Please help me to up my skin care routine

[Geneticsbunny]

I have combination skin (mostly oily) with big pores on my nose chin and forehead. So far I am cleansing with a Nivea cleanser, toning with 6%glycolic 3 times a week and then moisturing with a basic Nivea moisturiser with SPF 15. I think I want to try adding vitamin c and niacinamide but I am not sure how to add them in. I am early 40s if that makes a difference and just starting to get fine lines. All advice welcomed.

I tend to avoid some of the extra stuff, because I'm not sure of the order, and I also wonder if applying things within a certain time frame of the next thing 'dilutes' the action of it iuswim. This is no use to you at all, but it may bump for someone who knows lots more than I. There are some real skin care experts on S & B.

Thanks. I suspect I should have put niacinamide and vitamin c in the title to get the experts to spot my post

Skincare is a total rabbit hole! Before I turned 40 it was Sun, a little face wash then the moisturiser that I could pick up in the supermarket. No I've joined a few Facebook skincare sites and have got a whole regime, with app to help me keep it straight. I use The Ordinary, Paula's Choice and various Korean skincare items. But the most important thing is SPF 50 everyday even in winter. The Sun is mostly responsible for your lines.

If you skin is bordering on oily, I can recommend SBC gel moisturisers. I use the collagen one and occasionally supplement with the moisturising cream.

Try a charcoal cleansing bar, followed by a Vitamin C serum.

I'm mid 30s and my routine is as follows:

Morning- wash face in shower plain water, no7 toner, bakuchiol serum (retinol is too strong for my sensitive skin), hyaluronic acid, boots Q10 day moisturiser and last but not least, piz buin face SPF 50.

Evening- boots no7 foam cleanser, No7 toner, bakuchiol serum, hyaluronic acid, blue tin Nivea crème.

I'll exfoliate once a week.

I've only recently started using the bakuchiol serum and it's great! Really made a difference to the start of some fine lines. SPF is your best investment for your skin though.

If you want to use vitamin c serum then just pop it in after you've cleansed and toned, before applying moisturiser. Not sure about niacinamide, sorry!

The Ordinary have a niacinamide and zinc serum. It's good for oily and blemish proned skin. I use a serum after a toner. I'd recommend a higher spf than 15, especially if you go outside regularly. 🙂 Spf in moisturiser is fine, but you'd have to be using quite a good amount to get the true benefits from the spf. There are moisturisers with spf 30+ or you could use a separate spf, as long as it's the final thing you use in your skincare routine. 🙂

Thanks @Erictheavocado those look good. Not too expensive and a good range. Do you reckon I could try the vitamin c one and switch it for my current moisturiser?

@HermioneMakepeace is there a specific vitamin c serum that you would recommend? Do I need to find an oil free one if I have oily skin?

@jenesaisqu0i and @OlivePop looks like I need a stronger SPF then. The seperate ones I have seen are a bit greasy. What is the pizbuin one like?

Think I ma going to try that serum you suggested jenasaiqoui as I can add that into my current routine easily and see if my skin tolerates it.

@Geneticsbunny I really like piz buin face SPF. It's the sun sensitive one which I find doesn't irritate my eyes like others do, nor does it leave white, streaky marks. About £7.

@Geneticsbunny I use the Samantha Sona one. The day serum. It’s got Kakadu Plum and Quandong which has 50 x the Vitamin C of an orange. It’s not at all greasy and really cleared up my skin.

Thanks @HermioneMakepeace and @OlivePop will try those out

Try a hyaluronic acid serum.