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]:

Thanks for those ingredient comparisons wilting
Think I'm gonna stick with the hylamide subq as can get hold of it from boots rather than ordering online plus my skin seems to like it. Also the buffet has hydrogenated castor oil and I'm not sure why but I feel a bit anxious about that ingredient, maybe I've used something with it in the past and not liked it, who knows with me lol. It's interesting that the subq has salicylic acid in it I wonder if that has any effects on the skin.

I've finally caught up with all the messages! Here's my "what's worked, what hasn't" list, but I've made some changes in the last few weeks after getting advice from Bo et al (thank you!!) which means my skin is looking great in spite of holiday excesses :) Special thanks to Aurora for the Caudalie Polyphenol oil recommendation, it's lush and really suits my skin!

Discovery of the year: Nuxe Reve de miel Lip balm, Biore Watery Essence SPF, and that I can actually wear liquid lipsticks,

Would repurchase: TO Buffet, TO 2% Retinoid, Caudalie Polyphenol Oil, Boots Botanics balm cleanser
Armani Luminous Silk, Sugarpill Trinket liquid lipstick,

Planned purchases: TO Caffeine, TO Niacin (maybe..), Toleriane cleanser, have ordered some PC BHA samples for occasional hormonal spots

Won't repurchase: BS Chamomile balm cleanser (too greasy), Emma Hardie cleanser (too spendy for what it is), REN moisturisers, don’t seem to have enough oomph for my skin, Serozinc – I don’t even know why I bought this, I’ve got dry skin, I was a sheep.

Laura Mercier Prime and Protect (a bit meh and not cheap), Becca Backlight Priming Filter – feels a bit “Emperor’s New Clothes”, I love other Becca products but this doesn’t seem to do anything. Kat von D Everlasting lipsticks

Just OK: BS Chamomile cleansing oil,

Still needed: Day cream, may try Benton steam cream,

Happy to give away/trade: Serozinc

To add: I've stopped doubling up on HA products (was using Buffet AND Hylamide), stopped using my home-made oil concoction which was too heavy on essential oils (using it with no problem on my décolleté instead) and switched to Caudalie oil, stopped using glycolic every day (just every other day now) and using a separate SPF religiously every day rather than relying on SPF30 in tinted moisturiser

Please could I delurk to request some advice! I have been reading avidly and have already made changes based on all your lovely advice, but some further help would be great :-)

I am:

Skin type:
dry, sensitive and oily at the same time. Get hideous hormonal acne and a shiny tzone.

Approx age (range): 41 (too old for hormonal acne

Primary skin concern: antiaging and moisturisationwithout turning into an oil slice

Routine :

AM :
as of Monday - LRP toleriane cleanser in the shower followed by LRP effaclar mat moisturise (up to last week it was no cleanser and Kiehls day stuff with 50spf)

PM :
olay regenerist exfoliatiing cleanser (I can't use soap based stuff)
Nip and Fab glycolic pad
Art naturals 2.5% retinoic serum (about to run out and a recommendation for a replacement would be fab)
Mizon snail recovery ampoule
Aveeno salicylic acid moisturiser
Charlotte Tilbury magic eye cream (not convinced by this but should use it up...)

Makeup : eg. no/light coverage/medium coverage/heavy coverage
light coverage, either LRP effaclur bb blur or maybelline equivalent, with concealer on relevant bits.

Occasional treatments:
a clay mask either bentonite or a l'oreal one
I want to try to rice mask that is all over pinterest

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results:
anything soapy - kills my face. anything too harsh - ditto

Things that are really working well for me now:
I like the aveeno moisturiser (have to amazon it though as it is still us only) as I need to moisture

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant:
nope - although I do take vitamine E and vitamin D, both of which I thikm have improved my skin

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

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]:
Please could I have a recommendation for a new serum or serum combo, and advice on eye bags and antiaging

thank you so much for this thread

Silly, describe your dryness for me please. Is it incidental flakiness with a bit of tightness or is it a consistent dullness on very localised areas? I suspect you're dehydrated, especially on the back of your preference for the Aveeno moisturiser which is very lightweight and wouldn't be all that great for someone truly dry.

The hormonal acne is in the traditional jaw/chin area? Also, don't mean to pry but what do you mean too old for hormonal acne? Have you gone into early menopause or something similar?

Also, I don't pinterest much (esp. on the beauty front) so what is the rice mask? CosRx overnight one, possibly?

The eye bags, is it a genetic thing or are they more and less puffy at certain times of the day?

