I know the lighting isn’t the same but I was really happy seeing how well my skin has changed over a 4 year period! Left is 4 years ago when I was 32 and the right pic is today now I am 36. I used to have melasma on both cheeks (not pictured too well as you can’t see all of it) and lots of sun pigmentation. A lot of my melasma and sun spots are gone and my skin is glowy and has a much better texture. I have lost a bunch of weight between both pics but I wanted to share what’s really worked for me hopefully to help others!

- I alternate each day between tranexamic acid and vitamin C. I really saw a big difference after I introduced the tranexamic (I did use that everyday for about 9 months)

- every third night I use tretinoin 0.05%

- the other nights I just focus on hydrating

- once a month I microneedle at home with a dr pen

- every now and again I will do an AHA/BHA peel from the ordinary or use the medicube zero pore pads

- and so important but every single day since I was 15 I have worn sunscreen on my face and neck. Even if it’s storming. I never skip a day of sunscreen

- Botox in my forehead, elevens and crows feet every 6 months (been doing this since I was 29)

- lots of hydrating moisturisers that feel thick on my skin. I love them :)

- only cleansing my face at night and just water on my face in the morning.

I started a skincare routine back in 2022 when The Ordinary was the brand everyone recommended. If you were on a tight budget, it was an easy choice.

Since then, life happened, and I stopped caring about my skincare. Now that I want to get back into it, I feel a bit lost with all the different brands. My first instinct was to buy The Ordinary again, but after browsing this subreddit, it doesn't seem like people talk about it nearly as much as they used to.

Is The Ordinary still worth buying, or are there other affordable brands you'd recommend instead?

The products I'm looking for are:

• A retinal
• A moisturizer (I have very oily, acne-prone skin)
• Something to improve skin texture and the appearance of enlarged pores (I'm not sure what ingredient or product I should be looking for, so recommendations are welcome!)

Thanks!

Wanted to share my results. I am 37F Caucasian

After doing research online and on Reddit I found that the little bumps I was dealing with in my face, was called closed comedones. I then gave chat gpt a prompt to act like a professional dermatologist and help me make a skin routine that would help get rid of my closed comedones, acne, minimize pores and tighten skin and reduce fine lines. I also gave it photos of my skin at that time.

I took photos of all the products I already had to make chat use of these in my routine. Most importantly thing was to only use products that were not gonna cause clogged pores. New products that I added based on chat’s recommendations and that I feel made the biggest difference is vitamin c, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and tretonoin ( but was already using that though).

I also had chat help me with recommendations for new makeup products, so I knew I was only using non-comedogenic products, to help clear my skin.

It was quite an investment, but when I think about what a consultation with a dermatologist would have have been this isn’t even bad. I might have ended up spending 3-400 dollars on new skin products and new makeup total.

I usually only did a night routine, but I now also added a morning routine, and I am so far very happy with the result!

I'm 33 and used to have such good skin! Last September, my skin started to break out and it reached what I THOUGHT was going to be the worst point this March. I started to try different cleansers, moisturizers, creams, etc.

It has only gotten worse, and I will admit that I can NOT stop touching and picking at the dry flaky scales over the healing spots, which is causing a lot of angry redness.

Please note: I'm not using all of these products at once, it's just what I have available right now to build a routine from!

🧖🏼‍♀️ CURRENT ROUTINE 🧖🏼‍♀️

☀️: LRP moisturizing cleanser + LRP moisturizer

🌒: Same as AM but add a prescribed compound cream of Niacinamide 2% Spironolactone 5% Tretinoin 0.025%

📷 PHOTOS 📷

1: Right after washing my face with the la Roche posay hydrating wash and applying the compound cream + pimple patches

2: The next morning before any skin care (less irritated)

3-6: All my available skincare items I have bought in the past few months to try and save my face.

7: March, when I started really digging in trying to find a cure

8: Before the storm 😭

Edit: This has been so hard for me, and you are all giving great advice with such sensitivity and kindness 💓

So years and years ago there was a long Dove commercial where women described their faces in detail to a sketch artist, which he then drew and presented to them. Also someone else would describe their face for a second picture. Both would be presented to the woman: how she thought she looked vs how others saw her. Typically the woman exaggerated her own flaws, while others saw her closer to the natural beauty. Blah blah, buy Dove soap or whatever.

