Skin care advice please! I’m clueless

[JBJ]

Hi. I’m mid 40’s and have no skincare routine at all, aside from a cheap moisturiser most mornings (an Avon one with spf) and extra sun cream in the summer. I rinse my face with water in the mornings, wash it with Dove soap in the shower and do very little else. I only wear makeup on special occasions, though I am good at removing it with wipes when I do!

Started to notice I’m getting the occasional spot breakout on my chin and dry patches on the side of my nose, my eyebrows and near my ears, so I think I need to up my game a bit!

I don’t want to be spending ages each day doing things, as I’m dreadful at sticking to routines, but any recommendations for a good daily moisturiser would be helpful, and maybe something I could do once or twice a week to improve my skin. I haven’t got many wrinkles, so not overly concerned about anti aging stuff.

Thanks in advance!

Hi

I’d recommend stop washing your face with soap. It’s drying. How does your face feel after using soap? If dry and tight, I’d use something else.

I personally find any kind of wash off cleanser drying. I prefer balm/cream cleansers or micellar water, followed by a toner.

What’s wrong with your existing moisturiser? There’s nothing wrong with cheap, spf is key which is what you’re already doing.

I’d try changing soap to a facial cleanser first. Introduce one product at a time, so you know what works.

I mean there’s a lot you could do. I like this mask as a twice a week thing.
https://www.sephora.co.uk/p/Lumene-Nordic-C-Valo-Fresh-Glow-Brightening-Gel-Mask-150ml?curr=GBP&utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Redbrain+Ltd&awinid=22773&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=176013&awc=22773_1747088605_f678f6f9f0998831eea8195d7b0a4aaa

It feels fine when I get out the shower, it’s all I’ve done for years, but noticed recently that I’m getting dry flaky bits no matter how much moisturiser I use, which is why I’m questioning if my moisturiser is good enough.

Thanks. I’ll give that a go

With a few spots and some flakiness, I'd try a BHA. I'm using this, you can get a small size to try:

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/skin-perfecting-bha-liquid-exfoliant/m2010.html

I haven't gone up to twice a day as they say, more like every other.

I also use soap on my face and prefer it.

A mask is probably the last thing I'd add unless it is addressing a particular issue you have.

As a pp said, change one thing at a time and see how you go.

The spots are possible related to peri-menopausal hormonal changes. Your dry patches sound symmetrical & like seborrheic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema that usually appears around the hairline, eyebrows, ears & sides of nostrils. I used to suffer quite badly from it when I was in my early/mid-30s, & started to use Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, which comes with a muslin cloth to (very gently) exfoliate. It's never really returned since then, & I still use both Liz Earle Cleanser & Toner (love the smell of the whole range!). Sometimes I use their moisturiser too, but usually use the Simple one with green tea extract & an SPF, as make-up goes on perfectly afterwards (I wear it daily). The SPF is the important thing. My skin has also become a bit drier of late, post-menopause, so I've been mixing a few drops of The Ordinary's hyaluronic acid serum in with my morning moisturiser. I'd also recommend moisturising before bed too (after cleansing), as well as mornings.

I’m just go with a really simple cleanse and moisturiser routine. If you like to keep it easy you can get something like Cerave bottles with a pump like a liquid soap so it can sit on your sink side or shower and so no more complex than your current routine. I had exactly the same issues as you a few years ago. My routine was very amateur and I never took my makeup off but since I’ve been cleansing more I have consistently much better skin. Most high street brands have different formulations for different skin types so it’s a case of choosing that which bothers you the most but bare in mind anything that is supposed to tackle spots may dry your skin more. Look for products which non comedogenic (ie don’t block pores)

The keys is to double-cleanse your face. Korean skincare is really effective and kind to your face. Try an oil cleanser followed by a gel cleanser. Finish with a moisturiser like this https://amzn.eu/d/7r29W8J And then SPF in the AM.

I was in your position in February. Since then I've started using mostly Medik8 products and I've noticed a big difference. I particularly rate their crystal retinal and Press and Clear tonic. In the evening I also use micellar water and a cleanser before using the retinal. My skin is much clearer. I only started using Press and Clear recently and it's cleared up some small spots on my chin.

Thanks all, few products there to look at 😀 I’ve always been lucky that I’ve had good skin with minimal input, but peri-menopause seems to be buggering that up, along with the rest of my body! The gift that keeps on giving 🤣

Here goes my routine if you would be interested:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
Garnier spf
Cicaplast
Evening:
LRP moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel