Saggy baggy horrid face- no surgery solutions please

[DaveHedgehogSpudgun]

God I saw my reflection in the mirror today and could have cried.

Saggy, bags under eyes, washed out, just proper knacked looking.

I have a four year and and 9 months old twins and we are genuinely in week five of illness in our house. (All seems to have caught a virus a week after each other.)

Twins were sleeping through and now wake up multiple times a night a piece. Sleep is a big factor in this but until we're all well I've got to plough through, but how can I make myself look better?

Please suggest me some gadget, anything you have used that genuinely works.

My routine currently is just basic day cream with spf and then some make up to cover the tiredness

Anyone used facial rollers? Should I be using a facial brush? Any suggestions are very welcome!!

Oh and meant to say, not in the arena for any surgery or injectable type solutions.

Just "smoke and mirrors" ones

What are you cleansing with op, what is your routine and your skin type, what products do you currently use. Also what sort of budget do you have? For example I have combination skin so the stuff I use might not suit you if you have dry or sensitive skin. Last year I felt like putting a plague sign on our front door as all of us were so ill for so long so I feel your pain on that one.

Peta Australia face exercises in Google should bring up an inspiring lady who has lots of exercises. I am doing Series 1. She tells you to start with repeating the exercises 50 times, increasing to 150 times.
Believe me if you do an exercise daily 150 times you will see a change.
But will need commitment.

Hahaha sorry but your post made me laugh! Hope that’s allowed as I also have twins and an older one (similar age gap), though I’m a few years on now. Honestly, you may feel like you look like shit, but to the rest of the the world it looks like you’ve got a fucking halo and the sun is shining out of your ass!!!😂 You’ve got twins, superwoman, give yourself a break! I’m sure you look awesome in that warrior style way that only twin mums can rock😂

Moisturise, hydrate, sleep (sorry😂😂😂) and give it a year or two. You WILL feel like yourself again! Big hug!

Yes to being the "plague house". If someone came ringing a bell shouting "bring out the dead" I'd be bundled onto the cart I'm sure.

Cleanse with L'Oréal micellar water which seems to be pretty good at getting of waterproof mascara without leaving me with panda eyes the next day.

I use an Aldi face cream if that gives you an idea of budget

I'm too skint to look nice now aren't I? I think I'm too far gone.

Used to go to the gym, drink plenty of water etc... but there is just no time now with the twins and husband working shifts. Also used to do the three step Clinique but did find it harsh on my skin.

Vitamin C for your face might help, OP. It makes my skin look less saggy.

Garden of Wisdom do one you can buy on Victoria health for about a tenner. Lixir Skin do a Vit C mask. Vichy do a 2 week serum (expensive for a tiny amount). I think the gold standard is Skinceuticals which is £££. Deciem do several different products. And there's another brand that do a dupe for the Skinceuticals but the name won't come to me.

What's your skin type?

L’Oreal Micellar water is fine - it doesn’t contain alcohol, and a moisturiser is... - a moisturiser!

But, you’re not using anything active on your skin (imho). I’d recommend The Ordinary’s Buffet with Copper Peptides. They have 23% off right now which makes it more affordable, and it’s a really hard-working product: anti-aging and hydrating. Warning: it’s blue. If you can use a decent oil (I use rosehip) mixed with or on top of your moisturiser (buffet goes underneath) that helps.

However, you’re also sick and sleep-deprived - a product isn’t going to fix that, sorry. Water, water, water, and as much rest as you can get. It will get better!

In Aldi to watch out for - the hydrating toners in special buys every now and then. There's one that doesn't contain exfoliating acids or retinol, you could try that. The GoW Vit C is what I use. Aldi also do a glow toner which does contain acid. But with acids and retinol you've to be careful to use a separate SPF (that's the biggest thing you can do for your skin in any case).

I used to be very good to my skin once upon a time but budgets change when DC come along! also wasted much money on useless crap

@HelpIHaveNothingToWear

Your post made my eyes tear up (in a nice happy way). When you said about the halo. When you feel like this it's hard to imagine life will be any other way isn't it?

Oooohhh those facial exercises sound good and as they're free, you're talking my language Thanks for the tip.

Anyone out there managing to drink 2 litres (or whatever it is we're supposed to drink a day) and do they feel like they look better for it?

I swear I can't spare the time to go to the loo that often But would make time if it makes me dewy of skin.

Well, it's pricey but I recommend the Boost mask by the light salon. I use it regularly and it really makes a difference and is proven to make a difference.

