HML, it’s wonderful that you want to do more than hydrating your skin, but that can be so complicated when it’s sensitive.

I’d recommend to pick a serum that contains a concentration of vitamin c not higher than 15%, and use it only a couple of times a week. Then, follow up with a moisturizer full of soothing agents, such as bisabobol, allantoin, and oat extracts (unless your CEF serum already contains them, of course). They should help counteract any potential irritation.

Are you using niacinamide, by the way? That too has anti-aging properties and is suitable for sensitive skin as well.

Michelle, do use more niacinamide! It’s one of my staples. It does so much for the skin, but is a lot more gentler than all the other workhorses of skincare.

How can we incorporate CEF into our skincare routine if we have sensitive skin? I love the idea of diversifying our skincare, and right now, I’m pretty covered in terms of having a moisturizing/hydrating routine. However, I want to do more than just moisturizer/hydrate so I’ve always wanted to start using Vitamin C, but I couldn’t figure a way to do so without irritating my sensitive skin.

Annette, thank you for helping out. My experience with cleansers is similar to yours. My skin feels better when l started using balms and oils.

I dont think retinol is a necessity in your early 20s but if you can afford the splurge, do it. It’ll make you age much better.

Efrain, you can do it either here or by email. Whatever’s easier for you. I’d be happy to answer all your questions, if I can.

I don’t think foaming cleansers are all that bad. It depends on what surfactants they contain, in what concentrations, your skin type… Having said that, I’ve recently tried a few cleansing oils and balms, and it’s hard to go back to foaming cleansers. I find they work better at removing stubborn makeup, and leave my skin much softer. So, I’d definitely recommend the switch.

There is not an ideal age to start using retinol. Most women wait until their late twenties, others prefer to start in their late teens. Imo, the sooner, the better. Preventing wrinkles is a lot easier than getting rid of them. You don’t want to wait until they appear on your face to do something about that. I made that mistake, and now I regret it.