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

[bigbuttons]

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

Re Cetaphil - I think it's a knee-jerk choice for many dermatologists because it's a relatively bare bones product without perfumes. Lots of people they see are sensitive to something and to narrow it down they tend to prefer simple products. Many dermatologists inherently dislike organic stuff as many have trained in allegology and naturals are full of allergens. For the same reason, they also tend to be skeptical about lots of skincare products and develop their own lines. A dermatologist I know said massage therapists often develop occupational allergies as they become sensitized to their massage oils, and hair dyes are similar supersensitizers for hairdressers.

Personally I'm not bothered by parabens - have read a lot of research and am not convinced it's evil, and many of the replacements seem more problematic - but SLS and other foaming agents can be too drying if you have dry skin or a symptom trigger if you are perioral exczema prone (unexplained reddish breakouts around your mouth and chin). Perioral is common among people who use a lot of cosmetics. I think CH has perioral too. I avoid foaming face washes, I think they were a perioral trigger for me.

I've loved salicylates in various products, but have not yet found a great toner. What's the best salicylate toner out there in your opinion?

Almond, Alpha H (who make liquid gold) do 2 cleansers - triple action and balancing and I think both are SLS free :)

I have topped up some oils I didn't have to make my own version of the Neals's yard oil. I had all the essential oils bar a couple. I shall see how I get on. I don't know the quantities, but will play around.

37, oily, overall tone of skin ok but bumpy forehead, prone to milia around eyes and have dreadful nose to mouth lines. So ageing.

CH has inspired me to ditch the foaming LRP effaclar cleanser (which hasn't hugely helped bumpiness anyway) and get serious about it all.

My new and evolving routine:

AM
Cleanse with S&G Ultimelt, remove with flannel.
(Have just ordered the Moringa balm to alternate)
Tone with Clinique Mild Exfoliating lotion (salicylic)
Moisturise with No7 P&P day cream

PM
1st cleanse - Bioderma
2nd cleanse - Ultimelt/Moringa, flannel
Acid - alternate clinique as above, with Clarins Exfoliating toner (glycolic and - I think - lactic??)
Serum - currently using no7 P&P but unconvinced
Moisturise - boots no7 as above.

I need to look into serums and retinols.

Hopeful that the salicylic will clear up bastard bumpy forehead. The Clarins has more or less laid waste to the milia situation PRAISE THE LORD

Thank you so much for that link Almond Very helpful.

I've been lurking in the last page and thanks to you guys I have now started an assault on my nearly-40 year old skin.

Over the last week I have bought and started using:

Novopeel 30% glycolic peel which I plan to use every two weeks

Superdrug hot cloth cleanser for cleansing once in morning, twice in evening

Olay acid toner for morning, and every other evening, bravura salycylic acid toner treatment for every other evening evening

Bravura acid serum for morning and evening (have some decleor essence stuff to finish off too)

0.1% tretonin (sp?) from Geoffs Pharmacy for every other evening that I don't use acid toner

Whatever moisturiser and night cream I have going (atm superdrug black moisturiser and Aldi Lacura intense night cream)

Sunsense Daily Face tinted sunblock

Lancôme flash bronzer

Umm... Botox for frown lines!!

Already my skin is looking better. Soft as a baby's bum too... Let's hope it continues!

Evening all, I'm jumping on the bandwagon too.

32, previous acne with some scarring, now a combination of spotty, sensitive, red and starting with wrinkly eyes don't I sound a picture

Morning
cleanse - body shop chamomile oil and hot cloth
Tone - Liz Earle skin boosting tonic
Treatment - LRP Effaclar duo
Moisturise - Eucerin hyaluron filler day cream

Evening
Cleanse - body shop chamomile butter followed by oil, both with hot cloth
Tone - clearasil pads
Serum - LiftActiv or No7 P&P
Moisturise - body shop Vit E or aldi retinol one

Planning to buy:
Nip & fab pads
A milk cleanser to replace chamomile oil
A new night moisturiser
Retin A 0.025%

NigellasGuest WHO did you kill / bribe / sleep with to get that one??? Tell all! What else did she say?

