What do I need to add to my skincare routine?

[rockymtngirl]

I’m turning 40 this year and am trying to step up my skincare. Currently using:

AM:
- cleanser
- eye patches
- day cream
- an anti-aging eye contour cream

PM
- miceller water
- cleanser
- anti-aging eye contour cream
- night cream

In the summer I’m diligent about sunscreen but I know I should be adding that daily all year long. I need to find a great one that layers well under makeup. I have a retinol toner but haven’t used it in a long time and am not sure if it should be part of am, pm, or both?

What else should I be looking at adding? I have fairly normal skin. My problem areas are redness on my cheeks, under eye bags / darkness, and forehead fine lines.

[gummybear]

Def wear sunscreen every day. I like Cerave daily lotion AM with sunscreen.

IMO the most bang you can get with a single product is Tretinoin which you’ll need a prescription for. No OTC product will work as well!

[sweetiesparkles]

What kind of night cream do you use?

Definitely vitamin a in evening and vitamin c in morning with spf 30+.

[devonpow]

Exfoliation, specifically chemical exfoliation. I really like these: bluemercury.com/collections/skin-care/products/m61-powerglow-peel

[VillainV]

Definitely SPF. Does your day cream not have that? Many do. If yours doesn’t, it might be worth looking for one that has SPF in it. I find those work better on faces. You’ll still want to make sure you’re using something with SPF on your chest, neck, hands, etc. I like Neutrogena.

[rockymtngirl]

Jan 2, 2021 14:16:29 GMT -5 sweetiesparkles said:

What kind of night cream do you use?

Definitely vitamin a in evening and vitamin c in morning with spf 30+.

Just a basic anti-aging night cream. Is the vitamin a & c something I buy separately or as part of a cream?

[rockymtngirl]

Jan 2, 2021 14:26:55 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Definitely SPF. Does your day cream not have that? Many do. If yours doesn’t, it might be worth looking for one that has SPF in it. I find those work better on faces. You’ll still want to make sure you’re using something with SPF on your chest, neck, hands, etc. I like Neutrogena.

No, it doesn’t. In the summer I use neutrogena sunscreen but I need to just start adding it everyday.

[jaycee]

I personally wouldn’t use the eye patches, micelles water, or anti-aging eye cream. Keep it simple. Anything you use on your face can cover the eye area. If you are dry, no need to cleanse in the morning too. A good routine is:

Am:
Moisturizer with SPF

Pm:
Double cleanse with oil based makeup remover then face wash
Tretinoin
Moisturizer

Some people also use vitamin c in the morning to prevent free radical damage but I do not use that. My dermatologist told me to use the above. He said the only thing clinically proven to reverse signs of aging is tretinoin (vitamin a).

Tretinoin is the brand name for retinoid. Retinoid is the more powerful, potent big sister of retinol. Retinoid requires a prescription and comes in three strengths while retinol is in many products over the counter. Unless your skin is very sensitive, use tretinoin.

[rockymtngirl]

Jan 2, 2021 14:18:34 GMT -5 devonpow said:

Exfoliation, specifically chemical exfoliation. I really like these: bluemercury.com/collections/skin-care/products/m61-powerglow-peel

Thanks! I’ve seen recs for chemical exfoliation before here but feel pretty lost with all of the option.

[rockymtngirl]

Jan 2, 2021 14:37:48 GMT -5 jaycee said:

I personally wouldn’t use the eye patches, micelles water, or anti-aging eye cream. Keep it simple. Anything you use on your face can cover the eye area. If you are dry, no need to cleanse in the morning too. A good routine is:

Am:
Moisturizer with SPF

Pm:
Double cleanse with oil based makeup remover then face wash
Tretinoin
Moisturizer

Some people also use vitamin c in the morning to prevent free radical damage but I do not use that. My dermatologist told me to use the above. He said the only thing clinically proven to reverse signs of aging is tretinoin (vitamin a).

Tretinoin is the brand name for retinoid. Retinoid is the more powerful, potent big sister of retinol. Retinoid requires a prescription and comes in three strengths while retinol is in many products over the counter. Unless your skin is very sensitive, use tretinoin.

Lol. This post is confirming my hunch that I should be visiting a dermatologist or medical aesthetician to get a complete skin care routine from. It’s all so confusing for me.

[waverly]

I would continue the eye cream for the bass. For fine lines I would see a dermatologist.

Apparently the redness of my cheeks was broken capillaries from exfoliating. But I stopped exfoliating and they are still there but better. So I think for that you need to find the root case then treat, so again ask a dermatologist.

