Skincare routine help inc Acids

[An0therQuestion]

Im looking for help/guidance on how to apply skincare, including acids. I found a helpful thread on here that was from a few years back and the lady listed the products that she used and the order she used them in. My friend uses a lot of the same products the poster listed and swears by them also, so I’ve ordered them for myself.

I have ordered:

1 - The Ordinary: Glycolic Acid 7% toning solution
2 - The Ordinary: Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
3 - The Ordinary: Caffeine Solution + EGCG
4 - The Ordinary: Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres
5 - The Ordinary: Niacinamide + Zinc
6 - The Ordinary: Retinol 0.2% in Squalane

I also have a Sensitive Skin Toner already and Moisturiser though I know I need to invest in one with an SPF.

The lady from the original post advised she used the Glycolic Acid as part of her morning routine, however the directions on box advise to use this at Night, and as I have fairly sensitive skin I also only want to use this around 2-3 days a week. Is there something different I can use instead of the Glycolic Acid Toner in my morning routine? Maybe the Sensitive Skin Toner I already have?

I plan for my morning routine to be (in this order):

Cleanse, tone (sensitive toner), product 2, 3 and 4 followed by an eye cream (recommendations for droopy eyelids please!!!) and moisturiser.

My evening routine would be: cleanse, tone (Glycolic Acid every other day and sensitive on other days), products 2, 5 and 6 followed by eye cream and moisturiser.

Does this seem right or am I mixing products that I shouldn’t be?

How much of each product do I use?

Any recommendations for eye cream that helps with droopy eyelids and a non-greasy moisturiser with SPF?

Thank you!

If you have sensitive skin proceed with great caution, especially with The Ordinary products as they are so bare bones by design they don't have any 'cushioning' ingredients that mitigate the impact of stronger active ingredients.

Aside from that, regardless of skin type, new products should be introduced one at a time and wait at least a week but ideally longer before introducing the next. I can understand the enthusiasm of starting on a whole new routine but it's really a bad idea, especially with sensitive skin. These are all potentially quite irritating and your skin will require some adjusting to them or having to conclude they're incompatible with your skin andwhen it happens it's good to know exactly what is irritating you and whether that's normal adjustment or skin incompatibility. Other ingredients that are harsher like retinol and glycolic need a much slower introduction, using once or twice a week at first for a few weeks and then building up to more regular use and even then they should only be used 2-3 a week and not used together in the same routine.

I hate to burst your bubble, but there's no eye cream that's going to defy gravity and restore droopy eyes (the caffeine in the serum will help with temporarily depuffing only) and for the most part unless there's a very eye specific issue there's no need for an eye cream.

On top of that, you're missing the most important product to use alongside these actives and the one you should introduce first, a standalone SPF, SPF30 minimum, not a moisturiser with SPF as you will likely not use enough of it to get the advertised protection.

Can you ask your friend what order she uses the products and go from there?

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the Ordinary, they have sooo many products it's hard to know what to do with them all. I do have one or two things of theirs that I use, but their formulations tend to be harsh so tread carefully. I do use their Niacinamide, but it's quite strong so I mix it with moisturiser (the first time I used it neat it stung my face so bad I had to wash it off).

If you have sensitive skin, using glycolic acid too much will make it worse, using it once or twice a week is plenty.
It just seems like far too many different products to me, and I'm not sure toner is really necessary. You should really start simply and build, depending on what you are looking for.
I don't use eye creams, because they tend to be overpriced and ineffective. No cream is going to fix droopy eyelids, sorry.

What is your aim? If it's anti ageing, the only thing that really works is prescription strength tretinoin. But you can't get it over the counter, so need a dermatologist to prescribe it (pricey), or you can get it from online pharmacies abroad, or from subscription services like Skin & Me or Dermatica (if you are in the UK).

Also, if you are looking for sunscreen I would advise a separate sunscreen to your moisturiser. That should be a staple to avoid sun damage, and especially if you are using 'active' skincare ingredients like glycolic acid.

What do you want to achieve?

I love love skincare, I'm not one of those "I only use a bar of soap" people but I really think this is too many products.

No eye cream will help with droopy eyelids. If you want anti aging products you need Tretinoin.

I found the ordinary vit c quite stinging and I don't have sensitive skin, I definately wouldn't use it after an acid.

You could just have a moisturiser with HA in it.

You need a dedicated Spf.

Cheap and cheerful - Altruist Face Fluid

Mid range - La Roche Posay or Beauty Pie with primer in

Higher end - Ultra Violet Violette face fluid or Dr Sam Tinted Spf

And there's no way I would use acids and Retinol in the same routine.

I use Tret every day and I find exfoliating is no longer necessary

Thankyou for your replies.

I did ask my friend but tbh it’s so confusing to me, it’s almost like speaking in a different language.. I showed the order I put in the original post and she agreed this would be the order she would apply in also.

My aim? Well I tend to have combination skin, by the end of the working day, I have a right sheen on me, and so I am trying to regulate the oil on my T-zone. I am also trying to look to slow down the signs of ageing (though I’m not naive to know that at soon to be 38, signs of ageing are Inevitable). I just look at some peoples skin that are of a similar age and their skin appears so fresh and plump, and youthful, and in comparison mine just feels dull, and that age is finally catching up with me.

You make a good point about the SPF, I assumed there would be enough within a moistoriser, but based I’m on both responses I should be looking specifically at SPFs and not products that include the protection.

I shall look at introducing the products gradually as suggested, and see how I go .. and maybe skip purchasing an eye cream if it’s more of a gimmick than a product that actually works !!

what is the reason? Is it drying? Stripping? Can cause irritation.. all of the above?! Told you I’m clueless.

so if I had to remove any of the items out of the equation, what would you take out and what would you keep.. and what order would you use them in?

It will damage your skin barrier which will lead to irritation x

Morning
Cleanse with something light
Vit C
niacinamide
Spf

Evening
Cleanse with oil based, cleanse with water based
Retinol or glycolic
HA
Moisturise

This is what I would do

Acids and retinols are both exfoliating and irritating and you very much risk screwing over the health of your skin barrier with just the one and that drastically multiplies by using both at the same time and it's a long road of recovery back if your skin gets to that state.

To start with, an anti ageing routine would just be cleanser, moisturiser (if necessary) and SPF. You can slowly add in other actives and see how you go, I agree with others that this is way more product than you need. A more rounded anti ageing routine would be as above with a vitamin c serum in the morning and retinol at night a few times a week. An exfoliating acid could be added but is far from necessary. Potentially something extra by skin concern like pigmentation, acne, etc.

As you're sensitive the first thing to rule out before starting on actives is that you don't have rosacea because if that's the case pretty much all strong active ingredients are just off the table.

I'm usually quick to answer on the Fantastic Skincare threads on here that are ongoing, no such thing as stupid questions and no requirement to know all the confusing skincare lingo.

Where you say you wouldn’t use retinol and acid in the same routine.. does the evening routine job have suggested not include both these items?

I’m lucky that I don’t suffer from acne, but I do sometimes feel that my skin has little bumps underneath at times, which is what I thought the glycolic acid would have dealt with..

Thanks for the advise, with so much on the market it is so confusing what is/isn’t needed, and what is/isn’t suitable etc

You** not ‘job’!!

I think what they mean is not to use acids and retinol on the same evening. For example I only use glycolic acid once a week or so, but on the evening I use that, I wouldn't use my prescription strength retinoid as well.

I would say just start slowly with whatever you are using, and see how your skin reacts. You don't want to overload your skin with stuff.

Oh ok, that makes sense. Thankyou!