Serums- views

[cocobongo]

Hi

Looking to try a new serum. Usually use Olay Regenerist, but thought I would try something else. Price up to about £25, so none of these crazily priced ones! I've tried Boots Protect & Perfect and didn't like that. Skin type is pretty dry / dehydrated.

Any thoughts much appreciated!

Hi SleepisfortheSheep

Decleor definately isn't for the oldies - I'm in my twenties and it works brilliantly for me. Decleor recommend the Rose D'Orient Arommessence for tired stressed skin but I don't think you can go far wrong with Neroli. It balances the skin out and really helps to calm it down. Also, if your skin is tired and stressed I can highly recommend Liz Earle Eye Bright. I pop it on cotton wool and then pop them in the fridge for a couple of minutes before resting on my face (I do 6 pads and cover my face in them). Lie back for 5 mins and skin just feels gorgeous - it's esp good in the summer!!

Hi, sorry for not coming back until now- posted this morning then headed to work. in terms of price- well, if i knew it was going to be amazing, i would stretch my budget, but over the last few months i seem to have spent a fortune on creams and potions, some of which haven't been great!

In terms of my skin- well, mid-30s, dry / dehydrated (not really sure how you tell the difference, but there you go!). It has the tendency to flake if i put something too tacky on it, and has a tendency to redness. God, I sound so attractive! was okay 'til about 6 months ago when i used some arran aromatics shampoo, and it must have aggrevated something on my forehead as it went really red and flaky and irritable. just about getting it under control now, though not perfect.

I don't really know whether I should be aiming for water or oil based.....

alwaysrunninginheels, i did consider origins as i got a toner from them that worked wonders, but their serums were ££££ so put me off! maybe one to consider....

MrsMartin - I love Liz Earle but have never tried the Eye Bright. Think I might even have a sample somewhere. Will give it a go! Thanks for the advice on Decleor.

MissFoodie, i don't use a face oil- should i? another thing to add to the list! the one thing i did think was that i thought oils were best avoided for dehydrated skin?

I second Liz Earle "superskin concentrate" absolutely wonderful for dehydrated skin and this time of the year, little goes a long way.
I am onto my third bottle, and I remember when i just started using it after about two weeks good friend of mine asked if I had something more dramatic done to my face
NO.
My feather lines disappeared it didn't do anything for the redness on my cheeks, but then I was not expecting it to do anything anyway, smells wonderful, it is also pure plant botanical oils so no nasties.

yy to face oil under moisturiser at night. Serum: I love neal's yard rose one but I think it's v spenny (£40ish??). Those with silicones in I think are not good in long run though are great for occasional use (ahem, Idealist). Have an idea that Sali Hughes has done a column on serums in the grauniad, might have good recs?

mrsmartin, thanks for the comprehensive advice. i was probably a bit like sleepisforsheep and thought of decleor for oldies- but then again, maybe i am an oldie now!! will check out qvc, never think to look there. don't tend to buy make-up or skin care from ebay as was ripped off a couple of times before, plus a bit concerned about the hygiene.

I wear (until I ran out last week) Origins A Perfect World serum which makes my skin feel great but everytime I put moisturiser on top I came out in spots. So stopped wearing moisturiser. I seem to have gone back to ruddy cheeks now and makeup not staying on. So is serum just like a primer? I didn't my skin was dry without moisturiser and I don't put anything on at night (the shame, the shame although I have some facial oil I just face my arctic bathroom).
So what are you supposed to do, and why did I come out in spots? It's been an education reading all the comments, I just got some serum because I thought it would help my skin look less dried out and smooth some (small) wrinkles. I'm 42.

well, i have ordered an origins one-make a difference. it is the same range as the toner i like, so hopefully will be good, though hadn't seen the post from accessorizequeen before i placed my order, or might have been put off!

for anyone interested in ordering origins, they are doing a few freebies if you order with them by 2nd feb and free delivery if you spend over £30.

thanks to everyone else who commented, and apologies for anyone i haven't responded to directly. your comments were all appreciated.

Ooh hope i am not too late....I and many of my friends love BTX Actiderm Serum. I couldn't be without it now and it lasts quite a while, so well worth buying.

It is meant to be as good as botox and although i am 'fairly young' i wanted to start looking after my skin properly, and already the results are really good.
I paid about £26 for it and it has lasted 10 or so weeks so far!

I have heard good reviews about some of their other products but am reluctant to change at the moment! I buy my products from a UK website that is www.naturalbeautyslimming.co.uk (hope that is allowed-it's not my business i promise!)

Can someone tell me as well what I should be using oil or water based for dry skin - am thinking oil?
And can I use it day or night?
And before or after moisturiser ?

