Amazing faces- how are we all doing a year on?

[bigbuttons]

Missed having a chat about stuff that works!

Yayyyyyyy!

Hello!!!! I am too lazy to ever change my name

I've name changed since then due to Jeff!!! Bigbuttons and Kundry you really saved my skin!My skin is a million times better as I had terrible cystic acne and had taken antibiotics for ages. I now use cetaphil religiously and double cleanse with care! I am also an acid toner convert and rarely get spots.
Would be great to do a product update as I'm ready to up my game again!

Found you
I'd like to get a serum but it can't contain cones. They give me spots.
I'm early 40's and have noticed some deeper lines first thing in the morning near my mouth
I do drink lots of water as I'm low carbing but I still have shadows under my eyes and I've noticed my eye sockets under neath are sinking slightly.

Generally I'm not wrinkly and my skin is normal.
I've been using Aldi Q10 recently.
I really wanted to try the new No. 7 but it's got silicone in it.

I haven't got a fantastic face but I want one so I'm just going to sit here and copy you.

Hi:))
Loved the thread ! As if it's a year !!
Settled with double cleansing with cetaphil , slipped the serum part , protect and perfect sun screen
Them pm again double cleanse , alternate between nip and fab glycolic pads and retin A followed by Nivea blue pot
Simple effective !! Skin is much improved and definitely less creased :) so glad I going the thread last year big buttons:)

Found not going !! Need an edit button !

Hello! Just place marking for now, really.

My routine was well established a year ago and it's still pretty much the same in terms of steps, a CH inspired one, and I still change the products up a lot and am always trying new things. I do have a lot more products now though. A lot. I love shopping for skincare, even the researching before hand and reading ingredients lists. It is my hobby, really. I'm always wanting to hear what other people are using. I'm nosy like that.

My skin did go through a bad patch a while ago which I think was down to too much stress and not enough sleep. I got quite spotty for a bit. It's back to normal now though.

Relatively new to MN so keep hearing about these 'amazing faces' threads on the S&B boards so I'm curious, is this the original thread? With this as part two? Am I also right in assuming that the gospel that is CH is a great starting point but it has progressed significantly from there?

Righty ho.

I am still not managing to do anything much in the morning apart from drink coffee and chivvy dd along.....

My routine is basically- moisturise only in the morning (currently a cheapo Boots Vit E)

In the evening I am double cleansing and currently alternating between Superdrug Vit E (I was put off trying this for ages because the Radiance one was so horrible and fake smelling and irritating- but I really like this- gentle, creamy and just as nice (almost) as Liz Earle and Elemis. ) and Boots Botanics balm- I like this, especially when the weather gets warm, I don't like balms in winter because you need water too hot to get them to do the balmy melty thing. I tried, loved and finished the Body Shop Chamomile Butter and will definitely repurchase all 3 of these.

I have, but will not repurchase: the Nip and Fab Glycolic cleanser- I just don't like things that turn to oily milk on my skin. The sensation is just icky for me, an Yves Rocher smoothing cleansing milk with some plant or other in it (got it as a free gift with purchase) and a Caudalie Micellar water (meh, Emperor's New Clothes, it's toner when all is said and done IMO) (got that free as well)

I alternate between Nip and Fab Glycolic pads (which are also doing wonders for dd's upper arms with the kerastasis thingummybob) and ordinary Boots own brand glycerine and rosewater I had some N/F salicyclic as well- got the lot when they were "better than half price" in Superdrug. The glycolic is more me, for my 50+ dry and wrinkly I think. I will repurchase if they are on offer, but have to say I prefer a bottle of toner- less faffy somehow. I still really liked both the Olay anti-wrinkle and the Boots Time Delay and will get one of them if the N/F isn't on offer (and maybe if it is)

Serum: at the moment I only have the Superdrug Pure - it's OK, it does the job on the tin- hydrate. But it's no miracle lifter and smoother. For £3 it's fine for an extra layer of moisture (and IIRC people compared it to Vichy etc so it's def a bargain and I will buy again, but for moisture not miracle) I'm finishing up a Boots Lift and Luminate and want to try their new Protect and Perfect because I still reckon the old one is the best I've tried, and I really noticed a difference when I didn't use it, people commented on how good my skin was looking.

