Even More Fantastic Skincare And Where To Find It

[botemp]

Thread 1

Thread 2

For those who are taking a peek and wondering whether thread 1and 2 are worth reading we mostly discuss a bit of advanced skincare here with a perspective of seeking out the right ingredients for our particular needs. Distinguishing the acid toners from the actives whilst avoiding the truly unimpressive and harmful ingredients with a hope to achieve a bit of anti-ageing, alleviate irritation and sensitivities with some idle chat in between deviations on this thread are mostly my fault.

If you're in need of some advice coming to grips with your skincare routine please don't hesitate to ask, we don't bite, only occasionally sting with a bit of Biologique Recherche P50 now and then . Just make sure to state clearly what your concerns and needs are, skincare is highly individual and a random recommendation for a 'good' product will be completely different from one person to the next.

If you want help, have read through the previous threads, but if you still have questions use the following form to make life easier on us. We generally answer up to two people a day on a first come first served basis. Not everyone will have answers and sometimes we can't answer you at all. We're only a bunch of amateurs that can respond by suggesting what we would do in your place, for any severe conditions please seek out professional help.

Skin type:

Approx age (range):

Primary skin concern:

Routine :

AM :

PM :

Makeup : eg. no/light coverage/medium coverage/heavy coverage

Occasional treatments:

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results:

Things that are really working well for me now:

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant:

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

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]:

Yeah the doll is very cute though I'm usually not one for dolls or displaying "cute" thing. Will pass it on to my niece (who is 9 and whose love of makeup is a bit worrying )

*Things
(Crawls back under the Everest-high mountain of kiddy Xmas prep and chores)

Have a fab and, most importantly, relaxing time Pupsie! I'm glad your initial threads were ultimately so helpful to many and for everyone that continues to contribute and report back.

There's also a minty on here so confusion may have happened, jo.

Yes, those dolls make for good filler gifts and as a placeholder for missing chess pieces and the fabric bags they send along also hold up surprisingly well too. I'm hoping they'll do a Laura Mercier offer before Christmas, I need ahem lots of things.

Ohhhhhh I see bo that makes more sense I won't bother filling it in then lol

Thanks to Bo and all the regulars and contributors to this thread. Merry Christmas to you all

Niod superoxide mist anyone tried??

Dulci Good idea. I'm usually very good with the whole no sugar (apart from fruit. I'm ok with that.) thing but then I got a Kitchen Aid a few weeks ago and I love baking and I thought fuck it I want to be like everyone else for a bit and just eat whatever. But it makes my symptoms flare up, gives me spots and makes pmt worse so really that's more than enough motivation. Just not until the new year.

I have put the Biore down as my potential SPF, as I don't have one in place yet, as Lego is loving it and I think we have similar skin concerns.

For @botemps bo

Thank you...I honestly do not mind waiting until you open your clinic again! Have you ever considered starting a blog??

Skin type: reactive, red, combination

Approx age (range): 31

Primary skin concern: dullness and redness (and acne but that's another matter)

Routine:

AM. Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip or TH nourishing oil cleanser (neither are suitable j think)
Serozinc
Just started Zelens vitamin D treatment drops
Skin Owl eye gel
LRP cicaplast

PM
Body shop chamomile cleansing butter
Sunday Riley or TH cleanser
Have recently stopped using pixi glow/nil+fab pads due to earlier chat
Vitamin E mist from body shop
Skin owl eye gel
Zelens vitamin D
LRP cicaplast

Occasional treatments:
Oskia exfoliator
Body Shop warming clay mask
TH
May Lindstrom problem solver
May Lindstrom blue cocoon

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results: REN, Liz Earle, liquid gold,

Things that are really working well for me now:
Cleansing balms

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant:
I need to cut down/out sugar. Cows Milk upsets my stomach and my face so use almond milk if I have any at all.

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

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]... I think acids would be good to try but I am confused about them! And SPF. I burn easily so don't go in the sun and live in the UK. I do get acne but am getting good at covering it up. If there's anything that may help heal spots quicker/reduce the redness afterwards that would be good.

Storm, I have some additional questions.

How are you with cultured dairy (so cheese, yoghurt, etc.) I know we discussed P50 before for you (I think) but that's lactic acid based, as in derived from milk so am wondering how sensible that is. Ever tried SR Good Genes by any chance? Have we talked BHA yet?
I can eat cheese and yoghurt no problem (though I don't eat much of it out of choice - just not my thing!) I have tried Good Genes and didn't love it. Haven't talked BHA yet!

Your bad results with REN and Liz Earle make me wonder how you get on with essential oils, do you have issues with other 'natural'/organic skincare products or was it specifically those two brands? I'm thinking the Susanne Kaufmann Gel Cleanser might suit you well but it's full of alpine herb extracts. Not fairing well with the Tata Harper nourishing oil cleanser (have stopped using it actually) and an Aurelia oil makes me red too. I thought it was just my skin! Thinking about it Emma Hardie balm wasn't great either.

