What's your essential skincare item(s)?

[jaychops]

I'm 35 this year and have never had a skincare routine other than soap and water. My skin is fine, can get oily towards the end of the day, not dry, rare spots but I can look very pale and would like my skin to glow a little more. I am clueless. Any suggestions?

I absolutely swear by Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream & Magic Serum but it is quite pricey. If you're looking for something less expensive but great, then I highly recommend Body Shop - I use the seaweed face wash and toner and it's brilliant but they also do a 'Drops of Light' brightening cream which is lovely and a vitamin E night cream which is also good :) x

Rozex cream on prescription for rosacea.
Hyaluronic acid and vitamin c serum.
Cerave moisturiser.
Rosehip oil once a week.

A moisturiser

If you want the one thing that’ll make the most difference then an SPF cream to slow sun damage is probably it.

Vitamin c and SPF

CeraVe

I've tried all sorts, with all manner of steps and at all sorts of price points. My basic routine hasn't changed but I've experimented with a lot of products! I didn't see much of a difference with expensive skincare, except for the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair line which was nice. I still like trying new things but am settling now on the following, based on the fact they've made a visible difference and are all relatively cheap and easy to get hold of.

Morning - cleanse in shower (Neutrogena Oil Balancing Cleanser for me, it has worked miracles on my pores!)
Moisturise (probably an No7 one or Bobbi Brown gel - my skin can get oily so I need something light)
Suncream (also probably No 7 or Altruism)

Evenings
Cleanse twice to remove make up, dirt etc (Simple micellar water, I don't like the Garnier one but lots of people do, followed by either Elemis balm or M&S hot cloth cleanser, which I think is lovely)
Every other day I'll use a toner, either REN AHA Glow tonic or just some Nip+Fab pads.
Serum (No. 7 retinol or Balance Me Trimolecular something or other)
Eye cream (No. 7 retinol alternate days, with Bobbi Brown on the other days)
Moisturise (either No 7 retinol or Bobbi Brown VEFB).

Moisturiser - a simple gentle one. Like vichy or avene.

SpF

Vitamin c

Cheap and wonderful blue Nivea, I have extremely dry skin and this is the best moisturiser I’ve ever found.

SPF definitely.

Vitamin C serum
Retinol
SPF
Lactic or Mandelic acid
A good facial oil ( if your skin needs it, not everyone's does)

Cleansers I just use whatever's handy as they wash off. I have various moisturisers but I don't need them much apart from in the depths of central heating wintertime. I find using the above balances my skin so well that my skin is nearly always moisturised sufficiently.

As I've got older I've definitely learned that my skin needs fewer things on it, but the ones I do use have to work. No use just slapping stuff on and hoping for the best!

Read Caroline Hirons blog.

Cleanser
Vitamin C serum
Moisturiser
SPF

Double cleanse at night
Serum or toner
Moisturiser

Bog standard Olay. I've used it for about 40 years!

Hylauronic acid
Vit c
SPF
A good tinted moisturiser

Cleanser (balm then cerave)
Glycolic or retinol
Rich moisturiser
Facial oil
Eye cream