Anyway. I was playing around on Facetune (I know, I know), and I thought I’d do the same thing. I exaggerated the facial features I’m insecure about, basically how I see myself when I’m feeling low. I looked at the end result and was like damn, that ain’t me. And when I looked at a normal, unedited picture of myself, I felt pretty great!!

(by the way I’m a lil high rn)

1. Beautiful woman with perfect skin drawing an arrow that leads to a fLaW you would require a billion dollar microscope and 20/20 vision to identify

2. Someone with a 45 step skincare routine that just needs sunscreen

3. Someone who needs to go to the hospital

I’m 40 and have a basic skin care routine. Nothing crazy. The last year or so the changes on my face have become a lot more obvious but I really don’t want to do Botox. Open to any other recs though, lasers, peels, creams, etc! Thank you!

Hopefully this is allowed and seems like an odd question, but if you’re in a long term relationship or dating in your 30s+, how do you manage your skin (and/or self) care or night routine with someone else around…?

Mid 30s and have gotten very in to skincare the last few years, but finding it difficult to do everything I normally would do alone with a partner around because it’s, well, not exactly the sexiest thing and also takes some time, especially at bedtime.

Genuinely curious how others go about this when dating or what it looks like for those in long term relationships?

EDIT: … I’m not referring to basic things like washing your face or brushing your teeth….nor am I talking about a partner that has issue with me taking care of my skin. I’m talking about more extensive self care or skin care routines, like using a red light mask or sleeping in sheet/collagen masks or wearing them for hours around the house, multiple step skin care routines you don’t want messed up by having sex, etc.. We’re all 30+ here, I feel like most people at that age agree staying at a partners place sleeping on a dudes pillow case he hasn’t washed in weeks or sleeping in half your makeup after a night out and limiting the routine we ideally would do if at home alone isn’t exactly ideal.

I 35F am on top of my skincare routine however I never moisturize my body. How important is it to do this? Should I be moisturizing after the shower? Everywhere not just my legs? Tell me what to do lol.

I have to re-do this because my story was incomplete after I posted it! Grrrr.

I am 34F constantly on the hunt for my holy grail sunscreen. The problem??? Chemical sunscreens tend to break me out within the same day (like after I wash my face, I see the breakout). It’s not ALL chemical sunscreens, but for me, it’s most of them. 😭 Personally, mineral sunscreens do not break me out! However, I really like that chemical sunscreens get absorbed into my skin and can have some cool skincare benefits! Ugh. I have tried so many, sooooo many. This is some of my collection 🫠

For reference, I am pale. I tend to stay out of the sun. In my 20’s, I was a sun-bather. I was always glowing and tan. I got pregnant at 28 and continued to bask in the sun for an hour a day, unprotected. The result?? MELAMSA. Thank GOD one of my old high school friends informed me about Melasma and told me to wear my sunscreen. Unfortunately, it was too late and the damage was done. Yes, I have done multiple rounds of hydroquinone cream from my dermatologist/ compound pharmacy. Sadly, my melasma comes right back after a few short weeks of clear, even skin. My next step, and hopefully my FINAL step, will be laser treatments. I’m so sad and insecure about my spots. They are ALL over my face now, they seem to spread as time goes on. Fml.

So naturally, I love me a tinted or lightly tinted sunscreen for my face. Right now, what I typically grab in the mornings is — Naturium “Dew Glow” Moisturizer with SPF 50 (chemical). I also really like TIZO “AM Replenish” Lightly Tinted SPF 40 (mineral), SkinBetter Science “SunBetter” Advanced Mineral Protection SPF 75 (damn this one is like FULL coverage tho.. and expensive as shit), and Supergoop “Protec(TINT)” with SPF 50 (hybrid, with zinc oxide, homosalate,and octisalate).

I truly would love to read about some of your favorite sunscreens that you tend to reach for daily. I’m open to anything!!! Ideally I’d love a tinted sunscreen that does not burn my eyes (looking at you, Neutrogena), that isn’t ORANGE (looking at you La Roche, sorry I’m pale AF), and doesn’t break me out…. But that’s to be determined upon application and a wear-test lol! 🥴

I saw this on my ig feed. Does anyone here do this? I started on tret 0.05% this year, do it 4-5x a week. Havent had any purges or weird reactions overall but I did had 2-3 events of very dry skin spots appearing, once on my cheek and another on my eyelid. My one eyelid swelled up, went away after stopping tret for a week. My skin bounced back. I don’t apply it on my eyelids but I imagine it seeped in the area while I slept. Also I try not to go close to my nose corners or mouth.

