Any beauticians out there?

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!!)

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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'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.

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 never used night cream - should I?

My skin seems ok, not too wrinkled for my age!!

I would suggest you have a look at Deciem The Ordinary range. Its quite reasonably priced and you can get a regime from them.

theordinary.deciem.com/

I often wonder if it’s the way we use the products that matter just as much as which products we use. By this I mean taking our time when cleansing, making sure our skin is really clean and then really taking the time to massage in a night cream, the same when applying moisturiser. I know when I do take the extra couple of minutes when putting on moisturiser to massage It into my face and go down my neck with it It feels great. It can help to ease out any tension you may be holding in your jaw too. I use The Ordinary serum which isn’t expensive has hyaluronic acid in it which I find very good

Sorry I can't help. I'm 71 and I've always used the. Cheapest moisturizers. £3 from Asda or as yesterday £2 from Lidl.
Dove soap morning and night using face flannel to exfoliate. Cheap moisturiser morning and night. Skin looks grand.

Get onto look fabulous forever on YouTube with Tricia Cusden - very good guidance

Pamela I'm sure you managed to look gorgeous too!

Genetics play a large part.

I also think that not being too thin helps too.
"It's either your face or your figure" is true.
I do not mean that being over-weight or obese is a good thing before anyone criticises that but being under-weight is not good health wise either.

But that is a choice only you can make.

Callistamon , I was amazed at what I had to learn and disappointed ?
I thought I was going into a glamorous industry where I only had to waft around and look gorgeous!

I saw that years ago, it was an excellent programme.

The only thing that I can say is that over the years, in my experience, the women that have looked after their skin seem to have aged better that those who don’t.
By that I only mean that they clean, moisturise and protect. Using products that they like whatever the cost.
It also has a lot to do with diet. If what you put in has good nutritional value your whole body benefits. That includes fat.

Science is part of a good beauty therapy course; several aspects of science not just chemistry.

Hi Lucky legs,

The BBC did a show with scientists to test out anti ageing products. It was a fantastic show as it really did show what is a waste of time and money and what actually is proven to work. The show isn’t up on the player any more but here is a link to the main ‘takeaway’ points from it! X

www.getthegloss.com/news/the-truth-about-looking-good-the-show-s-key-takeaways

Sorry lucky legs no I didn’t mean forget it. You can still prevent any further damage and if your skin feels better then of course you should carry on. I do.
I think you should use one extra product on your skin for 4-6 months and then alternate it with a different treatment. Don’t throw everything at it at once.

Thanks Jane, I’ve been a beauty therapist for 47years so I do like to.think I have picked up a bit of knowledge.

Jane, aloe Vera has a well proven track record when it comes to calming sensitive skin. I would use it after trauma such as facial waxing.

I have no experience of Micellar water but I believe that after using it for cleansing it should be removed.
The beauty industry has to keep coming up with new ways to sell us stuff. I suspect this is one of them but if you like it then use it.

Look at the wording on all products. Although a cream may contain, for example a certain vitamin that is good for the skin, it doesn’t always follow that the incredibly tiny amount that is contained in the potion/lotion is going to be effective.

(Ask a scientist, not a beautician.)
That’s rather dismissive, Hetty58.
Why can’t a beautician be knowledgeable about the science behind the products they advocate?

Can you point me in the direction of a long-term, randomised controlled study that supports your claim that using moisturiser has no long-term benefit?