SKIN CARE REGIMEN IDEAS

May 21, 2013 12:20 PM

Looking for tips and tricks to come up with a skin care regimen for myself (31, F, with a beautiful baby). My goal is to get a glowing healthy skin in 3 months. The idea is to inculcate good habits, and hopefully some of them will stick for life. Any suggestions, beautiful men and women? Diet suggestions welcome, work out suggestions welcome, beauty tips welcome... basically all suggestions welcome :) You could also just share your inspiring story and that will keep me motivated enough ;-) Thank you!!
posted by Spice_and_Ice to Health & Fitness (27 answers total)

we can't really help you unless you tell us what your skin is like.
posted by lia at 12:26 PM on May 21, 2013

Clean your face every night. Put on sunscreen during the day.

I use a lot of drugstore brands.

I like the wipes to get makeup off, and a foaming cleanser (Neutrogena, Garnier, Balance) to clean.

Then some cream to protect at night.

I'm as loyal as the sale and the coupons.

Stay appropriately hydrated, eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies and think happy thoughts.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:27 PM on May 21, 2013

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen.

A gentle cleanser to remove the SPF at night.

Get as much sleep as you need.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 12:33 PM on May 21, 2013

Oil cleansing, sunscreen, drink lots of water and try not to lapse into bad habits, like frowning when you're not upset.
posted by Ideefixe at 12:49 PM on May 21, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks Ruthless Bunny and Snarl Furillo.

Lia, I have a combination skin. I had my share of acne in my teen years, but they have improved since. My skin is quite sensitive to sunlight and dust. Stress has kinda taken some toll on my skin and I am looking to reverse it... I have some open pores, which I mask well by makeup when I go out.

My goal is to make the skin more smooth, hydrated, healthy looking, and keep it wrinkle free (for as long as is possible).
posted by Spice_and_Ice at 12:51 PM on May 21, 2013

Find a gentle cleanser that works for you. This will be different for everyone; my face does wonderfully with Doc Bronner's, diluted, but others find it drying. My friend swears by oil cleansing, but it makes my face into a grease bomb. For the rest of your body, try to keep your cleanser simple, and don't wash with super-hot water; it dries out your skin. Moisturize face and body after your shower.

Speaking of moisturizers: SPF SPF SPF. If you're a Beauty Insider with Sephora right now, they have a summer skin care package with a bunch of samplers for $30. SPF, even in the winter.

In between the cleaning and the moisturizing, it'll depend on your skin. You may want to exfoliate to get rid of dead skin. Coconut oil mixed with white sugar is great for this, and can be used gently on your face too. You probably want to invest in some makeup wipes too, for those days when you're too tired to deal with a full wash at night. And try to keep your hands away from your face during the day.

And yes, drink lots of water, and get some exercise. A good sweat a few times a week does wonders for my skin.

As for personal testimonials, I use the coconut oil + sugar scrub in the shower, rinse, and then immediately shave my legs, with no shaving cream. Then I repeat. My "so dry and itchy I scratch til I bleed" legs are now amazing and silky smooth. It makes an awesome non-toxic lip scrub, too.
posted by specialagentwebb at 1:01 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Don't put anything on your body that you wouldn't put in your body.

For me that means raw shea butter, raw cocoa butter, almond oil, etc.

Of course, I kind of break that rule on my face since I don't feel comfortable putting such oily substances on my face. For that I use fragrance free face washes and oil free moisturizers. Get a face wash with an exfoliator.

Seconding sugar scrubs in the shower.

Just don't ever let your skin get dry. (Moisturize even when you're drunk and have to use all your willpower not to fall asleep.)
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 1:07 PM on May 21, 2013

Sunscreen, in my case the kind with zinc oxide, not the kind with lots of chemicals. The chemical kind actually makes my skin break out, the zinc oxide kind makes my skin actively happier.

Also, just staying out of the sun. Wear hats and don't go out.

Water.

