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Skincare Ingredients

999 replies

Pupsiecola · 18/10/2016 16:08

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

OP posts:
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yongnian · 25/10/2016 16:47

enid there's 3 for 2 offer on La Roche Posay at Boots if you're looking to spend up some points! Other skincare offer on too.

botemp · 25/10/2016 20:13

I don't own up to my water spray love much either, mostly it's become so second nature that I forget how reliant I am on it but it generally is written off as silly but I see an actual difference with it. Basically whenever water touches my face I douse myself in the LRP thermal water, also after shampooing when it's impossible to keep my face dry (I otherwise avoid any water contact to the face in the shower as the temperature is just too hot), also if I shave or epilate the legs get a bit of a spritz too as it's very soothing. made me feel perfectly justified with my love of LRP thermal water I'm not alone Grin.

Enid, what do you need currently and are those point only redeemable this month? I'll have to look what exactly Boots have on offer in terms of brands as I'm not over familiar with them anymore since they went and disappeared here.

Lego, I don't quite understand the micellar water in your routine. It's not a 'water' in the sense of a hydrating toner but essentially it's another cleanser (or more like a bit of soapy water if you will). You're effectively triple cleansing at night, and double cleansing in the morning. It's probably asking a bit much of your skin and possibly sending the oil production into overdrive as a result. Ditto for the heavy creams but you'd already sussed that out.

If you can spend a bit more, an alternative to the Una Brennan Cleansing Oil is to look at is the DHC cleansing oil (provided you get on with olive oil well), emulsifies well and is not fragranced. Otherwise Clinique take the day off in balm or liquid form.

Stick with the Lancome cleanser if you like it, the ingredient list doesn't show anything outright horrible. I wouldn't know what the pH is but this makes more of an impact for some than others. I wouldn't mess with anything you like and works for you.

The serum, I'd finish up (can't for the life of me figure out what's so special about it beyond a mystery ingredient exclusive to them) and then consider one or more of The Ordinary products in its place dependant on what you'd want (HA + B5- hydration, Nia + Zinc- evening skin tone, Vit C- pigmentation and collagen building, Retinoid- anti-ageing and breakouts, Arbutin - Acne. Buffet or the Hyalamide SubQ Anti-Age if you want to start with something but not quite sure what yet).

See how you get on with eliminating the micellar first though, use it as an eye makeup remover if you want to finish it up. Consider a different moisturiser if that proves problematic when the micellar is eliminated. The M+G Vit E without SPF or the no frills LRP Toleriane Fluide, SVR Sensifine Lotion (if you want something light or the Creme version if you want a bit more richness) might work well for you. You may need to top up with an oil at night (and perhaps the incidental day) in the dead of winter but I tend to go with the wisdom that it's easier to mix an oil in than to have a heavy moisturiser where you can't remove it.

So in terms of next steps after sorting the cleansing without micellar and seeing how your skin rebalances itself (I'd say give it about a week), look into an SPF. Don't know if you have your eye on anything specific yet and have had issues in the past with it?

After sorting the SPF (give it about 1-2 weeks), and provided the current moisturisers, whilst not ideal are still working for you, I'd think about introducing BHA slowly. Either the skin perfecting 2% BHA Liquid from PC or try the Calm 1% first (which is a bit siliconey but a good place to start, also the one I'd consider starting with if I were you yongnian). I'd suggest getting a few samples (you can order multiples of the same product) or a travel size first from the PC website, if you get on with the Calm samples well you can move up to the 2% quite quickly without having to buy the full size Calm version (I'd assert a bit more caution in your case, yongnian).

With the BHA and Oil cleanser and a simple clay mask (I like Cattier) you can try this technique which is one of my favourites for really cleaning out sebecaous filaments and blackheads, after which it's about keeping them clear with the BHA and watching the pores shrink.

wordassociationfootball · 25/10/2016 20:27

I don't find the Ordinary vit c stingy at all either

EnidButton · 25/10/2016 20:48

Yong Thank you. I'll get some of their spray water if nothing else catches my eye from their range. Smile

bo The points don't have a time limit on them. I have £80 worth. Sorry for being awkward. Blush Flowers

EnidButton · 25/10/2016 20:50

Going to watch that video now too. I've a clay mask from Origins that's pretty good, although a bit drying, but I think they all are?

