Any beauticians out there?

Hi Luckylegs, I'm not a beauty therapist nor scientist and can't advise you in what order to use all your products but hats off for still trying at 71 years old.

My thoughts are don't buy any more products till you've used what you have.

Health starts from within and if you are healthy and nourishing your body with the right amount of vitamins, minerals and water it needs you will be doing things in the correct order.

Next gravity plays a part so maybe try some facial exercises to tone the face muscles and give them a gentle work out that might prevent a little bit of sagging.

Get the oxygen flowing round your body so depending on what your fitness and ability levels are a good brisk walk daily if possible will help.

I've had ichthyosis since birth which involves a very dry flaky and itchy skin which constantly flakes off far quicker than normal, and would love to wear makeup but foundation just shows up lines and pieces of skin half off. Dermatologists just say moisturise, there is no cure. I'm over 70 but would still like to look nice but have not found anything to cover the flakes.

I have never used a night cream. Understood our skin needs to breathe and regenerate and should be given an opportunity to do this at night. Unless if course for medical reasons.

I would caution against believing claims that the SPF content in foundations is of any use. Just look at the amount of sun-screen you would apply and then at the amount of foundation you would need to replicate it and you will see what I mean.

Because I have fairly mild vitiligo diagnosed many years ago I should wear a sunscreen all year round. I wear SPF 40 during the summer and SPF 50 when the sun is very strong. I have have used Clinique products for years,including their sunscreen and moisturiser but whether any creams will really halt the signs of aging is doubtful your genes may be more important, In the winter I had a really bad attack of flu/cold and did virtually nothing to my skin for over a week, not even moisturiser. Result, when I finally looked in a mirror was that my skin looked no worse and possibly even better!

My nephew is one of the leading dermatologists in the country and he eyes most of the claims made by the big cosmetic companies with great cynicism. E45 is his answer!

Retinol should be used with caution and used at night and only twice a week. Doesn’t sound to me that you need retinol it dries skin and then it flakes off. Hydronic acid is a rich moisturiser so you can use that any time. Vitamin c is best used in the morning after you’ve cleansed let it dry for 15 minutes then put on your normal moisturiser.
Don’t waste loads of money on getting sucked into all these products as most only sit on the surface, they help keep skin hydrated but won’t work wonders.

Somebody recommended having a look at video's and a blog by Caroline Hirons to me.
She's very down to earth and focuses on skin care.
I've been following her guidance on one of her "cheat sheets" (on the blog) and have to say that my skin has improved quite a lot.
Definitely worth a look at.

I've heard that you put the thinnest products on first, so in the morning after cleanser and toner, I put vit c, serum then moisuriser.

I bought a facial massager a few months ago. You are supposed to use it daily and it hopefully stops your skin from sagging. I am 79 and usually forget to use it, except maybe twice a week. I use it for about 12 minutes at a time while watching TV. It was expensive but I think it would work. I don't have much sagging. Also I had quite deep lines from the corners of my mouth down into my chin. Looked like a ventriloquist's dummy. Although I always use moisturisers, night cream and sun barrier cream I still had those deep lines. In desperation I went to clinic where I had fillers put in. What a difference! The lines went straight away. That was at least a year ago and I still have no sign of those terrible lines.

If you really are dehydrated, you must increase your intake of water! If you meant that your skin is dry, drinking more water might well improve it.

I started using only Tropic products 2 years ago after a demo. at our WI. I love that it has no animal products & is not tested on animals. Plus it is made in a small unit quite near where we live.
My skin is better than it has ever been all my life. I order it from the lady who did the demo although she then moved up North but posts it to me.
The girl who started the firm won the Apprentice with it .
(Can't say it has done much for Alan Sugar's skin though if he uses it!!)

Annaram1 may i ask what the facial massager you have is,
I have tried a few from a dermawand, to a nu face[mainly for jowls] but like you i had fillers last year too, and the difference is amazing, best thing i have ever done at my age, makes a huge difference
I am just a couple of years younger than you,but no one believes it,if they don't actually already know Helps lift the jowls too
My bane of my life is my neck, not wrinkly just a bit saggy in the middle

I've used all sorts over the years and have always been careful in the sun.
I've learned that you don't need to spend a fortune and nor do you need different products for nighttime, nor for around the eyes, though I do use a neck cream when I can afford it.
I cleanse with a Garnier cleansing milk, massaged in and the removed with a cotton wool pad wrung out in warm water, two or three times until the pad comes away clean. Then a couple if times a week I follow with REN gentle exfoliator which is expensive but lasts a long time. Again sprinkle into damp cotton pad and wipe over your face.
Then I just use a basic monsturiser, either by the Ordinary or Viola. Both very reasonable priced, also at night I use Pria neck cream and it feels as if it's tightening the skin.
In the morning after cleansing and rinsing with warm water I apply Vit C serum before moisturiser, and I also use a little in the back if my hands and it did get rid of some quite dark sun spots over time, better to do this st bedtime so it has a chance to work overnight.
The only other thing I swear by is taking marine collegen dissolved in a drink every morning. I started doing this when I was prescribed steroids for pmr and found that I was getting horrible purple bruising on my hands arms and legs. That's gone and I think my skin, hair and nails are all stronger.
It costs about £20 but a pack will last about three months.
Good luck. Hope I haven't added to the confusion.