I'll await answers re: above to take a stab at your routine but will continue to sprout about NOT doing your cleansing routine in the shower but at the sink (with or without flannel). The water is far too hot and you're getting far too much of it in one go. Water on its own, contrary as it sounds, is drying to the skin. Which really isn't helping if you're dry/dehydrated (not that it's recommended to oily either) as it exacerbates the issue (with oily skin it only adds issues).

Has anyone tried Medik8 C Tetra serum? Any good?

Tsnmummy08 , well done for joining my SPF cult on the daily SPF love.

Check with Hollin as she's the one I made buy it using it but you might enjoy the Heimish All Clean Balm if you didn't like the BS CB and find the EH too pricey.

Hi! I'd like some advice please if anyone can help, hope this is ok..

I'm 35 with good skin, not many wrinkles and neither dry or oily.

Currently I don't moisturise except for rosehip oil once or twice a week, at night.

I'd like a day cream that absorbs quickly.

Up to £20 but the cheaper the better!

I'd like it to slightly plump up and brighten my skin if poss.

Maybe a serum would be better? Or a serum as well?

Thanks 😀

That's a non-Ascorbic Acid form one, isn't it, Open, IIRC? I'd have to look it up but pretty sure that among the many alternate Vit C potions the Ordinary do they'll have it too and it will be cheaper.

Generally, I prefer L-AA for Vit C as it has the most research backing it and MAP otherwise. The other forms, while stable, are a bit iffy on efficacy (which mostly has to do with their stability).

ATrueNerd your username is a mighty claim on this thread. Have you RTFT and preceding ones? Also, please use the form, Silly is ahead of you in line and FunnyBunny has placemarked a spot so probably won't get to you until at least another day.

Thank you Bo

Yes, you are probably right re the dryness. It is more of the very tight/dull type than the full on flakiness.

Yes, the hormonal acnes is in the traditional jaw/chin area. I thought one was meant to grow out of hormonal acne for some reason - clearly not! No, no early menopause but I do have atypical PCOS (hair everywhere, cysts etc but normal bloods).

The rice mask is a diy thing that lots of japanese swear by for antiaging apparently (or I could be totally falling for the hype). Boil 3 tbspn rice, drain (saving the water), mix with 1 tbsp milk and 1 of honey, let bond and then put on face for a while. Wash off and then rinse with the rice water from before.

The eye bags are generally awful. I think they are worse after alcohol (am doing dry january so will find out) but there may also be a genetic conponent - my dad has them. I also have very deep tear troughs which don't help.

OK - re shower

Thank you

I'll await answers re: above to take a stab at your routine but will continue to sprout about NOT doing your cleansing routine in the shower but at the sink (with or without flannel). The water is far too hot and you're getting far too much of it in one go. Water on its own, contrary as it sounds, is drying to the skin. Which really isn't helping if you're dry/dehydrated (not that it's recommended to oily either) as it exacerbates the issue (with oily skin it only adds issues).

Bo the Heimish balm is on my eBay watch list already :)
I think you were looking at the Active Formulas vit C? I've been using it for about 2 months and really like it. In the past I've tried Skinceuticals CE, Timeless (a US one which oxidised quickly), Flavo C (oxidised really fast) and one by Arcona but the AF 20% vit C will definitely be repurchased. Thinking about their ready made antiage moisturiser as well....

On the subject of vitamin C, I'm sure on this or one of previous threads there was talk of a body lotion or serum? I used to use a vitamin c serum which I think was a load of oxidized rubbish on my stretch marks, and I now have a rather large 10 month post op scar that I'd like to massage with something. I've had a look online for something but I don't think I've reached INCI interpreter nerd level status yet!

Thank you. I did look through previous posts but all seemed to be for specific concerns, I don't really have any, just feel I should start using something as I'm getting older. I will do the form if it's easier sorry.

I've been looking at Mene&Moy (though I think they're now called Eneomoy) Glycolic 30% with Vit C 5% Body lotion Fizzy. Have used a Korean one with the most shameful PR attached to it ever that was okay but was quite a small bottle for the body. Have also used TO Retinoid 2% on the body and it is surprisingly effective but on the pricier side. I'm still in development mode wrt body actives routine.

The Active Formula's Vit C freaks me out since it's at a pH of 1.5 which research indicates makes the Vit C ineffective and it's a pH that's pretty close to battery acid so it mostly scares the shit out of me. With a higher pH of 2.5 or above I'd be tempted (do you have any pH strips on hand, I'm kind of convinced they're false advertising in order not to be sued by Skinceuticals who hold a pH patent for their Vit C formulation).

Skin type: Normal

Approx age (range): 35

Primary skin concern: Skin good at the mo but worried I should start using something to keep it that way as I'm getting older.

