How can I make my face look nice??

[Ouchmyheadhurts]

I don’t know what I need but think I need to re-haul my skincare routine.

I’m late 30’s and have horrible skin. It looks dull, my under eye concealer sits in the wrinkles under my eyes and my skin is very dry under my eyes so foundation goes patchy. I’m susceptible to eczema around my eyes so have to be careful what I use.

I still get spots (sugar def makes them worse so have reduced intake) so I guess I have dull combination skin. I wear makeup every day, I use Mac foundation as this has been the best for coverage and colour and longevity etc.

I use a tea tree face wash and take my make up off with a botanical make up remover as only thing that doesn’t trigger my eCzema and use an avene moisturiser.... I use a Vichy b5 something that was recommended on a different thread at night as that helps clear the spots.

Where should I start?! I don’t know what I need to do?! Any suggestions?

Derma plaining it whatever it’s called??

I always use benzoyl peroxide cream for spots. I think most women get hormonal spots even as adults. I get them around my chin/neck/jawline area. It's sold under the brand names acnecide and panoxyl if I remember correctly, you buy it OTC in chemists.

It sounds like you suffer with dry skin around your eyes, so I guess a good eye cream is something you need. I have no recommendations for that.

Ive been using a vitamin c serum on my face under a moisturizer and it seems to have given my face a nicer glow. And I think maybe you need a gentler face wash than tea tree oil. It might be a bit drying.

Benzoyl peroxide is brilliant for spots but it is really drying so I would recommend use it sparingly only on the areas that need it. When my skin is extra dry I sometimes put it on top of moisturizer.

The thing I mentioned is actually la Roche posay cicaplast baume b5 and that’s good for drying spots out so I don’t really want to start using benzoyl peroxide type things as they are too harsh. I’m not covered in spots although did use roaccutane a long time ago, these are mainly chin and they are coverable.

Iv tried primers under my foundation but they make no difference. My make up doesn’t go on nice anymore? The dry skin makes my make up crease under my eyes too so not a good look come lunchtime...

No sure if this is helpful but things got easier for me after I just accepted that my skin is SO dry, no moisturiser / oil / hydration serum / all of above is enough to last me all day. I always top up around lunchtime and feel so much more comfortable for it. Before my skin would get tight and look like shit. It looks and feels much better now - the five minutes it takes is worth it.

Also, agree that LRP Baume B5 is brilliant.

I have skin like yours OP. Prone to spots and my forehead is so dry it makes my makeup look horrible. I now use Sukin foaming face wash, and from the ordinary, glycolic liquid, hylaronic acid, and plant derived squalane. My skin is MASSIVELY improved to the point I don't get spots anymore and my forehead isn't dry.

I have super sensitive skin so I know what a nightmare it is to find something that works. Even micellar water from simple brings me out in a rash!

Trouble is I can’t really put moisterisor over the top of my foundation half way though the day as it goes funny? I do at the weekend if I have no make up on though.

show I keep coming across the acids but don’t know where to start? Don’t they come in different percentages? I worry about over loading my skin ... but something has to change now!

I’ve been using the la roche posay cicaplast baume since I saw it mentioned on here a month ago or so. My skin is better than it’s ever been. I feel all glowy! I also quit drinking, so that may be a factor!

I don’t smoke and rarely drink ... so I can’t blame them! I take supplements and drink loads of water!!

Can only now really turn to what I’m putting on my skin??

Tea tree oil is best for oily skin rather than dry . I would skip that entirely as your skin sounds parched and needs replenishing rather than stripping . Chemical exfoliating ( sounds harsh but isn't - my dry parched sensitive skin loves it ) can help as can hyaluronic acid and a face oil ( I use rosehip)

Argh. It must feel very frustrating when you’re doing everything right! Could it be a hormonal issue? Have you spoken to a gp?

Gp aren’t interested!

Iv been using vitamin e oil on the dry bits but lots of moisterisorscog my skin and I get more spots??

