I think I might be ready to start taking care of myself... but where do I start?

[invisiblebark]

I've been suffering with anxiety and depression and as a result personal care has been non existent.

I'm on the road to recovery and ready to start looking after myself again.

I need small baby steps in the right direction.

For example, perhaps someone could recommend a good face cleanser? I don't have a skin care routine but I'd like to at least cleanse my face before bed going forward.

I'm 28 with oily skin. Get spots on my jaw and under my chin. Also, prone to blackheads around lips, and nose area.

What other small steps can I take to start looking after myself?

If you don't wear make up you can find reusable face cloths, I get mine from superdrug. If you get acne you can try a wash for oily skin. However when, in my early 30s, I deve spots around the jaw I was told that it was foliculitis and I was prescribed topical antibiotics. The "blackheads" on your nose aren't actually spots they're filaments, it dark bit is where the oil produced to lubricate the skin oxidises where it meets the skin. They can be cleared by using porestrips, but not to often or you'll dry your skin out.

I think the best thing to do is find some dermatologists or highly trained aesthatician on YouTube one that springs to mind is Cassandra Bankson. James Welsh is also pretty good especially his when beauty turns ugly series.

Eve Lom clenser is lovely, or Emma Hardy. Aldi do a hot cloth dupe too which is nice

Cera ve is great. Easy to use and not too expensive. There are different versions for different skin types. You can get it at Superdrug.

Have a think about a moisturiser as well. I have ancient, dry skin so not sure what will work best for you, but it doesn't have to be very expensive.

Agree with PP, I've found Cerave great for my problem skin. Also Nip and Fab. I bought the wipes for my teenagers who are spotty and lazy! I was so impressed I started using them myself. Their other skincare products are great too. I buy from Amazon.

Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser from Superdrug is lovely, as is the rest of the range.

I’d recommend Cerave too for a cleanser and moisturiser.

The dermatologist I took ds to see about his spotty oily skin recommended Cerave, ds uses their foaming face wash and their face lotion. I use the big bottle of moisturising lotion as a body moisturiser, I also use their eye cream.

Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery, what a lovely start to a new year.
Enjoy your style and beauty journey it can be great fun working out what suits you.

Drink water however works for you but every day.
Sleep / rest for roughly the same amount of time every night and during roughly the same hours.
Try to get outdoors and moving every day, again, in whatever way works for you.

All the rest is window dressing; these form the base on which all the rest is built.

This sounds like a great idea, glad you're starting to feel better.

I think the cerave face wash fits the bill. Nice and easy, you can do it in the shower and it should help with your breakouts.

If you have the energy I always find a haircut makes the biggest difference to my appearance.

I read that porestrips open the pores on your nose and can make things worse. I have used a glycolic acid toner on that area instead, then moisturiser. That has made the biggest difference. Best of luck.

I was going to say this. The blemish version is excellent, really calms down redness etc.

I find the little bamboo pads handy. Got sick of full size flannel being damp but the small ones are easy to rotate.

I also really like Aldi face cream. The caviar one is lovely but you might be a bit young for it. The basic £1.50 night cream is very good.

Cerave is excellent as pp have said

Cheap (ish), available in the supermarket, easy to use daily with no faff

I would also recommend the Boots No.7 vitamin C serum and they do a great light moisturiser in the future renew range (the cream is far too thick & heavy)

Cera ve blemish control cleanser is great

A Mattifying moisturiser - I love Murad as it also has an spf 45

Lip balm and hand cream in car to remind you to use them

I like Aussie shampoo and don't use conditioner

Decent toothpaste and new brush

You can get a cheapish cleanser. I like the body shop camomile balm. Feels a bit special but still cheap
Id spend money on Paula's choice bha gel. This will sort our congestion. I doubt you'd need a retinol yet but have a look at the ordinary. Cheap and effective.
In the morning, look at vit c. Murad, ordinary niod or if you have money skinauticals.
Remember spf. I like garnier spf 50 I use it year round. It's cheap, no white cast and doesn't pill.

Once you feel better, maybe look at diet, water going for a lunchtime walk. Baby steps first otherwise you'll get overwhelmed.

@invisiblebark I once had a hairdresser who came to my house - she had done a beauty course and she said the single best thing you can do for your skin is drink more water . Other than that I agree with Eve Lom - feels lovely but possibly Ponds cold cream - been working for ages 😊 ( I am old)

Apart from that I always feel better when I have had my hair properly blow dried.

I’m excited for you!
I remember coming out of a horrible depression and starting some small steps to recovery

do a couple of things that make a big impact, quickly! I find that looking better makes me feel better

van you get yourself to a boots or something, get a bunch of samples and some self care products… face mask, hair mask, clear nail polish, cleanser, tinted moisturiser

good luck on your journey, do everything you can to keep on top of it xxx

Go for a brisk walk each morning, even if it’s only 5-10 minutes

Maybe treat yourself to a manicure & polish.
I always feel good about myself when my nails are done and I catch a glimpse of them 😊

Get your eyebrows tinted and shaped. Honestly it’ll frame your face and always makes me feel better.

Get a wax for your chin/upper lip whatever the beautician recommends.

get a pedi and a manicure

Thanks all for the lovely comments, tips, and advice.

I bought the Cerave Blemish control cleanser and the accompanying blemish control serum to use after.

This evening, I had a lovely Epsom salt bath and used the cleanser and serum afterwards.

Any other general tips for wellbeing or must haves, please share x

Monderma's tretinoin night cream and Inkey salicylic acid cleanser are winners.
Congrats on your transformation.

Treat yourself to a whole new routine of spa-style skincare and shower products (and while at that book yourself into a spa too!) - the likes of ESPA, Elemis, Aesop