Skincare advice for sensitive skin in your 50s and anti-ageing

[AlwaysRoomForGin]

Wise MN, I'm early 50's, need some advice re skin care please. I've been religious with my care routine since early teens: cleanse/tone/moisturise/eye cream & in late 30's introduced serums pre moisturise as well.
Since late 40's my previously normal skin decided to become sensitive! Annoying when I want to do what I can to minimise aging. I can't even use Vit C more than 1 or twice a week without my skin burning - I've tried persevering as I read that sometimes this can happen initially, then settle but all that happens is mine gets progressively redder & redder, more and more sore, scaly patches which flake & peels on repeat. I haven't dared to try and introduce retinal/ol as figured this would be even harsher.
During the day I switch between cream or gel cleanser and at night usually a cream to remove makeup, or cleansing balm. I use bioderm miscellar.
I prefer to use a gel or cream based serum pre moisturiser in the day and at night an oil based serum. Serums wise I've tried Erborian, Rituals Bakuchiol & also their niacinamide, MediK8, Tatcha, Beauty of Josean (which didn't irritate but didn't seem to do anything particularly either) From previous advent beauty I got on well with Votary Brightening Narcissus and AHA Dermalogica Biolumin Vit c at night but the price tags are £££! The Santuary 10 in 1 or overnight version seem to be ok as well.
I prefer moisturisers in a pump dispenser if possible rather than pot formation. Ideally I would like a separate night cream to day and something to help with the dreaded turkey neck. I've used Trinny's The Elevator and quite liked. Prai did nothing for me.
Should I bite the bullet and pay for a consult with an aesthetician or dermatologist or can you help please? Thanks

Like you I have moisturised since my early teens. I was keen on outdoor pursuits and my mother encouraged me to start. So 50+ years of hardly missing a day. My skin has always been sensitive; I use Australian Bodycare teatree facial wash, Simple toner and Simple moisturiser with SPF, topped up with Nivea Facial SPF50 for sensitive skin. I use a vitamin C serum twice a week and St Ives scrub, gently, twice a week. I have no wrinkles and my skin is plump. A few small areas of pigment around my jaw, from sun in the 1980s when high factor sun cream was SPF3.

Hi OP. A dermatologist consultation is worth it at this stage. A prescription retinoid at a very low concentration properly introduced often works better on sensitized skin than OTC retinol. If you're interested to know more = (ingredient-wise), bakuchiol is genuinely a sensible alternative in your situation. It works through a different mechanism to retinoids & is significantly more barrier-friendly. For brightening without the vitamin C irritation, tranexamic acid & niacinamide are much better tolerated on sensitized skin & address the same concerns through different pathways. For the neck, a peptide-rich formula with palmitoyl tripeptide-1 used consistently makes a visible difference. Hope this helps!

This is me. I have been focusing on skin barrier repair and I use snail mucin from coyrx which has really helped. I have stopped using vitamin c and now use a niacinamide instead (byoma brightening serum). Then I use a thick Korean gel moisturiser at night to hydrate. SPF every day and a simple gel moisturiser in the morning. I use my led face mask every other day as well.

i always used to have bullet proof skin and genetics have been pretty kind but I decided in my late 40s I was going to get on the tret and vit c and all the anti aging stuff and went too hard too fast. I then decided to try some Korean skin care but again, threw the kitchen sink at it.

skin has calmed right down now. Not fully healed but getting there. I may look to slowly add in some bakuchiol in due course or possibly very slowly restart my medik8 retinal (I have an almost full tube) but am letting it all settle first.