Which products have made a noticeable difference to your skin?

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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!

Dusty I'm in the US and my Dr just prescribed it when I said I wanted it as a preventative anti-ageing measure.
He didn't bat an eyelid and has phoned every week since to check how I'm getting on with it.

I felt v daft asking, but my friends here couldn't see why, and neither could the doctor or pharmacist, they were genuinely mystified as to why I was worried I'd be thought of as wasting the Doctor's time.

thisenglishlife I purchase my Korean and Japanese skincare mostly on amazon or Ebay. I also order from Yesstyle.com too.

I have the smoothest, softest skin at the moment, and I put that down to layering the essences, facial oils, and a good occlusive.
I use my glycolic pads about 3 times a week now, and have no blackheads at all.

As well as the etude house soonjung range, I also love La Roche posay cicaplast. My skin is so clear and smooth with zero redness - and with reactive rosacea that is a marvel. My skin just really seems to love the herb centella.
For me, Asian skincare has hit the mark, (although I do love the 2% retinoid from TO), and will not part from my nip and fab pads, it is the Asian skincare products that have made the most difference.

I think unless you’ve got private health care or want to pay to see a dermatologist privately it’s certainly not NHS territory - massive underfunding & lack of resources (& even if that weren’t the case it’s not the kind of thing - I.e a ‘preventative anti-ageing measure’ that should be provided by a public funded resource, you certainly wouldn’t find a stretched underpaid NHS GP calling once a week to see if your wrinkles are looking better!!). Private led cosmetic clinics could probably prescribe though.

Facinated by the Vaseline trend though!

Thank you GingerBeer.

I think I’ll order some. I travel to Italy a lot, is it something I could buy from a pharmacy there?

I used the Ordinary’s for a while but gave up as it made zero difference.

I’m really wanting to get into Asian skincare too so think I’ll give the kikumasamune high moist lotion a try.

What do people mean by ‘essences’?

Best face cream I’ve ever used is Aldi and I’ve tried loads over the years!

Great thread! Watching with interest 🤔

I recently started using almond oil as a cleanser and it has changed my life. At first I was just using it in the evenings but I'm now regularly using it in the mornings as well. Then just a regular moisturiser. I'm using Nivea currently but I'm thinking of swapping to one of the M&S ones that Sali Hughes recommended link.

My skin is naturally quite dry and as I get older, my skin gets quite dull.

Oil cleansing. Seems counterintuitive with oilier skin but has made a huge difference to my clog prone skin. Currently using the Votary super seed one which is quite nice, but will go back to my trusty DHC after.

Tretinoin 0.1%, I use dermatica.

Glycolic acid toner. I'm still looking for the right one. Currently using bravura london in the yellow bottle, but its a bit too fragranced for me. Skin looks generally better and brighter. Texture evening out nicely.

Paula's choice bha. Keeps sebaceous filaments and blackheads at bay, in combination with the oil cleanser.

Hada labo hyaluronic the light one. Its very watery, but my skin seems to prefer it to the premium which gives me closed comedones. Plumps up my skin nicely and seems to fill the tiny fine lines that I'm starting to get around my eyes a bit.

Timeless vitamin c, e, ferulic. Skin tone has evened out loads since i started using it. Was previously using Caudalie Vinoperfect serum, which has a similar effect but is more expensive. I like both, so will probably switch it up when I get bored.

Avene tolerance extreme emulsion. My skin has always been a bit fussy with moisturiser, this only has 6 ingredients so nothing to set it off, and is light and moisturising enough for my combo/oily skin. Plus its always on offer somewhere so generally less than a tenner.

In the winter if my skin gets a bit drier i add in Caudalie vinosource sos thirst quenching serum, and a face oil at night. Currently argentum, it was a gift. Its ok, but definitely not £80 worth of OK imo. I generally use rosehip oil.

You cant use salicylic acid, or any retinoids (OTC or prescription) while pregnant. I think there are other skincare ingredients best avoided too, its definitely worth looking in to before you use anything.

