Agree with the sunscreen and Rx retinol. But what has made the biggest difference for me is HRT. There’s a reason women’s looks suddenly change between 40-45 and it’s because we lose estrogen.
I take the highest dose HRT I can and my pics now at 45 look younger than the ones at 40 before I started hormones.

I'd argue you need to keep it simple for your daily routine. For your complaints about dullness and acne scars, go see a derm and ask about a Vi Peel. I had the same complaints and did a series of 3 Vi Peels a year ago and saw a huge difference both immediately and long term. You can also ask about tretinoin or something similar (I actually really like a newer one called Aklief).

My friends with the most skin complaints are the ones who spend hundreds on different products that I think are really just irritating their skin. Every derm I've ever seen has told me to just use a simple cleanser and a good moisturizer with spf for day and thick moisturizer at night (vanicream, cerave, etc). You could add a vitamin c serum but a lot of them are irritating. Vanicream's is good.

Id see a Dermatologist.

I use only prescription medications for my skincare.

Sulfacetamide and Sulfur Topical Cleanser daily
Winlevi and
Arazlo (tazarotene - stronger than Tret)

Also recently prescribed a topical Estrogen

Good Luck.

Anonymous wrote:You'll need to go to a dermatologist to get the prescription for Tretinoin, and I recommend going to an in-person one over the virtual subscription companies, such as Curology, as it will be much more expensive versus $20 with insurance. It will treat the uneven tone, scars, and wrinkles- I can't believe I waited so long to start using it!

I followed her tips to avoid any irritation or purging, and I'm at the highest strength:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HjcVbyAFH8&ab_channel=AbbeyYung

Who can get away with spending $20 for both a doctor visit plus medication? With copay on both, my insurance would charge something like $100 when all is said and done. And that’s not even to speak of the two hours of my life lost to going to an office, sitting in the waiting room, and getting back to work. I can do online in about 15 minutes.

Anonymous wrote:You'll need to go to a dermatologist to get the prescription for Tretinoin, and I recommend going to an in-person one over the virtual subscription companies, such as Curology, as it will be much more expensive versus $20 with insurance. It will treat the uneven tone, scars, and wrinkles- I can't believe I waited so long to start using it!

I followed her tips to avoid any irritation or purging, and I'm at the highest strength:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HjcVbyAFH8&ab_channel=AbbeyYung

Insurance isn't covering tretinoin for anti-aging.

OP, I started tretinoin last year (at 41) and got it through Amazon One Medical. I answered a few questions, sent a few photos, and they prescribed tretinoin. The "visit" was $30, and then the tretinoin was about $40 for a tube at my regular pharmacy (again, without insurance). The tube lasted me about 6 months. You only need a pea sized amount for your whole face. Whole process couldn't have been any easier. Highly recommend.

Dark circles, acne etc, well I'd get laser and fillers, botox etc if I were you.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Because my skin looks awful. Uneven tone, dark circles and just a lot of acne scars. Any links to YouTube videos? Also is it common to go to seems for this purpose or is this too silly?.

Watch Dr. Shereene Idriss videos on YouTube.

Uneven tone: vitamin C and sunscreen
Dark circles: sleep and concealer
Acne scars: derm for micro-needling

Another just turned 40 here — here is my routine:

PM — wash face with cetaphil gentle cleanser, Differin gel (though I may ask to switch to Trentonin) and then use Laneige moisturizer

AM — wash face, Azelaic acid, vitamin C, La Roche-Possay moisturizer with UV protection

Once a week I do an “original skin” mad from Origina followed by the peeling solution from the ordinary.

I do get Botox every 6 months or so and a facial maybe once a quarter.

My skin has never looked better (I was just looking back at photos from just before COVID hit and I was really into my routine and my skin was blotchy and broken out, this routine really prevents that for the most part)

You'll need to go to a dermatologist to get the prescription for Tretinoin, and I recommend going to an in-person one over the virtual subscription companies, such as Curology, as it will be much more expensive versus $20 with insurance. It will treat the uneven tone, scars, and wrinkles- I can't believe I waited so long to start using it!

I followed her tips to avoid any irritation or purging, and I'm at the highest strength:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HjcVbyAFH8&ab_channel=AbbeyYung

Op here. Because my skin looks awful. Uneven tone, dark circles and just a lot of acne scars. Any links to YouTube videos? Also is it common to go to seems for this purpose or is this too silly?.

Why do you need to step up

Tretinoin, but then you will also need (more) sunscreen

Tretinoin

Am- vit c, spf
Pm- retin A, moisturizer

You can jazz it up further with peptide or growth factor serums.

Youtube has a lot of derms on there talking about various topics for free.

My routine has just been wash and moisturize. I need to step up. How do I start and find true right products for me? Start with a dermatologist? I’m not looking for smudging invasive like Botox.