Soap and routines – whats yours? Help me find one!

[Anonymous]

To wash my makeup off in the evening – i use soap and water.  I wash my face twice.  Once to clean the makeup off, then again to make sure its all off, and give my skin a clean to remove anything else under the makeup like oil and whatnot.  Then i use an anti ageing cream, eye cream, vaseline on my eyelashes and eyebrows.

In the morning, i was my face once with soap and water, and use my day cream with spf and then my makeup.

Sometimes, i use witch hazel too, but not always – and usually just on my forehead and around my nose.

My reckoning was the soap IS drying, as it cleans everything off my skin, and so when i put my creams on, it sinks in better and i reap better benefits, however, i have been told this is not the case – that soap is very drying and causes wrinkles!

I was told – i need to use a ‘proper’ face wash, and an anti ageing serum. So this lady (department store – elizabeth arden stand) gave me a free sample of wash, serum and lotion.

Now – if i were to change my routine, what do i actually need in it?  Im 30 with normal skin which breaks into a sweat when i rush around or stress (not too often) but is rarely dry. Its not necessarily oily, but if i were to pick a product i would go for the normal – oily as it would help out on a ‘busy’ day.  I understand that i may indeed need to switch over my soap  for a  face wash, so essentially, how and what would i now change the routine to?

Face wash, serum, moisturiser?  What about toner? Is a serum the same as a moisturiser?  Would i need both?

If anybody can fix me up with the routine and which products i should be using, could you make any recommendations for me on the info i have given?

Anyone who can lend a hand, thank you for helping attempt to keep wrinkles at bay!

[ribbbitMember]

I am not sure I want to flat out recommend something but I will tell you what works for me.  I have combination / oily skin.  

In the morning:

Wash face in shower with either Olay Pore Minimizing Scrub or Boots NO7 rebalancing cleanser (more on that later). 

Apply Boots NO7 rebalancing moisturizer with SPF and let soak in while finishing up (brushing teeth and whatnot, probably about 15 minutes)

Apply primer and makeup.

At night -

Remove makeup with either Pond’s Cold Cream (Cucumber Deep Cleansing and Makeup Remover NOT just the plain cold cream which I do not like) or Nuance Salma Hayek Makeup Remover.  Here’s the thing:  If I use the Pond’s I do not clean my face afterwards because it already feels pretty clean.  I just apply my moisturizer after the Pond’s and be done with it.  However if I use the Nuance, I do have to clean my face and I will use the Olay when I do that as it makes me feel a little oily.   Now if I use the Olay at night, I use the NO7 in the morning if that makes sense.  I do not use eye cream or toner or a special night moisturizer.  I personally just don’t feel like I need it.  

On the occasion that I do have breakouts I use a clay mask at night after cleansing my face but before moisturizer.   I also have a Neutrogena Pore Cleanser that I will sometimes use during breakouts as well. 

So, there you have it.  My recommendation would be to start with the basics, a good cleanser, a good moisturizer and a makeup remover.   Then you can kind of decide where you want to go from there.  As far as wrinkles I would say drinking a lot of water, moisturizing and using SPF goes a long way but I’m no expert.   So there is my 2 cents.

[shellygrrlModerator]

Serums and moisturizers are not the same thing. Serums will penetrate deeper into the skin than moisturizers do, and it seems to me they have more nutrients as well.

http://skincare.about.com/od/extraskincaresteps/f/SerumFAQ.htm

Toners are one of those things that aren’t strictly necessary but there are those who like them.

I have combination/oily skin that is prone to breakouts on occasion, and I’ve been adjusting my skincare routine in recent months. I’ll be 32 in less than two weeks.

Daytime…
* Cleanser – Currently I’m rotating between Caudalie Foaming Cleanser (just a simple, gentle foaming cleanser suitable for all skin types), Acure Organics Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin, and my trusty Garnier Expert Exfoliator Daily Exfoliating Gel. I use the latter in the shower once a week. The other two I rotate depending on what I want to use.
* Toner – I’ve not been using it much lately, but in more recent times I’ve been using Alba’s Deep Clean Astringent. It’s got witch hazel in it among other things. Personally, I don’t like it as much as the previous one I used (The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Toner). Sometimes I’ll use just this if I’m in a pinch.
* Moisturizer – Currently, Boots Botanics Complexion Refining Day Moisture Lotion with SPF 12. Before that I used Bioderma Sebium Mat, which is a mattifying moisturizer. While it did well with mattifying, it left my skin feeling not-so-great. Plus, I missed having an SPF built in. I think the Bioderma one may work better as a primer for someone with super oily skin.

If I’m suffering a breakout I’ll use a spot treatment by Alba on it and on the surrounding area.

Nighttime…
For the longest time I did not have a nighttime routine, and even now that I’ve begun one I struggle to stick with it.

