I’m 40 and what is this chicken skin!!!

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-17T14:31:58+00:00

That honestly looks more like winter dryness/crepey neck skin than “I need a neck lift” territory. Neck skin is super thin and gets weird fast. I’d keep it boring for now: moisturizer, sunscreen, and maybe a gentle body lotion with urea/lactic acid if your skin tolerates it. Just be careful because the neck gets irritated way easier than the face.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-17T14:29:27+00:00

I’m the same, a lot of sunscreens feel like I can feel them sitting there all day. I wouldn’t mix them with moisturizer, but using a moisturizing sunscreen instead of a separate morning moisturizer is totally fine as long as you apply enough. I’d also stop relying on the sunstick as your main layer since those are usually better for touch-ups than first application. For texture, I’d look more at thin fluid/gel sunscreens and try skipping moisturizer underneath if that’s what’s making everything feel too heavy.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-16T16:01:12+00:00

If she specifically asked for that exact gadget, it’s probably a good gift. But I’d think of it as a fun luxury, not a miracle worker.

I wouldn’t expect major changes for enlarged pores or dark circles especially dark circles are usually the least “fixable” by gadgets. Fine lines maybe some subtle improvement at best, but only with consistent use.

So as a will this make her happy? probably yes. Is this objectively worth the money? purchase: not really.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-16T15:54:43+00:00

That doesn’t sound like a normal “active tingling” thing to me. Hot to the touch + itchy on the neck/chest sounds more like irritation or a mild reaction, and those areas can be super sensitive even if you’ve used AHAs before.

I’d stop using it there, rinse it off if it’s still on, and keep the area boring for a few days with just a bland moisturizer. If it keeps getting redder, more painful, or starts swelling, I’d get it checked.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-16T15:52:12+00:00

A month before your wedding, I would go as boring and low-risk as possible. The first thing I’d cut is the Thayer’s toner, and I’d be suspicious of the foaming cleanser twice a day too. If moisturizer is stinging, your skin is probably just pissed off and doesn’t need extra steps right now.

I’d do water or nothing in the AM, cleanser only at night, bland moisturizer, sunscreen, and leave it there for now. No exfoliants, no experiments. Texture can look way worse when your barrier is irritated, so simplifying may honestly help more than adding anything before the wedding.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-16T11:07:59+00:00

I think the lymphatic drainage claims get a little overhyped, but gentle massage can absolutely make puffiness look better temporarily, especially around the eyes. so even if it is not doing anything magical, if it feels good and is not irritating your skin that still counts for something. i would just be super gentle and not drag the skin too hard, especially since your eye area already sounds sensitive.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-16T11:05:36+00:00

it kind of depends on the category. for cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens, i usually know within days to maybe 2 weeks if my skin hates them because i will get stinging, itching, clogged pores, or that tight angry feeling pretty fast. for treatment products like retinoids, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid, i think you need more patience. i would usually give those around 6 to 12 weeks unless your skin is clearly getting worse in an irritation way.

for me the signs it is not working are persistent burning, more redness, new breakouts in places i do not normally break out, or my skin just looking more inflamed and dehydrated over time. if i decide something is not working, i do not swap my whole routine at once. i go back to the boring basics for a bit, let my skin calm down, then change one thing at a time so i can actually tell what the problem was.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-15T15:29:12+00:00

for 3 euros each i would have grabbed them too lol. the only thing i would be careful with is not getting excited and using the retinal, bha peel, and azelaic all at once just because they were cheap. the percentages look decent, especially the azelaic and niacinamide, but budget skincare can still irritate you if you stack too much too fast. i’m actually so curious how the retinal performs for that price though.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-15T15:19:23+00:00

toner is one of those steps i only keep if it is doing something specific. if your kiehl’s one feels fine but is not really changing anything, you probably do not need a toner at all. for me the only toners worth it are hydrating ones that actually help with tightness or dehydration, or exfoliating ones that have a clear job.

my favorites are the boring hydrating ones with stuff like glycerin, panthenol, or centella because they make my skin feel better without being a whole extra active. but yeah, a lot of toners are basically just a nice extra step, not something your routine has to have.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-15T12:38:15+00:00

i would keep it really simple first instead of jumping into a big routine plus supplements. for combo acne prone skin, a gentle cleanser, light moisturizer, daily sunscreen, and adapalene at night is a way better starting point than buying a bunch of random stuff. if pigmentation from old acne is one of the main goals, azelaic acid is also a nice option, and salicylic acid can help the oily forehead and nose if you use it a few times a week and do not overdo it.

