Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6 Thread 7 Thread 8
I am very slowly working on consolidating the gathered information from previous threads into easier to read formats but it’s slow going. In order to make use of the below form and join in I would suggest reading thread 1 and at the very least the following info sheets (provided they apply to you):
Where to Start
Basics of an Actives Routine
Skin Types vs. Skin Conditions Info Sheet
Anti-Ageing Info sheet
Adult Acne Info Sheet
NEW ADDITIONS since last thread:
Do I Really Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Single Day of the Year?
Understanding Which Sunscreen(s) to Buy
For those who are taking a peek and wondering what this all about, we mostly discuss a bit of advanced skincare here with a perspective of seeking out the right ingredients (rather than the latest new shiny product and all its empty promises) for our particular skin needs. Distinguishing the acid toners from the actives whilst avoiding the truly unimpressive and harmful ingredients with a hope to achieve a bit of anti-ageing, alleviate irritation and sensitivities with some idle chat in between. Newcomers are always welcome but please note the following:
Questions and asking for help on this thread is encouraged, however, we can’t give you a specific routine to follow and hope it works out for the best. There are no overnight miracles in skincare whether it be in the form of products or techniques. It’s about perseverance, understanding your skin, assessing its needs and responding to that in a diligent manner.
These threads were created to help those who want to learn for themselves. We’re a group of interested and invested skincare nuts happy to offer tea and sympathy and dole out advice. Everyone’s journey with skincare is different, what is universal and binds us is that through actually learning about the different active ingredients it helps us get to know our skin and help us adapt as it will change many times throughout our lives - with seasons, hormonal changes, ageing, genetics etc. It's in everyone's best interests to get to know their skin and to keep reviewing those changes with the confidence that comes from the gathered knowledge here. We really encourage you to spend the time reading through previous threads and linked info sheets that the many contributors have taken the trouble to share.
By no means are we experts, we're only a bunch of amateurs that can only respond by suggesting what we would do in your place, for any severe conditions please seek out professional help.
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If you pose a question and we need more contextual information to answer properly we may ask you to fill in the following form. Please only use this form when asked, unsolicited forms will be deleted. Responses to the form can be found here
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Ahem, and finally a little note on spending. I'm well aware these threads cause many to reach for their wallets and spend with wild abandon. There can sometimes be a bit of a frenzy surrounding the excitement around a newly discovered product or on the back of great improvements when someone reports back. This is all great, it doesn't however, mean everything that's a sudden miracle for one will be it for you. Usually, it's a light bulb moment for connecting the right skincare ingredient with an individual experiencing a specific problem. Take your time to mull over decisions and question whether it's right for you too. Skincare is highly individual, it's a slow game that should cost mostly in patience, input, education, and perseverance. Please don't make it cost you financially needlessly.
AUGUST 2017: Sunscreen is pretty much non-negotiable at the moment (not that it’s ever not 
), RL bumps have been met in the road for some, unfortunately. Grief sucks but we do our best to offer a bit of comfort even if it is just something as inane as skincare chat 
. Some of us are lucky enough to be nerding out in French pharmacies whilst pretending to do that holiday thing, the Shelf Porn Off is still on…
I can't believe we're on thread 9 
For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.
Style and beauty
🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Hot Snails, Summer in the City - Now with added shelf porn!
botemp · 07/08/2017 19:14
Oo I'm first....looks around nervously, never having been first on a thread before.
enid so so sorry to hear about your dog 
...I am a long time dog-owner, so I completely understand 
. They are our four-legged family members, so the grief is entirely understandable.
Thanks for new thread bo. Just back from France so will report in on purchases/shelf-porn when less pole-axed.
Interesting to hear the first reviews of TO Vit C 30%.
Love those make up pans of yours olli
tantpoke, sounds like good progress being made with your skin!
Enid (Not insensitive. Very sensitive that you actually thought it could be seen as insensitive- thanks for caring)
Bo thanks for new thread and your words in Aug update section.
Bali yes I can imagine that the 30% Vit C won't last long given that it's quite thick and a very 'dry' consistency which makes you use more to get an even coverage. The 23% is fluid like and you use less because of it. We'll see how long until it becomes an empty!
