50 year old v v dehydrated skin

[Phunkychicken]

Can someone just give me an idea of what my routine should look like ? I literally have all the gear and no idea.

i thought my skin was dry but realise it’s dehydrated, was using skin and me with 0.06% retinol but my skin is v sensitive and flaky so had to stop. Before this was using oils /balms and my skin was still dry, it just sat on top and blocked my pores.

i have hyaluronic acid (beauty pie and avene) but doesn’t seem to hold moisture in, and I just end up with things pilling and coming off my face.

also stopped vitamin c (inkey list one) as think that with retinol was too much.

Thanks

No idea but Placemarking as a 30 something with dry and sensitive skin, tips needed in general!

Look into the “7 skins” method which is a Korean skincare routine. It involves applying layers of product to the skin and patting it in until absorbed. You start with the thinnest consistency (such as the Curel mist) and layer up with your moisturiser as the last layer. I can do 7 layers with different products because I’m a skincare junkie, but there’s no reason why you can’t just use a couple of products and repeat them. Lab Muffin did a YouTube video about it.
Also, check out Caroline Hirons, her book and facebook group are very informative.
Don’t forget sunscreen, I apply f50 every day - my favourite is by Bioré and you can get it in Superdrug.

I cleansed with micellar water on a cotton pad and used La Mer moisturiser. It’s straightforward and takes zero effort. I gradually added things to the routine but this was my go to for a few years before I could be bothered to research

whats your diet like? My first thought is you are putting too much on, give it a rest for a bit and use a hot cloth cleanser and simple moisturiser.

How do you know is dehydrated rather than dry? Do you drink enough water. It’s difficult to recommend because what works for one does not work for another. Hyaloronic acid is pretty useless I think though. I also tried the Korean method and it didn’t help me. Have you tried applying retinol over your moisturiser until you get used to it? You have to build up slowly- start maybe 3xs a week then increase gradually. Stop if your skin is red. Or if you definitely cannot use it, add the vit c back in and try using it twice a day.

im in my late 40s and my skin is dry, I’ve finally found a routine that works for me. Evening: cleanse with cereve, apply tretinoin (I use dermatica which includes tret and other stuff for hyperpigmentation), then skin ceuticals vit c, then liz Earle super skin moisturiser (which I love and is great for sensitive skin). Morning is the same but minus the tret and I use a seperate spf as the last step. I always wait 15-20 mins for the spf to set before applying make up.

Around my eyes I use Shiseido benefiance eye cream then apply tret 3 xs a week over the eye cream. Then slug (apply a thin layer of Vaseline). The skin around my eyes was terrible before and this is really helping.

Using this routine, my skin is finally hydrated. You have to stick at it though, you can’t expect results immediately and you’ll still have days when your skin isn’t as good (probably hormonal). If you have damaged your skin barrier with retinol, avoid all actives for quite some time until it’s fully recovered.

Diet isn’t great but have gut issues (I have EDS so have many issues), also had melanoma and bcc on face so am v v strict about spf.

i tried just cleansing (Cicaplast cleanser) and moisturising but its just not enough, I need layers to get moisture in. Its like I have no skin barrier.

had a facial yesterday evening and skin felt amazing but even by bed was dry and sore in parts again.

i think I have seb derm on forehead/nose folds too so have some dercos shampoo on the way

What are you washing with? You could be desiccating your skin before you even get started.

How hard is your water? When I wash in London (very hard) I need lots of moisturiser all over, but when I was in Yorkshire (very soft) I often don't bother. The difference in my skin is extraordinary.

Are you on HRT? It can help.

*had a facial yesterday evening and skin felt amazing but even by bed was dry and sore in parts again.

i think I have seb derm on forehead/nose folds too so have some dercos shampoo on the way*

I had similar many years ago. It got worse and worse, eventually referred to dermatology... Turned out I was allergic to common ingredients in the products I was using to try and relieve my skin sensitivity and dryness! So I was actually making it worse.

When my skin was terrible - really dry and flaky - I used The Ordinary Aloe and NAG serum morning and night and my skin was transformed in a week. Now I use Cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser, L'Oreal Revitalift Laser serum and Tula Bright Start moisturiser. I have found hyaluronic acid and vitamin C containing skincare far more beneficial for my skin, once I sorted out the dryness and flakiness. Retinol did nothing for me other than make my skin really dry.

Stop using any products on your face. Just the old fashioned vaseline before bed and leave it on all night. Wash face with just water.
Drink loads of water all day and eat an orange every morning (if you can)

Try it for a few days - see if your skin feels better

I'd not touch retinol if you face gets sore.

I have a really simple method and (say it myself) my skin looks fine.

I've used spf 50 religiously for 30 years. Every day- Ultrasun face lotion.

I use a dirt cheap cleanser 'Pure' from Waitrose or sometimes Take the Day Off balm from Clinique or Elf do their own version- all unperfumed.

I cleanse twice and finish with a warm wet facecloth.

I use Olay Regenerist (cheap from Amazon) , some serums from Evolve Beauty (all organic and made from plants) , and that's it. I recently tried Boots no 7 Future Renew night cream which is nice but not much different to Olay.

Occasionally Clinique Moisture Surge overnight mask.

You need to feed your skin from within.
Oily fish 3 times a week, almonds, avocado, other nuts, green veg daily (contain Omega 3) and seeds.