[rockymtngirl]

Jan 2, 2021 15:51:08 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I know I’m an outlier but I live in a northern climate and definitely don’t do daily sunscreen in the winter unless I’m going to be spending a significant amount of time outdoors. I don’t see daylight most days.

Haha! Yes I’m the same! I go to work and come home in the dark during winter. However I do have outdoor supervision twice a day so there’s that...!

[goldengirlz]

Jan 2, 2021 15:17:41 GMT -5 @hiphopanonymous said:

More is not better. Don't go adding stuff just for the sake of adding stuff.

Use sunscreen. Reapply it throughout the day. That will likely help the redness and you can't really undo aging but you can prevent the damage.

This. Also, I’m not convinced that most over-the-counter creams are anything more than fancy moisturizers.

I’d second the rec to see a dermatologist. For fine lines, you’d probably be better off adding a bit of Botox for about the same price as you’d end up spending on high-end products.

Under-eye bags are from collagen loss in your cheeks, making your eye-pads more prominent. The only way to address them is to add some filler. (That’s an expensive solution but no topical eye cream or patch is going to reverse collagen loss.)

[wanderlustmom]

Yes I am 46, I will say a few things help my skin the most. I've found it's not products at all, it's behaviors. Definitely not opposed to products but I would prefer not to use botox or have cosmetic surgery as I would rather use that money for trips. I know this is unconventional advice.

SPF, a lot of it. I do live in GA and we get a lot of sun. My favorite is Coola. And get a lot of sun, get out every day. Vitamin D is so good for you
Lots of water.
Exercise every day. I look better and healthier after a workout.
Get 8 hours of sleep. Nights I don't sleep, I look worse.
Limit my drinking. I love to drink--but too many cocktails show on my skin. I did the Dry January last January and my skin glowed.
Reduce stress. When I have a good therapy session, my skin looks better. Same if I have good date with my H. Or good sex or a good yoga class

I know I sound like a complete idiot, but I'm convinced it's not the product it's the life

[shopgirl07]

The only thing you *need* is SPF. And, yes, you should be wearing it everyday regardless of weather or anything else. A good one that is great under makeup is Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.

That said, I’m 47 and the product that has made the biggest difference in my skin is vitamin C. It makes my skin so bright and glowy. I use it every morning.

[al dente]

Jan 3, 2021 12:33:46 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Jan 2, 2021 15:17:41 GMT -5 @hiphopanonymous said:

More is not better. Don't go adding stuff just for the sake of adding stuff.

Use sunscreen. Reapply it throughout the day. That will likely help the redness and you can't really undo aging but you can prevent the damage.

This. Also, I’m not convinced that most over-the-counter creams are anything more than fancy moisturizers.

I follow a derm on instagram, and just watched a video where she said to use vaseline for undereyes if you have dry skin because eye cream is just way overpriced thick moisturizer.

I would add sunscreen, and vit C at the beginning of the day. From what I've read sunscreen is always the number one thing recommended.

[freshsqueezed]

Jan 3, 2021 17:04:54 GMT -5 shopgirl07 said:

The only thing you *need* is SPF. And, yes, you should be wearing it everyday regardless of weather or anything else. A good one that is great under makeup is Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.

That said, I’m 47 and the product that has made the biggest difference in my skin is vitamin C. It makes my skin so bright and glowy. I use it every morning.

What vitamin c do you use? I’m not seeing any difference with the one I’ve tried.

[shopgirl07]

Jan 3, 2021 22:16:58 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

Jan 3, 2021 17:04:54 GMT -5 shopgirl07 said:

The only thing you *need* is SPF. And, yes, you should be wearing it everyday regardless of weather or anything else. A good one that is great under makeup is Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.

That said, I’m 47 and the product that has made the biggest difference in my skin is vitamin C. It makes my skin so bright and glowy. I use it every morning.

What vitamin c do you use? I’m not seeing any difference with the one I’ve tried.

There’s a few that I’ve tried that I’ve liked. Right now I’m using Drunk Elephant. The texture isn’t my favorite but I think the results are very good. I also really liked Sunday Riley, loved the texture and got instant brightening, though not sure if it was as good for fading dark spots. I’ve also been using Tatcha’s and I really like the texture and brightness. Haven’t used it long enough to know if it’s good for dark spots. 

I hated the one from Peter Thomas Roth so that’s a no go. I’m interested in Paula’s Choice so I may try that one next.

[NewGirlNic]

SPF for sure. And not a moisturizer that has sunscreen. You want a separate SPF in order to get the correct coverage protection. I like Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, as it works well as a primer too. I've been using it for years. I use my HSA card to buy it and usually get a couple when they have a 20% off sale on their site. (I also use it on DS in the summer, as it's the only sunscreen that doesn't break him out) 
I have heard good things about EltaMD as well. 

