Yet More Fantastic Skincare and Where To Find It

[botemp]

Thread 1

Thread 2

Thread 3

For those who are taking a peek and wondering whether thread 1,2, and 3 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.

This January we're doing some added extra chitchat about food and diet and reducing or eliminating sugar for both overall and skin health. Recipe sharing encouraged.

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 in as much detail as possible, 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, please do read through the previous threads first. It takes a lot of time and effort to answer these queries and often the answers can be found in previous threads, but if you still have questions use the following form to make life easier on us. We generally answer one or 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.

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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]:

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Ahem, and finally a little note on spending. I'm well aware these threads cause many to reach for their wallets and spend with wild abandon. There can sometimes be a bit of a frenzy surrounding the excitement around a newly discovered product or on the back of great improvements when someone reports back. This is all great, it doesn't however, mean everything that's a sudden miracle for one will be it for you. Usually, it's a light bulb moment for connecting the right skincare ingredient with an individual experiencing a specific problem. Take your time to mull over decisions and question whether it's right for you too. Skincare is highly individual, it's a slow game that should cost mostly in patience, input, education, and perseverance. Please don't make it cost you financially needlessly either.

Oh wow, thanks so much botemp! I'm going to get ordering tonight, very excited!

I have noticed a difference already since starting the SubQ a couple of weeks ago, forehead, eye and nose to mouth lines are def reduced and my jawline and cheekbones feel firmer, I hadn't even realised they were beginning to sag! And I saw some friends last night who I haven't seen for a while who commented on my skin without prompting 😀

I use the LRP dermo cleanser by rubbing it in for 20-30 secs or so then removing with a wet muslin, it just feels like there isn't much to wipe off, as though it's soaking into my skin but maybe I'm just used to thicker cleansers. It certainly makes my skin feel soft so must be doing good. I ordered a sample size of DHC oil cleanser yesterday to try. I was thinking for time's when I wear more make up but I may start using it regularly. Does an spf have to be removed with an oil based cleanser?

I realised I have LOADS of baby muslin cloths that we no longer use so I'm thinking of cutting them up and hemming them to use.. they are mostly the really big ones so would get a lot of face cloths out of one. I guess that's ok? Most are organic muslin, some mixed with bamboo?

I like the rosehip but not convinced it's done a lot so may alternate it with something else.

Thanks so much again, I'll let you know how I get on. Also I'll fill out the form for my mum if that's ok. She's always had great skin for her age but now she's in her late 60's it needs some help. she only uses a no.7 moisturiser at the mo so I'm sure some extra products would help.

Pupsie, you could definitely be reacting to the olive oil in the DHC (if that's the one). Think you've been having issues with it from early on and a cleanser would definitely show itself favourably or not quickly.

Enid, there's a special B5 skincare line in the US but I'm a bit iffy on it looking at their website that seems to suggest you need to buy the whole including supplements (there is actually some good evidence that deficiency of B5 in the dermis is helped by supplementing it but going by what you've shared of your diet I think you're well covered on that front). Their moisturiser does appear to be free of HA and SB, see link for more info. LRP also do a B5 cleanser, no idea what it's like or if that would be enough to make a difference for you in a wash off product. Problem is most B5 products are targetted at very dry skin but it's definitely an indicator that your blemish issues are related to lack of hydration. It is a relatively cheap ingredient, I wonder how easy it would be to DIY something.

Pupsie, I'm undecided but will need to make up my mind soon as I'm nearing the end of my Vit C. I'm looking at the active formulas one as I need to order stuff with them anyhow (for DIYing) and it's inexpensive, also considering the Manyo Factory duo with the Vit E serum or just RP TO.

If I had to choose I'd rather have a concealer than a base product. Provided you get a good one (so one that covers and camouflages as it once only used to do, not an illuminating pen) it does a better job of lifting your complexion than a base product does IME. I might indicate otherwise in ten years though.

Not changes so much but sensitises it, Purple15. Are we talking broken capillaries? For serious veins the only solution is laser iirc, but if it's minor desensitising and restorative ingredients like Niacinamide and AHA are things to look at.

