Skincare regimen with retinol, vit c- what moisturiser??

[sunshine799]

I'm 42 and my skin has suddenly started looking quite dry and non elastic. Particularly in the mornings under my eyes and my cheeks are very dry.

I have been using retinol / tret at night, glycolic a couple of times a week and vitamin c every morning for a number of years. Also with hyaluronic acid and boots protect & perfect serum. But I need a really good rich night moisturiser now I think.

I tried weleda skin food on my face at night but by the morning the same areas were still dry.

If you are in your 40's+ and use retinol etc, what kind of night cream do you use to keep your face moisturised?

I use dermatica retinol and niacinamide followed by Clinique dramatically different moisturizer + eye cream at night. In the mornings I go full on clarins -soothing face wash, double serum and the peach coloured moisturizer (can’t remember what it’s called!) oh and factor 50 sunscreen from la roche posay. My skin has never been so good. I’m 50.

I use Clinique dramatically different moisturising lotion. The key is to put it on first let it sink in, then apply tret/retinol. You can pat more moisturiser on top if you feel dry after this. I had to ditch glycolic products as my skin got too dry. I also don’t put retinol around my nose or eyes.

Once or twice a week I only use Balance Me Rose Otto facial oil to give my skin a big moisture boost.

Maybe try to only use Vit C every other day. I found niacinamide serum less drying than Vit C.

Also, drink lots of water, it’s amazing how much benefit it has for the skin. And eat lots of salmon and avocado!

I like Espa overnight hydration therapy

@Journeynotdestination

Also, drink lots of water, it’s amazing how much benefit it has for the skin. And eat lots of salmon and avocado!

Yeah I do all of that and more. Just need the extra topical moisture now.

One with ceramides is a good choice, I use cosrx comfort ceramide cream and it makes a huge difference. I use a lighter one in the day and spf 50 every day.

I use an overnight mark like Origins Drink Up Intensive or Clinique Moisture Surge

*mask, not mark

Thank you. I've tried Clinique dramatically different but found it too thin and not rich enough for my skin. Will look into the other suggestions.

A thin layer of vasaline overnight will keep everything where it needs to be ,I've done this for years and it works

Sunday Riley Ice ceramide cream is very rich and moisturising as a night cream. I've started to use it as my skin has become much drier as I've got older. A much cheaper alternative is No7 Rstore and Renew. Or add a few drops of oil to your normal moisturiser.

I use pure Argan Oil from Neals Yard. Amazing stuff!

In the recent cold spell I’ve been using LRP Cicaplast balm to offset the effects of actives.

Just another thought OP, maybe reduce the amount of times you are using glycolic acid to once a week or so and see if the dryness goes away a bit.

I've not been using my retinol for at least a week as I'm trying out all my Beauty Advent products and my skin hasn't looked this plump and juicy for ages.
The products are very expensive so they're not items I'd buy on a regular basis but my goodness they are working miracles.

Two creams that I've found too rich are the standard Nivea in the blue pot and the Aldi Caviar cream. If no good you could always use them up on your legs/body (I hate doing that with expensive mistakes but it wouldn't feel as bad with those ones) I've also seen people on here recommend the Nivea/Aldi Q10 night creams.

The skincare experts always tell you to spend on your actives/serums and use the cheapest moisturiser you can find that does the job, so I'd start at the lower end of the scale and work up till you find something you like.

After Retinol I use the beauty pie ceramide capsules then La Roche Posay moisturiser. My skin is really glowing and no dryness

If even skin food is leaving you too dry I would be using a facial oil (rose hip oil?) and maybe cutting back on the actives - your skin might just need a breather?

I use beauty kitchen’s unscented body lotion as a facial moisturiser and it works for me - very basic but thickish and soothing, meaning I can fiddle about with serums and actives knowing I’ve got a good neutral step to top it all off.

I've gone back to Kiehls midnight recovery oil recently as the weather has got colder. It seems to nourish my quite dry (around the perimeter rather than T zone) face. I use it at night and sometimes slap a bit on in the morning. It's great stuff and smells gorgeous.

I use Dermatica Tret and also Vit C in the mornings and have normal to combination skin.

Also yeah, dramatically different is dreadful stuff ( for me, anyway). Does absolutely nothing.

Another vote for cosrx ceramide comfort moisturiser. My skin is currently really dry from using tret (recently upped the strength) and this has really sorted it out. Sinks in well and feels non-greasy too. Also agree that you might need to reduce the glycolic. Using other actives on top of retinol is too much for my skin, particularly in winter with the cold and central heating.

M&S ultimate sleep cream.

I also love Elemis pro collagen overnight matrix but it’s horrifically expensive. I find the sleep cream a decent replacement

I rate Clarins Blue Orchid oil with Nuxe comforting balm over the top at night. Tret makes my skin dry too.

Agree anything with ceramides are good. I like the Cerave night cream. It’s as good as if not better than any other expensive moisturiser I’ve tired.