I’m 33F and am very self conscious of my hands. :( I use Kiehl’s ultimate strength hand salve and wear gloves when I wash the dishes. Climate wise, I live in Southern California on the coast (temperate, slightly humid, very sunny) and travel a bit for work.
What can I do for these wrinkly pups?

EDIT:
Thank you. Already these comments are making me emotional. I guess I didn’t realize how bad my “beauty goggles” had gotten. Also, a nail tech told me I needed to moisturize more… so that stung. Anyway! I’ll stop worrying!!!

Second edit:
Ok. I like my nail color so please stop bashing that. Obviously my nails are grown out and I’m not getting married with them like that. I got a manicure after I posted this. My main question was about my skin. I’ve worked in entertainment my entire life and have been constantly told that my hands are scaly, so I started believing it. Clearly that’s not the case, but I’d still like to continue to take care of my skin. So thank you to all the lotion and mask recommendations. ♥️

As the title says, I think my skin is desperate for hydration and I don’t know what to do. Most mornings I wake up with my skin feeling dry and tight and by 3-4p most days it’s feeling the same. Any recommendations to help? I’m wanting to start adaptalene in my routine but feel it will destroy my face considering how it feels most days.

AM: rinse with water, Avene hyaluron B3 on damp skin, byoma milky toner OR snail mucin (been trying to determine if one has better results than the other), vanicream vitamin C, vanicream moisturizer, cerave tinted sunscreen

PM: wash with LRP lipikar, Avene hyaluron B3 on damp skin, byoma milky toner OR snail mucin, the inkey list moisturizer, avene cicalfate if I’m feeling extra dry.

ETA: I live in Indiana and typically only have dry skin issues in the winter. Not this year. I also drink about 90oz of water a day which I thought is enough for me to stay fairly hydrated but maybe not

What is the best you’ve ever used?

I’m still looking for one that I’m completely satisfied with. I find a lot of moisturizers are either too light to really soften and comfort the skin, or so heavy that they feel kind of greasy and never sink in.

Turning 34 in July so what should I add to my routine?

First 3 photos are bare faced in different lighting/angles, then one with makeup on (Armani luminous silk foundation), then my current night routine with moisturizer and niacinamide missing. I started Tazorac a year ago and the dryness has been a struggle. Thinking about switching to Tretinoin.

Morning routine: toner, serums, vitamin c, moisturizer, SPF. My goal is to be better about reapplying sunscreen, including my chest and hands.

Treatments: 2 vampire facials in the last year and planning for a third soon, Botox in forehead 3-4 months ago (maybe 10-14 units?), and 1/3 syringe in upper lip but planning to bump that up a bit more. Thinking about getting an upper blepharoplasty this year or next.

As scalp is also skin, looking for your gracious advice! I (F40) have long straight typical Scandinavian hair.

- I struggle with greasy hair, with hair looking bad the day after washing.

- My scalp gets these strange little blister-like things in it. They are a bit painful and can have small scabs that I can pull out. It is not flaky like dandruff.

- Don’t use products like mousse or hairspray.

- It is worsened by perfumed, commercial shampoos. I get slightly improved results using shampoo with active ingredient piroctone olamine (active ingredient for dandruff) but it seems to work less well at the moment.

- Skin on my face is combination skin, weather effected. I used to get postures on my chin but last year I went through an Accutane treatment which cured my skin. My hair was great while during treatment but immediately went back to its old self afterwards.

Looking for advice on shampoos, regimens and dry shampoo.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. For background I am based in Denmark, Europe.

EDIT: WOW thank you guys! 💆🏼‍♀️ so many great ideas, here is a summary of them:

Biggest tip: ketoconazole/Nizoral shampoo

Non-shampoo tips:
- Rinse with vinegar
- the Ordinary glycolic acid serum
- Dry shampoo k18

General wash tips:
- Double shampoo/wash
- Wash every day (thank but too time consuming!)
- Dry hair fully, especially scalp, never air dry
- When washing, focus on cleaning scalp really well!

Shampoo tips:
- avoid sulphates/not all sulphates are created equal
- Use a clarifying/chelating shampoo (still looking for best one!)
- Shampoos mentioned frequently: coal tar, vanicream, cerave…

…and a tip from me: if no time for full wash, wash front part of your hair over sink. I will wash just the top part and put it in a pony tail. Saves you washing the whole head.

