Skin care for novices

[Bathtimebubble]

Could someone explain to me about skincare in a very simple way.

At the moment I I splash water on my face in the morning and use a cheap light moisturiser daily which has spf in it. That’s literally it, and up until now my skin has been pretty good, no spots, pigmentation or anything like that. Sometimes gets a bit dry.

Im 37 and starting to get bumpy rough skin on my chin and around my jaw and my eyes are beginning to look a bit more saggy. Will some kind of skincare routine sort this out? I feel like everywhere I go people are talking about 10 step am and pm routines and I feel like I missed the memo.

I’ve tried looking at Sali Hughes and Caroline Hirons on Instagram but it’s so confusing. I don’t wear make up apart from occasional mascara so do I really need an elaborate cleansing routine?
please explain (in terms a very small child would understand!) what I should do like

With the bumps, it sounds like you need to exfoliate.
I like the Liz Earle cleanse, tone, moisturise routine.

Agree with PP. You need to start a cleanse / moisture regime with regular exfoliation either via face cloth or scrub plus a facial oil.
Aldi do a very well rated range of skincare, or Liz Earle as mentioned. SuperDrug vitamin E products are also rated as are SuperFacialist. None are £££ so try what is convenient and go from there.

This would be my simple recommendation

Morning
Wash with water
Aha acid on a little pad 3x a week
Sunscreen

Evening
Oat milk Cleanser
Retinol
Moistusier

Inky List is a decent affordable range

10 steps! I use clearasil exfoliating scrub am and pm. Night time follow up with a pm moisturiser.

Thanks for the tips. My current moisturiser is Superdrug vitamin e so that’s good to hear

Thank you! What does the aha acid and retinol do?

This is about my level

Thank you, does exfoliating just mean use a flannel?

Aha exfoliates.

Retinol increases cell turnover in the skin to tackle texture and fine lines

Is retinol suitable for rosacea?

I wouldn't feel comfortable to recommended on that but Dr Dray, Dr Sam Bunting, Dr Natalie Spierings are all great on instagram or YouTube they are dermatologists.

Nadine Baggott is your friend. Watch her 5 product/ingredient videos. There's also a current insta video where she interviews a consultant dermatologist who said the same.

You NEED:
A cleanser
An SPF separate from moisturizer or makeup. In summer a facial SPF 50 can probably replace your moisturizer
A moisturizer

You might like to add:
A vitamin C in the morning (anti oxidant, protects skin from pollution)
A retinoid of some kind in the evening.

There's your 5.

The dermatologist uses the Superdrug vitamin E cleanser.

Other things you can think of adding (slowly, and using ad hoc)

A liquid exfoliator - AHA based if your skin is dry or starting to show signs of ageing, a BHA if it's oily or prone to breakouts and blemishes. Not all acids target the same issues.

You're already exfoliating by using a cloth to remove your cleanser, but liquid exfoliator will go deeper.

If you want to start a vitamin A/retinol routine, again, watch some of NB's explanatory videos and build up. What I found interesting with the interview this week with the derm was that she said we often think a higher potency of things like a retinol or vitamin C is best, but that's not true. She (the derm) for example doesn't go the tret/prescription A route but sticks with retinaldehyde.

Thank you @NowZeusHasLainWithLeda thats really useful detail
And thanks to @bryceQ for the explanation.

Am I right in thinking which cleanser I use doesn’t matter that much?

Definitely doesn't matter. As long as it does the job. It stays on your face for probably less than a minute so the beauty companies can tell you it does this, or contains that, and it's got collagen or unicorn sperm or whatever in it 🤣 but as it's down the plughole in 30 seconds it's not going to do anything than take your makeup off and clean your face. As an example, the dermatologist on the NB interview yesterday used the Superdrug vitamin E one (which I also love) and I'm guessing she knows her stuff and could use much more expensive ones.

I double cleanse - if I've worn make up. Once to take the make up off, once to clean the skin. I chop and change cleansers but my favourites are the Vitamin E one, and the Boots N7 balm.