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.

[botemp]

Lego, Weleda Skin Food only stings if there are open wounds and it's very minor but children can be fussy about these things so just figured I'd give warning.

ATrueNerd, ehm no, I summarised it as follows for you:

Since you've given me very little information to go on, for you specifically I'd say have a look at the Face Theory moisturisers and probably the Hylamide SubQ or TO Buffet Serum and if you can't really be bothered to do much more than what you are doing currently get a decent SPF and cleansing routine going.

No mention of acids or BHA, I'd return it if I were you, I really doubt it'll do anything for you if your skin is normal with no inflammation or clogging issues.


Frightfulphysician, official welcome to non-lurker status! You have a decent baseline to start out from that's working for you so it shouldn't be that hard. I'd consider doing a TO order with Matrixyl (or Buffet), Vit C 23%, and Retinoid 2% and slowly incorporating these in. Starting with the Matrixyl and using that instead or alternating it with the Superdrug serum in the AM/PM. Then introducing the Vit C in the mornings, and finally slowly introducing the Retinoid 2-3x a week. Monitor it in conjunction with the Liquid Gold as you are going to be pushing the skin a bit further in terms of exfoliation, definitely up the SPF come spring/summer time.

In terms of current product in your routine, you might benefit more from having a lightweight gentler cleanser in the AM, and a second cleanser. If you've been lurking on here long enough I hope you'll know which one I mean by now LRP Toleriane Dermo Cleanser.

It's not so much the type of exercise, Salty, although there are some theories that the impact of running on the facial muscles make you age faster (though I believe a lot of it has been debunked), it's rather the exposure of long periods of time while sweating outdoors. The Biore is truly a 'commuter' sunscreen to get you from point a to b and nothing more, a few minutes in, sweating, and you've lost all protection so you may as well not be wearing it. How's your history with SPF, you'll really need a good sweatproof outdoor sunscreen and an adapted routine for this.

I'm curious too, Shrew, I keep putting off buying it for whatever reason. So eagerly awaiting the verdict of the dream product and its ability to live up to expectations.

Well don't fill in the form on my account, Enid... the regulars I know well enough by now to know of their likes and dislikes, so no need really. Although, maybe it is a good thing as thankfully your sensibility stopped you from buying the Glamglow set as I should have pointed out that one has BHA, another Hyaluronic Acid and the other two probably have some things in there too to freak your skin out.

FunnyBunny, I haven't forgotten about you. I've had a look at your pictures and I'm trying to formulate the best approach keeping your giant stash in mind but I might need to be a bit radical about it to get you better results than you are seeing now. It's formulating in my head but it's going to be a longish post so I don't think I'll get to it until tomorrow.

[botemp]

I meant to add this to the links yesterday but forgot, so for those struggling with the sugar reduction it makes for a good read:

Can You "Detox" Sugar?

[HeyMacWey]

I've been lurking on these threads and interested to get some advice on what I can add or should remove from my routine. Overall I'm pretty happy with it atm.

Skin type:
Oily, olive skin
Approx age (range):
Early 40's

Primary skin concern:
Anti-aging. Large pores.
A couple of dark pigmentation spots around side of face.
Dark circles.


Routine :

AM :
Wash with cerave
Hada labo light lotion
Vit c serum (can't remember the make but not convinced it's got enough to make a difference) actually just remembered it's una brennan.
Biore watery essence spf.


PM :
Black sugar oil cleanse-will be trying body shop chamomile oil when this runs out.
Cerave
TO retinoid
Sometimes cosrx galactomyces or cosrx blackhead
Benton snail bee lotion - considering an alternative.
Cosrx honey mask if skin feels like it needs additional moisture.

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

Light coverage - mainly a missha bb cream and bit of blusher.

Occasional treatments:

Weekly clay mask if I remember

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results:
Nothing really -my skin on my face doesn't seem to react to much.

Things that are really working well for me now:

Double cleansing is definitely making a difference to the appearance of pores.

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant:
Have moderate me/cfs so health is not great.

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

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

I'm interested in adding To buffet to the routine and something to replace the bentons snail bee (although I do like it just wondering if I should add anything to the routine to replace).

[EnidButton]

I'd like to fill it out bo. Then I can reassess where I am now I know a bit more and have stripped back to to basics. I would've checked the ingredients before buying the glamglow set.

Skin doing much much better now I've stopped eating wheat and sugar again. Still marks from the breakout and congestion obviously but it generally looks healthier and less dull.

[hollinhurst84]

I've had to get some benzoyl peroxide, it's the only thing that fixes my skin when it's really bad

[EnidButton]

I had to bring out the big guns too Hollin At least you know your skin will be clearer after it. Does it cause dryness or irritation? The zineryt really dries my skin out.

I remembered to get ginger root, lemons and some pears today so going to start doing smoothies again tomorrow. Might do this cough some good too.