Long time lurker and occasional poster here :)
I've just got my mitts on my first Biologique Recherche P50W.
I was a bit 
to learn no retinal etc is allowed at all while you use it. I assumed you could alternate?
Any other users on the thread!
Lorac have rereleased this palette. If you're anywhere you can actually get it glares then I recommend it. It's a good mixture of mattes and shimmers and the pigmentation is great
I would buy another if I could actually get it in the UK
http://www.loraccosmetics.com/make-up_megapro.html
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I tried the CC cream Mumsnet users recommend to help with redness, here’s my verdict“I love it. It lasts all day and gives good coverage.” ZaraW
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Bo thanks for a shiny new thread - I succumbed and dyed my roots pre holiday - bits of my hair fell out the other year after jumping straight into the pool and not wetting it first - hence my trepidation
Bali no email for me, I bet it arrives when I'm on holiday
Yong - I might be the palest I've ever been but my cheeks are the least red they've been in a long while. Happy days.
So a quick question or confirmation - Do I wear moisturiser under my spf on my beach holiday as I would normally or just go straight to spf?
Hello new thread. I missed there was a new one so will copy my (boring) post over from the last one in a moment.
JD
Thank you Yong. I liked what you posted on the chat thread.
Oh look a triple post! Again. 
Attempting a catchup...
I love that iconic Dior pic, Enid. There was a whole section dedicated to the photography and it was so visible how much the fashion and the B&W photography enhanced and played off each other. Realised the whole amateur nature of Blogging/Instagram has completely wiped that out why are photographers not crying with outrage Anyhow, yes the design of the exhibition was very French dramatic and impressive, a bit traditional in how it's presented (giant walls of text and very chronological) but that's to be expected somewhat.
I have no Duane Reade anecdotes, though surely I must have stepped in one at some point. I remember Walgreen's fondly for whatever reason and Walmart still shocks me every single time for a multitude of reasons but mostly because I could never believe that 'People of Walmart' site was representational for your average Walmart customer it is. I keep flipping back and forth on going to the US, the last time was so utterly depressing as they were clearly still in financial crisis mode when it had passed here and it was really apparent. The Trump win didn't surprise me in that regard, but it has kept me from wanting to visit again, but talk of American pharmacies... hmmm... excellent shelf porn potential there 
Yong, is the Hydrabio you're trying the thermal spray? I'm using that too at the moment, it's surprisingly cheap (I got a 300ml spray for €2.5) with a similar INCI to Serozinc. The nozzle is pretty fun on it too, giant burst (yet not too much water) that instantly covers the entire face, will be relegating it to post workout spray at home as it'll be excellent for that.
Congrats on moving on up, Pupsie! So long so called 'Project Manager'
Interesting on the initial thoughts on TO Vit C 30%. Was someone on here using the Indeed C24 version? I expect it'll be similar to that in consistency and the price point not crazily far apart when taking in consideration offers. Will be curious to know how long it lasts, I know there were complaints about the MAP that's also in a silicone base being used up within a month.
miffy2, is it the Nivea Watery Essence type from JP you're using as I think several have been mentioned at this point?
Skinful, the supposed pH of the Active Formula Vit C is very low, hence it can be a bit much, especially if using Vit C in L-AA form for the first time which is why I think they are a bit cautious with overuse. I think Tsnmummy08 tested the pH for me on it a while back and it was a bit higher than advertised and therefore not as potentially irritating so you should be fine trying it more often, just remember to keep it in the fridge.
Grim, it depends on the kind of Retinol. Prescription strength definitely shouldn't be used with it or alternated, the OTC versions generally less of an issue if alternated but if using a particularly strong one with lots of side effects than the coupling, even if alternated, may put you at a greater risk of over-exfoliation.
Tant, depends on skin type and type of SPF. I tend to go without moisturiser but will stick some form of hydrating toner or serum in between Vit C and SPF.
I'll have to get round to empties some other time but will report on some trials now. See above for the Bioderma Hydrabio thermal water that will be replacing Serozinc for me from now on.
