Suddenly look much older

[AleaEim]

I’ve recently had a baby and feel like I look soooo old, maybe it’s the tiredness or maybe I’ve been like this a while but wearing no makeup now at home, I’m noticing it more.

I’ve never been a beauty salon person so would love some tips on where to start on treatments that get rid of lines on forehead, crows feet and circular line around mouth/ cheek if you know what I mean, hard to explain it.

I wouldn’t be able to afford to go get fillers every month or anything like that so looking for low maintenance treatments.

TIA

how old are you?

I can’t think of any low maintenance treatments that get rid of lines tbh.
Daily (or 4/5 times weekly) retinol applied at night can help the appearance of skin, but does nothing drastic for the lines you already have ime.
Peptides applied daily are also supposed to help the skins appearance, but I’m not seeing much improvement.
A one off treatment of CO2 laser is effective, but apparently only for a year-18 months, and the recovery looks brutal.
I’ve spent a fortune on various lotions and potions over the last 12 months, I’ve not found anything especially magic yet. Interested to see if anyone else has suggestions for something amazing.

edit I say nothing low maintenance as my skin routine is now a seven step process before I can get out of the bathroom, all for very little effect!

It’s the tiredness, I looked older for the baby/toddler years and then started looking like myself again.

Yes as PP says its the tiredness! I've had success with improving my skin using skin + me, but this was for redness and spots that have always been an issue, but a bout of insomnia last autumn had me looking haggered again like the toddler years. Be kind to yourself it does get better!

It's stress plus tiredness. You aren't alone. Have you never noticed this with friends who have had babies if you haven't seen them for a while? It's really shocking sometimes - almost like freshfaced to bags under their eyes and wrinkles overnight.

The stress of caring for a baby into childhood and the responsibility for keeping it alive is one of the most aging things known to man.

You'd be looking at Botox for the forehead and crows feet, not exactly low maintenance.

I think those mouth/cheek lines are called marionette lines.

I think those mouth/cheek lines are called marionette lines
They are lip to chin, I think op means nasolabial folds or smile lines.

Yes they are called nasolabial folds, just googed, they’re so deep. It must be the tiredness, does it really get better? I’m 37 so can only imagine it getting worse.

Where would one start with Botox ? It’s expensive isn’t it?

i use retinol at night, and factor 15 in day cream. I don’t buy the expensive ones, should I? I also only wash my face with a basic face wash in the shower, I don’t use cleansers or anything. My skin is so so dry.

I'm a botox model which is much cheaper! See if any botox courses in your area are looking for models? It takes longer of course 'cause the students all have to have a go but a doctor will be supervising and they're all medical professionals on the course.

I wouldn't call it high maintenance? It's a couple of hours of my time including travelling, ever 5-6 months.

Face yoga is helpful and wakes up your face

You're low on oestrogen as you're postpartum. It'll naturally improve after about a year, no need to do drastic measures like botox.

I had all kinds of postpartum body changes like fairly severe hair loss, terrible flaky scalp and dry skin. It all got better between about 9-15 months postpartum both times.

I'm still underslept though!

Botox is the only thing that really sorts out lines, so don’t waste a fortune on other stuff, you’re better off saving up for that it it really bothers you.

But honestly- you’re knackered and it’s the end of winter, we all look a bit shit atm and you’ve got a baby, too! Be kind to yourself. Slather on whatever moisturiser you’ve got, put a bit of blusher/ gradual tanner on, do your hair and get some sunlight, you’ll feel loads better.

If you’re using retinol you should really be using a separate SPF of at least 30. I can recommend the garnier 50spf face fluid.

An oil or balm cleanser will really help with the dryness too.

Oh that’s a good idea. I do get my hair done by trainees actually so used to things taking long.

Give up sugar, noticeable improvement in about 10 days

Try the FOREO Bear. Less than £200, takes 3 minutes morning and night, painless and has definitely made a positive difference to my face, particularly the nasolabial folds.

You can't get much more low maintenance than botox. One 20 min appointment every 6 months or so and it's done.

There's not much you can do about nasolabial folds outside of a facelife (certainly not low maintenance). Filler maybe if you want to go down that route.

Really? So no treats at all ever?

What would a filler involve?

This makes sense. I actually have to go back on HRT or the pill at 6 months postpartum as I have an endocrine condition so hopeythings will improve then.

I never heard of these, just looked them up. They look great and you can get them half price on vinted, brand new!

Don't forget what people eventually look like a few years after regular botox and fillers..........it's not a great look.

I wouldn’t get Botox right now. Facial expressions are a huge part of the way you communicate with a young child.

You're probably a bit puffy and very much sleep derived. Don't look in the mirror so much, stick a filter on photos.

Eat healthily, drink water, sleep as much as you can, exercise gently and look again in 6 months.

Enjoy your baby.

Oil cleansing morning and evening, combine with a gua sha massage and voila. After a few years and if you make it a routine every day, no wrinkles! I kid you not and I am 46. Skin never gets dry and it cheap as chips, any oil will do. Someone said to give up sugar, I have noticed a very positive effect on my skin after doing this, it's cleared up completely, not sure if it's also having an effect on the wrinkles