amazing faces-join our quiche and watch the years roll back!

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sorry for rubbish title, it's been a very long day!

Congratulations baby! Fab news.

I have been really envious of all the amazing results you guys have been seeing, and today I woke up for the first time thinking I look ok! My frown lines seem reduced and pores looking less obvious (I think I need a stronger bha though). I am feeling brave enough to get back on the redermic having re introduced both acids over the last week with no soreness. The sore patches are gone and I now have a couple of little red bumps/pimples where they were.

But I think, no matter how smooth and clear my skin is, I won't be happy with my face as long as it's so pale and tired looking, my 1yo DS still wakes all night, I'm shattered and have dark circles that will never look ok without makeup. And I'm so pale, yet with all this exfoliating I'm never going to retain any colour, real or fake. What is the solution here? Just make up? I was hoping all this effort would negate the need for make up at all. I wouldn't call myself a sun worshipper but I've not used a lot of SPF on my face in the past as I don't really burn and I do need a little colour to look healthy. I have Mediterranean blood so despite being deathly pale I don't burn and I do tan albeit VERY slowly. So usually by September I look more human!

Do you use it as a spot treatment then Drank? where would that go in my routine?

Gerti I wondered about that too, I've been using a gradual tanning body moisturiser which I take up to my neck and hopefully blend. When I cleanse and tone I include my neck and the cotton pads are tan colour so I'm not sure what you could put on your face that wouldn't strip off.

I could do with a non acid preferably moisturising toner for days when I don't want to use acid, but have spent rather a lot so it needs to be inexpensive- any ideas?

Hello all. A brilliant thread thank you. I'm posting a very close up, scary pic of my skin. I have these small red spots and very open pores, alongside Rosacea. Any recommendations? I double cleanse, use serums etc and overall my skin isn't bad, but close up as you can see it's not clear at all!

Was on the old thread but have been on holiday, not had chance to read everything.

For those interested, I tested the pH of L-ascorbic acid - 5% pH is

Mrs Desperado if you use it too frequently you peel and like any change in skincare you might get a few spots at first. If you stick to using it once every three days and use lots of hydrating serum/moisturiser etc you should be fine.

Mothers daughter someone who knows more will be along soon.

I've just caught up! I've booked appt with GP on Monday as sam bunting says Mirena coil can be a trigger for acne. I've been spotty since I had it put in so will ask for my old school copper one back! Also been off antibiotics for 2 weeks and although I got a few spots they are not the hideous cysts on my jaw and neck that I usually get. I was also due on which I think was main culprit!
I'm still a bit spotty on chin but they are little spots instead of giant ones.
I'm using (frowns linked )Johnson retin a 0.025 3 times a week without any burning or peeling.
I have epiduo but put it on once and my skin peeled off overnight. Not pretty!
early days but feeling more hopeful!

babyiwantabump is absolutely right. Glycolics are safe for pregnant women, but salicylic acid isn't safe. My mistake!

Well have just discovered Sephora or as i am now calling it "spiritual home" OMG it was amazing - so many different brands and the staff so helpful but not in a pushy way - got Kate Somerville Goat Cream and the Dr Dennis Gross pads, Then went to Nordstrom ? and a lovely girl gave me the Dr Dennis Gross facial peel and moisturising facial - non pushy didn't feel obliged to buy anything but did purchase the creamy cleanser as an indulgent second cleanse for when the cetaphil finishes Skin looks amazing despite having not been to bed since I got up on Friday - also re getting on planes - got on, used a wipe to take everything off, Vit E spritz, and setup then Bouncy sleep mask - crashed out for 6 hours, woke for landing, wipe again, spriz moisturiser and BB cream - have never looked so good getting off a flight!!!

Mothers what products do you use? And have you seen the Sam Bunting rosacea video? Your spots are typical of what she describes for rosacea.

She would be having you minimize the number of products on your face to try to reduce sensitivity and likely suggesting single, not double cleansing (she isn't a big double cleansing fan) Her faves are Cetaphil and Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser

She then goes with a salicylic acid/BHA product only - suggests you avoid any other acids etc and basically toners etc in general esp anything with witch hazel in. I think she'd suggest you drop all the serums until you have the rosacea right and then you could add stuff back in, checking to see it doesn't trigger you. Anything like witch hazel will be a bad idea.

She likes Avene as a moisturiser esp Avene Anti-Rougeurs.

And finally she stresses that sunscreen is really important for rosacea but you need a mineral not a chemical sunscreen to avoid more sensitivity problems.

drsambunting.wordpress.com/tag/rosacea/

www.mumsnet.com/qanda/dr-sam-bunting-facial-cleansing#Rosacea

GERTI I bought my Hylamide from the Deciem website as unable to find it in Boots, I really like it.

U2- I put it on her forehead before bed and sometimes in the morning. She did find it a bit drying, so sometimes she puts a bit of astral on as a moisturiser.

I have just been bollocked on another thread for not telling her 'it's hormones, it's normal' instead of treating it and making her feel better.
Sod that.

Thank you all you quiche-ers.
I have just had a skincare thread marathon. I have read through all the original thread and this one and copied and pasted over the advice/products into a word doc. So much good advice and a dizzying number of products. My skin is so much better, despite not doing all of the stages and no retin a yet or high percentage AHA or BHA. The vertical line between my eyebrows is definitely considerably better - I though I was stuck with that for life. Someone up thread dismissed any idea of improving that without botox - I have definitely seen improvements.

Fuck them dranksangria I will do the same for my daughters if and when the time comes. I remember the awfulness of forehead spots when I was a teenager. I wish my mum had been a bit more proactive and helped me deal with them. I had to figure all that stuff out on my own.

Yeah fuck that.

I had acne as a teen and it killed my self confidence and lead to years of bullying. It was horrible. I went on antibiotics which didn't help much and there wasn't as many options as there are now. Funnily enough my acne cleared up for quite a few years then came back in my late 20's.

My teens have acne but not as severe as mine. Now this might get me some bollocking but in the past I had some antibiotic acne lotion roll on that I still get on prescription as my gp forgot to take it off. I asked for it to not be made up so I can mix it up myself to stop it going off. I have quite the back log so I give it to my teens!

I know I shouldn't but I still don't feel bad about it.

Dranksangria I do exactly the same for my dd. Very strange people that would prefer their dc to feel bad rather than help them!
And U2 I'd do the same too wish I could get my hands on some antibiotic cream....(eyes the 0.025 retin a cream )

I'm loving Hylamide (including the packaging, sorry Lady H). Very liquidy, goes a long way and plumps the skin right up.

I got it from Boots online and did the deliver to store option which is free.

Can anyone recommend a low-mid price moisturiser? Been using Clinique moisture surge and I love it, but I'm unhappy they're trading in China and also would like to spend less and focus the cash on the earlier parts of the routine.

I now need to buy the hylamide for the face and eyes.
So is this in place of serum after acid toning? (what am I going to do with the 3 serums I've already got )

Yes, this is a serum for after the acid toning.