Bit nervous posting

[declutteringnovice]

I've spent the past few weeks 'decluttering' household items and sorting rooms. Came to do the bathroom today and getting rid of half used cleaners, soaps and so on wasn't a problem but then I came to my 'skin care' shelf and draw and was stunned and amazed and truth be told more than a little bit ashamed of all the bottles and jars I had that I'd tried for a couple of weeks or a few months and felt no benefit from them but hadn't thrown them, mainly because some were expensive and I bought them after seeing them 'recommended' here and there.

Years ago it used to be so easy, you just found a product that suited your skin and used it, then replaced it when needed. I used Ponds and bought it again when I saw it on Amazon a few months ago and although I was careful around my eyes it made them water and puff up. These days I am uttelry bamboozled by serums, cleansers, foaming things, routines that must be followed with this used first, this thing second and finished with eye products that just make my eyes puffy and water like mad. I've never really had an allergic reaction to anything, other than some of the eye things.

I'm mid 60's now and don't go out much socially. Chronic fatigue and also severe arthritis makes it difficult for me to hold and open certain bottles and tubes etc so I'm wondering if I should just get myself some good quality facial wipes (never have used soap on my face) to 'cleanse' with but then what kind of moisturiser should I get? I'm honestly not bothered about finding some sort of radiant youthful glow as I'm long past that. I just want something easy to use that will properly moisturise my skin (face and neck) without making my eyes water or puff up like golf balls. Surely there has to be something out there. I don't have a lot of money to spare let alone waste but will pay for a quality product that would last more than 3 weeks!

I put 'bit nervous posting' as my title because I thought people would find it laughable that at my age I don't know what products to use. But its true, I just don't, and I don't want to waste any more money. Oh, I forgot to say I went to Boots and local Debenhams before it closed down, and they did those skin assessment things then sold me the 'absolutely necessary items for my skin type'. The Boots stuff didn't suit me at all but I did like the things they suggested at Debenhams - I think it was a bar and two lotions, one yellow and one green if I remember - but I don't know where to find those now as searches for Debenhams Clinic didn't show me the things I was looking for.

Can anyone suggest some safe facial wipes and a good quality easy to use moisturiser please? And finally are face masks any use at all? I read about ladies enjoying a soak in the bath using a face masks and feeling so relaxed afterwards and this is not something I've ever done but think I would like to try.

Thank you.

If it helps, I used to have very oily skin but its changes as I've grown older and now its mostly dry but not flaky or tight or anything, and I hate the lotions and creams that claim to be 'light' then sit on my skin and don't absorb properly. Especially if I'm cleaning later in the day and I can feel the product literally sweating around my hairline, under my eyes, and on my face.

I can relate.
Im 60 and find that most products just sit on my skin now and as the day goes on, I sweat in the same places as you've described as well as having my glasses slip.
Superdrug's Vitamin E wipes are good but I rarely go there .

For many, many years , I used Oil of Olay ( Ulay as I keep saying) , just the basic one in the pink bottle but stopped using it about ten years ago as it started to make my eyes smart. I then spent so much money on various potions which mostly reacted the same way.

They say that we should be using richer creams at our age but they mostly feel like I've smeared lard on my face , although that would be much cheaper.

Tbh, I don't bother much these days.

I’m in my 40s and use Huggies baby wipes and Vaseline essential healing. Both very cheap!

I would caution against wipes and instead use flannels - much cheaper and greener in the long run! Use one of the thicker face creams you already have but don’t like as a creamy cleanser instead - just get a big dollop, rub it all over then wash it off with a warm flannel.

That should help with building a routine before you buy more stuff, as well as gentle exfoliating and brightening through the flannel action, and bonus of clearing out your backlog.

Also, you can use any products on any part of your body if they don’t suit your face. Sounds obvious but took me ages to figure it out - eg heavy face creams are great for knees and elbows

edited to quickly remove double post

Was it Clinique products you had before? I think most Demenhams used to have a Clinique counter.

I was actually going to suggest Clinique moisturiser, it sinks into my skin nicely and doesn’t irritate:

https://m.clinique.com/product/1687/26651/skincare/moisturizers/dramatically-different-moisturizing-lotiontm

I think the CeraVe products are excellent and good value, they do a range for dry skin - no wipes though I'm afraid, they do a cleansing bar or facial wash in pump bottles, 3 for 2 at Boots at the moment, so you could get your cleanser, day moisturiser with SPF30 and a night moisturiser.

Can you use all your unwanted face creams as body creams, that's what I tend to do?

cerave products are what I use when my skin goes bonkers between seasons - very soothing and not heavy. My friend with Rosacea was recommended the range as it’s so gentle.

