Skincare advice please!

[waryandbored]

I am really struggling with skincare and don’t have a proper routine. I currently wash my face with a Simple cleanser, use a toning water and a Simple moisturiser with SPF in the mornings. I wear light make up every day.

I’m appealing to someone more knowledgeable than me to help me get into a good routine with decent products! I’m prepared to spend some money on this as I’m really fed up. I’ve spent ages this afternoon researching and gone round in circles about double cleansing, retinol, acids etc. If anyone has any advice or recommendations I’d be so grateful.

I’m almost 39, 2 kids in last 5 years. I had acne as a young adult and had a course of Accutane which helped for a bit but I still suffer with horrible cystic spots on my chin, which I think are hormonal. I have pigmentation from spots and rosacea on my cheeks. I have ingrown hairs and clogged pores on my chin. My skin feels dull and sensitive. It’s not dry or oily really, just tired and uneven.

I’d be so grateful for some thoughts on this.

I had exactly the same skin as you and started skin&me about 8 months ago. And honestly its changed my whole complexion.
I still use simple products and SPF. But no more acne, red sore spots or different skin tones.

I have no idea about your particular skin care needs sorry, but a good skincare routine is so important you are right. I got into high end skincare when I was 15 after reading Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire and have stuck with it all my life. I am 50 now and have fantastic skin and look young for my age.

It's not just your skin type, but the lifestyle you lead. I practically live outdoors, including being in an outdoor pool frequently, so with all that exposure retinols would be a really bad idea.

Why not book yourself a consultation with one of the skincare counters at a department store, like Lancome or Clinique for example? They would really be able to advice you about the right products for your skin type and lifestyle

If you can afford it I’d probably go with a Medik8 heavy routine, their Surface Radiance Cleanser and Crystal Retinal (either 1 or 3 depending on how concerned you are about your skin being sensitive to it) and a night cream (my favourite so far is the Laniege Cica Sleeping Mask but I know they’ve reformulated it since I last bought it). Then SPF in the day, every day, I like the Beauty of Joseon one available at Boots, I find it moisturising too. If your skin tolerated that well I’d consider adding in a vitamin c serum to your morning routine.

I’ve only just started taking care of my skin at 37 and I think I can see I difference, not in the fine lines yet but in the glowiness.

mornings:
beauty of joeson cleansing milk (sometimes forget this step - toddler and new baby!)
ordinary vitamin c serum
beauty of joeson moisturiser
spf

evenings:
beauty of joeson cleaning milk
the ordinary acid 2%
beauty of joeson moisturiser

also trying to drink more water and looking into supplements to help too - ordering freja bone broth supplement and possibly the starpowa collagen builder one when I actually remember to place the order!

try checking out QVC - it has great offers on Elemis, Gatineau and Liz Earle sets. It’s a step up from Simple but you can get deals much cheaper than department stores.

Sounds like you have combination skin. For masks, either look for something balancing to harmonise all the different areas or treat yourself to two - a purifying one for your tzone and a soothing one for your cheeks.

Elemis superfood range is fab in your 30s and smells lovely. You could try https://www.qvcuk.com/elemis-2-piece-superfood-cleanse-night-routine.product.257715.html?sc=srch then https://www.qvcuk.com/elemis-2-piece-superfood-night-routine.product.252047.html?sc=srch plus an eye cream. The superfood super berry mask is great for harmonising and brightening, but is trickier to track down these days.

mention the roseaca to your GP next time you are in - there are new great prescription treatments which are giving great results.

And don’t worry about toner - loads of beauty experts don’t use it because if makes their skin feel too tight!

Thanks everyone for your replies. I’ve ordered a few bits today so we shall see how I get on! I have tried a prescription gel from the GP for rosacea but it’s made very little difference unfortunately!