What actually made a difference to your skin?

[Finelinesdontlookfine]

I have tried facials (including hydro facial which was ££), various serums, creams etc and they all seem to do very little.

I have had Botox around my eyes and I am keen to get it again in and in my forehead / 11s too but I am currently pregnant so it will be next year that I look into that.

My forehead has so many fine lines and looks seriously dehydrated.

Please tell me - what worked for you?

Really thin SPF is Etude House Sunprise Airy Finish Spf 50

I use the Altruist spf 50 which is about a tenner on Amazon, it’s really thin and doesn’t leave any white cast.

Tretinoin is a game changer if you can afford the prescription.

Botox also excellent in the forehead.

Giving up alcohol!

I have always had a good, basic skincare routine, but not adding regular doses of wine into the (my) system has made a massive difference.

Honestly, and it’s easy and somewhat depressing in equal measure, for me it’s giving up alcohol. I’m not even a big drinker but every time I give myself a month or six weeks of being completely booze free I notice a difference in my skin within a few weeks.

Ive also discovered along the way that my skin just prefers a simple routine with products that contain no scent. Happy to have discovered the CeraVe range: cheap, simple, boring: repeat repeat repeat. This alongside the acceptance that the skin on my face is ageing alongside the rest of me and there is no cream or unguent in the world that is going to stop that.

I stopped all the retinols, acid toners, etc and started using the 'moisture sandwich' method for skin about 6 weeks ago. In the last 2 weeks I've had several clients comment on my skin and how good it looks.

In addition to my contribution above, I've also -like other posters - given up dairy, (almost) given up alcohol and use sun screen when out in my daily dog walk.
Also, I think HRT may have helped me.

stopping alcohol was the biggest difference for me

I have not tried something regular. I thought of going for vegan products. As I have heard good reviews about vegan products. I got some regular products from Sephora. I have been using them for quite some time now and they really made my skin look and feel great. The face cream, Moisturiser that I took are worth spending.

Acid toners have made the biggest difference to mine - I like Pixi Glow

I have a strict routine of cleanse, tone, serum, moisturiser twice a day and I add SPF in the morning. Trying to get enough sleep works wonders too. When I had my last baby I stopped doing the routine and the difference was incredible, I aged about a decade in a month.

Oh yeah alcohol definitely, I’m pretty much teetotal; sad I know I get ill a lot and can’t handle it and I’m sure my skin looks younger than it’s years because of it, I also drink a lot of tea and water.

.

@StickyCricket what's moisture sandwich method please?

Sleep
Vitamin C mask
Tretinoin
SPF

Taking liquid collagen

No sugar/low carb/keto
Acids (love glycolic but everyone is different)
SPF and actually avoiding the sun. I don't sit in it, I cover up when its sunny, spf everyday, sun glasses so I don't scrunch up my face. I try to sleep on my back.

I try not to frown or be so expressive with my face. I try to keep the relaxed face as a default.

Prescription retinol like tretinoin and wearing high spf suncream every day no matter the weather

Tretinoin. There really is no point in buying expensive creams when you can get tret on prescription which is proven to work.
Good SPF every day - cerave.
I also swear by fillers to replace lost volume only. It's expensive to go to someone good that can do this but you did ask!

Really true about no alcohol as well. I look like shit when I drink.

Tretinoin
A good vitamin c serum.
SPF 50 daily.

Collagen supplements, green tea and 2 pint glasses of water a day

Tretinoin and SPF are imo the two things I would pick above all else all day long ( quite literally all day long in the case of the SPF even in winter!)

Lots of water

And Botox

Bioeffect. Sadly, it's not cheap. And a good routine

Tretinoin, Weleda Skin Food and lots of water.

@JaneJeffer Basically it’s flooding your face with moisturisers and locking it into your skin.

At the moment I’m cleansing using Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm. Then I spray Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist all over my face. Then Hada Labo moisture serum. Then my day/night
cream. Then lock it all in with a face oil, at the moment I’ve got Augustinus Bader face oil on the go. The oil is an occlusive which creates a physical barrier to trap all that moisture under it.

I have (had) horrendously oily skin prone to breakouts and bizzarely adding more moisture into my skincare routine has made it noticeably less oily and absolutely not one new spot in the last few weeks.