Magic face cream?

[Moaningturtle1]

I don’t have time (or the inclination!) for daily make up anymore.

What day cream can I use to brighten my skin, freshen me up and make me feel less dull and saggy?

For sagginess: surgery?

For dullness: cleanse thoroughly, vitamin C serum, chemical exfoliation once/twice a week

Thanks @Mrcpy , it’s not saggy enough for surgery - maybe Botox? But could do with something that tightens, or do creams only claim to do that to get your money?! Any recommendations for the chemical exfoliation? 😊

My FB feed is full of adverts for creams that supposedly make you look 20 years younger. The claims are outrageous. The only really way to smooth the skin is botox (which I do have).

I quite like this

https://www.lookfantastic.com/elemis-superfood-glow-priming-moisturiser-60ml/12624606.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&thgppccampaign=71700000088329924&adtype=&productid=12624606&gbraid=0AAAAAD-fXirVHKBj-TZnmGxhpogvgCltc&gbraid=0AAAAAD-fXirVHKBj-TZnmGxhpogvgCltc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgvWYkabi-QIVTu3tCh1atgAQEAQYASABEgLm-fDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This is brilliant for exfoliation, leaves your skin a lot brighter and smoother. Just stay out the sun! It's great value.

https://www.boots.com/the-ordinary-aha-30-bha-2-peeling-solution-10267772?cmmmc=bmm-buk-google-ppccPLAsAsHeroCompareareBeautyPremium---UKSmarttShoppingBeautyyPremiumTheeOrdinary&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajXaLSRYxKjuWHAyVEdOJjTlH&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajXaLSRYxKjuWHAyVEdOJjTlH&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7fP-1LXi-QIVlajVCh21iAdGEAQYASABEgL11DD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sorry for being glib - I’m not really recommending surgery. But skin loses elasticity with age and there’s not much that can be done about it unfortunately.

My basic understanding of chemical exfoliants is:
Go for AHAs if you’ve got dry skin - it’s best at removing the dry surface flakes
Go for BHAs (namely salicylic acid) if you’ve got oily skin - it’s best at clearing pores and preventing acne
More recently PHAs have become available (Pamela Marsh’s product is well reviewed) which seems like a gentler daily version of AHAs and BHAs which preserves the skin barrier.
I use the toner by Clinique which doesn’t market itself as containing acids, but does actually contain salicylic acid and is very gentle.

I really like Erborian Skin Hero. It's a kind of primer/smoother. For everyday, I put it on over moisturiser (and sunscreen, if it's a sunscreen day) and it just evens tone and texture out nicely. Not claggy or anything. A touch of concealer for under eyes and then I look fresher and better, but not super made up. Also, it comes in smaller 15 ml sizes so you can try and see if it works for you before investing in a full size.

I actually started by cutting back on my existing foundation -- mixing a bit of it with my moisturiser and then touching up with a bit of concealer, rather than doing a full face of foundation. Again, that evened and freshened stuff up without looking super made up, and used things I already had without buying new product.

(yes, theoretically every day should be a sunscreen day, but I don't wear it if I'm working at home or if it is raining.)

Get a skin and me subscription

I'm 50 and have okay skin, but it's obviously getting older, saggier and rougher. I bought Boots own brand Vitamin C Brightening Moisturising Cream more by accident than design, at the end of a very trying shopping trip and in need of some day moisturiser... It was on an end display... 😆It's surprisingly good, it really does seem to brighten my skin. Obviously it's not a long lasting or permanent but for (I think) £4 it's pretty good!

My skin always looks a bit better and brighter when I regularly use the eve lim cleanser. It's pricey but you use a very small amount so a tub lasts me about 6 months.

No7 protect and perfect

I use revolution charcoal powder to exfoliate and their 2% vit c serum, i think they have made a massive difference to my face, i use an eyecream and cerave moisturiser and use a jade roller when i remember or can be bothered.

Clarins beauty flash balm is supposed to do this - tighten and moisturise. Not used it in years but maybe worth a shot?

@JMAngel1
There's a thread recently about flash balm ?
They've changed the recipe and not in a good way apparently

Garnier BB cream now only on Amazon is bloody amazing, doesn't tighten or any of that jazz but makes me look ten years younger.

What about a CC cream? Something like it cosmetics your skin but better. Light coverage and moisturises.

Oooo lots of suggestions! Thank you.

I shall start working through them, cheapest first!

My 'looking like I need something ' routine is Elizabeth Arden visible difference peeling mask and I'm having good results new Boots no17 vitamin c cleanser and toner.
Everyday I like to wear Boots 17 protect and perfect intense bb cream factor 50 in fair on its own or under light foundation if I'm feeling rough! The boots bb gives me sun protection, moisturiser and golden glow all in one.

I get quite good results with foreo bear when I can be bothered to use it

I find Beauty Pie Japanfusion Genius Lift Elixir excellent.

The other thing you could try for v v light coverage is the pixi skin tint. It's foolproof snd you just put it on with your hands

Cleanse with whatever works for your skin.

The M&S Formula 3 minute vitamin C glow mask is really good.

Revolution 20% Vitamin C serum ( you need more than 10-15% for the Vit C to actually do anything) or No 7 Vitamin C serum (15%) if you like a wetter consistency.

In the evenings: retinol (I use Dermatica) then an AHA serum and a heavy moisturiser like Miracle cream on alternate nights.

In the last 2 years, these have been the things that have made a massive difference to my skin.

I also have Botox.

I recently got a few erborian face masks from tk maxx. They genuinely make a real, noticeable difference to my skin, more than anything I've ever tried.

My skin has also benefitted from a simple day to day routine too - la Roche Posay cleanser, hyaluronic acid, l r p moisturiser and spf. Rather than overloading with too many products and acids. I think my skin barrier is better.

Get the red ordinary mask and use once a week, it's about a fiver I think
Then hylaronic acid before moisturiser in the morning, again ordinary is cheap
Retinol moisturiser at night

This is the absolute NUTS

https://www.boots.com/ole-henriksen-strength-trainer-peptide-boost-moisturizer-50ml-10303664?cmmmc=bmm-buk-google-ppccLIAsAs--Beauty---UKSmarttShoppingLIAssBeauty&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajUOhyqt2Yk9TBZR0yFXM4lPw&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajUOhyqt2Yk9TBZR0yFXM4lPw&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguGYBhDRARIsAHgRm4-PriYoU32kTLiIBQkP4ykqG0bbygLQhJMQ-4Y8IvCqT3OpB0CWP8aAuLrEALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds