Skincare Ingredients

[Pupsiecola]

Following on from the skincare routines post, what ingredients do you make sure you include in your products, for example, Vit C, Vit E, Hyaluronic acid?

TIA

By the way I apply the SC retinol 1% to my eye area as well, but I've been using retinol for quite a few years now. I agree the LRP is a very good, gentle place to start

I don't read the buffet serum INCI as for acneic sensitive skin specifically. If anything it's more like a pumped up HA serum like the Hylamide SubQ. I think it's a safe one to use for those who are having difficulties coming to grasps what the Ordinary is about.

I use the powdered Cattier masks, I find it easier as I can play a bit of alchemist with them adding in different things like acids, oils, etc. For whatever reason they also feel more potent as they're made fresh but that might be completely in my head.

I don't know what happened with Alpha H, they used to be the only game in town and I think they've just gotten surpassed in recent times.

I'll probably pop your decant in the post tomorrow Pupsie, no need for the Glamglow I usually just ask for a sample sachet now and then as I don't use it that often.

I still need to order my Naruko Biocellulose masks, although I seem to be gathering quite the collection of special events masks, perhaps like good China and clothes I should not be saving those for best.

I am nearly out of the ordinary alpha a. Not sure whether to repurchase or not, as I'm not sure which one is helping my skin!

Bo the eBay Vit C is from September. Would you consider this acceptable?

I have been doing masks on Wednesdays and Sunday. The pink Cattier clay one on a Wednesday and the black clay Origins on a Sunday. Only been leaving on for 5 minutes. Afterwards I've been using the Avene Antirougeurs mask which makes me skin so soft. (Forgot I had it; purchased in the Alps whilst skiing last xmas).

www.avene.co.uk/face/products-for-daily-use/redness-prone-skin/antirougeurs-calm-soothing-mask

The Indeed is £24.99 btw.

You bought your ordinary stuff early September right, Hollin? So lasts about two and half months? Sort of confirms my suspicions that it finishes up fast.

If you still have Vit C, Pupsie, I'd wait for the next batch but the price may be higher as I think they do decrease it as it gets older. The handy thing about the little bottles is that you can keep the spare ones in the fridge to preserve them for longer. If you buy it now and intend to use immediately then a September batch isn't too bad.

I meant volume for the Indeed, but basically how long does it last? It's a thicker texture, isn't it?

Hmm I can't actually remember now! I got the alpha pretty much the day it was released and bought the other stuff after that

Yeah I won't be buying the Vit D yet but was more wondering how old is good enough. The Indeed is quite thick I would say although I have nothing to compare it to.

Oh the pixi glow was in m&s this evening, was tempted!

Have also located p50 here in ireland one salon amazingly, not too far away

Meanwhile have purchased those nip + fab pads. They were on sale so thought I could experiment a little without forking out a fortune...

Will ponder the others.

Pupsie I love Buffet, and as Bo says it does feel like a pumped up HA serum. It's a really nice hydration hit, light feeling but effective. This is probably my favourite one of TO products I have tbh. Time will tell if it "does anything" but I enjoy using it, and my skin looks and feels better when I do. Make of that what you will!

"OpenMinded I use this Korres but your post has just sent me in to a bit of a spin because you're right, it seems to be OOS everywhere. I really hope it's just having a facelift and will be back. Starting to feel as though I curse products, everything I like seems to get dc

Please can someone tell me in a nutshell what niacimamide is supposed to do? I feel I should be more aware of it. Who's using TO one, any thoughts yet on it?

What do you mean by powdered Cattier masks? As in just the clay?
I have some white French clay lying around but haven't DIY in a while as I have a tube of the yellow Cattier.

We could have fun writing up DIY mask recipes

Should we just go through the Ordinaries products one by one .

Which Nip&Fab pads did you end up getting Wilting?

Niacinamide is a derivative of vitamin B3. It's a melanin inhibitor (hence it's primary popularity in Asia) so protects the skin from further UV damage. The magic number seems to be 5% from a study where it showed applied topically to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness. As well as improved elasticity (pores tightening too). It's also been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels, thus preventing skin from losing water content.

I'll start using TO Niacinamide this week but have been incorporating high % Niacinamide products for quite some time in my routine already (with TO I am basically overdosing on the stuff ) and my skin absolutely loves it and it certainly helps with my genetic predisposition to dehydration and pore tightening.

I have this and this one, Aurora. I have yet to find different ones from Cattier but would certainly like some pink clay too. Ignore the instructions though as that's for the bullshit detox clay drink Doutzen Kroes' sister seems to be forcing down everyone.

