Totally baffled by skincare. Can anyone give me a cheap, simplified Hirons-esq routine?

[BiscuitDrama]

I’m trying but it’s too complicated!

I read Caroline Hirons book years ago and have looked at her website, but it’s way way too much for me, ie too many products. What do you reckon the most important steps are?

I am very greasy, and have just slightly shit looking 45 yr old skin.

I currently use Superdrug glycolic tonic twice a day and that is it. I tried Paula’s choice cleanser and moisturiser but don’t love them so I only use the moisturiser when I feel I need to.

So I think I might need
Cleanser
Moisturiser
Serum?

Sunscreen?

This seems too much already!

Shall I just buy a few bits from The ordinary as a start?

Argh.

Moisturiser is pretty important but make sure it’s non comedogenic ie it won’t clog pores /make u break out since u say you have oily prone skin ( like myself ) u can just google whether the moisturiser u have / buy is or not .

Hylauronic acid serum is prob a good place to start with serums I think a lot of people use it wrong though it’s a humectant which means it draws in moisture so can only draw in what is there so it needs to go on just before moisturiser

Retinol particularly prescription strengths are prob the best thing u can do aswell as sunscreen in terms of anti aging however if you are looking to keep thing super simple then incorporating a retinol may not be best for u but was worth mentioning

Drink lots of water

Not sure glycolic acid is good twice a day ? Sometimes skin can seem oily but it’s actually lacking hydration and therefore over produces more oil so in terms of cleanser try avoid harsh cleansers designed for oily skin in my experience they strip the oil n make my face tight n dry . look for quite plain cleansers

Hope that helps a bit

Ah maybe I’ll go back to forgetting the toner in the evening then

Thanks!

Any cleanser suitable for your skin. A wash off (hot cloth) one is best. Cleanser stays on your skin for a few seconds then goes down the plug.

An acid toner suitable for your skin. Glycolic for anti ageing. Salicylic for oily. Build up gradually, a few times a week and then nightly.

Serum: hyaluronic acid for hydration (does sweet FA for me mind!l) a vit C for brightening. Morning only if you're using other actives, IE a retinol in the evening.

Any moisturizer suitable for your skin.

Definitely sunscreen every day. Not a moisturizer containing sunscreen.

If you're not super interested in skincare then you're better off not diving into using active products like glycolic acid, since they can be so strong you damage your skin instead. If you use glycolic acid at all, at definitely twice a day, you run a) a serious risk of over-exfoliating your skin, which means you damage its natural health and the skin barrier, which may well be the reason your skin is greasy and b) you should be using a sunscreen so the sun doesn't damage your already sensitised skin.

Have you looked at the skincare threads? There are loads of interesting tips in the first post, with links to all the other threads.

This is the latest one: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/4018138--Fantastic-Skincare-Jump-through-flaming-hoops-repeat-Beauty-is-Pain-and-acces-to-this-thread-will-be-unlocked?pg=1

I recommend Cerave hydrating cleanser and a sunscreen for starters. Myself I'm using Eucerin sunscreens atm but I don't know if they're available in the UK. Otherwise La Roche Posay is popular. They also do a popular moisturiser called Toleriane. I'm mostly using my sunscreen as moisturiser at the moment, I'm finding that is enough.

Nothing does you any good if you don't apply it to clean skin!

I'd also recommend watching either Nadine Baggott or Sali Hughes over Caroline Hirons. I like all 3, but with NB in particular she explains very clearly but scientifically why you need some things, why you don't need others, and why some companies are naughty with their packaging. (Allowing you to think that "granactive retinoid 2%" means you're getting 2% of retinoids when actually you need to divide it by 10 if it's granactive.

Caroline Hirons very first book only came out this year

Her cheat sheets on her website are very self explanatory. They are on the right hand side of her site.

@FlyingByTheSeatof

Caroline Hirons very first book only came out this year

Her cheat sheets on her website are very self explanatory. They are on the right hand side of her site.

Oh it must have been someone else then! Maybe Sali Hughes.

Anyway, I’ve been through the cheat sheets (I think?) but I find them to be far far too many products, like I said. I’d like to start with the most important ones. I also don’t want to introduce seven products all at once. Even if I could be bothered with that many.

So I need

Cleanser (my daughter has the Cerave one which I bought her so I’ll try that)
Serum
Moisturiser
Sunscreen

Then glycolic acid at night.

I’ll have a look at that thread and Nadine Baggott.

Sounds like I have a plan.

Thanks all!

Ok so nice simple effective products for a good simple basic cost effective routine for instance

If you wear makeup and / or spf the first cleanse use
Clinique Take the day off balm or Superdrug vit e cream cleanser
Or micellar water if you prefer like Garnier

Then for your second cleanse (or main if no makeup or spf worn)

Cerave SA face wash / cleanser

Use an acid toner like pixi glow tonic or Ren glow tonic or Paula's choice BHA skin perfecting lotion

Then apply a serum

Good and cheap is Superdrug Simply Pure hydrating serum

Followed by a night moisturiser with no spf

NB has created a lovely skincare box with items perfect for you with Superdrug

Hopefully the box is still in stock

These

I have made a purchase!

I’ve gone for the NB box!

Thank you, that gives me a really good start to play with.

@BiscuitDrama brilliant they're great products to start you off with and should last a while as they're all full size too.

The best way to apply oil is put 3-4 drops in the palm of your hand, rub both palms together then pat / rub gently all over face. If you use too much oil it won't sink in so less is more. You can also if you like add 2 drops of oil to some of the serum instead and mix in your palms and apply the same way

@BiscuitDrama

I have made a purchase!

I’ve gone for the NB box!

Thank you, that gives me a really good start to play with.

Excellent! Her videos are great. I've got a bit of a crush really 😂