Skincare for pushing 50? Help!

[Atthebottomofthegarden]

I’m - gulp - 50 later this year. My skin isn’t bad but it’s not great either, and I have a suspicion that ramping it up a bit over the next few years as the menopause strikes is likely to pay dividends!

I don’t wear makeup, and I have combination skin with an oily T zone, but I don’t get breakouts.

Currently I wash with water and a flannel in the morning, using Johnson and Johnson’s clean & clear exfoliating facial wash a couple of times a week. I was following this Superdrug’s naturally radiant day cream, SPF 15. I quite like it, not blown away. So I’ve moved to Neutrogena hydro boost city shield, SPF 25, contains hyaluronic acid which I prefer, I think.

Evening - if i remember I wipe Simple’s miscellar water over, then apply a night cream such as “sefuson moisturizer cream 2.5% retinol” from Amazon. I like this one, it feels nice, though I’ve not noticed any difference in my skin.

Is this enough? Should I be using a serum? Which one, what for? Am I using the right kind of products for my skin and age group? Is it ok using a retinol cream that is not a mainstream brand or would I be better to switch?

What about eye cream? I don’t, not many lines but quite prominent dark circles.

Help, I feel a bit bewildered! Budget / mid range products preferred, I top out at £10-£15 but ideally would prefer a bit cheaper than that.

Sorry, bit of an essay...

Main things in skincare at any adult age (I’m 47) is should be basic and what works for you. Good things to include for you would be a vitamin C serum for the AM (if you can find 20% that’s ideal, I get mine from “timeless skincare” which is a fraction of the cost of Skonceutocals). Also Boots no7 protect and perfect is a good serum if you want one, and then a good moisturiser with sunblock (higher than 15 would be better). Try to use retinol at night and stick with it, gradually building up. I use a prescription strength but over the counter there are options now too.

I wouldn’t recommend using wipes for cleansing as they are bad for the environment - any foaming face wash and flannel should do the job.

If your skin is sensitive Cerave is a good brand available at boots etc.

Funnily enough I came across an American you tuber who talks about beauty after 50. She does do Botox etc (and reviews various procedures) but her skincare advice is really helpful - just don’t go for the 18-step routines, they are mad! Her website is hotandflashy50 or something.

Thanks Boneless that’s very helpful. I’ll look for a vit C serum.

Yes I used to like the Protect and Perfect range, but they ramped the price up after it got some good publicity and I got a bit priced out.

And I was just looking at CeraVe products on Amazon, their eye cream looks good too.

I used L'Oreal products for years then, forever in search of the Holy Grail, tried lots of other brands - Elizabeth Arden, Clinique, Kiehls, Clarins etc - but have now returned to L'Oreal.
I use a serum, night and day creams for mature skin and am loving the results. I think I will stay with L'Oreal.
It has proven to me once and for all that price (or to be more accurate, marketing of high end brands) means nothing if the product doesn't suit the user.

Bookmarking this. I am religious and have been for decades about using SPF of 30 in the winter, and 50 in the summer. Eve Taylor and various french brands are what I favour. But I confess my night time routine is haphazard to say the least. I use any old night cream I happen across. I would like to fine 'The One', and would dearly like to start using a retinol I can buy for a reasonable price.

Ditch the wipes and micellar.
Any hot cloth cleanser that you like.
Acid toner-if you're oily salicylic rather than glycolic
Vit C - my favourite is Vichy
Any moisturiser.

If you want to splash out, do it for the serums, not the cleansers and moisturisers. Don't bother with a moisturizer with spf- you need a separate one for it to really work, though it's better in a moisturizer than in makeup. Biore watery essence SPF 50 is excellent as is Frezyderm (also acts as a primer)

Retinol- GOW (Garden of Wisdom) do a retinol serum which is reasonably priced. It's for twice a week use.

I like n7 serums- they are some of the best for the price point IMO.

I am 54 and what has made the most difference to me is the acid toner- and the Vit C.

@TheCanterburyWhales really? Re the SPF? I am the exact same age as you and live quite an outdoorsy life - dogs, garden, tennis etc, and honestly find that My Eve Taylor factor 50 does a great job. A morning in the sun and my skin doesn't ever look or feel sunned. Damage wise it's not bad either - comparing with friends who lead a similar lifestyle. The trick is definitely to apply liberally though. Don't think you can just dot it over your face. It has to be slathered. And I wear a hat. Yeah thinking about it I'm rarely out long without a hat.
If I go to the beach and am in and out of the water, or if I go kayaking where the reflection increases exposure I use Soltan on top.

I read on the fantastic skincare threads that if your SPF isn't a separate one, you generally just don't put enough on. I suppose if you slap it on liberally then it's fine, was just thinking I certainly don't, not in the morning, and generally in a cream or makeup it's something like SPF 15 or 20 only. I'm in the south of Italy and we've got 32 degrees today so am slopping the Biore on!

I read the same and have an outdoor lifestyle beachside in cornwall so yeah -slather all the way!

The Ordinary and Inkey List are both really good brands and good prices

I’ve just started using their retinol - I’m 43 but you must use a separate sunscreen every day

Thanks everyone. Excuse my ignorance but what’s wrong with miscellar?

Apologies if I was unclear, I don’t use facial wipes, I apply the product to cotton wool and use that to wipe my face.