Help with skin care from Boots please

[Workyticket]

I'm 42 and have no skin regime to speak of.

Currently washing with Dove soap and moisturising with some stuff from Superdrug.

I'm (hopefully / maybe) getting married in July and would like nicer skin.

I'm going to start drinking LOTS more water as my skin is always better when I do.

I've got £40 in Boots points so makes sense to order from there

I have small dry patches down under my chin, down the side of my ears, on one eyebrow and one on my hairline.

T zone is fine.

I'd love recommendations rather than buying random bits please.

Pixi Glow tonic for exfoliating.

A hyaluronic acid (I use Hada Labo but I don't think they sell it in Boots?)

A small amount of Weleda Skin Food warmed up in your hand first.

Before you use the hyaluronic acid, make sure your face is damp, and then you seal in the HA with the moisturiser.

@Juliesipadwillcallyouback

Pixi Glow tonic for exfoliating.

A hyaluronic acid (I use Hada Labo but I don't think they sell it in Boots?)

A small amount of Weleda Skin Food warmed up in your hand first.

Before you use the hyaluronic acid, make sure your face is damp, and then you seal in the HA with the moisturiser.

Thank you!

What does the hyaluronic do?

Is the skin food as wekk as or instead of a moisturiser?

AM
Cleanser
Vit C serum
Moisturizer

PM
Cleanser
Retinol (if you want to go down that route)
Any serums or moisturizers you like

Any cleanser and moisturizer that's suitable for your skin will do, doesn't need to be spendy. Serums and actives are where you'll see the difference. A Vit C will add glow, an acid tone if you want one will resurface and do what those gritty scrubs used to do. If you're dry, glycolic, oily salicylic.
Nadine Baggott has some great videos, recommends products at all price points, and says only 5 products are essential.

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant. I have the Hada Labo but tbh, I don't find it does much. Almost every serum also contains HA anyway (Estée Lauder's famous Night Repair was one of the first HA based serums)
Skin Food is a very rich moisturizer. I love it but use it when my skin is very dry.

Thank you - I'll definitely watch some of her videos

I clearly have a lot to learn!

I have found hyaluronic acid (when put on damp skin, it didn't work for me at all until I realised you had to use it that way!) has probably been the single best thing for my skin in terms of hydration, and used in conjunction with an acid toner every few evenings, has transformed the look and feel of my skin, I'm so glowy these days!

Skin Food is a very thick moisturiser, but I use a tiny amount and warm it up in my hand so it spreads lovely on the skin. It's not for everyone as a daytime moisturiser though, as it is so rich.

Part of the problem is that skincare is so individual, you kind of have to try different stuff to see what works for you. I feel like most of it is a total con tbh! 😂

Is there much difference between different priced hyaluronic stuff?

Vichy do a nice serum with hyaluronic acid in.

I've heard good things about the ordinary too

Hyaluronic acid for hydration- apply whilst face is slightly damp (i.e with mist rather than dripping wet). Either the Inkey List or The Ordinary are good.

Moisturiser, something like Weleda Skin Food if you have dry skin.

There are little serums and ingredients you could add to your skincare but it really depends on what you want your skin to look like

I agree about the Pixi Glow Tonic too.

I'd start with those 3 and see how you get on for a month or so.

In my basket:

Pixi glow tonic (do I need cotton pads for that??)
Weleda skin food

The ordinary acid stuff (again - cotton pads / fingers??)

Thanks so much! I'm deflate to the skin care party 🥳

If you have dry skin on your body, I love their oats moisturising cream. It costs £3, think it's a knock off of aveeno but I actually prefer it! Works wonders on my scaly lizard legs

@Workyticket

In my basket:

Pixi glow tonic (do I need cotton pads for that??)
Weleda skin food

The ordinary acid stuff (again - cotton pads / fingers??)

Thanks so much! I'm deflate to the skin care party 🥳

Yes you will need cotton pads for the pixi Glow - I don't know if boots sell them, but I use reusable pads that I bought off Amazon, absolute game changer!

Not sure which acid you bought from the Ordinary? If its glycolic then that's just the same as pixi Glow basically.

I hope you like the Skin Food, remember just a tiny bit!

Not chexked out yet. I've got this one in my basket

I'd introduce it all one at a time so if you get a reaction you know what it is.

Also if you introduce it slowly you know which products have an impact and which don't!

Ah right I see, it's the Hyaluronic acid - you just apply that like a serum with fingers onto damp skin.

I agree that it's a good idea to introduce stuff slowly although you haven't got loads of different products there. Maybe the HA and Skin Food first, as you are less likely to react to either of those, and then the pixi Glow a bit later?

My skin didn't like the pixi glow so yes I'd recommend trying that one separately at least

Only use the Pixi a couple of times a week to start with I've been using a glycolic for about 5 years and even did the famous (at the time) Mumsnet schizzle when we all bought 30% peels off the internet, but I still only use Pixi on alternate nights.

What you've got in your basket is a great start OP and if you use those every night you should see a difference quite quickly. Remember to cleanse your face well first - use a flannel.

@Lamentations

What you've got in your basket is a great start OP and if you use those every night you should see a difference quite quickly. Remember to cleanse your face well first - use a flannel.

I thought the pixi was for cleaning! 🙈 I'm useless 🤣

Pixi is for exfoliating, yes you do need a cleanser, I hadn't thought of that!

I just use micellar water, the garner one with oil as well as my skin is dry. However, you have to rinse it off after, as basically its just soapy water! I rub it over with a reusable cotton pad, and then just wet the cotton pad and sweep that over to rinse, or in the morning I just give a quick rinse in the shower. I don't wear makeup day to day though, so there isn't too much to remove.

If you want a face wash, I have heard great things about the Cerave (?) one.

Hyaluronic acid really does make your skin softer and smoother. Either the Ordinary or Inkey List ones are fine, I've used both. Just put on about 4 drops before moisturiser.
If the Pixi tonic is too harsh try a hot cloth cleanser like the Your Good Skin one. I use a flannel to wipe it off rather than the cloths they give you, as they're a bit flimsy.

I use the CeraVe cream to foam cleanser and find that's a good one for its price. The ordinary stuff I think is a good place to start as a beginner as it's all quite simple, cheap and does the job. Have a look at the ordinary's website to see what routines they recommend, you can then just substitute for whatever boots have.
I found the boots nighttime vitamin c moisturiser pretty rubbish but now use a vitamin c serum and cetaphil rich night time moisturiser of a night and love it.

Also love the pixie toner and use the ordinarys niacinamide (never with vit c though!) when I feel my skin needs it

Also if the pixie tonic agrees with you, I found Aldi's version to be a great dupe just for future reference