Recommendations for skincare routine (for female twenty something)

SmallTeapot

Hi all,

Hoping someone could offer me some advice with regards to adopting a skincare regime. One of my new year resolutions is to take care of my skin a bit better. I would like some advice with regards to establishing an anti-ageing routine. Hoping prevention is the best cure :P the fear of forehead wrinkles is real

I'm mid-twenties, female. I used to have mild-moderate acne prone skin, but that has settled down within the past 18 months, thankfully, and my face is blemish free. I rarely wear makeup (.....almost never).

I know that skincare products can be very personal - what could work for me may not work someone else.... However, even just general guidance on what products I could look out for or use, would be most appreciated.

I currently use a neutrogena cleanser/mask every day as a face wash - which suits my skin very well (link); I have settled on this product after trying loads of different cleansers. I used to have very oily skin but now I reckon I'm leaning more towards combination - normal.

And that's pretty much all I use, aside from sunscreen when there's sun outside. (I make sure also to drink water everyday... although not sure if that's relevant :pac:)

Cheers,

ST

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

It's impossible to tell you what to do over the Internet to be honest. The vague advice such as don't over exfoliate and don't use wipes and don't bring your moisturiser up around your eyes is all we can tell you.
No doubt you'll have people come on and swear by the products and their own skin care regime. I can tell you what i use for my skin but I have normal skin with a slightly oily tzone, a little bit of sensitivity and my main area of concern would be dehydration.

Chances are, because my skincare products are prescriptive they wouldn't give you results, just like if i used products for you, they'd do me more harm than good.

What's your budget? If you're going to use professional products, you should be given a free skin consultation by a reputable skin clinic.

SmallTeapot

Hi LexieOnRale,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I most definitely agree - what's a good product for me may not be a good product for someone else. I know skincare is a very personal thing.

I guess I'm seeking just general guidance with regards to what products to use.... I find the skincare sphere to be quite overwhelming as there are so many products out there that do different things.

From eye creams, night creams, serums..... I guess I'm seeking just a skincare 101 on what types of products do what and how they fit together.....

If I were to delve further, my skin is primarily combination, not sensitive, the odd blemish, mainly hormonal. My concerns would be limiting the appearance of expression lines on my forehead. I have no bags under my eyes or crows feet, etc.....thankfully

Budget up to about €200, but open to extending that if the right products present.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Well for that budget then I'd recommend finding a clinic with image products and have them do a consultation and a "prescription" skin care routine.
I'm not trained in the image brand but I use these products myself and find the training for the salons selling it/using it to be absolutely rigorous and there's no messing around with them - they know their stuff.

Start off basic. So
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Moisturiser
- Exfoliator
- Eye cream.
- Serum is good but optional right now.

Exfoliator removes the dead skin cells and blockages so the other products will work better. Start off with a basic routine and add serums and oils etc to your collection as you go.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Forget about fancy masks and having a scrubexfoliator and an AHA and a pre cleanser and an rejuvenating balm and a night balm and an invigorating balm and an oil fused micellar water.

I use coconut oil to pre cleanse my makeup off

SmallTeapot

Thanks Lexie for the comprehensive replies - is this the brand you are referring to by any chance?

Is so, I found a couple of places near me which stock their products

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Yes that's it. It really is very good.

fed_u

I'd second Lexie's advise - book in for a facial and follow their advice. I have never used image products myself so can't comment! Have used both dermalogica and Matis! Best advice is to stick with your routine whatever the products you decide on.

sashafierce

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SarahMollie

+1 for Image. Obviously its a good bit more expensive than you're used to paying I think once you start you won't go back. You only have one face, its worth spending money on! Because its that bit more expensive, anywhere selling it should have trained staff to "perscribe" what you need.

sashafierce

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SarahMollie

sashafierce wrote: »

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Anna Schu in Stillorgan have it, but theres a full list of stockists on here: http://www.renaissance-skincare.com/image/

I will say not everywhere sells every product so maybe shop around. I get the more specialised products when I get my microderm/peals a few times a year and sometimes buy more specialised products at that clinic, but for the more every day stuff (like the vital C range or the SPF stuff) regular salons like Anna Schu tend to have it, saves me going half way across town.

Also, you can get (some) of their stuff on Millies.ie, but you have to call to place an order as so it can be "prescribed" over the phone. Its useful to be able to check prices and buy from them once you know what you want, but for my first time buying a new product, I'd go somewhere someone would look at my skin and advise me in person.

GingerLily

I upped my skincare game this year;

I never use foaming / striping face wash, always a hot cloth cleanser or a balm/gel.
Una Brendan does a nice cheaper hot cloth cleanser, I use Oskia Renaissance Cleansing gel.

I use a chemical exfoliant for a tiner; Pixi glow tonic is amazing, not too drying and really brightens skin.

I use a light hydrating serum and eye gel, vichy aqualia.

And a basic moisturiser; first aid beauty repair cream or oilatum repair cream.

Also always wear SPF during the day if I leave to house, USA rays can get through clouds!


My skin is so much brighter now and although I have a few more expensive items (mid range for skin care, but not cheap), I spend a lot less now because I stick to it!