I agree with PP that it sounds like Clinique you had before, they still have counters, in Boots and dept stores. Personally I think it’s a bit overpriced. I second Cerave, they have pumps on a lot of their stuff not screw caps. I can’t recommend wiles as they just don’t do a thorough enough cleanse though it does depend a bit how much make up you wear.

I use these. If you don't wear makeup you don't need a cleanser. I do use a serum but it's all come from beauty boxes. As for moisturiser I'm currently using Astral at night band for day a facial sunscreen.

I'm also 60

I am distrustful of wipes because my understanding is that they all contain alcohol, which is drying and irritating to your skin. Skin seems to get more sensitive as we age.

I have never used wipes or cleanser, just a flannel and a tiny tiny bit of soap on my face, but here’s the thing - never ordinary soap, but olive oil soap. This is so gentle and pure, that it doesn’t irritate but gently cleans, and the flannel twice a day is good on the skin too.

I use Little Soap Company olive oil bar, but there are others. If it doesn’t agree with you, all you’ve wasted is £3.70 ( what I’m paying for it) for the soap.

Organic coconut oil. Rub it in and leave for 5 mins, then wipe off the excess with a towel. It’s like a moisturiser and cleanser in one. So gentle, even on eyes. It also takes off makeup and lasts for ages!

I'm 63 and find the Boots No.7 HydraLuminous Day Gel is lovely. Not too thick for my skin and they do an oil free version as well (although I personally found that one a bit too watery). It's also reasonably priced - about £17.95.

Forgot to say - flannel AND warm water!

@MoonieDoo I love the coconut oil suggestion!

Please don’t feel nervous!

This is what this forum is for, to ask questions and to share advice.

No one knows everything.

I am half your age but don’t know where to start with creams etc as I’ve never given it much thought before now, so this thread is really helpful for me too.
Thanks for starting it!

Is it Caroline Hirons that says wipes are only for fannies and festivals?

They are so many excellent cleansing balms and oils around now. I use Dermalogica pre-cleanse and then one of their cleansers, or the Elemis balm. I use a clean flannel per day or disposal ones from ‘Clean Towel Co’ if I’m away.

I use Dermalogica moisturiser, I’m not an expert on what’s good on the high street, but Andrew Wheatcroft on IG is fantastic on good high street products.

Yeah I use a flannel and superdrug vit e cleanser for my face and rinse off after. Much better than wipes.

Creams are a minefield tbh. Stuff I've used for a while starts to feel irritating etc. I've got some lovely shiseido stuff that makes my eye area really dry now 😭

I've gone back to blue Nivea

Wipes are terrible things. I use these bamboo pads from Amazon which can be washed and reused indefinitely.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Organic-Reusable-Remover-Washable-Eco-friendly/dp/B07SMDYJWJ/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=H6AJOH1ZV6JN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IRaHXMh3Ds9NPxhsJksPrJDSdMbPvI_UlBUA8Nenk4aTTCR9tWZoWq-oeFCn1kfAKzCZjuTWFDimeTLCc5UANSNPRPWFa5oS6hqxMyZS9UiA0m_yJmbrJozV2w6ClzKI1SbgTWA8-Bz7WKL0NQsy1jovtjc11G_DynzwuUV1j49WaI5hf97q2CPxPiYWdb0mx9zWcHGq9awXnqVZfms5YyBf0Lx0n9J3K4WowTzNXF4k91A3axpJt75zVrQcFb2pigmHoyy_GHxNQFsGnWpNqXIqwCsM7jpREBhLNivwOFE.V1Kzcg2zFG-H-cnVecYvfuLnmUvYCPizTPXMGTlhUME&dib_tag=se&keywords=bamboo+pads+reusable&qid=1715854113&sprefix=Bamboo+pads%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Wipes are not good for your skin (or the environment). But big cotton pads and use this instead bioderma sensibio cleansing micellar water sensitive-skin-500ml

Be careful about buying any beauty and hair products on amazon, most of it is fake and you have no idea what it actually is.

I’m another advocate of the cleanser and warm flannel method to remove make up.

Oh goodness me, I didn’t expect such a response but do really appreciate all the information you’ve shared with me so thank you very much.

VeraForever · I also used to use Oil of Olay, the sensitive one, but I think they must have ‘tweaked’ the ingredients because it suddenly started to irritate my eyes even if I didn’t apply anywhere near them. As if just the ‘fumes’ from the lotion were wafting up to my eye area. I had to stop which really saddened and frustrated me as I’d used that for years. But ‘lard’ is exactly what I feel I’ve put on my face with most of the newer brands (more expensive too) and that word is exactly the right one I could have used to describe all the dampness and sweating on my face even later in the day.