[AuroraPolaris]

OK ladies, here are the promised tips for quitting sugar -


Look at it not like a diet, or "another diet" but rather as a change you are doing purely for health reasons. Read up on the subject - how sugar is in everything, the political all reasons behind this, the harm, how addictive it is. This can really help to motivate you.

Decide why you want to do it and what you will cut out.

Plan your strategy - are you still going to eat things like honey or maple syrup? I only eat date syrup and stevia, as far as "sweeteners" go.

You will have to check all labels in the supermarket (like crackers, mayonnaise, sauces etc). So much stuff has sugar in it, so be prepared to take more time to do your shopping in the first few weeks.
My only allowance is bread, though mostly I bake my own in a bread maker (and then I use just under a tablespoon of coconut sugar per loaf).

Be prepared for it to be very hard in the first month, and especially in the evenings. After a few good weeks though you will kick the addiction and get used to a different kind of sweetness, and thus be able to satisfy you sweet tooth with a few dates or something like that.

Cut out all sweet drinks. Do not buy them anymore. You can still drink freshly made/ squeezed fruit juices and smoothies, but drink say orange juice from 2 oranges, not from seven, and only fresh.
You can flavor water with a slice of lemon or orange, or drink carbonated water (though not too often) and flavor it in the same way. Do not drink zero sugar coke and all that crap. That makes you lust for sugar even more as it confuses the brain. Google it, it's astounding!

Know and accept you will NEVER have desert again at restaurants or friends again... It's an addiction, so allowances and indulgences are dangerous!

Are you going to eat fruit? I personally think fruit is a very important part of a good balanced diet. If yes then limit it to what is logical. Don't eat, say , 1 kg of grapes to get the sugar kick, but eat a handful a couple of times a day, or one to two bananas a day. I love fruit and eat it every day.

Strategies for coping- what are you going to do when in crisis?

Always have smg in your bag - nuts, banana, a sugarless nut bar, raisins etc.

Take food to work etc... don't wait for the sugar dip to happen, preempt it and eat small snaks throughout the day.

Evening strategies - you will have to have one/ some of this stuff at home all the time, so you are not tempted - dates, dry fruit, raisins, chocolate 100% cocoa. Plan snacks like nut butter on rice cakes, yogurt w a teaspoon of date syrup and some nuts, dates...

Look up (or ask me ;) for a few recipes of cakes and cookies without sugar, so you are able to bake without it.

And you can even make your own chocolate!

Chocolate recipe -
60 gr coconut oil
60 ml Cocoa powder
30 ml date syrup
Coarse salt
Optional -Nuts, berries, seeds, Vanilla essence, Cinnamon.
Melt the oil, add the cocoa and date syrup - stir quickly, add rest of stuff and either pour into ice cube mound or form a thin slab with your hands on baking paper. Sprinkle with the salt. Work fast as it sets quickly!

Good luck and feel free to ask me anything!

[yongnian]

enid this is my top cough/throat home remedy tip...
Measure out a cupful of ordinary apple juice (the non cloudy is best). Chuck in some honey (any) and some thin slices of peeled fresh ginger. Bring to the boil until some residue comes to the surface. Boil for a few mins. Turn heat down low until it has simmered to a thicker more syrupy consistency. (Doesn't take long). Drink. It works really well and tastes great.

[hollinhurst84]

Usually dry and flaky but bearable

[yongnian]

Great tips aurora thanks will be using them as I go back to low carb....something that also works for me with sugar cravings is to have enough fats in my diet....
Sugar is such a hard one...

[mintleaves]

Has anyone used anything from Klairs? It was mentioned on one of the Youtubes that Bo linked to (Gothamista I think?), who recommended the Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil - I am googling the ingredients now but wondered if anyone had any experience with their products. They are aimed at sensitive skin.

www.klairscosmetics.com/

I'm not planning to mess with my routine at the moment now I've got it down to something that works, but it's nice to research potential future options..

[ATrueNerd]

I expect I've have to pay to return it so probably wouldn't be worth it botemp. There was a long list of products in bold so forgive me for assuming they were suitable. It's very confusing when you're totally new to all this. Thanks for your help.

[SaltySeaBird]

AuroraPolaris I'm trying to cut out sugar at present so that is really helpful thank you. I've quit Diet Coke this year (9 days now!) and finally don't fancy it anymore. I have swapped it for carbonated water though so I was curious as to why you say to limit it. Surely it's just water?

botemp I've not always been great with sunscreen, it's one thing I'm really determined to take care of this year. I've spent a lot of time abroad and tan very easily and don't burn or go red. This has made me careless in the past. I used Benefit Dreamscreen last year which was nice to apply and easily absorbed but given how brown I was after a few weeks of sunshine I'm not sure if offered any protection. I have tried children's sunscreen (I have a 9mo and 4yo) but it did make me break out on my face.

[EnidButton]

Yong Thank you, I'm no sugar now though so honey is out I'm afraid. I will make my pear and ginger concoction later, see if it does anything. Probably just make me feel like I'm doing something to help.

