Skin care for beginners

[ShrinkingMama]

Good morning everyone,

After having two children I'm now in a phase where I'm starting to take better care of myself. I've lost 2st this year and I've made more time for some exercise and health care.

My next issue to tackle is skin care. I am 37 and still use the same face lotion as I did as a teenager. I now often find myself applying a second layer as it doesn't quite feel enough.

No wrinkles yet but I'm sure they're on their way! I never wear foundation, I hate the feeling of anything heavy sitting on my face. I wear eye make up and if I have spots I'll use a bit of a concealer. I don't even use SPF 🫣

I do have dark rings under my eyes due to still being in the thick of it with having small children. And I do get some spots, mostly white heads. I've started using a little exfoliating sponge recently to hopefully help with that but totally open to other suggestions. Also exfoliation tops for my arms? They're always a bit bumpy somehow.

Does anyone have a good starting point? Any SPF recommendations, any lotions? Should I be using a different cream for day and night now? Any eye patches that may work for my dark circles (I know more sleep would work but you know...)

Thank you!

So all I use really is micellar water to clear eye make up at the moment and a simple moisturiser. And sometimes the cognac sponge.

What sort of budget do you have because really the sky's the limit! 😆

Assuming you don't want to spend a fortune there are some good fairly inexpensive brands you could try out that can be purchased at Boots or Superdrug.

Byoma
The Ordinary
Inkey List

All the above do a range of cleansers, serums, actives and moisturisers. It sounds like you need a richer face cream as your skin is maturing but not so rich it breaks you out more. So maybe try a gel cream or a water cream for more hydration. Or maybe one that has peptides in it for added plumping.

You could also try a hyaluronic acid serum before cream to add an extra moisture layer - The Ordinary do an inexpensive one.

A brightening eye cream might help dark circles a bit - I find Sunday Riley Auto Correct to be a good one but it is on the pricier side. I don't really get dark circles though so others may have better suggestions.

For body exfoliation I keep meaning to try Naturium Glycolic Body wash for bumps. It seems popular but I don't know how well it works.

https://www.spacenk.com/uk/bath-body/body-cleanser/body-wash/the-smoother-glycolic-acid-exfoliating-body-wash-MUK200037923.html

I really like Korean Beauty SPFs for daily face use as they are very lightweight and moisturising. I'm using The Beauty of Joseon SPF 50 at the moment. I also like Dermatica's SPF 50 (not K beauty but still a nice one). Ultra Violette is another nice sunscreen brand but a bit more expensive - travel sizes are available to try out though.

I saw a dermatologist who recommended Cetaphil Spot Control Pro cleanser to control the whiteheads plus a cheap moisturiser containing 0.2% silver, and it has worked an absolute treat. Then a basic hydrating SPF in the morning. I'm a similar age with slightly oily skin.

I use Medik 8 UK company with easy to follow regimes. Been using them 10 years.

Try the Dermatica tretinoin, or from Monderma. It's the gold standard anti-ageing cream for nighttime use.

Also include vitamin C in your morning routine. Those are the main two skincare ingredients.

Heliocare is an excellent SPF50.

@Ygfrhj That sounds good! Can you tell me what moisturiser and SPF you're using? Really intrigued by 0.2% silver!

The silver moisturiser is by CisDerm, I use that in the evening, and the SPF is Neostrata Clarify which is a bit pricey. I've noticed a huge improvement since following this routine.

If you're doubling up on your moisturiser use a richer one. I use Nivea Q10 as my old Nivea moisturiser wasn't doing much and my face felt dry.

I use a hot cloth cleanser at night and a normal face wash in the morning.

Marks and Spencers do a really good eye cream

https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-eye-cream/p/hbp60706637#intid=pid_pg1pip1g2r1c1

For the arms, moisturise twice a day. I get those, it does have a scientific name, but found using body lotion twice a day really does help.

I tried retinal (both face and eye cream) and came out in an allergic reaction, still have the patches of irritated skin under my eyes(and worse lines than before so I hope they go once the skin is better). So it isn't for everyone (although it's praised no end on here).

Thanks everyone, sorry for the late reply - busy half term here somehow. I'll slowly work my way through your recommendations 😊

Thank you. I haven't got a specific budget in mind but considering I'm currently spending maybe a fiver a month I don't want to go crazy either. I will definitely have a look at a gel cream or water based cream, that sounds very good. I also like the look of the body exfoliating stuff.

I didn't even know silver in skin care is a thing. I'll have a look at that thank you!

Thank you, I will have a look at this!

I thought the same about the moisturiser - I double up more often than not now which seems silly. What do you mean by hot cloth cleanser? I will try moisturising arms more. It's actually better in summer, maybe because I use more moisturiser, I had always thought it might be the sun.

Thank you, I have tried a vitamin c serum before but it was very sticky. I will have a look at another one.

So do you use the SPF before or after the vitamin c? I wonder whether I can find a combination thing so I can do it all at once.

