Suddenly aging

[BumpedmyElbow]

I'm a 41 year old white woman. I've been quite lucky so far that my skin is fairly clear, no major problems. I hardly drink, don't smoke, use a bit of suncream but generally not someone who likes or spends time much in the sun. I probably don't drink enough water. I eat a healthy diet. I get as much sleep as I can but I have two young children... one of whom asked me the other day 'mummy, what are those lines on your forehead?'. I do agree with her that I am suddenly aging more, possibly partly more noticeable as I have recently lost a little over 10kg. So far, my skin routine has been that some water goes on my face in the shower. I know myself, I am never going to cleanse, tone, serum, moisturise etc. I reckon I might be able to persuade myself to put on one product regularly. I dont want to spend more than £20. What would you recommend?

Drink more water, go to bed an hour earlier, keep your £20.

https://www.boots.com/cerave-am-facial-moisturising-lotion-spf-50-for-normal-to-dry-skin-52ml-10311334

I would go for something like this with a factor 50 in it. It’s lightweight and goes well under makeup - also Within budget at around £15 depending on where you buy it.
It also contains Vitamin E, Niacinamide and Ceramides which will improve texture and help your skin look brighter.

Don’t forget to apply daily even when cloudy and do your neck as well as your face.

I’m 39, white and also lost weight semi recently and suddenly look a lot older. Two relatively budget, non invasive things that have helped is retinol (I tried tret, but I’ve actually found the Ordinary 1% retinol which isn’t prescription and far cheaper more effective as the tret was too drying I think) and adding a couple of tanning drops to my moisturiser. I’m also being far more diligent with factor 50 even if I’m not going to be out in the sun. I’m also finding the tan drops and then adding a drop of foundation to moisturiser far more flattering to my skin than a full application of foundation.

Some people are lucky and have lovely skin despite no skincare routine.
most people need to put some effort in. I’m 42. I do cleanse & moisturise twice daily, put on some vitamin c under eye cream and some hyalironic acid at night. In total takes no more than 8-10 minutes of my day. Nothings going to get rid of the wrinkles unless you get Botox. Some creams like tret might help.
I do get regular facial treatments- hydra facial, skin boosters or face peels which really do help. My skins better now than it was in my 20’s.

I do really like boots no7 future renew products- their day/ night cream and serum.

@GoldDuster i fear you are right! I am a product sceptic. I think drinking more water (probably in the form of herbal tea) is realistic. I suspect i will need some therapy if I'm to get more sleep.... which will cost a lot more than £20

@Stickthatupyourdojo I dont ever wear any make up either. How do you apply the 1% retinol? Also what are tanning drops? I really don't use any products at all!

Thank you @indoorplantqueen. I admire your diligence but I just know i wouldn't do it. Teeth get brushed very carefully and interdental brushes etc but I know lots of lotions and potions and treatments is not me. I also don't mind aging or want to look not like me. Just one product as a token caring for my skin would suit me I think!

I imagine white women with a normal to low bmi not getting some kind of lines after 40 (sunscreen or not) is probably unusual. If you don’t want them to get worse then wear spf50, eat protein, take vitamin c and drink water so you can retain your collagen. To reverse them you probably need to see a dermatologist. Tret could work if they aren’t too deep.

@Thingyfanding thank you for the recommendation. These feels like a good fit. I do agree with you that being more cautious about sun exposure would be useful.

I have had the same - generally looked young then radically imo aged.

Tret sort of does something... and i cand o it as it doesnt require much effort but water sleep and acceptance are really where its at.

I think that a basic moisturiser followed by SPF is enough.
Aldi's Lacura Q10 is fine. Q10 Anti Aging Cream | ALDI UK

Bear in mind that you are probably about 10 x your children's age and will seem ancient to them.

I remember my grandmother's hands looking very wrinkly. Just like mine now.

I would get a good night cream and a day cream. Olay do some good ones.

Absolutely this. You're on to a winner if you've never used products OP, I'm convinced that the decades of daily stripping our skin and then re-applying the moisture with creams is what causes issues like rosacea. Then it just becomes a war of attrition.

