During lockdown I started to feel pretty blah, so decided to invest some time and money in my skin and I think it's paid off in that I get loads of people asking me what I'm doing (friends, hairdresser, even the dermatologist 😅)
Bearing in mind that I'm old, and also not an expert, I'd break it down into 2 categories, general and specific
General:
-Choose your parents wisely
-Exercise. Increased circulation really helps. Even a walk in the fresh air or dancing around with your toddler adds up.
-Eat well overall, including enough fat and complex carbs, but keep in mind that the enjoyment from a glass of wine, a plate of chips or some chocolate (even the junky milk chocolate kind) is more important than being an absolute purist
-I don't know if collagen makes a difference to skin, but I do see a difference in my nails if I stop using it for a couple of months, so figure a scoop in my coffee isn't going to hurt, anyway.
-Whatever your weight, try not to have it fluctuate massively
-Use HRT if/when you need it
-Use sunblock every day, as part of your morning routine, like brushing your teeth, even if you're not leaving the house
-Replace hand cream with sunblock when going outside
-Whatever your skincare regimen is, use the same things on your hands, neck and chest
-If you decide to go the fillers/botox route, use the best, most qualified person you can afford. Preferably someone recommended by a friend who looks great. Tell them that you're aiming to look less tired, not younger. Only have minimal fillers and only once a year. Be generally cautious of someone who wants to inject them directly into nasolabial lines.
Specific:
-I bought a high quality LED mask and a Ziip microcurrent device and aim to use them each 2x/week
-Yes, use Tret, but don't overdo it. If it's too strong, Differin can give similar results with less irritation
-If you want to invest a bit, some places (Marion Gluck Clinic) will do a bespoke face cream that includes trace amounts of oestrogen. Not shilling for them, but have had nice results with this
www.mariongluckclinic.com/blog/supercharge-your-skincare-with-personalised-hormone-prescription-face-cream.html
-I agree with the PP who recommended EGF serum. I mix this with vitamin C serum in the morning before sunblock
-Be conservative with your foundation - I just mix a little into my sunblock (I really like Ultra Violette Screen Queen), which is enough to give a nice glow without looking heavy.