Please design a skincare routine for me!

[juniperjune]

I'm feeling a bit loss, I have a skincare routine but I think it has the potential to be better so would appreciate some help a s guidance!

My skin is congested with large pores and blackheads. It is oily in the t zone. Apart from this it is fairly clear with just the odd spot on my cheek or jawline. I am 39 but don't have many lines, though I do have brackets around my mouth which appeared when I lost weight. I have some broken veins too.

At the moment I hot cloth cleanse with superdrug stuff and a flannel then apply a mixture of stuff I've bout cheaply or got in a beauty advent calendar

I would like advice on a good SPF, serum, night cream and any of the ordinary products, I don't quite understand if I use them as well as or instead of my current products.

Thanks!

Not a skincare expert but this is what I do and it does seem to help

Every morning I use
Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser followed by a toner (I like the Garnier rose water toner), then L'Oreal revitalift serum, nip&fab bee sting eyecream and Elizabeth Arden's face cream with SPF 50.

3 times a week I use a face scrub - I like Garniers, it's effective without feeling harsh. I then follow this with Clarins toner and treatment oil.

The other 4 nights, I remove make up with Garnier Micellar water, then use the hot cloth cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream and Olay 7 signs night cream.

I don't use the ordinary products, because I also don't understand them!

Thanks for your help, that's really useful! I will look into getting some of these, i like that you have a good consistent regime, I think this is what I need!

Have a look at the Caroline Hirons blog and cheat sheets.

I would recommend exfoliating with an acid (salicylic or glycolic) rather than a scrub. Double cleansing has really helped me also.

Retinol might be something you want to incorporate into your night time routine, I use the beauty pie one but there are loads of other available. I'd say keep it simple, with a good cleanser, toner, serum and moisturiser, both morning and night with an exfoliator a couple of times a week. I agree Caroline Hirons has loads of fab advice, as does Nadine Baggott.