Can I reduce my wrinkles at 56? No idea where to start!

[JustwhenIthought]

I’m 56 and have always liked my body - but not my face. I had bad acne in my teens and twenties and was self conscious about recessed chin, thin hair (helped by pregnancy and hrt)and sticky our ears (now fixed).

now in middle age the pressure is a bit less as the pressures of being young are over and I feel a bit more able to embrace my face.

but I have wrinkles and I don’t use anything except the Boots protect+perfect range.

i work, so I’d be glad even of a temporary boost for meetings.

what I’d like most is for my eyes to look more youthful but I’ll take all and any advice.

Sculptra, polynucleotides and some filler

You look good op! I wouldn’t bother about messing with what you do already unless you don’t like how it feels

Should I go to a cosmetic dermatologist?

Facial scrub, moisturiser, plenty of water to drink. MAKE UP if not already usually worn.

That kind.

i feel like - for the first time - i could enjoy my face.

That’s a point. Scrubs have always improved the look…..

Tinted moisturiser I just got a mini of erborian from boots. They’ve less of a shade range for it than with the big ones but it feels amazing and I can see how fab it would look if it was the exact shade that suits me. I wear it with le roc posay spf and max factor primer and a mac spray.

Holy grail eye cream cerave and nars concealer, hides black circles for me

I didnt think you look very wrinkly and you're looking down at the worse possible angle

My preference is a face lift and one day I really want one because while I dont have wrinkles, my face dropped when I was 49, thank you peri and I do have turkey neck

So I wont have any fillers or botox because if you have a face lift, they like to do it on a face thats had nothing done before.

Botox, retinol, lasers. I would also swap out your skincare routine as this is aimed at a younger age group. Lift and luninate or future renew would be better if you want to stick to number 7.

What’s your cleansing routine? Are you using any other serums or acids?

Face lift probably isn’t an option as my hairline isn’t great…..

They can do a face lift after Botox as it just goes away within 6 months. It's fillers that are the problem.

OP, I'd start with tackling the allergies and doing some stuff at home. I'd get:

a good exfoliant (chemical is preferable to scrub as it's less harsh)

maybe some home derma rolling (I like this one https://teresatarmey.com/products/skincare-at-home-microneedling-kit?srsltid=AfmBOorR-kPH8dBGlk_QJZG_xb-y1zYoQC5n0s-IvtpweRXg6vUZ-sfA)

A good red light mask https://www.dermalux.com/products/dermalux-led-face-mask?_su_rec=nJfS46ZavtGq6Pt2tJcXSraCWBhfeCuEWKvr-9YvRAD36s48yFbdwn2DNnUpjLMMDdC2TP1SZx6kLWxx_K-EIata3Hm0o-RA2lQYVsEHyMY4Xt5vR2YgVW-QeoIopVp0AsKBm1XL9v8YeXd5Skfo9s9f01Sjd-_R1PnwtYRUdWW4xyPTctAQnKyIWjU6BWPxUyiu6A6G508ys6tXq2pME7y_VnwoK32qL3YMwvVJFSvdVrOyWw8uICfmYHeB_W1Xl9BIsImNp2vaEAo&_su_rec_id=467d3b96-368f-4345-978c-9ccf17d629a4-1793557259

And a good skin regimen. I use this and really like it
https://theskindiary.com/pages/chapters?srsltid=AYCX9vLfANw5Sp99QQMtG3gAgsnW-aOl0PTNMDdph3q6h8BSVYAhIg5b&_su_rec=sjfG-YX21A6zsaj9k91pkSk34imB0vuWdPivzUDnRVW8vo2PeTsA5ppHzwVRO0Bwc43Uay-_SrHImVtW5sjm0ZTJxLmEPovwKd8l34qw3tfrYESAz8DmMs-XhevgrWE3NucBwi1Tscj1PGU_GxDap8hKo_poWO-bzVfqzcI_o1_9Xx73nxdXuFLJENNqqhuJ0UMMlZOlw9EDCv7bg8Ok8xyeY3OYli-5NV4HAO6H1Hz8LPCIBuNYGesTaPTuebcAFNvAAHoctoY&_su_rec_id=64eccc5c-2c7c-4302-9828-cd6707df1546-1793557308

Do this for a few months and see how you feel about things. And yes to exercise, a healthy diet and plenty of water.