Enough sleep.
posted by epanalepsis at 1:11 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Stop using any soap, lotions, potions and cosmetics on your face. Moisturise and clean you face with vegetable oil.
posted by BenPens at 1:13 PM on May 21, 2013

This facial cleanser has rave reviews all over the internet and is one of the recommended products at acne.org.
I just started using it 2 weeks ago and its really as great as everyone says it is.
Facial Peeling Gels are really amazing too for once a week exfoliation, but shop around for prices as many are insanely expensive!
I also LOVE Olive Squalane, but you have to use it very sparingly or cut it with a non-comedogenic oil or it can cause breakouts.
posted by tenaciousmoon at 1:13 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

For specific product recommendations, I think the best place to try (I'm such a broken record) is Makeup Alley. They have some ladies there that are very very knowledgeable about skin care, like, some of them make their own face peels and stuff. Intense! But they know their stuff. The skincare board is amazing- they have people wash their face with everything from plain water to oatmeal to olive oil to Nuetrogena to a fancy thing from Sephora to the fanciest thing at Neiman Marcus. They will all be able to describe in detail what is good and bad about their regimen and who might benefit from it.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 1:14 PM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]

I started using the oil cleansing method a few years ago, and for the first time, I started getting compliments on my complexion at 33. Here's what I do:

Drizzle oil (I have used olive, castor, coconut, almond, and currently find trader joe's vitamin E oil to be my favorite) in my hands, rub together, rub on face. Turn on shower, wait for it to get warm, get in. Do all the rest of my shower business, and then as my last thing, I sprinkle dry clay on my fingers, rub it over my face for gentle exfoliation, rinse, and get out. Pat dry, then rub a few drops of jojoba oil in my hands, and then over my face while still slightly damp. The end.

I use the vitamin E oil to remove makeup also.
posted by spindrifter at 1:14 PM on May 21, 2013 [7 favorites]

A creamy, natural cleanser.
BB cream instead of foundation.
Serum at night.
The best eye cream you can afford.
Omega oils- preferably consumed.
Wash your brushes at least weekly with antibacterial dish soap and olive oil.
Wash your face every morning & night.

+ I have sensitive, combination skin also. I used to be afraid of things that were supposed to hydrate, but then I realized that if you hydrate your skin, it wont over produce oil.
posted by haplesschild at 1:30 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'm obsessed with Paula Begoun and Paula's Choice products. Her BHA gels completely changed my skin. You really just need a decent cleanser, excellent exfoliation, and SUNSCREEN.
posted by nerdfish at 1:30 PM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]

Another plug for Makeupalley. I now have the app on my iphone and I won't buy any products without checking the user reviews on that site.

For natural oils, gardenofwisdom.com is an awesome resource. And their customer service rocks!
posted by nubianinthedesert at 1:40 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Sunscreen with zinc - YES.

Exercise (cardio, like a spin class) does wonders for your skin.

Baking soda is my fav exfoliant.

I do at-home peels and love them (Boots makes a great simple one.)

Coconut oil. YES.

Nthing not to put anything on your skin you wouldn't eat, generally speaking.

Someone here recommended AltaMD tinted moisturizer with a high SPF (dermatologist or Amazon) and holy guacamole is that stuff AWESOME. I haven't used foundation, face powder, or concealer since I started using it.
posted by jbenben at 1:42 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

Sounds like we have similar skin, and I've noticed dramatic improvements with a better diet and consistent exercise. I was pretty amazed, didn't think I'd see a change. Ideas for diet and exercise might be worth finding in other thread around AskMe, they're pretty substantial topics on their own. Also kind of hard to make suggestions without knowing your current habits there.

Exfoliating several times a week with a wash cloth also proved important to me, and only using mild and completely scent-free facial soap. Also, sunscreen!

Every time my face feels oily I use a quick splash of water (and reapply moisturizer with sunscreen). Oil-blotting sheets can be real lifesavers when I'm wearing makeup, though napkins or paper towels work pretty well too, with light dabs.
posted by Tequila Mockingbird at 1:42 PM on May 21, 2013

Seconding nerdfish very much.

I would just add that you might like including green tea into your diet (it has antioxidants and apparently beneficial sunscreen properties) and also more herbs and spices as well for the same reason. Papaya and pineapple, taken regularly, helps keeps you regular (heh), which should help in flushing out toxins on a daily basis.

Yoga and pilates are both low-impact and helps to destress the mind as well. There are many resources available online but attend a few classes to get some personalised attention as well.

When I can afford it, I like keeping a regular facial regime, of once a month. Doing it myself is good but going to a beautician means I get my own me-time, a nap and some pampering at the same time. :)
posted by cendawanita at 1:56 PM on May 21, 2013

This is the first time in my life that my skin has looked good (if not luminous.) All I have changed 1) started slathering my skin with Coconut oil, and 2) started eating a Paleo diet (fad or cult or whatever, this really got my skin glowing.) Before all this my skin was so sensitive, so dry, but it liked to breakout randomly too. A note: oil cleansing did not work for me *at all*. I got cystic acne.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 2:16 PM on May 21, 2013

Make sure your gut is in good repair -- too little or too much bacteria can cause skin problems. Maybe try to cut down on dairy, as it can cause skin issues.
posted by mrfuga0 at 2:16 PM on May 21, 2013

You might want to try switching up your diet, especially if you don't get a lot of colourful fruit/vegetables. There was a study floating around a while ago linking consumption of red/yellow/orange fruits & vegetables to healthy-looking, glowing skin, and on an anecdotal level, I've definitely found that to be the case.

