Thread: What's your daily skincare regimen (esp. those of you over 30)?

I have fine lines around my eyes. I hate them (don't we all). I have yet to find anything otc that will acutally help them, and I'm pretty much giving up hope that I ever will, but I DO want to improve the texture/tone of my sking & I think OTC can accomplish that.

So...what's your regimen? What products do you swear by?

Paula's Choice----their anti-aging stuff is a miracle and great prices.

Bio-oil, also great for spots. :-)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Boots no7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum. I get it at Target. It has made my skin as smooth as a baby's earlobe. I used to be an Oil of Olay girl, but this is waaaaayyyy better for me. (I am 47 by the way)


I'm not sure anything outside of a dermatologist's office can truly reverse small lines (dermabrasion, botox, lasers etc). But I think this is slowing down their advancement!

I also think the top three factors that determine skin's aging are heredity, heredity, and heredity, followed by sun exposure, nutrition, THEN products you put on the skin.

Morning:

1) Mychelle Perfect C serum (high ascorbic acid for pretentive maintenance)
2) La Roche Posay Anthelios Extreme sunscreen (High SPF and PPD)


Evening:

1) Wash
I2) Each night alternate using one treatment: A) Stridex in the red box--cheap BHA B) Triacneal, has retinaldehyde for anti-aging C) Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Peel pads--AHA, BHA, and GHA that have an immediate effect on my skin. I always look best on the days after I use these.

Originally Posted by taji-dancer

Paula's Choice----their anti-aging stuff is a miracle and great prices.

I've never heard of this! Where do you get it?

Bio-oil didn't seem to do much for me. I have some Glycolic acid at home, 30% solution, but it hasn't seemed to do much for me, either. i must have skin of leather....

Honestly, I was thinking about making a sugar-lemon peel on my own and using it daily to see if it will do anything worthwhile. At least lighten some spots up.

I use Castor Oil. It's very inexpensive, available in every drug store, and more amazing than any cosmetic producer would want you to know. I put it on my face, and especially my eye areas, before I go to sleep at night.

Due to its low molecular weight, Castor Oil is able to get deeper into the skin and connective tissue than any other known oil, making it an amazing moisturizer and softener for skin, muscles, joints and scar tissue. It's able to displace dirt clogging pores and reduces inflamation, and it softens skin minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. As an added bonus, it causes eye lashes to come in thicker and fuller, and helps prevent and treat styes. It's an ideal eye treatment, because the eye area unfortunately does not produce a lot of oil - and overly dry skin can be more prone to wrinkles.

And for all of us who have to deal with muscle aches or back pains, a square of felt can be soaked in Castor Oil (called a Castor Oil Pack), placed on the hurting body part, and warmed with a heating pad to significantly help the pain, inflamation, and stiffness to go away. (You can put plastic wrap over it to keep your heating pad clean.) This can also be used on scar tissue (Ceasarian Sections, etc) to soften the internal and external scar tissue and smooth it out.

Just don't swallow any unless you don't plan to leave the house that day.

In the morning in the shower-
I wash with Philosophy
and then when i get out, I put Source Naturals DMAE cream on my face. If im going out for the day, I'll use a little bit of Maybeline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser (It really works! Im impressed with it)

At night, I cleanse my face with my homemade cold cream.

voila done.

And making sure i get plenty of water has helped too

Originally Posted by Sonja2

I've never heard of this! Where do you get it?

Bio-oil didn't seem to do much for me. I have some Glycolic acid at home, 30% solution, but it hasn't seemed to do much for me, either. i must have skin of leather....

Paula's Choice is the brand made by the woman who started Beautypedia.com & Cosmeticscop.com, Paula Begoun. (She's also the author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me.)

She reviews Bio-Oil HERE.

Originally Posted by Sonja2

Honestly, I was thinking about making a sugar-lemon peel on my own and using it daily to see if it will do anything worthwhile. At least lighten some spots up.

Daily!? Only on my feet... I love my DIY sugar+olive oil lip scrub, but I've learned to be less enthusiastic about it's application since sugar+anything is very abrasive.

I was talking about this last night with a derm surgeon whom I know socially. He said there are two things he thinks are effective:

1. Lactic acid (available over the counter)
2. Retinoids (such as Retin A, for example, available via prescription)

He says nothing else works.

With both of the above, he said you have to use them faithfully for at least 3 months before you see results.

Originally Posted by Fencai

And making sure i get plenty of water has helped too

I concur with this. Dehydration can cause skin to be a papery texture and increase the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines.

