Don't care about the rest of me but oh, my face....

[J0nah]

I'm 49, 5ft 6, 15 stone, no interest in fashion or grooming. Felt shit for about a year now. Aches and pains, hot then cold, can't get enough sleep, forgetful and lost confidence suddenly and generally can't be arsed with anything. I've self diagnosed myself as (peri) menopausal. Thems the facts. Not after an answer to that, just wanted to give a mental picture of me.
What I do like though is skincare. I've been a Dermalogica devotee for over 10 years with a good am and pm routine and been lucky enough to have monthly prescription facials. I've always enjoyed reading up on the products and find, particularly the pm regime, relaxes me after a hard day.
I've been disappointed with Dermalogica for a while now. Not with the products I use daily but with them bringing out loads and loads of new products but no new options for an anti aging moisturiser or masque. Since lockdown, after reading various articles on the tinterweb, I've been using Sarah Chapman products. Totally different to Dermalogica in smell, feel and approach and though mega pricey, I like them. And will hopefully continue to like them, the hundreds of £££'a I've spent!
Anyway, I think my skin looks good for my age, except for one thing. I've got vertical crease lines coming out of my top lip. I know this is because I sleep curled up and they are more pronounced on the side I favour. I try to lay on my back but don't find it comfortable and find I've curled back up in my sleep. I have silk pillowcases. I use a lip area treatment, currently using either my new Sarah Chapman overnight lip concentrate or my trusty Dermalogica multivitamin powerfirm but they're getting worse.
After reading a few threads on here, I'm currently reading up on collegen powders and for those not familiar with Sarah Chapman, my current routine is:
am - D special cleansing gel, SC morning facial with facial massage then either D dynamic skin recovery or SC dynamic defence moisturiser + D pure light SPF
pm - D precleanse, SC ultimate or rapid radiance cleanser, SC liquid facial or overnight exfoliating booster SC age repair serum, either SC overnight facial or SC platinum stem call elixir with facial massage and icon night cream.
Can anyone offer any suggestions please?
Apologies for the post being so long. I've recently found this section and love it.

The ordinary argeline?. Have you looked at that?.

I would try collagen powder

It's not only helped my skin but also my body aches and pains

It's one of the most difficult areas to treat. A friend's were like an accordian and after a chemical peel smooth as a baby's whatsit!
I have the same even though I have never touched a cigarette, I have had laser resurfacing and microneedling which have stopped them getting any deeper but not improved them. Will be following this thread!

Yes Laser and peels coukd be helpful.But an easy option could be a tiny amount of filler - would need toppjng up regularly but woukd be an easy win.

Don't suffer with leri menopause symltoms - check out DIM, supplement, ashwagandha herb and a big second for collagen powder.

WRt your skincare, you don't need to slend SC prices for good results - check out The Ordinary or the Inkey List - a fraction of the price and often way more potent and effective than fancy brands.

JMAngel1
I'm thinking of a small amount of filler in these lines. Do have any experience of filler in rolling acne scars as that's what I had the laser and microneedling for and it had very limited sucess.?

No, not personally but I've seen it done on YouTube for pick acne scarring.

Thanks for the replies. I'm not fancying fillers, lasers or the microdermabrasion. I have had peels (Dermalogica) but I like my facials to be a relaxing treat so stick to the prescription ones. Used to use The Ordinary and was happy, just really enjoying the SC products. I drink loads of water and take glucosamine and gulp, Menopace. Gonna have to wean myself off the SC stuff as its mega expensive and the amount of product in the air tight sealed containers is minuscule for the money. But their target market are the rich and famous not me. I've never liked mixing and matching products which is how fellow Mumsnetters seem to do things. I think I'm going to go with the collegen, preferably capsules and will read up on the Argentine. Never heard of it. Plenty more reading to do.
Getting old sucks!

PS never smoked so it's not cats bum like. Just where my face creases in bed. They get less visible during the day but I can still see them. They've got worse, these last few months. My amazing Beauty Therapist contacted me today as she's reopening next week. No facials yet but I'm booked in for a massage. Wondering / dreading what she's going to say when she does a socially distanced face mapping.

@jsemstresser

I would try collagen powder

It's not only helped my skin but also my body aches and pains

@jsemstresser I had added this to my basket to buy later but the product has since disappeared from Amazon. Could you tell me the brand and product name so I can try and find it elsewhere? Thanks!

