Fantastic Skincare And Where To Find It

[Pupsiecola]

In honour of bo who has been so helpful on the first thread, which can be found here...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/a2759152-Skincare-Ingredients

Oh and please and thank you.

and I'm going to try the Clinique ttdo balm again whilst I look for an alternative. Used it a few times but think I thought it had caused a breakout so it evicted from the top shelf of the cabinet and put onto the shelf of doom/rejects. Now I have my basics sorted it deserves one last chance.

Your skin sounds lovely aurora mine is full of >ahem< colour dammit. I tried my new blush today but tbh, the competition from my cheeks washed it out. Can you tell I actually NEED the stila palette???

Thanks for rec on the Laura Mercier primer Bo , I will see if I can blag a sample and try it out.

Enid, off the top of my head I don't think there's many out there without Shea butter and/or rosemary. If you want an alternative to the DHC the Muji sensitive cleansing oil I use is very similar (I prefer it to the DHC but it's more effort to buy) which doesn't have rosemary in it, does have some grapefruit extract. I can send you a decant if you like although there are travel sized versions available on eBay but I think it's quite pricey with shipping from Japan.

I had a look at the box by accident yesterday but those things never tempt me at all, there's always things in there that I wouldn't want or can't use so always feels poor value for money but if you like those type of products I'm sure it's nice.

I think after yongnian's DH's compliment we've all convinced ourselves we NEED that Stila palette, think they'd do us a MN bulk discount

wilting I am totally sure - it sounds like it will take me about 3 years to use up 250ml anyway so no point in wasting it! PM me and we can work it out....

Aurora and Bo thank you so much. I am indeed a reformed Hirons follower. I went a bit bonkers trying and buying and then although my skin did initially improve it sort of stalled. I then read those threads earlier this year and felt like a fool, easily parted from her money and totally disillusioned. I feel like I have been in skincare limbo ever since. Until I found you all!! I have so much stuff to use up but I have been flailing with it and perhaps I need to Kon Mari my skincare and suck up a few mistakes by ditching them. Gulp!

I am going to chew over all the advice and then come up with my new routine and I will definitely have some questions about specific products. Thank you again 🙂❤️

I'm not sure bo tbh, I do think it is oil as it feels thicker than water if that makes sense? And my skin can sometimes feel tacky to touch but can actually feel the dehydration. Think I'll just stick to what I'm using as I'm sick of spending £££ on products that just end up disappointing me. im off to mope

Sounds sensible Jo, and Minty too.

I try not to encourage tossing our everything all at once as it's not like you can all start using it all at once without risking adverse reactions with no clue what is causing it. It is easier to tell someone to bin a L'oreal strippy toner that cost a few quid than premium skincare which may not be doing what you want but did cost a bit. Repurpose to body where you can, pixi glow is good for post shaving and helps a bit with ingrown hairs, serums are nice to be a bit generous on the chest area with, same goes for moisturiser. Cleansers can be used to wash hands with, etc.

Thanks Enid. Do you use the PK Elasticizer once a week?

Indeed Bo the Neostrata SPF is very fluid. I like it a lot. BTW I've been alternating BHA and AHA (PC vs P50). Sounds like you'd recommend just the P50 Bo? I'm not noticing any adverse effects of using both...

Thanks for the support re our ongoing kitchen extension saga. Think we have a plan at last. DH has been away a lot lately; I feel like we've rebonded over hours and hours of problem solving and whinging and weighing up options together lol. Tomorrow we are off to a spa day at a fancy pants place. Not really his thing, but a close friend is over from SE Asia and it is his type of thing. TBH it will do us the world of good I'm sure.

P50W is fine to use with PC BHA, I often use them together in a single routine but with Minty there were several AHA products in her routine, she'd just bought P50W in the jumbo size and was eyeing a PC AHA already. So I was trying to say stick to P50W only and the only other acid to contemplate using besides this in a routine is a BHA although at that point depending what you need a for BHA (so whether it's just a bit of maintenance to keep pores clear vs. you're quite dependant on it and use it daily to keep inflammation at bay) it's worth just using regular strength P50 which has salicylic in it, provided you can tolerate it well. So 1 AHA and 1 BHA fine but multiple forms of similar acids is overkill when one of them is sometimes as high strength as P50.

Glad to hear the kitchen stress at least brought some good forth, enjoy the spa day tomorrow!

*something not sometimes, autocorrect is being a pain.

bo the curiosity and temptation have to do with the time of the year I guess, as in Xmas present shopping combined with shitty weather
Saw that Smith&Cult offer but I'm not a massive nail polish freak so... Essie was 3 free last time I checked (as opposed to 5 free).
*
Pupsie* how nice you are taking a day off to relax! Hope things start working out soon.

Our much smaller balcony renovation and painting job starts Monday

Dr Sam video on Retinoids in winter here.

Thanks bo. I couldn't actually buy the smaller size of P50W (as in there was only one size option). But I will just continue to alternate with the PC BHA.

Gosh. Got a conundrum coming up. What do I pack for a week's skiing! I won't take all my products. And on hols I often take only make up basics (not that I wear much anyway, and I don't wear it every day). What do others do when going away? Do you have "capsule skincare"?

Thank you pupsie i will look into that retinol cream now. I'd have thanked you yesterday but i accidentally hid the thread

Thank you botemp i appreciate your reply. I will look into these.

Worth watching Dr. Sam's video above too. I am going to try Niacinimide BEFORE Retinol.

Pupsie enjoy that spa day, how lovely!