Although it's important to drink plenty of water to hydrate from the inside out, it's also a good idea to humidify the skin as much as possible.

Use a humidifier if your home or office has dry air.

If you're traveling, hotel rooms, airports, and airplanes can be dreadfully dry, so buy a travel humidifier such as this one http://www.amazon.com/Air-O-Swiss-AO...dp/B001JL4LZ4/ to use in your hotel room or office.

When you're traveling, a tip to humidify your hotel room is to plug the bathtub drain, then turn on the shower as hot as it will go and let it run until the bathtub is full. Leave the bathroom door open so that the steam/humidity this generates can escape out into the main hotel room. Leave the bathtub plug in place until the water in the bathtub has gone completely cold (or until you need to use the shower/tub for washing yourself.) Repeat this as often as necessary over the course of your stay to keep your hotel room's humidity at skin-friendly levels.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I also think the top three factors that determine skin's aging are heredity, heredity, and heredity, followed by sun exposure, nutrition, THEN products you put on the skin.

I'm surprised you're the only person on this thread who has mentioned sun exposure and nutrition.

Sun exposure DOES age skin. This is one reason I decided many years ago to quit seeking a tan.

Tobacco smoke causes horrid wrinkling/aging of the skin. Anybody who smokes should think about quitting if they're worried about wrinkles. Or, if they live with second-hand smoke, they should think about doing whatever is needed to reduce their exposure to it - move out, ask the smoker to smoke outdoors, etc.

And nutrition-wise, eat fruits and vegetables. Lots of them. A good variety. Dr. Terry Wahls recommends eating 9 servings a day for optimum health (her recommendations are not specific to skin aging, but to overall health), and many of us don't even meet the 5 servings a day recommended by typical nutrition guidelines.

Originally Posted by Fencai

At night, I cleanse my face with my homemade cold cream.

Ooh! Recipe/link please, please?

I'm a funny one, I have had problems with oily skin but I also get eczema on my eyelids if I use anything remotely strong. Last year I had a massage and facial done with aromatherapy products and have been using them since. My skin has never looked better. I use Decleor cleansing gel in the shower, then use 2 drops of their Ylang Ylang serum and then follow with a sensitive eye cream (that's the really important bit) the brand i am using now is quite cheap, QV, and then I use the decleor mattifing moisturiser. That's it. I avoid make up as much as possible as this really dries out my skin, which then makes it swing, plus with the heat down here, sweat and make up= disaster! If I do wear make up, I use the QV eye make up remover and sensitive skin baby wipe to remove the bulk, if it's dance make up I will then use my QV skin polish in the shower before normal cleansing. The best thing I was taught was to listen to my skin as we change at different times of the month and year so if it's extra dry I have a macadamia cream to use or if it's extra oily I just use the serum and skip the moisturiser. I am 33 and most people think I look about 24. I don't have really any wrinkles, just one shallow one under my eyes that disappears with make up. I have very little caffeine, I eat FAT, that is important, I get it in nuts and dairy more than anything and that heaps a great deal. I think if you exclude anything completely from your diet you are doing yourself harm in the long run. Oh and I don't go out in the sun FULL STOP! We are trying to educate kids now that there is no such thing as a healthy tan. I should add that if you do and you wear sunscreen, don't apply it near your eyes, it's really bad for the skin there. Instead make sure you wear sunglasses that cover the area.

Very interesting!! So, I wonder why lactic and not glycolic? Hmmm... Maybe I will make the switch. I know it takes long term use. I faithfully used glycolic for months & saw no difference.

I feel like it's a given that sun & smoking cause wrinkles, along with genetics. i have all three in my history, so I'm down for 3, and just trying to keep any more damage from occurring.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I was talking about this last night with a derm surgeon whom I know socially. He said there are two things he thinks are effective:

1. Lactic acid (available over the counter)
2. Retinoids (such as Retin A, for example, available via prescription)

He says nothing else works.

With both of the above, he said you have to use them faithfully for at least 3 months before you see results.

There's also this related thread about making a Vitamin C serum, applied to the face every night at bedtime:

L-ascorbic acid / vitamin C as topical skin care

I'm into my thirties and I really care about sustainability and organic ingredients. I also don't want to spend a fortune. I use Norwex skin care:
1. wash with water only (use microfiber make-up remover cloth if wearing make-up)
2. pat dry with microfiber face cloth
3. apply aloe face & neck gel
4. apply lifting serum (goodbye fine lines!)
5. apply moisture cream (day or night version)

voila!!

If you're in Canada, shop here: https://catherinedafoe.norwex.biz/?p=start

If you're not, norwex.com can help you find a consultant near you.