The downside is it's £395 so don't go googling it if that's beyond the purse strings at the moment

My second suggestion would be collagen shots. A months supply will cost you £40 ish and you need the marine collagen and 10,000mg pet shot

Clarins skin illuminating foundation to hide the tired look too

Oh wow thanks guys! Currently googling these products. Just what I need as I haven't got a clue.

Skin type is combination with horrid oily t zone. Massive open pores. I do use a pore minimiser and got the M&S beauty calendar last year and found some of the creams in there quite good but never ended up getting them again after they ran out.

Apple Cider Vinegar capsules. They are seriously brilliant. I thought “what a load of old bollocks” when my friend banged on about them on a night out but I was pissed and have amazon prime so ordered them. They’re amazing!

Also, lots of water. I’m not surprised you’re tired! Good luck with the Plague House. I’ve been there too...........

A sonic cleansing brush. Mine is a Clarisonic, but there are some much cheaper that get good reviews. I use mine with a clay cleanser (this one) and I look instantly brighter. A combination of being very clean and the massage action from the brush that brings blood to the skin, and the effect lasts long after using it.

I started using Superdrug's own brand glycolic toner and within a few days my skin looked refreshed and amazing. I wasn't expecting such fast or noticeable results. Give it a try. It's often on special offer (and is at the moment so only £2.98)

Way better than Pixi Glow (or Aldi's dupes).

www.superdrug.com/Naturally-Radiant/Superdrug-Naturally-Radiant-Glycolic-Tonic-5%25-100ml/p/729356

Hope you get a soliution OP! I will say though, I looked haggard during the baby years and thought I'd aged 10 years overnight, then my last child started sleeping and I've de-aged! I haven't done anything different apart from sleeping more. I couldn't believe the effect lack of sleep has on the face.

A good moisturiser. Aldi sell them cheap. Water as much as you can drink .Rest whenever you can. No smoking or alcohol which dry out the skin. Eat clean. Keep away from processed food as much as possible. Eat lots of vegetables
Good luck.

Face yoga. It works.

Water is the thing that makes the biggest difference to my skin. My gadget suggestion would be a really nice water bottle and get used to carrying it everywhere. Just like nappies and drinks for the DC, this one is your dont leave the house without. Fill in the morning and make sure you've refilled it a few times over the day.

Both the Aldi and Lidl facecreams are fab. I live by the Lidl beeswax cien hand cream too. My budget has improved and I do splash out and try different things (love receiving a big box of l'ocittaine in the post) but the Lidl/ Aldi ones are my go too because frankly I think they're better.

Tinted moisturisers are great for a really quick boost and evening out of skin tone, especially if youre feeling a bit grey toned after illness.

A other thing I find really worth while is doing a good facial exfoliate every 3 or 4 months. As with face creams I haven't found the expensive exfoliators any better than the bargain 99p ones. The activity of exfoliating gives 90% of the result the extra 0's on the price the final 10% and maybe a nicer smell.

Be careful with Clarisonic type brushes. They cause broken thread veins with repeated use. You're basically scouring your skin and it honestly doesn't need that.

A good under eye brightener to disguise tiredness works wonders. Bobbi brown do a good one

Face yoga. It bloody works.

I looked haggard during the baby years and thought I'd aged 10 years overnight, then my last child started sleeping and I've de-aged! I haven't done anything different apart from sleeping more. I couldn't believe the effect lack of sleep has on the face.

Same here. I had the nightmare year from hell in 2015 and aged ten years. Once I was less stressed, eating and sleeping properly again, hey presto, the years fell off again. This too will pass.

Apparently large open pores are a sign of dehydrated skin. Those brush things are not supposed to be good - physical exfoliating your skin too much might damage it.

Superdrug do a cheap hydrating serum- pure is in the name I think, and I think Simple might do one. Clean your face with something gentle, swipe with toner (hydrating toner), apply serum, moisturiser and SPF.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting liquid is about a tenner on look fantastic for the trial size (lasts months, apply with finger tips not cotton wool) and is a leave on gentle chemical exfoliant (salicylic acid). Might help the pores.

Get yourself a big jug and pour yourself some water every time you pass by? I drink at least 1.5 litres of water and probably another litre of green tea. Herbal tea sometimes.

Hunt for the skin care threads on here. A wonderful poster has done some fact sheets and recommends products for all budgets.

All of your posts have honestly boosted me so much as I feel like there are lots of things I can try.

The cider vinegar is interesting! Also I have to confess I have completely skipped exfoliating out of my routine for quite a while now so this could help a lot.

Very intrigued by the facial yoga and exercises. Also the Aldi suggestions are very welcome

Because I have twins I don't want people to look at me and think "God look at her, she looks clapped out and like she's struggling".

I mean, I feel like that, but just don't want people to see it