Anyway. I'm in and up for a good quiche, and here's my intro:
I'm 37. I have good skin but I've been a good time girl and it shows - sun damage, skin that is so dehydrated it is thirsty all day, lots of laughter lines. I know i shouldn't complain about any of this but I want to keep on having a good time - and looking 35, please!

I use:
AM
NYR Frankincense cleanser & flannel (s'OK but I'm about to change to LRP Physiological on advice of this thread - this is a theme…)
Pixi glow toner (but my FAB pads just arrived, as per recommendation on this thread I am going to try them)
No spritz currently but about to add Clinique Moisture Surge on advice of CH top toners and this thread.
Serum - currently Kielhls Vit C but I want to make the DIY Vit C one and am waiting on Hylamide (also thanks to this thread)
Oil if skin is looking parched - usually Decleor but would love to know more about making my own. Have some samples of NYR Frankincense to try.
Moisturiser - currently Decleor, feels lovely for ten minutes but then vanishes. Am waiting for Vichy Aqualia to arrive (thanks to this thread).
SPF - currently Kiehls (lovely but ££ for a SPF) and waiting for Heliocare to arrive tomorrow (yes thanks to this fred!!).

PM
Emma Hardie cleanser. Totally love this.
Then either
a) Skinceuticals 0.3% (moving on to 0.5% next week) retinol
or twice a week / when skin is feeling 'tight'
b) Clarins exfoliating toner (love this) and then a decleor Marjolaine balm (gorgeous) or a NUDE overnight face mask.

Either way every morning my skin looks amazing. By 10 o'clock it looks dry and feels tight. So I feel like night time is sorted but morning needs work - am hoping that the above tweaks to routine and new products help to fix it.

I found the original thread so interesting and useful, I learnt a lot. I'm inspired to try new things and also lots I wouldn't have ever considered like peels or making my own serums and oils. Just wish I knew more and where to start...

Sorry, epic post and very dull - but quite funny for me to see how much I am doing because of the last thread! Looking forward to learning more on the next one :)

Why are some people double cleansing in the morning? Surely it's only necessary after makeup? Or am I missing something?

My routine is:

Morning:

Clarins Pure Melt removed with flannel
Estée Lauder ANR serum
Clarins Hydraquench SPF moisturiser

Evening:

Cleanser as before
Clarins exfoliating toner
Superdrug Pure serum for dehydrated skin
Kiehls Midnight Recovery Oil
Superdrug Pure night cream

Extras:

Origins Drink Up overnight mask a couple of times a week
Superdrug radiance glycolic mask once a week
Lavender oil and Neosporin for any spots

My skin is dehydrated, not much in the way of wrinkles thanks to being very oily when I was younger, and I'm 42. I have been a devotee of CH for quite a long time but am always up for new tips and products!

Just marking my place on the new thread

Cerave lovers - is it the cream or the lotion?

BitofFun, if you're still reading, CH refers to Caroline Hiron (sp?), a beauty blogger who came on to a skincare thread a few days ago and answered people's questions re. products and methods.

I must say, I'm absolutely boggling at these routines you're all following. What's the point of it all - is it supposed to make you look younger? Genuinely curious.

Yes I wondered that about Cerave. Could only see 'PM lotion' on Amazon.

I didn't realise that Cetaphil had SLS in it because it doesn't foam at all. I am not sure what role it plays in the stuff but it doesn't irritate my skin.

I don't think it's great at removing makeup, though. That's why I use it after Take The Day Off Balm at night.

Shotgun, in a word, yes. Or less spotty/eczema-y if you're younger and have skin with problems.

(There is a little bit of me hates myself for being so appearance-driven, but sadly, I have always felt the lure of a high-end beauty product.)

Untamed, it is the PM that hot and flashy uses. It is just called PM because it has no sunblock.

I'm on day 10 of my new regime.