I slept really badly last night and my skin looks like shite today. Besides the aesthetic considerations, there are many, many reasons why sleeping better is hugely important (easily as important as diet and exercise). I don't say this smugly - I've struggled with sleep all my life and have had to make massive changes to improve it.

Otherwise, eat plenty of healthy fat, protein and vegetables.

Also bear in mind that you're getting used to your face after losing a lot of weight. I lost about 15kg a few years ago and felt I looked haggard at first, then realised I was just not fat.

I would be cautious with retinols and similar as they can damage your skin barrier and do more harm than good (if you’re not careful) you need to be really strict with sun exposure and protection. For someone like you who wants to keep it simple, a nice factor 50 with some added bits like niacinamide will do the trick. Obviously, sleep, water and a good diet are important too - but you know that already.

I looked absolutely wreaked when I had small kids and I was in my late 20’s , early 30’s with 3 small kids. I think being an older parent can age you quicker or accelerate it. Only difference I’ve noticed is upping water, exercise and sleep!

@TheLeadbetterLife I completely agree with you! I think our skin is a natural system that takes care of itself with the right care for the body. I really believe this about lip balm. Our lips get used to it then can't look after themselves!

@Thingyfanding oh really? What does retinol do?

I agree with an above poster - don’t use retinols unless you are then going to be very strict about using sunscreen. I think a facial sunscreen would probably be the best choice if you wanted a product. But mostly just stay hydrated and eat a varied diet.

I use retinol 1/2 times per week at night and hyaluronic acid during the day. both of which were from The Ordinary and both would come to about £20 together.

The retinol can make your skin feel sensitive so less is better to begun with.

Keep up with the water. One thing I also do which keeps my skin taught is an ice mould you fill up with water and put in the freezer. You run in all over your face kind of like a roll on deodorant. What I do is massage the areas with lines on my forehead with it, to really relax any muscles there which may have been over used (frowning for example).

It's worth a try, only a couple of pounds online from places like amazon or shein.

Yeah, I've been completely dependent on lip balm for decades. Literally can't do without applying it for more than an hour, max. I have little pots of vaseline all over the house, and I panic if I go out and realise I don't have any on me. It's a crutch that started in my teens.

I also feel uncomfortable if I don't apply moisturiser to my face and hands, but I do think if I'd never started it would be better. My mum and nanna both have / had extraordinary skin and they just used soap, water and a bit of Oil of Ulay. I was persuaded by teen mags in the 90s that I needed to "cleanse, tone and moisturise" twice a day. I can't be fagged with it all now, but I still use moisturiser most days. A few years ago for some bonkers reason I tried hyaluronic acid and it fucked my skin right up. Took me two years to get on top of the rosacea it caused.

I live in a sunny country so I will wear SPF if I have to, but it's such a palaver that I prefer to avoid the worst sun hours, and wear a hat.

I’m th same age and don’t really have a skin care routine. I take my make up off with garnier micella water and wear a tinted moisturiser instead of foundation if they count.
but, I do regularly (like weekly or fortnightly) use a face mask - just a £1 sheet mask from Superdrug, and also have facials every few months. And drink lots and lots of water.

I’m older than you (mid 50s) and my skincare routine is wash off cleanser SPF 50 and cheap moisturiser. I’ve tried prescription tret and my skin never got used to it but other people have good results.
things that have worked are Botox, microneedling and laser treatments.

@BumpedmyElbow , @TheLeadbetterLife , lip balm. Our lips get used to it then can't look after themselves!
Many lip balms contain chemicals that dry the lips. Salicylic acid is one such ingredient. The balm dries your lips and you apply more.

Does Lip Balm Dry Out Your Lips? Dermatologists Weigh In

My addiction is 100% psychological, my lips aren't ever dry, I just feel like they are. I don't actually use real lip balms anymore, just vaseline and sometimes a tinted eco one with no spooky chemicals.

@TheLeadbetterLife , my addiction is psychological too. If I go out without one, my lips feel dry, but if I have some they don't.