Help me with my mid fifties face!!

[Adollop]

I'm in my mid fifties and don't really wear make up, well, mascara and blusher if going out.

My face is getting a bit jowly and I need something but have quite sensitive skin so can't really wear eye makeup or foundation.

I was wondering if I need retinol but I know nothing about it really.

I thought maybe just a little bronzer might help me look healthier and distract from my jowliness?

I'd also like to find a lip tint that doesn't look like lipstick but just gives my lips a hint of colour.

So ... can someone explain retinol to me ... and recommend a good bronzer and a good lip tint/gloss/balm? Preferably transparent, not creamy or matte. Just a hint of colour.

Also what's a good shampoo and conditioner for long curly hair that's starting to go a little grey but is coloured. I've tried CG but didn't get on with it.

Thanks!

Bump

The felt tip pen lip colours by the likes of Rimmel are quite good for just a hint of colour - easy and quick.
Tinted lip salve is good for a natural look.

If you use retinol you will need to use some SPF.
I'd just use a shampoo for coloured hair but that's just me.

Someone else will probably be more helpful.

I think for retinol advice, have a look at Caroline Hirons' blog & Hot & Flashy's Youtube channel.

Thanks.

I have a Clinique lip pencil (chubby?), but can't find a natural colour. I thought a lip balm might be more natural, but struggling to find something that actually shows up.

I've been watching YouTube vids and reading about retinol, but worried it'll irritate my skin. I don't tend to wear spf, as all I use is a Body shop face cream that doesn't irritate my skin.

Is there anything that will improve the way my skin looks?

I have sensitive skin and use as few products as I can get away with. I wouldn't touch Retinol although I know it has a lot of fans on here. I do use a sunscreen though - Ultrasun Face works for me (even though it contains alcohol) as long as I keep everything else minimal.

I don't wear much make up but I do like Burts Bees tinted lip balm although the colour doesn't last very well. I also use a Burts lip shimmer on my cheekbones - the colour works for me plus it has a subtle irridescent effect.

I deal with my jowls by not wearing anything that draws the eye to my jawline, so no high necks or dangly earrings, scarves only when it's cold and no chin length hair cuts. I also wear specs and I think they're a good distraction.

Thanks Flo. That all makes sense, I tend to wear low necklines anyway, my hair is long and I wear specs too! I don't really wear necklaces, although I do like scarves in winter.

I'll look for Burts Bees lip balm.

I am jowly and have tried many things to fix it - ultherapy, RF facials and a thread lift. Taken as a combo they have improved things but the cosmetic doctor assured me that the only way to get the absolute effect I would need to have a lower face lift and even I’m not vain enough to have a GA just for cosmetic surgery.

Retinol or glycolic toners will improve your skin tone and even out your complexion but I don’t think they’ll tighten skin enough to reduce jowls.

Yes I get that. I guess I'd just like to try and do something to slow down the ageing process of my skin, or improve the way it looks. I wouldn't have a face lift or even botox, just looking for products that might help a little.

There's no way I'm going to start wearing foundation, because my skin is very flaky and it always looks awful and dry. I'd just like to find a moisturiser or similar that will help, with maybe a little bronzer if anyone can recommend a good one. How do I luck the correct shade? I'm quite pale, with dark hair and eyes.

I'm the same age, and have the driest skin ever. In general, I've found that serum seems to treat it much better than moisturisers ever do. I used the boots No7 one for a long time and that worked well, but have now moved over to The Ordinary. I then put SPF moisturiser over the top, and that seems to do it.

The single thing that has improved the quality of my skin recently though is hyralunic (?sp) acid. Again, Boots do some, but this one is way cheaper.

Thanks I don't know anything about hyralunic acid, so will look into it.

Serum is so expensive, so I'd given up on it after also trying the No 7 one. I'll look at the one from The ordinary.

I think you should try a good BB cream. It's better than foundation because it's good for your skin and contains lots of goodies for your skin whilst being moisturising and therefore never flakey. It's translucent rather than full coverage type make up, so just a healthy glow. The Clarins skin Detox fluid is the best imo.

Secondly, try glycolic acid wipes before bed, which are basically exfoliating, followed by a good basic moisturiser eg Simple night cream.

Finally, you could try Vitamin C serum in the mornings before applying moisturiser / SPF.

