Weigh in on my new potential skincare routine (created with Chat GPT)

[ChoosingMyOwnRandomUsername]

So I uploaded my photo to Chat GPT and it correctly estimated my age (39) and then analysed my skin pretty accurately.

It mentioned dryness, very early fine lines, minor uneven tone and darkness under the eyes. And said no dramatic action needed but serious hydration, barrier support, brightening and early/preventitve anti aging needed. We then had a whole discussion and came up with the below routine...Chat GPT did the heavy lifting, with direction from me to stop it suggesting £80 products (nope, not right now!) or too many steps.

What do you think of the below? Any glaring mistakes/omissions? Would really like any opinions.

The tallow was a bit of a wild card and solely initially suggested by me just because I want to try it, which GPT grudgingly built in. But everything else seemed to make sense, I think!

AM

• Cleanse: Micellar water
• Serum: The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% (Vit C)
• Moisturiser + SPF: CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 30

PM

• Cleanse: Micellar water → Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser 200 ml
• Hydrating serum: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum 30 ml
• Active: Geek & Gorgeous A‑Game Retinal 0.1% Serum 30 ml (upgrade to 0.2% later, eventually to Tret)
• Moisturiser: CeraVe Moisturising Cream 340 g jar
• Optional night occlusive (replaces moisturiser occasionally): Fierce Nature Pure Organic Tallow Nourish Balm – Unscented 100 g (apply lightly to dry areas only)

Personally I am not a fan of micellar water on dry skin but ok in the morning I guess. I would use a balm cleanser at night instead.

I would think something with a little exfoliating would ve good. Maybe a few times a week. Sp.perhaps.swap morning micellar for something with salicylic acid 1-2 x per week.

It’s not a bad routine, I used the Geek and Gorgeous retinal before I started tret and found it worked well; I also rate their vit c serum. Moisturiser I think is very dependent on how your skin responds, CeraVe tends to leave me with blackheads/clogged pores but many people rate it, and I like their cleanser. I’d recommend using the retinal every other night at first until your skin acclimatises to it, then maybe 1x night using a gentle exfoliating toner.

But on the whole, looks like a good routine for incorporating actives and not too fussy or expensive!

I’d drop the miscella water.

am you probably don’t need to cleanse unless you feel oily/sweaty. Just rinse your face with water.

Vitamin C - I’d change The ordinary for Inkey List or Naturium if you don’t mind paying a bit more.

Cerave - excellent choice.

PM - ditch the micellar. If you wear make up then double cleanse. I personally use Inkey List Oat cleanser but Geek & Gorgeous is also good.

I’ve never bothered with hyalauronic acid as it’s in my Cerave moisturiser anyway along with niacinimides. Instead I’d consider adding a peptide serum (Geek & Gorgeous do one if you don’t want to pay too much.

and I’d ditch the occlusive and use an exfoliant twice a week. Byoma Mandelic & lactic acid is very good at your budget.

in terms of moisturiser if Cerave doesn’t work for you (I love it) then try Aveeno, Geek & Goegeous or Byoma

Another vote to loose the micellar water. I don’t find it cleans very well and can be quite drying. I love the Nip + Fab peptide cleanser, it is gentle enough for removing mascara as well.

I always recommend Nip+Fab as my skin has really turned around but you need to find what works for you. I would say don’t change too much all at much, give products time to work. If I recommended one product it would be the Nip+Fab peptide finishing oil for making a visible difference to my skin, brighter, glowier.

That’s interesting as I love Cerave moisturiser but didn’t get on well with any of their cleansers.

Cerave do a hydrating cleaner which is good, I only use it at night and stick with water in the morning. I find micellar water dries my skin out

@Comefromaway The CeraVe cleanser I really like is the hydrating foaming oil - it’s not really an oil cleanser, just a gel, but it cleanses well without drying.

I would also ditch the micellar water and an exfoliating tonic after cleansing.

I’ve tried two different ones. I’ll have to look which ones.

Your routine looks good and balanced for dryness and early fine lines. Vitamin C in the morning, retinal at night, hydration, and daily SPF are all strong choices.

Just start retinal slowly (2–3 nights a week) and rinse off micellar water at night. Use tallow lightly only on dry areas. Overall, it’s a solid routine.