Routine :

AM : Micellar water

PM : Micellar water, occasional rosehip oil.

Makeup : light coverage

Occasional treatments: none

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results: none

Things that are really working well for me now: doing nothing has been ok but worried it won't be for much longer as I'm getting older.

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant: none

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: up to £20 but cheaper the better.

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]: maybe a serum? Because I feel that would be lighter?

Ah thanks Bo , had no idea it was non ascorbic. Will keep searching for the right one!

TSmummy - heimish balm is lovely. You can emulsify it a bit with water so it goes to a milk and not greasy

Wow it's going fast today. Don't have time to truly catch up but re op scars - I've used this Dermatix gel in the past and found it made a huge difference, but in general my skin does not tend to scar. I used the white tube. The black one didn't exist at the time so I'm not sure what the difference is.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=dermatix+gel&tag=hydrukspg-21&index=aps&hvadid=155849563091&hvpos=1t2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16343470151780119385&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=2826&hvlocphy=9064941&hvtargid=kwd-740341945&ref=pdsll4qibc6btime

Forgot to add cotton wool and a Mavala mini nail polish in velvet to the French haul....

Discovery of the year: In general a more researched/efficient skincare approach which is leading to better and better skin as a result. Less waste on useless stuff. Specifically, for actual products, I think the TO stuff has been the best revelation- I use their vit c, their HA, their niacinamide, their HA moisturiser thing and the caffeine eye serum.
Vit C for hyper pigmentation has been a revelation

Would repurchase: TO Vit C; TO HA; TO Niacinamide; TO moisturiser thing; Rice bran oil; Stila colour corrector palette; Dr Jart firming mask; Cristalline thermal water spray; Bioderma SPF 50 spray;serozinc (but a mini size); Dr Haushka hydrating mask; LRP effaclar duo K; Cattier clay masks, Dermaphil lip balm and hand cream

Planned purchases: most of what I bought this year was planned, based on research/advice from this thread and elsewhere

Won't repurchase: Uriage rosiane milky cleanser - I actually love it except I now realise it has the pink colouring so would like to find something similar but without that.
TO caffeine eye serum - not convinced this is doing much for me - I have v dark circles and some fine lines but don't tend to puffiness so think there'll be something else out there more suitable. Will keep going with it as it may be having a slight effect on the darkness but not sure yet if it's this or the better disguise via Stila corrector palette that's doing it
moogoo irritable skin balm - it works to calm skin down but it's too lotion lightweight for me, I need a heavier texture as my skin tends to be ultra dry where it gets irritable.
LRP ANTHELIOS SPF 50. cream is wrong formulation for me, too much white cast for my skin tone
LRP hydraphase eye gel - wrong formulation for me

Just OK: natura siberica rhodiola rosea night cream - quite like but not convinced this is the be-all and end-all of night creams. Sanoflore night essence merveilleuse - again like it but v spendy and would explore alternatives

Still needed: A BHA - poss PC (sampled and liked) or poss CosRX once I've tried aurora's decant; some form of actives for fine lines (not sure what yet); a milky cleanser suitable for rosacea that doesn't have pink colouring; more sheet masks; Tata Harper restructuring mask; Egyptian magic cream; a decent eye cream/serum as fine lines increasing and suspected crepe starting on upper eyelids; some kind of toner - would like a sample of the Whamisa flowers toner to try before committing as spendy; Superdrug bacne spray

Happy to give away/trade: Have used up/weeded out/chucked out of date/passed on to DD1 virtually all of what's not working, and quite a lot were samples anyway

And photo du jour....

Oh and after all that, also there was a mini klorane dry shampo, a mini monoprix hairspray and mini monoprix cheapo nail varnish remover....

Ah yes I thought it might have been you Bo, will have a look at that along with your suggestion Aurora, thanks!

I'm looking mainly at stretch mark and collagen production stuff, Fizzy (the minor weight loss has caused some crepeyness that will sort itself out but I'd like to speed it up and tackle KP as well and I bruise easily so should help with healing that quicker too). The thing Aurora linked reminded me of a product my mum used post hysterectomy. I think it may be from the same brand and had to be used as soon as the scar healed over. It was like a giant silicone plaster that you had to cut to fit and then leave on for forever till it came off by itself which was very effective.

Baby glamglows 😍 yongnian! I'm in Paris early February, I fear the worst for my wallet... need a baby Klorane dry shampoo too

Also, yongnian was reminded the other day that Clinique do the one single decent toner with 0.5 salicylic that is gentle and mild but doesn't have the silicone PC issues. Will have to look up its proper name again but may also be a possible on the gentle front.

That's their Mild Clarifying Lotion.