Morning
- Rinse with lukewarm water, or a gentle cream cleanser if you prefer.
- Optional: a vitamin C serum for antioxidant support, if your skin tolerates it.
- Humectant hydrator on damp skin.
- Moisturiser, face and neck.
- Broad-spectrum SPF 30+, every day, including the neck and the backs of your hands.
Evening
- Cleanse properly to remove sunscreen.
- Humectant on damp skin.
- Two or three nights a week: a low-strength retinoid, once your barrier is calm.
- A richer moisturiser over the top — buffering reduces irritation without cancelling the benefit.
Body, weekly rhythm
- Moisturise the abdomen, arms and thighs after every shower.
- Sunscreen on anything exposed.
- Optional: a lactic acid or urea body lotion once or twice weekly for texture, if skin isn't irritated.
How to adjust as things change
If skin is stinging or flaking
Strip back to cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen for two weeks. Then reintroduce one active at half the frequency.
Once weight stabilises
This is when actives are worth committing to. Retinoid frequency can increase gradually, and a peptide or niacinamide serum becomes a reasonable addition.
What to leave out
- Multiple strong actives at once.
- Anything marketed as reversing loose skin.
- Aggressive physical scrubs.
- A new product every fortnight — you'll never know what worked.
