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!

My favourite is a tiny drop of facial oil in the morning under foundation. Makes foundation smoother and glowing.

Currently using Kiehl’s Midnight Oil for that.

I caught my reflection the other day when out and thought eugh I look haggard and old! I am 44 and have fibromyalgia so am in constant pain which may be showing in my face but also think I need to sort it out.

I’m a lazy sod (I can’t even blame the fibromyalgia) so need a quick and easy routine, I don’t have a clue either I need someone to tell me what to buy

Looks like I need some retinoids?

Retinoids used in the Summer give me eczema, so I would suggest starting off gently if you’re not used to them.

If you’re currently pregnant, I wouldn’t think it a good idea to go experimenting with the more hardcore skincare stuff. Not because of harm to your baby but because your skin is a lot more sensitive in pregnancy, including to sunlight, and you could have a severe reaction. Or be extremely diligent about patch tests etc.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold (glycolic)- magic to keep rosacea at bay and tackled acne scaring quick smart
Mad Hippie Vitamin A Serum (retinoid)- just a general improvement in texture
Dr Alkaitis Elixir (night oil)- glowiness in a bottle, lasts a whole year
Evolue Hydrating Serum (hyaluronic)- plumpy plumpy plumpy plumpy plumpy

@sycamore54321 you're completely right - recently had my hair done after I reached the 12 week point and because of hormones my usual colour didn't take so is a lot darker! So I'm not going to start messing with hardcore formulas, pretty sure you can't use retinoids or retinol during pregnancy, but I'm getting together a list that I naively believe I will have time to use next year

Child’s Farm unscented moisturiser, £4 a bottle and it cured my rosacea where antibiotics and soolantra had failed.

A good diet will have more impact on your skin than any product no matter how pricey or cheap they are!

drjackson.co.uk/collections/skincare/products/02-night-cream-50ml

www.sr-skincare.co.uk/salicylic-acid-peel-152-p.asp

www.lancome.co.uk/skincare/by-product-category/cleansers-toners/tonique-confort/127053-LAC.html

Out of everything and I switch between a lot of different products, those three I can pinpoint a real positive difference.

I swear by niacinamide from NIOD followed by their hyaluronic acid. That's after an exfoliating toner and before moisturizer. I use a cheap moisturiser from Cerave which is very good. Dont like to splash out too much on moisturizers, I think their benefit is limited and are useful mainly for "locking in" what goes on beforehand. Although I do use a pricey eye cream (in desperate hope)!

Now and then I use a Vit C serum at night instead of the niacinamide/hyaluronic. I found a good one by Timeless, which is inexpensive and doesn't sting/itch.

In winter I go full on Retin A at night and niaicamide/hyaluronic in the day.

My skin is 55 years old and combination. I'm very happy with the condition now. Saw photos of myself in my 40s and skin was dreadful, although that was due to having 3 younger children and resultant lack of time/money.

Emma Hardie moringa balm at night
Alpha H liquid gold
Hyaluronic acid - quite like la Roche posay one

@fuckingtwats that's probably got a lot to answer for at the moment. I was previously very healthy and exercised a lot, but since being pregnant I've struggled with sickness so much and been very much in the beige phase! Just starting to come out of it now, so I'm hoping I can get back to a healthier place!

OMG You are all speaking a different language! I am super impressed by how much you understand your skin and what makes a difference to it.

I am mid 40s and haven't moved on from cleanse (Estee Lauder creme cleanser wash off), tone (Pixi rose), moisturise (anything, but using a Ren everyday calm one at the moment that came free with a magazine). I think it may be time ...

Would anyone in the know be able to advise me what I should be using? I am mid 40s, looking to reduce lines and pigmentation and to create a glow, I have dry skin but a greasy nose, no spots or rosacea or anything really, no sensitivities except maybe to hyaluronic acid as the Dr Sebagh that i got in my Liberty advent calendar that I was so looking forward to using made my skin very, very tight and I felt like a cross between The Incredible Hulk trying to break out of my skin and the feeling that I had an 80s style tight face mask on.

To anyone still reading, I had a sample of Occitane Divine Creme recently that lasted me four days and it was very nice indeed.

The Ordinary glycolic toner and Retinol 1 percent in squalene. Ive worked my way up to from 0.025 percent and my skins been fine.

Noticeably refined skin, smaller pores, smoother, brighter

The thing that has made the biggest impact on my skin is probably retinol, and regularly exfoliating with glycolic acid. I’ve seen a massive improvement in my skin since I started those two.

WellTidy you could try introducing a vitamin c serum, an exfoliating acid, and a retinol (not all at once!). They are sort of the power trio in skincare. Also you don’t mention whether you are already using one, but if you aren’t I would definitely start using an SPF every day, especially if you are worried about pigmentation, and especially if you want to introduce active ingredients which make your skin more sun sensitive.
Caroline Hirons is good for skincare information, she has a routines cheat sheet here: www.carolinehirons.com/2013/06/routines-cheat-sheet.html but this is a very, very full on routine, and if I used as much acid toner as she does in this routine I think my face would fall off! It’s a good general guide though. She has recently done a series of YouTube videos about retinol (as someone mentioned upthread) which are worth watching if that’s something you want to explore.

Bellasblankexpression I would be careful introducing too many active ingredients while pregnant, but once your baby is here I would definitely recommend alpha H liquid gold. It’s really good if you’re short of time because you only use it 2-3 nights a week, and the idea is that you wash your face, put on the liquid gold, and then that’s it, you don’t even moisturise. So it’s really quick and easy!

What does the alpha H liquid gold do? I actually have a bottle from a beauty advent calendar that I haven't opened because I wasn't sure what it actually was.

I used to use acids and retinol and when they worked well they were great but when they didn't 😢

I would recommend:
Am - cleansing milk or oil, essence, moisturiser, sunscreen
Pm - cleansing oil or cleansing balm, essence, moisturiser - as soon as you get home.
Before bed - Massage in face oil or a bit more moisturiser + a smidge of Vaseline on top.

Also tablets such as omega 3 oil or evening primrose oil

Also, switch to a healthier diet (lower GI, lower sugar, less gluten), drink more water and become more active.

Where do you buy your Japanese and Korean products from @Beautifullymixed ?

I think it’s time for me to start the retin A. Does anyone know how to get it in the uk without seeing a derm?

I ordered mine on line from a Spanish pharmacy, can't remember the name of it now!
I'll see if I can find it....took about two weeks to arrive, think it was about €15. Bit more than buying it there and ourself but a lot cheaper than a flight!
Start low though and once per week. I'm not using it at the mo, I'm going to start again after the summer.

Use the high street ones first (La Roche Posay is a good one).

I wouldn't start in summer though.

I just love pixi rose face wash then pixi rose toner, but my favourite is pixi rose oil blend.

Not a product but a facial cleaning device - Foreo Luna Play Plus (smaller and cheaper than the original size) you can use any facial wash with it but I use Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm (small travel pot, cheaper and lasts a while) which I rub into my face first. My skin is so soft afterwards! If you can't try certain products due to ingredients while you're pregnant it might be worth a go, I am using both these at the moment and also pregnant.

Forgot to mention both those things available on Amazon