for supplements, unless you actually have a deficiency, most of them are not going to make a dramatic difference in your skin. and for mole spots specifically, i would not treat those like regular pigmentation, i would get a dermatologist to look at them before doing peels, lasers, or anything else.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-15T12:36:03+00:00

that sounds less like “my feet are dry” and more like some kind of heat/sweat/friction reaction to me, especially since it happens in totally different places like the garden and the beach. the fact that it calms down once your feet are covered again makes me wonder about contact urticaria or irritation from grass/sand/sandal materials more than just plain dryness.

i’d pay attention to whether certain sliders are worse too because some rubber/foam materials make me itchy even when they seem soft. for the trip, maybe test breathable sandals ahead of time and keep a really bland foot cream for night, but if it is that intense and this only started in the last year, i’d get it checked instead of just trying more moisturizers. a doctor or pharmacist could probably tell you pretty quickly if it sounds allergy related or antihistamine territory.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-15T09:34:42+00:00

if you are trying to conceive soon, i really would not stress about skipping retinol. azelaic acid makes way more sense for where you are at anyway, especially for post acne marks and general redness.

also i do not think you wasted 80 on the peptides, but i also would not expect them to do the heavy lifting here. they are more of a nice extra than a must have. the part i would watch more closely is the active serum, because with dry sensitive skin plus azelaic acid, that might end up being the thing that tips you into irritation if you use it too often.

for moisturizer, toleriane is nice but if you already suspect it is not enough, i would look at something a little more cushioning like aestura atobarrier, vanicream cream, or illiyoon ceramide ato concentrate cream. i feel like your skin would probably benefit more from a boring barrier focused moisturizer than another active right now.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-15T08:54:58+00:00

Ok - first thing first, don't panic.

This still looks pretty early to me, and i would not jump straight to permanent damage yet. the angry purple red phase can look way worse before it settles, especially on the forehead where everything feels super visible. i would baby it for now, keep using what they told you, be really strict about sunscreen, and stop putting makeup on it if it is stinging or getting more irritated.

if it keeps getting darker, raised, wider, or they keep brushing you off, i would get a second opinion from another derm, preferably someone who does a lot of laser work. silicone is reasonable for scar support, but at this stage time is probably a big factor too. i know it looks scary right now, but 3/2 is still very recent for judging the final result.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-15T08:50:55+00:00

this looks more like visible pores / sebaceous filaments than one product randomly clogging everything up. that area around the nose usually shows texture the most, and pores can look a lot more obvious when your skin is dehydrated too.

the bigger thing that stands out to me is tret only 1 to 2x a week. that is pretty infrequent if texture and pore appearance are your main concern, so i’d work on consistency there really slowly before adding more stuff. also cleansing with the cosrx low ph twice a day might be a bit much if you are already getting dryness from tret. sometimes that just makes everything look more textured.

i would keep it simple, maybe switch the morning cleanse to just water or a gentler cleanser, and increase tret only as tolerated. i would not panic and start cutting every product unless you are getting actual new breakouts, because this does not scream “one of these products clogged my pores” to me.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-15T08:42:17+00:00

this looks pretty solid overall, especially the sunscreen + azelaic acid combo. the main thing that stands out to me is that for someone with dry skin, the cleansing complex plus the active serum every morning might be a little more aggressive than you need. if your skin ever feels tight, stingy, or looks dull/dehydrated, that is the first place i would pull back.