Moisture: My ginormous pot of Astral is finished and I can't get it here (Italy) so am alternating between blue Nivea (not nearly as nice as Astral) and pure Argan.

Extras: I have a glycolic eye cream from Amazon that a MNer recommened. I've only had it for a week, so can't tell yet. But in any case, my jury is still out on eye cream. (I want to try Hylamide though) I have some Retin A that I started doing last week every other night, but got a stinking cold so face and schnozz were peeling enough as it is without any further encouragement.

Want to do: Try Hylamide, get round to doing some masks (I have some Korean hyaluronic ones somewhere and can't find them) get some more Neal's Yard Frankincense Nourishing (the one moisturiser that does make a difference above and beyond adding moisture IMO) Get a GA 30% peel and start doing that again once a week. Get more serums.

Dd is still totally spot free thanks to Effaclar duo and Cetaphil. (she was using LRP physiological but they discontinued so she moved onto Cetaphil)

Sorry for weird awry capitals in places, I meant to only do the products obv!

Hello....settles in to take notes

Oh, and I am waiting on Biore watery essence sunscreen.

I just thought I would post this as it is really useful for those who don't know whether they are dry or dehydrated. The distinction is so important when finding the right products. Check ingredients. Even some brands don't make the distinction between the two in their labelling. For example, you will see a lot of brands marketing products towards "dry" skin, but when you look at the ingredients they would be much better for dehydrated.

My skin is the best it's been in a very long time one year on from amazing faces, so thanking you all so much for that. I have settled on a mix of products that I use for my routine and couldn't be happier. I also know now exactly what to look out for that will aggravate my skin.
I have now been able to concentrate more on the make up I apply as the canvas is pretty much sorted. So I'm having lots of fun with that.

Hello everyone, I dipped in and out of the original threads and the Korean ones. After the first thread I spent a fortune on skin care and am still following a similiar routine. Pre amazing faces I just used an eve lom cleanser and a Ren moisturiser, and when I tried to introduce all sorts of actives all at once I suffered with severe dryness and blocked pores and had to really hold back for a while to let my moisture barrier recover.

Now I double cleanse with Body shop camomile butter and ren rose gel cleanser. I follow with hada Labo HA lotion (keen to try the new premium one) and in the AM I then use protect and perfect serum followed by Body shop moisturiser - either Oils of Life or Drops of Youth, both lovely. And then SPF - clinique 25 in winter and Biore watery essence 50 in summer. In PM I alternate between LRP retinol, CosRX BHA, and REN AHA concentrate in this order - day 1 Retinol, 2 BHA, 3 Retinol, 4 AHA, 5 day off actives. After the retinol I use Cerave PM, and after the acids I use Missha Time Revolution Ampoule followed by one of my three moisturisers, and a few times a week I'll use the Body shop bouncy sleep mask.

Even with all that moisture I struggle with dehydration. I suspect I need to drink more water/less booze.

Along the way I have tried Hylamide (ok but not overwhelmed by it), CosRX snail all in one cream (planning to purchase full size, cleared a spot up in record time), Alpha H liquid Gold (only used once and planning to replace my REN with this when it runs out), Body shop camomile oil cleanser (really irritated my eyes), Sunday Riley Artemis oil (gave me spots), REN omega face oil serum (lovely but not sure what it did), various Korean sheet masks (felt lovely, unsure of effects).

TBH i don't know how much better my skin is after all of this. My skin was never awful, just dull and tired. I do think I look glowier, but I'm not sure if I look better because at the same time I also started to care more about wearing make up and my general appearance. On a make up free day I still look awful and its only this last week that I have realised why - I am deathly pale and so every mark, dark circle or line is so much more obvious. I have as of this week been using Clarins self tan drops in my cream and I look a million times better. I wonder if that's all I needed all along!

Yah! So glad this thread is back. I've spent a fortune on skincare in the last year thanks to MN and I currently use- No 7 cleanser for a double cleanse each night, Nip and Fab glycolic acid pads am and salicylic acid pm, deciem hyaluronic acid serum, cerave moisturiser then tretinoin 0.05%. I can only apply tretinoin 3 or 4 nights pet week as it causes peeling.
I love Korean sheet masks as they really plump my skin out. Also tried snail gel-meh.
My skin looks better than ever. Blackheads gone but I still have open pores on my nose.
I tried Biore watery essence as a sunscreen but find it makes my skin oily. Will stick to la Roche Posey.
Just bought indeed labs vitamin c24 on a whim in boots yesterday. Feels nice.
Phew! What did I do with my time before I became obsessed with skincare?

