My face looks like an old potato

[caramelchaos]

I saw a photo of my today and I look like a lumpy old potato. Help! My skin is dull, I've got jowls, marionette lines, dark circles and generally look haggard I'm 36, overweight, patent of young children, stressful job. My eyebrows are non existent but am scared microblading (previous shitty demi permanent eyeliner) so use a pencil but I find my face gets shiny as the day goes on and my eyebrows smudge which really adds to the 'fucking mess' look that I'm rocking just now. My hair is wavy and never behaves which also isn't helping just now either. What the hell can I do?

I just looked at myself in selfie mode on my phone when I saw your post title. I also look like a potato. I’m not overweight but I do have terrible jowls and very deep lines across my forehead.

In contrast to this though, I'm lucky to have a nice wardrobe so not worried about style as such. Just my potato face

You've described me! However, I'm 62, don't work and my kids are grown up. I'm looking forward to some helpful replies.

What is your current skincare routine?

If you are on zoom meetings still you could always set yourself as a potato and use the old excuse you can't figure out how to change it...

Firstly, I’m sure you look lovely and not remotely potato-like! By way of any advice to look a bit more refreshed I would recommend the following. Go to bed earlier than you would normally dream of as this really does wonders! Also, Drink a ton of water/herbal teas.

Buy a face cream with Retinol in it - it transformed my skin, (you get get them so cheaply these days too). Buy a BB cream or light foundation to give your skin a bit of glow. Wear a lip tint with a bit more colour than you’d usually go for as it really brightens your complexion - maybe a lip balm with a hint of peach or pink depending on which colours suit you.

If you can afford a hairdresser appointment then have a consultation about a different style. It not then have a play with styles and watch YouTube vids for inspiration. Use a semi permanent colour to add some gloss and perk you up.

If your eyebrows will grow back then leave them to do just that. If not then less is more, you can get a waterproof pencil & dab a small amount of colour on but I agree, drawing on brows is rarely flattering.

Also, try to have confidence and smile as this is exudes beauty!

I bet it's not as bad as you think. But you obviously feel a bit shit and the reason I first dipped my toe in here was because I did too.

First thing I thought when I read your post was... brows don't have to be microbladed or non existent. Get them shaped (wax or threading) and tinted. Easy fix.

Vitamin c is good for dull skin. Find a vit c serum, take a multivitamin, drink a glass of orange juice in the mornings? Have you tried tanning drops? Couple of drops into your moisturiser at night = bit less grey by morning.

@VVKills27 can you recommend a retinol please?

Sympathetic arm pats to all my fellow potatoes. How the hell did this happen? I'm interested in retinol though.... How do I know what type to get? I might be totally wrong, but I'm sure I read somewhere that the off-the-shelf retinols don't have enough to to make a difference? I did look up pharmacy grade tretinoin but I couldn't even find it from a dodgy online chemist goddammit!

@doadeer

What is your current skincare routine?

At the moment, I'm using cleanse and polish in the morning, then nothing else. I don't use foundation or concealer as I find it sits in all my fine lines or creases round my eyes. Perhaps I need better foundation.

At night, I face wash, exfoliate and then use pixi toner. I hoped the pixi would give me a glow but alas, no. I don't use any moisturiser though, as I hate the greasy face feel....I know that's naughty though.

What skincare is best for combination, spotty, fine liner potato skin? I bought Caroline hirons book but sold it on eBay because it was too much work

@VVKills27

Firstly, I’m sure you look lovely and not remotely potato-like! By way of any advice to look a bit more refreshed I would recommend the following. Go to bed earlier than you would normally dream of as this really does wonders! Also, Drink a ton of water/herbal teas.

Buy a face cream with Retinol in it - it transformed my skin, (you get get them so cheaply these days too). Buy a BB cream or light foundation to give your skin a bit of glow. Wear a lip tint with a bit more colour than you’d usually go for as it really brightens your complexion - maybe a lip balm with a hint of peach or pink depending on which colours suit you.

If you can afford a hairdresser appointment then have a consultation about a different style. It not then have a play with styles and watch YouTube vids for inspiration. Use a semi permanent colour to add some gloss and perk you up.

If your eyebrows will grow back then leave them to do just that. If not then less is more, you can get a waterproof pencil & dab a small amount of colour on but I agree, drawing on brows is rarely flattering.

Also, try to have confidence and smile as this is exudes beauty!

Thank you vv.... I do get plenty sleep, sleeping is my favourite thing ever. I don't however drink enough so have invested in a hydrojug tonight so I can drink all that water and piss like shergar all day I find it really hard to get enough fluids in.

My eyebrows sadly are gone, victim to teenage enthusiastic overplucked 90's brows. Will have a look at waterproof pencils though, I didn't realise they existed. I'd prefer not to draw them in, and they do start off looking ok, but not when they've melted all over my face. If I don't draw them in, I look like Matt Lucas in a wig

I am smiley though and outwardly very confident, until I see myself on screen at work meetings then I become very distracted by how awful I look. I do think that they idea of what I look like in my head is about a decade out of date!

@futuremoneyinbank

If you are on zoom meetings still you could always set yourself as a potato and use the old excuse you can't figure out how to change it...

People probably already think I have the potato filter on 🥔

@FreshFaceTime

I bet it's not as bad as you think. But you obviously feel a bit shit and the reason I first dipped my toe in here was because I did too.