I can’t be bothered with serums, peels, acids or whatever. Cheap moisturiser for me. We all age whatever we do. For those of you who do all that, I’m not dismissing you. Everyone should do what feels right for them ?

Have a look at The Ordinary range. Lots of science behind it and reasonable prices. Personally I use caffeine for under eyes and Vitamin C on my skin every morning. Slap on a cheap Lidl moisturiser and then tinted sun cream. Good to go.
Wash off at night with Superdrug hot cloth cleaner and a good night cream.

Craftycat I hadn't heard of that make.
Interesting, isn't it that Alan Sugar is allowed to look craggy but women are not supposed to!!

I find him rather attractive, as does another Gransnetter.

Genetics help when it comes to who has their fair share of wrinkles but many don't realise that the sun does not have to shine when it comes to skin damage. Protect and protect. No good closing the stable door once the horse has bolted.

Luckylegs I would say don't use too many products at once, skin can become over sensitive. Cleanse and then tone ( gentle toner) morning and night without fail and then use a serum. From the ones that you have see which you enjoy using the most and that seems to suit your skin. Then use a cream over the serum at night. In the morning use your serum and then some form of sun protection, either a day cream containing SPF or separate sun protection depending upon time of year and degree of exposure to sun. Then use a foundation or bb cream that suits your skin . Dont exfoliate too often and do use sun protection . Retinol can irritate some skin types so do research if you want to use one and start with something mild. Personally I think consistency with basic skin care and skin protection are the most important things to consider for good skin ( and don't smoke, it's awful for skin).

I use only a few products, hyalauronic acid, Matryxl, then Simple moisturiser in the morning, Peptides, Retinol, then Simple night cream at night. Use The Ordinary , always. But tha biggie was reading Dr Nick Perricone’s diet advice - revolutionised my skin and I’m a psoriasis lady!

I have used Boots no7 serums for the last fourteen years, and hardly any wrinkles or lines.
I am 74 years old.

I really think it has made a difference to how my skin looks.
I don’t always apply moisturiser or night creams either.
Only occasionally.

That is one product which made my face break out in a rash.

blondenana, yes I use the dermawand. I have lost the instructions but I believe that if you use it regularly your lines will definitely reduce and so will any sagging. I am afraid I don't have the discipline to use it as often as I should, How often do you use it and how long for?
Once the present problems are over I will go back to the clinic as I am hoping to get fillers in a coupe of places where I can see lines. However when I went there last the beautician would not put fillers in the forehead region, especially in the V marks between the eyebrows. She said I was too self critical, and that most women wold be very happy to have my skin, and it was perfect just as it was! Now I was impressed as the filler treatment would cost about £300 and she refused to do it!! Also, she claimed that the forehead region is very delicate and bleeds easily, and that fillers are contra-indicated. But she conceded that perhaps she could put a little Botox in the V marks... but I refused on the grounds that Botox only lasts a few weeks and the filler for the same price lasts ages. Have you had any forehead fillers?

Nanna58 that sounds like quite a few products to me! But perhaps necessary if you have psoriasis.

I use Clarins or Clinique moisturiser and use Clarins One-step cleanser if I wear makeup.
I have a sample neck cream from an M&S Advent box but keep forgetting to use it.

However, I do need hair advice
It has gone from bottlebrush to wild dandelion clock, despite onditioner, taming lotion, argan oil.

I have always been fortunate to have had good skin but was convinced that if I tried one of the hyaluronic acid products it would help my skin as I aged how wrong I was I ended up staying indoors for over a week as it burnt my skin so that was thrown in the bin and I went back to my Simple Purifying Cleanser and Superdrug Dry Skin Moisturiser I was back to normal in a matter of days thank goodness.

Thanks so much for all your replies. I do eat a good diet, walk a lot as well as Zumba classes/line dancing in normal times and look after myself generally. I am going to look at the links you’ve provided, thanks and the websites mentioned.

I think I’ve always been a bit vain, used makeup and looked after my hair and prided myself on not looking my age so it’s just come as a bit of a shock to see my skin deteriorate so much recently. I don’t bother with eye creams or neck creams but I don’t want to ‘give up’ altogether, I’m going to go down fighting!

I know exactly what I need and would love - fillers in my cheeks. I’m sure that would be perfect but I can’t justify the expense especially for something that only lasts a year or so. I’m going to plod on with what I’ve got and the vit C serum which hasn’t arrived yet and just hope I guess the right order!

I am 69, my skin I am told is fabulous, I have never smoked, my diet has been healthy since my 20s. I look after my body. i have ALWAYS cleansed my skin day and night and moisturised. I have regular facials . Over the years as i had had more disposabal income i have spent oodles of money on lots of products mentioned above. I like to ring the changes so think a change must be good?? Don't want to sound vain - I have just enjoyed looking good!!