I started using tretinoin a couple of years ago which caused dry flaky skin for me at first. I discovered squalane oil and it was a game changer. I use it everyday and it's inexpensive too so win win.

I use the Fresh oil-infused serum, then either the Neutrogena hydroboost moisturizer or the Cerave face and body cream. In the winter I add Rosehip Seed oil on top of that.

If you wear makeup, be sure to take the time to let the skincare ingredients soak 8n s9 your face is its most moisturized before you add other products to it.

Since you seem open to spending a little extra, I'm going to recommend a moisturizer that turned my combination skin around at 56. I was dealing with occasional irritation, dry areas, pimples until I tried a sample of this and was hooked.

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/sulwhasoo-concentrated-ginseng-rejuvenating-cream-1-oz.?ID=5453795&pla_country=US&cm_mmc=Google-PLA-ADC-_-Pmax+-+GMM9+-+Center+Core+-+Beauty-_-Pmax+-+GMM9+-+Center+Core+-+Beauty-_-8809925174504USA-_-go_cmp-21061604818_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-8809925174504USA_sig-CjwKCAjwwe2_BhBEEiwAM1I7sXMqJ3jh10CyltR2Md1OUffYrSJurOY90x4jQuoKj47-I82fI_xmfhoCn4MQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD0PCJRQB6fh66AP4FcQ3eCGOGID7&gclid=CjwKCAjwwe2_BhBEEiwAM1I7sXMqJ3jh10CyltR2Md1OUffYrSJurOY90x4jQuoKj47-I82fI_xmfhoCn4MQAvD_BwE

I'm not really a serum lover, but they also offer serums in that line. I use this one in conjunction with the moisturizer, but it's not really a moisturizing serum if that's what you seek. It's more of a prepping serum that helps the moisturizer absorb better:

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/sulwhasoo-first-care-activating-serum-vi?ID=4894739&CategoryID=2921

They also have a more nourishing serum. I've tried the sample and it's nice, but I didn't like it enough to splurge on the full size:

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/sulwhasoo-concentrated-ginseng-rejuvenating-serum?ID=5500487&CategoryID=2921

They also have sets and trial kits if you want to sample before committing. I know it's super expensive but, at least for me, regular use has given me consistently hydrated, glowy, and clear skin. I rarely bust out the concealer these days.

You need a good moisturizer too. Extreme cream from Innbeauty is great for aging skin:
https://www.innbeautyproject.com/products/extreme-cream?srsltid=AfmBOoqnxRq3OAcq-ULONw3_YEd8YpKijIcgqRKMqDNR4D7cAKRo4-Ut
And if you’re not using an eye cream - the double action serum from Clarins is great.

Anonymous wrote:Avon sells a cheap hyaluronic acid serum.

Cheap HA‘s work great if you don’t have a sensitive skin or skin that’s prone to break out. Unfortunately, for those of us with pores that clog easily some of these cheap HA‘s are made with fillers/binders to make it feel like it has a better consistency and that clogs pours. Here I am late 40s wondering why the heck I’m breaking out again. I hate to say it, but the only HA I’ve been able to use a SkinCeuticals.

Anonymous wrote:I started using the vitamin C and hyaluronic acid from SkinCeuticals and it seriously changed my skin. Very expensive though.

+1 Me too with the Skinceuticals vit c. When I started I sort of hoped it would be a whole lot of nothing because it's so expensive - but it made a real difference.

You need a good moisturizer, too. If you have $ to try things out, start ordering good moisturizers one at a time and see if your skin likes them. Use the good quality samples you get with your other purchases, too. You'll spend a fortune until you get the one your skin loves - but then you'll have it.

My combo/sensitive 51 year old skin LOVES Obagi Hydrate.

Talk to your derm about getting a tretinoin prescription, too. Start with a very very mild formulation.

Avon sells a cheap hyaluronic acid serum.

I tried the trader joe marula oil and for a week loved it. Then noticed that my face skin was developing a bumpy red rash -/ almost like a lupus rash — everywhere I had put the oil (which was everywhere). Coincidence or is it the oil? I’ve stopped using it but am sad because I thought I finally found a fix to my parched face.

I find that moisturizers help hydrate my skin better than serums. Lately I have been liking Tower 28 SOS moisturizer- it’s a slightly thick cream that leaves my skin soft, and it is good for sensitive skin and redness, too.

I love the serums for Herbivore Botanicals. Moon Fruit has bakuchinol, which is a retinol alternative that works better on my sensitive skin. I also like Green Magic (my skin is prone to redness and this is very calming) and Milky Way, which is an AHA.

Also, I recommend switching to oils for hydration instead of moisturizer -- I find my skin absorbs them much better and they hydrate more deeply. I used to have oily, acne prone skin, so it took a minute to get past the mental block about just applying oil to my face, but for mid-to-late 40s skin, it's so much better. Drunk Elephant does a marula oil moisturizer that is great. Straight argan oil is also nice -- I buy inexpensive argan oil online and use it on my skin and hair.

HA is only temporary and doesn’t really hydrate long term - it plumps though! Have you tried a milky toner? I love the Laniege one and I know there are other good ones also. But I think moisture is more likely to come from a good moisturizer than a serum?

What has worked for me in my 40s:
- Differin A
- Bio Oil
- 10% benz peroxide -- I leave it on for a few minutes almost like a mask in the AM and PM.

I started using the vitamin C and hyaluronic acid from SkinCeuticals and it seriously changed my skin. Very expensive though.

Try the HA serum from The Ordinary. It’s good and in your price point.

I'm 48 years old and haven't so far used any serums. Have always had oil to mixed skin type, just used whatever face moisturizer was handy, but that was pretty much it. I'm not menopausal yet, but I guess due to age hormonal changes, I noticed that my skin is so much dryer. I use rosehip oil sometimes besides random face moisturizers. The serums are so much more expensive and I wonder if they're worth it. I see that Bloomingdales store has some beauty deal, if you purchase for $250 most of the beauty you get $50 reward card for next purchase, so I am tempted to order something from their website. Do you have any recommendations regarding serums, any brand?