I love this company and these products. It has changed my life. ;-)

I'm going to try the castor oil tonight mainly b/c I want longer lashes!

I use a half dozen non-enteric coated aspirin dissolved in a few drops of water to exfoliate with after washing with Sappo Hill oatmeal soap (or any other flavor that's handy) every morning. That type of aspirin can be bought at just about any dollar store and a bottle lasts a couple of weeks or more. My skin tone is better overall, spots heal quickly, my pores are smaller and my skin doesn't get flared up like it does with other exfoliants.

Since I don't spend much on skin care I use whatever body lotion we have on hand though if my skin feels extra dry a few drops of olive or coconut oil (melted by rubbing the hands together) works great.

Since the sun is so bad I'm really worried about about a trip to Mexico I've been invited on: I'm being encouraged to get a base tan in a tanning booth and feel ambiguous about it.

cleanser, gentle toner, face lotion with sunscreen in the morning

nightime use a cleanser with exfoliant, followed by another cleanser, then lotion (I switch up lotions)
using Retin A a few times a week, botox once a year

Originally Posted by Sonja2

Honestly, I was thinking about making a sugar-lemon peel on my own and using it daily to see if it will do anything worthwhile. At least lighten some spots up.

If you are fair skinned skip lotions and potions and head straight to your laser centre...IPL STRIPS away dark spots - it was a one magic bullet for me ...having said that: there are some HORROR stories about laser so make sure you find a fully certified practioner who has had loads of experience. As a plus: it stimulates collagen as well.

Originally Posted by Teophania

Ooh! Recipe/link please, please?

you can buy it in my etsy shop: Gossamer Beams

Originally Posted by shushanna

I use Castor Oil. It's very inexpensive, available in every drug store, and more amazing than any cosmetic producer would want you to know. I put it on my face, and especially my eye areas, before I go to sleep at night.

Due to its low molecular weight, Castor Oil is able to get deeper into the skin and connective tissue than any other known oil, making it an amazing moisturizer and softener for skin, muscles, joints and scar tissue. It's able to displace dirt clogging pores and reduces inflamation, and it softens skin minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. As an added bonus, it causes eye lashes to come in thicker and fuller, and helps prevent and treat styes. It's an ideal eye treatment, because the eye area unfortunately does not produce a lot of oil - and overly dry skin can be more prone to wrinkles.

And for all of us who have to deal with muscle aches or back pains, a square of felt can be soaked in Castor Oil (called a Castor Oil Pack), placed on the hurting body part, and warmed with a heating pad to significantly help the pain, inflamation, and stiffness to go away. (You can put plastic wrap over it to keep your heating pad clean.) This can also be used on scar tissue (Ceasarian Sections, etc) to soften the internal and external scar tissue and smooth it out.

Just don't swallow any unless you don't plan to leave the house that day.

If the castor oil gets into your actual eye-ball, is it harmful?? I'd like to try it, but, am having trouble with my eyesight as it is.

i use Toleriane products and I do the aspirin mask. That's it. My skin gets irritated very easily.

I second Paula's Choice!

Some of the most important things I learned from her:
- always wear sunscreen
- expensive does not mean better
- natural / organic does not mean better - there are a lot of "natural" ingredients that are harmful to skin
- buy nothing in a jar packaging (the moment you open a jar the cream starts to degenerade)

And her products have done wonders for my blemished skin!

Even if you don't plan on buying anything from her, she reviews tons of other products and also recommends other brand's products. (Links see in the post above)

MEISSOUN

My skin care regime is pretty easy.

AM: Wash with mild soap. Moisturizer with high SPF and retinol when I can find it. When I can't moisturizer and a really good high spf (usually 60, although they say anything over 50 is wasted).

PM: wash with mild soap, eye serum a couple of times a week, Ponds moisturizer. Hey, it's what my grandmother, who was a farm wife, used all her life and she had amazing skin!

While hereditary is one of the biggest factors in how your skin ages, smoking, stress and sun exposure are the top three which add to aging skin. Some say that smoking is actually more harmful than sun exposure. It's open for debate. I agree with others who have said to make sure that you have lots of good old fashioned h2o and a balanced diet and plenty of sleep.

As for peels, both light and chemicals, the popular peel out here in Lalaland is a VIPeel. It's the combo of several peels and has some great results. The main factor on any peel is that it does have to be repeated a few times and you do have to make sure you stop any behaviors which will continue the deterioration, such as sun exposure (my big no-no. What can I say, I like to walk!)

{{{HUGS}}}