First thing I thought when I read your post was... brows don't have to be microbladed or non existent. Get them shaped (wax or threading) and tinted. Easy fix.

Vitamin c is good for dull skin. Find a vit c serum, take a multivitamin, drink a glass of orange juice in the mornings? Have you tried tanning drops? Couple of drops into your moisturiser at night = bit less grey by morning.

Sadly, my eyebrows are composed of only about 6 hairs, which for some reason still manage to look like they are growing in the wrong direction.

But tanning drops! Great idea! And vitamin c, add to basket, add to basket

Ah my people, my fellow potatoes. Just grateful not to be the only one.

I too am a fellow potato! I love the tanning drops tip.

Hold up, before you start randomly buying face products I strongly suggest you just get a one stop shop from either Skin & Me or Dermatica. It about £20 per month and they mix you a tailored product so you only need to use one thing. You can ask to have retinoid in it (and can get better strengths than available in the shops) but also you tell them your skin concerns and they formulate it for you and tweak it when necessary. I resisted for years and tried to fix my face on my own but must have spent so much on stuff that didn't work or actually made things worse...

Agree with regular eyebrow shape and tint, lash lift and tint, these transform my face.

Maybe a new trip to a make you counter to try some fresh products? Skin changes over time. I use much dewier stuff now. Also colours i wouldn't have chosen for myself were recommended and are great. I love Bobbi brown pot rouge blushers, By Terry powders

Wow that's a lot of exfoliation.

So some exfoliation in the morning with a grainy Cleanser? Then exfoliate at night with another grainy one? Then pixi which has AHA in which also exfoliates and no moisturiser? 🤯 my face would be dryer than the Sahara.

I would say
Morning
Gentle face wash (nothing grainy)
Vitamin c serum
Spf

Evening
Cleanse with a milky or gel one
Get Dermatica or Skin and Me - this is prescription Retinol based on your skin profile
Moisturise

Only exfoliate a couple times a week

If you want Dermatica think this gives you money off

www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/Y2K0NE

Welcome my potato faced friends!

Dermatica! Add to basket. Just filling out the questionnaire.... First month for a couple of quid, can't really go wrong with that. Thanks!

I have tried highlighter across the tops of my cheekbones to get that dewy, glassy look but in fact I think that I'm accentuating my dark shadows. Make up lesson perhaps needed

@FreshFaceTime Which tanning drops do you recommend please ?

I have an advert for McCain frozen jacket spuds in the middle of this thread

@doadeer, I hadn't thought about it like that. My face interestingly isn't dry but fuck me, it gets sweaty. That's why I end up not moisturising. Is chemical or grainy exfoliator better? Have I exfoliated my face into a potato

For more make up wise.

I swear by Erborian CC cream. It's magic stuff. Just seems to make my skin glow. I don't wear foundation anymore.

If you want real glow though... You have to have hydrated skin which means moisturise! I think the La Roche Posay Blue one is fab. Not crazy expensive.

@caramelchaos

Niacinamide is a dream for spot prone, sensitive skin and I find it helps make my skin look more radiant.

Retinol - there's been a recent study that showed super strength retinol is no more effective than a low strength solution. In fact, the industry is beginning to move away from retinol in favour of less irritating, more gentle exfoliants. Eg bakuchiol.

For starting retinol, just go with something basic, a low strength solution. Start using 1x a week and build up. Always use spf.

Vitamin c serum is really good for skin tone and brightening. It can be a bit irritating when you start so maybe apply every other day to begin with.

A hyaluronic acid based moisturiser is essential (or a hyaluronic acid serum) and again spf.

Look into face gym / face yoga for toning.

A translucent powder helps stop make up sliding, you don't need to apply it all over just where needed. You might find an eyebrow wax/pomade/liquid more effective than a pencil. You can also get home dye kits for eye brow tinting. Stencils will help you get a good shape, alternatively have a good Google there's loads of advice or specialists who can do the shaping for you.

Review the colours you're using in makeup, it might be a new palette for foundation, blusher and eyeliner etc makes a big difference in lifting you face.

A refreshed hair style and colour can also help.

[quote caramelchaos]@doadeer, I hadn't thought about it like that. My face interestingly isn't dry but fuck me, it gets sweaty. That's why I end up not moisturising. Is chemical or grainy exfoliator better? Have I exfoliated my face into a potato[/quote]
Bizarrely exfoliating a lot can cause your skin to make more oil I've read.

There are nice light moisturisers these days it doesn't need to be a thick nivea type. Actually elf do this jelly one which is really light. Try a gel texture maybe?

I prefer chemical - use the pixi one only.

I've actually stopped exfoliating lately I use this gorgeous Korean sponge lightly in warm water when I take my Cleanser off and that does it for me. It's very relaxing.

Skincare is so personal. One thing that works for me won't work for you. It's a bit of trial and error just don't spend a crazy amount! Lots of good affordable stuff out there. Consistency is key 👌

[quote caramelchaos]@doadeer, I hadn't thought about it like that. My face interestingly isn't dry but fuck me, it gets sweaty. That's why I end up not moisturising. Is chemical or grainy exfoliator better? Have I exfoliated my face into a potato[/quote]
Yes too much exfoliating. Active ingredient skin care is better for exfoliation than physical exfoliation...So retinol or Ahas or salicylic acid.