Dehydrated and textured skin, any anti-aging skincare tips

[Aveen0]

I feel like my skin has drastically aged past year or so and I’m so down about it. I took this picture outside whilst sat waiting at the bus stop, and my skin looks quite haggard.

I’m only in my twenties yet have so much texture and finelines as well as an overall sunken look. I’m on the thinner side but not underweight. Tbf I’ve always had icepick scarring and larger pores due to history of bad acne in teens

Current skincare routine…
AM:
Rinse with water, apply la roche posay spf 50

PM:
Micellar water to remove spf
Cleanse with Simple cream cleanser (feels creamy and hydrating, doesn’t make my skin feel tight at all)
The ordinary matrixyl & HA 10% serum (this peptide has some research behind it)
Aveeno oat gel (makes my skin feel so soft, very gentle)

Two or three times a week I apply medik8 crystal retinal, not as strong as tretinoin but I’m new to retinoids and I feel my skin looks too dehydrated anyway so I don’t want to overdo actives.

I have significantly cut down on alcohol and don’t smoke. Try to get at least 6-7 hours sleep in weekday and around 8 hours on weekend

I don’t know why my skin looks so haggard compared to average people my age. Many have worse diets, drink more and socially smoke

You don’t mention water intake, which is a big deal. Also genetics; what does your mum’s skin look like? I would get a good facial and go from there. Your skin really doesn’t look bad to me.

Ah good point sorry, I have always had very good water intake. I don’t really drink much fizzy drinks or anything either

My Mum has always had beautiful skin, and looks younger than her age. She’s always been big on spf but she never suffered with acne or eczema whereas I have history of both. Not sure if relevant but I have PCOS too she doesn’t

My Dad is a big drinker and doesn’t wear spf unless on holiday but even he has aged well.

I’ve never actually had a facial before, do tou have any recommendations? I’ve heard of hydra facial, is that any good

I honestly am not seeing what you're seeing in this photograph. I am not seeing that you look sunken/ haggard nor can I see fine lines. But obviously you know your skin better yourself and if you've seen a change in the last year to moisture levels etc - can you think of something that has changed - could it be something to do with the PCOS do you think?

Try vit c serum

Thank you
Can’t think of any major changes, I don’t know if pcos can cause skin ageing however it can cause acne. Luckily my acne is mostly in remission but it was pretty bad when younger.

With my history of bad acne it left some atrophic icepick and boxcar scarring but doesn’t explain why my skin has become especially haggard in past year when acne hasn’t been a big issue.

Thank you, do you have any vitamin c serum recommendations

I could be wrong but I’d once heard vitamin c skincare products aren’t very stable and can degrade quickly. I appreciate formulas may have improved since then though

I’d add more hydration in. I’m also not seeing haggered awful skin in that photo.

my routine and I always get compliments but skincare is my me time is as follows and I totally appreciate it’s ott! I also have monthly hydrafacials with dermaplaning which are wow! I also use an led facemask 2/4 times a week.

am
cleanse with balm cleanser - apply and leave on as a mask in the shower. Rinse off then follow with a hydrating face wash.
tone
essence
eye cream
vit c serum (tatcha at the moment)
a medik8 hydrating serum
moisturiser
sun cream

pm.
balm or oil cleanse
face wash
toner
essence
eye cream
hydrating serum
(retinal once a week)
moisturiser

I think your skin looks lovely, not haggard at all! Have you been under a lot of stress recently because that can affect how you see yourself without anything actually having changed? If my skin is feeling particularly dry I love using a face mask. I’ve tried the really expensive ones but actually prefer the garnier masks which are only a couple of £.

Garnier do a good one! Or I'm currently using the inkey list one x

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was a teen when my periods stopped for a year but they went back to normal after that, I always had very oily skin. Just a thought regarding moisture - but do you think the retinal etc may be too drying? I'm 50 now and my very oily skin has only just started to dry a little over the last few years and that's the only time I've noticed fine lines appearing - (obviously I have other kinds of lines!) it's been really strange after so long not having to moisturise much or just use a very light one but the last month or so I've been diligent with slathering moisturiser on and covering every part of my face with it - but the appearance of fine lines has definitely improved to my surprise. Just a thought, for what it's worth.

And secondly stress - it's amazing how this can take a toll on your appearance - can you think of anything which may be causing you stress that you've just not thought about and got on with but may be taken a toll you're not entirely conscious of?

I had a hydra facial about 4 weeks ago and I’ve loved the results. I thought it felt a bit strange with the suction and water but my skin loved it and the results have lasted.

Kindly, you’re only in your 20s. Please stop looking at filtered images of women’s faces on social media and instead look around you. Your skin is fine.

If you are drinking enough water and staying hydrated I would suggest baby botox and low-strength tretinoin instead of retinal. It should be similarly well tolerated but more effective.

Otherwise you look great for someone in their twenties. Your skin looks perfectly okay.

This is what my skin used to look like a year and a half ago, is it normal for skin to age so rapidly

My eyes have more sunken dark circles now, overall less ‘fullness’ to the face and a lot more prominent fine lines on forehead and undereyes

i appreciate the comments saying my skin looks okay, but it has been upsetting to see such a quick decline in my skin

I don’t yhink I’m pressured by social media as I barely use Instagram but many women irl who are in their 30s have far better skin

Would help if I attached pic