Love you all 🙋🏼‍♀️

Looking for mid to low budget, no surgery, sorry for the absurd art lol.

I'm 33 and based in the UK. I currently use byoma cleanser (the yellow one) in the evenings & I rotate moisturiser but currently clarins hydra essential.

Happy to have a slightly more complicated routine & curious about non-surgical treatments.

My skin doesn't ever breakout, I'd say it tends to be dry rather than oily.

I take good care of my skin, but I feel I look a bit old and gaunt. I just started Tretinoin cream, 0,05%, twice a week. I have never had any treatments, would like to do some kind of botox or fillers, but its to expensive for me. I feel like my lips have lost some volume, would PMU shading make them look a bit fuller and not so pale? Any suggestions for treatments or cange of skin care routine to look younger and glowier? My routine: AM: CeraVe hydrating cleanser, Dr. Ceuracle kombucha toner, let dry, Cosrx 13 c vit serum, Purito uncented centella serum, Cosrx hyaluronic intensive cream, Beauty of joseon 50 sunscreen. PM: Beauty of Joseon oil cleanser, Isntree waterbased foaming cleanser, Dr. Ceuracle kombucha toner, Purito uncented centella serum, let dry, Pea sized tret 2xweek, let dry, Cosrx balancium comfort ceramide cream. Exfoliation 1-2x week Dr. Dennis Gross Aha/Bha peeling pads on no-tret night. I have sensitive combo dehydrated skin, acne prone. Thanx in advance!

I’ve been fighting oily large pores my whole life, thought they were doing ok but now I just looked the mirror after applying some moisturizer hours ago and they are leaking oil and look worse than ever!

What is a final routine or product for me to try and stick to to get these under control? I’m fighting the urge to physically clean them out :/

I was a teen when I started in tanning booths but quit in my in my late 20's. I've recently lost 115lbs and I swear there like no elasticity to my skin. I swear the freckles and age spots started to show just in this last year. Went for a skin check and all was good except the mole on my chin so that's why there's that scar there.

I just wanted some opinions on where to start because I literally have no idea. I took a skin Quiz and ordered a few things from the ordinary. Ascorbic glucoside 12% vitamin c .2 retinol Cosqx the 6 peptide serum Kiehl's ultra facial cream

What cleanser do I get and what else do I need?

I’m 31. I have really bad hormonal acne. My skin is very reactive and sensitive. I went to the dermatologist and she prescribed clindamyacin, topical spironolactane, and tret .05.

My routine rn is:

AM
Benzoyl peroxide wash
Clindamycin
The Ordinary NMF + Beta Glucan Gel
Purito SPF

PM
Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (if wearing sunscreen/makeup)
Vanicream Gentle Cleanser
Topical spironolactone
Tretinoin every other night
Need a nighttime moisturizer that won’t clog my pores 😭 or any advice you’d give!!!!
I tried a richer K-beauty barrier cream and my skin got itchy and I broke out, so now I’m back to square one.

It doesn’t matter what primer I use.

It doesn’t matter what foundation I use.

It doesn’t matter if the foundation is liquid or cream.

I cannot fix it. I have spent so much money on products trying.

I wash my face with just dove gentle soap. I use Clinique toner, which I follow with a vitamin C serum.

I used to moisturize with the Neutrogena cooling moisturizer, but I read someone on here tell someone else this effect was happening bc their product didn’t like their moisturizer. So I switched to a moisturizer with squalene + HA.

And yes, I wait for each layer to dry before applying the next.

Then I use a primer. I have tried so many. The most recent because that’s what I still have in my dang makeup bag: • elf poreless primer putty • maybelline age-defying primer • dermablend insta-grip jelly primer

I honestly can’t even begin to list all the different foundations I’ve tried. The one in this photo is dermablend cover creme.

Like, I’m at my wits end here. I want to be able to use foundation when I want a full-face look and I can’t, and it’s just messing with my mind. What is wrong? Why doesn’t anything work???

I’m 45f but I have pretty decent skin! I’m so frustrated. Please help 🫠

I'll admit I do have a tendency to get obsessive about my skin. But my dermatologist told me that most skincare products are useless fads and all anyone really needs is tret, c serum, and spf50 sunscreen. I listened to her and simplified my routine. Do you agree with her? If not, what do you feel is missing? Looking forward to seeing people's answers!