Sleep
water
oily fish
50+ Sunscreen

Wow so much to catch up on.
Don’t worry, as I said in a previous post I won’t be switching up anything currently and won’t be trying anything harsh or radical while I’m pregnant, I just want to do some thorough research so I know what to invest in for when I’m not.

@BlingLoving where do you get your almond oil from?

@Funghi the brand name in Italy is Airol. I bought some over the counter in a chemist last summer. They didn’t have the 0.025% one so I bought the 0.05%, but I’ve been too chicken to use it yet. I’m using LRP which my skin tolerated fine, so I might brave it once a week after the summer and build up from there.

funghi you will love the hydration and plumpness from the kiku lotion. It's a wonder, especially if you use a couple of layers. Some people do break out from the ferments, but my fussy skin is fine. I also use it on heat rash, sore underarms, and the underboob area in the hot weather.
It heals and soothes. Just ignore the peculiar smell

Essences are watery lotions that you pat on your skin. They are slightly thinner than serums, but pack a punch with ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, centella, arbutin and niacinamide.
I usually use two or three at time, and have through trial and error found ones that do not block my pores or pill under make up.
I do still have two more in my Ebay basket to try this month (I may be slightly addicted ).
Sometimes I do not need to apply a moisturizer as my skin is so soft and smooth.

I take silica/biotin capsules, alongside with omega oils as well. I also take vitamin d3, a b complex and evening primrose oil capsules daily too. I think these do make a difference to the softness of my skin, as well as general health (including hair too).

I have been impressed with every product from La Roche Posay.

I have seen a big difference to under eye area by swiping on Vaseline at night in that area, over by eye gel. Been doing since early June. I have tried putting Vaseline all over my face but don't like the feeling.

For day cream and night cream I swear by Nivea (age 55 plus for me lol) a bargain at £3.99 in Home Bargain Store too!

Honestly it is the best I have used for a long time. They also do one for 45 plus and one for non age specific.

I started putting sun factor 50 on before my foundation of a morning also. On the advice of two beauticians.

Avon's Vitamic C serum - amazing! With their AF33 wrinkle eraser. My skin has never been so smooth, and I'm usually a spotty freckly specimen.

I really rate the Elemis products - cleansing balm and moisturiser.

I also use the Nip Fab pads which have def made a difference.

I have dabbled in more hardcore acids but I don't really know what I'm doing.

I try to stick to natural and organic products and have been using the Samantha Sona serums for the past few weeks. I have noticed my skin feels plumper and looks brighter. They're good if your skin is sensitive or you're looking for something a bit more gentle.

Kakadu Plum & Quandong Day Serum
Lilly Pilly & Bilberry Night Serum

Watching this thread with interest. I have a skin care routine that I have been doing the past few months along with a change in diet and I feel like I can see a difference.
Am - Olay firm and lift antiwrinke and firming serum
Pm - I take my make up off with a miceller water, then I use Clinique moisture surge along side 2 different Clinique eye creams that I alternate with depending on how I feel really.
One is the repair wear anti gravity and the other is the ‘all about eyes’ which is supposed to reduce puffiness and dark circles.
I’m enjoying this routine at the moment but I’m almost 34 and some of my lines are deepening and the dryness I get under my eyebrows isn’t great.
Any suggestions for deeper lines on the forehead and dry skin around the eyebrows/eyes?

Spuriouser Thank you so much. This thread is an education.

wrt organic/natural products - many contain irritants. natural doesn't necessarily mean gentle.
many for example contain essential oils which are known allergens.

@orangeshoebox You are correct, some do. However I've had a quick look at the serums and neither contain essential oils.

Wow this is super helpful, thank you princessbear and beautifullymixed.

My skin seems to prefer a simple routine. I have dull and sometimes dry skin so visited the Ordinary and came out with half of their stock. Although I introduced everything gradually, it was just too much and my skin felt raw and makeup would pile. It loves anything moisturising though so oil cleansing and the vaseline routine has been working very well for me.

I think I’ll pick up the Airol from Italy and the kiku lotion so then my routine will be:

PM: coconut oil cleanse, Airol, Kiku & Vaseline.
AM: Skin food, kiku & SPF with vit C in it.