I'm just dipping in to say thank you! I was a lurker on the last thread. After 5 years of horrible peri-menopausal cystic acne, and a very ill advised diversion into oil-cleansing, I adopted the Cetaphil / effaclar duo regime... My skin is so improved that I am finally able to grow out my fringe and reveal my forehead to the world. The only time I get flare ups is when I get complacent and slack off on the effaclar. Thank you, and keep up the good work;-)

I too dipped into the korean skin care stuff. I can't say I noticed any difference to my skin.
TBh I was too busy to cope with the regime. Some nights it is a struggle to wash my face all!

My routine is pretty simple now.
I double cleanse in the evening. I have a hada labo foaming cleanser, foaming, yes I know BUT it is supposed to be very good for the skin as it doesn't raise the PH as much as other cleansers. I really like it. My skin feel clean but very soft after using it and I will definitely repurchase. I really liked the CERAVE cleanser and will get some more of that too.

I use acids when I remember and I moisturise with a homemade oil blend. I looked at the ingredients for the body shop oils of life and copied it. Cost me pennies. I like it. I also threw in some essential oils.

I ALWAYS wear spf 50 even in the winter. My fav is the ultra sun one. It's the best I've come across and doesn't cause spots or give you a white cast.

I use RETIN A a few times a week ( when I remember)

I've got a bit of a hoard I have to use up from last year's over indulgences!

bigbuttons I really like the hada la I foaming cleanser too. Forgot about that one, think I'll get another bottled next time. Think it's ok as no sls.

Oh, your fab recipes Buttons! Can we have them again? I'd like the MN version of Oils of Life.
I started following the Korean threads but couldn't keep up. I liked Benton snail gel, was lovely and soothing, but yes, not sure what it did.

It's so lovely to hear from all of you who have continued To have success with your skin.[ smile]

Ah, well. My oils for life recipe consists of looking at the main oils chucking them in a bottle in random percentages and adding essential oils I already have and know are good for the skin! Really it's cheap as chips. I'm utterly shocked and pissed off that body shop are charging such extortionate amounts of money for what takes pennies to make.
I am happy to list what I cobble together.
It's the same story with all these so called miracle oil combos.( Sunday Riley being the worst offender) Don't get me wrong, I love using oil on my skin but you can easily buy the base oils from eBay and mix your own.

Anyway those who remember the original threads will know that I am somewhat fanatical about diy

I fell hard for the Korean beauty stuff

I have been loving

Clinique ttdo balm
Toosowoong enzyme wash
Starting/first essences - secret key STE is much cheaper than others and it really helps everything else sink in
Had a labo premium HA lotion. love this
Mr honey and miss flower Essenes oil. Lovely over a hydrating serum/essence.

Ljh tea tree Essence. This smells like nothing, feels like nothing but I can't shake off the feeling that it does wonders for my skin. Need to repurchase asap.

Ljh anti aging lotion//skin. Got some of these as samples and they made my skin AMAZING. ££££ thiugh so haven't quite plucked up the courage to commit.

Joseon moisturiser. Like this a lot. Nice scent to my nose, mild and easily absorbed. Would repurchase hit think it might be a bit rich For summer. Particularly as I have a fringe.

Love biore spf. Perfect for my skin. Have already multiples in reserve.

Hylamide. I really liked this but not sure it does any more than the HL HAbpremuim for much less money. I do credit it with showing me my skin was dehydrated and needed lots of moisture. Made such a difference.

I liked pixi tonic and may repurchase. Not loving the Nip and Fan GA pads. They seem to leave a. Film. Also have the freedom GA toner from super drug. Supposed to be a pixi dupe but feels v harsh. The okay anti aging toner is much nicer and a decent SA gentle option.

On The make up side the deciem photography fluid is nice and I love the holiday petit watery BB - so cheap and perfect for my skin. Needs a bit of help on the longevity side but with everything else in my Arsenal, I can get it to stick really well.

I like the Korean sheet masks but they are more of a fun addition than serious skin care.

Can you put the ingredients for the oils of life on here.
I'd personally loved the an oil I got a sample of from Kiss the moon but it's so expensive to buy the full size.