If you're mid-40s with slight redness and hormonal skin, what skincare do you use?

[Flockameanie]

I'm 46. I currently use Body Shop's camomile cleansing butter (the one in the tin) and Simple light moisturiser in the evening. Nothing in the morning, apart from Biore SPF50. This is what I found worked to keep my slight redness and hormonal spots somewhat under control. But my skin looks a bit dull and I want to use a moisturiser in the morning (but the Simple breaks me out in spots if I do) instead of the SPF on days I'm WFH (most days). I used The Ordinary's retinol for a few years in the evenings, but I don't think it really made much difference so I stopped with that.

What do you use to keep your skin looking great? I've had quite bad redness in the past and can't use anything very heavy/ greasy, as I come out in spots, or with essential oils in it (as that's what triggered mild rosacea in my 30s - thank you Liz Earle). My skin always looks particularly rubbish in the luteal phase of my cycle. I prefer a minimal routine - never going to use dozens of potions and lotions. And nothing crazy expensive.

I've fallen down a rabbit warren of threads on here recommending La Roche Posay, Avene, etc etc, and don't know where to start/ don't want to spend loads of £££ buying stuff only to find it makes my skin worse. Any top recommendations?

Azelaic acid for redness
Try dermatica/ordinary or dr sams brightly if money not an issue
Eucerin 5% urea for moisture
I was recommended avene triacneal for anti aging on here and that is very good
I also use a salicylic acid face wash as this is also anti inflammatory and helps with redness
Erborian cc cream also calms red skin but I only use it diluted and in very small amounts

I have just started with dermatica subscription for the redness. They do custom product. I then use either Sam bunting or the dermatica cleanser, moisturiser and SPF.

I use Dermalogica active moist moisturiser which is ££ but worth it. I also use their precleanse for getting make up off. I generally use a zinc soap to wash my face or a salicylic acid wash as Southbucksldn does. I’ve started taking evening primrose and starflower oil which has helped my skin and the regular breakouts I have. Also stops me having the premenstural hormonal rage I had started to get!

I've bought klairs, it is a Korean brand and it's been good to my skin they have a blue calming lotion that is amazing. I switched to Korean products a few years ago as I suffer from rosacea and it's made a huge difference.

Can be daunting at first when looking at their products but there are a few companies like skin insider and soul & beauty that are great at giving advice

Similar age/skin to you.

m.clinique.co.uk/product/1687/58208/skin-care/moisturisers/dramatically-differenttm-hydrating-jelly-anti-pollution

I got a full size of this free in an offer and was pretty meh about initially. But after using it up I realised it had made a really good difference, and I’ve ended up repurchasing. Halfway through bottle 2 and I do think it’s super useful.

I use it under moisturiser. That varies quite a bit depending on weather, state of my face etc. but this is a consistent layer.

I use Ceterben cleanser, followed by Environ moisturiser, followed by an SPF50. In the evening I do the same but minus the SPF and use Rosehip oil from the Ordinary. I used to have very sensitive skin but have found this works for me and I haven't varied it for the last couple of years. I tried a Dermatica subscription for a few months but just didn't get on with it. Environ is only available from licenced retailers and you build up the strength as it has retinol in.

I’d ask the dr for a prescription product for the spots. I did and I got treated straightaway.

No way I’m walking round with breakouts at my age.

Thanks for the suggestions. Lots of names in there I'm not familiar with, so I'm off to look some stuff up!

Fragrance in products causes me to break out, usually to be found as 'parfum' so my advice is to avoid those. Almost 46 and also using the Dermatica service which I've been impressed with as it addresses multiple issues in one and stops me chopping and changing all the time. Consistency is key in skincare. I can recommend Cerave PM as not being too heavy as a moisturiser, good for AM or PM.

I have similar skin to yours. One thing I really avoid is vitamin C in formulations. I know it’s a miracle ingredient for some but it makes me so red.

The other thing is recently I gave up on retinol. I did a year of skin +me (retinol, azelaic acid and niacinimide) as although there were some initial improvements they didn’t stay and in fact for the last few months my skin got worse. I think the skin’s natural barrier was being damaged.

So I recently switched to a much gentler routine, the key ingredient being matrixyl. I’ve been on it for three weeks now and the improvement in both redness and hormonal breakouts is astonishing

AM
Sam Bunting Flawless Cleanser
Garden of Wisdom Hyaluronic Serum with a drop of Boots No7 Line Correcting Booster Serum
Everyday Humans Gentle Mineral Facial SPF30

PM
Sam Bunting Flawless Cleanser
Boots No7 Line Correcting Booster Serum
Fushi Rosehip Oil

Once a week or so I do a multi mask facial.
Garden of Wisdom Salicylic Acid Serum for 15 minutes
Bloomtown Blue Clay Mask for 15 minutes (it has glycerin so it doesn’t set hard)
Boots No7 Restore and Renew Multi Action Face and Neck Booster Serum Face Mask

Right, so I've just signed up for a trial of Dermatica - in part because they also have a basic cleanser and moisturiser that sounds like the kind of thing I need. The idea of not having to use loads of different products also appealed. We'll see if it works - I've read the mixed reviews on here, but it wasn't too much of a financial outlay to give it a go.

