Skin routine, please help!

[Livinginacatdictatorship]

So I currently have no skin routine other than micellar water to take my make up off in the evening, I very occasionally use moisturiser if I remember.... which I don't 99% of the time.

As a gift I have asked for some nice skin care products, as i feel like i really should take better care, but I don't really know what I should be using and when!

I'm 34, and I would say I have combination skin, my nose tends to be an oily area while my forehead and cheeks can be quite dry, especially in winter.

Can anyone please advise any products? And tips on a skin care routine?

Hi OP,

I'm 40 and have combination skin. Here are the products I use and would recommend:

AM
Cerave hydrating cleanser
Byoma gel moisturiser (in winter I use a heavier moisturiser e.g. La Roche Posay sensitive moisturiser)
Hero force shield sunscreen

PM
Bioderma micellar water
Cerave hydrating cleanser
Byoma gel moisturiser
Beauty of Joseon retinal eye cream (I use this all over my face)

For once a week exfoliation in the evening, I like the Ordinary lactic acid 5%. If my skin is congested, I use Cos De BAHA - Salicylic Acid 2% liquid.

I discovered this in Savers recently, great for spots;

https://www.savers.co.uk/All-Skincare/Derma-V10-Spot-Zapper-Patches-24s/p/813266

Fab, thank you I will have a look at those!

Start with a cleanser so you can ditch the micellar water and a decent SPF.

Clarins take the day off balm cleanser to get rid of make up and then you can probably follow up with cerave cleanser as your second cleanse.
Murad do a vitamin C SPF or Heliocare do a tinted one if it works for your skin type (and really good coverage.

If there's more money in the pot then add on a vitamin C serum (drunk elephant is good) or a separate hydrating serum for the winter and then if more money after that a vitamin A/ retinol serum for the evening - No7 do a good one or again drunk elephant.

There's loads of good stuff out there now to be honest - just depends on budget. But cleanser, spf, vitamin c, vitamin a should be a start.

You're welcome!

Missing from my list above is a vitamin c serum. I've just finished this:

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/p/medik8-c-tetra-luxe-30ml/11795622/?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlDNiqjIiAMVL6SDBx22PAVTEAQYASABEgKYcfDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It was good, but more than I'd like to spend on a vitamin c serum.

I also second all the Cerave stuff as it's my favourite on top of using tretinoin, but you said it was for a gift so I recommended more exciting things!

Finding the exact products that will work best for you is the big task. And it's trial and error. You want a cleanser, a serum or 2, a moisturiser and an spf. For me, I did Google searches for iconic products for my skin requirements, and then just kind of worked my way through them.

Thanks for the tips, I've seen Cerave in most if not all the things I've looked up this evening as well so I will definitely be asking for that. I will have to have a look at the other suggestions, so many different lotions and potions 😯lol.

I'm mid 30s with a simple but very effective routine for me.

I use an oil or balm cleanser from one of the Korean brands on yesstyle

Tretinoin from Dermatica

Tallow from Fierce Nature

In the morning I use rice toner to hydrate then Spf 50 and Erborian CC cream.

I've just posted about my skin issues, very greasy skin. I'm loving Liz Earle, it feels like being at a spa. I got a set with cleanser, exfoliater, skin tonic (like a toner), face mask and eye cream. I still have greasy skin after a few hours but it does feel like a treat for the skin at the time

These are my go to brands

Eucerin: moisturiser,eye cream)

La roche posay: cleanser, particularly the Effaclar Micro-Peeling Purifying Gel Wash (not every day) suncream and serums

Cerave (cleanser)

Origins: face masks and the Checks and Balances face wash

Another vote for clinique take the day off balm for make up remover. I follow with another cleanser.

You could try ebay if your wanting to try new skin care. I purchased a travel size take the day off cleanser so I could try before splashing out. Kept the pot to refill when going on holiday! Often find origins gift sets at a decent price, good way to try their products.

Try and keep your routine simple. I was trying to use too many products at once and it made my skin worse.

I like bamboo clothes to wash my face, they are quite soft.

My skin sounds very similar to yours.

I wouldn't use micellar water, it's quite harsh and there are much better options out there. I like the Bobbi Brown cleansing oil or Elemis cleansing balm, they both emulsify into a milk when you add water and leave skin very soft.

Aesop's parsley seed cleansing masque is also amazing, it's made a huge difference wrt improving texture.