Have also picked up a travel size of the Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser as I know a few on here like it and the coco glucoside surfactants have promise for keeping the pores clean. I have to say I like it a lot, had looked at it for a Toleriane Dermo alternative but whilst that's an ideal second/AM cleanser the Avene makes for a really good stand alone cleanser, totally non-irritating (on me) and surprisingly good with makeup (minimal) and SPF (lots).
The Daylong SPF has been relegated to the body. It's good and doesn't bother me, applies a bit odd without emulsifiers (it looks to split for a few seconds before rubbing in) but it's just a tad too shiny to wear on its own and I'm not even oily (which it is marketed to), I'll try it with base makeup over it once but on its own it's a bit disco ball, it is good with keeping oil in control though.
I upgraded to the full BR P50, was highly trepidatious and expecting lots of stinging and redness... and nothing... skin seems to get on with it fine 
but it does definitely feel like a step up in terms of texture, am very smooth now and pores are also tackled better with this concentration, brightness is less impressive than with the PIGM version though.
Medik8 CE-Tetra, am really quite enjoying this Vit C derivative and the cosmetic elegance of it, in fact, it sits so nicely on the skin I somewhat forget to finish my routine while faffing about and being distracted. Also, a little goes a very long way. It seems to be doing something, as I don't have the usual instantly noticeable Vit C withdrawal symptoms and skin seems somewhat bouncier and less thirsty. I've been reading into it and it seems to pair well with Retinol, so will have to see how that goes by trying it at night a few times and supposedly really good for sun damaged skin if used with L-AA. SPF efficacy doesn't appear to be diminished either.
I think that's all my experimenting... except, wait, the Akerat 30 has miraculously dissolved two lifetime callouses from daily bike riding within days, for all its immediate efficacy it seems positively gentle everywhere else, Urea is very odd indeed.
I also visited the Dr. Pierre Ricaud shop for their best-selling beaute-test winning neck and decolletage cream. Turns out it's a sister brand to Yves Rocher which made me all wistful and nostalgic as my aunt was always massively conned into buying it and I always got to open the little rolls of paper which were prizes basically GWP with your next order. Did that ever make it to the UK too? Anyhow, the Pierre Ricaud stuff all felt a bit pricey when not on offer, I passed on the neck and decolletage cream as it's kind of bullshit anyhow and the INCI didn't reveal anything interesting but there was a trop chic elderly Parisian grand dame in there with great skin who swore their creams were exactly the same as Sisley. INCI wise in terms of extracts not so much (in fact it's pretty free from plant extracts and essential oils) but the jars do look very similar and they have an identical feel on some. All fragranced so I passed and the price points were high but apparently, it's a bit like the Body Shop/Boden model, constant offers that you have to buy at the right time. They do seem to deliver throughout Europe for free over a low threshold and you get a bunch of freebies with your order. Will have to have a proper browse sometime as a staff member did mention they had fragrance free face creams for sensitive skin, just not in that particular shop.
Enid. The first days are really tough, I work from home most days so a lot of the day's routine was built completely around her so it was especially gutting that all these automatic things like taking out her food from the freezer, opening up the back door so she could go in and out as she pleased, were suddenly done in vain and cruelly reminding me she was gone all over again. All her favourite spots suddenly standing empty was so heartbreaking, it was much tougher than I anticipated because she was such a constant presence. Tack on the guilt for feeling so upset over a pet (which is totally justified but for whatever reason you feel compelled to downplay it) and it's just really tough. In the end, I had to get out of the house a lot and get rid of her things much sooner than planned to not be a complete emotional wreck.
Grim, Medik8 seems really cheap on Amazon, not sure how reliable that is, but at the same time I think the brand is too small to be fake, could be older stock though. The Ordinary do have a Tetra Vit C too but it has Coconut Alkanes as its main ingredient which is making me slightly weary. Kind of an unknown ingredient, not seen it much outside of TO lineup, it appears to be in the Vit C 23% too but at much lower amounts.
Damn olli I love boots, especially sale boots. They are fantastic and what a discount 
it definitely would have been rude for you not to!
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Enid I have a confession. I think I have a bottle of your beloved discontinued Pantene shampoo. Every time you mention it I think "I mustn't tell Enid I've got some" .
Is this it? I've attached ingredients so you can compare with your new one.
How darrre you!
Yes that's the one. I'll compare ingredients now, thank you!
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