After some reading, I've bought marine collagen powder from Amazon. £26.99 for, I think, 40 days supply. Was tempted by the Absolute collagen but it seems v expensive. I'll let you know how it goes. Looking forward to my back massage and dreading my socially distanced face mapping on Saturday ....

Two things I’ve noticed;

No mention of seeing the gp to find out if your actually starting menopause which at 49 you might well be.

No retinol in your PM routine?.

I'd see the doctor tbh as your self diagnosis may be incorrect. If you are correct, the gp can likely help - feeling like shit for a year and not sleeping well can be addressed.

Hi. Been to Docs twice. They've done blood tests and I've given samples for the stomach pains. Nothing wrong apart from Vit D deficiency. They said the tests for perimeno are inconclusive as hormone levels vary daily. I'm on depo, cos my periods were so awful, so can't tell what's happening period wise. They advised to assume I was and to look into HRT. This was pre lockdown so not had the discussion.
Anyway, my marine collegen has arrived. Only day 2 so no improvements yet. I went for a back massage yesterday (facial booked in for Aug 1st) and she didn't recoil in horror at the sight of me.
I used to use The Ordinary retinol last thing every other night but can't work out where it fits with the Sarah Chapman products. If anyone has any advice I'd be grateful.

Tbh retinol so effective you could try using it on its own.

Some of the common side effects of depo match up to the symptoms in your op.

Are they advising vit d supplements? I give dh 50 micro grams daily with vit k to help absorption. Apparently you need a high dose of vit d at first to build up stores.

Any links to a good DIM supplement and the ashwagandha?
I'd studied these supplements before and seriously considered them, but was bewildered by all the varieties.
My peri-menapausal symptoms are awful, and I've run out of ideas now...

My skin is pretty good after following the advice on here and reddit.
Hydration is the key for me. Layers of serums and a facial oil keep me smooth with no deep lines at all, at 48.
I also realised I was suffering from seborrheic dermatitis and use a fungal safe routine, make up included.
This has stopped the rounds of antibiotics and the pill to try and control my skin.
I agree, getting older can be a pain - especially the hormones!

Oh, and and I agree with the vitamin d3 supplements, and a b complex. I also take iron and fish oils.
These seem to help with skin and hair.

I'm curious about the collagen though.
So many opinions that it's a waste of time and money, while others recommend it.
It's too expensive for me to just purchase it and see - i want to hear success stories.

@Beautifullymixed

Oh, and and I agree with the vitamin d3 supplements, and a b complex. I also take iron and fish oils. These seem to help with skin and hair.

I'm curious about the collagen though.
So many opinions that it's a waste of time and money, while others recommend it.
It's too expensive for me to just purchase it and see - i want to hear success stories.

I want to see an independent derm conclusively prove through research they work 🤨 before I hand over £.

None of this 84% of 13 women claimed to see a difference after 4 weeks bobbins.

I’ve got an issue with ads saying it enters your blood stream in 20 minutes too. That’s how digestion works or you’d still be hungry an hour after eating.

Fluffy I so agree. So many claims, so many wild statements - but no actual evidence!
I have read that the taste is so bad for some, that the reviewers cannot even drink the liquid. Even more of a waste of cash.

OP, you will have to tell us how you get on with yours. £26 would purchase a couple of good, effective serums and oils.

Retin-A is my secret weapon though it only works super well on the face (more stem cells). It's the only thing that actually works. But you gave to keep it up, be careful how you use it and you MUST use sunblock. But then sunblock is the best anti ager ever invented anyway.

On my neck/chest I'm using Prai neck cream from m&s. Noticeable difference while I'm using it.

I've tried hundreds of creams and serums and retin a was the only one I saw results from. Though the prai stuff for neck/chest/hands is excellent. Also retin a is hard to use in summer as if you sunburn or even get any sun it causes severe damage.

I also recommend retinol (tretinoin, retin-A etc). The only proven (I believe?) ingredient that actually gets rid of fine lines and wrinkles

Ok so facial was cancelled and hopefully rebooked for 22nd but I've been doing a lot of reading and I've also bought some more The Ordinary retinol + squalene and one of their vitamin C's. I found their guides really helpful. I'm basically using the retinol every other night interchanging with the existing SC stuff and the vit C every morning before moisturiser. For SPF I'm using Dermalogica Purelight still and have bought Heliocare for when it runs out.
I still have the face chevrons but the vertical lip lines seem less noticeable.
I'm still drinking the collegen. It might be a gimmick but I'm going for the can't hurt approach.

Good for you. Vit c combined with retinol can be a bit irritating so if you get redness drop the vit c and carry on with retinol.