Skincare for beginners

[creativeusername]

I am a complete beginner when it comes to all things make up, hair or skincare. I own a mascara and lip balm and can just about manage a pony tail, but generally wear my hair down.
I am the other side of 30 now and my kids are no longer babies so I have a little time to focus on myself, but have no idea where to start.

My skin is fine, can be a bit dry but nothing major.

Help! What are your tried and tested products that even I could manage 😂

There are lots of wonderful products out there but you don't have to spend a fortune to have a good regime. I'm going to largely recommend superdrug products becuase i think they do the job for very little spend - which is what you want when you are starting out. Other people will probably correct me on my amateur explanations!

Am
Cleanse - just gets rid of lasts nights product and gives you a clean base to start
Moisturiser or serum (Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum is such good value) or squalene is good for dry skin (try the ordinary)
Spf (Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF50+) - I use spf even when I know I'm not exposed to strong sun because I use retinol and vit c
Tinted moisturiser- i use Trinny BFF becuause I like a a light make up look but there are loads of good tinted moisturisers so just get some recs on here
Concealer - essential, makes a big difference and once you start looking after your skin you become aware of all the little stuff you want to cover it

PM
Make Up Remover - Micellar water or again check on here, loads of recs
Clease
Next 3 steps are really dependent on what you are worried about
Exfoliate - glycolic acid or salicylic acid (good for pores) - I like Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic 5% 300ml. Don't use abrasive exfoliatiants
Vit C - anti - aging and brightening
Retinol - anti aging too
Nightime moisturiser - if you have dry skin this is where you can pick something a little heavier or even an oil like rose hip.

Hopefully this of help and others will add and give you some tips. This was a great thread for people's winner products recently: "Great products you found in 2019"

Thank you!
I've just had a look at that thread and it's a bit overwhelming tbh. When I said beginner, I really, really meant it. At the minute I use soap and water, morning and night. That's all. I need a list of "buy X, Y, Z for morning and A, B, C for night" 🙈

Off to Google all of the products you mentioned!!

It’s very hard to advise you without knowing what your skin is like. If you’re currently just washing with soap and water and nothing is wrong except a little dryness sometime then you don’t really have any incentive to change it. What is your motivation for wanting to change your skincare habits? And how motivated are you to faff ( helps narrow down products)?

I’ve always had problematic skin so have always been looking at and using skincare products, with varying degrees of success. I will say that after 30 my skin started getting older quite fast. A large part of it was that sun damage started catching up with me.

So I’d recommend using sunscreen, and if you’re using sunscreen you’d need to think about double cleansing to be sure you’re removing it well.

Serums and stuff is all very well but you’d have to be a bit interested to figure out what effect you want it to have and then what ingredients will give it. Otherwise it’s money not well spent.

Good point. My main aim is wanting to prevent skin problems in future and to look a bit more bright and awake! I like going for facials when I do spa days (but that's only once or twice a year at most) and my skin always looks really vibrant and glows. Within a day or so its back to normal, which is fine, but maybe a bit dull?

I am motivated, as I'm determined to take better care of myself, so happy with some faff although time in the morning is a bit limited. I work full time and need to leave the house, with 2 kids in tow, by 7:25am.

I'm not planning on starting to wear make up. Just something to keep my skin well.

I'm typing in paragraphs on my phone, I promise! They just keep disappearing when I post

I can see paragraphs

I'm very old and don't bother with foundation or concealers or anything like that and I manage to not scare small children or animals.

I'd suggest getting a light moisturiser for sensitive skin with sunscreen. Something like Nivea or Simple.

Eat a good diet of fresh food, drink plenty of water and get as much sleep as you can with small children and you'll look fine. That and sunscreen.

A good simple routine:

Cleanse
AM - Simple refreshing face wash or a cleansing milk such as Garnier.
PM - Superfacialist vitamin C cleansing oil. Remove with a wet flannel.

Essence www.superdrug.com/Shop-all-Cleansing-Solutions/B-Essence-Lotion/p/605300

Moisturiser
Something by Superfacialist (I like the one for sensitive skin)

SPF
Good quality applied daily

Supplements
Evening primrose oil
Vitamin C

Masks
A clay one once a week and a moisturising one when required (I like Origins Drink Up or Clarins Comfort)

Make up
YSL touche eclat foundation
YSL glossy lipstick or water lip stain
Clarins lip oils (coloured) or Rimmel lip oils

Like to keep my skin bright so use a vitamin C serum and acids like Glow tonic and few times a week.

For hydration- Serums with Hyaluronic Acid- I would start with this in addition to a decent cleanser.

Anti ageing- serums with Peptides or Retinol

SPF- every day

I use a eye serum with a metal roller ball that takes down the morning eye puffiness

Always properly massage your products in- do it gently, upwards until your face tingles a bit.

And try to be consistent.

I’ve gone from using quite expensive serums but not use the Ordinary. If you just want to pick one start with Hyaluronic Acid based serums.

I recommend the dedicated skincare threads. Most recent one is here lots of info in the OP with fact sheets.

Cerave is a good brand to start with, I think it's readily available. Try buying the cleanser and using that instead of soap morning and night. You can also use their moisturiser. Buy a sunscreen, at least factor 30, for your face, and use it at least when it's very sunny (even if it's not hot outside. If you decide to use so called actives, like chemical exfoliation, then you must use sunscreen. The glowy effect you get at the facials is probably at least partly due to them exfoliating your skin.

Next time you go for a facial, ask them what products they recommend. Ask about the ingredients and why they recommend them - what do the ingredients do? Do not buy anything yet. Have a think, and then start shopping for products that have ingredients that will give you the effects you want. It's important to remember that formulation of products also matters, which is why some stuff just doesn't work well despite ostensibly having all the right stuff.

So I'd say
Cerave cleanser morning and night
Cerave moisturiser
Sunscreen - not sure what you have available, but see what brands are recommended in the skincare threads. La Roche Posay or Eucerin are good bets.

When you feel ready you want to look at chemical exfoliators. Lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid. You might then want to look at more hydrating products too.