yongnian · 25/10/2016 20:56

Yup, gotcha, will be proceeding with caution.
I discovered the cattier clay masks in France this summer botemp - been using the 'calm' pink one. It's very nice, must use it again, have been rotating with a hydrating dr Haushka one...
I don't actually think I've got SFs...my pores are craterous but don't appear to be filled with anything of any colour.
Would dearly love to see them appear smaller, once I've got my BHA online...
And now, random question of the evening - the skin on my forehead has always been an entirely different kettle of fish and is like a different country of 'problem area' than any other area. E.g. It has always been like a desert and have never put make up near it as it would inevitably hoover up the colour, go patchy then flake. It has now developed its own little micro-climate of seborrhoeic dermatitis, sometimes under control, sometimes not.
Anyone else have this issue? I presume the forehead catches all the UV damage more easily...it is of course where my worst lines are...it's a bit of a lion in a cage really that I try not to poke through the bars. At the moment a red 'stain' of super dryness has returned in the middle of it.
Sigh. It's no wonder skin occupies such a large part of my thinking time.

botemp · 25/10/2016 21:02

Green (Bentonite) clay generally more suited for combo/oily and how most of us know them

White kaolin is good for sensitive skin

Rassoul Clay is good for impurities (blackheads, sebum, and the like) but is not as drying as the green

Rose Clat is mild and gently exfoliating and can be used by most skins as again not as drying

I often drop in some oil in the mix to stop it from being too drying and sometimes a sheet mask on top as it's best to remove a clay mask as soon as the edges go dry rather than waiting on the entire mask to dry up. A sheet mask means I can mask longer as it feeds it with a bit of moisture while allowing the essence to sink into the skin (the LRP water spray works well for this too but more faff).

Not awkward at all Enid, lacking the info on the Boots loyalty program I wasn't sure if it was time sensitive or not.

EnidButton · 25/10/2016 21:08

Good clay mask advice! Don't think I realised all that. Wondering if I should start thinking if my skin as sensitive rather than oily/combo. I think I thought spots = oily but perhaps not.

Thank you bo really appreciate your help. I think I'm just aware my skin is being awkward. Grin

What do we think about rosehip oil? It's been so long since I used it I'm wondering about giving it another try. I have an unopened bottle from Pai.

The dry flaky patch has flared up on my nose today. Sounds similar to what you describe yong. Can't think what to put on it to help.

hollinhurst84 · 25/10/2016 21:09

botemp - the post brats one I linked too, reckon it would be OK for me?

botemp · 25/10/2016 21:27

I've never had the classic oily T-zone just around the nose area and a forehead that glutinously sucks the moisture out of pretty much anything (especially makeup) but can hardly be accused of being flaky itself (nor oily). I think in my case it's genetic predisposition, my skin would be happy as a clam in a warm humid environment, it seems to be built exactly for that (if you forget about the shock damage of air conditioners) with a somewhat open moisture barrier. I only ever break out into a sweat on my forehead if I use a too heavy occlusive (like mineral oil) and the sensation is rather foreign to me as well as unnerving, it feels like I'm about to combust Shock.

HA really has been the only thing that's helped with that and I use quite a bit and usually spray a bit more LRP thermal water fessing up some deep addictions here and then seal it in with an occlusive (in my case not an all too heavy one).

The charcoal mask from Origins is quite nice Enid, a bit pricey though and I tend to prefer the even more pricey Glamglow Supermud which is similar.

Provided none of the ingredients are known triggers, Hollin, I think it should be a pretty decent moisturiser for combo skin, it's not heavy on the oils using aloe as its base. Kelp/seaweed extract is what makes the tills turn over at La Mer but I don't think there's much of it in this moisturiser. The collagen claims are rather iffy as there's no real credible evidence that topical collagen has any effect whatsoever.

hollinhurst84 · 25/10/2016 21:30

I think I'll go for that next, I remember the sample didn't break me out at all. TBH with all the active ordinary stuff I'm not looking for Jesus in a moisturiser Grin
Just something to seal everything in and add some hydration without breaking me out

botemp · 25/10/2016 21:46

I'm pretty sure it'll do that just fine. I don't think I ever want Jesus in anything, I get irrationally annoyed with the Dr. Bronner soaps and all their weird hippy Jesus talk on the labels, if they weren't such good soaps I'd boycott them completely not very principled at all.

