Ditch The Foundation, Embrace Some Fantastic Skincare Instead!

[botemp]

Thread 1

Thread 2

Thread 3

Thread 4

For those who are taking a peek and wondering whether thread 1,2, 3, and 4 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 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.

Make sure you've read the earlier threads (or at the very least the first one) so we're not being asked to answer to previously raised questions. 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 relating specifically to you, 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.

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]:

---

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.

Ok I'm going to throw a weird question out there bear with me
So I use a serum, a moisturiser, and a primer. Foundation goes on beautifully. Except for the temple area where immediately I get that rolling effect. I swapped primer, still the same. I ditched primer, still the same
My face is all
What is going on?! The minute I go near that area everything rolls off!

hollin I sometimes have the exact same problem, but only if I apply CC cream or foundation. I hardly ever use primer. In my case I think it's the TO Vit C.

If I ever get any rolling with any product it's always at the temples!

Greetings from Dublin waves at Wilting! So after successfully completing dry January and being sugar free for over 4 weeks I can confirm that going on a boozy sugar binge is not good for my skin shocker!! After 2 days of it I've woken up with a few really hard lumps under my skin It's been worth it though, great city!

Bloody skimlinks . I got all excited about yongnian's mention of a Shu fixer upper only not to be taken to the item but the generic e b a y homepage instead. Japonesque do something similar, available at Guru *

Hi ladies,

I came across your threads a few weeks ago, and been following them since. I'm feeling a bit at a loss when it comes to my skin, so I thought I'd finally join the forum and ask for some advice!

As a bit of background, I've had bad skin since I was about 11. I was on the pill for 7 years, but it never gave me fully clear skin, and I've been off it for 6 months. I went to the GP a few months back, but she only prescribed me 3 months worth of antibiotics + Duac. I didn't end up taking the whole dose as I didn't feel they were helping, plus I didn't want to develop antibiotic resistance.

Skin type: Sensitive, oily yet dehydrated

Approx age (range): 26

Primary skin concern: Congested skin, prone to spots and many post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation marks

Routine :

AM :

• Cleanser - REN ClearCalm Clarifying Clay Cleanser
• TO Niacinamide
• Moisturiser - LRP Toleriane Fluide (I stocked up when it got discontinued and got 3 left, but thinking to changing to Cerave Moisturising Lotion when I run out? Or is there something else that would be good for dehydrated skin?)
• I don't use sunscreen (I know I need to) as ones I've tried before have always felt too heavy or broke me out, but I'm thinking of trying either the Biore or Shiseido ones recommended here.

PM :

• First cleanser - Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil
• Second cleanser - REN ClearCalm Clarifying Clay Cleanser
• TO Azelaic Acid (or sometimes TO Advanced Retinoid 2% and/or sometimes PC BHA Gel 2% around nose and chin)
• Moisturiser - LRP Toleriane Fluide

Makeup : eg. no/light coverage/medium coverage/heavy coverage - LilyLolo mineral foundation and concealer. Sometimes I use the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, but I have a feeling my skin breaks out because of it and my makeup slides off whether I use it or not.

Occasional treatments: An occasional clay mask (Queen Helene Mint Julep), and I recently tried a Tony Moly sheet mask that I liked.

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results: LRP Effaclar Duo +, Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream. I also recently tried the Jojoba Oil from Face Theory, and while it wasn't disastrous, I did notice more small spots (not sure if it was related though).

Things that are really working well for me now: My skin likes LRP Toleriane Fluide, although it does feel like my skin needs more moisture than it can provide.

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. - Up to £50 for the right products, preferably less though.

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]: I would like to have a solid routine I could print out and put up somewhere in my bathroom that would stop me from jumping between products. Ideally, I would like the products to help me manage my congested skin and fade old marks.

Aplogies if this has been very long, and thank you all for your advice!

Hi ya fizzy!! Glad you enjoyed our city what was Kildare village like?

Bo I'd be delighted to take a fermented goodness sample, have you PayPal? Just pm me and we can set it up really looking forward to it.

That make up storage video was unbelievable, it's an HOUR long! And that's only pt 1. And dd thinks my sole bag is a lot 😂

Binned off applying anything around my temples and swapped to MAC waterweight foundation with a beauty blender. No issues! This is the finish (no mascara on yet apologies)

eversions - no advice but a fist bump. My skin broke out from the snail gel and LRP effaclar did nothing for me
Also acne prone here

Welcome eversions! How truly oily are you, since it’s rather rare and then rather rare that it isn’t seen to professionally at all times. Wrt antibiotics, please inform yourself properly (ie. not the internet), I won’t comment on it because I’m not qualified to do so but there’s a reason it’s always recommended to finish up an antibiotic course, specifically wrt antibiotic resistance.