AM
No7 hot cloth cleanser
Clearasil toner pads
Boots Organics Hydrating eye cream
Aldi Lacura Aqua Complete serum
No7 BB cream

PM
No7 hot cloth cleanser
Clearasil toner pads
Boots Organics Hydrating eye cream
Aldi Lacura Aqua Complete serum
Loreal Revitalidt Laser renew

I also have a No7 microdermabrasion scrub to use twice weekly

Previously I had large pores prone to blackheads, oily skin and it all looked rather dull. Now it's sort of glowing but not sure if some of it is due to my skin adjusting to things. Not ready for the hard core stuff yet. Think I've done well so far considering I was a soap and water girl 10 days ago

Hi, I'm generally a lurker although I did get brave and post a couple of times on the other thread. Anyhow, here's my routine which I've been doing for about a year now.
A.M.
Cleanse with CeraVe hydrating cleanser.
Acid tone with S.R. Alphacare.
Vit c serum some mornings.Other mornings I use Alpha Hydrox souffle. It's 12% glycolic acid.
Olay regenerist 3 point serum.
Moisturise with Olay regenerist. the one with spf 30.

P.M.
Double cleanse if needed with Emma Hardie balm then CeraVe removing both with a flannel. Sometimes just CeraVe if not wearing makeup.
Tone with Paulas Choice moisture boost.
Retin A 0.5%.
Sometimes Paulas choice skin recovery serum.
Olay total effects night cream.
Hyaluronic serum when I think I need to.

Bravura glycolic acid 30% when I think I need it. Not often these days.

The only things I change around now are the moisturisers. I'm really not a fan of Liquid Gold. It was too drying for me, and I prefer the SR. toner over pixiglow.

That was a bit long wasn't it.

almondcakes, CH herself recommended LRP physiological to me for dd (preteen). I am waiting for it to arrive as am abroad.
You have all influenced me to do my face this morning!

gato be careful with the tretinoin. The stuff you have ordered is a strong as it gets.vstatboff very slowly.
untamedshrew I really liked your post, it wasn't dull at all. It was really helpful for me that you said why you liked stuff.*

I'm sitting here chewing my fingers over whether to get then very expensive Emma Hardie!

UntamedShrew I'd love to know what you think of theMoisture Surge when you get it, I'm very tempted but really must stop spending for the moment.

I've developed a delightful hard painful spot on my chin I guess it's inevitable with so much change, do I just leave it or is there anything that might speed up its departure?

Has anyone noticed any other side effects of their new regime (apart from smaller bank balances .

In my case there are three so far

1. I have been forced to tidy up my bathroom cabinet and sort my make up. It is now in a neat set of drawers and products separated by type. this will last about four days

1. I am going away over the bank holiday and the contents of my wash bag has tripled.

1. I'm flying internally in the UK at the end of the month and realised that I'm going to need to find a way of putting everything into smaller containers. There is no way the Heathrow security people are taking my products

Buttons I really like the Emma Hardie - it isn't cheao but I was previously buying Eve Lom and compared to that it is a bargain! Especially as in my experience it is a vastly superior product - better texture, doesn't separate, more indulgent feeling. It's great for drier skins but it might be too rich for outlier skins I guess.
You could wait for another M&S 20% day and try some then?

Going to collect my Moisture Surge spray and Vichy cream later so will report back on those.

Can you believe in my huge post I missed out a few products?!!
First PM step is bioderma Micellar water (blue label). Badgerlady think you asked about these - they are a makeup remover, look like water, you can use on your whole face but I'd use a 'proper' cleanser as well. It's amazing, the only eye make up remover I have ever used that doesn't give me excema on my eyelids.
Also I missed out eye cream - the NUDE one is gorgeous but Space NK have serious stock problems (my local beach never seems to have anything in that I want!) so I recently started the Dr Dennis Gross one. Really like the product, hate the packaging.

Oh and shotgun - yes! And just to have some time to myself at either end of a manic day