OP I'm 49 and early this year I decided to make an effort to look after my skin better. There is evidence behind retinal (use in the evening) and vitamin C (use in the morning. I wouldn't recommend a scrub because it can cause irritation and disrupt your barrier (according to my daughter), if you want to exfoliate I recommend a glycolic acid toner (I use strips of muslin to swipe it over my face and afterward it feels just as squeaky clean and smooth as after using a scrub). Since I've implemented this I've had a few comments that my skin looks good, it looks more even and my forehead lines definitely feel more shallow.
I'd try stuff like that for a few months as well as maybe some light, natural looking glowy make up before resorting to botox or fillers tbh.

It is like using a wax crayon rather than a cream. It is a completely different approach to skin care. So i don't know about the claims per se except that it is something very different and it works.

I would go to a really good aesthetic practice.
They will put you on a journey to improve your general skin health and make you look fresher.
i think you might benefit from Sculptra, to boost the collagen quality and give you a lift. You could have Botox in your forehead and around your eyes.
Think about retinol and always use a good SPF

Thanks for all this great advice which I am piecing together.

I agree I am 50 my face doesn't look at all like those pics I must look 30 lol
Op looks like someone who may e has sunbathes alot and maybe smoked

I came on the thread to recommend No7 Protect+Perfect range, so you’re already on the right track. I’m 10 years older than you & started with the blue tube serum at your age, then at 60 changed to the pink tubes & am now using the grey ones. I think it’s a great range.

Can’t help with eyes as I don’t use anything on them.

You said you only found it recently. No skin care works quickly.

@Johntaylorschin do you use a moisturizer with the oil or just the rosehip oil on its own?

Op - a tinted lip balm may work better for you as it's more moisturising than most lipsticks and the colour can be built up or kept sheer. I like both burts bees and Nivea tinted lip balms.

By recently I mean six months ago. I'm 65 - recent is relative!

I wasn't looking for transformation. I am happy with how it's going. I used to suffer from dryness and feeling that creams i used to use were not penetrating into my skin. I kept having to reapply them during the day. I find that this balm makes my skin feel soft and it lasts all day.

Op firstly you need to look after your skin, tretinoin and sunscreen are absolute musts. You look a bit dry so a good quality moisturiser and hydrating serum will help with that and protect your skin from the strong tret initially. I would also have clear and brilliant laser sessions done to help with skin clarity and texture and LED red light therapy for collagen rebuilding and quality.

in terms of more invasive procedures, Botox in your foreheads, frown lines and crows feet, Botox your DAO, masseter and platysmal bands helps to tighten your lower face and prevent the downturned mouth and give you a smooth upper face. Also sculptra which is a biostimulator that build collagen NOT filler, I would have that injected specifically in your mid face to help support the loss of volume and soften your nasolabial folds.

if you wanted to go the whole hog, I would have an upper and lower facelift/neck lift and fat grafting to mid face with a lower blephroplasty to address your dark circles.

Now obviously you do NOT need to do any or all of this, but you asked what could be done to achieve a more youthful result and those are your options.

I don’t think you look very wrinkly. I noticed first that your skin was dull. I would look at a few micro needling sessions or laser (BBL) and the sculptra for tightening and a bit of Botox.

Op, you're pretty, and such full natural lips that 20 somethings would die for! You look good. It is difficult to stay looking in our 20s, but honestly you have nothing to worry about at all.

I’m mid 50s and have pretty good skin, what works for me is :
Botox every 5/6 months, I get it in my 11s and crows feet and around my mouth area, I only do mouth lines once a year.
Ive had sculptra - collagen injections and profhilo - hyaluronic Acid injections.
both give good results, particularly the profhilo but I found it quite short lived.
I use tretition, a high strength rentinal A 5
nights a week and vitamin C serum every
morning and SPF, I’m fairly recent to tret and it has unquestionably made a significant difference to my skin tone, elasticity and overall condition.
I also use a weekly deep skin moisturising mask.

Having tried and tested every brand on the market I now exclusively use Medik8 products they are pricey though.