Skincare - my heads going to explode sometime tell me what to buy!

[headache]

47yo skin is grey, tired and given up
I’m saving up for Botox (have been saying that for ages but not quite justifying it yet)

Do it was all get Cerave then on TikTok it’s oh no it’s so bad for you, now it’s oh it’s good for you, I am SO confused I need desperate help, I need a list tell me what to buy and I’ll go buy it and put it on lol

Heres what I use at the moment

am
wash with water only pat dry
use Boots Vit C serum
Boots perform and protect day cream
La Roche Posay SFP

pm
make up off with micellarwater
Cerave Hydrating Cleanser (which stings)
Dermatica (Tret, Azelic acid and Nicatinamide about 5 times a week
Boots perform and protect night cream

my skin is probably combination dry and sensitive on cheeks but visibly greasy in the mornings around my nose creases prone to blackheads, depressing this age and still not sussed skincare

You don't need the renude service. Just put less on your face.

Well of course you don't need it, it was a suggestion to the OP as something I had found helpful in pretty much the same aotuy

*situation

OP Just leave your skin ALONE for a month. So many people have suggested this. It takes that time and more for skin cells to replace/repair themselves. You don't constantly mess around with the skin on other parts of your body (skin is our largest organ). So why do it to your face?? Just think of a minor scratch or graze. If you pick at it, it takes twice as long or more to heal.

After that, please try - for your own good - to be guided by science not marketing.
Just look at these articles by skin-specialist doctors and scientists and be warned by them:
www.sciencedaily.com/search/?keyword=skin+care#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=skin%20care&gsc.page=1

We are born with good or bad hair; good or bad skin; a slim and elegant figure or a tendancy to put on weight in the "wrong" -from a trivial fashion point of veiw- places. We can try to influence these powerful genetic inheritances, but - I believe - there is only so much we can do without negatively affecting our physical and mental health.

Look, if you have seriously dry skin or scars or eczema or any other genuine medical skin problem, consult your GP or local pharmacist or a private registered dermatician. But if you're just reading what the beauty adverts say, for heaven's sake, ignore them. They're just out to make you feel insecure and make money from you. You just have to look at those poor - I would say abused - young women who have been persuaded by beauticians to have 'trout pouts' to know what I mean.

On your all saying leave your skin alone for a month but it will still need make up taken off and moisturiser

last night I took my make up off with the Cerave cleanser then just patted dry with a hot cloth. Afterwards put on some moisturiser stung like mad.

Obviously I’ll stop the Boots moisturiser but what do I replace it with on the meantime? I saw La Roche Posay do a very sensitive/children’s moisturiser ro repair the skins barrier of do I go even further back and just get something like e45? Totally basic?

When my skin reacted badly to retinol one lovely poster on here recommended La Roche Posay Cicaplast. My skin looked like it was sunburnt and it stung. This one worked for me. I also bought Avene cicaplast while I was tracking down the LRP. It was fine but I preferred the LRP.
I’m no skincare expert and am similarly lost in a sea of serums and face oils. I fear it’s just got too complicated and the chances of upsetting our skin with some ill advised cocktail is much higher than back in the day when you went to the Clarins counter and bought the moisturiser for your age group. I know some people love all the alchemy of the different acids and vitamins but it is very complicated.

Cicaplast is a good recommendation. You want basic with ceramides which will help repair your skin barrier.
However you say you use dermatica? I'm sure when I used them (I use skin and me now) they had recommended products (I actually think La Roche posay) was one of them.
Honestly they'll be the best bet for recommendations of a cleanser/ moisturiser that will do the absolute basics so that the only thing you are using that will 'mess' with your skin (in a good way) is the prescription.

Not to mention they're actual dermatologists I'd imagine more trustworthy than the likes of us!!

I would stop using the Cerave for now and use a balm cleanser. I use Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser. Really gentle and soothing for your skin but will remove all make up, even heavy eye make up. Follow with a good, simple moisturiser. As previously suggested, La Roche Posay Cicaplast is good and will help repair your skin.

OP Do you have to wear make-up? I honestly think that a month without anything on your skin except water and, if really needed, as gentle as possible moisturiser, might really be helpful.

I have not tried any of these, but the Independent rates them as moisturisers:
www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/fashion-beauty/skincare/best-natural-moisturisers-organic-b1919222.html

I have dry and sensitive skin.

my regime is.

AM
moisturise with Clinique (moisture surge in the winter, dramatically different in the summer)
caffine eye cream (no Clinique left but its moisturising)

make up

PM
micellar water, eye makeup remover, glycolic acid.

same moisturisers as above, hyaluronic acid, eye cream.

wash with Boots No7 face wash every other night

Steam once a week and use an exfoliating glove with face wash (not as harsh as an exfoliating with a product)

been doing this for years. It suits. Too much water will dry mine out.

30 years of experimenting and i have found what works

my skin, i like what i do. Micellar water is great for me

Throw out the micellar water for starters, awful stuff that just moves the make up around your face. Book yourself in for a professional skin consultation and stop wasting money on products that don't work. From my own personal experience I highly recommend The Skin Nerd for an online consultation.

I use the Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser. That gets all my make up off.

I then use the Clarins double serum followed by moisturiser and eye cream.

twice a day, job done.

I take make up off with baby oil. Shifts everything, cheap, lasts ages and easy to wipe off before a foaming cleanser.

Best thing to do is to research what skincare is, know your ingredients, know your acids from your antioxidants from your retinols then think about what your skin needs because there’s no one size fits all approach.

I think your skins being over-processed if it’s stinging when you put moisturiser on. Stinging is never good.

It’s true a lot of it is lifestyle. I use mostly cheap skincare but look younger than my age. I know someone who’s used Estée Lauder skincare and make up religiously for years but makes poor lifestyle choices and looks as their dc put it, like a handbag.

If you have a dermalogica salon near by go in there and ask them. They have a good range and the products last ages. For the time being you just need a cleanser and moisturiser and a toner. Once you know what you need you can buy the products online cheaply.

Your products are fine, and you aren't using too many INGREDIENTS which is more important than products in themselves.

Skin needs:
A cleanser
A moisturizer
An spf, separate to the moisturizer and used every day.

If anything should be added it's
A vitamin C
A vitamin A

You're doing all of that. I'd say you're probably using the vitamin A too often. I used retinol at various entry grades for 2 years before moving to 0.05 tret and I use it 2-3 times a week.

I'd do as others have suggested, and drop the actives (vit C and tret) for a week or so and get a blander, richer moisturizer to repair your skin barrier. LRP Cicaplast, or Toleriane would do that. Protect & Perfect is also indicated for the first signs of ageing- you might be better with Lift & Luminate which is richer. (if you want to stick with Boots)

If you're looking for a more gentle cleanser, the Boots balm cleanser is fabulous. Dissolves everything and is for dry skin. Inkey List oat cleanser is also good.