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

This is interesting for ph levels, including the Nip+Fab pads (scroll to the bottom of article)

Also, I'm just back to say that I'm getting a bit fed up with putting products into Beautypedia and Paula saying they're crap. I have yet to find a product with more than 2 stars (apart from her own obv!)

Sorry just a little vent

Nabootique that is interesting - now I know why I found Pixi Glow so useless! The Bravura ones do sound good. From the Korean thread I've found that the CosRX AHA toners are at the right ph level too (and cheap if you can find them on Ebay or similar).

I really like the Bravura Calendula toner, and don't rate Pixi Glow at all.

Totally agree about Paula's Choice, although I have seen some products she rates, including Cerave and Dr. Dennis Gross.

Wow thank you nabootique. That is really good to know, that you can get decent AHAs in boots! Am pretty sensitive so I don't think I'd need bravura strength anyway. Although the Avene ones are creams not toners - would you use at the same stage of the routine do you think, and as well as serum/moisturiser?

ilovetosleep I do tend to ignore the star rating on Beautypedia and go with the text instead - so Cerave I thinks she gives 4 stars and it misses out on the final star because it doesn't have extra anti-oxidants in. Well, I didn't buy it for that, I put them in elsewhere in my routine so I'm fine with it. she is obsessed with anti-oxidants

Equally everything loses stars if it's in a jar not a bottle - personally that is important to me, but if it's not to you, just read the text, ignore the stars and make your own choice.

What I really like how she is bang on about inflated claims or as with the acids, products claiming to have special ingredients, but in a formula that prevents them from working.

nabootique do you let Paula put you off buying things? because I'm not sure! Everytime I get tempted by something she puts me off, but I don't know if she's just overly critical. EG she HATES REN products which I've always quite liked. But then I know nothing.

Just popping into say that M&S are doing 20% off again until midnight, they have some good beauty brands.

I had a good look at myself today and my deep Gordon Ramsey crevice in the middle of my chin is looking better, still there but not as deep. Overall my chin isn't as red. I've been doing retin a every third-ish night and no more peeling.

Also had a look on Boots at other nip & fab products, one claims to plump out your boobs and has lots of positive reviews - that's can't be true can it?

OOh cross post with Kundry, thanks for that

Sorry MrsGuy that offer excludes beauty :(

ilovetosleep to be honest, I only really look at that website if I can't find an ingredients list for something I'm thinking of buying elsewhere! No, I wouldn't let it put me off. She totally disses products I LOVE I think it's like Kundry says, just take a view based on the text.

I'd use both of those Avene products at the serum stage.

GERTI What are you using to exfoliate your keratosis pilaris? I get a bit on my upper arms and arse and I find the Bravura flannel (don't buy this - get the cheap packs of micro fibre waffle dish cloths on Amazon. I didn't see these until I bought mine and they are exactly the same) and SR Skincare's 5% salicylic acid has sorted it out for me.

Thank you all you knowledgable folk.

I was wondering, would anyone mind looking at these ingredients and telling me if there's anything that might be making me a bit greasy? I've never had this problem before but I'm a bit shiny these days and trying to figure out what it might be. Thanks!

www.renskincare.com/p/3073/frankincense+revitalising+night+cream

Shea butter, possibly. I avoid it unless it's in a cleansing balm which I am going to take off as it's too heavy for me.

There are a lot of bits sourced from coconut oil as well, which can be a bit much for some skin.

GERTI I have two there as well at the moment, but that's hormonal (due on - tmi!), otherwise the flannel and acid keep it in check. Dabbed some extra salicylic onto the offenders this morning before I got dressed.

Ilovetosleep I had a sample of that cream - I love the idea of it but it's too rich for me. Anything coconut or shea-butter related gives me spots (even in body creams). I avoid these religiously in any form facial skincare. Instead I rely on water-based moisture, and some lighter oils like sweet almond or sesame oil in moisturisers. The Ren cream also has tocopherol (Vit E) in it which is an acne trigger for some, but this is v low down the list so is unlikely to be the culprit in your case.

Other things that make me break out are some plant fats and butters (cocoa butter, carrot butter - whatever that is!), mineral oil, a lot of silicone in a product, and too many essential oils like camphor or eucalyptus, and some strong fragrances (looking at you Pixi glow).

Over exfoliating can cause shiny skin. Worth thinking about maybe.

REN is always going to be a problem for Paula due to it's 'natural' focus - the same for Tata Harper. She just doesn't care if it's from a herb or smells or feels lovely, she wants to know it works! So if you like that it smells lovely or just want a gorgeous rich moisturiser, ignore Paula and enjoy it But if you have sensitive/oily/acne/any other sort of problem skin, or are wanting the serious anti-ageing effects, Paula is going to give good advice. FWIW Paula does use natural ingredients in her products, she's just v v picky.

My take on the Frankincense cream is it's coconut and shea heavy which can be a problem for oily/combination skins and it doesn't do much other than moisturise. No ceramides, niacinamide, not much anti-oxidant, no acids, no retinol, no hyaluronic etc. Vit E is the last ingredient so prob only there in tiny quantities. Which is lovely if that's all you want it to do but frustrating if you think something costing £32 for 50ml should do a bit more. Which is why your mates may tell it's lovely and I am sure Paula hates it

In style magazine have a free bottle of Clinique smart custom repair serum

Thanks so much for looking at that. I think I'll try and replace it asap. I have just taken off the day and taken some more photos of my face. I can't believe I have been blinded to it for so long, I really believed I had great skin. No way!

I think the shininess during the day might have a lot to do with the SPF (cityblock?) And while my skin feels nicer these days, my usual foundation doesn't look good anymore, its as if my pores are even more noticable? Is that even possible? Or maybe it doesn't sit well on top of my new skin and SPF. Or maybe I'm just over analysing now. I'm going to post some pics finally (having removed the last lot) although its really hard to get an accurate photo. I can't believe I never noticed how bad the pigmentation is around my eyes and on my forehead. I suppose the good thing is maybe other people won't notice either! My eyes seem to be so sensitive though that I'm not sure what I'm going to be able to do about that area.

Here's my forehead and eyes

And here my nose and chin