hollinhurst84 · 25/10/2016 21:49

I have a couple of those, great for feeling really clean
I bathed the horse in the eucalyptus one, she didn't look impressed but it really got the grease off

botemp · 25/10/2016 21:53

I use it for makeup brushes and washing delicates mostly. I know someone who does everything with it though, shampoo, shower gel, face wash, washes the dishes, cleans the house, car, dog, and pretty much anything else he can think of Confused.

botemp · 25/10/2016 21:55

I forgot the weirdest application of his, toothpaste! Shock

hollinhurst84 · 25/10/2016 21:57

Makeup brushes and cleaning stuff for me, I do like it
Toothpaste - no bloody way. I can't stand mint toothpaste, it burns my mouth but finding non mint toothpaste in the U.K..... I use kids ones

botemp · 25/10/2016 22:04

No Elmex Menthol free or Sensodyne Classic in the UK? The latter is SLS free too, don't know the ingredients for the Elmex. I've been curious about those fancy flavoured Marvis ones but suspect they're just pretty packaging. Also, along with my sensitive skin, I have sensitive teeth and can only really use Sensodyne.

SheStoodInTheStorm · 25/10/2016 22:06

Oh my I can't believe I've managed to miss this thread! I am going to have to read from the beginning and catch up.

hollinhurst84 · 25/10/2016 22:11

Marvis look interesting, I need fluoride which rules out a few of the interesting flavour ones!
Currently using frozen kids bubblegum and a brand called Hello from America in mojito flavour

EnidButton · 25/10/2016 22:14

I'm not sure I know my skin type anymore thinking about it. Def dehydrated acne prone maybe oily nose, also dry nose Confused and dry patch on chin. God knows. I think need Jesus in my moisturiser because it'll take a miracle.

Pupsiecola · 25/10/2016 22:18

I want to buy a mud mask. Am in London for a couple days in hotel room with the family and can't concentrate on this thread as they're all bundling lol. I shall catch up soon. I have had a water softener for two years though :)

OP posts:
EnidButton · 25/10/2016 22:21

I've just put some Vichy hydration serum on the dry bit on my nose. Stopped using it a while ago because of spots possibly from the Hyaluronic acid but I'll see if it does anything to that bit. Think it's the only serum/cream I have in with HA in it.

RubyGoat · 25/10/2016 22:21

Fab, thanks. I have further questions!

The thermal water - would this still be helpful for very soft water? As ours is some of the softest in the UK.

What's your opinion of using the micellar on its own as an emergency cleanser? I have a fluctuating neurological condition & sometimes cannot stand easily or use my left side for extended periods. Is there a suitable alternative? (that I could use one handed - I'm quite dextrous).

SPFs - no - nightmare. I was thinking of trying the Biore watery essence one for everyday next. Literally every facial sunscreen I've ever tried, has made me break out. I just wear big hats & walk in the shade! Grin I really need to find one that works though as I'm getting a pixie this week so no hair over my neck any more... maybe the PC skin balancing daily defence for non-work days.

I've made a list & am going shopping later this week... after the hairdresser. (Having quite a chop.)

botemp · 25/10/2016 22:46

I think the thermal water may also have some benefits with soft water in the sense that it's without a lot of the stuff that can aggravate (like chlorine). The French seem to have a bit of a thing about tap water, granted theirs is of rather sad quality (ours is far too nice to be flushing toilets with really) but a lot of French Pharmacy products actually focus quite a lot on minimal use or using absolutely no water in a routine.

I tend to view micellars a bit like wipes, not ideal but if necessary and no other options that's really what they're made for. The Toleriane dermo clean can be used with a cotton wipe and no water. Would you be able to do that one handed? NIOD also have the low viscosity cleanser which is a sort of micellar but a proper cleanser too, have no experience with it but always been rather fascinated by the science behind it.

botemp · 25/10/2016 22:51

RESIST Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 is the preferred PC sunscreen by most btw, would recommend that over the skin balancing one. It's mineral based and has a slight tint to avoid white cast, might be worth getting a sample first to see if it's not too odd with the colouring.