Also, I haven't actually used it (though I'm planning to get one), but I've heard very positive things about the Clarisonic Mia.
posted by littlegreen at 2:21 PM on May 21, 2013

I saw a dermatologist for suspicious moles and while I was there, she gave me a prescription for my "mild to moderate acne." People who knew me were surprised by her diagnosis of mild to moderate acne and I did not ask for a prescription but since then, I've been using Acanya. My skin isn't perfect - it still freaks out around that time of the month - but I think it helps.

My routine lately has been Acanya in the morning, followed by a moisturizer with SPF. Most recently, it's been this one by Neutrogena though I've been experimenting with this thing by Physicians Formula. This is the fancy stuff I've used by Murad and it's nice (but 2-3x nicer than the other thing? Hard to say). I also use this depuffing gel for under my eyes ever since a colleague said I looked sick and I should go home when I wasn't sick.

I use these two things in the shower every morning. I also use a makeup remover wipe in the evening (I'm not married to any particular brand) and but this eye makeup remover pad is my favorite.
posted by kat518 at 2:54 PM on May 21, 2013

My regime is:

1. Exercise. I walk, ride my bike or do hot yoga. I skip a day or 2 here and there when I need to rest. My body tells me so.

2. Hydration. I drink at least 2 liters of water daily. Some days a liter in the morning with some lemon juice, the other i drink throughout the day. Other fluids include teas and infusions.

3. Real food. Eat more fruits and veggies, than protein and carbs. This helps clear my skin.

4. Clean your face. I use jojoba oil. On a cotton ball I add a few drops and clean my face in the morning and at night. I also use it after I shower to freshen my face. I sometimes use a mild soap, but usually just water.

5. Sunscreen. Use zinc oxide. You can find it more easily in the baby product section. It goes on more easily after I've used the jojoba oil on my face and neck.

6. Sleep and smile. Keeping stress low will help you have the best skin you can.

Hope this helps.
posted by happysocks at 3:38 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

I have good skin genes, but it's also very sensitive. In the evenings I've just started alternating a 5-minute mask of Greek yogurt and a few drops of lemon juice with a 5- minute mask of finely-ground organic, old-fashioned oatmeal and my skin looks and feels great, and it even seems to be improving the texture. I try very hard to stay away from sugar and bad starches and that also helps.

I live in a dry climate so to help combat dryness I have a humidifier running most of the year and I drink a lot of water.

Other than that I normally don't use or wear any other make-up coverage or skin care products, and I think over the long haul this has helped, although I know a lot of people prefer a more active approach to skin care and make-up.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:04 PM on May 21, 2013

Paula's Choice BHA. I dealt with acne for 10 years, keeping it to a dull roar with benzoyl peroxide. Added the BHA, and not only did the acne completely clear, but people started to ask me what I was using to get such glowing skin.
posted by Tall Telephone Pea at 7:53 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

My goal is to make the skin more smooth, hydrated, healthy looking, and keep it wrinkle free (for as long as is possible).

You're going to get tons of opposing viewpoints here, because skin varies so much and because the skincare industry is a massive money-sink. But one thing that is agreed upon by 99.99999% of dermatologists (I just made that figure up) is:

SUN PROTECTION

And not just 'Don't get your face sunburnt'. You need to use a broad spectrum, UVA/UVB, high-SPF sunscreen every single day. Use a teaspoon for your face alone. This is more than you probably think: measure some out and see. Smooth it down onto your neck as well. Do not rub it in vigorously (this breaks down the active compounds), let it sink in.

Wear a broad-brimmed hat whenever possible in summer.

Wear sunglasses with good-quality lenses that block sun at the sides of your eyes as well as the front.

All this depends on where you live, of course, but as a fair-skinned Caucasian in a hot climate, I wear factor 50+ sunscreen on my face 365 days a year, and have done for 15 years. From looking at some of my peers who don't bother, I can tell you it makes a HUGE difference.
posted by Salamander at 9:45 PM on May 21, 2013

I have to recommend BubzBeauty -- http://bubzbeauty.com/ and her youtube channel. Lots of product reviews and talking about how to take care of skin.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 11:43 AM on May 22, 2013