Help! Facial skincare routine

[FishDontHaveFingers]

I need a skincare intervention!

I've noticed my skin has become really dull and spotty and generally yuck during lockdown. I've recently turned 40 and I've decided that better late than never I should start actually looking after my skin . I'm very much just a soap and water girl, no regular moisturiser (I know), but I am a bit of a marketing dream and love a new product/fad so I do have some stuff. Problem is I have no idea where to start!

What is the best daily facial skincare routine and what products would you recommend? Skin is combination with a bit of a lean towards oily and I don't really wear much makeup usually. I do have dark circles and eye bags (thanks genes!) which I would love to improve so any recommendations are much appreciated!

Start really simple. Cleanse every am and pm
SPF in the morning
Moisturiser if you need it
Depends what stuff you have really

Once you've got that as a routine you can always add stuff in like vitamin C, retinol, acids but get in a routine first!

@QueenOllie

Start really simple. Cleanse every am and pm SPF in the morning Moisturiser if you need it Depends what stuff you have really

Once you've got that as a routine you can always add stuff in like vitamin C, retinol, acids but get in a routine first!

Thanks @QueenOllie - there are so many cleansers out there, any recommendations? Assume you mean a face wash type thing? Sorry, I'm such a novice at this despite owning a face for 40 years

Covid face! This is a thing apparently....I'm just managing to get rid of mine through exercise and more attention to skincare (esp retinol).

My advice is have a facial and speak to them about what they recommend for your skin.

I've recently started using the Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser (loads of similar ones - Superdrug and Boots do their own versions). I do this morning and night and use the toner afterwards. I then use number 7 day or night cream and if I can be bothered/remember the serum and eye cream. They are not too expensive (always on offer) and last ages. The day cream has SPF built into it. My skin always feels nice and clean after the hot cloth cleanser.

@ilovewinterpansies bloody Covid gets everywhere doesn't it, literally can't escape it! Definitely has gotten much worse since March despite all the vitamin D from being outdoors more.

I'm a bit nervous going for a facial at the moment (again, bastard Covid), think my social anxiety from all the different routines would go loopy, but definitely will once the world goes back to 'the old normal'

Thanks @Keepyourginup - I shall investigate this.

Stupid question - what does toner do?

Also - night cream always feels so heavy and greasy to me even if I use just a tiny bit - is this normal? Worried it might cause more spots.

You don't have to use a specific night cream if it's too heavy, any moisturiser without SPF is fine
So cleansers
Boots your good skin range is nice, they do a few different ones. Go for the hot cloth if your skin is drier or the comforting gel one if more oily. Or you can get both as they're on offer! Then you could use the gel in the morning and hot cloth at night
I massage any cleanser into dry skin and take it off with a warm flannel

Toner
You've got stuff like acid toners which exfoliate, then stuff like rose water which just gets rid of any last bits of cleanser, or hydrating ones which are good if you're dry

@QueenOllie - thanks, that's really helpful. I have cleansed and moisturised tonight and will have a browse at toners and other bits tomorrow in Boots.

Thanks everyone, my poor neglected skin is grateful

Ok, so I'm a full-on beauty junkie. I had adult acne right through until recently and I'm 39. Now my skin looks the best it ever has and this is what I do

Emma Hardie cleanser
Beauty pie glycolic acid toner
Fresh kombucha essence
Ordinary matrixyl with HA
Drunk elephant vit c serum
Thank you farmer sun screen

At night I double cleanse (literally cleanse twice)
Beauty pie retinol
Uma anti aging facial oil.

Tbh the game changers for me are the glycolic acid toner, retinols and anything with hylaronic acid in it. And they're affordable things. I've used Eve Lom and Aurelia and both work for my spot prone oily skin. I Don't rate liz Earle

Consider a Beuaty Pie subscription so y9u can try lots of stuff affordably. And the ordinary - although that can be confusing if you email them they will suggest. Regimen for you;

Good luck!

Firstly, make sure you're drinking plenty of water. As for skincare routine:
Morning
-wash face
-use toner (it rebalances the phd in your skin after washing)
-moisturize
-sunblock (I use one specifically for the face)

Night:
-wash face
-use toner
-use a night moisturizer with retinol (it helps repair damage from the day)