Is there a non complicated skin care thing?

[NutellaEllaElla]

I want to look after my face but I'm not going to commit to a 12 step regime. So far, I really just use a Neutrogena cleanser plus Clinique moisturiser. I'm 37, oily forehead, dry elsewhere still spot prone. I'm willing to get something better quality and want to age gracefully. No unrealistic expectations but I've probably not been doing the best I could for myself. Does anyone have any advice or small changes I could make please?

You definitely don't need a mutli-step programme. That kind of thing is just a way to part you from your money. I'm no skin-case expert but I am a scientist (chemistry) and make an effort to ensure I'm not wasting my money when I buy products.

First of all, Clinique is a good brand. It's more affordable than many other quality brands but the quality is great.

There are a few ingredients that do actually work. Retinol is the one that seems most effective. Among other things, it helps stimulate collagen production in the skin. There are collagen creams but they don't work because the molecules are apparently too large to get through the skin. So your best bet is retinol. Studies have shown that it reduces wrinkles.

Another effective ingredient is hyaluronic acid. It moisturizes. The more you moisturize, the few wrinkles you'll end up with and your skin will feel healthier.

Vitamin C cream is also effective.

Some people say that "peptides" work, but they're complicated. "Peptides" can mean so many different things. I personally use retinol at night (it breaks down in daylight so there's no point in using it during the day) and hyaluronic acid and vitamin C cream during the day.

Your combination skin may actually be a sign of dry skin, so try drinking a bit more water and moisturizing.

It'll take a bit of trial and error to get the retinol right. It can cause break-outs at first so you'll want to use a low concentration to start with. The brand "The Ordinary" (available at Boots) sells very affordable retinol and other products. Boots often has good deals and makes high-quality products too.

I don't use a cleanser, but am very careful about the sun. I wear a hat as well as sunscreen and recommend you do that in summer. Good luck.

Skin needs to be clean, hydrated, and protected from the sun.

So you "need" a cleanser, a moisturizer and an SPF.

The only other 2 ingredients you might want to think about are a Vitamin C in the morning, and an A at night.

Nadine Baggott has a 5 ingredient video about the above which is worth a watch.

Personally I just use an eye cream/ serum and spf on top of cleaning and moisturising.

SPF with good UVA protection that you like enough to apply daily. (Can replace moisturiser in daytime, if you're not too dry.) Possibly change of cleanser if your current one struggles to remove it.

Do not even contemplate any actives unless you've sorted this!

I don't do masses of skin care, but I have added a serum and exfoliation.

Morning
I use hot cloth cleanser (Aldi, Liz Earle dupe)
Vit c serum (let it sink in while brushing your teeth) - Aldi
basic moisturiser (simple)

Night
Hot cloth cleanser
Glycolic acid toner (alpha h liquid gold or aldi)
Hyaluronic acid serum
Richer moisturiser (Aldi caviar)

I'm not saying it's amazing and there will be people that say I'm not using good enough products, but my skin likes it. But it doesn't take long

I like la Roche posay face spf, but don't use it as often as I should

@Kdubs1981, I think it sounds fine! Maybe you want to add retinol at night, but you're using hyaluronic acid and vitamin C (both very effective). You're also using glycolic acid, which is a good exfoliator.

The great thing these days is that there are affordable products out there that work! You're doing the right thing by focusing on the products that work and not being taken in by marketing and buying masses of other products!

I'm the same age as you, with oily sensitive skin and the occasional hormonal spot flare up. I use flannel and warm water in the morning, followed by L'Oréal hydra genius aloe water, and in the evening in the shower I use a goats milk soap and the same moisturiser. I don't use SPF very often, as although I've tried different brands, they all make my eyes burn and my skin sore. I wear a hat all the time to add some sun shade. Drink loads of water. I work outdoors from stupid a.m. in a dusty, dirty environment, so I like simple and feeling clean at the end of the day! I'm no youthful looking beauty by today's standards, but I don't look like I've just been exhumed either, so it'll do!

Thank you very much you guys. @Antst I'll investigate which retinol product from the Ordinary I want as a beginner with spot prone skin (it does worry me a bit that it can cause break-outs); which hyaluronic acid and vitamin C cream products do you use please?

I have never had a problem with spots, but did break out a little in certain areas when I first started using stronger retinol. I still do if I put it on my nose. It's annoying, but nothing to worry about and it has improved over time.

I use an Olay hyaluronic acid because I like the texture. I buy it on sale from Boots for £20. There's another one from La Roche Posay that I like. Both brands are quite gentle and unscented and my skin is sensitive. The Ordinary also sells one that's effective and much cheaper. I have used it in the past.

I use a vitamin C moisturizer from Super Facialist (available at Boots). It's a little heavier than I'd like, but is a lot more affordable than other options and I don't think the expensive ones are really worth the extra money. One from La Roche Posay is nice but expensive and makes me feel like there's a raincoat on my face.

The retinol products I use now are all from Boots. They're expensive at full price, but there are often good deals. There's a great retinol product from La Roche Posay but it costs more.

If you live close to a shop where you can try samples, I'd do that. I hate buying something and then realizing I hate the texture or it's hard to get out of the bottle. Keep experimenting! Good luck.

Honestly, any hyaluronic will do. It's not an active acid. It just hydrated and plumps and is in virtually everything anyway. (lots of vitamin C serums for example are hyaluronic based - ££££ Clarins Double Serum= hyaluronic based, ££££ Barbara Sturm - hyaluronic.

I like Hada Labo Gold- the original Japanese hyaluronic- one of few not slimy and gloopy HAs. Also like Vichy 89 and Probiotic Fractions.

I don't actually think standalone HA does much for me. It's in my moisturizer anyway. (Lots of research is currently being done as to the actual benefits of topical HA)

To your current regime, I'd just add a retinoid at night and a C in the morning. Slowly- and begin with an entry grade retinol (0.3% is standard entry grade- most creams and serums that have the name retinol and don't give a % lie at around 0.3%)

It can be really simple!
I do
Morning: cleanse, hyaluronic acid, moisturise, spf
Evening: cleanse, retinol, cactus oil
Drink lots of water. I always get compliments on my skin

I use skin and me. They give you whatever ingredients you need (I have retin A plus 2 other ingredients) mixed in a tube to use at night and it even measures out the right amount each day. They start you off with a small dose of retin a (tretinoin) then increase gradually and can adjust what’s in it if you have different concerns over time. Other than that, I just use very gentle/hydrating (and inexpensive) products.