Which LRP Cicaplast are you using specifically and with what purpose, is your skin very damaged at the moment? Since your routine is comprised of a lot of products currently can you indicate which ones you think are working for you/would RP and what you question/wouldn't RP. Also, have you tried any SPF products in the past?
^I read about the Cicaplast on a blog somewhere that someone had used it to help with acne. The only damage I have are active spots and scarring. Was thinking more along the antibacterial lines! The only things I am using at the moment that I would continue with are the Serozinc and a balm cleanser (currently body shop but also liked Clinique TTDO). Haven't used Zelens for long enough, but so far not noticed any different so wouldn't RP at that cost.
Will go and look at which Cicaplast it is I have! No SPF products (other than what has been in make up - I already know my sins!) as I found they clogged up my skin and made my acne worse when I use them in the Summer.^

Hopefully the copy and pasting will work - took me ages to find the original posts so thought I'd copy them!

Thanks for the advice guys . I am a bit of a binger I know

I had forgotten there was ha in the TO matrixyl. I really like it but it doesn't feel immediately hydrating or anything.

I will lose the aqualia I think and alternate the matrixyl and hylamide subq.

My biore finally arrived btw after 6 long weeks but it has the mad flush issue. I'll give it a few goes but the LRP athelios is working better.

What other step could I add to improve hydration? I have no oil aurora , maybe the Clarins lotus oil might work? Am v tempted by the dermalogica offer too.

Happy Christmas everyone!!! Can I wish everyone the best skin of the season!!

It's Cicaplast Baume B5 bo

(I feel as though we ought to have sent you a collective Christmas present!!)

Shestood The cicaplast b5 has Shea butter in it which a lot of people with acne prone skin find very congesting. I get breakouts if I use anything with Shea butter in it on my face. I do use the cicaplast b5 on my nose though as I have an annoying dry peeling patch there. It's a shame as Shea butter feels really comforting and nourishing. Especially on sore, dry, healing spots. You might be ok with it but just a thought.

wilting I get on ok with lrp spf too I like the anti shine gel one on top of hylamide subq (I only use on holiday tho don't shoot me!)
If you go for that dermalogica don't be tempted by the other bits in the gift just the moisturiser! If ur in uk www.beautythings.co.uk is a great dermalogica site.

Oh I do usually try to avoid shea! Thanks enid! Will drop that.

They do a cicaplast without Shea butter I think. Not sure you need it though as I think it's mainly for really damaged patches like healing burns or skin irratation. I probably don't really need it for my nose but I wanted something rich and it was 3 for 2. It's doing the trick but I wouldn't use it in my actual face. Tempting though. I get marks and dry bits for ages after spots too. Very annoying.

Enid I have this eBook which has really good recipes, so one can still bake but without sugar. Admittedly things won't be sweet in the same way as they are with sugar, as it's an acquired taste. I substitute any honey, agave or maple syrup with date syrup (it also balances a bit the after taste of the stevia). Takes a bit of practicing but it's worth it! Deliciously Ella also has some good stuff. Made some amazing brownies from her site a while ago.

Wilting can't remember which type of skin you have, though I have normal-dry and you know my opinion about the lotus oil . I was given it when I was about 25 by a friend who didn't like it (whose dad traveled a lot and had bought it for her in some duty free) and have been using it more or less ever since.... And that was many years ago. You can always ask for a sample. I always say I have sensitive skin and that I have to try things a few times bofore I buy and if they refuse I simple say I won't be buying from them and walk away.

Pupsie safe journey and have a lovely time! You certainlly deserve a rest after you kitchen drama!!!

Yeah, all kiddy Xmas activities are over!!!!!!!! They turned out very nice, but I am glad they are behind us

The eBook. I can also take some screen shots if you want to try anything specific. Let me know.

Aurora I have the Deliciously Ella book and a couple by an Australian woman (with amazing legs.) who I can't recall the name of atm. The stevia one looks interesting. I'll look it up. Thank you!

Until very recently I've been completely sugar free. About 3-4 years. It's only been 6 weeks that I've been having some again so it should be easy to go back to it.

Sarah Wilson. Just had a look. Happy to do screen shots for you too. There's a lot of pages full of good tips and sugar info.

Haven't heard of her but pls send screen shots of your favorite recipe!
I made those DE brownies that are coated with orange zest and they were amazing. Do you know them?
I don't bake too often though as kids and DH eat a couple of pieces and then abandon the cake and I certainly don't want to eat them myself!
There is also a Dutch woman that had an amazing blog and app with great recipes but I'm not sure what happened to her. She had the most amazing frozen three layer chocolate cake (sugar free of course). The few times I've made it people were just flabbergasted

I haven't made those, they sound really good! Right then, in the new year I'll share some recipes and we can cheer each other on a bit.

