i will be turning 51 this weekend and although I don't look it my skin is starting to. I have very oily skin which seems to have worsen in the past few years. My skin is starting to look ruddy and uneven and I have these ugly looking patches on the bridge of my nose between my eyebrows and around the sides of my nose. I also have very large pores. My skin feels rough like it has a film on it that needs to be peeled off.

I have no idea what products to use and with a limited budget cannot afford those pricey ones. I have tried some of these anti aging products like Olay and Loreal but these day and night creams are just too heavy and leave my face even greasier. I have tried many different face cleaners but haven't found one yet that I like. I did get to try a sample of Mary Kay's Timewise Microdermabrasion set and just loved it but cannot afford to buy it.

I also need some recommendations on foundation and powder. I normally buy my beauty products from walmart but recently broke down and went to Sephora for the first time, spent over $85 and hated everything I bought! The girl suggested Make Up Forever Mat Velvet, Sephora Matifying Compact Foundation and Bare Minerals Prime Time Primer. These emphasized the ugly patches and large pores, looked drying although my face still got oily and after awhile my face looked and felt like I had a ton of makeup on. And I absolutely hated the way the Sephora compact looked on my face! Help!

Written on: 10/22/2009 (09:17am)

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Kccok58

I am 42 and I am wading in the sea of products to find what is good for my aging skin too. I have an oily t-zone with otherwise dry skin. I find I have to change products as my skin changes even sometimes during certain times of the month. I will try to give you a few tips that I have learned without writing a book! J

This is site (and others like it) is probably the best beauty tool you can have! I can research a product before I buy to see if it has worked for others with my same skin type and age. Sephora is good too because if you can find a salesperson about your age (very important), she can give you great advise and you can take a sample of anything and try it. Even if you buy it and not like it you can take it back. Some drugstores such as CVS will take back make up you don’t like also but they don’t have anyone that will give you advice.

Oily skin is your skin’s reaction when you strip away your natural oils. Not scrubbing your face until it squeaks and applying moisturizer will actually relieve the oiliness. I have found applying a drop or two of lavender oil to my oily t-zone makes it less oily. As well as using a serum and moisturizer.

Large pores are usually a result of congested pores. Even if you don’t have white or blackheads, your pores can still be congested.

I understand your need to economize but you have to balance that with what is best for your skin. Sometimes buying something more expensive but that you can use less and actually get results is actually more economical.

A very good and cheap microdermabrasion is plain ol’ baking soda. You can add as much as you like to your favorite cleanser and it rinses off well too.

One thing I have discovered that gets rid of discolored patches is to lightly massage baking soda on to my dry face then lightly blot hydrogen peroxide on with a cotton pad and let set for a minute or two. It will actually foam up on a pimple because it is antibacterial and is cleaning your pore. I do this right before my shower so I can make sure to rinse it off completely. AND ALWAYS WEAR AT LEAST A SPF 15 or higher. (I have found ColorStay Active stays with me all day and doesn’t rub off.)

It sounds like you have not really taken care of your skin up to this point so it will take a while to get it back to where you want it. This didn't happen overnight and you will not be able to fix it overnight. So be patient and keep trying new things!

Hope this helps!

Written on: 10/27/2009 (06:05am)

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