Please bare with me I'm not very eloquent but will try my best.
1. So my skin feels soft and smooth but over the last 2 years sunspots have appeared which imo makes my skin look terrible even if it doesn't feel like it. Is there anything I can do or use to try and improve this? I weren't sure if laser treatment would be a good option.
There are a lot of products on the market that can help with pigmentation. Laser is good, but you should start with products first as they’re far cheaper!!
The best ingredients to help fade sun spots include glycolic acid, azeliac acid, vitamin C and retinol. I don’t have any sun spots personally (habitual sun avoider for life) but others may have good product recs for you.
I will say, I find
Face Theory Azeliac Acid to be great for rosacea, and I know some people rate it for hyperpigmentation too.
2. I would like to invest in some gadgets but even after reading the threads I'm not sure which ones! I'd like to concentrate on keeping my face plump. Keeping lines at bay, only have laugher lines at the moment. And I've noticed I'm getting slack skin under my jaw line and am dreading getting slack jowls so anything that would help with that. Do I get the UFO or the LED or do I used a combination, what about the sensilift
I'm so overwhelmed by the choices!
If you want to keep your face plump, over time an LED mask is the best bet. The top rated one here is by Current Body, but other posts also recommend Dr Dennis Gross and Light Salon (I have the latter). LED masks help keep skin clear, hydrated, plump and fresh looking by stimulating collagen production.
For a slack jawline, a microcurrent device is your best bet! Posters here really rate the Nu Face. I have a Magnitone Lift Off and like it a lot, although if I’d found this thread before I purchased it, I would have gotten a Nu Face!
The Foreo UFO is more of a “fun to have” gadget. It’s like using sheet masks but better. It can definitely improve your skin but it can’t target your specific concerns here. Still, definitely a really great gadget and will make your skin glow.
3. My skin is combination but tends to be more oily although the dry bits can get very dry. Is there any brand that can be recommended where the products aren't too rich. I'm using Clarins at the moment but not convinced. Also what do I need to add to my routine I see a lot of talk about retinol and collagen or vit C?
Which Clarins products are you using? Their Lotus Oil is good for oily, combo skin but in general I don’t personally rate most of their skin products. Others may disagree!
I’m no expert, but from my own experiences it sounds like you may need to hydrate your skin slightly more to even out the extremes of dryness and oil, and then target your specific concerns with ingredients like retinol or Vitamin C.
I would hydrate more by doing the following: adding a gentle acid exfoliator to my skincare routine (glycolic acid suits most people and targets a lot of different skin issues, but I would probably start with mandelic acid if you haven’t used acid before, as it’s similar but far less strong. Again,
Face Theory do a good one that won’t freak your face out!)
Look at glycerin-based serums and moisturisers to add hydration to your skin too. Obviously if your skin is combo you won’t want anything too heavy. Dr Shereene Idris recommends an Avene glycerin serum. Definitely have a watch of her videos to learn a lot more, she is amazing!
So basically, to put it in simpler terms you’ll need:
a cleanser (preferably a gentle one to start with)
An acid exfoliator or toner, like the mandelic acid, glycolic or azeliac acid I mentioned above. This would be the second step in your routine. Different acids do slightly different things, but they all exfoliate your skin and help cleanse it, ensuring your skin gets the best from the products you then apply.
Serums to target concerns, i.e. ageing, hyperpigmentation, dryness, oil control etc. Vitamin C would usually come under this bit - it helps brighten your skin. Niacinamide might also be helpful for your oily skin, as it helps regulate oil production and appearance of pores. There’s a whole world of serums out there so there’s a lot to think about here - start with your biggest concern and just focus on that, I think. You can add more as you go along (you don’t want to add a billion new products at once anyway, as you won’t know what’s working and what isn’t!!)
Retinol/retinoid/retinal are all the same thing in different strengths and formulas. These are vitamin A based products and are scientifically proven to increase skin cell turnover, help minimise wrinkles, clear skin and help maintain a plumper, hydrated complexion. They can be very harsh so always start with the lowest formula and work up. I really recommend the Medik8 Crystal Retinal: start with 1 and work your way up.
Obviously, you also need a moisturiser. What are you currently using? It sounds like you need a relatively lightweight gel texture, and then you could add a face oil to your drier parts. I recommend pure jojoba oil - cheap and the closest thing to our natural sebum, so works extremely well. Only use oils at night as they can interrupt your SPF.
Speaking of SPF, it’s a non-negotiable if you’re using acids and retinol - every single day, even in the depths of winter. This will always be the last step in your routine. SPF50 broad spectrum sunscreen is what you need - there’s a billion on the market, it can take a while to find one you really like. Personally I recommend Ultra Sun for face anti-ageing formula SPF50.
4. Any recommendation for an at home hair removal on the bikini line? I've only seen mention of the hair removal used on legs on this thread
I have no idea - I’m a waxer (lockdown was tough
)
If you got this far thanks for reading
I could use all the help I can get. I've tried going to beauticians before but I just don't feel like I'm getting the right help or advice.
No worries! Hope my reply makes sense, and are somewhat helpful. Huge apologies if it’s overwhelming. Skincare is overwhelming at first I find and everyone’s skin is so different!
I really recommend learning some of the basics first by reading around and watching YouTube, although be aware that many of the skin care influencers have different approaches to things and it can be confusing.
I would check out the following YouTube channels to learn some basics:
Dr Shereene Idriss (dermatologist and THE BEST for general skincare advice)
Labmuffin Beauty Science (pHD in Chemistry)
James Welsh (skin influencer and much more sensible and likeable than the rest of them)
Cassandra Banks (medical aesthetician - REALLY annoying and preachy sometimes but breaks down the science of skincare nicely)
They will probably contradict each other at points, but that’s the issue with skincare - everyone seems to agree on the very basics but has a different approach on everything else!
Stay away from Hyram and Caroline Hirons… I don’t think anyone who’s truly into skincare rates either of them that highly.