@GoLittleRockstar, yes I think I may have had the same experience with Retinol. I feel I had good results initially with The Ordinary's water-based Retinol, but after a while it seemed to stop having any effect and, if anything, seemed to make my skin more sensitive. So I gave up on it (and have two unopened bottles sitting in my cupboard now!)

Similar skin type but vastly improved after my GP prescribed Soolantra for my rosacea a few years ago! I keep under control with this routine;

AM
Ethique Bliss Cleansing bar
Versed Weekend Glow (azelaic acid which keeps spots under control)
Murad perfecting day cream moisturiser spf30

Evening
Emma Hardie cleansing balm or Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser
Serum
Either a moisturizer or facial oil

Once a week I use Alpha H liquid gold which I find is enough to keep skin clear but not irritate the rosacea

I have this type of skin too. Really sensitive flushed skin with Rosacea. I've done IPL & laser in the past.
What works for me is a really simple regime. Cerave cleanser ( the one that removes make up ) or Clinique Cleansing oil, moisturise with Cerave cream in a tub. PM - cleanser and then Cerave cream or the Ordinary Rosehip oil and GOW Azelaic acid. If I try and deviate from this I have issues. Other brands rosehip oil bring me out in a rash, even lipsticks other than Cliniques Chubby Sticks.

So, I'm only about 4 days into my Dermatica, but my skin's been terrible since I started using it!

It's a rosacea prescription, I think - Ivermectin 1%, Metronidazole 0.75%, Niacinamide 4%. I also bought, and started using at the same time, their cleanser and moisturiser.

I've had way, way more spots (whiteheads, all small ones) since I switched. Is this normal? I wasn't expecting it to make my spots worse

I'd look at the CeraVe range. Less is more

I have mild rosacea and spent years over stimulating my skin, trying to keep it clean to keep spots and blemishes at bay, but now have open pores and lots of thread veins.

A beautician once told me my skin reacts to everything, so she recommended cleansing with baby oil! I tried it and it did help, but the main message was less is more. I now use a gentle cleansing cream/lotion and wipe off with a damp cotton pad, followed by a gentle moisteriser. If I try to use too many different products, no matter how expensive, it flares up again.

For the past few years I've been using Anti Age Rosehip cleansing lotion from Tesco. Unfortunately they no longer stock it, but it's made by a company called SCosmetics

I find Dream Cream from Lush absolutely amazing. I have used it off and on over the years for numerous reasons, eczema, psorisis, acne, dry bumps. Both my Daughter (22) and Son (13) use it for different reasons. I have used it on my daughter since she was a baby, in dry creases or to treat mild eczema. She is using it now just because it makes her skin glow. My son is using it for his Acne. I also use it all over my body, I have used it on mild burns (from the oven when touching a hot grill). It amazes me at how useful it is! It is so low cost that it is probably worth trying.

Have you looked at Rosalique? It’s a tinted moisturiser treatment especially for redness and rosacea. I have red itchy skin and it has really helped even my skin tone

I was looking at Cerave in Boots this morning @RadFem73, but wasn’t sure as none of the products seemed to fit my skin issues, so I wasn’t sure what I would get

@CorishPixie

I find Dream Cream from Lush absolutely amazing. I have used it off and on over the years for numerous reasons, eczema, psorisis, acne, dry bumps. Both my Daughter (22) and Son (13) use it for different reasons. I have used it on my daughter since she was a baby, in dry creases or to treat mild eczema. She is using it now just because it makes her skin glow. My son is using it for his Acne. I also use it all over my body, I have used it on mild burns (from the oven when touching a hot grill). It amazes me at how useful it is! It is so low cost that it is probably worth trying.

Dream cream is a body lotion, no? Do you use it on your face? Most facial moisturisers make me break out in spots…

I am 41 with redness around the nose and chin and hormonal acne.

Recently I was prescribed lymecycline. It has made a slight difference. Also have switched to avene cleanance moisturiser and although it has a strange smell, the redness is reduced and my skin feels a lot softer. I have also had no break outs since. However, hard to say what is making most difference between the face cream and the low dose antibiotic.

Other than that I use acnecide daily cleansing face wash, face feels clean after without being dried out.

www.cerave.co.uk/find-your-routine
It's a quiz to get the right one. Dermatologists recommend it

I use Moroccan black soap to cleanse, morning and night.

Morning:
Niacinamide 10%
Vitamin c serum
Happy face moisturiser (beauty pie)
SPF 50 primer

Evening
Niacinamide 10%
Retinol
OR soolantra if my rosacea is flaring up.

How did you get on with Dermatica OP? I have just sent away for my free trial as I have Type 2 Rosacea that’s driving me nuts!