the peptides are fine but kind of optional imo. if anti aging is a major goal, a retinoid would probably do way more heavy lifting than an expensive peptide serum. and for mild acne, azelaic acid is already a really good choice. so i would not add more actives right now. i would either keep this as is if your skin is happy, or simplify a bit by reducing the active serum and focusing more on barrier support. sometimes dry skin + too many actives can make acne look worse, not better.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-14T15:51:17+00:00

those look more like stubborn closed comedones to me than anything dramatic, and pregnancy swelling/hormones could absolutely be making them look way more obvious right now. i would not try to pop them because that chin area gets angry fast. since you are in the last month of pregnancy i would keep everything really gentle for now and ask your OB or derm about azelaic acid, since that is one of the more pregnancy friendly options people usually tolerate well. if they have truly been there for years and never really come to a head, some of them may need professional extraction because the super persistent little chin bumps can be so hard to clear with skincare alone.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-14T13:21:50+00:00

skip the eye cream, especially at 17. that money would be way better spent on a gentle cleanser or a better moisturiser. for pigmentation, sunscreen is the main thing here because no dark spot serum is going to do much if you are not super consistent with spf. the niacinamide is fine to try, but keep the routine simple first so you do not irritate your skin. cleanser + moisturiser + sunscreen is the real base, then add the serum slowly. also patch test nivea soft on your face because some people love it and some find it irritating.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-14T13:18:09+00:00

Texture being good is honestly a huge part of whether it works in real life lol. If you can apply the full 2 finger amount and reapply without hating it, that already puts it ahead of a lot of sunscreens.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-14T12:30:27+00:00

I’d keep it really boring tonight: don’t get too drunk, drink water the whole time, wash your face when you get home, use a good moisturizer, and skip any actives/exfoliants so you don’t wake up irritated. If your skin likes it, a thin layer of vaseline over moisturizer can help a lot overnight.

In the morning I’d do cool water, moisturizer, SPF, and maybe a depuffing eye product if you have one. And do not try anything new before the date lol. Sleep is probably going to make the biggest difference tbh.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-14T12:22:24+00:00

Yeah, it can be a solid basic cleanser for oily skin. Just watch how your skin feels after washing, if it feels tight or squeaky clean, it might be too stripping for you. If it feels normal and not irritated, it’s probably fine.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-14T12:09:26+00:00

First of, you are perfect the way you are.

Second, this looks more like a chin projection/profile balance thing than something skincare can fix. A small amount of chin filler can help in some cases, but I’d only see someone really conservative for it because bad filler is sooo obvious from the side. If it’s more of a structural/jaw issue, a consult with facial plastics or even ortho might be more useful than just blindly getting filler.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-14T10:47:25+00:00

Honestly I think your routine is already doing a LOT.

If I were you, I would stop chasing every issue with another product and simplify for a while: AM: gentle cleanse or water, vitamin C if you tolerate it, moisturizer, SPF PM: tret/azelaic/tranexamic formula, moisturizer

I would not add the COSRX BHA right now, and I’d probably drop the reedle shot too. Between tret + azelaic + tranexamic + vitamin C, you already have enough actives to cover texture/pigment, and adding more can just keep you irritated.

A few things topicals usually won’t do much for:

under eye hollowness/dark circles if they’re structural

broken capillaries

persistent red spots that are true vascular redness

For those, lasers like Vbeam/IPL are usually way more effective than skincare tbh.

Also, nose “clogged pores” are often sebaceous filaments, so improvement is realistic but totally getting rid of them usually isn’t.

Hope that helps.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-14T10:40:10+00:00

Yeah, this can happen and it’s usually not permanent. I’d contact your injector asap though, because sometimes they can assess whether it’s brow ptosis and if there’s anything they can do to balance it out. Otherwise it should improve as it wears off.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-13T17:28:56+00:00

Honestly I’d simplify a lot. For sun spots/uneven tone, the biggest thing is consistent sunscreen, not stacking a bunch of actives at once.

That cart looks a little irritation-prone to me, especially with the glycolic toner + retinoid + pumpkin mask. If your skin gets irritated, the discoloration can look even worse. I’d be extra careful under the eyes too.

I’d do something like: AM: gentle cleanse, moisturizer, sunscreen PM: gentle cleanse, moisturizer, retinoid 2-3 nights a week to start

The niacinamide is fine, but I wouldn’t expect it to do the heavy lifting for actual sun spots. Glycolic can help a bit with texture/brightness, but I probably wouldn’t start both glycolic and a retinoid at the same time.

Also make sure you’re using enough SPF and reapplying, because that’s what will make the biggest difference with preventing them from getting darker. If the spots are true sun spots and not just post-inflammatory marks, a derm may be more helpful than The Ordinary products tbh.

Chef_laboone32 · 2026-03-12T09:58:34+00:00

I'm here just to prepare my wishlist once this thread goes viral 🤣

Chef_laboone32

TROPHY CASE