I have those Bobby Brown chubby crayons and I agree they're all really bright- wish they had a more natural coloured one. Tbh I just use a tinted lip balm from Boots.

Thanks Lilac. Tbh even with BB I struggle to get the colour right, it always looks fake and still flakes a bit, but maybe I need to try a better one.

I'll look into the wipes. I use Body shop hemp face cream because it stops my skin flaking, but I'll look at vitamin c serum, any particular one you'd recommend?

Which lip balm do you use? I find I can never really tell any difference when they're on, so hoping someone can recommend one that gives a hint of colour.

I use Carmex Moisture Plus which comes in either reddish or pinkish tints. Both show on my lips.

Vitamin C serum I tend to get on Amazon. It's not too pricey and you only use a little bit. Just look for recommended / well reviewed ones on there within your budget. They should be 4% though.

Have you tried using a tinted moisturiser eg Laura Mercier? It is a good replacement for foundation.

I haven't, but I struggle to find the right colour, even when I've asked, for example the Clinique counter, they didn't get the right colour foundation, and tinted moisturiser and BB creams have even less choice, don't they? Plus really the only moisturiser I get on with that keeps my skin hydrated and doesn't irritate it is the body shop hemp one.

There is an M&S Serum I’ve used which is very good and not too expensive. Also worth looking at the Aldi Lacura range.
Have you watched Lisa Eldridge videos on YouTube?
This one is excellent.

I bought several recommended products including the Bobbi Brown Balm (often on offer), Burt’s Bees balm (vg), and Boots lip pencil, which makes a big difference. Liz Earle might be worth a look too...they have great cream blushers, and some natural looking bronzers in a tube.

The dry skin may be helped by the glycolic. It'll help exfoliating the dead skin cells. Try the superdrug own glycolic acid toner, it's about £3 and I love it.

I have sensitive skin, and use this am, and a Simple gel moisturiser before a mineral SPF.

Evenings after cleansing I have tried a few retinols bit nothing has come close to the Facetheory Regenecalm serum for me. It's been fantastic. Under night cream.

Lines are reduced and skin seems brighter and more even in tone.

For subtle lip colour try a lip oil. Milk do nice ones. Maybe a lightweight cc cream would be better than foundation for you, I like the bourgois one. A glowy finishing power rather than flat matte too. I'm yet to find anything better than the hourglass ambient light range.

Is this the Milk lip oil?

Thanks for all the suggestions .. too much choice!

I'm pretty basic with skincare for myself, but have investigated it (and spent quite a lot) recently on behalf of my son, who has mild but persistent acne. Dr Sam Bunting's YouTube videos are useful - she's a proper dermatologist, and she recommends (sensibly-priced) products and tells you how to use them. I don't bother with retinols/retinoids (my skin improves most when I eat, sleep and exercise well, feel happy, productive and don't drink - if those things are right, I can slap any old moisturiser on and I look fine - I don't know if that makes things better or worse, but I do think you can invest too much faith in a cream) but she provides a lot of useful advice if you want to take it that way. They are very useful for my son, who has congested pores/mild acne.

If you don't like foundation, you might like tinted moisturiser. I"ve used the Laura Mercier 20SPF non-oil formulation for years, and I wouldn't be without it. The pigment is stronger than many tinted moisturisers and the coverage is good. It's great for evening out skintone.

You might like the Becca lip/cheek tints. They come in a little tube, the pigment is strong so you don't have to use much, and once it's on, it stays in place - doesn't come off on mugs.

I'm currently using Magic Drops mascara - it's good, great at giving curl and boosting your lashes without clumping. Once in a blue moon, I'll stick on some brown liquid eyeliner.

Shiny, nicely coloured hair makes a big difference in your fifties, I find. This is where my budget goes - hairdresser for a colour and cut every 5 weeks.

But, honestly, the biggest difference comes when you are treating yourself well with diet and exercise and feeling happy.

Thanks

My diet could be better admittedly, although I don't drink and do sleep quite well.

I do need to make an appointment at the hairdressers, I've been putting it off for financial reasons, but my hair's becoming untidy and the grey is coming through. My hair is curly, so rarely shiny

I really don't want to use coloured foundation or moisturiser on my face, I must admit. I thought a little bronzer might just give me a little colour.