31 yrs old and just now starting a skin care routine...

[jmc325]

Hi everyone,

I'm noticing that I'm developing these awful looking whiteheads on my forehead and the side of my nose. I'll embarrassingly admit that my skincare routine is horrible. I've always had clear skin, but I guess now that I'm in my 30's I need to do something to repair the years of not taking care of it. Can anyone give me breakdown of what AM/PM routine should look like? I have normal/sensitive skin.

This is probably silly to mention but... I have freckles and don't want to incorporate any products that will lighten them. Also because of stress I tend to loose eyelashes. How can I wash my face, but take care of my lashes? They tend to fall out quite a bit when I wash my face and that's part of the reason why I've avoided doing so regularly.

Please help a beginner out with any advice and product recommendations.

[gilmoregirl]

Do you wear any makeup daily?

[saz]

I think it is pretty normal to start up a routine in your 30s so don't judge yourself! I'm curious about the lashes thing... I don't wash my eye area when I'm washing my face. I use eye makeup remover on that area, or just a warm washcloth (not rubbing, just holding it over the area).

Tell us what you're doing now - are you washing? when? using what products and techniques? Do you use sunscreen daily? Wear make up? Put on any kind of creams or treatments of any kinds?

[jmc325]

Thank you for your replies (and non judgement )

I do wear make-up almost daily. Only eyeshawdow, mascara and blush. I don't wash my face daily with cleanser, but will at least do a towelette to get the make-up off. If I'm doing my full cleaning routine it's before bedtime- wash with YES to Carrots cleanser, KIKO eye make-up remover oil (using cotton balls to wipe off) and then Alba eye cream and YES to Carrots night cream. In the morning I just wash my face off with water and use YES to Carrots moisturizer that has some SPF in it. With the whiteheads popping up, I've exfoliated once or twice with a Burts Bees brand, but that hasn't helped at all.

Honestly, I try to use products that are cruelty free (Leaping Bunny approved) that's why I'm using so much YES to Carrots (and Burts Bees/Alba), but I'm open to trying different brands. If I have to invest in higher quality brands then so be it. The KIKO eye make-up remover is a random purchase when I was in Italy some time ago.

Regarding the eyelashes falling out, it would be so bad that I would have a bald spot on my top lash line. It would also alternate from my right to left eye. I went to see a dermatologist, but they said it was stress related. I will say it hasn't happened in several months, but I'm just weary about rubbing my eyes in any capacity because when it does happen I'm really self conscious about it.

[ElizabethBennet]

How hard are you rubbing your eyes? Are you using a waterproof mascara? I would soak cotton pads in an oil based eye makeup remover and hold them on your eyes, pressing it into your lashes a good 30 seconds before moving the pads at all. Then just gently rub your eyes. If that doesn't work, I'd try a tubing mascara. They don't flake, but come off easily with warm water.

As far as the other stuff. I'd start with a good double cleanse and then a good SPF (50+) for daytime. I'd use that for about a week and then slowly starting adding in other products.

If you want exfoliation I'd try an aha or bha. An aha will help with th fine lines and the bha will help with the acne. Do not start them at the same time though and make sure to add them in slowly. There are a lot of options at a lot of different price points.

[Pippin]

Too Faced makes a mascara remover that works pretty well. Mascara Melt Off. It's oil based and I brush it on, let it sit for a few minutes and then remove my eye makeup with Micellar Water. Not sure if they're still considered CF though. I also like to brush coconut oil on my lashes to condition them overnight.

[gilmoregirl]

You could start using Black Castor oil on your lashes and it will help them grow. I forgot about it until last month I decided to take a rest from lash extensions and realized how short and stubby my lashes looked. Now about a month later they are starting to look long again. I rub a little on my lash line each night with an eyeliner brush.

For skincare - I also recommend double cleansing. You can use an oil based cleanser to remove all makeup and sunscreen. Then cleanse with a regular cleanser. You mentioned breakouts, I am acne prone so for my oil cleanser I use Julep Bare face and then follow with Cetaphil's Foaming acne wash or Paula's choice Clear Face wash.

I would also make sure to exfoliate regularly. I see better results when I'm consistent. Paula's choice has a lot of great ones. I use the regular strength from the Clear Line it has Salicylic acid which can help prevent breakouts. And also their spot treatment. But you may not need that if you are only getting little whiteheads.

In the past I've used Murad Acne line but it can be pricey unless you find a good deal on a set. It eventually stopped worked for me and I found Paula's Choice.

Another option as well is Curology. You pay 20 a month and get a customized prescription to use. You have access to your doctor whenever via their messaging platform. I don't know if you need that though especially since you don't want to lighten your freckles. I had a lot of dark spots when I started and my goal was minimize acne and get an even skin tone.

The really good thing about Paula's choice acne line is you can get the trial size set. I did that before buying the whole set and it lasted a couple weeks.

If you are interested in PC, I'll be happy to give you a link to get 10 off(I get 10 too btw)

[jmc325]

Feb 17, 2017 13:57:26 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

How hard are you rubbing your eyes? Are you using a waterproof mascara? I would soak cotton pads in an oil based eye makeup remover and hold them on your eyes, pressing it into your lashes a good 30 seconds before moving the pads at all. Then just gently rub your eyes. If that doesn't work, I'd try a tubing mascara. They don't flake, but come off easily with warm water.

As far as the other stuff. I'd start with a good double cleanse and then a good SPF (50+) for daytime. I'd use that for about a week and then slowly starting adding in other products.

If you want exfoliation I'd try an aha or bha. An aha will help with th fine lines and the bha will help with the acne. Do not start them at the same time though and make sure to add them in slowly. There are a lot of options at a lot of different price points.

