Favorite products?

I have super dry, super pale and thin sensitive skin. I am 36 going on 37, and most people think I'm in my mid to late 20s when they meet me. I tried Bare Minerals in my early 20s when it was the new thing and the Bismuth Oxychloride (a known carcinogen!) in it gave me a pretty substantial chemical burn so now I refuse to use anything they make, so take my suggestions with that in mind.

See a good dermatologist and get a prescription strength Tretinoin cream. There is no substitute. Use it religiously on your face, neck, chest/cleavage, and the backs of your hands. This has made the most noticeable difference in my skin over the last several years.

Twice a week in the evenings I use the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant on my face, neck, chest/cleavage, arms, and the backs of my hands. I have keratosis pilaris pretty bad on my arms and that's how I control it, found it worked well on the other areas too.

I swear by an oil face cleanser for super-dry skin like mine. I use the Bioderma Atoderm one, and I double cleanse on days I've worn makeup with the CeraVe Cream-to-Foam cleanser after.

The serums I'm currently using are the Sunday Riley CEO Vitamin C one in the AM, and the Juno Antioxidant + Superfood one for PM.

My daily morning moisturizer is the Clinique 72hr Lipid Replenishing Hydrator, I like it the best of all the ones in that line. In the evening I layer the same brand & line overnight mask OR I slug it with the CeraVe Healing Ointment if I feel super dry or I wore makeup that day (which seriously dries me out).

I swear by the Laniege Lip Sleeping Mask overnight. My lips start to chap on the days I forget to apply it before bed, I barely need chapstick on the ones I don't forget. That and a good DIY sugar lip scrub with cinnamon or peppermint during my AM shower and my lips are always super-soft and smooth.

The sunscreen I use the most is the CosRx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream. Only one that doesn't burn my eyes when I sweat and it travels. I am on the hunt for a tinted sunscreen that doesn't bug my skin/eyes (or turn me into an oompa loompa), haven't found one yet though.

The Ordinary Retinol (0,5%) in Squalane Serum👌🏻

Other than that mostly German products from the drugstore.

Tretinoin is a holy grail. You might get a bit dry so I recommend La roche posay baume 5+ for extra moisturising and antheleos La roche posay sunscreen. It will be absolute game changer sis.

I love the ZO skin health products from Dr. Obagi. Its extremly expensive. So I only buy like 2-3 products every year. I use the ZO COMPLEXION RENEWAL PADS, and ZO Daily Power Defense, ZO Gentel cleanser. You dont need to use them all of the time, you can use them in intervals, like 6 week in a row, then a break, then 6 weeks again. I cant use them all the time, because they are strong with potent ingredienses. I also really like La Roche-Posay Effaclar, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche. I have sensitive skin. I am 35, most people think I am in my late tweenties. Not sure if that is because of skin care or genetics. But I like taking care of my skin. I havent tried Tretinoin, but its next in my list!

Skinceuticals vitamin c serum and eye cream. ( Kinda pricey but last a long time). Tretinoin. ( Can get a Rx on line). And Clinique moisture surge or Neutrogena hydro boost. And of course an SPF when going outside.

I feel like an odd one out here cuz my skincare is incredibly basic. I use the CeraVe Salic Acid Cleanser, CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid, CeraVe PM Moisturizer, and the CeraVe spf. I have sensitive skin tho and I get facials 1-2 times a month, so I use products that don’t cause a fuss.

For my body lotion I switch between Jergens Ultra Healing, Gold Bond Pure Moisture, Vasaline Aloe, and Nivea. I just buy whatever’s cheapest cuz they all work the same for my body. I will say, I really like how easy the Vaseline Aloe spreads and how quickly it dries. Def my fav with Jergens Ultra Healing right behind it.

Imo, skin care is best kept consistent and simple.

I have found I have to go simple. Every time I tried to add more to my routine my skin is like "ha, no". I'm an oily, sensitive, acne-prone skinned person.

• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser (super gentle)

• Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water (for my eye makeup mostly)

• CVS generic 4% benzoyl peroxide wash (leave on for 5-10 minutes, wash off, and stay clear)

• Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin (amazing)

• La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 (incredible for irritated, dry skin, especially in winter)

• Suncreen - usually prefer Asian sunscreens for my face when possible, as they just feel better and less greasy. Canmake Mermaid Gel UV, Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream, and so on. I use Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence on my arm tattoos because it is completely clear and will give the skin a sheen, but has a bit too much alcohol for my face to tolerate. I still use American chemical sunscreens here and there of course, but the Asian ones feel better.

So yeah. You'll notice I rarely use actives here. When I do it's a DIY vitamin C with a recipe by Lab Muffin - look her up on Youtube or search for her site - or an enzyme scrub or peeling gel. That's about it really.

I wash my face with bar soap, then spray with rose water which makes my skin smell rosy and look really dewy, and some nights I will massage my face and neck with almond oil . My skin is neither on the super dry or oily side but this may help if you have dry skin!

I will exfoliate now and then when my skins feeling flakey or bumpy. And pamper myself with a cold rose face mask I got from Lush !

PS : be wary of skin care products as many of them are unhealthy. I use these products because it's 100 percent rose water, oil etc without the added toxic chemicals. Many skincare products contain hormone disruptors, irritants and even carcinogens!

I have dry type skin so logically I buy moisturizing creams for dry skin and there is one that I particularly liked, it's a hydrolipid cream that I bought at the pharmacy for 15 euros but I promise you it's worth buying the creams a little expensive and on the other hand this cream had lasted 2 months and the little cream that I put on my face spread very well and I did not have to stretch my skin on the face for that.

Sokoglam. Google Christine Cho. And, read her book on 10 step face care routine. I have used it since 2019. And, can't complain. I save all the hassle by getting her 10 step routine care for normal skin. Supplement it heavily with face masks from Dunne's/Tesco. And, I got a Vitamin C serum from Therapie clinic.

You don't have to pay the whole 120$ or something to try it out, try the 5 step care routine first maybe for your skin type or find similar products in the local markets. I find it cheap enough however.