New to Skincare NEED HELP

[Coing95]

Hello all!

I am 28 and believe I have combination skin. My mom never really taught my sister or I skincare so I’m just starting to do research for myself. What is a good basic skincare regimen to start with? I’m noticing wrinkles on my forehead and fine lines so I want to start retinol but also have sensitive skin and have read that it causes irritation. 

thank you everyone in advance! 

[buffawhale]

Hello, 

Retinol is such a great product to use for fine lines and wrinkles. However if you do have sensitive skin? It’s best to start off with something more gentle or alternative such as Bakichiol or copper peptide. I’m about the same age at 29 and the best skincare advice is to start slow and start with a good cleanser, moisturizer and spf routine before heading straight to retinol. 

[JoSometimes]

@Coing95 That’s amazing that you’re jumping onto the skincare train! Welcome!

Skincare can be very simple. Cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen. If you want to add more for targeting specific concerns like wrinkles, you can add them int slowly once you have an established routine. Since you mentioned that you have sensitive skin, take things slow and add products one at a time. Use it for a week and let your skin get used to it. If you have a negative reaction after adding a product, you can easily identify the product cause issues pull it out of your routine.

For your wrinkles, you might want to start with just getting hydration back into your skin. Plumping it up with hydration might be enough to reduce their appearance. If you don’t notice any change after a few weeks of starting your skincare routine, you can look into a low concentration retinol product. Ease into it as @elise222 mentioned. 

Here’s a few products to get you started. I have sensitive skin too and these work for me. 

Cleanser

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser 5 oz/ 150 mL  

Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser

COSRX Low pH Good Morning cleanser

If you use makeup, double cleanse. Use one product to break down your makeup and a second one to help get your skin clean and ready for the rest of your skincare routine. Use the balm first before the cleanser. 
The INKEY List Oat Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm 5 oz/ 150 mL  

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm 

Moisturizer 

#SEPHORA COLLECTION All Day Hydrator Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer 1.69 oz/ 50 mL (can be used at night too)

LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask with Niacinamide & Squalane 2.3 oz/ 70 mL  

SEPHORA COLLECTION Overnight Hydrating Mask 1.69 oz / 50 mL  

Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Skin Barrier Redness Recovery Moisturizer 1.86 oz / 55 ml  

Sunscreen

Clarins Dry Touch Facial Sunscreen SPF 50  

The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 1.7 oz / 50 ml 

If you find you need more hydration, try adding a Hyaluronic acid serum after cleansing but before moisturizer 

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Hydrating Face Serum  

And if you still want to add retinol

The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane, Signs of Aging Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL

I hope you’re able to find a routine that works for you!

[elise222]

Retinol can cause irritation or some initial purging, but it's a good thing to incorporate. Start slow and build up use. So for example, at the start, use it once a week for a few weeks, then bump up to twice a week, etc. I use that skinceuticals 0.3 retinol as recommended by a local dermatology office, and the nice thing is they have higher concentrations you can work up to.

If you do start retinol, make sure you're also using spf regularly since it can make you more skin sensitive. 

Otherwise, I'd suggest starting with some basics. Youth To The People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser  is a fairly well loved cleanser. If you wear makeup, I'd suggest an oil or balm cleanser first to help melt the makeup, then follow up with the regular cleanser to get things nice and clean (double cleanse). 

Then follow up with a moisturizer (and spf). Caudalie makes some of my favourite moisturizers. My skin also loves Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer  - but that's a pricy one, so I don't always buy it. 

Last suggestion from me is to introduce products slowly/one at a time. Introduce one, use it for 2-3 weeks, see how your skin reacts, then add more. This helps narrow it down if you have a reaction and need to know what caused it.