What skincare should I be using?

[wishing3]

Help me come up with an anti aging skincare routine please! I’m early 40s with a toddler and a baby and a steadily sagging, knackered face/neck/décolletage. My skin type is normal possibly a bit dry. I have eczema though tends not to be on my face ;but I prefer sensitive/ fragrance free stuff ATM. Have some age spots/melasma.
I currently use a face wash (sometimes an exfoliating one) morning and night, wear spf every day, and eucerin night cream most nights. What else should I be using,oh wise ones or is it all b*locks anyway?!

Hi OP,

I'm currently using these products and would recommend (I don't have eczema though so not sure if these will work for you):

PM
Bioderma micellar water
Cerave hydrating cleanser
Face Theory saliatica (for liquid exfoliation - I'd never do a physical cleanser/exfoliant)
centella serum (I find this soothing)
Indeed Labs retinol reface

AM
Cerave hydrating cleanser
Centella serum/ vitamin c serum
spf

I'd also recommend this shower gel

Just saw this-thanks!

I use The Ordinary. You can upload a picture of your face and they recommend a routine. Very good prices too.

Second vote for the ordinary. Great website and quick delivery.

Have a look at 'skin and me'..quite popular on a few threads on Mumsnet!

I absolutely love this stuff. It lasts forever.

Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Acid Refill Beauty Essence 170mL https://amzn.eu/d/4gEc4G8

Thanks! So is it hylauronic acid and retinol I should be after?
milk give that website a try.

Tretinoin. I get mine from dermatica.

Bumping because I'm in exactly the same situation. Looking for something evidence based that doesn't increase sensitivity to anything including sun. I think that vitamin c and maybe copper peptides might fit the bill but not sure and a bit overwhelmed by choice

I recommended a hyaluronic acid to use as a base layer. I've got dry/normal skin and psoriasis so I'm prone to irritation. But if I use that stuff as a base layer, I get no irritation regardless of the next product having perfume etc.

One thing I also swear by is pure evening primrose oil overnight. I wake up with super soft skin.

Also, if you start drinking a large amount of water every day, your skin will look amazing. I've been told I look ten years younger than I am (although personally I think that's bollocks! I look ok for my age, at best!).

I have the book by Caroline Hirons (skin care the new edit) and it goes through how to look after your skin depending on age/health etc and I found it so useful choosing a skin care regimen.
I now use a combination of the ordinary/superdrug and face theory. I now feel confident in what I am using and understand that it's not all high end, it is about using active ingredients. This is why I cannot recommend the ordinary enough.
At 46 my skin is the best it has been and I enjoy skincare as I understand it and can see improvements.

You’re using the main one anyway. SPF. Keep using it everyday without fail. Use vitamin c serum for your melasma / dark spots, works well to reduce them. (Get a decent vit c serum though, some are absolute rubbish)

I use

AM
cerave facial wash
vitamin c serum
nivea soft moisturiser
SPF 50.

(SPF I use is Nivea sun 50, mattifying, only one that doesn’t break me out or give me a shiny face.)

PM
cerave facial wash,
Boots 1% retinol serum
Nivea soft moisturiser.

Try drink 2L minimum of water a day and get 6-8 hours sleep a night. (Last one easier said than done with kids though!)

I’m 35, skin looks good. No lines or wrinkles or anything yet (although I’m still at a reasonably young age so time will tell)

I’ll move to tretenoin at some point, but the boots 1% retinol is working for me atm.

I follow some dermatologists on tik tok and always watch their skin care tips. SPF is the one they won’t live without.

You can always look into Botox in the future aswell, my dh had terrible lines on his forehead / around his eyes, Botox completely eliminated them.

@wishing3 since you’re already using facial wash, spf and moisturiser, which is a good basic routine anyway,

you could add in a good quality vit c serum every morning (morning is best) then a retinol serum (maybe start with an entry grade one bought from the shop than going for tret straight away)

the vit c will help with those dark spots you have and retinol is a good anti ageing step anyway.

I’d do those two on top of your current routine.

That is.👆

Tretinoin, a good moisturiser & SPF

Thanks that's really helpful info. So how can I tell if a vitamin c cream is any good? Is it just about strength? Are the stronger ones irritating?

Moo Goo full cream moisturiser with added facial oil.

It's available in Holland and Barratt now.