Hugmorecats · I had never thought of using baby wipes. Vaseline essential healing – is that the hand lotion?

ShangPie · I haven’t used a flannel on my face for years (do use them for daily body bit washes at the sink), nor had it occurred to me to use any of the facial creams I have as cleansers! What a brilliant idea. And again, using them for knees and elbows!

DuploTrain · YES! That was exactly the yellow lotion. I couldn’t remember the name other than it was at a beauty counter and was a consultation and something to do with a clinic. Feel rather stupid that I didn’t do a better search as I probably would have found it before now. If I look on that same site later I’ll probably also find the green lotion. But thank you so much for identifying that for me.

Rina66 · / lilachouse · / TheOGCCL · A dear friend who passed away just before Christmas used to use CeraVe. We never did talk about skin care but I saw the items in her bathroom when I visited and they were always there so I assume she just replaced them when she ran out. I mean, she didn’t change products or anything, just always the same brand. I will have a look on the Boots website at that 3 for 2 offer, thank you. I used to wear a little make up but rarely if at all these days.

GettingStuffed · Seeing the name Astral made me smile just now. I remember that so well and the light fragrance it had. I didn’t know they still made that!

Keepingongoing · I honestly didn’t know that all wipes contain alcohol, which is worrying to hear. Olive oil soap does sound like it would be gentle and pure and not irritate skin and the brand and price you describe certainly isn’t dear.

MoonieDoo · I have organic coconut oil! I use it mostly for cooking. Never heard of using it on skin. It may say so on the jar but I’ve always just bought it for cooking so never read the label.

Icequeen01 · Thank you for your recommendation too. I feel a bit wary of Boots own products due to previous experience.

Choochoo21 · You made me feel better and less self conscious since you are half my age and also don’t know where to start. Thank you for that.

MaryFuckingFerguson · I don’t know what IG means.

SuncreamAndIceCream · Also remember Nivea! Only really ever see the white tubs now and I tried one of those some time ago with similar results - lardy face.

Somepeoplearesnippy · Those look interesting. Thank you.

SuperGreens · I’m understanding that wipes are not the way to go so will be buying some flannels and / or washable pads, I think. Thanks for the recommendation of Bioderma Micellar Water and also the warning about buying beauty and hair products on amazon – I never know whether the products are genuine or not and go off the reviews but then more and more lately I’ve read in the news about how many fake reviews there are and companies pay people to write them so yes, sinking feeling, feeling ripped off, and wondering if this also might be a reason why I have such reactions to certain things. Thank you for that caution.

I have a new plan then! I’ll go into town to an actual shop and have a good look around. I’ll get some flannels and washable pads, some olive oil soap (I really like the sound of that) and if I can find a Clinique counter I’ll get those items I used to use before. If I can’t find a counter I’ll try the Clinique online direct. But I’ll try the flannels / pads first using some of the creams I already have (like Ponds) and see if that makes a difference. It can’t be any worse in any way than what’s been happening.

Thank you so much everyone. You’ve been so kind.

beebumble2 - Just saw your post as I posted mine. Thank you. And another recommendation for flannels!

I've recently gone back to acqueous cream. I love it.

I also use coconut or almond oil, rub a small amount on a dry face then remove with a warm wet flannel. I then use a small amount of oil to moisturise. Cheap, none irritating, it's great stuff! 😁

Both Lidl and Aldi have good quality dupes. I'm not that much younger than you and I have a few decent flannels and I use them with a natural cleansing bar (locally made but you can buy commercially) for my face and I use the dupe of L'Oréal in the red container that contains sunscreen through sunnier months and have a large pot of Nivea for when I'm putting on extra later in the day (after swimming) or cloudy winter days. For nighttime i currently have a night cream from my liberty advent calendar and a variety of serums I'm making my way through

Please don't use wipes they'll work out expensive in the long run, they're bad for the environment and they're not really great for your skin either. As others have said, try a facecloth. I have a pile of them bought from Primark and Ikea! I use a new one each day and just throw in the wash. Morning time I just rinse in warm water and wipe over my face, but in the evening I use a balm cleanser and then the facecloth rinsed in hand-hot water. It's cheap and effective. I also agree with others recommending the Cerave range it's good for sensitive skin and very affordable. Try to add an SPF into your routine too (I'd actually suggest their SPF facial cream as it is moisturising but also gives SPF protection and never stings my eyes) I think I'm one of the only people who never uses a specific eye cream! I just use moisturiser and SPF and go gently when near the eye area. I'm 50 but don't have a problem with lines/wrinkles (although jowls are appearing and that's a whole other story!) It IS overwhelming OP there are so many products and "routines" available!