What's the best thing you did for your skin?

[wintertime6]

I'm in my 40's and my skin is awful. Really red and blotchy and sensitive. It hasn't always been like that but I don't really remember when it got so bad.

Does anyone have any advice or recommendations of products that have worked for them. Not sure if I should be investing in a good SPF, oils, exfoliation, cleanser etc? I've been guilty of drinking a bit too much wine and not drinking enough water, and I'm trying to rectify that and hoping that will help too.

Don't want to spend lots of money but happy to invest in one or two products if they might make a difference.

The best thing I ever did was to do less. Since I was a teenager I've chucked all sorts of lotions and potions at it - a typical daily routine would be double cleanse, serum, moisturiser, sunscreen and treatment in the morning then another double cleanse, serums, moisturiser, retinol etc etc in the evening. Plus a mask twice a week. Last year my face went bonkers - anything I put on it made it burn and go all scaly, bright red, blistered and sort of 'thick'. It was so painful.

When it recovered I used the gentlest stuff I could find - after some trial and error that turned out to be Aldi moisturing face wash followed by Cerave lotion, both tried in desperation. And that's it, unless it's sunny, when I use a sunscreen too. And once or twice a week I wash my face with a flannel to exfoliate.

My skin has never looked better. For the first time since I was about 10 I don't have spots (I'm 47 now). No congestion, plump and comfortable and no irritation. It's miraculous.

Turns out the best thing I could do was leave it the fuck alone!

I’m a similar age and a few years ago my skin was terribly sensitive. I was fed up paying ££££ on products that made no difference or usually made it worse.

I bought Cicaplast by LaRoche Posay on a whim and when I had some time off work used it every day. It really made a difference and my skin has been so much better since.

Now, I use it about once a week. It is very heavy and so I don’t wear any other product with it (no other creams, lotion or make up). On the other days I just use my other normal stuff.

I'm on week 4 of Dermatica and the results have been great. I use cetaphil wash and moisturiser and I think I might add in a vit c serum soon. I think it'll take a couple more months to see true results but I've tried so many things without success before so I'm really pleased for the price.

Good fresh diet, staying out of the sun, water, light make up, cleansing and face oil. Occasional glass of wine, so can’t claim no alcohol.
But the biggest thing has been good genes from both sides, Grannies had beautiful skin.

Another less is more person here. When i 'up my game' with regards to skin care my skin tends to react badly.

My guilty secret is I worked for Clinique for years and every working day i told at least 2/3 people how important night time cleansing was, they would compliment my skin and i would enthuse about my strict routine. I would keep my fingers crossed behind my back though because guess what? I NEVER cleansed my face at night and now years later i still don't. Ever. I can honestly say i have the skin of someone 10/15 years younger.

I DO exfoliate daily and use an SPF moisturiser without fail afterwards (from forehead right down neck and over boobs, plus backs of hands) and have done since i was 15 or so.

If i shower in the evening rather than morning i will use Luxe oil as a moisturiser on my face neck and boobs. If not i won't do anything except brush my teeth, bung on my revitalash and get in bed. Make up residue all left on. That's 9 days out of 10.

What's your diet like? It could be your body saying 'enough'.

I agree with most posters here - less is more. My skin was at its best when I was backpacking. Just washed it nightly and put some simple moisturiser on - and sunscreen in the mornings. Spent 10+ hours a day outside, ate well and had sugary treats maybe once a week - booze was expensive so I'd only have the odd drink. Lots of exercise.

I try to keep it simple now too, I cleanse and moisturise well every night and do an AHA + BHA peel once a week but that's it. I don't use foundation, only a tinted moisturiser.

@wintertime6 got my tretinoin from overseas but as a poster has said, available from Dermalogica. Warning: your skin will purge for the first 6 weeks and may break out more than ever. But then it will settle down. Other than this and SPF I don't use anything: no serums, acids or creams. I do drink water, eat a lot of veg and drink maybe once a month. But that's not really for my skin; just long standing habit.

I agree with those saying to keep it simple. Less is more , focus on building up your natural skin barrier and reducing inflammation: a gentle cleanser, a gentle fragrance free moisturiser and spf . I love Avene cicalfate cream for repair. I also use dermatica tretinoin now but took a long time to work up to the point where my skin would tolerate it and I stick to 0.025%

Just wanted to pop back on here to let you know I've seen such an improvement in my skin in the last few weeks! I think ditching the booze has probably had the biggest effect (I now see why women have glowing skin when they're pregnant 🤣🤣) but I've also been using the Avene cleanser twice a day and using SPF every day which I think is helping too. I still need to work on drinking more water.

And with the money I'm saving on alcohol I've treated myself to some vitamin C serum and the clarins double serum, so hoping to get into a good skincare routine every day.

I agree with pp’s it come from the outside in. Minimal sugar & carbs, lots of fruit, veg and protein. Lots of water. Exercise.

Hada Labo cleanser and serum are good (they have hyuralonic acid and retinol in) and a rich moisturiser. But your diet and drinking lots of water are the things that will make the biggest difference I’m afraid!

Sleep, water and sadly very little alcohol.

Rosehip oil - The Inkey.