It’s been a couple of years since the last discussion on here. I’m trying to get more serious about it since I’m getting older, but there’s a lot of information out there.
What’s everyone using?
wash with water and Aveeno moisturiser when i get up and again before bed. if I take a shower or feel really greasy I’ll use a cetaphil cleanser to wash with. that’s it. and try drink enough water but i suck at it. spf is for sure important too but i haven’t sought out one that i like that’s non oily. I’ve heard the spf moisturisers are snake oil.
When I wake up in the morning, if my face looks a little puffy I put on an ice pack while I do my stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now. After I remove the ice pack, I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower, I use a water-activated gel cleanser, then a honey/almond body scrub, and on the face, an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb/mint facial mask, which I leave on for 10 minutes, while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an aftershave with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older, then moisturizer, then anti-aging eye balm, followed by moisturizing protective lotion.
Feed me a stray cat
I have a bottle of Dr. Bronners soap that I use for everything
My skin is ridiculously sensitive. I probably damaged the shit out of my skin barrier with all those stridex pads and astringents that were super popular when I was 14.
Idk if it’s making much of a difference, but I use Vanicream cleanser, Neutrogena retinol, then aveeno moisturizer. I may also add a layer of aveeno oat restore cream or whatever too.
I was slugging with Vaseline for a while and I think that seemed to work but my brain is broken and im.exhausted all the time so I stopped
serious answer
Before bed I use an exfoliating silicon pad under lukewarm water with a gentle cleanser, and shave about once a week with jojoba oil. After gently toweling off I apply a pea-sized drop of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream, and brush my teeth while I wait for that to dry. Once dry to the touch I slug on serum, then a light moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, then a slightly heavier one with niacinimide and jojoba oil (love that stuff), and then I cap all of that off with a layer of cheap-ass petroleum jelly. Hence, slugging.
In the morning I just rinse off all the goop from last night, then apply makeup w/SPF. Seems to work pretty well!
But actually I use Axe 7-in-1: bodywash, shaving creme, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, toothpaste, and protein shake.
Face wash, toner, a serum with hyaluronic acid, and a neutral light moisturiser. SPF sun cream in the summer. I’m not really an expert but keeping your face clean, moisturised, and protected from the sun are the most important aspects, and a lot will depend on if you have dry or oily skin, what climate you live in, etc.
I recommend the book How Not to Age by Dr. Michael Greger, he has a lot of recommendations about what skin care ingredients and chemicals are actually backed by science. It cites a lot of research, and I think it’s a pretty comprehensive overview of the subject. It also has other information on aging, not just skincare. Definitely don’t hit me up if you want a digital copy of it (epub, also available in the usual places)
Low dose Isotretinoin. It makes my fingers dry so a bit of moisturizer.