GardenGeek, I'm going to repeat what I told Pupsie once when she continually asked whether something was worth buying or not and what I thought of it... I thought she was a marketeer's wet dream and you seem to display similar tendencies. Much as I love the internet for all it brings do realise 99% of it is bullshit and unverified. Nothing wrong with rosehip oil (get a CO2 extracted one like Pai over a cold pressed one if you can) but it's not a miracle worker, it has an impressive amount of Vit A for a 'raw' ingredient but it's a pittance in comparison to an actual Retinol. It's nice and all but it's not going to do anything for wrinkles, only Retinols can actually reverse existing wrinkles.

Anti-wrinkle pillows are, again, more nonsense. The only one I think is worth looking at is the Nurse Jamie one as that fixes your sleep posture, all silk and similar pillows do is make the imprint of a fabric in slightly slacker skin appear less prominent as it's less stiff but as the day progresses this 'crinkle' tends to right itself anyhow and you're young enough to not even have this issue.

PM me for the P50W decant if you're interested, otherwise I'll offer it to the next person to whom it may be of interest... and, ehm, it may just be a good idea to check your intended purchases here first before taking the plunge on random products.

Elixiam, oil based cleanser isn't always necessary with SPF. It depends on the type, Japanese SPF always indicate on the packaging (in Japanese but the information can usually be found on Ratzilla's site) wether it can be taken off with a face wash or oil cleanser. The lighter commuter SPFs like the Biore and Senka often are removable with a lighter cleanser (as they're not waterproof) but Western SPFs rarely indicate one way or another and SPF usually is the issue of many other issues if not taken off properly (think blackheads, breakouts, etc. it's the least liked product for a reason).

JD Oh thank you. I only asked in case the post woman was right and there was a parcel missing when I went today. I think she's misread the 1 as a 2. Felt bad for asking but would hate for it to be sat there in waiting for me and you wondering why I haven't said I got it. Only post it if you can and if you're at the PO anyway, please don't do a special trip.

I'm on a using it up mission. Want to try the hair care brand I saw on the allbeauty site as I have v v dry curly hair but lots to use up first
Botemp - do you think the heimish balm could be breaking me out or is that v v unlikely?

Thank you bo I'll check out that link now. I had briefly considered crushing up a B5 oral supplement and using it like some people use aspirin masks but didn't go any further than a 4am ponder. Agree it's a dehydration issue.

Being (refined) sugar and wheat free since the 31st has made a huge difference spots wise. Going out tomorrow or a meal so will be having sugar then, going to try and avoid wheat though.

Hollin You have gorgeous hair. Do you use a lot of conditioner? Just out of nosiness curiosity. I go through two bottles of conditioner for every one of shampoo on my slightly wavy hair. Just bought more PK elasticizer and a cheap conditioning mask that someone raved about on another thread. Haven't tried it yet.

Shed loads. I use two handfuls every time I wash. Can literally pour oil on my hair and it doesn't go greasy

A good cheap one is osmo deep intensive hair mask. It's the only thing that's ever made a difference to my hair. Have found my perfect curl cream but it's from tk Maxx so I stock up every time I see it!

Enid, Eucerin Aquaphor also has B5 as one of its main ingredients (mind you it doesn't have many), ever attempted using that on your face? Think that's a comparable product to LRP, so would also be used topically I guess.

hollin, reactions to cleansers are quite immediate, two weeks at the latest but never say never. Could also be that you tolerate it well when your skin is good but the opposite is true when it's not doing well.

So much thread to catch up on! A good read as ever, I like hearing about everyone's experiments and also the odd random tangent too.

I'm really enjoying the Pestle & Mortar retinoid oil BUT after using it for over a week not a single flake. Which is obviously a good thing for my skin in the short term but I'm worried that means it isn't actually doing much in the way of skin renewal. I was used to seeing (and managing) the odd flake from using the Skinceuticals 1% but told myself this meant at least it was working, long term gain and all that. Is it possible to get the same results without that, do you think?

