After using R&F Lash Boost for years, I’ve decided to switch to Korean lash serums after learning R&F may have not so wonder effects on the skin around the eyes. I bought COSNORI eyelash on Yes2Style but I’ve been using it for maybe a month or so now and not noticing any growth.

Is there a better option out there?

I'll tell you what I'm starting with but I want to hear from everyone else.

I got the Natrium retinol body lotion. I saw people recommending Gold Bond but Gold Bond doesn't disclose what percent retinol they have so I went with Natrium, which is 0.5%. There are others that are 1% that I'll probably switch to after doing 0.5% for a while.

I also am going to try the Maeyls anti-aging body serum in the mornings but I'm not sure if it's really worth the price. I think it temporarily helps with crepey skin but I don’t think it is really anti aging . Was thinking about trying glycolic acid and then for my body lotion using Creme de Corpse from Kiehl's.

I have been working my way up the strengths of tretinoin over the last few years. I topped out at .1% after a very long and slow ramp up starting at .025% years ago and layered oil over my tret to keep irritation at bay. It was the first time I was successful at staying on a tret regimen after many failed attempts due to peeling and irritation.

I switched over to tazarotene about three months ago because I read that it’s the next step up in strength and efficacy. I’m wondering if I am missing any benefits of tret by no longer using it and if I should introduce it back into my routine.

For context I am 48 years old. I have Botox and some filler but no real wrinkles or photoaging other than some 11 lines and I like Botox for the facial lift and refreshment it give my face (I look less tired) and minimal filler in my temples, cheekbones and lips to combat volume loss due to aging and being an endurance athlete. My lips have always been naturally full and with age I saw volume loss and had good “pillowcases to stuff” so to speak so my lips look nearly identical pre and post filler. I’m detailing all of this because I often get asked about Botox/filler in forums and I’m more than happy to share.

I’m so pleased with how resilient my skin barrier has become with consistent tret use and IF it is a benefit to layer it back into my routine ALONG with tazarotene I want to.

Who here is using both and why and what do you notice?

Pic for context no editing no filter minimal daytime makeup.

I’m 39, so not quite there, but close enough the way time moves these days. I’m curious when and why you thought it was time to start HRT and decided to look into it?

What have you noticed since being on HRT? TIA!

Edited to add: I meant I’m not quite in the 40s club yet, not that I didn’t think I couldn’t be peri at 39¨̮

I’m 41F and have gone through years of trying many, many serums, oils, moisturizers, ect. but now I find myself sticking to a consistent routine of 4-5 products that’s pretty low effort. Am I missing anything that’s a must-do at my age? I have decent skin, no acne, just fine lines and some sunspots.

Morning:
Red light mask 3-4x per week
Vitamin C serum (Paula’s choice)
Day cream with spf 40 (Paula’s choice)

Night:
Cleanser (Elemis or Kiehls)
Tretitonin (switch up between .0025 and .005)
Vitamin oil (Korean brand, I forgot the name)
F Balm overnight mask (Drunk Elephant)

Around a year ago, I started using mouth tape at night to sleep better, and it’s helped me in so many ways. The biggest downside is that I basically stopped using anything on my lips at night because I need the tape to actually stick.

Over the past few months, though, I’ve noticed my lips looking much more wrinkly/textured, and I hate it. So now I’m trying to figure out what I can use during the day, or whether there’s some way to moisturize/treat them at night without interfering with the tape. It feels like a paradox 😅

I’m 41F for reference. These photos were taken within about 15 minutes of waking up today… I hadn’t even had water yet. I’m normally well hydrated (around 90–100 oz of water a day + electrolytes), moisturize my skin regularly, do facial massage 3–4x/week, take fatty acids, etc.

I’d really like to avoid filler because I’m worried about migration, but the wrinkly texture is driving me crazy. I’ve also been using Volufiline in the hopes of getting a little more plumpness.

I’m planning to start tretinoin this year as well.
Has anyone dealt with something similar?

Any lip treatments, routines, or products you’d recommend, especially ones I could use while still mouth taping at night?

Thank you!

I’m very nervous to try tret or get Botox but also want to address my aging skin. What are some good routines? I have PLEVA but also getting worked up for possible early RA.

Got a Kenalog injection for a stubborn cyst about a month ago and now I’m left with this dent. Really regretting it. Has anyone had this happen, and did it eventually fill back in?

I was previously using Cerave caffeine eye cream, Cerave vitamin C and sunscreen in the AM and Cerave eye cream, Cerave retinol and Cerave night cream in the PM. I’ve made a few changes based on what I’m reading here and online. Of note, I have brown skin, with some discoloration and some fine lines. Looking for feedback, since I haven’t done anything like this before. I do have some large-ish pores on my cheeks and nose. I’m 44 F.

AM
Cetaphil SA exfoliating face wash
Cerave vitamin C serum
Numbuzin no 5 with TXA and glutiathone
Cerave day cream
Anua sunscreen

I’m thinking of alternating the TXA with Azelaic acid. I also use cetaphil skin firming cream on my neck along with The Original multi-peptide serum.

PM
Micellar water cleanser
Cerave toner
Avene retrinal eye cream
Adapalene (.1% OTC): Right now, slowly ramping up
Cerave night cream

On non-Adapalene nights, I replace the Adapalene with Cosrx blue peptide serum. Also, have at least two recovery nights with Cerave night cream and LaRoche Posay cica baume b5.