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I'd personally advise against a phone consultation for your first intro to products. For that money you're spending, make them work for it. Let them assess and recommend based on your specific needs. Ive been trained with lots of professional brands and I personally wouldn't recommend something going by a phone or an email consult, esp not image as it's quite active. That'll be fine to renew your products when you know what suits you

Airyfairy12

You should use sunscreen everyday regardless of the weather, the body shop do some nice vitamin moisturizers that contain SPF.

Besides washing your face you should cleanse it with something. I just use coconut oil to cleanse, its cheap, lasts ages and its anti bacterial.
You should exfoliate once every week or 2 weeks, try to stay away from anything harsh that can cause your skin damage. Lush do really nice natural exfoliators.
Investing in a good Hyaluronic acid serum would be beneficial as it stops dehydration in your skin. Vichy do an amazing serum that costs like 22 euro, im on my third bottle and have noticed a big difference in my skin.
Moisturizing is really important, I find Vichy and Palmers cocoa butter creams amazing, theyre not expensive either.
Face masks are beneficial too, once a week use a cleansing or hydrating mask.

whatever76

Airfairy - can you share the coconut oil brand that you use if you don't mind please ?

Airyfairy12

whatever76 wrote: »

Airfairy - can you share the coconut oil brand that you use if you don't mind please ?

At the minute im using lifeforce organic extra virgin coconut oil, you can buy a big jar of it in Dunnes for about 6 euro but generally I just buy whatever is on the shelf. Theyre all the same, it needs to be extra virgin though, something about it being pressed differently preserves the nutrients x

cleopatra11

Always double cleanse at night. Use something oilbased and inexpensive to remove makeup and then use a nice product to properly cleanse. Never use something posh or fancy to clean off makeup its a waste of money... cleanse in the morning too. Personally i love useing a facecloth and the Oskia Cleansing gel in the am and pm i use thake the day off balm to remove makeup and followed by Kinvara oil for the 2nd cleanse.
Avoid foaming cleansers. They are so bad for drying out your skin.

Start using eyecream and sun screen daily. La Roche Posay is a nice range to start with. Image is great too as is Environ.

Have a look online at the likes of Caroline Hirons etc to get some advice if you cant afford a facial.
Remeber you dont have to use everything from one brand you can mix and match.

SmallTeapot

Thanks for all the advice guys - much appreciated

I'm going to get cracking on the research side of things for all the products that have been recommended thus far

sashafierce

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GingerLily

I'd second Caroline Hirons!!

BetsyEllen

Caroline Hirons has a great website full of advice.

She does use a lot of expensive products, but frequently reviews cheaper products too for us normal folk!

One piece of advice I did take from her and has made a difference for me is hot cloth cleansing morning and evening, with a double cleanse in the evening.

I don't use any fancy products, mainly the Body Shop as it's cruelty free.
I have in the past invested in expensive stuff hoping for miracles only to be left disappointed (and skint )

The only things that ever make a noticeable difference for me personally is drinking lots of water and doing the hot cloth cleansing as already mentioned.

njs030

With a lot of people recommending coconut oil I'll just say don't be disappointed if it doesn't work for you because I can't use it at all.
It seems to irritate my skin somehow and makes it quite red leaves a horrible oily sheen on my face. I can't stand it!!

For make up removal I use the cleanse off mitt or trilogy make up be gone.

sashafierce

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njs030

sashafierce wrote: »

I use cleanser after the coconut oil to get rid of the oily sheen. It gets waterproof mascara off without much effort which is great, no rubbing the eyes off myself

I've tried so many things but its like it leaves my skin feeling dirty. It's hard to describe buy just not for me.

Garnier miceller water gets all my eye makeup off so easily or the cleanse off mitt.

BetsyEllen

notjustsweet wrote: »

With a lot of people recommending coconut oil I'll just say don't be disappointed if it doesn't work for you because I can't use it at all.
It seems to irritate my skin somehow and makes it quite red leaves a horrible oily sheen on my face. I can't stand it!!

For make up removal I use the cleanse off mitt or trilogy make up be gone.

Absolutely the same for me.

I use this facial oil to remove all my makeup, it's the only product I've ever found that completely dissolves every trace of eye makeup:

http://www.goodthingsbeauty.com/argan-oil.php

I smear it all over my face, then when you add water it turns into a milk. I massage it in then remove with a hot cloth.
A really enjoyable product to use and my skin is super soft after.

You can get it in TK Maxx sometimes

sashafierce

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GingerLily

Coconut oil irritates my eyes too much to use for eye makeup removal so I just use Bioderma and my cleanser (hot cloth or Gel).
I'd recommend trying coconut oil and garnier micellar water but they don't work for everyone. I definitely prefer Bioderma for eye makeup and lazy face cleansing, but I know Garnier suits some people better and it's cheaper!!

jadie

coconut oil is comedogenic, I wouldn't use it on the face. I've found the la Mara (irish brand, were selling in aldi) do a nice micellar water for €3, even gentler than Bioderma IMO. Boots currently have Simple cleansing oil on offer for €6.65, Caroline H also recommended I think

LizT

I personally don't like the Garnier micellar water, I find it leaves a film on your skin.
I love Clinique's Take the day off balm for removing make up at night, followed by oskia renaissance cleansing gel or the pixi glow cleanser. I also use image clear cell cleanser on certain areas where I get bad break outs.