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!

Double hot cloth cleaning with any cream or oil based cleanser (currently just using olive oil to save money).

Clearasil pads to acid tone (cheap as chips but work brilliantly)

Any serum - currently using the play 7 signs of ageing one (or is it 8 songs - can’t remember)

Any moisturiser with spf over the top.

That’s my day routine - it’s cheap and it makes my skin lovely. If I stop doing it and use micellar water to cleanse because I’m feeling lazy or don’t acid tone for a few days or forget the serum it all goes to shit.

Yes @Bellasblankexpression (love your username by the way) absolutely do not go near anything retin during pregnancy or when trying to conceive.

As an aside, the Kikumasamune contains pig placenta, so if you're Muslim its probably best avoided.

Placenta containing products can have a tendency to cause breakouts (sentences you thought you'd never write) because of the hormones.
This is according to my derm, I have no experience using placenta products and I'm OK with my lack of personal knowledge .

@chipsandgin there was a long thread about Vaseline on the face recently.
On a different note, I'm not sure my Doctor calls to check the progress of my wrinkles, its more because prescription retin-A can make your face fall off if you don't use it as instructed and build up, and use sunscreen.
As I am impossibly beautiful I think he'd be disappointed if I burnt my face off and wasn't able to be living art every time I visited his office

Emu oil's my miracle product. I suffered from Rosacea for years and tried so many products which did nothing to help then I was recommended an emu oil redness and blemish control cream which cleared it up straight away. I can only get it from the States which makes it quite pricey but if I ever run out I get horrible rosacea nose which lasts until I restock.
Plain emu oil is also really useful. I use it as oil cleanser and a moisturiser. It's great for sore breastfeeding nipples and cracked dry lips, also meant to be really good on burns.

Strangely enough - I don't have much 'glow' but skin has looked much better since I pared down the skincare, use of following:-

facial wash in morning - Una Brennan's Vit C oil or Lacura Face wash
plain unscented moisturiser afterwards - currently Boots unscented
SPF50 - LRP Antihelios
Cleanse at night either with same washes or Nivea 2 in 1 cleanse and tone. Follow with toner if using Nivea - any toner.
Sainsburys Q10 night moisturiser and Vit C serum or oil etc.

I don't use serums and oils every night - rather every other night.

I also - can't believe I'm saying this as not keen on her advice - but I don't exfoliate like Caroline Hirons says not too. I use a flannel for that.

No smoking, good diet (avocados, salads, broccoli etc and the odd bit of fat e.g. cheese, yogurt).

I do use a REN Retinoid (apparently not a retinol) which I think helps a bit.

I also don't do what I used to do which is masks etc every week.

Olajs - your routine is moreorless the same than SIL's only I don't think she double cleanses.

She does use an oily skin cleanser and wipes (yes I know wipes!) and Gin Zing Origins moisturiser.

Surprisingly even though she's smoked for years and now has a 1 year old her skin looks pretty damned good for her age so must be doing something right!

Oh a final point.

DM - now 78 for years only used Nivea in the blue pot, smoked until she was 30 (from 15!) and washed her face as far as I recall with soap and water. Occasionally used Olay.

Both she and her DM (my DGM - DGM used Ponds Cold Cream) both smoked but the one thing they swore helped was sun protection in sun and try to keep your face out of the sun or with decent protection factor. My DGM had hardly any wrinkles - an avid smoker until she got ill when older! Both looked/look 20 years younger, yes with some wrinkles (we all get them). DGM stayed slim but had a good diet whereas my DM also slim but very good diet - vitamins etc.

Paula's Choice BHA

I was away from home and fell victim to advertising and bought L’Oreal Age Perfect overnight mask and developed horrible painful spots. Ugh.

wow i didn't expect so many people to reply - this is great!

OP - a final piece of wisdom from DM - since she's used L'Oreal Age Perfect or Golden Age moisturiser she's noticed this has reduced (I think) lines.

Some may disagree here but unless you really want it, don't go down the botox route for your lines.

Thanks cat I don’t really want them gone completely they’re just getting me down now. I’m not sure any cream will help as they are quite deep expression lines but I’m willing to give anything a go!

have you had your eye sight tested?
getting glasses reduced my 11 considerably

Im 42. I find that using Clinique Smart Repair serum under my moisturiser really helps even out my skin as it was getting a bit dry.

I've also started using No7 Protect & Perfect Moisturiser.

With these products my skin has a nice glow.

Yes I have all fine - sadly I just have a very expressive face!

So much brilliant stuff here, thank you all!

Could somebody kind please like to the Kiku lotion that lots of people mention? I don't know where to start but it sounds like a must!

A good review for you Lucking,
kikumasamune - you can purchase it here.

A good basic serum/essence to try is the Hada Labo hyaluronic serum.
Another favourite is the Pyunkang yul essence toner - the dog's bollocks for soothing irritated/dry/dehydrated skin.

Placenta extract

Grim.

www.yesstyle.com/en/kiku-masamune-sake-brewing-japanese-sake-skin-care-lotion-moisture/info.html/pid.1055034040?wgu=1596_54264_15635654785451_56f6305892&wgexpiry=1566157478&utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=Affiliates&utm_term=54264

@Luckingfovely

Kiku lotion

Major Ingredients:
Water, glycerin, BG, rice fermented liquid, glutamic acid, arginine, leucine, ceramide 3, ceramide 6 II, placenta extract, arbutin, glycyrrhizinic acid 2K, soy protein, maltitol, methyl gluceth-10, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxy Ethyl cellulose, (styrene / alkyl acrylate) copolymer Na, citric acid, sodium citrate, phenoxyethanol, methyl paraben, perfume

Placenta extract.

Yeah, placenta extract. Which is from actual pig placenta, its not some lab grown cells, or plant derived stuff

My skin is at its best using Ponds cold cream cleanser. As it's quite oily I just use it at night, remove with a hot flannel followed with a little moisturiser (usually Nivea). I use a cleansing milk in the morning before makeup etc.

I prefer to keep it simple - all this talk of acids sounds far too harsh!

@EatenByDinosaurs

Thank you for that info.

It’s not something I would knowingly use or buy.

@Soola sorry, my post was a bit disjointed, its v hot here today and I was in a stuffy waiting room.
No likewise, I have no issue if others want to, but no way is it for me

I’m looking for a sunscreen which is mineral based with no carcinogenic ingredients. Some of the zinc based ones look awful when applied, like a white mask! Any recommendations?
Also how does oil cleansing work?

@honeysuckleandroses Badger Balm Clear Zinc pretty good. No white cast.