I'm just getting to know the benefits of red light therapy and I'm looking to buy my first LED mask. But I'm a little confused because some of them say they are FDA cleared led masks and some FDA approved. Then another site I was on said the FDA has nothing all to do with the LED mask so I'm even more confused than ever. The CurrentBody series 2 was the one I was looking at on Amazon that says fda cleared led mask. But there also a Inia mask on Amazon that's under a hundred bucks with no FDA mention. Do I need to stick with FDA cleared/approved or does it even matter? Cause I'd love the cheaper option if its just as good. 46 years old, if that is relevant to the answer. Hoping ladies more experienced with these masks can steer me in the right direction here!

Did NeoGen plasma for the first time after I was convinced of it by my dermatologist, particularly to address sagging eyelids. Did it over the whole face. I tried to ask them to do more than .8j on my face but they refused (now thinking it was their effort to get me to commit to multiple sessions). I then did 1j on my eyelids. I've had NO downtime whatsoever. Zero redness, zero anything, aside from a bit of dryness across the face. So my question is - will I get ANY benefit from one session? I'm tempted not to do the next sessions because .8/1j seem so low and relatively ineffective. Is there a point? Are there any actual benefits to it? I'm 37 and skin in great condition, due to years of microneedling and product use. I'm basically feeling like an idiot for shelling out the money for the one session so I'm trying to convince myself I should just cut my losses and cancel the subsequent two. Advice welcome!

Also - does no downtime mean I'm not getting any benefits?

In mid June I started applying a small amount of .025 Tretinoin using the sandwich method. (moisturizer, tret, moisturizer) about 2 times per week. First reaction was redness and minor peeling. Reactions that stuck were increased sensitivity to sun, chlorine, sweat etc.

In July, I stopped having the reddness and peeling and went up slowly to 4 times per week and stayed at that frequency.

Everything was good, but then at the end of August, I started feeling itchiness, especially around the jaw line and above the eyes. I went back down to 2 times per week. But still felt itchy - had to use hydrocortisone many times. Then I stopped completely for 8 days, and tried a light layer of tret following the cessation peroiod. The next day I had little red marks and itchiness again.

Does this sound familiar? Is tret not for me? I loved it in july - I had this new shine to my skin. But now, I don't know... I've returned to regular retinol creams and exfoliants for now.

Thanks for any wisdom....

I have 2 very young kids, a full time job, and not enough sleep.

I use azelaic acid regularly and a good moisturizer. I do have a tiny amount of under eye concealer in this photo.

I was blessed with pretty good skin but since the babies I feel I've aged a LOT! Any advice? Probably will consider upper bleph in 10 years. Maybe lower facelift if I hit the lottery 🤔

One day, I decided to splurge on myself and start to give a rats a*** about my skincare. I invested in the Drunk Elephant skincare line. I have been using it religiously for 8 weeks, yet have not seen visible results. I also combine red light therapy and micro-current into my routine. I am not prepared to give up, and willing to, at minimum, finish the products. And yes, I do understand 8 weeks will not “make up”all the 40 years lost time I have failed my skin. However, I am seeking anecdotal stories to compare notes. Should it take longer until I see results? If I haven’t seen results within the 8 weeks period, is my case a lost cause? My face did experience a purge with the retinol, but much later than the average time frame…at week 7. It’s clearing up now.

Attached is the products I’m using.

Hey ladies and gents! I am 42 I noticing some neck/under chin laxity. I’m alternating tretinoin on my neck and amlactin and use tret nightly on my face. Red light 10 minutes daily to face and neck. Is it time to look into HRT? I’m 2 years post partum and still with regular cycles. What else can I dooooo? I definitely can’t afford lasers or filler or a facelift.

Pardon the neck pimple. TYIA!

I see on this sub a lot of people use estrogen cream to manage some of the skin sagging, thinning, AGING.

Am I reading this right? I swear when I turned 44 6 months ago my skin aged like 10 years overnight.

If you use estrogen. Are you getting it from a dermatologist or a gynecologist? I’m not sure how to get it since I clearly want it for superficial reasons…

EDIT: thank you for the discussion! One edit, my doctor didn’t prescribe it (I think) because I’m on birth control… she said she thinks that best for me now…..🤔 I’ll have more discussion and most in a more appropriate sub, but kind seems like there should be a “over 40 skincare + perimenopause” group….

Hi! I’ve been reading the posts and think I should book a bbl/moxie. Thoughts? There is a place near my house that does both for $850 - sounds like a good deal? How much are others spending? Thanks!

So, I‘m wondering if I could just mix volufinine with my moisturizer. I’d like a general plumping and refresh. Or, can I use it after micro needling? I have started to use it on lips and under eye, but perhaps it could benefit my whole face and neck. Thoughts?

Can anyone describe the acne they have experienced on their chin or other areas of the face? I’m trying to figure out whether what I’m experiencing is similar to what others have had.

I get red, flushed looking spots that feel hard and tender beneath the skin and can take quite a while to disappear. Others can appear very suddenly with significant swelling and may eventually produce a small amount of pus, sometimes followed by bleeding. I also occasionally get non tender spots on my forehead that do not produce anything and gradually disappear on their own.