Can anyone critique my new regime

[Woodlandbelle]

Please can you help. For context I am in my early 40s. Some acne and so on but blackheads have nearly gone now I would imagine from lack of make up over the past 12 months rather than my routine. I use acnecide cream 5 percent on breakouts.

So I only every used a wash cleanser and odd bit of moisturiser

Now I have
Eye make up remover (soap and glory)
Cream cleanser cetaphil

Pixi glow - got a trial size and love it
Twice a day I use this
Ordinary - moisturister and a heavier l'oreal one at night

I have bought the ordinary salycilic acid and niacamide. When you I use these. Or should I alternate days

Was thinking of adding retinol

If you for this far I thank you

Dunno re acid and niam, but I would wonder if the cream cleanser was a bit 'heavy'. Also, I would use a moisturiser with a SPF of 30 in it.

Pixi glow is an acid, and so is salicylic acid so wouldn't recommend using both.

You can use glycolic acid (pixi) in morning/at night and niacinamide at different time of day (night /morning)

I would not suggest adding a retinol on too of all those things, especially with acnecide. It would all be too harsh

I recommend Cerave Am and PM moisturizers. The AM has SPF and PM is a bit richer. They've transformed my skin!

With the products you're using, you MUST use a product with decent SPF

That's so much. Yes thank for that about spf. I watched a few liz eldridge tutorials last night and I did see how important it is. I have, up until now not really given my skin much thought.

I would definitely say don't overload your skin with too many products

I have similar skin to you, sometimes get acne breakouts and this is my routine, if youre interested!

I got some Duac gel (same as acnecide but with antibiotic in) and used that once a day for about a month. I now use it once-twice a week at night

Morning:
Quinoderm wash
Cerave AM moisturiser
Eye cream
Pixi glow tonic twice a week ish

Evening:
Quinoderm wash
Cerave PM moisturiser
Eye cream
Duac once/twice a week ish

My skin is transformed, no spots since starting this regime and hyperpigmentation from old spots is fading

Resisting the temptation to add more products and just keeping things simple!

Thanks bookshop
I have used duac in the past. It's excellent. Only on prescription where I am so I won't bother the GPs at the moment but will do if acne returns

I have some boots points to use up

I got mine via Boots online, I think it was £30 for a tube which I got in November and am less than halfway through

So no need to bother the GP. I justified the cost in that I will have wasted hundreds of £££s on crap that doesn't work over the years!!!

I had acne on and off/generally spotty skin from a teenager and went to go and see a clinical facialist before my wedding when I was 30 and she honestly TRANSFORMED my skin in the simplest way. Cut out your moisturiser and use a strong retinol instead! If you give Kate Kerr London a google she’s done some interviews about her ‘no moisturiser’ approach and it honestly works! Xx

That's very interesting Elle
What strength retinol is recommended

Though I think I will tread very carefully for now and use the extra products I have first

She suggested to off low until your skin gets used to it and then up! I use 1% stuff from Zo Health but started off with 0.5%. Hope you find something that works for you!

Really appreciate this advice. Trying to look after myself a bit more. I am a bit more concerned with aging more than the acne as that seems to be under control.

You need a broad spectrum SPF of at least 30 and preferably 50. La Roche posay are popular and usually on offer in Boots. There's a light fluid one (shaka) and a heavier sensitive skin one in a tube. You might not need that or if you do, skip moisturiser. UVA light is the biggest cause of ageing. You should be wearing SPF when using acids. I'd continue on with what you're doing while introducing SPF until you find something you're happy to wear every day and isn't causing any irritation or breakouts - a few weeks at least.

Indeed Labs do a reasonably priced retinol cream stocked in Boots.

Search for the fantastic skincare threads on here and have a good read of the fact sheets the very informed and thoughtful OP botemp has done. It will save you time, money and from skincare disasters.