Skincare tips for looking tired and older after having my second child

[Purplestarballoon]

Hi all,

Ive recently noticed in pictures that I seem to have accelerated aging. I was lucky enough to have quite good skin and look young for my age previously. Even after my first child I look at pictures and I still look youthful with quite nice skin. I had another child last Spring and I just look so old now.
My skin looks dull and wrinkled, skin tone is uneven and pores large and my eyes look tired plus I can’t lose weight (although that’s another topic).

I don’t wear a lot of makeup and I always use spf30 during the day and a night moisturiser after I’ve washed my face. I’ve experimented with different cleansers and serums and all sorts but I’m cautious with them as I don’t want to use a bunch of things that counteract each other. Plus I don’t have a huge amount of disposable income (or inclination to spend it on creams for my face!).

I know having two kids and working is stressful but I’m just surprised just how rough I look in the last year I can barely recognise myself.

Anyone been through similar or got tips for a good skincare routine for a late 30s mum 🫠

thanks!

Lots of sleep, lots of water and good skin care regime. Medicube masks will give you a glow back. Maybe supplements and extra iron in your diet. I think as an older mum this time round, hormones play a part in this and well second born children are just…..wild!
im starting to think this happens to most people - literally age overnight , but its just more obvious after having a second child as you are already aware of how tired you feel/look. x

The only thing that will make any meaningful difference to your skin is wearing SPF every day and tretinoin. Good sleep and hydration also helps. When it comes to ageing everything else is expensive BS.

I'm the same age with two young children and I would say add a Vitamin C serum under your SPF in the morning. I don't use anything expensive..... currently I'm using the Garnier one but it does seem to have helped my skin look brighter.

Continue with the SPF..... that's the most important thing.

You could consider an acid toner to exfoliate your skin at night before you put your night cream on. Look for an AHA/BHA toner and just wipe it over your face. Don't do it every night.... I do every other night and if you're using retinol in your night cream don't do an acid toner on the same evening you use retinol as it can be too much for your skin.

Then the boring stuff.....eat your skincare. I have sworn by adding more nutritious food to my diet. Eggs, avocados, various nuts, olive oil, sardines, salmon, bone broth, plenty of water etc. The bonus is it makes me feel better inside and out.

Op there is no product that can fix this, I’m sorry. Ignore any suggestion that say it will. It has to start from the inside, and that’s full hydration, min 3 litres of water a day, well rested, and a clean and healthy nutritious diet, with good rest, and doing enough exercise to get the blood pumping.

Thanks all. I guess it’s inevitable but I will definitely look at my diet and hydration as everyone has suggested x

If you don’t already do so, organise a weekly veg box, and eat at least three times more fruit and vegetables than you have been. Plus all the other things @GameOfJoneslists. You’ll see a difference in three months time, I promise you.

https://www.riverford.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOorKZfd1VPFjpG5oUCeJ3xitDclu_g5Z5qSm_zpNR7rJ-nZmoFGD

(You really want the app, but I can’t link that.)

Hi there. If you're looking into skincare= hydrating serum with "hyaluronic acid & glycerin" (applied to damp skin before your moisturizer), niacinamide 3-5% in a simple serum (tackles dullnes/ large pores/uneven tone), & maybe consider a gentle "retinol or retinaldehyde" 2x/wk for fine lines & skin texture. All of these exist at affordable drugstore prices with the exact same active ingredients as luxury brands.

Vitamin C (day) and retinal (night). Keep up the SPF. Lots of water and a good multivitamin. I also really like the Beauty of Joseon eye masks.

I find retinol irritates my skin but I use a vit c serum daily. I have fantastic skin at 48 but honestly I think its 99% genetics.

For glow, I would suggest tretinoin as it has helped me a lot. So here is my routine that I follow with that:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
la roche posay spf
Evening:
la roche posay moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel