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Original poster

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

999 replies

bigbuttons · 14/04/2015 17:17

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!

OP posts:
Original poster
bigbuttons · 28/04/2015 06:44

I shall check out the ren mask thanks.

I don't get liquid gold either. I am using a bravura glycolic moisturiser and it's really strong. So strong in fact that I am going to have to buffer it. It puts liquid gold to shame. Although it says not to use if you are using retina and of course I am- maybe that's why it stings like buggery! Blush

OP posts:
Sallystyle · 28/04/2015 07:55

No dryness or redness with the retin A still.

Is it looking likely that I won't actually get the side effects now?

And still no cystic spots!

Twitchcoco · 28/04/2015 08:42

cider Liquid Gold works it's magic by reducing the pH of your skin. Your skin has to 'work' to get it back up. Any product you put over it will reduce that effect and actually dilute it. I hope that makes sense. You can, if you're desperately dry, put something over it but do it at least an hour later.

Evening skincare doesn't have to be done just before bed, cleanse and use the LG earlier in the evening and put a night cream on before bed if you prefer.

I used to just use it neat and leave it on its own but I have combination 51 yr old skin.

squoosh · 28/04/2015 10:02

The REN radiance renew mask is amazing.

FrownsAndDimples · 28/04/2015 10:56

U2 You lucky thing. You may get some when you graduate to nightly usage or maybe not going by what you said. I'm wanting to move up to 0.05 strength but still remember how long it took me to get used to 0.025 and its putting me off!

almondcakes · 28/04/2015 11:23

I got my tretinoin from the source Frowns recommended, and have had no redness or peeling. I was a bit worried this meant it wasn't working, but if Frowns has had results from it, I feel more confident.

FrownsAndDimples · 28/04/2015 11:40

It might come once you up your dosage. I'm very jealous. I still get dryness if my pea size happens to be a bit bigger on some nights.

I have had results Almonds. Its wiped off my sun spots, beginnings of lines around my eyes and made me look fairer and more even toned, more my birth colour, I'm olive skinned. Ihardly ever wear foundation now just don't need it. Will never stop using it, retin-a til I die! Love the stuff!

CremeDeSudo · 28/04/2015 12:41

I've just been out and bought LRP Redermic..been trying to scan through this post, so apologies if this is already answered, but do I just use it like a serum? Ie double cleanse, acid tone, retinol, cream?

Sallystyle · 28/04/2015 12:56

I have been using acid toners in the morning as well. I will use it every night now and stop if any side effects happen.

I don't dare use my Liquid Gold so I might pass that on to someone.

Sallystyle · 28/04/2015 12:58

I have a tube of Retin A from the website linked to above if anyone is interested in it. I have mine on prescription so I won't be using it.

It's 0.025%

FrugalFashionista · 28/04/2015 13:31

I've never used acid toners as my skin seems finicky and reactive, but have now bought Nip + Fab glycolic acid pads. I've tried a couple, my skin tingles a bit after and seems to crave lots of moisturizer. The jury is still out, but my skin seems a bit more toned and glowing the morning.

Loving the DIY serums! I'm taking it very slow because my skin can get very angry, and vitamin C is another acid, but absolutely love the idea of a homemade oil-free and silicone-free serum!

piggychops · 28/04/2015 13:38

I have a question about the acid toner pads. Should I be avoiding my eye area or is it ok to use there? I'm using the Clearasil ones.

EuphemiaCoxton · 28/04/2015 13:39

I don't react to retin a either. I was prescribed 0.1 years ago and just got minimal peeling.
Not everyone reacts to it and it doesn't mean it's not working

CindyEcstacy · 28/04/2015 13:42

U2thedege - I'll buy it from you if you still have it. I'm waiting for mine to be delivered from Thailand!

I'll PM you

TheVeryThing · 28/04/2015 13:46

fantastic thread. not great for my bank balance, though.
Thanks to all who have shred their advice. I have been following a new routine for over a week and my skin definitely feels better, not sure if I can see any difference yet.
I have been buying the cheapest products I can find, but planning to carry on reading and researching, and maybe by the time I've figured it all out I'll be able to invest a little more in the right products.
My main issue is redness (well, pinkness really), don't think I have rosacea, but there doesn't seem to be as much information on the CH site for this. The advice seems to be to use serums for whatever your issue is but I haven't come across one that specifically targets redness. Am I getting it all wrong?

Original poster
bigbuttons · 28/04/2015 13:59

Ch takes acid toners right up under the eye. I do too. Some others believe you should leave the eye alone. I'll stick with CH I think!

OP posts:
CiderwithBuda · 28/04/2015 14:16

Thanks for all the liquid gold advice. I will put it on earlier and put something on about an hour later.

Hi DrinksSangria - nice to see you! I miss Eastern Europe. Can't keep up with people when they namechange!

Twitchcoco - I'm a lot younger than you. Won't be 51 for another three weeks Wink Grin. Combination skin here too but with a tendency to dryness.

FrugalFashionista · 28/04/2015 14:22

Very I gave glycolic acid a try but not sure it is the right thing for redness - if anything, it seems to increase redness. I have rosacea/acne/perioral prone skin (rosacea type 1 on rosacea.org), and sadly generally less is more for rosacea. I cannot use mechanical exfoliants, so wanted to try whether my skin tolerates chemical exfoliants, as my skin seems a bit gray after a long winter. So far, it seems that I get more glow but possibly also slightly redder skin. Not sure whether that is what I want... I tried fruit acids when they were trendy in skincare in the 1990s and they made my skin really red and painful. Salicylates are really good for my skin in moderation.

I'd also be really careful around eyes, particularly if you are sensitive. Acid ocular burn sounds hellish...

FrugalFashionista · 28/04/2015 14:23

Rosacea subtypes link here for Very!

CindyEcstacy · 28/04/2015 14:39

The fab pads have made my eye area look less wrinkly and reduced my circles I think

jjwhite · 28/04/2015 14:44

For what it's worth I tried the REN radiance renew mask and really didn't like it... It didn't have amazing results and it felt horrid (sticky, gunky, overly perfumed) sitting on my skin. Similar to the Oskia renaissance mask (which I liked even less for similar reasons). Basically seemed like pretty cheap masks jazzed up and sold for ££££.

Sallystyle · 28/04/2015 14:55

Ok Cindy

I will have to post it Thursday if ok.

Don't worry about money, I would only throw it away if no one else wants it anyway. Just PM me your address and I will send it first thing Thursday.

TheVeryThing · 28/04/2015 15:00

Thanks for that Frugal, had a quick look and the first photo for subtype one looks like me! Maybe I need to do more reading on rosacea.

I have started using clearasil pads with salicylic acid and haven't reacted so far, was planning to get another acid toner but maybe I'll proceed with caution.

Have you ever tried Avene products? I used them a few years ago and found them really good but couldn't afford to continue, might have a re-think.

It's all so complicated but in a some weird way I am enjoying all this reading and trying stuff out, I feel like a have a new project on the go. Does that sound strange?

kewtogetin · 28/04/2015 15:01

Frugal, I'm an (undiagnosed) rosacea sufferer, I have two patches about an inch long over the top corners of my top lip. I've been double cleansing and using a specific rosacea calming serum after and have already noted an improvement in the texture and redness. I'm not slapping on the concealer quite like I used to!