Cleanser – one of the two I mentioned already. (Acure’s or Caudalie’s. Generally, Acure’s.)

Moisturizer – Boots Botanics Complexion Refining Light Night Cream. And it really is light! *nods*

I don’t really use any serums. I don’t think I need to right now.

Makeup removal…
I don’t wear makeup every day. When I do, I remove what’s on my face with makeup removing wipes (just some generic ones from Walmart). For my eyes, I currently use Bioderma’s cleansing water (the one for sensitive skin). While it’s very gentle and does a decent job of getting stuff off, I prefer Caudalie’s cleansing water overall. (I think it’s more effective.)

For you, maybe all you need is a good cleanser and a moisturizer, along with a good makeup remover. I think what products you get will depend largely on your skintype (obviously) and what benefits you want from your skincare.

[EdAj77Member]

I personally love Dermalogica. I know that everyone has their own preference, and has a different experience with facial products as far as what works for them.

 

[Anonymous]

So i went out and bought a creamy cleasner faceface – a vitamin e one, from the Body Shop.  It washes everything off great but in the 3 days ive been using it, ive gotten 3 massive clumps of spots!!!  One on my forehead, one on the side of my eyebrow and one on my cheek

Do i stick at it, or change to another product because, i really wanna pick em!

[divasinger5Member]

I’m forty years old Hun and I’ve been using soap on my face my entire life.  I do not look my age. I truly have no wrinkles. So, the thing about soap causing wrinkles is a complete myth in my case. I used Avon skin care as a teenager and started using clinique’s 3 step in my 20′s. Use your soap and  moisterize if that’s what’s been working for you.

[Renee JohnsonMember]

First of all, a makeup rep at a cosmetics counter is going to try to sell you their product. One thing I learned after spending lots of dollars, is that there are plenty of drugstore brands that get the job done. You can try using Dove, or a cold cream. Target makes a face wash in a pump bottle that is fantastic. You can try cold cream too. There is Ponds cold cream, but there is one by Jergens, works the same, and is much cheaper. I would suggest that if you wear eye makeup, remove it first. I use Sea Breeze astringent a couple of times a week (evenings) after washing my face, then put on moisturizer.

You can find everything you need for your skin without spending $$$’s at a cosmetic counter.

**Sometimes when we switch to a new product, we have a reaction. You should use it for at least 2 weeks, then you will know whether it works well for you.

 

[ilovemyxbMember]

i agree dermalogica is a really good line and they have a lot of options! murad is another good line… and you really should be using a make up remover to take off ur make up, not soap and water… soap will strip ur skin and make it very dry and flaky. toners are good bc they will help balance ur skins ph and will also help to minamize your pores… its a simple step to add and it will help you a lot… and seabreeze is not a good choice… its harsh and will dry ur skin out…

[JillianMember]

By recommendation of a pharmacist (spelling? sorry) the best product is Dove 1/4 moisturizing soap. Do this morning and night applying a rich moisturizer afterwards. I use to use so many products and Dove soap is by far the best for me, kills bacteria and does not dry out your skin. I also take my eye makeup off with plain babyoil and the is fabulous as well (only use at night). For a moisturizer I use MAC’s comfort cream that can be used under makeup too! An exfoliator is honey, sugar and sometimes whole milk. Works wonderful and no need for sacyilic acid when using Dove. Sorry for any spelling mistakes, too late for me haha but everything does work you have my word!

[annabeautyboxMember]

hey, I’ve written an article about the differences between all kinds of cleanser. You can read it here. I also made a video about my night cleansing routine. I show all the products I use and the techniques. You can watch it here. Hope this will be useful for you, aks me questions if you have some!

[Kathy VillMember]

My skincare routine:

Morning:

1. Wash my face with lukewarm water (to open up pores) and use (Olay Regenerist) facial wash, followed by rinsing with cold water (to tighten open pores)

2. Toner (Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner)

3. Moisturizer (water based since i have oily skin / with SPF if i have to be exposed under the sun for a very long time)

 

At night is when my skin care routine gets tedious

1. If I have make up on, I remove it by rubbing my face with a cleansing oil (Muji Cleansing Oil). It completely removes all makeup – face, lips, and stubborn eye makeup. Easy to rinse off with water.

2. I proceed to my facial wash again. (twice a week I use St. Ives apricot scrub to exfoliate my face – It prevents blackheads )

3. I pat my skin dry, and apply HONEY on my face, I leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse it after with cold water. (So no time is wasted I do chores on those 15 minutes or more of waiting hehe)

4. Toner + Eye Cream + Night Cream

 

My routine might be a bit time consuming but it pays off. I used to have oily skin and would get pimples occasionally,  more when it’s my time of the month. However, when I religiously went about this routine, my skin was not as oily anymore and did not have pimples as well. My pores also are not as visible as it was before, and my skin is a lot clearer.

 

*I switch products every 2-3 months

 

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