Anyone with gorgeous skin willing to help me?

[Timona]

So today I was reminiscing with my sister (via WhatsApp) over some photos we took together three years ago and I can't believe how much more shit I look after just a few short years . I know a couple of obvious things I need to change -drinking more water, eat healthier food, exercise and get more sleep- and have decided to start all of that straight away!
But looking in the mirror, my skin is so terrible. Mainly it's really blotchy and awful pores..plus dark rings.

So my question is, are there any beautiful skinned people out there willing to help me by telling me their skincare routine? I've honestly never had any sort of routine, just face scrub once a day in the shower, so I'd like as much detail as possible because I have no clue 😬

Any help is appreciated, I'm just coming out of a long depression that has shot my self confidence to pieces so am trying to make an effort to look after myself. (I am also planning to also start wearing make up..so may need to start another advice thread again soon 😉).

Thank you in advance.

Too many "also's" in that last part

I have the same problem! I’ve just signed up to Dermatica, currently waiting for their assessment of my requirements so can’t tell you if it’s worth doing yet.

I have very good skin

I am and always have been religious about cleansing. I double cleanse in the evening with Pixie.

I use Medik8 retinol.... it doesn’t get better. Online only.

I do a mask once a week.

I buy high end products ( chantecaille)

Oh, and it doesn’t help that I’m pale so look a little bit like a corpse when bare faced. A slight tan covers all manner of sins!

I wash my face in the shower and that’s it. I’m fifty two, surprisingly smooth skinned, no spots, touch wood, and no open pores, black heads, dark circles or blotches.

I moisturise when I’m going to wear foundation. Other than that I don’t.I take my make up off every night with simple cleanser and never sleep in it.

I think all the crap women put on their skin doesn’t help at all. I think it’s a con.

I know you've already mentioned it but drinking water makes a massive difference in my experience. I age at least 5 years if I'm dehydrated. I'd start with that and some good moisturiser (doesn't have to be expensive) and see how you get on before investing in anything really pricey.

I take starflower oil capsules which has really improved my complexion

I think all the crap women put on their skin doesn’t help at all. I think it’s a con.

I'd also agree with this.

My skin is good but very dry (I get eczema)
I find Drinking loads of water, a weekly exfoliation or if you can/want to using retinoids regularly.
I also wash my face at night and moisturise with a normal moisturiser (Elemis currently but anything would do) then absolutely slather on hydromol cream and sleep in that. It's greasy like Vaseline and works absolute miracles - there's a thread on here somewhere about using Vaseline that might be worth searching out. It's an inexpensive and easy thing to try.
For dark circles there's not a lot you can do but I know a few people that have had tear trough fillers that has improved things (but that's not suitable in all cases)

If your skin is dry use a moisturiser. Something like simple will do. You don’t need to spend a fortune. You don’t need to do it religiously. Do it if your skin needs it only.

Secondly just wash it with water in the shower. Take your make up off with a light cleanser. Don’t sleep in your make up.

Don’t buy into you need to shove lots of crap on there constantly. You don’t. Your skin needs to breathe and be clean.

Ensure you’re properly hydrated and eat healthily.

That’s it really,

I agree too, but I do moisturise morning and night. Always have done and my skin is good for my age. Generally use Aldi's own if I'm buying for myself, otherwise I use any moisturiser/night cream from gift sets

Ok so ditch the scrub first of all. Don’t treat your face so harshly.

Skincare doesn’t have to be wildly complicated. Wash your face twice a day with a nice gel/oil/balm cleanser. In the morning apply a vitamin c serum before a moisturiser and an SPF (factor 50 preferably). In the evening wash your face twice (once to remove product such as spf or makeup and once to clean the skin underneath) miceller water would count as a first cleanse if you want to use it. Apply a retinol product, the online prescription services such as Dermatica or Skin & Me are formulated for your skin concerns specifically but you could just as easily use something from Boots or whenever, their no7 retinol has good reviews.

Once you’ve got the basics down and you’ve seen an improvement you can look at adding things to treat any concerns that still linger like a niacinamide serum or an acid toner.

Have a look at Nadine Baggot on Instagram. She’s very good and recommends brilliant entry level non spendy skincare that’s perfect when you’re trying to figure out what works best for you.

(I was agreeing that some people put too much on their skin)

I don’t think using a scrub every day is a good idea. If you are using one it needs to be as gentle as possible . I think a moisturiser daily is definitely good. Doesn’t need to be hugely expensive but think it needs to be the right one for your skin type.

I think all the crap women put on their skin doesn’t help at all. I think it’s a con.

