What one thing has had the biggest impact on your skin in your 40s? (dryness, uneven tone, blemishes, dullness)

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Help!

I'm a skincare novice and my skin has been looking terrible lately. I've always had combination skin with a tendency more towards oiliness but lately I've had dry patches and my makeup just doesn't sit well (I wear Nars tinted moisturiser). I've also been getting quite a few tiny whiteheads.

I wear sunscreen daily from about now through until autumn but otherwise I'm not terribly good with a skincare routine so whatever I introduce needs to be simple enough to keep it up.

I'm not on the pill, and would prefer not to go back on hormonal medication at the moment if possible. Would prefer to give other remedies a go first.

And final criteria, can't be too £££.

Look at the ordinary products. They are really affordable and do the job. Dd is 17 and uses the squalene cleanser and I at 47 use the oat cleansing balm. I have dry skin though with no spots.
I have used tge squalene cleanser when I have run out and I find it good as well.
you can then get different serums based on what you want/need.
there is a quiz somewhere it might be on the website that you put in what you wnat and it tells you what to buy.

Tbh routine. I used to be very hit and miss but consistency has an impact.

Genetics sadly too - I don't look loads younger or anything but my mum and gran both had minimal wrinkles and neither do I.

I have a simple regime of wash off cleanser both am and pm (usually cerave which my teens use as well). Am vit c serum (am using a garnier one atm which seems good) and a light moisturiser then spf.

Pm is retinol (I was using skin and me but have recently swapped to a L'Oréal pure retinol serum and it seems to suit my skin better although I know it's not as 'powerful') and a slightly thicker hydrating moisturiser a geek and gorgeous one atm.

I also do a clay mask once a week in the bath. I have a stock pile of the Aldi pink clay one that I love. Seems to really brighten up my skin.

As you can see I'm not loyal to any products but broadly keep the routine the same. I get recommendations from friends/online/what has an offer and give stuff a go. I have tried the ordinary and the inky list as a lot of people love them but I didn't get on with them. Similarly the Liz Earle type balms upset my skin but loads of people love them. Cerave is great for basic bits and often reduced in boots/Superdrug etc.

Vitamin C in the morning. A retinoid in the evening.
Neither did to be expensive.
Something with salicylic for the breakouts/oil. Effaclar duo from la Roche Posay is brilliant.
A gentle moisturizer. What do you use at the moment? Often people think oily skin doesn't need to be moisturized but it usually does.
SPF every day all year.

Oh I definitely need good moisturiser! My previously oily skin has completely dried up.

I'm using a facetheory one at the moment, the amil c whip.

It's all trial and error.

All a moisturiser does it lock in the moisture already there.

(This is what a dermo would tell you.)

Some have anti-ageing stuff in like niacinamide or peptides.

Have a look at Boots No 7, Olay, even good old L'Oreal. You don't need to spend £££s.

But you also need to feed your skin from within.

How many times a week are you eating
avocado
salmon or sardines
green veg
almonds
extra virgin olive oil

Should be almost daily or several times a week.
These all feed skin.