This is the most famous hot cloth cleanser https://www.lizearle.com/cleanser-200ml/NN1021.html but I'm using one from Superdrug (comes in a green box) as its cheaper. Aldi do a dupe which is really good but it's not always in stock (and isn't a standard product).

I'm the most basic with skin care and have to be careful as I have sensitive skin.

The other thing you could use on your arms is this, it really helped me when I had the spots/bumps on my arms. Then a really good body lotion afterwards.

https://www.thebodyshop.com/products/tea-tree-skin-clearing-body-wash

Thank you, that's really helpful! I've ordered the hot cloths cleanser and thy had a nice offer to include a toner and eye cream.

I'm also basic and while I want to make some changes I don't want to go over board. My skin is a bit bumpy and needs some care, but the routines with 25 steps and a million products aren't for me. I will try cleaning more thoroughly and try and find a better cream, maybe with vitamin c and an SPF.

Good luck with it! I really like it, but can't always justify paying for it so go for the cheaper ones.

QVC often do good deals on it too so if you find you like it you can often get good offers there. Sometimes it comes with moisturiser as well.

I am in complete agreement re cleansers - I am constantly surprised by the reliance on water, micellar water or even just regular soap people are. I have religiously cleaned my face, with a proper cleanser, since I was 16 and I am very very grateful to my mum and sister for instilling that into me.

A cleanswer like the Liz Earl one is a great choice. There are loads of other similar ones at different price points from the Sali Hughes or Elf ones at the lower end to the Elemis ones at the higher end.

Some sort of exfoliant to get your skin smoother is probably also a good idea. Brands like cerave, la roche possay and neutrogena all do good ones that you could use in the shower a couple of times a week. Something with salicylic acid is generally highly recommended like this one

If your skin is naturally dry, yes, it will be worse in winter. So a richer cream will help. I'd also recommend a good serum. I love the Clarins Double Serum as a once-and-done sort of thing. Moisterising, adds glow and reduces dullness etc. But it's quite pricey.

Vitamin C is also a great first step. I have used The Inkey List (good intro one - very light), Body Shop, The Ordinary and Murad and I have heard fabulous things about Medik8. Or as a starter option, look for a vitamin C moisteriser/SPF which you can apply over a regular moisteriser in the day or just use alone. L'oreal, Simple, Olay all do ones that are quite good I think - but with different textures so it depends on what you like. I find the l'oreal one too oily, but I like the Simple one.

I'd definitely upgrade your night cream. something with peptides in. I like this one

Once you have a better routine going, it's worth then considering adding a retinol or looking at what issuse you still have tha tyou specifically want to address. But getting the basics right is, I think, essential.

Ordinary Vitamin C 23% is a must. 30% was too high for me and made my skin itch and tingle.

I loved the 30% in silicone. But they stopped making it. Am devastated!

Oh did they! That was lethal lol

It was like a skin primer it smoothed my skin so nicely. But yes, I did have to get used to it!

Face, you have to start slow and then build up. This is going to take about six months minimum!
PM

1. Start to double cleanse on a night. Oil based cleanser (I like both Byoma) followed by a water based cleanser (Byoma jelly is fine - no fragrance or exfoliants in this step)

1. Nice easy serum to boost skin barrier like Byoma light blue

1. Moisturiser and light eye cream. no fragrance just hydrating look for ceramides.

Get your own face cloths, I use old muslins. Change daily.

AM

1. I just wash my eye lids with water based cleanser and pat dry. You don't need to wash your face in the morning.

1. Same serum

1. Moisturiser (can be same, mine is)

1. SPF

Do this for two weeks.

Then add a bit c serum for AM step 2. Do this for 2/3 weeks.

Then add an aha/chemical exfoliant for two nights a week at least three days apart) make sure it's applied on a dry face. And if it irritates you can wash off after 10 mins or apply over barrier serum and under moisturiser.

Do this for a month. You shouldn't get spots but you might need to see through some tightness.

Now add a light retinoid, an oil or serum. Build up slowly one night a week, then two. At this point your skin might go mental temporarily. Build up to a retinoid, every night apart from the two nights you use chemical exfoliant.

When that product runs out , go up in retinoid serum strength and try retinol evening eye cream. Repeat slow application process.

Then start on tretonoin. You need a tiny amount. Go slow and spf religiously. I do face, neck and hands.

Final step. Feel smug and admire skin daily! A facial oil is also nice (spend money on these, they rest doesn't have to be spendy) and do face massage when you can be bothered.

Body: get the inkey exfoliant stick. That will sort out your arms (and feet and ingrown hairs). Exercise and sweat regularity. Epsom's salts in the bath and scrub skin vigorously with your face cloths (I do this with the ones I've used for my face before i wash them). Use any body moisturiser you like.

A lot to remember!

I tried a few things before finding what worked for me. If you’re curious about more “luxury” options, I came across Celestolite Reviews online while researching products with interesting ingredients. Worth a look just to see what others thought. I also didn’t know the order to use stuff like acids and moisturisers, so watching a couple of YouTube routines helped loads with that part.