I wouldn't say I'm rough when rubbing by eyes, but I am using waterproof mascara. I've never heard of tubing mascara, but just looked it up and sounds like something I could really benefit from. When exfoliating, do I rub it in with my hands or do I need one of those wands like I've been seeing online? Really helpful information regarding the other stuff as well, thank you!

Thank you for the suggestion @pippin . Unfortunately Too Faced isn't CF anymore but I'll look into the Mascara Melt Off. I hadn't thought of coconut oil for conditioning, I'm going to start doing that as well.

[ElizabethBennet]

I personally prefer chemical exfoliants, which are what aha and bha are, to physical exfoliants. I find they ar much gentler on my skin when used correctly. These types of exfoliants you either put on with a cotton pad or pat in with your fingers.

I would also limit the use of waterproof mascara. That may be why you're experiencing the issue with your lashes.

[pandorica]

Feb 17, 2017 15:49:08 GMT -5 jmc325 said:

Feb 17, 2017 13:57:26 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

How hard are you rubbing your eyes? Are you using a waterproof mascara? I would soak cotton pads in an oil based eye makeup remover and hold them on your eyes, pressing it into your lashes a good 30 seconds before moving the pads at all. Then just gently rub your eyes. If that doesn't work, I'd try a tubing mascara. They don't flake, but come off easily with warm water.

As far as the other stuff. I'd start with a good double cleanse and then a good SPF (50+) for daytime. I'd use that for about a week and then slowly starting adding in other products.

If you want exfoliation I'd try an aha or bha. An aha will help with th fine lines and the bha will help with the acne. Do not start them at the same time though and make sure to add them in slowly. There are a lot of options at a lot of different price points.

I wouldn't say I'm rough when rubbing by eyes, but I am using waterproof mascara. I've never heard of tubing mascara, but just looked it up and sounds like something I could really benefit from. When exfoliating, do I rub it in with my hands or do I need one of those wands like I've been seeing online? Really helpful information regarding the other stuff as well, thank you!

Thank you for the suggestion @pippin . Unfortunately Too Faced isn't CF anymore but I'll look into the Mascara Melt Off. I hadn't thought of coconut oil for conditioning, I'm going to start doing that as well.

TF isn't cruelty free? Did this just happen? I've been basing my purchases off of this list, it would suck if it was wrong www.crueltyfreekitty.com/makeup/cruelty-free-brands-at-ulta/

When I asked about this a month or 2 ago, people suggested using the First Aid Beauty faves to go products. I just got them, so I don't have any advice yet.

[saz]

Oh yes, switching to regular (vs waterproof) mascara could really help a lot. I can't use waterproof. I also cannot stand tubing but I know a lot of people swear by it.

I know NOTHING about CF products so I'm not sure how helpful I am going to be, but I want to second the Curology rec. I use tretinoin from my dermatologist which is one of the ingredients you can get in your Curology. It has had the biggest impact on me in my skincare discovery I've been on since turning 30. I have always been into skincare but 30 was the turning point where I couldn't just slap whatever I wanted on my face and call it a day lol. Just beware there is a purging process with tretinoin (also true with AHA. Not sure about BHA) so you may find things get worse before they get better but IT IS WORTH IT!

[carrotsmakemefat]

Feb 17, 2017 14:27:45 GMT -5 Pippin said:

Too Faced makes a mascara remover that works pretty well. Mascara Melt Off. It's oil based and I brush it on, let it sit for a few minutes and then remove my eye makeup with Micellar Water. Not sure if they're still considered CF though. I also like to brush coconut oil on my lashes to condition them overnight.

Too faced is CF! If this changed it's new to me...I'm pretty spun up on these things. 

[Pippin]

Feb 22, 2017 10:19:37 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

Feb 17, 2017 14:27:45 GMT -5 Pippin said:

Too Faced makes a mascara remover that works pretty well. Mascara Melt Off. It's oil based and I brush it on, let it sit for a few minutes and then remove my eye makeup with Micellar Water. Not sure if they're still considered CF though. I also like to brush coconut oil on my lashes to condition them overnight.

Too faced is CF! If this changed it's new to me...I'm pretty spun up on these things. 

They've been bought by a parent company that isn't CF is the issue.

[carrotsmakemefat]

Feb 22, 2017 11:28:02 GMT -5 Pippin said:

Feb 22, 2017 10:19:37 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

Too faced is CF! If this changed it's new to me...I'm pretty spun up on these things. 

They've been bought by a parent company that isn't CF is the issue.

oh I see. So it's a matter of how strict your standard is then! Similar to Tarte when they were bought out by that non  CF Japanese company but the main brand is "CF" 

This stuff gets so complicated! 

[MrsAxilla]

I don't think SPF has been emphasized enough in this post. The best offense is a good defense! The number one, bestest, most important thing you can do at age 31 is commit to physical sunscreen and cultivate a love of hats. I wish my current self had told myself that at 31! I was all worried about avoiding hat hair instead of my skin. Oy! Here's a good post on sunscreen.  

[cosmowife]

Paula's choice also makes a 10% AHA weekly treatment. This stuff is a miracle worker. It smooths everything on my face so I bet it would take care of those whiteheads. I have super sensitive, dry, red skin and this stuff doesn't bother my skin at all.

[bluestreet]

Feb 23, 2017 0:43:35 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I don't think SPF has been emphasized enough in this post. The best offense is a good defense! The number one, bestest, most important thing you can do at age 31 is commit to physical sunscreen and cultivate a love of hats. I wish my current self had told myself that at 31! I was all worried about avoiding hat hair instead of my skin. Oy! Here's a good post on sunscreen.  

A world of ditto!