Wrt your routine, I’m not sure how good a clay-based cleanser is 2x a day as this is drying and may be encouraging more oil production as a result. You’re in need of an HA product, probably in the AM and PM and I would consider incorporating the BHA in the AM on a more regular basis. Oily skin tends to need more actives so usually sees the fuller lineup of Vit C, AHA, BHA, B Vitamins, Retinoids, etc. in both the AM/PM. You’re sort of halfway there but I’d like to know what is working well for you and what isn’t from your actives (and how long you’ve been using things). Mostly want to know the above before advising specifically because LRP ED and the Mizon are both quite Silicone heavy and so is the TO Azeleic for example.

wilting, just PM me your address. I promised you and Aurora part of the loot gratis before deciding that I probably should charge the shipping costs for it if I'm covering lots of other requests too.

A fist bump back, hollinhurst84! I had heard so much good about those two products and hoped they would work, but as we know not everything does!

botemp, thank you for the welcome! And thank you for the heads up regarding the antibiotics. It seems that while trying to avoid antibiotic resistance I might've managed to achieve just that! Uh oh! Might ask a pharmacist or GP what they recommend as it's been a month since I stopped.

I used BHA for about 2.5 years, and stopped using a few months ago when I was prescribed Duac. I've tried PC BHA 2% gel and Bravura's 2%, but never felt like they were doing enough. Although now that I look back on it, I don't think my skin was as congested as it is now. I'm only using it around my nose/chin area at the moment. Prefer the PC one as it's easier to handle.

I've used AHA for 2 years. I tried PC and Bravura as above and I found it works quite well when it comes to old marks. As above, prefer the PC one.

I'm not sure about TO's Azelaic Acid because as you say it's quite silicone heavy and it feels a bit clogging.

And finally, my skin seems to like TO's Niacinamide and Advanced Retinoid, although I use the Retinoid very sporadically so it's hard to tell.

What AHA are you using and when, eversions? Didn't see you mention it in the form.

botemp, not using an AHA at the moment. I thought I'd try TO Azelaic Acid instead, and been using that for a couple of months instead. Too much jumping between products!

I spent a lot of time looking at YT storage videos last night. Fascinated. I also clicked on a video in the TT sidebar of a six year old showing her make up storage! It was at that point I realised I'd had enough internet for one day.

I don't mind the Alex drawers being low. The bottom drawers will be for bigger items like hair styling tools and body moisturisers. Although the wide ones I have are on castors, which is handy. Still not sure which size.

My skin is suspiciously calm for this time of month. Other than a lump on my forehead. But I have a gammy eye. It looks fine other than slight redness, but feels like I've been punched. It's so tender around the outer corner nearest my nose like a bruise and there's slight swelling. Google says it could be an inflamed tear duct inside which looks nasty so I've bought some otc antibiotic ointment. So attractive.

TT = YT

TO azealic acid is fine on my skin weirdly despite being quite silicone feeling, no breakouts with it

Hello

Nothing useful to contribute, but with the balling up at the temples thing - could it be because that's one of the few concave areas of our faces? I'm thinking it's the concavity. Maybe just apply less product in that area?

Anyway, hope everyone's doing well :)

omg Enid I ended up looking at the 6yo make up storage too! Then a 6yo apparently wearing make up!! I backed off at that point and went to bed

I'm no help with the balling up either hollin, the mac looks great tho. Have been on the hunt for a new foundation but nothing is better than Estee's DWL so far.

Clinique's "redness reducing" foundation somehow manages the feat of highlighting my redness and making my face itchy feck's sake.

The YSL seems best so far, but feels a bit "wet" and looks a bit yellow. My sister said it was too flat on me.

BB longwear, looked weird and managed to clump on my forehead. Good colour though.

Sigh, it's nearly as bad as jeans shopping tbh! And I hate feeling like they're doing me such a bloody favour when I want a sample

Wilting I think her Mum was telling her exactly what to say. I sat there looking exactly like this

Foundation shopping is the hardest of all the shopping things imo. For me it used to be finding one pale enough but thankfully that's changed recently with them extending their colour ranges at either end. If a counter is reluctant to give a sample of foundation then I'd walk away. Although never had any problems. Maybe they look at my pale chops and see my dilemma.

Have you tried Lancôme 24hr teint idole? They're very good with sampkescand have recently extended the shade range.

I've just realised I'll have to buy a new eye cream as well as the mascara I've already ordered, because of the sore eye. What a waste. I do wish they wouldn't put eye products in pots. Much safer in a tube surely.

I have the L'oreal infallible, it's nice. Mines not the matte one I don't think, it says 24hr stay fresh and I got the lightest shade which is porcelain
I also like urban decay naked for lighter coverage and the Lancôme teint 24hr one is my next to buy as I loved the sample so much!
MAC waterweight is when I just want light coverage and for "my skin looks shocking/big night out" I use the urban decay all nighter - this is nice but temperamental!

Here it is bo... m.youtube.com/watch?v=ksFgnb5kM7c It's not actually too bad in terms of actual make up. It's just...well...

bo sorry here's a proper link to the actual thing - only 2 hours to go and no bids yet!!!!
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shu-uemura-make-up-box/272549472485?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3Df729c801d0cb4a6dbe1710696efdcf65%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D182455171740