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

I only use a bronzer now but have used a blusher in the past. I do like that natural cheek look but I'm not sure which product/technique is best to achieve it. I don't have hugely defined cheek bones.

The spa was lovely thank you. Really good facilities, lovely lunch. Only downside was that I had the most excruciating headache develop. I do get them sometimes but a couple of ibuprofen usually see them off. But I didn't have any with me and it steadily got worse. I had a massage just before we were due to leave. It was very painful in my upper back. I think it was just a stress headache (the last two weeks have been horrendous) coupled with the after effects of the massage. OMFG though I have rarely had a headache that bad. I ended up having a panic attack in the middle of the car park (so embarrassing) and DH had to go beg for some meds from some people whilst our friend emptied out his paper bag and helped me breathe in and out of it. I've only ever had two panic attacks before. Once was after a fright at the top of a ski slope. The other was when they were trying to stick a camera up my nose when I had Ludwig's Angina a few years ago. Feel better now but very drained and fragile. But spa was really lovely; I did miss Jonny Wilkinson walking past me when I was outside trying to shift the headache too!

Pupsie that sounds harrowing, hope you've calmed the nerves a bit since

I only wear bronzer in spring/summer, find it looks odd the rest of the year. Bronzer is also one where I definitely prefer a high end brand, anything that sparkles looks terrible to me but it's personal taste, prefer something subtle that evokes a healthy complexion but not totally flat matt either. Benefit Hoola is the most horrid thing to ever land on my face, I still shudder at the memory. If you're paler it's tough to find a flattering one. Getting one of the Chanel Les Beiges powders in one tint darker than you are is nice for winter though, not quite a bronzer but similar effect but very subtle once again.

You have to play around with blusher a bit, lately I've been doing a sort of C formation up the cheeks (quite high) around the orbital bone into the temples. I think I look too girly with the apple of your cheeks business, blush a bit higher up looks better on me but it's often considered a no-no. I think I learnt most of my blusher techniques off Mary Greenwell tutorials who doesn't adhere to many rules, it looks like she's just plopping everything on but she does actually have really good techniques whereas I find most youtube tutorials all use the same techniques which for whatever reason require that weird psycho smiley face.

Aurora, ICI sent me another offer today 25-30% off everything... it never ends... I wonder if it works with the 40% off mascaras too, did you get the brown one by any chance it's still haunting me.

Bo I use a Bobbi Brown one and quite like it. I did have one if their shimmer bricks but it was awful really.

Pupsie that sounds horrible. Poor you. Hope you can take it easy the next couple of day and take extra care of yourself.

I put my blusher quite high up because Lisa Eldridge did it in a tutorial on how to disguise under eye circles. (Well, inner corner of the eye anyway) It seems to work well for me. Although I didn't realise it was seen as a no no so I hope it looks ok.

LE worked under Mary Greenwell so I think it's all good . I think the official rules are not too high and no further than the midpoint in your pupils, etc. anything else is considered 'wrong' or something but I think it's old fashioned and probably more to do with old school formulations and crappy brushes. What I don't like the look of is a sharp highly pigmented blush line when it's part of a three part stripe of contour, blush, highlighter reminds me of toothpaste.

Oo pupsie poor you, that sounds horrid. Hope you can get a bit of respite from the kitchen situation now and some rest over the weekend.
Very liking the sound of the Surrat blusher bo keep us posted.
Staying the weekend at MILs, haven't been for 4 + months, during which time I've been really working on my skin. It's really noticeable (to me) when I look in her bathroom mirror how different my skin is looking from last time/usual in that mirror with that particular light. Pleased!

I'm a highlighter obsessive
Night out tomorrow so I've screenshot a photo from Instagram as how I want to do my eye makeup. This should be fun(!)

I like both bronzer and blusher by the way. Currently using a bare minerals bronzer. Not mad about it but it's not bad.
I do the high cheek swirl too. Otherwise, the effort I put into stippling out my rosacea cheeks is completely pointless when I 'blush' it back on artificially! Have also stopped using anything pinky toned for that reason, which is a bit of a shame as used to like a dusky pink blush.

Ok, so those of us who have no social life (i.e. Me) will need to see a picture of your night-out make up look please hollin. Man, I miss full-on night time glam. It was my favourite bit of the night out!!!