2 final questions sorry for stealing thread!

Has anyone tried the new yvse saint larent one?

And what's wrong with scilicone ones?

Sorry for typo on phone

you should use a facial oil at night, if not every night, then at least a few nights a week - you don't need to spend a fortune either, here is info and some suggestions: bit.ly/ypNGzu

I personally avoid silicones, mineral oils and parabens, the first two are cheap fillers which offer no benefit whatsoever, do not hydrate or nourish and just sit on the surface of the skin

After moister user or instead of?

if you use a face oil at night, then on warm damp skin, alone - here is a feature I wrote with more info and tips: www.yumetcetera.com/2011/03/nourish-me.html

I'm confused - who has said a serum is like a primer??? It TOTALLY ISN'T and shouldn't be used as one. Serums go UNDER your moisturiser to deliver moisture and nutrients to the lower layers of the skin. Then moisturiser works on the upper layers. Primer is like undercoat on your living room wall - it provides a smooth canvas for your make-up (or just makes your skin look better if you don't wear make-up). That is why primers often have silicones in them - so that they give a velvet finish that make-up can float on. They also stop your make-up mixing with your make up and sinking into your pores (imagine a glass of water with a layer of oil and a rose petal on top of the oil - the oil, ie primer, keeps the water and the petal from touching eachother).

PLEASE DON'T USE YOUR SERUM AS A PRIMER - it will almost certainly lead to conjestion and blocked pores. And it is a waste of money.

Note to COCOBONGO I use qvc wherever I can for new beauty I want to try - their returns policy is a godsend - where else can you try out salon skincare for a month and then return it - even if it is empty???

Also - anyone who loves Liz Earle - it is a Liz Earle TSV on Sat and it definately has C&P, Superskin moisturiser and the full size Skin Tint (which I really want to try).

sorry - total doof - that should say that primer stops make-up mixing with moisturiser.

Mrsmartin thanks for the info about QVC doing beauty products where you can even return the stuff after use - wow! Sounds excellent

It was me Mrs Martin because whenever i put moisturiser on top of serum I come out in spots. So the theory just doesn't work, when I use both my skin gets congested. And the serum I have (origins skin guardian) seems to behave like a primer- read a review saying exactly that. My skin has been fine with just the serum & it feels great on but I was confused!
I put facial oil (rosehip) on last nite & skin feels wonderful this morning.

Meant to say the theory doesn't work for my skin

Ok I've been following this thread with interest and I'm officially confused!

At the moment I just use moisturiser. My skin is unbelievably sensitive, I get really dry cheeks but my nose and chin can get a bit oily and congested. I'm up for trying some new skincare, but:

Do I need both a serum and an oil?
When do I use them?
Anyone any suggestions for sensitive skin?

flipflapflop - I would try Liz Earle superskin oil under your moisturiser. I only ever use Decleor oils under my moisturiser but Liz seems to be the prefered brand for those who are super sensitive. I think oils are miles better than traditional serums and when you find the right one your skin just lookswonderful.

accessorizequeen I'll be honest, I don't really know much about origins - they are probably one of the only qvc brands I haven't tried :) However, I would say that it is normal (ie to be expected) that your skin breaks out slightly when you start using a new regime. With new regimes, you need to continue them over the course of at least a month in order to test them fully, due to the differing horemone levels caused by menstruation etc. If the breakouts are unacceptable then that is fair enough but when I switched to my present routine (Been doing it 2 years now, give or take a couple of products) I broke out in mini pimples that lasted a couple of weeks (it was all the crap being brought to the surface) but my skin has looked fantastic ever since. I would recommend that you just go back to basics, cleanse with a moisturising cleanser, Tone with an alcohol-free toner (so important), then moisturise. Spend as much time as poss massaging in your moisturiser to get the full benefit and try to give yourself as much time as you can before putting on make-up, ideally putting on a primer first. Then if your skin shows signs of dehydration after a few weeks you can try adding in another step - you never know, you might not even need it.

PS to EVERYONE - don't forget that the most universal anti-ageing product is to wear an SPF everyday!!!!

This is not scientific but I impulse bought Aveeno Triple Boost serum (either £11.99 or £12.99 can't remember) in Boots last week for my very sensitive, dry and now cold face. And it is fantastic. I use it before moisturiser morning and night. Much more comfortable and looks better. Paraben free, good for sensitive skins etc. No science but I like it.

Thanks mrsmartin, but I'm laughing at the idea of that routine! I have 4 dc and spend about 5 mins on skincare/hair/makeup. It's unrealistic for me to massage/wait/put on primer much less wash/tone/moisturise daily! Guess I shall continue to look haggard as I just don't have time for all that.I think I will look for a decent SPF moisturiser though.