Skin Care Total

I need some advice on skin care..help!?

Ok.. I am a 36 year old woman and have started to notice signs of aging on my skin. I have combination skin which is sensitive and can be prone to spots especially on my chin. So much so, I have acne scarring on my chin. I have noticed fine lines appearing and a few red veins on my cheeks. Having said that, my skin can be dry too. I try and eat healthily, and I drink plenty of water. I havent really spent too much money on my face; I tend to splash out more on going to a decent hairdressers. However, I cleanse and moisturise daily and use Olay Regenerist Products. I have a friend who thinks I should step up a gear on the products I use because of the way I feel and she thinks I should visit a beautician and use professional products as oppose to supermarket bought ones like Olay. Opinions please! Total waste of money or good idea? Any recommendations as I dont really want to go to a beauticians but I dont know which are the better products

Well, I've worked with several skin care lines for over a year now, maybe I can help?

It sounds like you have true combination skin: oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), dry elsewhere, oily some days, dry the next. This kind of skin can be a little more challenging for recommending products. However, I think I can recommend a few:

1) For your cleanser, something relatively refreshing and pretty mild will do. I like Murad's Soothing Gel Cleanser because it's eye-friendly and takes off makeup as well as dirt, impurities and oils without stripping the skin, plus it's oil-free. While the other cleansers in their line aren't recommended for the eye area, the Refreshing Cleanser is a great anti-aging cleanser for daily use. You could also try Purifying Cleansing Gel by Exuviance for the same reasons. Murad is a leader in effective, botanical-enriched skincare, and Exuviance is a medical-grade skincare line that's perfect for sensitive skin.

www.murad.com
www.exuviance.com

2) Toner would be an optional step for you if you're using the Murad cleanser, because all of Murad's cleansers are pH balanced. Exuviance carries a toner called Moisture Balance Toner that helps to balance pH as well as prepare the skin to receive moisture. I wouldn't bother too much with a toner unless you feel like the extra step.

3) Treatment is a key step that you're lacking right now. If you're noticing some mild breakouts on the chin and some scarring, you could use Murad's T-Zone Pore Refining Gel. It's got a little glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and retinol to help de-clog pores and minimize them, as well as help with small breakouts and control oiliness. If you'd like something a little stronger, you could step it up to their Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel, which is composed of similar ingredients in a higher concentration.

You might also consider the option of a serum to help enhance the effectiveness of your other products. I really like a serum called Mesojection Healthy Cell Serum from DDF (Doctor's Dermatalogic Formula) Skincare. It's pricey, but they use a great technology to encourage cell turnover and increase elasticity, as well as protect against free-radical damage, which is probably going to be causing things like wrinkles, fine lines, and enhancing things like broken capillaries such as those in your cheeks. So, prevention helps!

www.ddfskincare.com

4) Moisturizing twice daily is essential to good skin health, so you're already doing a great job! I would recommend moisturizers you're going to get something out of, something that'll not only hydrate, but help prevent further aging as well. For day, something with sunscreen is a MUST. I like DDF's Daily Protective Moisturizer with SPF15. It's fragrance-free and really hydrating, plus it helps keep the skin hydrated and balanced. I'm also a fan of Murad's Energizing Pomegranate Moisturizer with SPF15. It's oil-free, smells great, light-weight, and soaks in quickly, with added mattifiers to make sure you're not shiny, greasy, or feeling suffocated by your moisturizer.

As for your night moisturizer, I'm thinking Perfecting Night Cream or Skin Perfecting Lotion from Murad. They're both anti-aging, the difference is the feel. The lotion is light-weight, the cream is richer. I know the lotion also has retinol to smooth, even, and clear the complexion, so it's only for night specifically.

5) Your eyes need their own treatment as well! Make sure you're wearing an eye cream during the day, like DDF's Protective Eye Cream with SPF15 or Murad's Essential-C Eye Cream with SPF15. At night, you'll want a non-SPF cream, like Exuviance's Hydrating Lift Eye Complex, which is enhanced with PHA's (polyhydroxy acids) to ensure it absorbs deeply for maximum effectiveness, as well as chemically exfoliates the eye area gently to minimize wrinkles and maximize hydration and glowing, radiant skin.

6) Also consider semi-weekly or weekly regimens, like masques, scrubs, or something along those lines. For starters, I like Murad's AHA/BHA Exfoliating cleanser about two to three times a week for you. It's got glycolic acid and salicylic acid to help resurface the skin, as well as exfoliating beads. Dead skin builds up, it needs to be exfoliated off to reveal newer, more beautiful skin.

Sorry that was so long! Without being able to see your skin, I can't recommend something totally accurately. My recommendation is to see a dermatologist or esthetician to determine the best regimen for you. Trust me, good skincare is worth the money! I try to use skincare lines that are formulated by doctors, specifically dermatologists. I find I can trust them more to not break me out and to be truly effective.

Also, check out www.ulta.com. They've got all the products I've mentioned.

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