Poor pupsie! Makes sense - you had so much going on lately and were holding it all together and in the SPA you had a chance to let go a bit so boom! I say you deserve a day under the duvet tomorrow!

I'm also of the natural check make up "school". I apply very very little, just to bring some colour back. I think with blush you have to look at yourself very well and think - where do I want that bit of colour/ rosiness? And put the but the blush there, as every face is different.

yongnian- it's my first night out this year, don't be too jealous
Going for a meal at a Greek place then around town for a (few) drinks
This is my dress, and the eye makeup I want to attempt

LE worked under Mary Greenwell so I think it's all good

Ooh never knew that. Makes sense then. I have to wear blusher but as I'm so pale it's a very fine line between looking like a Twilight extra and a doll. It also seems to vanish very quickly so hoping the Daniel Sandler blushes are long wearing.

Yy, hope you took a pic Hollin.

That dress is GORGEOUS!

Thank you, I do love it but rarely wear it
This is it when it's on, I need to wear it more often! It's from Collectif

That dress was made for you. Even the colour is perfect.

Hope you have a really good night.

I shall report back
And thanks to Botemp I'm lost in YouTube of Mary Greenwell and now have a list of about £500 worth of Chanel stuff that I "need"

help please ladies I emailed deciem asking if they could recommend something to use in conjunction with my hylamide subq to address my concerns and they said to use TO niacinamide and zinc but I'm not sure where this would slot in? Before or after the subq? Twice a day every day?? Does anyone here use it?
Sorry and thanks

Hello, I have been lurking on this thread, which is brilliant, I would be really grateful for some help. I need new skincare, I have just run out of moisturiser. My routine is a mess. I used to use Liz Earle but then got loads of spots round my jawline so swapped to La Roche Posay Effaclar system. The Effaclar duo is fab but the wash and toner are very harsh I think.

Skin type: combination- oily.

Approx age (range): nearly 40

Primary skin concern: Less oil/ matify/ spots on jawline. Secondary - I have melasma.

Routine: Effaclar face wash, Liz Earle toner, Avene moisturiser (just run out), Effaclar duo on chin. LRP Athelios in summer
I do this am and pm. Occasionally use Liz Earle cleanse and polish still pm.

Occasional treatments:
Tea tree face mask. Liz Earle exfoliator

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results:
Glycolic toner - didn't help my melasma and very harsh.

Things that are really working well for me now:
Effaclar duo

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant: no

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: >£10, £10-20, £20-50, £50-100, no limits.
£10-20 really.

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]...
New cleanser (prefer wash off), toner, moisturiser.
Moisturiser ideally spf and matifying- this is nearly impossible to find!
Very grateful for any pointers!

hollin that is a fab dress and make look! Great pic too. Have a lovely time.
Ah Mary Greenwell...the doyenne of great make up...
indecisive jo I've just started using TO Niacinamide - I use it in the AM after cleanser and a spray with serozinc. I don't use the Hylamide (tho have been eyeing it up) but do use TO HA. So I guess you would slot it in before the Hylamide, maybe?
Someone else will have the definitive answer...
Welcome Chris...I'm not best placed to answer your Q's (though you will most likely receive some great advice from elsewhere on here) but I too have found the Effaclar wash very harsh for face..though it is effective for bacne I found and like you, I do like the Effaclar duo for nixing a spot before it gets going properly.
With your moisturiser q's would you have more luck going for a mattifying primer first, then layering up moisture and SPF perhaps? Don't know...but the skincare buffs are sure to know!

You don't need any of the Chanel bits Hollin, lovely as they look I'm pretty convinced your tardis cupboards already have it all! There was a 'suggested' video from Youtube in my feed yesterday on 'How to Curb Your Makeup Addiction', I was only thinking about getting the Stila palette... sheesh...

I have to warn Jo, whilst Niacinamide is desensitising and generally not irritating in the long term but the 10% concentration makes for a potential sensitising ingredient. I'd buffer in a smaller dose with the hylamide first and see how you get on, using it once a day only.

I think a lot MUA with any success worked under MG for some period of time, I know Charlotte Til bury did too.

