Terrible mistake! SPF50

[alorslanon]

Hello all, please can you help me! I’m 44, and my skin just looks SO awful. It’s quite dry but also greasy, and I’m just looking quite old all of a sudden. I’m currently fixated on the idea that I should be wearing SPF50 every day, so I’ve been applying regular suncream every day, and I’ve made it SO MUCH WORSE. Now i’m wearing moisturiser, sun cream AND primer, and my chin has broken out in spots and my whole face is peeling off. Something’s not right!

Anyway, any general advice would be much appreciated. But also, what SPF do people with (tired, dry but also somehow greasy) skin like mine recommended? I’m not made of money, but I am happy to invest if it will make a difference. Thank you so much.

Regular as in body sun cream? How old is it? They usually have a use within 12 months of opening mark on the back.

I use this, specifically for faces, it has a light tint in it.
super city block

Biore Watery Essence spf 50. Over moisturiser, under primer/foundation. You can get it on Amazon but be wary of fakes. I love Biore but any Korean brand seems to be good. Normal sunscreen is far too heavy for face.

You'll get loads of recommendations but they're all awful on my skin. Science isn't there yet, no matter what Sali Hughes etc say.

I don't believe they actually wear sunscreen.

I buy a new 'doesn't feel like sunscreen' every summer and I manage a couple of hours before washing it off my face.

Lots of people love eg anthelios but it all feels like emulsion paint on me.

I'd really recommend La Roche Posay Anthelios age correct: www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-age-protect-spf50/LRPUK-149.html

I've tried lots, but this is the best by far. No spots and it's got hyaluronic acid in it too, so I don't find I need any other moisturiser. You didn't try Ultrasun did you? That gives me awful spots!

REN one is quite good but is factor 30. Altruist factor 50 Face Fluid is really good and lighter textured.

I'm also a fan of the clinique city bloc previously mentioned. It's designed for facial use and much lighter to apply than spf50 sunscreen

Another for La Roche Posay - I use the Cicaplast B5 Repair Baume and the sp50 Anthelios Age Correct. Also the Hydraphase eye gel. All daily. My skin went berserk a couple of years ago too, particularly around my eyes. So dry, so irritable, I looked terrible. I battled with it trying various until I got the recommendation for La Roche Posay. It’s much better now.

I came on here to recommend La Roche Posay products. The above mentioned ones.

You can get powder sunscreen (I don't mean normal face powder with SPF, ones that are sunscreen in powder form) and sunscreen spray which goes over your makeup - I haven't tried this yet but have just bought La Roche Posay face mist.
I don't wear moisturiser as well as sunscreen as my skin gets too oily.
I have tried a few Korean brands but my favourite has been discontinued so my search continues. I wasn't a huge fan of Biore.
I have bought Ambre Solaire Super UV Anti-Dark Spots face fluid and Vichy Ideal Soleil Mattifying Face Dry Touch cream after a lot of googling.
I've read that SPF 30 is almost as good as 50 - the texture may suit you better.

I found that using a decent night cream meant that I could use a really light day moisturiser, and then an SPF spray, with no problems. I’ve used the Clinique City Block and it’s good, but I prefer La Roche Posay. This one is anti-shine and SPF50. www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/anthelios-invisible-fresh-mist-spf-50/LRPUK-038.html
It’s worth having a browse at Boots - LRP is often on offer.

Eucerin Gel Cream spf is brilliant

The body shop do a nice one

@3001signon

Regular as in body sun cream? How old is it? They usually have a use within 12 months of opening mark on the back.

I use this, specifically for faces, it has a light tint in it.
super city block

No. I mean, I would totally use old, regular suncream. But in this case it’s a new tube of Soltan Face factor 50 that I bought for skiing a few weeks ago. So I suppose I thought it would be ok. But it’s not!

There’s so much great advice here, it’s exactly what I was hoping for, thank you all so much! I will read all properly and do some research.

I also use City Block spf 45 and find it does the job of sunscreen and primer so you might not need both, also a lighter day moisturiser maybe?

But do you clean it off properly? Spf no matter how watery is hard to wash off. You need cleansing oil or balm. Like inley list cleqnsing oil or body shop cammomile balm and then soap/gel

I use a body shop one, I prefer physical blocks though to work alongside it, so oversized sunglasses (hides my dark circles too!) and a baseball cap, especially when driving as apparently the glass intensifies the sun which can damage your skin.

Oh I'm SO allergic to soltan, I can't have it anywhere near me.

Loads of advice on the thread as you say but I would suggest you need to let everything settle before you add anything new. Strip it right back to your most simple trusted moisturiser and then start re-introducing sun screen.

Frezyderm velvet touch is lovely and you won’t need a primer.

I use Dermalogica age smart moisturiser factor 50

You might find that the Soltan contains drying alcohols and/or fragrance - I don’t know for sure but I think I recall it usually does. Which may not be great for your face, I know I react to these ingredients.

I use Dr Sam’s Flawless Cleanser and that breaks down sunscreen. I prefer it to using a balm or oil for cleansing, and it’s reasonably priced.

I have oily skin that can dehydrate and use Altruist Face Fluid SPF 50, and Facetheory Amil-C Whip moisturiser underneath. I find the combo works surprisingly well to control oil as well as stay moisturised. Amil C Whip is oddly (given I’m oily) a bit dry on its own, and I would get a bit too oily with just Altruist, but together goes really well for me. Just as an example that sometimes you might not have one product that is the ultimate, but a couple combined may be great.

La Roche possay!

I use ASAP moisturiser which has suncream added. It still feels a bit thick but better than moisturiser plus suncream, I find.
Also mid-forties with tired skin so it doesn't work miracles, I'm afraid

Heliocare

I vary three different ones (beauty pie, R Pos and oil of Olay first two 50, last one 30) and whilst they are all good the one that feels the least like a sunscreen and more like a moisturiser is oil of Olay. I don’t spend a lot of time in direct sun though and when I do it’s with a 50.