Also - delighted to report that I had 2 compliments on my skin yesterday (excuse shameless trumpet blowing, it's been a while). I credit the P&M oil here but also I think perhaps the fact I wasn't wearing any makeup or bronzer, just the concealer and my skin looks much less dried out as a result.
ignores the fact that one of the compliments was in space NK from a very young assistant trying to flog me some snake oil

Gah, skin is such a pain! I can go weeks with it being fine and then I get a huge breakout and spend the next few weeks dealing with the red marks and spots and then it's all beautiful. Rinse and repeat
I'm not changing anything product wise so it has to be stress/hormones but I'm not sure what I else I can do to keep it at bay
I figured the cleanser probably wasn't it but worth asking

Hi everyone......

Wondering if you could help me.....here are my details

Skin type:* part of the probe is I'm not sure......I think it is oily as my make up does not last all day and my nose gets shiny etc.....but then it also has a strange flaky texture.....also have redness, bumps, spots

Approx age (range):* 33

Primary skin concern:* Redness, oiliness, uneven and dull tone

Routine :* take make up off with garnier micellar water, avene gentle cleanser, cetaphil moisturiser, sometimes use effaclar duo and did use avene triacneal but didn't really get past the horrific red and flaky stage.

Makeup : use heavy coverage foundation eg revlon colour stay for oily/combo skin

Occasional treatments:* none

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results:* see triacneal above......

Things that are really working well for me now:* .......not sure anything is!!

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant:* no

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: eg. >£20-50,

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

Ending flakiness/redness and controlling oil/shine.

Flakes and retinol are a side effect and all it proves is that it's irritating, not that it's actually 'working'. It's always going to be difficult to assess efficacy with anti-ageing ingredients as the absence of ageing isn't really verifiable and reversal of damage is always difficult to observe as you get used to the way your face looks so compliments on your skin it is. Anyhow, the science behind these newer non-irritating Retinols is sound and it does seem to be working for you, so don't distrust it too much, Shrew.

Hollin our hair sounds similar. I do actually put oils on my hair and still it's never ever greasy

I'll be back later or tomorrow with thoughts about concealer (for pupsie), teen acne and tips for different ways of using oils for dry skin.

JDSTER - surprised you didn't get my package as I sent at the end of that week.... hope it still arrives.

I do have a silk pillow but bought it to improve my poor sleep (it's helped a little bit - but with sleep every bit counts ), not so much for wrinkles.

Phew thanks Bo - as I said I'm really liking it so glad to have the confidence to keep on using it.

Aurora I have a silk one too and I do look marginally less crumpled first thing I think. Not sure there is any long term benefit but it's less embarrassing at school drop off

Bo would you like a decant of the Active Formulas Vit C to try? I've had it for a couple of months, kept in the fridge but it doesn't seem to have oxidised (at least visibly). I'm due to get another one soon and will probably get the "anti-aging" day moisturiser at the same time.

Untamed I bought a silk pillowcase last year and am a total convert - even took it to a festival because my face looks so much better without big crinkles in it

Thanks bo, yes the heaviness/greasiness of spf's has always put me off but those suggested sound great so will order them both (I had some money for my birthday that if I don't spend will just get frittered away on household stuff!)

Can anyone recommend something for my 5 year old's chapped lips? Tried a few lip balms, coconut oil, Vaseline and Nivea but it's getting worse and spreading down her chin 😢 Something that can be bought on the high street preferably so I can get it tomorrow. Is the LRP lip cream any good?

GardenGeek no experience of anti wrinkle pillows here either. However, I have recently trained myself to sleep (mainly) on my back. I was getting creases on the left side of my face that would no longer disappear after morning shower/during the day. I had a lovely 'harry potter bolt' wrinkle on my forehead! It has faded a lot (not completely though) since I sleep on my back.

Thanks Bo. I figured a cleanser would be least likely to irritate as it's not on for long, before being fully removed with a flannel. I think I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for EM balm being on offer, because it really does seem to suit my skin.

I'm going to repeat what I told Pupsie once when she continually asked whether something was worth buying or not and what I thought of it

Was I really that bad lol? I remember you telling me that whilst I was in Boots purchasing some Toleriane cleansing milk and trying to make a quick decision on the range's moisturisers to take advantage of the 3 for 2. I think that's what you were referring to .