For a moisturiser I like Elemis marine cream, it's rich enough while still being light with a gel-like texture

Thanks for all the suggestions, it's definitely given me a good starting point.
Thanks for suggesting sample sizes @AutumnAutumn24 I had never though of that!
So is the general concensus start basic and build up so not to irritate your skin too much? Do you use serums instead of or as well as moisturiser or alternate? I'm not sure where about they fit in with people's routines 😅

Hi OP, I'm 36 with a very basic skincare routine but it seems to be working for me so far as my skin is pretty good.

I have a stack of flannels in a box by the sink. I take my makeup off/cleanse my face by rubbing hot cloth cleanser into my skin while it is dry (Liz Earle do a nice one or I really rate Aldi or Superdrug's versions.) Then I wipe it off with a hot flannel. Repeat if necessary but it is just as easy as using micellar water.....but a lot better at cleaning your face.

I then put a serum on and brush my teeth to let that soak in a bit, and then either a day cream with SPF or a richer night cream. The whole routine takes under 5 minutes including teeth brushing time but my skin is so much better for it.

I'm not loyal to any particular brands as I like to try different creams so to be perfectly honest I usually buy whatever is on offer in TKMaxx! I usually like Korean skincare brands and my favourite serum is the retinol alternative by Rata and Co.

I would definitely keep it simple to start with. You can build up if you want to once you're firmly in the habit of cleansing and moisturising. Washing your face properly, whacking on something moisturising and making sure you have some SPF on are the basics.

If you're experimenting, have a look in superdrug. They have individual targeted products like Niancinamide, Collagen, Salicylic Acid at very affordable prices.

It lists the % of ingredients so you can compare to pricier brands for value for money.

@GameOfJones this might be a silly question but do you just wash the flannels out with water to keep them clean? Is there a benefit to using a flannel rather than cotton wool pads?

I am well and truly experimenting @GreatMistakes because I have no clue what any of those are 🤣

I have about ten flannels so I use once then put in the washing basket so they go through the laundry. So there's always a fresh, clean one to use.

For me the benefits are no more purchasing of cotton pads, they are reusable, quicker to clean my face as they are larger and I think it gives a very gentle exfoliation by cleansing with a towelling flannel.

@GameOfJones and you would just put it through on a normal wash, you don't have to keep separately or wash in a particularly way?
That's probably a silly question, sorry!

Sorry, just saw this. Yes, I just put it through a normal wash with my other clothes.

I wouldn't use micellar water, use a proper oil based cleanser.

As you don't have a routine I'd start off simple. Cleanse every morning and night, and moisturise twice a day. I use No7 cleansing balm, and their day and night cream to moisturise.

You can add other things later as you get a routine. Consistency is key so don't try to use too many products straight away or you won't stick to it

@roseymoira if I have greasy/oil prone places on ny face wouldn't an oil based cleanser make those worse? Or am I being daft haha.

Micellar water is actually great. Here goes my routine:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
Garnier spf
Evening:
Micellar water
Cerave moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

@UmberMoose thanks for sharing your routine! I'll have to have a nose at sebamed I haven't heard of them.

I'm in my 40's and found this routine works for my sensitive combination skin:

Evening:
remove makeup/sunscreen with No 7 cleansing balm.
After gently massaging into face, add a little warm water to emulsify before removing with wet microfibre cloth.
Remove traces of balm with Cetaphil Hydrating Cleanser.
Wipe a toner on your face to rebalance PH levels.
On dry skin only to avoid irritation, I use No 7 retinol cream or Vitamin C on alternate nights. Let sink in for 10-20 minutes.
I use a facial oil to moisturise overnight.

Morning:
Splash water to remove sleepy dust.
On wet skin, I apply Inkey List Hyaluronic acid, an eye cream and some Cetaphil Moisturiser Lotion or some facial oil. Let that sink in for 10 minutes before applying a sunscreen. I've been using No 7 sunscreen and it's lovely, smooth and sits well under makeup. Sunscreen is a must if you're using retinol or vitamin C.

It sounds a lot but doesn't take that long at all.

My skin has calmed down now, OP. But when it was oilier I also loved Sebamed. It is gentle and slightly acidic, which is good for our skin and for oil control. Over a period of about a month, used with gentle cleansing and moisturising, it really helped reduced my shine and greasiness.