Feeling Rubbish with my rubbish skin!

[Loveagoodbook]

So I feel like I've tried everything to help my rubbish skin, I'm only 45, but I feel like I have the skin of a 60 year old. I've had a challenging few years with family deaths, illness's etc and I seriously neglected my skin.
Can anybody suggest anything to help or am I stuck with crap, uneven, large pores forever!

What's your current routine & products? Have you ever checked out Caroline Hirons?

I'm 52 & got large pores & get blackheads too. The things that have helped me most are - acid toners (I generally go for glycolic acid & lactic acid); and tretinoin (I get a prescription from Dermatica).

Morning: I do Dermalogica skin resurfacing cleanser (has lactic acid in), then REN glow toner, and either Murad vit c moisturiser or Dermalogica SPF one.

Evening I do a double cleanse - Emma Hardie moringa balm, then Kate Somerville goats milk cleanser (amazing after using retinols), then a choice of serums & oil or the Dermatica tret.

QueenOfOversharing, thanks I usually oil cleanse then hot cloth cleanse in the evening, followed by a hydrating toner, then niacinamide toner, then moisturizer.
Morning u just wash and moisturise.
I've tried the ordinary Res peel, then just made my skin dry.
I just feel so down, I have no confidence whatsoever

Apart from the niacinamide, do you use any other 'actives'? I would maybe try adding something in - maybe a serum at night. I found the best thing for me was the retinol - I started with differin (friend got in the States, but cheap as chips in Spanish pharmacies) - with that you have to get really on top of the spf every day. But I started using it & using Cicaplast balm after to buffer, then just on its own. I built up to every night. Then I decided to try tretinoin - much stronger, but really helped my pores. It's about £22 a month.

I really understand the confidence thing, but yours do not look noticeable! Mine look like craters 😫

No, I don't use anything else. I have just bought an LED mask, but whether that will help or not who knows
I'll look into the retinol, thank you so much

I'm only a few years older than you (52) and I'd kill for your skin. I've suddenly gone saggy, jowly and deep nose to lip lines...
The only thing i've ever tried in my life that has given a visible improvement to my skin is retinol- check out The Ordinary.

Thanks Prepenultimate I'll look into retinol

It doesn’t look bad to me but if you feel that way it’s gonna get you down. Benefit porefessional always helps to blur mine out.