Hollin, the outfit looks fab, very Joan from Mad Men and the eye makeup looks great too, we're all anxiously awaiting the reveal !

Hollin that colour really suits you and it's a colour I love myself. Lost a beret in that colour a few week ago actually

I know bo ICI have non-stop very tempting offers and I have some vouchers lying around
I got the black mascara in Noir Extreme. I think for experimenting with brown I'll buy a cheap one first. Haven't had a brown one in years and years so who knows I might hate it. The burgundy one, on the other hand, I know I would have loved, sigh...

Still waiting for BT lovely coraly blush

Chris

Glycolic won't help with melasma. Azelaic acid is often prescribed, I'm not sure how effective the 10% would be from The Ordinary (prescribed it's usually 15-20%). Also you do need to be wearing a separate SPF year round for melasma and the general advice is to go with a mineral one (these tend to be more mattifying too) rather than chemical (Anthelios is chemical though there is a mineral version out there but I think it's US only).

I've commented before that the only thing worth getting from the effaclar line is the duo, the toner and wash are far too harsh and like the coloured rosaliac line perfectly demonstrate the ups and downs within the LRP brand.

AM

Effaclar face wash LRP Toleriane Dermo Cleaner
Liz Earle toner - is this the instant boost skin tonic? If so no real harm, it's floral water. Not a necessity if you're wondering whether to RP though
Avene moisturiser LRP Toleriane Fluid
Consider TO Alpha Arbutin 2% for pigmentation and blemishes.
Effaclar duo on chin
SPF - A mineral one, the ones with superior fluidity will come in pricier, is that manageable?

PM

An oil based cleanser within your budget probably the Superdrug Vit E HCC
LRP Toleriane Dermo Cleanser
TO Azelaic Acid 10%
LRP Toleriane Fluid
Effaclar duo

If the TO Azelaic Acid doesn't work for you (it should be addressing excess oil, spots, etc. too) try a PC 2% BHA perfecting liquid instead for the spot prone areas, but give it at least six weeks or longer to evaluate results.

For pigmentation (and other benefits) consider using the Vit C 23% if the Arbutin isn't giving any results (or use together), and further down the line consider incorporating Niacinamide 10% and the Retinoid 2%.

None of this will make melasma go away most likely, it's a tough one to address even under a derm's care. Mineral sunscreen is the primary defence and necessity the rest is simply an attempt at diminishing its appearance whilst also being beneficial in addressing your skin type and blemishes.

Skincity is usually really quick with me, Aurora but they must be busy with all the extra orders and everything has been coming in slow with me lately due to the December rush. Anxious to know how the BT fares, it was mostly the rose coloured one I could find info on.

I was actually looking at a Helena Rubinstein Mascara as it won one of the Japanese Cosme awards and I was left intrigued, can't even remember when that was a brand worth knowing (or a popular one for that matter) I think my grandmother had a few bits from it, much like Elizabeth Arden a bit of an ignored brand these days but who knows maybe that mascara is fab? The Japanese are very picky with their mascara after all.

Get the burgundy one, you NEED it

Thank you so much Botemp

Off to Boots for 342 on LRP and will look for the other products.
Do you think I'm ok to use up my Liz Earle cleanse and polish in the Eve before getting the super drug hot cloth vit E? I don't break out so much now I have Effaclar duo.
I can spend a bit more if necessary- I'm tight rather than skint
Melasma much better now I have a Mirena rather than the pill.

Did the Liz Earle C&P make you break out before? If so, I wouldn't risk it. Using it once may not be an issue but over multiple uses it might cause reaction again. You didn't comment on makeup use but if you're currently not wearing any and no SPF you could be fine with just a single cleanse until you get a SPF into your routine.

So for Mineral sunscreens, the Neostrata one that Pupsie has (is it from Amazon, P?) is worth looking at or the SPF 30 (for winter SPF30 is ok though generally I think 50 is recced for melasma) from Paula's Choice which is tinted, same goes for the Skinceuticals SPF 50 (also tinted). Clinique and Kiehl's have recently started selling fluid mineral sunscreens, think they may be a bit more affordable (just over the £20 mark) which should be easier to source and sample but have yet to see any feedback on them.