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]:

Yes bo that was me! Life got a bit crazy and I didn't have the headspace for Mumsnet too! Most of my evenings were spent working...have broken up now for Christmas so can get back to it wasting hours here

I will look for my post and your questions.

Thank you, I don't expect it for free but it's a hefty price tag to pay if my skin ends up not liking it! I found someone locally who sells it and it's £52 (she tells me I need p50w) but she is being extremely pushy.

Thanks again, I've got some SpaceNK vouchers to spend so will check out the Caudalie :)

I'd be so grateful if you could recommend a cleansing/fixing programme for my grotty skin. Ive suffered with acne since I was 11, now 47.

My skin is so congested, not blackheads as such but loads and loads of blocked pores, big pores, lumpy skin, open pores, it looks awful. Ive become a bit obsessed with squeezing out the gunk on my nose every day, but it fills up again in a couple of days, sebaceous filaments apparently but they look so awful.

Skin type:* Very greasy

Approx age (range): 47

Primary skin concern: blocked pores

Routine : Cleanser, micellar water usually. Then a layer of Tretinoin prescription stuff, and every other day a layer of panoxyl. Sometimes use salicylic acid too. Never moisturise.

AM : As above

PM : Just cleanse

Makeup : eg. no/light coverage/medium coverage/heavy coverage
Concealer when needed. Occassionally use a primer, BB cream and a bit of mascara and lipstick. I can't get to grips with makeup, lipstick on a pig comes to mind.
Occasional treatments:

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results: Oil cleansing method, broke out in huge red spots. Tried using tretinoin twice a day with panoxyl too, just got very sore, skin was clearer though. I tend to break out with anything with oil in, hair conditioner leaves me spotty too.

Things that are really working well for me now:
Nothing
Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant:
Fibromyalgia. Post menopausal.

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: eg. >£10, £10-20, £20-50, £50-100, no limits.
20 - 50
I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]: blocked pores.

Thanks

Gothy I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough time with your skin. If you're on tretinoin (retin-a) I assume that you're under the care of a dermatologist - what have they recommended? I'm a bit shocked by the twice a day application, that sounds really very harsh for your poor skin.

It sounds counter intuitive but I wonder if using moisturiser would help; everything that you're using at the moment is drying your skin out, which can prompt it to produce more sebum to counteract. I would definitely be going back to the dermatologist though and getting their advice first. When are you next due a review?

Storm, yes it's the P50W you want to start on but I always say get the little travel bottle first to see how you fare with it (with 3x a week use it'll last about six months) and depending on your skin type you can then trade up to the higher strength P50 if preferred. The £52 bottle will last you far longer than that and a pushy salesperson is never a nice thing. I'm nearly out of P50W and starting the new PIGM version so can't offer a decant but I'm sure someone else will **.

Excellent questions from Dulci for Gothy. I'm of similar mind, what is the prescribed routine? I think the basics of cleansing, moisturising, and SPF protection are all essential and missing from your routine. Most oil issues stem from dehydration and all you're doing is starving the skin of it with the tret and salicylic (which one are you using btw? Is it a prescription?) and not giving it any form of nourishment. Ime micellar makes for a very poor face cleanser and often only leads to more issues with continued use. I can totally see why the OCM was a disaster for you but I don't think on that basis alone oils should be avoided at all costs when it comes to cleansers. A decent oil cleanser which emulsifies properly shouldn't cause the same issues and is the best type of cleanser to tackle blocked pores with. Will wait on your answers to elaborate a bit further.

Dulcimena, thank you. I'm not seeing a dermatologist, its just what the GP gave me. I wondered about everything being too harsh and causing even more oil production, but when I treat my skin gently it just gets even more bumpy and congested :-(

Just managing to catch up with the thread as I'm sat here at the hairdressers! Need a couple of recommendations today please

My husband is doing some last minute Christmas shopping for me tonight. Any recommendation for a facial oil I can use at night? Combo skin. I like one that smells nice (used to like decleor neroli). I know clarins lotus mentioned a bit. Smells nice? I know it's not all about the smell but when I'm doing facial massage at night I dint one that smells of sunflower oil if you know what I mean!