[SaltySeaBird]

I meant to say I went swimming tonight and haven't put anything on my skin at all - it feels very dry and tight but the redness has almost gone, it looks much better (but feels awful).

[EnidButton]

Salty I know you asked Aurora but as I'm here. The ph of carbonated water is lower than 7 because of the carbon dioxide interacting with the water to make carbonic acid whereas still water is alkaline so thought to be better for you. I personally just prefer it. Hate the taste of sparkling water.

[EnidButton]

Better than Coca Cola though!

[EnidButton]

Increasing protein or just adding a bit to every meal really helps when cutting out sugar. It helps balance your blood sugar levels and keeps you full for longer. Eggs and avocados make brilliant filling snacks. I boil a few eggs one ending and keep them in the fridge for foraging moments. Same with chicken and nuts. If you're craving sugar it's most likely because your blood sugar levels have dropped so increasing protein and fat will help.

Avocados, nuts, coconut, full fat dairy, nut butters, nut milk, seeds and oils are all really good things to have in. I like to focus on what I can have rather than what I'm not having. Having a fridge full of fresh brightly coloured vegetables and fruit is really nice. After about 2 weeks your taste buds adjust and you'll feel the benefit.

Liquorice tea tastes sweet as does any containing cinnamon. These can be nice in these cold months. Proper hard liquorice made from pure liquorice oil is really good (but avoid liquorice if you have high blood pressure). Good if you're used to having sweets. Coconut water is good for sugar craving moments. Drink it straight from the fridge and remember to check the ingredients before you buy. They sometimes sneak sugar into it.

I much prefer to go the zero sugar route (apart from whole fruit and smoothies, that's fine imo. So long as it still has the fibre in it) but less sugar is better than nothing imo.

Get used to reading labels. It's amazing what they add sugar to. Even savoury snacks can be heaving with it.

I have a list of the different names for sugar that I'll dig out in a minute so you know what you're looking for on ingredients.

Hope that helps anyone wanting to see if cutting sugar helps them. I find it beneficial not only for my skin (sugar causes acne in me) but also it helps manage my illness symptoms as there's less inflammation, stops me getting thrush (lovely ) and dramatically reduces anxiety and pms.

[EnidButton]

Can't find the list now. 🙄 If it ends in an ose then it's a sugar. Honey is still a sugar. Stevia is the best natural sugar substitute as its glycemic index is less than 1. (Glucose is 100). Avoid artificial sweeteners. Like Aurora said. I'd rather have proper sugar than those.

[SaltySeaBird]

Thanks Enid, never knew that. I love sparkling water and having given up Diet Coke now which I was far too addicted to I am drinking a 2l bottle of sparking water now. I'm going to have to cut back aren't I?

What is your take on Xylatol as a sugar replacement? That's what I take in coffee although I've only had two cups this year so far as part of cutting back on caffeine.

[EnidButton]

Salty Maybe you'd prefer still water with ice? Or what about squeezing some lemon or lime into it? Lemon juice is an alkaline too. Fizzy water is much much better than coke though. Well done for cutting that out. I know people who've been addicted to it for years!

I don't know that much about Xylitol tbh but think I remember that it absorbs into the body much slower than white sugar and isn't like the artificial sweeteners. I'm leaning towards it being fine. Does it taste like sugar? Just out of curiosity. I can't stand the little artificial sweeteners my dm uses. Yuck!

[EnidButton]

Salty Just having a tiny Google and it looks fine to me. It's low on the gi charts so no blood sugar spike which is what causes the problems.

You can go too far with these things. I've seen the threads where posters are ruling out all fruit and I understand the thinking behind it but...you know. Aim for no refined sugar or honey, low or no 'white' carbs and as much fresh food as you can and I think that's enough. If soneone eats healthily at least 80% of the time then that's great. Otherwise there's the danger of it straying into disordered eating a bit. You have to be careful of that. Food is to be enjoyed as well.

Got carried away tonight I think.

[EnidButton]

Thank you for the tips btw Aurora Very helpful. You set me off!

[LegoCaltrops]

What counts as white carbs please? Sorry if that sounds a silly question! Do you mean refined or is it just things that are white? Could I have, for example, wholemeal couscous or pasta, jacket potatoes (especially if I leave some if the middle & eat the skin which I often do). Wholemeal bread - I tend to prefer the proper 100% wholemeal, rye, spelt stuff with seeds in etc. By the way, thanks for all the tips, I'm trying to quit sugar as I suspect it's a migraine trigger for me. So hard as it's in everything.

[SaltySeaBird]

Ahh see lemon in water is a pet hate of mine, unless it's hot which I don't mind (throw some honey in and I love it).

Xylitol is almost identical to sugar, I can't tell the difference in coffee (not a tea drinker). I hate artificial sweeteners and can't use them as to me they make everything taste of chemicals.