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.

Silicones do make for nicer looking and feeling hair but it's superficial and I get huge build up issues so it's kind of out of the question, only a special event kind of styling product for me. Speaking of Shea Moisture, if anyone comes across the professional line somewhere link it please . I'm looking for the styling products (heat protectant spray thingy and blow dry cream) but have only been able to source it on ebay and the shipping is about as much as the product but fuck all if you're in the UK .

Why does it say Mumsnet forum in the link?

See I like a silicon. I just use a clarifying shampoo once a week and follow it with a moisturising one. Although I don't use hair products apart from Morrocan oil on the ends, don't know if that makes a difference.

That's the affiliate referral on amazon, MN earns its money that way.

Pupsie

The two things I adore but can't afford are Paul Mitchell twirl around cream mixed with his awupuhi ginger styling oil!

I'm sticking with my holy grail curl cream which is this one but I buy from TK Maxx as it seems out of stock everywhere
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Argan-Magic-Nourishing-Hair-Cream/dp/B008HRRWHM

Co wash (used before, liked it)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00641UCY8/ref=mpsa11ait?ie=UTF8&qid=1485200073&sr=8-1&keywords=i+am+coconut+cowash

Conditioner - possibly cheaper on all beauty
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0097OXE4O/ref=mpsa11ait?ie=UTF8&qid=1485200099&sr=8-1&keywords=shea+moisture+conditioner

Pupsie - I don't use conditioner on DD's hair as I use a homemade leave-in spray. But she has 2b/2c/3a hair (on different parts of her head, plus it's so long it straightens out). I wash her hair with Burt's Bees baby shampoo. No sulphates, parabens, petrochemical etc. Fairly nice smell.
I adapted the hair leave-in from here. I don't include the sugar... way to attract wasps!

Just did the hair porosity test with two strands of hair in two glasses (because science). One long strand stayed on top, one medium length shorter strand slightly sank to about half a cm from the top and floated there. So low to normal porosity I guess?

I would've guessed highly porous as my hair floofs up in damp or humid weather but glad to be wrong. Although thinking about it, it could be why I don't like using products as they seem to coat my hair. Very interesting.

Oh right, thanks bo

I did the porosity test too and came in on the (expected) low porosity front but I'm wondering how clean the hair has to be and free of (silicon coating) styling products and if they might influence the results, and what about conditioner? I do think I get on so well with my CR shampoo because it's an oil based/cream cleanser and if low porosity hair struggles to take in water it makes sense that oil works better (or indeed co-conditioning or reverse shampooing if that's preferred).

I'm, once again, confused:-

www.britishcurlies.co.uk/2014/06/porosity_and_conditioning_your_curls/

I read that too. My hair takes a while to get wet in the shower but once it's wet, it then takes hours to dry so that backs it up

Anyone tried any Malin+Goetz?

I think mine is a mixture of 2b, 2c and 3a but it's pretty fine. I don't use shampoo anymore, just wash twice with conditioner, and second time add a bit of hair mask or mix of oils to the conditioner and rinse with cold water.
I also have a DIY leave in spray for days two and onwards - best thing I've ever had!
When I colour my hair at home (mostly nowadays, as much as I hate doing it, as the hairdressers' stuff really dries my hair) I wash the dye off with ACV, whuch is great for clarifying.
lego yo could try adding some macadamia oil to the ends of you DD's hair. It really helps to seal in the hydration. I might try to make your version of spray for DS (though his hair is not like mine at all, just slightly wavy).

My hair takes about four hours to dry naturally ... That is in normal European weather. In nice sunny holiday weather it's less

Pupsie, I really like their Vit E lotion/moisturiser (the non-SPF one) even though the INCI tells me it isn't supposed to be... It's probably my best pick for summer moisturiser and despite the seemingly high price you actually do get quite good value for money with it as it's 2.5x the normal amount of product and you don't use that much of it. Great one for men too post shaving. Or were you asking after their shampoos?

They used to work at Kiehl's I believe so if you like those products, M+G tend to be a nice upgrade from that.

Another thing I find helps is a microfiber hair towel - pat dry hair or scrunch, never ever ever rub!

Big fan of microfibre turban towels as well. Highly recommend. Especially for anyone with health problems who struggle to dry their hair. I leave it on for half an hour before blow drying and it takes half the time it used to so quicker and less heat damage.

I was asking after haircare bo but that's useful info anyway lol because it never hurts to have another moisturiser reccy, and I will probably change products for the summer, as you say.

I've not used Kiehl's before. I was looking at this one, with the cilantro conditioner:-

www.malinandgoetz.co.uk/hair/moisturizing-shampoo

I like how they have the ingredients on the front. It's not only blooming helpful but it also sends a positive message and makes you feel they have nothing to hide (although I appreciate this is also clever marketing, but still).

The ingredients I've noted down from research into low porosity hair are shea butter, jojoba and coconut. Also very light oils, the best being grapeseed.

My hair takes hours to dry too. If I stick it up whilst still wet in the morning it can still be damp at bedtime! (Don't do this now I've had it chopped).

BTW, if I'm doing a mask (clay) would I use P50 before or after (or not on the same night at all)?

I can only read about half of those ingredients but it looks promising. Generally they don't use terrible ingredients but there are some that people might want to avoid. It's a bit like a pharmacy brand but US based.

Panthenol is B5 and what the whole pantene line is based on so if you ever got on well with that brand but not the rest of the ingredients than it could be a winner. Can't remember who, either an airline or a big chain hotel give out the M+G stuff as part of their hospitality so you can often find little travel size versions on eBay.

This one looks good:-

www.spacenk.com/uk/en_GB/brands/b/boucl%C3%A8me/curl-cleanser-MUK200017617.html

Many of those ingredients I've found recommended for low porosity hair, although the description of moisturising "from the inside out" makes me suspicious, because isn't that the issue with this type of hair (moisture cannot enter).

This one, I shall not be trying

www.spacenk.com/uk/en_GB/brands/o/oribe/shampoo-for-beautiful-color-MUK200011627.html

I've always avoided Pantene; isn't it meant to be shit?!

Clay tends to be higher pH (each has a different one but all above P50) so you'd acid tone before and I'd wait a bit before applying a mask.

How much?!