for once a week.
Is that correct?
And look into tretinoin prescription.

Cleanse
Vit c and SPF in morning
Retinol at night
Cerave for when you need it
Acid tone once or twice a week

I would think about what type of skin you have too, this will help with identifying the best products. I have oily/combination skin so certain products to clog up my skin and make me break out. I just cleanse and tone and moisturize very rarely. I know that isn't great but I can't afford a good moisturiser for oily skin and everything just gives me loads of spots. Which isn't great at 30.

I always thought I had oily skin. But lately I'm getting dry patches especially on my forehead in this colder weather. SO I'm actually a bit confused on what skin I have.

With moisturiser I find if I put on a lot my skin fills clogged up. I have to put on a very tiny amount. But if I put nothing on I end up with flaky skin!

I get a dry t zone in the winter months so just moisturize my forehead and the bridge of my nose.

That's what I seem to have @MrsL2016. A dry t zone. I will keep on moisturising (though not too much).

I would start with something simple.

This face wash: www.superdrug.com/Garnier/Garnier-Micellar-Gel-Face-Wash-Sensitive-Skin-200ml/p/726540?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=garnier%20gel%20wash&utm_campaign=GAR-icrossing-skin-ex

This face cream:
www.superdrug.com/Skin/Face-Skin-Care/Face-Cream/Day-Creams/Olay-Regenerist-Lightweight-Day-Cream-SPF30/p/747619

And an acid exfoliator a few times a week.

Sounds like you probably have combination skin, without actually seeing it. Face wash above sounds fine.