My skin is disgusting

[Joker01]

I’m late 30s but look ten years older.

I have four deep lines on my forehead and huge bags with prominent wrinkles. My skin look sallow and dull and I get big spots.

I’ve tried everything. I eat well and drink lots of water. Current skincare routine:

AM
(I’ve tried washing and not washing in the AM as derms seem to agree on this)
Ordinary squalene cleanser
Curel moisture spray
Aveeno gel moisturiser
BOJ fact 50

PM
Ordinary squalene cleanser
either retinal (was using tret but can’t get it any more) or glycolic acid
curel moisture spray
Aveeno gel moisturiser
Peptides

Nothing changes, I still look haggard. Is Botox my only option? I don’t want filler under my eyes as I’ve heard it can be really bad. Has anyone found anything that works? I suspect it’s hormones as mine are a mess and I’ve been out on HRT but it’s a looooooong wait for a coil and they won’t let me have the HRT until the coil is fitted.

What can I do? I’m so embarrassed about my face that I’ve started avoiding looking at people.

Peptides are also excellent for stimulating collagen and elastin btw. Monderma includes them in their tretinoin custom formula base.

if you haven’t yet, try spraying magnesium oil on your feet at night right before bed! I rub a bit of it in first then spray a couple more times on my feet, I don’t rub the rest in. Put socks on to allow it to soak in

Also another thing that may help with sleep:
-try getting outside right away after you wake up and spend at least 20 minutes out there. Even if it isn’t sunny out, you are still absorbing some vitamin D and it allows your body to reset itself
-do some kind of physical activity within the first hour. Doesn’t have to be for long but at least to get your heart rate up
Doing these first thing upon waking should help a lot with resetting your circadian rhythm

Hi do not eat banana before bed! It will keep you awake as it is histamine producing.

i get melatonin from piping rock, gummies. Try them. Definitely try magnesium oil spray on your legs at bed time.
have you had a blood test?

sleep is so important hope you get it sorted.

I always get compliments about my skin, even from my dermatologist. I always had problem skin from being 14-40 huge breakouts etc, so I never put any creams , treatments or foundation on it. As soon as it cleared up I tried these and found washing with products, creams serums and foundation all made it worse, duller and drier. I can only conclude most products have a negative effect.

Cake is the answer for sure or chocolate. Put weight on plumps it all out that’s what I’m doing tho 30 years older than you. At least that’s enjoyable x

There’s a name for this type of washing machine thinking. I know exactly what you mean. Re your skin. Invest - if you haven’t already - in stuff that moisturises. Then a little bit of make up for the day. Lots of helpful videos on Facebook re brows, skin tints, cream blush bit of lip balm.
I use the BBC sounds books. They are an hour long- currently on episode 3 of Thursday Murder Club. Heard about 2 minutes of each episode but just go to the next one. Worth a try! Hope you feel better soon.

I also think you might be using too many different things - I was similar myself a few years ago and my skin now looks much better since I simplified my routine

It’s scary to stop using it all as you think your skin will get worse but for me it worked.

Decent SPF and double cleansing to remove makeup at night are essentials though.

I use Zoe Bee Gold moisturiser, seen it recommended in here a couple of years ago, its ingredients are quite basic but I love it.

Is it genetic perchance? Some folk seem to blessed with great genes and others alas do not, have you tried supplements, collagen , omega, for example? X

Have you tried collagen? I’ve just started taking this myself so it’s early days but there are good reviews although I realise everyone is different.

Botox and red light

OP IM 47 no HRT honestly magnesium and nutiment perimenopause powder supplement was a game changer for me in about 72 hours! Been on it month had one bad night !

Hydra facials are brilliant, and if you did want filler under eyes find a doctor clinic that does this there are loads near me I’m north west uk. Never by a beautician.

Have you tried collagen? I got some sachets in a beauty box and they definitely improved my skin! Keep meaning to buy more but then forget.

Pipingrock website sell melatonin gummies. I'd recommend ordering the kids 1mg ones and taking two of those f an hour before sleep. My large adult son only needs 2mg, 10mg seems an unnecessarily large dose to me.

You are just born with good skin.

It’s possibly not the answer you want but nothing has ever made me look as young and refreshed as Botox did. It’s worn off now but I’ll do it again when I can afford it. It honestly took years off me.

I rarely cleanse my face, just with water in the shower. I put moisturiser on if it feels dry. If I cleanse it all the time it just dries out.

I would recommend getting a good face scrub as it can really brighten up your skin.

It sounds like you're giving your a face a pounding and it's bringing you out in spots. I used to leave my face for a week to rebalance before putting anything on it.

I apparently look ten years younger...

I resonate with this. My insomnia started (post trauma) when I was in my mid-twenties.I tried everything, over the years. Some things worked for a while. Other things didn't work at all. The thing that, mainly, worked the best was deciding not to care. Recently, the thing that's worked best is use of "story tapes" in my ear. Using narrative to fall asleep absolutely does work.
But you have to know yourself and know what narrative/which story will engage your interest and allow you to surrender. As soon as you surrender to the tale, you will fall asleep. Honestly, truly. This really works.

OP, would it be worth stripping back your routine for a few weeks to give your skin a break? e.g.

Bioderma micellar water (if your skin feels congested)
Cerave hydrating cleanser (with a flannel if not doing a precleanse)
Byoma gel moisturiser
a mineral spf (think this is good for sensitive skin - I use Hero forceshield)

@Realitysucks Would you mind linking the perimenopause powder that you're using?

Can you try and go for a treatment?

A hydrafacial will give you instant results usually. Makes the face glow and feel alive again. They also might advise you on particular products you could benefit from.

My skin was the same. The best things I’ve found to help have been microneedling and an LED mask - seems to have really cleared up since doing these.

I know it’s not always seen in a positive light but a few sunbed sessions can really help with the spots etc

I’m sure sleep will improve when you start HRT. I had issues sleeping between those times and was typically in a deep sleep at 5-6am. Then felt horrendous as I needed to get up.

My hormonal spots subsided after starting HRT too. I found gradually my skin has improved. Sounds like you’re doing many good things exercise and fresh air wise.

I believe as little as possible for your skin is best. I am 31 and have always been complimented on my skin. All I ever use is pure coconut oil to remove makeup, a little bit of sunshine, drink plenty of water and if my skin is dry I use E45. Sleep is very important also.

You sound too healthy to be true. Have a coffee and a chip butty and stop worrying so much. A bit of a treat won’t do you any harm.
Maybe you’re just getting fixated on your skin when no one else would see a problem. Most people have lines on their foreheads, I always have, but everyone is so smooth and shiny nowadays we think that’s the norm when it isn’t.

I have fillers, around my mouth and, botox around my eyes Surprisingly my forhead is good. I am 60 this year and cannot believe it. I am still young in my head. I don't have a face that looks like it's been ironed, but l do like what l have done...l don't look 21, but l don't look 60 either....l would give anything to turn back the years, it creeps up on you before you know it.... You should try a bit of botox if you don't like it, don't have it done again.As long as you don't overdo it, you will be pleased with the results. It is entirely upto you. Enjoy your live, it goes ever so quickly....

I think stripping it back to cleanser and moisturiser is a great place to start. It sounds like your skin isn’t liking some combo of the products you’re using. I highly recommend Dr Sam’s Cleanser and moisturiser.

Also, I know these are expensive treatments but Botox isn’t the only option for more ‘serious’ options. A friend of mine does routine micro needling and hydro facials and she looks like she’s had Botox. Might not be for you but just wanted to add there are other options!