What facewash should I use if tea tree is drying?

I don't use a face wash . Whenever I have done it's always messed with my skin . Have you tried a glycolic acid exfoliate? I use the nip and fab pads or pixi glow tonic .

Try Rosehip Oil. I started using The Ordinary one. I use it at night and my dry patches have cleared up.

Primrose oil & skin oriented supplements. Don't use foaming wash. Can you use a tinted moisturiser or do you need foundation? I need less now I've started putting tanning drops in moisturiser at night.
This time of year when the hearing goes on is bad for me. Do you use a mask frequently?

Yeah, I just use a dove bar to wash my face. Maybe try stripping it all back and sticking to the LRP?

I find l'eau Avenue face wash and moisturiser is good and seems to not be chemically at all so doesn't make skin react

You're not using micellar water near your eyes are you? Lots of people (including myself)have experienced eczema around the eye after using it. I've binned it completely now, and use a make up removing face cloth thingy instead (similar to the pink eraser cloth sold on Amazon) and the eczema has gone.
Other than that, could you mix an oil with your moisturiser to add in extra moisture? I use The Ordinary Marula oil and it works well.

The hot cloth cleanser from Aldi has changed my skin! It’s only 3.99 but I cannot recommend it enough.

Skin food from Weleda is fab, I use the light version during the day and the thick version at night. I also use the body shop factor 50 cream during the day over the top.

Get some eye gel patches for under your eyes, they make a good improvement to under eye wrinkles when used everyday - lots of brands sell them. (Pixi one is great)

Pixi also do a nice very light gel foundation which doesn’t look patchy. I wouldn’t overload my under eye with concealer as it does get into the creases. I usually put a bit of weleda skin food (thick version) under there which keeps that area moisturised during the day.

Oh also use vitamin e face oil under my creams.

Thanks everyone.

This is what Iv been doing :
Use boots botanical eye make up remover (it’s like oil and only thing that won’t set off my eczema)
Then wash with foaming boots tea tree face wash. Then last week have been putting on that la Roche b5 thingy all over my face at night.
In the mornings, tea tree dash wash and then I use avene clearance expert then make up. Use the vitami e oil under my eyes as only thing Iv found that doesn’t sting my eyes. I use that on any dry patches although dryness is only a problem around my eyes.

Lots of products block my skin up and make spots worse, BUT I don’t have that many spots either, only get a couple at a time and they aren’t the massive horrible under the skin ones I had years ago before roaccutane!

I have some nip and what ever they are called pads but I find use them too much and skin looks worse so use them once a week at most?

I use a face mask once a week. I don’t use micellar water at all.....

What’s an LRP??

This is lovely

www.facetheory.com/products/centasoothe-serum

FB40 for 40% off your first order

Decleor Aroma Lisse in the evening for around the eyes - generous amounts. Try vaseline around the eyes too, to seal in the moisture.

Then in the morning, Cover FX under eye primer is my secret weapon - I have very deep-set eyes and I get patches of dryness. This stuff is like magic. I put it on, pat it in, wait, put on concealer, set with powder. FLAWLESS EYES.

@Soola do you use it? WhT for and where? Would I use it just at night and under the eyes? Will it sting?

lavielle can’t tag you sorry, do you use that? Does it sting? Cover fx sounds good...i also have deep set eyes!

I got hugely into skincare a while ago and I was also having a very stressful time, between the two, my skin was covered in spots for the first time in my life, it was dry and generally awful. I cut everything out skincare wise except a basic cleanser, a hydrating moisturiser, SPF and retinol. I started taking vitamins and introduced olive oil as an all over (including face) moisturiser, things are massively improved for me. At one point I had completely lost hope. Good luck OP

This is the trouble, I read in one place leave skin care as simple as possible and then I read try all these products in it and I have no idea! Iv never tried any of the acids.... don’t want to waste too much money/