I would recommend seeing a derm or esthetician for recommendations. I stared getting regular facials about 3 years ago (haven't been since February, due to COVID) and it made such a difference in my skin. The esthetician I see was able to give me some guidance on products and wasn't pushy on the stuff she sells in her spa (Tuel Skincare, which I've tried some of the products and loved)

I always recommend SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic to anyone and everyone. It's done amazing things for my skin. It's pricy, but Dermstore runs sales sometimes. It is worth every penny, and 1 bottle lasts me around 6 months. I use about 4 drops every morning. 
www.dermstore.com/product_C+E+Ferulic_5230.htm

[Aloe Vera]

The best thing for your skin is a moisturizer with SPF 30 minimum in it (I really like Paula's Choice as they are super lightweight) and drinking a lot of water.

[kittenponypony]

I use a great high SPF Japanese sunscreen called Biore Watery Essence. It’s very thin, lightweight, and instantly sinks into your skin without any residue. It’s so much better than any of the American ones I’ve ever tried, I think they have advanced sunscreen technology in Japan compared to here

[CloudBee]

SPF. Your list looks very comprehensive.

I'm nearing 40 and moisturize morning/night, but use the same lotion. I don't like heavy night creams. I add in a BB cream with SPF as part of my makeup routine.

If your skin is at all sensitive, I would caution you against adding extra skincare steps "just because you're getting older". I find that the more product I use on my skin the worse off it is.

[IndiaInk]

Jan 4, 2021 13:02:09 GMT -5 kittenponypony said:

I use a great high SPF Japanese sunscreen called Biore Watery Essence. It’s very thin, lightweight, and instantly sinks into your skin without any residue. It’s so much better than any of the American ones I’ve ever tried, I think they have advanced sunscreen technology in Japan compared to here

I use this too and I cannot recommend it highly enough!  I buy it on amazon and it's very reasonably priced.  It doesn't have that chemical sunscreen smell or feel that American products have.  I too have heard that Japanese sunscreen technology is much more advanced than the U.S. and it's evident in this product.  www.amazon.com/Biore-Aqua-Watery-Essence-SPF50/dp/B071H7P3T8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=biore+watery+essence&qid=1609784422&sr=8-1

[twilightmv]

Botox!

[achi]

I'd swap your day moisturizer for one with SPF as so many have already said.

Also I find serums make a huge difference. I have one that's hyaluronic acid based that I alternate with a vitamin c based one.

[foundmylazybum]

Dysport and microneedling

[mrsukyankee]

Jan 2, 2021 14:38:03 GMT -5 rockymtngirl said:

Jan 2, 2021 14:18:34 GMT -5 devonpow said:

Exfoliation, specifically chemical exfoliation. I really like these: bluemercury.com/collections/skin-care/products/m61-powerglow-peel

Thanks! I’ve seen recs for chemical exfoliation before here but feel pretty lost with all of the option.

I have rosacea, so have that 'redness' and I have to say that chemical exfoliation is something that makes it VERY much worse. There are some gentle chemical exfoliators which are better for rosacea, but if you are experiencing redness, I'd actually talk to a derm before using anything that might harm your skin.

[mrsukyankee]

Jan 4, 2021 13:02:09 GMT -5 kittenponypony said:

I use a great high SPF Japanese sunscreen called Biore Watery Essence. It’s very thin, lightweight, and instantly sinks into your skin without any residue. It’s so much better than any of the American ones I’ve ever tried, I think they have advanced sunscreen technology in Japan compared to here

This. I would agree that Japanese and Korean sun care is far superior for the face.

[raangoli]

Jan 5, 2021 10:49:38 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Jan 2, 2021 14:38:03 GMT -5 rockymtngirl said:

Thanks! I’ve seen recs for chemical exfoliation before here but feel pretty lost with all of the option.

I have rosacea, so have that 'redness' and I have to say that chemical exfoliation is something that makes it VERY much worse. There are some gentle chemical exfoliators which are better for rosacea, but if you are experiencing redness, I'd actually talk to a derm before using anything that might harm your skin.

Any recs for the exfoliator you use? I have rosacea (which honestly surprised me as an Indian woman - I didn't realize it until the derm said it was!).

I need to go back to the derm, but I am waiting because I am generally avoiding non-urgent medical appointments. 

[mrsukyankee]

raangoli, Dermologica Daily Microfoliant is one that I use. Very gentle. I have also used 5% lactic acid from the Ordinary. I would use it 2-3x a week. I'm going to be trying out Azelaic acid next as I've heard very good things about it.