How can I make my skin look better without caking it in make-up?

[Isawbumperkissingsantaclaus]

I drink plenty of water, sleep - well I have a 5 month old baby so as good as it's going to get! Rarely drink as bfing. I use moisturister from Neal's Yard. But my skin is still crap, just broken out in spots on my chin, shadows under my eyes and my skin just generally looks a bit dull. I could make myself look a bit better by wearing make up but feel this just makes the problem worse. I'd rather look good enough to not have to wear make up.

Any hints or tips?

Do you have regular facials? If not, start!

how old are you?

26 with a young baby & not a lot of money !

Moisturiser might be too rich, I had a similar problem while using Lancome a few years ago. Maybe try something lighter? Don't know exactly what you're using but would recommend lotion rather than cream.

Ok, well, spots on the chin are usually hormonal and linked to ovulation so not a lot that can be done about that unless you have them constantly? Otherwise you can expect a spot or two on the chin halfway through your cycle every month.

As for shadowy eyes, I think they come with being a new mum, if not through sleep deprivation through new found responsibility!!

I think a detox might help though? Lots of concentrated veggie goodness to give your system a good flushing out.

Also, what about a daily tanning moisturiser under your normal one? That will give your skin a brighter look without make-up

Drink even more water
Exercise if you can bear it
Exfoliate, gently, at least twice per week
Your moisturiser may be too heavy for your skin?
Cut the caffeine.

Thanks for the responses

Hmm, heavy moisturiser? I've been using Frankincense by Neal's Yard. Could be too heavy.

Must do more exercise. I'm asking for a pedometer for Xmas.

I drink only decaff tea. But will drink more water. Detox is a good idea, but will it affect my breastmilk? Don't have periods back yet so probably not ovulating.

I read in a sleb magazine that someone almond oil on their face. Anyone used anything like that?

A tanner sounds like a good idea but I'm concerned something like that might clog up my skin even more. What do you think?

what skin type are you?

If you skin is quite oily then definately dont put almond oil onto it.

A light tanner shouldnt clog your pores - try the olay one - it is nice and light and not too dramatic an effect but should just lift your complexion a couple of tones.

Combination, oily t zone with dry patches. Awkward basically!

Frankincense Nourishing Cream ? You're only 26 ! Thats for mature skin no wonder you're breaking out !

Much lighter oil free moisturiser and perhaps a teeny dab of the francinscence gubbins on the very dry bits.

moisturiser way too heavy - use it up as body cream and get a cheapy oil free one from the teenage skin range in tesco or somewhere.

And nick a baby muslin and use it to take off whatever cleanser you use - gentle exfoliation thus can work wonders, much better than gritty scrubs etc

For spots, buy a 2.5% or 5% benzoyl peroxide cream which you can get (maybe order) from a chemist without a prescription if you tell the pharmacist you've had it before .

Wash your face in the morning when you are in your bath or shower with a very mild soap (Dove is great) and a clean (need to boil wash daily) face flannel. Give your face a bit of scrub where you are oily and/or tend to break out in spots. Then use a light moisturiser and let it settle before putting on make-up.

In the evening take you make-up off with a very good quality make-up remover (Sensifluid by Aderma - available in a large Boots - is excellent).

eat fruit and veg - cut down on junk food that has lots of processed food in it.

Egg white all over as a face mask will give you a instant lift. Splash rosewater in your face. But my absolute beauty secret is vitamin e cream from body shop - non oily and super nourishing it literally makes blemishes disapperar it is amazing stuff.

Anna, you can actually get 5% benzoyl peroxide off the shelf in Superdrug etc without a pharmacist (as Oxy On The Spot), and 10% (as Oxy10 or unbranded) over the counter. TIs a bit harsh though, only use on real headlight ones.

I have to disagree about exfoliating when you have oily skin as it can over stimulate the skin thus causing more sebum production.

Combination is the most common skin type and so luckily there are lots of treatments on the shelves to deal with it. If you want to dry up the spots on your skin I would recommend treating them with a drawing face mask - such as a deep cleansing clay mask - but only use it on your chin.

For dark circles, detox and good diet/dehydration are really the only way to go.

gentle exfoliation with muslin / flannel only
no grit!

oh yes sorry gentle buffing fine!!

I fyou don't like the eggwhite idea, try one of the moisturising facemasks - I used to use one from the Bodyshop which was lovely. And one from Boots natural collection that was just fine. I think if your skin is feeling crap the tendency is to cleanse the ehll out of it, but I found this a better route. You do feel velevty after!

know the feeling all too well...

the three things that have ever really worked for me are:

fake tan. johnsons daily facial one is great

exercise. sucks but true, also makes my eyes look clearer which makes huge difference

no booze. but then i used to drink like a fish .

my DH also gave up dairy for a while and his skin looked fab. other people say give up refined sugar, but i've never done that so dont know if it works

products

--- i used to have horrible breakouts in early twenties and cannot recommend highly enough lush's cosmetic warrior mask. really calmed face down.

---- insane expensive, maybe one for xmas list or get on ebay, but of all products i've ever used, nothing has made my skin look better instantly than estee lauder's idealist. would get loads of compliments when completely make up free

good luck!

The gentle exfoliation with muslin is a good idea and if your skin looks a bit worse after a few days of doing it, then don't worry - after that it'll start to get better. Be sure to slather on your eye cream and moisterisor after you've dried your face before going to bed.

I would be careful with moisterisor and definatly start light - mind you, go too much for the anti-shine ones and your skin may produce more oil.

Those illuminating moisterisors are really good, but you could buy one (Tesco do one called Face Lift) and mix it with whatever you're going to use, if you don't want to go for too much illumination. There is a good product by Estee Lauder called Skin Refinisher that is really nice (though I don;t think this has any moisterising properties)

I find that applying a little bog standard moisturiser just before putting foundation on really helps. I am considerably older than you so maybe you don't get the tortoise look with foundation as I do, but it helps generally to make you look dewy and generally healthier looking.

kiehl's tinted moisturiser is amazing

people always tell me i'm looking well when i use it