Also keen on trying a tubing mascara. Any recommendations. Needs to be stuff that can be bought in a department store. Thanks

Gothy I know it's not what you're asking, but given what you've described I would really be pushing your GP for a referral to a specialist dermatologist. GPs are great but I really worry that you're not getting comprehensive treatment plan and just throwing retin-a at your skin clearly isn't helping (and it should be sufficient - which makes me think that there are other issues that need addressing by a derm).

In the meantime, gentle doesn't always mean ineffective . It sounds as though you're fighting with it every day, but if it's dry, give it a drink. As Bo says, you really need proper cleansing, moisturising and SPF. Bo's the expert

I am sure though that it's really not as bad to everyone else as it is to you

JDSTER the Lotus Oil has one of the best smells in the whole wide world! Yeah, yeah I know I keep going on about it

Gothy so sorry you are having such a hard time

I concur with what others have said-
Try to see a Derm
Rethink your routine - I'm really no expert and have never used retin-A but it seems you are doing too much/ too often
Ditch the micellar water (or just use it to remove mascara)
Moisturize and please please use SPF!

When you are a bit clearer about things I'm sure we can recommend some products!

JDster, I really like Neals Yard Rose Facial Oil and have repurchased many times. Smells amazing, imho. I'm going to look up the Clarins ones based on all the love here!

I have never used a tubing mascara but I'm intrigued by them, so listening out for recs :)

Has anyone tried the pai deep cleansing mask?? Is it any good??
(Aka indecisivejo)

Thanks aurora and dulci. I'll wait for tubing mascara recommendations then text my husband with wish list

Ooh lotus oil has great on line reviews and the nice smell keeps getting mentioned!
Just to confirm this will be fine to use after NIOD and/or TO serums?

I ordered the mini Pai Rosehip Oil and Jojoba Bead exfoliator. It arrived this morning, together with my ski gloves. I feel like xmas has come early. I also ordered a Stila palette last night. What are you guys doing to me?! Not used the exfoliator yet but had a quick go with the oil on my chin. Very nice. Think I prefer it to my other Pai oil.

Can you peeps tell me how long you do a facial massage for? I keep meaning to add it in but often too tired or forget. Also, can those who use a facial oil to cleanse with tell me how you do it? (Just checking lol).

I've been consistently dry brushing most mornings. I'm sure I'm seeing a difference. I set the timer on my phone for 4 minutes, listen to my audio book and get cracking. It's made me think I should do similar with facial massage.

Clinique Lash Power is a great tubing mascara - comes in black and brown. I have to wear either waterproof or tubing to avoid mascara all over my face and this is a good one with a small narrow brush - which may not be to everyone's taste.

Now my buffet has arrived. It's a good job DH is away lol. AND I HAVE WORKTOPS! Granite just been fitted.

Yeah I use it at the end of my routine or on it's own after P50 or even in the middle of the day if it's very cold and dry.

Brilliant news on the worktops Pupsie! Not so good news on all the purchases . Is it time for an intervention? Will happily take that Stilla palette of you

The Sensai 38C Volume mascara is a good tuber from a dept. store. Takes a bit to get off though.

Skin type:* dry and blackheads. Occasionally spots and blotchy

Approx age (range): 38

Primary skin concern: dryness

Routine :AM* Neals Yard palmarose scrub in the shower

PM : Body shop vit e cleanser. Simple toner and currently a light nice a moisturiser

Oh no haven't cut and pasted the other questions properly!

Makeup :* eg. no/light coverage/medium coverage/heavy coverage I've just discovered younique foundation which gives good coverage.

Occasional treatments: Body shop Egyptian honey face mask

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

Things that are really working well for me now: the Neals Yard scrubseems good

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant:
Low iron and low b12

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: eg. >£10, £10-20, £20-50, £50-100, no limits.
No limit really. If it works!

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]:
Dry skin and blotchiness and occasional spots

PS I will happily give P50 decants. I have no bottles though and am in chaos here. If those wanting one could send me a bottle it would speed things up, but I am away from Friday for a week...

Oh forgot to say general ageing. Face dropping and two horrible lines between my eyebrows. Need help with all of these! Not currently using an anti ageing product.