Dull dry skin

[rowpubb]

Hello im looking for skincare for face. Im 50 and my skin feels and looks terrible. I have sensitive skin, and wrinkles, and dry skin. I need advice on skincare routine....

[PRS1234]

I share your quest! At 52, I need moisture and wrinkle fighting. Here is the routine and some products that I love so far:

AM Routine (Goal is hydrating and SPF but only a little retinol in the morning routine.)

1. Wash gently with water and apply toner. (no cleanser needed if I washed before bed)

2. Apply a cream or serum with Vitamin C as main ingredient (preferably Niacinamide) to entire face including upper lip and eye lids (if the vitamin C is above 10% then don't use on eye lids. Substitute a vitamin c eye cream with gentler formula like Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer). This will lighten dark spots and help cell turnover.

3. Moisturize with a product that includes Vit E and other "emollients" for all day hydration. Apply to entire face including upper lip and eyelids. I love 111Skin Y Theorum Day Cream but it is pricey. Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream is also a good option although it is not an emollient version so if your skin is super dry like mine you will need to spray a hydration mist on your face in early afternoon.

4. Under eye treatment cream with caffeine, retinol, peptides, collagen. Apply under eye and crows feet area including slightly up onto the brow line. I have used several and there is no superstar stand out -- just find one with those ingredients that is at your price point.

5. Apply SPF if your foundation or other products don't include SPF.

6. Apply primer if preferred. Use a hydrating primer. Tatcha's is good but pricey. Elf has an excellent hydrating primer.

7. Concealer if preferred but make sure it is hydrating. Armani's Luxurious Silk Primer is excellent but pricey. I am currently experimenting with lower price point primers that I add a moisturizer to. So can't make a recommendation yet on lower price point.

8. Foundation. Avoid "matte" which has a drying effect on skin. Look for formulas with vitamin E or similar well-hydrating ingredients. My fav is Armani Luxurious Silk but it is pricey. On errand day I use Nars Pure Radient Tinted Moisturizer.

9. Eye primer (hydrating version) and eye makeup to your taste. Avoid shimmery and cream eyeshadow which tends to highlight creases. Use a touch of powder eye shadow - find high-pigment brands so that you can use very little product to reduce setting in creases.

PM Routine (Goal: Retinol and hydration)

1. Wash with hydrating cleanser and apply toner.

2. Prescription tretinoin if your dermatologist prescribes, to whole face including upper lip and eyelids. Note that it comes in .025 and .05 strengths. If using .05 strength applying to eyelids sparingly and only every other day.

3. If no tretinoin, use a high-strength OTC retinol like Skintueticals Retinol 1.0. BUT, if you haven't been using retinols for a while, then you must start at a lower percent Retinol and work your way up. Whichever product you choose, apply only to crows feet, across the cheekbone of the under eye (just below the under eye but not on the under eye), the upper lip, the brow area between your eyebrows. Every other day also apply to full brow area.

4. Wait 10-15 minutes and apply Moisturizer with "emollient" version with peptides and ceramides where possible. For a sensitive skin version, La Roche Posay has an excellent line of products.

5. Under eye treatment of your choice (with peptides and collagen - no retionol since already applying that). I like the Lancome line of eye products for this step. I also like La Roche Posay's line of products.

ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK:

Apply glycolic acid pads (10% sensitive skin or 20-30% if your skin has already been using AHAs) to your entire face including upper lip but not your eye lids.

ONCE A MONTH (at most, depending on how your skin is reacting to everything else)

Exfoliating system of your choice. This consists of applying an AHA serum or liquid to your face for 10 or so minutes then either washing off or applying a 2nd step that deactivates. Each 'system' is a little different but it is essentially an at home mini chemical peel. Make sure to hydrate after and consistently for several days after. You will have some light peeling around day 2 or 3 depending on your product.

NOTE: Some people prefer retinol in the morning routine and Vitamin C in the evening routine. For me, I like it in the evening so I can apply my thickest, most moisturizing night cream to offset the dryness that retinol creates.

I have used a number of variations for each of these steps of the routine. PM me if you want more specific info on the products I liked and didn't like at each step and why.

[Sterling2]

I love Cerave.  I also use the fresh rose wash and moisturizer and retinol1my skin was in terrible shape but not now.  I also love hanskin I am 58

 

[bongocmm]

Cerave is the best.  I am using their cream at night now going into winter.

[PRS1234]

I second the recommendation for Cerave. It is a great affordable option and also excellent for those with sensitive skin.