Do you disclose all about your skincare/beauty routine?

[nutmegtea]

I am curious how much other skincare aficionados reveal to others , when asked of course about their skincare routines, treatments and so on. For me good skin has always been the most beautiful (physical) attribute anyone can have and as a result I have always really looked after my skin ( with varying degrees of success) since I was very young.

I get a lot of complements on my skin and it is in great shape but when people ask me about my routine I am often wary about saying too much for various reasons. Over the years I have found a strong routine that works for me but there was a lot of trial and error where I spend money on things that worked for other people but not for me and I don't want to perpetuate that myth of a holy grail product for all. Then there is the fact that I have been using sunscreen all my life and retin a since my teens, avoiding the sun, never smoking, never drinking alcohol (I didn't want to do those things anyway and as a bonus it has been good for my skin) I am not sure anyone starting retin a and sunscreen at 40 is going to get the same result as a long term user. Then there is money I have never had botox or filler as i don't need them but I have had fraxel in the past which I loved and I have some home use devices like the tria face laser and the eye laser and I've an led mask, a nuface, dermalneedling device all of which are probably not nessecery but nice to have access to.

If people ask unless its a close friend of someone i know is really intersted i just usually say I use a gentle cleanser, serum and spf (which is sort of true). I supposed I'd be a bit embaressed if people knew how into skincare I really am and how much I've spend on it although I can afford it.

So tell me do you reveal all about your skincare routines?

No one asks 🤭

@justanotherneighinparadise lol!

Uggh, I can see nobody is going to ask me to reveal all about my perfect spelling!

I actually do as I can share my tips with other women and learn from them too.

I recently learned from a friend with wonderful skin to exfoliate a lot less (was using a peeling twice per week before) and on her advice, now gone back to once every 10 days and it seems my skin is now less prone to red spots / irritantion.

@LaBellina That sounds great! I do share but often online where I know people are more interested.

I remember telling my younger sister and her friends to use spf on their body and faces in the 90's and getting told to sod off because they wanted a tan, now they wish they had listened to me!

You and I are still a minority, I think @nutmegtea. Many women don't bother to use any SPF except when it's august maybe and they're on holiday and in a beach somewhere in Spain/Greece etc.

I wear it every day, even during winter.

I’m surprised you needed those other gadgets/ stuff if you’ve been using Retin A and SPF all these years! anyway...
I did nothing, now l use Tret and SPF.
I’ve never sunbathed / l don’t drink alcohol/ and l strongly avoid dairy and sugar.
This has ( coupled with genes) which l think are a major factor... given me a much younger complexion.
Women/ friends *do ask me on a regular basis what l do / or have had done ( nothing in my case) and l give them all the tips l can think of.
How old are u @nutmegtea :)

My advice is live s very boring life. No one wants to hear that lol

@withlotsoflove I don't really need them but they are fun to have!

I am in my mid 40s now but my skin and face hasn't really changed much since my 20's, no wrinkles, no lines, no sagging, no pigmentation which is great.

@LaBellina Yep, I'm inside right now, its mid october but I still have SPF 50 on (don't forget your vitamin d supplements though).

Also lots use the spf in their make up or moisturiser which isn't enough.

I never ask anyone, I just assume those with good skin have the genes for it.

@nutmegtea great!
Yes... your zealous use of the SPF and Retin A will really have helped.
I do think it’s genes too. I don’t have those signs of ageing ( at 49) either - and have only been using Tret and SPF a couple of years.
@justanotherneighinparadise is right / keeping in shape : skin : hair is a pretty boring job!

@nutmegtea also...
I’m not there yet either ... but the menopause is a pile of shite regarding collagen. I hope my routine continues to help.

Yes that's true they think it's enough but really it isn't. I always use SPF as the last step in my routine and anything else that contains SPF such as concealer or foundation I see as an extra. During very sunny days I also wear a sunhat to give my face some extra protection.

God I’m bored of the posts on here saying they look exactly the same mid forties as they did mid twenties. That makes 99% of people the same age who don’t look exactly the same feel very very shit.

@Elllllle I think there is a lot of truth in that but my sister and I have similar genes and skin types but I think my skincare did play a role in how my skin looks now compared to hers and she is younger than me. Also I think when your older but with younger looking skin it has an effect on your percieved age. I did a post grad course last year and my cohort ranged from about 25 to 60 years old. I was tyically grouped in with the 20 somethings on the course initally, when I actually got on better with another women in her 40's when our friendship was commented on by another student as unusual I pointed out I was actually older than her by a year and people were pretty surprised.

Having said all this I think for the most part age comes across in other ways not just your skin or hair etc and in this case assumptions were made based on the setting.

It's not only skin @justanotherneighinparadise.

My skin hasn't also aged a lot but after a certain age, you definitly notice that fat tissue is moving away from the face making you look older. There's a reason why they say women after a certain age have to choose between smaller hips or a younger face

@justanotherneighinparadise
It’s only one aspect of a life.
If you knew the shit l have been through - you’d realise it’s just one thing.
It’s a waste of time to compare.
I work hard to stay in good shape.
It’s how l cope with memories of a horrific childhood.

@justanotherneighinparadise It's not intended to make you feel rubbish, I'm sure you look great. My life isn't perfect but my skin is good and I do look younger than my age hence the comments and questions i get and the purpose of this post, how much do people share with others? Especially is genes, lifestyle over decades, money and so on is key?

But people don't look the same in their mid 40s as they did 20 years ago. One poster on MN always goes on about how she's often mistaken for 25 etc. I know her in real life. She is lovely but only in her own head does she look 25.

I couldn't care less what other women put on their faces. I have Botox and fillers and an expensive medical grade skin care regime. I've never thought about whether other women might want to hear all about this

Actually- l should point out l definitely don’t look in my 20’s - that’s my eldest son’s age.l look about 36/ 7 which is just fine.

Oh god maybe you are her @nutmegtea she name changes a lot and talks about her youthful looks CONSTANTLY

@nutmegtea
When l am asked in public ( work in customer services ) so not so odd 🤣
I explain l don’t sunbathe etc...
With friends l will recommend products / routines. Lots of them have had issues get better.
Like you, if you know skincare - it’s easy to see what will help. :)

I would if asked. Since I had a facial with Decleor a month ago the skin on my face has never been better since I started using all decleor face routine. Even my husband has noticed how my skin has improved.

@mintyChapsticks No I'm not her and I am well aware of the self delusion people have about how old they look and I do try to guard against it some mirror's and photographs in some lights have me looking practically 18 but of course I know I don't pass for that young, nor would I want to. I like to take a good objective look at my skin on a regular basis to try and head off any issues that might be developing for example after living in london for a couple of years I felt the texture of my skin wasn't as nice as it used to be and so had some fraxel which really helped restore it back to what it was and I've been able to maintain that since.

It’s just odd to start threads exclaiming how youthful you look. I do think it’s to make yourself feel great and other people feel less good. It’s like those who use social media with the express intention of showing off their wealth or how blessed they are.