Do we really need all these 'steps' in our routines?

FBaby

if I stop, when I am exhausted or stressed or poorly it will look dull and lack radiance

Is there really a miracle cream that wipes away the signs of tiredness and stress? I'd rather sleep 8 hours and exercise and somehow I'm sure it does a better job!

savingfortomorrow

FBaby wrote: »

Is there really a miracle cream that wipes away the signs of tiredness and stress? I'd rather sleep 8 hours and exercise and somehow I'm sure it does a better job!

Neostratra ultra smoothing cream 10% AHA and a dash of guerlain abeille royale. Add a few drops of a good oil- skin back to normal. For utter emergencies 10% glycolic pads for a few days.
If i could sleep I would- insomnia is a pain.

KxMx

I'm 29 and the maternal line of my family all have excellent skin so I have a good starting point.

I have though worsening auto immune health problems for the last decade so a bad starting point!

Last year I did feel it was time to start caring for my skin.

So as well as a daily soap & water I added in the morning a moisturiser (L'Oreal Skin Perfection). My skin is much more hydrated and yes I do think pore appearance has reduced. I never look well all the time but others have commented on improved skin appearance.

Then to tackle my spots I tried as a last result micellar water, my goodness how much that worked. So I use a few drops on cotton wool over existing spots and or where I usually get them. Morning & evening.

I'm so glad that is starting to be marketed as an actual spot treatment because it's been so good for me. Good skin yes but illness, meds, hormones etc led to some nasty spots which even tea tree oil and savlon were not shifting! I get far fewer and the ones I get don't develop much at all..

Within the last few weeks I am hating my eye lines so have added in the evening Simple Eye Regenerating cream. Slowly I do think it's working.

On the rare occasions I wear make up I do a proper removal with Simple face wipes, usually using two (mineral powder foundation)

gemmajenkins0208

That sounds like a good routine KxMx

I'm glad certain aspects of it are working for you

FBaby

Neostratra ultra smoothing cream 10% AHA and a dash of guerlain abeille royale.

At £130 combined, I would certainly hope for tesco sleeping pills under £3.00

Seriously, we all have different budgets for different things and I'm sure some of the things I spend my money on you would think I was mad but £100 for one pot of cream?!?

freyasmum

I do think that you need to help look after your skin - particularly if you're not blessed with perfect genes. But this isn't limited to using skincare that works for you (and your budget).

I'm trying to run down my stock at the moment (Christmas presents, etc) and not buy anything that I don't absolutely NEED to buy and I can see the difference in my skin rather than when I use the products that I know work.

On a regular basis, I like to use either a creamy cleanser or an oily one, depending on my skin at that particular time.
I use an acid toner most days, Alpha H if a favourite but I'm currently trialling pixi glow tonic.
I then use the protect and perfect advanced serum ll over my face, including as an eye cream.
I then use a moisturiser. I'm currently using up the protect and perfect day spf moisturiser. It's not my favourite by any manner of means (which is why I still have it. I have gone through two pots of my holy grail in the same time) but I am starting to come round to it.
I also try to use an SPF most days. I do need to be more stringent with this though.

I'm using up things like garnier and neutrogena 2 or 3 in 1s at the moment, which really don't do anything for my skin.

I also use a cleanser and exfoliating pad from bliss on occasion - they make my skin feel so soft.

I also think that, more importantly than the creams that we use, we must pay attention to our diet and general lifestyle. It is common sense that if you smoke 60 a day and drink constantly, your skin is going to be far more dehydrated than it otherwise would be. And if all you eat is sugar and beige food, rather than a colourful diet full of plenty of vitamins and minerals, your skin will be fall more dull than it otherwise could be.

gemmajenkins0208

Good words freyasmum - beauty does indeed come from the inside, well, i believe so anyway.

Also, like others here, i feel genetics play a big part too. Like my mum had really good skin during puberty, my dad had such bad acne that he had boils etc. on his neck. When my brother and i hit puberty, we were in the middle somewhere.