You could also try other products from Cerave that are for dry skin, or brands like Eucerin.
Are you sure this isn't eczema?

I'm in the same boat and it's interesting how you can pile on layer after layer of cream and your skin still feels dry.

I find being careful on the cleansing front helps. I just use warm water in the morning and then at night a Japanese cleansing oil called Softymo to take makeup off and then Dove soap. Warm water only not hot.

Use a spray like Curel moisture spray or the Loreal hyaluronic toner, then whatever serums you use (prescription retinol would be good as it exfoliates as well as does the anti aging stuff. You don't need it every night. Renew+Me do one for our age and peri/menopausal women). Or any other active serum you like on non retinol days. You can also use a facial oil but not on its own as they don't hydrate the skin. I sometimes use Athletia. In the day I use a Vitamin C serum.

Then a really basic moisturiser with no scent. This can be anything and no need to spend whatsoever. I'm using my son's huge pot of Zerobase cream which he had for eczema.. I used it as he left it here and it is amazingly effective! I notice the difference between any other cream now as its the only one that means my face isn't dry the morning. You can actually use it in the day too as it absorbs well.

Exfoliate a couple of times a week so products can get in. I use the Ren glycolic mask but any chemical exfoliant is good. Or even those scrubs but I'd only do that once a week.

Hormones affect everything though at our age...

Thanks. I did try the nothing but water and Vaseline but didn’t work at all, I think I need something ‘wet’ next to skin for Vaseline to work.

I have realised that a lot of my face spfs have alcohol in, I’ve not put any on yet today and my skin is feeling ok. So I’ll see if I can find any alcohol free ones

Vaseline won't do anything as it just sits on the skin. Use an emollient like Zerobase and see the difference. (I used to use La Mer..Zerobase is so much better and its £11) And don't strip your skin using hot water or frothy face washes (apart from Dove soap at night which as we all know is 1/4 moisturising cream!!)

I’ve tried epaderm, cetraben and excetera as we’re a v allergic family but still doesn’t do it.

i think I’m going to treat this as a medical problem rather than a beauty one, and I think allergies are a good call. DS had horrific eczema as a baby and despite immunotherapy still has awful food and pollen allergies. Which I think was inadvertently making worse using ‘natural’ things made from oils of plants he’s allergic to

I tend towards both dry and dehyrdrated skin.

The most important thing I've found is, somewhat ironically, cleanser. All the editors and influencers say cheap and cheerful cleanswer an dspend your money elsewhere. I feel the opposite. Good, properly gentle cleanswers re the way forward for me.

So balm cleanser all the way. I use the Farmacy one becuase I love. I do not use the Elemis one because I know I will love it and it is crazy expensive. I actually started down this path however using almond oil as a cleanser and it worked really really well and my skin felt a lot better for it.

Hylaronic acid is great, but it's definitely a short term fix. It doesn't do anything for your skin long term. So I use it sometimes if my skin is feeling especially dry, and when I started using retinol I applied it over a layer of a HA serum then moisterised after with a HA moisteriser AND I only used retinol once or twice a week for a long time. I also always seperate vitamin c and retinol - retinol at night, vitamin c in the morning.

A really good night cream might help you. I use the Neutrogena hydra boost range and have always been happy with those. I am also considering next winter buying the Laneige face mask night cream - I tried a sample and really liked it.

I have also found that in winter when my skin struggles more, I quite like to use a Clarins day cream - I don't like them all year round but I find them good in winter. I usually buy ones with SPF (see below).

Definitely no SPF with alcohol. In fact, buy a moisteriser/SPF in one. You can use it as a moisteriser if you like, but you can also use it on top of your regular moisteriser. On the cheap and cheerful side of this, Simple does a surprisingly good one with vitamin C which I keep in my car and bag and put on TOP of anything else.

If you wear make up,and even if you don't, I have found the Bobbi Brown Vitamin enriched face primer an excellent final layer that makes my skin feel less dry. I routinely use it under make up but sometimes just if my skin is feeling especially tight.

But really, my top tip is the first oen... be very very careful what you use to clean your face. Start with almond oil if you want to experiment, but if you can afford it, go down to Space NK and smell all the beautiful balm cleansers then choose one you like.

I think you should consider using a good moisturiser like the one I use from la roche posay. And also use micellar water. So here is my routine that I follow with tretinoin:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face and micellar water
Sebamed clear face gel,
LRP spf
Evening:
LRP moisturizer,
Started with Tretinoin (0.025) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

It’s ££ but was the only thing that gave my parched skin a reset

www.boots.com/bareminerals-butter-drench-restorative-rich-cream-50ml-10217599?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwRiGa-UwLRNFsyxPzZTd2pyj&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5IGJ0aqqjAMVP5NQBh04JjsEEAQYAiABEgJHs_D_BwE

I love the Bobbi Brown vitamin primer!

Are you putting your hyaluronic acid on damp skin.?
If you don't it doesn't work as well.

As above, I just use the thick Nivea before bed but put onto my face when it's wet. But mostly, drink a lot more water!

HRT and drink plenty of water and no alcohol.
I like LRP riche moisturisers.

In 40s with dry sensitive skin (with roseacea). Cetaphil skin wash, avene skin soothing cream and le roc posay spf and I’m sorted!

Try Astral ( blue tub…Superdrug). It is truly AMAZING for very dry skin.