Not all is a con, bog standard cleanser and moisturiser is fine, my skin dramatically improved when I started using hyaluronic acid and using tretinoin, azalaiec acid with niacinamide on prescription from Dermatica has massively improved it.

Glow tonic for properly removing dirt/make up.
Facial oil - doesn’t have to be stupidly expensive.
Expensive moisturisers irritate my skin. Nivea has always worked very well. Probably used this twice a day since I was 12/13.
Never worn heavy foundation or concealer and I think that has helped my skin.

Don't use face scrub every day.

FWIW- I've never used cleanser or toner or any of that stuff. I have, however, moisturised morning and night since I was a teenager (dry skin). Nothing fancy when I was younger, sometimes even just vaseline, but now I do use Nivea Q10 cos I'm over 50 Rarely use soap on my face, maybe once or twice a week with an old-fashioned flannel (face cloth). Occasionally steam my face over a sink of v hot water with a towel over my head.

I rarely drink alcohol, and I exercise regularly. Oh and I use a silk pillowcase and always wear sunglasses at the first hint of sun.

@Bluntness100

I wash my face in the shower and that’s it. I’m fifty two, surprisingly smooth skinned, no spots, touch wood, and no open pores, black heads, dark circles or blotches.

I moisturise when I’m going to wear foundation. Other than that I don’t.I take my make up off every night with simple cleanser and never sleep in it.

I think all the crap women put on their skin doesn’t help at all. I think it’s a con.

You’re incredibly lucky that you’ve such lovely skin but please don’t dismiss skincare as a con because you personally don’t need it.

I’ve lovely skin now but if I did what you did my face would be a pustule filled angry nightmare.

I never get dandruff but I don’t condemn T Gel as crap that doesn’t help at all.

My view is that diet is critical. Critical.

I don’t drink. I consume a LOT of water
I eat about 15 portions of fruit and veg a day
I don’t eat junk (don’t have any enjoyment in it anyway so no hardship).

I take perfectil premium skin care supplement tablets

I know this is a controversial opinion but I really had a lightbulb moment when I discovered Caroline Hirons. My skin was pretty good (or so I thought) before I started a good routine, but it's improved 100% since I've been following her very basic routine. And when I say basic I mean the cheapest of all of the options.

I agree with @TwirlingTwizzler that not all of it is a con, but I definitely think that the pressure to buy the top of the range of everything is a con.

@MumOfPsuedoAdult

I know this is a controversial opinion but I really had a lightbulb moment when I discovered Caroline Hirons. My skin was pretty good (or so I thought) before I started a good routine, but it's improved 100% since I've been following her very basic routine. And when I say basic I mean the cheapest of all of the options.

I agree with @TwirlingTwizzler that not all of it is a con, but I definitely think that the pressure to buy the top of the range of everything is a con.

Yep finding the right products that science show to work is key. High end is fine if you have the money and enjoy but it isn't necessary.

Stop using scrubs with microbeads, apricot kernel etc. If you look after your skin you won't need to exfoliate. I use a mild oil based cleanser, toner and moisturiser every day and pop a mask on once a week and never have flaky skin any more. I used to use those exfoliators daily as had dry skin and hated the flakiness but they cause small tears in the skin and seriously dry it out.

I'm 38 no wrinkles and get commented on how good my skin is and also what I do...

Well I wish my face with soap, yes you heard it with soap! I moisturise with coconut oil and sometimes with ghee (clarified butter). Trust me ghee really evens my skin tone and an apricot scrub once a week.

Other than that its all about what you eat and drink and sleep

My skin can look awful and its when I'm eating crap, drinking crap like coke, dehydrated and not slept enough

So I've cut it all out mostly to keep my weight down so no junk, low carbon, lots of water, no coke, and enough sleep.

Thats it. Pretty simple and no expensive creams or cleansers.

It’s such an individual thing, isn’t it?

The thing that’s made the most difference to my face in the past six months is my Foreo Bear. It’s kind of smoothed me. Not a miracle machine but certainly I like using it. My skincare itself is really basic. I use spf in the day, over Facetheory moisturiser. That’s it.

I also do 30 mins cardio a day. Every day. Including over Xmas. Gets the circulation going.

Another point....

When I was building my routine there was some trial and error to find what worked for me as some products just didn't agree with my skin type. You'll need to take the general advice and then find what works for you.

And I completely agree with @Sup1979 that diet is crucial. My go-to if I need to add some 'glow' to my skin overnight is to eat a whole avocado. They're absolute gold for my skin.