Ehm my DIY recipes aren't all that precise and usually involve things that just happen to be there... made a fab pumpkin puree, honey, and white clay mask once. Was really lovely and cooling and the pumpkin enzymes definitely deliver a lovely, not orange, glow.

Anyone else watch Lisa Elridge's new video and stuck wanting too many things? I thought her foundation looked especially lovely (Chanel's newest offering) until I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the price... maybe if ICI ever offers it with 40% off I shall consider it. Think I'm just finally going to get the Suqqu eyebrow palette, it always looks so lovely and Japanese tend to have very dark brows with pale skin like me but I hardly ever see user reviews on it.

My skin seems to like the ordinary niaci. I'm v v pale and prone to red patches and it seems to have evened that out a lot
I'm not sure which has helped my acne most as I'm using alpha a in am, then either retinol or niaci with the HA/B5 in the PM
I have no spots. Not one, and it's time of the month where my jaw and chin are usually covered in cystic acne

It's interesting as Arbutin is oft used by acne prone people but as I know it from AB it is mostly a natural skin lightener/brightening and melanin inhibitor. Don't think it should make a difference wrt breakouts but will make a difference with how those breakouts heal (like Vit C).

I only have MAC waterweight foundation on, no concealer which is a miracle in itself

That's helpful about niacinamide, thanks Bo and Hollin. I had been under the impression that it was for pigment/brightening but TO page makes it sound as though it's for oily skin/acne/congestion, which left me a bit confused. Good to know that it's effective anyway. Bo you said that 5% is the magic number, if TO is 10% does that make it better or worse a product? I might give it a go in the next order.

DIY face masks... runny honey, ground almond, bit of milk powder, drop of a fine oil (any really, nothing too heavy), dash of rosewater if you have it. Mix to a paste, slap on, have a bath, remove with a drop of warm water on your fingers in light circular motion. Behold glowy skin. Works for me, when I get round to it.

Hollin I'm finding that my hormonal spots are fewer this month also, I usually get a few around the chin and left eyebrow, weirdly. Anything that has emerged overnight had completely resolved itself within 24 hours. Very happy. What's the arbutin for?

Pass it looked interesting so I bought it, that's the extent of my knowledge on it

Bo - thanks on the arbutin info, xposted!

Hollin your skin looks absolutely flawless.

Botemp is sensible. I see things and go "ooooh shiny"

Judging by their Vit C concentration and rather underwhelmingly potent LA, I have to somewhat hazard a guess that the Ordinary concentrations are clever marketing rather than accurate (like the Sunday Riley Good Genes which is 5% LA but marketed as 'as effective as a 40% peel').

I mentioned it (I think last week or the one before that) about Sali Hughes claiming only Vit C over 20% were effective, and I saw it mentioned in another article verbatim so that's clearly the PR nonsense copy & pasted without scrutiny as pH plays into this a lot (Skinceuticals has a low pH that's patented in a Vit C serum) and most studies indicate as little as 0.6% Vit C is effective but the ideal exist somewhere between 15-20% and anything over 20% ceases to be effective.

The 5% niacinamide is in reference to a specific study where it was used topically, it's a relatively harmless ingredient so doubling up on it doesn't seem like an issue and I've yet to hear anyone claim to be intolerant or allergic to niacinamide (although surely there's probably someone out there) and it's not exfoliating like an acid. Paula's Choice started with the 10% (I believe) and I think it was mostly done to massively differentiate it from all other offerings in the market (and justify the price of a relatively affordable ingredient), up until that point Cerave PM at 4-5% was the highest % of niacinamide easily available.

"Oooh shiny" is how I would end up bankrupting myself. Case in point this

Super helpful. Appreciate you taking the time to expand on that, Bo.

I don't know what it is either but now I want it
I have to go shopping for new riding boots, they're made to measure and you can add trims/glitter/crystals etc. I need a minder to take with me

Oh

hollin your skin looks wonderful. What an improvement from the last photo you posted. Well done!

bo did you use raw or cooked pumpkin? I actually have some left over in the fridge from dinner
I think using aloe vera water/ juice instead of water could also be nice for DIY.
Speaking of, reminds me of a video i saw where the founder of Caudelie said tocan take half a grape and gently rub against your face after cleansing....

I think I'm actually liking TO Vit C. Today it felt as if my skin was a bit tighter, almost as if I had some primer on (and I didn't leave the house so had no make up on). Didn't have that feeling with the SC. I will continue to be very vigilant