Had my first " your skin looks amazing" comment-- THANK YOU Caroline Hirons!

[bigbuttons]

A colleague said this at work today, I was so chuffed.
I'm 47 and was looking not so good. This last month I have invested in serums, acids and what not have gone back to Caroline Hirons properly this time. I have been religiously cleaning and tending to my face AM and PM. I use a 30% glycol peel every couple of weeks and use tretinoin every 3 days.
I must say even I have noticed a difference, it has knocked years off me.
All blemishes gone, skin is ultra smooth, wrinkles reduced.
There is hope for us more (ahem) mature ladies!

Want to start using Vitamin C on my skin but a bit terrified to make my own serum. Does anyone use Philosophy's turbo booster c powder?

Thanks for that video.

Looks like I'm going to have to dump the clearasil pads as they have salicyclic acid in them.

Could use the nip and fab ones instead as they are glycolic or However you spell it?

First Retin A application tonight.

DON"T BE TERRIFIED TO MAKE YOUR OWN VIT C SERUM!!!!!Shout over.

Listen--- At its most basic it is simply vit c powder( that you could easily buy in Holland and barratt other retail outlets are available!)and water. That's it.
I have been known, when really pushed for time, to mix a little every morning in MY HAND. Bit of powder in palm bit of water, dissolved, on face, done.
That's it, really, that's all there is to a really basic c serum.
Other actives can be added and you can mix enough up for a couple of weeks. It stays nice and fresh and FAR MORE ACTIVE than stuff sitting on shelves for months on end.
If you want to try it out, just do it as above.
Go on.
I double dog dare someone to try

I'm confused about the clarimatte REN toner I bought. The box says it's alcohol free, yet alcohol denat is listed in the ingredients? Plus, the box says it contains glycolic acid and lactic acid, but neither of these are listed in the ingredients?!

Go go go ladies. Love me some anthelios. Have the 50+ ultra light fluid on today.

buttons I started out with the glycerine water and vit c crystals combo. But found it too sticky. Ordered some propylene glycol and love that now. I use it up in a week and make a fresh batch. No problem with oxidising.

I don't get on with anthelios at all. I use a L'oreal factor 50 made for the Japanese market instead.

Okay you've persuaded me buttons. Lots of glowing reviews for homemade vit C serum on makeupalley. Hopefully my face won't fall off Freddy Kreuger style!

Love this thread and love the great woman in my chemist who is incredibly generous with samples. (Always pays to be nice to shop assistants ladeez).

Vichy, Avene Ystheal and roche pasy have some retinol in them so am going to try over the counter rather than on line first. Any thoughts on any of those? Saw Vichy recommended earlier. I love Avene - very light.

One thing whilst CH does go for double cleansing Dr Sam says don't - think I will stick with her for now as she is the dermatologist (with stunning skin).

Can anyone recommend a barnstorming serum? Not sure Clinique Smart is worth the ££££ and I don't like Protect and thingy from Boots.

I like a very liquidy serum that soaks in.

buttons have you noticed any discolouration on your hands when you apply the homemade Vit C serum, or do you wear gloves to apply?

I started with the Aldi one last week, it sinks in very well. It's quite runny, but not quite liquid.

There's 2 types of Nip + Fab pads, one with glycolic acid & one with salicylic and hyaluronic acids, is the glycolic the one to buy?

squoosh there can't be discolouration as the serum is completely clear, like water.

frowns I haven't used glycerine in the c serum. The most used recipe I have used is l ascorbic, water, HA, ferulic acid, vit E. oil and vodka to mix the oil section. I want to know if I can mix my NAG serum in with the vit c. I don't know enough about how well they will mix pH -wise

Zola the key is what do you want your serum to do? Just being a serum or sinking in isn't enough, it has to have a purpose and the right ingredients to fulfil that purpose.

Frowns I am embarrassed and flattered at your recommendation but will do my best with delicious's question.

Dr Sam Bunting would not be impressed with oil cleansing. She would be banning you from putting any oil on your skin at all!

Have a look at her acne videos with CH on youtube.

Her recommendations would be along the lines of:

Single cleanse with Cetaphil, LRP Physiological Cleanser or Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser (I love the Cetaphil but have just started with the LRP and probably love it more)

Acid tone with something containing Salicylic Acid - Effaclar Duo is perfect. I liked this and also liked Paula's Choice 2% BHA (probably liked the latter more as it was much cheaper)

Leave off any serums for the time being.

Only moisturise if you think you need it and then use an oil-free product. Personally I found both the Effaclar and Paula's Choice lotion pretty moisturising.

See what your skin is like from doing these 2 steps alone - you should notice an improvement. You may initially get some of your lumps turn into spots or random spots come up in odd places but keep going.

If this doesn't get rid of everything then add in benzoyl peroxide - she has recommendations on the video.

Then when you aren't pregnant anymore (congratulations!) add in a retinol such as LRP Redermic or Avene Ystheal.

And if having done all that the spots aren't gone, see your GP, you need a prescription.

Personally I found a massive improvement in the spots with Cetaphil, a further massive improvement with the Paula's Choice (I bought this before I tried the Effaclar) and a final disappearance of the spots when I added a retinol. Once I'd done all of that my skin also didn't mind oil so much and I do occasionally use oily products but I avoided like the plague to start with. When your skin is happy and spot free, then you can start enjoying playing around with serums. At the moment you need to avoid anything that could make the problem worse and keep to a minimum of products.

For an SPF I'd go for Sunsense Daily Face oil-free as a) it's oil free (can you see I'm obsessed) and b) it has niacinamide which is another nice anti-acne ingredient.

For individual spots I love love love Vichy Hyaluspot which has lots of salicylic to get rid of the spot but also lots of hyaluronic so as they go you don't get that dried up peely skin which makes them look so much worse.

Squoosh if it's discoloured it may have oxidized and so won't be useful anymore.

I love Hot and Flashy's Vit C serum video - I particularly love her saying she didn't test Skinceuticals as the price was ridiculous and she ends up proving the cheap knockoff was the best product

I see. It's just that there were a few comments on Makeupalley about people's fingertips and fingernails turning yellow.

Hello Kundry (are you sure you're not Dame Hirons under another name?).

I have dehydrated crepey skin on my cheeks, nose and chin are greasier than cheeks but not problematic. I don't get spots, but do have visible pores on nose and chin that I can normally squeeze gunk out of (sorry).

I'd like my skin to feel dewy and plump and less wrinkled. I'd love to get rid of the furrows across my cheeks but I suspect they're to do with age. Was delighted to see Naomi Watts has them too.

Oh I remember in back in the day when I was young and working and could fritter I had a Lancome Vit C serum/treatment thing which used to discolour my fingers, and apparently also my face, as a colleague asked me if I was using fake tan! (I am v pale usually.) It made me skin feel lovely though.

me my skin, doh

I just looked at my prescription leaflet again for the retin.

It is so crap it says put it on straight after washing face, every day!

I still don't know if I should use the toners as it says on the leaflet to stay away from salicylic acid, but other websites give conflicting advice.