Which products have made a noticeable difference to your skin?

[Bellasblankexpression]

Mine is looking dull, tired and lacklustre and I have a lined forehead. It’s also not that even complexion wise... I’ve found using a vitamin c serum makes a marked difference but wondered what everyone else swears by for their skin - and what your skin type is!

Prescription retin-A, nothing else comes close in terms of actual difference made. I've only been using it for a little while, but the difference has to be seen to be believed.

I thought I'd perfected my skincare before, but retin-A takes it to a whole new level.

Other than that, using an occlusive as the last step in my skincare routine at night, I cover face in Vaseline.

Using glycolic acid toner.

Double cleansing with African black mud soap.

Using a facial oil, my current one is jasmine infused, smells amazing and is brilliant for my skin.

My skin was dry but prone to breakouts of spots, now its just perfect all the time, completely even toned, soft and slightly satin/dewy, glowy, not oily or dry, I never get spots anymore....I could go on all day.
It's truly amazing to have flawless perfect skin all the time, its the first time in my life I've had amazing skin and I am still surprised every time I look in the mirror. It also seems to make all my outfits look much, much smarter.

Olay whip is really good

Oh yes, and niacinamide at some point in my routine, my moisturiser is niacinamide rich, and my setting spray has it in too. Really amazing ingredient!

I use superdrug vit E range and a NuFace mini every night

@EatenByDinosaurs is there a brand of retin A or did you see a derm?

Retinol. I buy the ordinary 1% and swear by it. You have to build up tolerance tho. I also use glycolic acid toner. No more wrinkles 👍👍

@stayfit I'm in the US so I just got my Dr to prescribe it, I have Tretinoin.

If you're in the UK I think you have to order it from Spain or Portugal? There was a thread recently where posters were discussing where they ordered it from. I think the brand/trade name there is Retrides

Also, I went straight onto prescription strength without ever touching any kind of retinoid before and I've been absolutely fine, bar a minor purge and a teeny bit of flaking around my nostrils in the second week.

I was careful to build up from twice per week, and only use it three times per week now. Didn't want my face looking like a dinosaur's butt

Last thing, in case its not obvious, as it wasn't to me...

Retin-A, the prescription only stuff, comes in strengths such as 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%

Retinoids, like The Ordinary 1% one are over the counter and are much much weaker.

Don't think you can go from using one of The Ordinary 1% ones to a max strength prescription one. That's not dinosaur's butt territory, that's Joker from Batman territory. Your face will fall off

Argh, final edit, that should be don't think you can go straight from over the counter retinoids to max strength retin-A. As fern says, you need to build up to it.

Blue Nivea and Muiji essence underneath. Korean aloe moisture face masks.

Mine are glycolic acid. Soothes, smoothes and brightens my skin. Seems to make the redness from my rosacea fade too.
I love the nip and fab pads.

Also, kikumasamune high moist lotion which is really an essence. It's Japanese, and plumps, hydrates and brightens your skin like nothing else.

I love the Etude house soonjung range. Especially the relief toner and cica balm. They contain panthenol and madecassoside, which my skin adores for it's calming and soothing affects. Both leave my skin hydrated and soft, and I pat on a couple of layers alongside with two more essences morning and night.
Softer skin, smaller pores and less dry, flaky areas are the results.

Other essences I love are Pyunkang Yul, a Korean essence, Hada Labo, and Cosrx snail mucin 96. All are fabulous at adding moisture and softness to the skin.

For my occlusives, I rotate Weleda skin food, natural shea butter and vaseline.
None of these make me break out, and all help calm any irritated area, and soften the skin. The glow in the morning is wonderful to see.

Lastly, coconut, grapeseed, hemp or avocado oil to oil cleanse. My skin rapidly shows the benefits of this, and any blackheads disappear and new ones just do not form. Flaky skin is removed along with the oil, and foundation, concealer and powder all disappear.

I'm currently going to start a new vitamin c serum (Rohto Melano CC Concentration Measures Essence), and I'm looking forward to brighter skin and faded pigmentation.
I have heard good things about this serum, and I can't wait to try it.
My fingers are crossed!

Estee Lauder moisturiser Day Weae gives me a quick glow, I fell in love with it from using samples a few weeks ago. About to embark with acids but the EL has helped get me started with my natural glow

@EatenByDinosaurs

I know it's a big ask but what products are you using (oils etc)? I'm so lost with brands that I actually need spoon fed info. 😳

@dontfluffthefluffer not a big ask at all

So I use (in this order):

African black mud soap - just an all natural one from the local health food store.

Rosewater toner - just rosewater from the cooking aisle.

Facial oil - Measurable Differences Jasmine Oil.
They also do a Honeysuckle Oil which is supposed to be amazing. I get this from Amazon and its pretty cheap.

Hyaluronic acid - I use The Inkey List's Hyaluronic, cheap and one of the best I've tried.

Moisturiser - Pond's Clarant B3 facial moisturiser.

Sunscreen - Canmake Mermaid Gel, brilliant and cheap on Amazon.

Then in the evenings:

Same with the black mud soap then either...

1. rosewater toner, retin-A, wait one hour, facial oil as above then layer of Vaseline all over face and neck.

2. glycolic acid toner (The Inkey List), facial oil, hyaluronic acid, moisturiser (all as above) and Vaseline as above.

Some people think a facial oil should be the last step in your routine, but my derm is very pro doing it first and it works much better for me doing it first. Like all skincare, its very much YMMV, and finding what works for you.

As I see it, retin-A, glycolic acid, facial oils and an occlusive as a last step (vaselins in my case) give you the flawless, perfect skin, with retin-A being the big gun.

Hmm, just thinking that may not actually be that helpful dontfluff as I'm in the US and I don't know whether its all available in the UK (assuming that's where you are). If I can help more, or you want alternative easier to get hold of suggestions just let me know

@EatenByDinosaurs

Thank you!!! I'm off to google (using the word alternatives 😂)

My skin is just abysmal just now, spotty and dry as the Sahara so really need some kind of structure.

You're welcome dontfluff , I often search Reddit for alternatives, so google "alternative for xyz reddit" as here is usually an absolute font of knowledge there. The skincare threads on here are brilliant too

Eve Lom hot cloth cleanser is the one product that makes a marked difference to my skin. No other hot cloth cleanser compares to it.
It makes my skin smooth, clean and healthy looking.
A retinoid product will make a huge difference on lines and overall clarity of the skin (Caroline Hirons did a series on the various types - available on YouTube, it might be useful to watch).
A good night sleep definitely makes my face look better in the way everything ‘sits’ it’s more defined and skin looks plumper.

Thanks @EatenByDinosaurs, I tried retinol from ordinary and the indeed labs. I didn't have any drastic improvements. Guess it's time for a prescription one for me.

face washing at night - with bar soap & flannel to really give it a scrub. followed by weleda skin food over night.

I’m shamefully lacking in skill when I comes to this and I can’t even understand half the posts above (occlusive?) but my short answer to the question in the title would have to be Charlotte Tilsbury moisturizer (the one with magic in the title). It’s been amazing for my skin, which is majorly combination and it’s rare to find one product that can sort out the dry patches as well as deal with my t-zone. It is pricey but I see real benefits. Worth seeing if you can get a sample.

Only botox will remove your forehead lines,Estee lauder advanced night repair makes my skin look better overall

This is amazing thank you.
Yes I think I will be getting Botox when I can - currently pregnant - to soften the lines as they’re expression lines I’ve had since I was 16 and they just make me look tired and older than I am!
Great suggestions I’m going to have a proper read through now, I just feel a bit lost with my skincare regime