Skincare product help

[dancingbroccoli]

I'm currently using a mix of anything from simple to liz Earle to body shop but my face is so dull and lifeless. I drink plenty of water

I am mid 20s, with sensitive skin, I used to be very acne prone but this has settled and I only tend to get a couple spots due to hormones each month

I've been looking at dermalogica or maybe Elemis but I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the different options and what products I'd actually need

Any help would be great. I really want to start taking better care of my skin and treat myself a bit to some nice skin care

You don't need a particular brand, you need a particular ingredient.

Vit C serum in the morning will brighten your skin
An entry grade retinol at night (you're young still, but retinol is a prevention as well as a cure)

Don't use gritty exfoliation (use an acid toner, if you're prone to oily skin, maybe a salicylic acid) , always use a sunscreen. Remove make up and cleanse with a hot cloth style cleanser.

Elemis is OK as a brand, as is Dermalogica. Though you don't have to pay their prices for the same ingredients. I'd avoid Simple products- they aren't really very simple at all.

Good brands are La Roche Posay, (most French pharmacy tbh) The Inkey List, the Ordinary, Vichy etc.

Watch some of Nadine Baggott videos, she has a great one about the 5 things we need for great skin:
Cleanser
Moisture
Vit C
SPF
Retinol.

Thank you I'll look into a vitamin c serum and retinol cream and watch the videos!

Is the cleanser retinol vit c etc every morning and evening

You're supposed to cleanse every morning but tbh, I don't. I'm horrified when I do though, about how much muck accumulates overnight
Vit C protects from pollution and UV light so that's for morning. The best type is L-Ascorbic Acid, and you need 15% or above for it to be effective. La Roche Posay, Vichy, The Ordinary, all do them.

Retinol is for night time, and you need to build up gradually to higher percentages. Again, the Ordinary and Inkey do some low level ones to start with.

You might want to add other active ingredients for other issues, but those two are the big holy grails.