Checking in....so, meagre reports from the first proper day not spent utterly zombiefied from the uncivilised flights...I was plotting a solo-supermarket mission to get some skincare-research fix in...but was thwarted twice..(after being thwarted and accompanied yesterday too) there was an early offer last-minute offer to go to a Christmas market this am...I kept passing pharmacies and a marionnaud wistfully thinking bugger the Christmas crap, let me in there, but I did manage to buy some really good qual locally produced lavender essential oil at the market....didn't bring any with, mine at home is a bit past it and I have a nice case of infected sinuses, so thought it would be handy. Really nice one too.
Was going to photograph pharma window display of one but realised it was diet food or something...
Then had an unplanned siesta with the toddler and relatives woke us with one of those we-have-been-invited-somewhere last minute Christmas spectacle things. 'No problem thinks I, will go to the supermarket on the way home...get DH to drop me and come back later sorted
But no...asked to give relatives friend a lift home...explained to friend we could drop me in supermarket first, take her home, DH come back for me..but no....friend decides she would like to come too so we are now all in there 7pm, placed rammed, hungry kids, soooo not what I had in mind. Cunningly suggested DH take kids to choose Christmas present for relative child...thereby ensuring ages in toy aisle whilst 'I do boring stuff'... which also saw-off friend of...you have never seen a woman wheel so fast to the parapharmacie!!!! About to take pictures and phone had died at Christmas event thingy earlier...teeth gritted whilst simultaneously hyperventilating at the sight of The Shelves.
However I did manage to grab some cotton wool, a mini thermal water spray and some shower gel (all of which I actually legitimately needed, really)...plus establish that the bioderma SPF 50 spray is in stock....so, a bit frustrating, but....purchases made anyhow...also noted some interesting looking masks which need further investigation...
hollin you mentioned the TO hydrating thing, I like too, texture wise and does what it needs...
Skin still looking a bit untoward...the flight, change of water too much wine and sugar and carbs but is responding to tlc.
More tedious seasonal stuff getting in the way of skincare obsession family stuff to do tomorrow so am thinking may not wangle a full fix til Sat...sigh...keep you posted.

Ooh I'm glad someone else likes it! I need to shift my bum and get my makeup off, been beautifying my horse and riding and I'm covered in mud and horse hair

Stopped using the snail gel cream and no more spots. Shame because I liked it, I'm thinking I could use it up on my neck

I too am seeing great improvements since these threads started. I've not been so happy with my skin for a long time!

Things I'm really enjoying and will repurchase:
Face Theory Retinol serum. Really really love this, so nice to use and hoping the long term benefits pay off and I have all the things it's supposed to help!
TO Azelaic Acid - I preordered this when TO first came out and if I'd realised the silicone content I probably wouldn't have done. The effect it had on breakouts and redness was huge & literally overnight. Sadly it's been out of stock for ages and I'm running low.
TO Rosehip oil - I've used blended oils before but never just Rosehip. I'd been using tamanu oil with some good results but it stinks so nice to have an alternative.
The Body Shop SPF 50 - I've just ordered my third bottle. Nice and light and reminds me of biore watery essence. I will switch back to Ultrasun for spring and summer.

I have other bits in my routine which I've used for a while but these are the most recent additions.

I did try TO retinoid but i think it caused breakouts as did TO niacinamide but I will try them again in a few more weeks just to see.

Thanks all who contribute to this thread it's been my favourite of the year definitely!

My TO caffiene solution arrived today and my Keihls Vitamin C is on its way too (good old Amazon prime, and it was £5 or so cheaper than the official website ). So hopefully this is the start of having brighter eyes. Will report back.

Now wondering if I should be giving up Pixi Glow - I seem to get on well with it but interested to try something else as it is about to run out anyway.

Still working my way through this thread to build up a skincare plan. I have no routine at all at the moment as I'm just using up odd bits and pieces and then starting again in the new year. Am finding it all very informative and Interesting.

Yong thanks for the very entertaining update. Hope no one gets in the way of your obsession scientific research today! How dare they!

Hollin which Snail cream have you been using, the Cosrx? Curious as I'm so pleased with the Mizon.

Found the app I was talking about yesterday - pic from App Store attached.

Have had quite the "exiting" week... had so much shoulder and hand pain last weekend that on Monday the physio suggested I try some cryotherapy. Been doing it every day since Tuesday. It's a whole body cryo- so you go into a kind of sauna at -110c (today was -114 actually). The improvement was almost immediate (pain not gone but much much better) and I'm committed to trying it for a month every day which is what they say you need to do to achieve long term results with chronic pain.
It's also supposed to be great for auto immune sicknesses, acne, rosacea, digestive problems etc so I'd thought I'd inform you guys about it in case someone is interested in exploring this.