A basic skin regime for a 40 year old. Help me...!!

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Hi there I am quite ashamed to say that at 42 I know nothing about how to look after my skin. I use miscellar water to take off make up, rinse with water then use a basic moisturiser. I'm looking a bit, well, haggered!!

I want a basic regime but don't understand all of this Vit C, retinol, serums etc. The ordinary looks like my price bracket so please help me and tell me what to buy!!

Normal skin, oily t zone, pores but no real spots.

Tia...

I've recently been buying bar soap - for the environment etc. started using it on my face and my skin has never been better. I'm going to get some astral and stick with that and soap for a while and think it will be a game changer from what I've heard.

I'm 42 & do get compliments on my skin.

In the morning if I have time I use Simple cream cleanser, then Simple toner. If not it's just face wipes. Once or twice a week I cleanse then wash my face with Clinique 7 day scrub.
Then I apply a serum all over. I like Clinique Smart Repair serum but I also use Boots No7 Advanced Repair serum.
I then apply a moisturiser- I use Boots Beautiful Skin spf15 for oily skin which leaves my skin especially my tzone looking fairly matte.
This moisturiser isn't actually anti ageing but the serum is so I'm not worried.
Obviously if you don't have an oily skin you could use a different moisturiser but make sure it's got at least spf15.

In the evening I cleanse & tone, apply my serum then apply Boots No7 Advanced Repair night cream & eye cream.

If I'm going to spend more than an hour in the sun, even at this time of year I apply a facial sun cream spf30 at least instead of just spf15 moisturiser.
I used to use No7 but now I'm thinking of a La Roche Posay facial sun cream as it's supposed to be good for oily skin.

After moisturiser I always apply Clinique Superprimer to my tzone then Boots No7 BB cream which gives some colour. I don't really need foundation.

Elisa, what soap are you using and what is your skin type and age range?

Op the ordinary is good. I'd get the glycolic toner, a retinol product and a vitamin c. Then a basic cleanser like cetaphil and a good sunscreen for daily use.

Don't over clean - a basic unperfumed soap and water is enough. Decleor creams and oils are good - try QVC.

Go to The Ordinary website - they have different regimes recommended depending on your skin type. Choose the one you want and then order the products! They really work.

I Bought coal tar soap last time and shield this time. I wanted Dettol soap but they didn't have it.

I'm 37 but people that don't know me always think I'm about 25 when I first meet them.

I'd say my skin is normal, not oily or dry, even in the T zone. No wrinkles.

I used to use face wipes then I switched to one of those make up remover cloths that only need water. Now use soap in the shower.

My face would fall off if I washed it with Shield or Dettol soap on it. That's too 1950s for me.

I like to hot cleanse with an oil cleanser followed by a rich cream cleanser. Gets every speck off but leaves my face feeling lovely and moisturised.

OP, my advice would be to introduce any actives (glycolic, vit, c, retin etc) one at a time. You don't want to overload your face and end up with extremely sensitive skin.

Start off with a cleanser, a glycolic wipe (Nip Fab or the cheaper Naturally Radiant ones from Superdrug) and then a moisturiser. See how you get along with a simple routine before making it more complicated.

And be careful of Astral, OP. I rarely have a reaction to lotions and potions creams but Astral made my eyes so itchy it was unbearable. It's so cheap though that it's no big loss if you don't get on with it.

The Superdrug vitamin E range is very good and so cheap.

I use a mild, sensitive skin bar soap.
Advanced clinicals brand vit c/ferulic acid serum, and a collagen moisturizer. Every 3 days I swap vit c for retinol. In the summer I'll add a sunscreen.

I use the clinique facial wash and toner and a variety of different moisturisers. Occasionally use the clinique scrub. I also have some oils I use if I feel the need (can be bothered).

Hi op, I’d start with washing your face well. IMO, you ought to be using a clean flannel (1 per day) and warm water with a cream cleanser - Superdrug do a hot cloth one that’s cheap and great. Wash in the morning and at night, then chuck flannel in the wash. Ikea are great for cheap bundles.

I use an acid after my face wash in the pm, then a good thick night cream. In the mornings I wash, apply serum, then moisturiser. On sunny days I use SPF 50 too.

As pp’s have suggested, I’d start cheap and work my way up, and try one thing at a time. I think cleansers should be cheap as they don’t stay on the skin, but I do spend more on the other stuff when I can. Sali Hughes did a good write up on The Ordinary a while back that’s helpful, or Caroline Hirons reviews it too.

Drink tons if water too op, and try to go to the sauna/steam room regularly if you can.

Morning
• Garnier honey cleansing milk
• Superdrug B Spritz (three different versions) or Superdrug B Refreshed essence or Clinique Moisture Surge Spray
• Garnier organic moisturiser (tube) or Clinique moisturising jelly with the appropriate cartridge

Evening
• Superfacialist vitamin c cleansing oil (often 1/3rd off), remove with clean, wet flannel
• Superdrug B Refreshed essence
• Superfacialist Probiotic night cream (often 1/3rd off) or Elemis Superfood Night Cream (little skin shop is cheapest)

Im 43, and have to say my skin improved greatly just from the bar soap and vit c serum. Its very much worth it.

I am 40 and in the last year have been using This Works light time cleanse and glow with vit c (takes 1 minute) then in transit skin defence moisturiser with factor 30 spf. Skin looking much more radiant.

Morning: wash with water, simple spf30 facial moisturiser, Roche Pose spf 30 bb cream.

Evening: Waitrose hot cloth cleanser (or similar hot cloth cleanser) I like to wash my face, even If I use a cream cleanser. facial oil.

I’m 52, have normal to dry skin and a few pores. I think I look ok. As you can see though, I don’t understand retinol, vitamin C or serum.

Thank you all so much. I haven't a clue about looking after my skin I'm ashamed to say

The vit c and retinol greatly reduced lines, and brightened my complexion. I had to ease into it, though, it can get a bit sensitive to start with.

I’m 42 and happy with my skin. I keep a very simple routine. Lots of water, no alcohol, low sugar, no cigarettes. Plenty of exercise (I’ve only been doing this in the last 6 months and this has made a massive difference) as the blood circulation improves and skin looks less palid. Hot yoga is the most incredible thing for the skin. I don’t believe you can achieve sustained good skin just with external potions. Diet and fitness are important.

Daily, I use Hada Labo HLA serum (google it - great reviews) plus a thick emollient cream by Mustela (you’ll find it in the baby section of pharmacies - it’s the most nourishing cream ever).
Once a week I exfoliate with Apri scub and use Nip and Fab glycolic pads - really amazing stuff.

When I’m doing my make up, I use Sisley Black Rose cream - ££££ but one of the best creams I’ve used.

Also I take Perfectil vitamin and high strength starflower oil supplements. Not sure they have any effect but the latter help with hormones and are supposed to be good for skin. So, tackle skin from different angles.