I had a Clarins facial this morning, you know the kind in a fancy department store where you then have to buy a certain value of products. Normally I am pushed into buying stuff I haven't researched etc but today I resisted and just bought Christmas presents for other people. Am I on the road to recovery? I may have bought an Instant Lights lip thing but that is NOT skincare so doesn't count, right?

That was a very interesting video! I love Dr Sam anyway.
I do use niacinamide before applying my retin A and i use the retin A last in my routine so I think I need to come down in potency unfortunately. I also like to use an aha and bha treatment 2/3 times a week so they probably add to the irritation, but they dont irritate when I abstain from retin A use. And they do work for me, so lower potency retin A it must be... this thread is the bomb!!

Mint those instant light lovely things I consider lip balm, so it's practically a necessity! Which colour did you get?

Pupsie it takes me longer to think and pack my skincare than it takes me with my clothes (and I love clothes too). I actually get stressed out that I'll "need" something and won't have it. Don't travel so much anymore but still - I've got all the stuff that I always use in mini versions or in travel refillable bottles. If I'm going away just for a few days I can scale down but if it's a week or more I take everything. On top of that might come samples of stuff I'm sure won't irritate my skin. It's a disease, I know, dermaphobitis or something.
Sigh, and on top of that come body and hair stuff. It's endless....

Hi everyone. I’ve been following both threads and finally had the time to type out my issues and routine. I’d love some advice please.

I’ve recently made changes to my routine and products (including more recent changes from reading this thread) which has definitely improved and refined my skin but I’m looking to up the ante. I’ve spent an absolute fortune on skin care over the last decade and end up passing most of it on as I find it doesn’t work for me. I suspect I’m very guilty of expecting faster results and I’ve not given products long enough to do their thing but equally a lot of it was probably not right for me. Interesting, for instance to hear that retinol results will take about three months. Anyway, here goes with Bo’s questionnaire. Thanks in advance.

Skin type: Combination/dehydrated – SF/blackheads and open pores on nose (much improved with bha use but still there – have tried the bha, mask, oil routine twice but no ‘grits’); fine lines under eyes and mild (self-diagnosed) rosacea in a patch on the apple of each cheek.

Approx age (range): 44

Primary skin concern: ageing – I’d like to reduce the fine lines under my eyes and slow further ageing. I’d also like to clear the SF’s from my nose, I suspect I need to up the BHA use for this but I’m not sure how frequently would work or how best to fit it around other actives. I find that if I use it in the morning it makes my nose very greasy/shiny through the day.

Routine:
AM LRP toleriane dermo cleanser, LRP eau thermale, either Hylamide HA booster or TO HA, PC Resist anti-oxidant serum, PC Resist anti-ageing moisturiser SPF25.
I’ve used LRP anthelios light this year but still find it quite heavy and greasy.

PM Elemis Omega oil cleanser (using this up, not particularly impressed by it. Was previously using micellar water to remove make-up); PC Resist anti-aging cleanser (I was using this in the am too); LRP eau thermale; either Hylamide HA booster or TO HA and then one of the following: PC BHA skin perfecting lotion, PC Resist 5% (or I have the 10% too) AHA, PC 1% retinol booster. PC Resist anti-oxidant serum, PC Resist anti-ageing intensive repair cream (which also has retinol though probably fairly mild). I also bought the Pai age confidence oil which I’ve only used once so far.
I also have a decent stash of other more recent products that have been shelved for now (LG, Cerave PM etc. etc.)

Occasional treatments: I rarely get around to doing these (I have a toddler!) though have various masks etc.

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results: I can’t think of any disasters though plenty that just didn’t really seem to do anything for me. Several years ago I tried the DHC oil cleanser but I found it really drying on my skin, do those of you who use it emulsify it?

Things that are really working well for me now: Routine is all fairly new but I’ve definitely seen improvement.

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant: TTC #2 but it’s looking unlikely given my age.

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: >£10, £10-20, £20-50, £50-100, no limits. I’d rather spend less on basics and more on items that are going to deliver change or are used more infrequently/in small amounts - £10-£50ish depending on what it is.

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]... I’m unsure what cleansing oil to try next. I’ve used TTDO in the past and it’s quite good but I suspect there are plenty of cheaper options that are just as good. I also have a bottle of TO Niacinimide in my basket ready to check out. What else do I need?

Hello abab, I've no advice sorry but the DHC oil cleanser (in fact all oil cleansers I've tried) was too drying on my skin too. I did emulsify them to remove, how were you using it?

Pupsie enjoy your day tomorrow, the kitchen situation sounds unbelievably stressful and frustrating so a spa day sounds much needed!

hollin will hotfoot it over there right now!!
minty the pesky toddler is definitely causing me to grimace a lot right now so it could have been tightened from all the teeth gritting I've been doing!!!
enid oooh which Daniel Sandler samples have you gone for? When I get a chance to properly peruse I am going order a few too.
aurora thanks for the mask tips - will report back
bo maybe we should just get int touch with Stila PR, report DH's verdict verbatim offer him as testimony and be done with it!! Palettes all round!

Dulcimena I was emulsifying it too. I was wondering if just removing with a damp cloth would be better.

pupsie enjoy your day off...re skincare capsule wardrobe, I am doing the exact same thing...I tend to squirrel away travel sizes and/or things which are similar/keep the 'end' of something I use regularly to use as a travel version/do decants...I absolutely love travel packing..(yep, geek in many areas)....I like the edited version of my usually unwieldy life!!!
BHA-wise, no ill-effects next day...skin felt noticeably more 'matte' in the areas I used it. Am planning a no more than 2-3 times weekly for the foreseeable, once I've phased it in.
Niacinamide seems to be tolerated well too, no noticeable effects yet, but very early days..