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]:

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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.

JD I'd quite like to try the TO primer.

Bo Reading the postcode beauty article and I don't match either really. Although if I had to pick I'd say I was more what they say I'd the London look. I'm Northern, closer to Manchester than Leeds. From what I've seen, lashes are a really big thing in Manchester, as well as lips. Fake tan doesn't seem as prininsnt as it was a couple of years who but I think that's true of most of the country. (Apart from Liverpool.) I must have a look around a bit more, see if I spot any trends. Matte lips are the thing atm, I can't get on with them personally.

God the mistakes. 'Prominent'

I'm in Leeds and I haven't noticed a particular trend for anything! I think it depends where you go/what type of people you mix with.

I've only been doing my new routine for a few days but can definitely see a difference already. My skin feels really smooth which is a massive improvement! The only issue I've had is this morning is I had some pilling with my makeup. I think the facetheory moisturiser may be the culprit. It's a strange consistency and I am trying to work out what's the right amount to use. I think I used too much today.

Thanks Bo thought that'd be the case. Baby steps

I was attempting to be tongue in cheek re: SPF, fear not! My previous attempts have been meh with SPF. Which is I rely on the SkinShop 20SPF concealer as an alternative. May give the Body Shop one a whirl. Thanks

So no one wants the Superdrug serums I offered then?

Wrt the face theory creams, anyone having trouble with them put less than a pump into palm and really warm it up in ur palms then press on to skin then gently rub it in in upward swipes.

mint thanks that's really useful. I used a full pump the first time then half a pump since then. I'll try warming up in my hands etc and see if it helps. It's almost glue-like in consistency!

I have been loving the face theory day and night creams. No balling up for me at all. Daytime goes over HA and Vitamin C, and is followed by spf (either Bioderma or the new TBS one); night cream goes over LRP Redermic R.

I think it could also be an issue with my makeup primer or bb cream. It didn't happen yesterday though so I'm not sure! It only happened once I'd applied my makeup.

I used LRP cleanser, then Superdrug hydrating serum, then the Facetheory M1 moisturiser, Rimmel lasting perfection primer and Boots 17 bb cream. I have another primer which is a totally different consistency so I'll try that tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks Bo for your wonderful response.

Ok so I’ll shelve the Retinod until I’m not feeding DC1 any more – I did have a look online and I thought it was just the prescription Retionls you had to be careful with. I could replace it with the TO Nia instead.

With the Liquid Gold it can be used on it’s own and it’ll be a bit more potent, at the beginning I decided I didn’t want to over do it, so added the Buffet and oil, but I used it on its the other last night and found the results quite pleasing.

I’m not sure what I mean by uneven tone – my cheeks are redy/browny and a bit uneven to the touch – I suspect it’s acne scarring from my teenage years but I have an area towards my jawline which has the brown marks, so maybe a bit of sun damage as well.

My AM routine is sorted = I’ve swap out the Cetaphil and added the LRP cleanser instead and will look at something to swap the Waitrose moisturiser when I’ve finished it.

Wrt my PM routine, I think I’ll simplify it to;
A. TO Buffet, TO Nia, Facial oil or No 7 moisturiser
B. Liquid Gold or Nip/FAB Extreme Glycolic pads (once both of these are used up I’ll get some BR P50, version yet to be decided), TO Buffet, facial oil or No 7 moisturiser
Then once I’m finished with feeding DC2 I’ll add back in the TO Retinold.

I’m going to have a look at the Face Theory moisturisers and First Treatment Essence sheet masks.

I'll send it over to you this week Enid

Thank you JD

My DD (5y) nosily opened up my Paula's Choice BHA and managed to spill the lot :(

Luckily just the travel size, but it's such hassle to get. I do wish these brands would develop better delivery. I'd love to be able to just pick it up in boots.

On the other hand, the nice lady at the Sisley counter told me I had v clear skin . She was trying to sell me THE concealer but still. She also whacked on a load of v heavy moisturizer which I am now clogged from, but at least I know how to sort that out. I should have been more careful of what she was doing .

And no, I didn't buy yet it is horribly expensive!

How are you finding the galactomyces Bo? It seems v shiny to me after application, is that normal??

Tried to post earlier but the app was playing up!

I'm still having issues with piling. It happens when I put on my bb cream. I didn't use any makeup primer at all today and it still happened. I used a pump of serum and half a pump of moisturiser, even leaving 30 mins between each one (which I can't do on the mornings I have to be out of the house by 7am!!). I wonder if I'm using too much serum?

felix if I remember rightly ur using the Superdrug serum aren't u? If so my skin didn't like that and I think it could be the culprit, try the face theory tomorrow without the serum and see how u get on. If it works better without then I'd suggest getting the hylamide subq serum from boots (often on offer) or the cheaper alternative is buffet by the ordinary.

depressing, sorry missed you out last time unintentionally. I'd start with the Buffet first and see how you get on. Then Nia, Vit C, Retinol in that order with lots of time and careful introduction in between each (NIA and Retinoid in the PM and Vit C in the AM).

I wasn't too convinced on the postcode story either, here income and age will be the best predictor I think for the type of preferred makeup. I'm sure there will be some regional differences and cultural heritage will influence things, though probably not definitive to define uniform city 'looks'.

Felix, serum is usually about a pea sized amount. Also, you can try patting it in gently rather than rubbing (my preferred method of application for most skincare and often helps with balling up issues too).

Wilting, oh no! Though speaking of Salicylic, was nosing on the Ordinaries site to see if the Retinoid is back in stock already so I can order the Vit C without shipping costs and they appear to be selling a 2% Salycic in the near future, also a Pixi Glow dead ringer at a slightly higher % and lower more effective pH and a 30% AHA-BHA peel which has made me all go a bit . For all their preaching, and specifically Brandon Truaxe's, of being very much against such highly inflaming products and treatments they now seem to be hawking them indiscriminately. Until recently, without any cogent arguments, they were actively shit talking BHA whilst pushing the Azelaic (would be curious to hear from those using it for a bit now how they've been getting on with that btw). These three new products whilst appearing interesting on paper appear to be clear dupes of other successful products (not sure what the peel is imitating as I don't really delve into such high concentration products but I'm guessing Dr. Dennis Gross) and it would be a shame if that's the direction the brand continues on in instead of improving the teething problems of the existing lineup.

I'm not having too much issue with shininess and the Niacin, Wilting. I do find the tiny little sample bottles difficult to get the right amount out of, it's almost always too much and find less is more is definitely the case with that. I do like the effect it's having but it does require a good gentle pat in.

Has anyone tried the Drunk Elephant Vit C serum? I've seen it mentioned (Bo and Aurora were you considering it?) and am running low on TO Vit C. It's rather more expensive that TO though, which I have grown to like a lot, so if it's not super-awesome then I'll probably pass. Has anyone tried both??

Azelaic - I've been using it for a while. I have no spots, not one despite it being time of the month which is usually a trigger
I have been taking omega 3 and zinc but that's not helped before
I don't like it under makeup so use it PM only but despite feeling very silicone it also feels like it sinks in and doesn't break me out
It's a repurchase from me. I've swapped my actives about and skin is much much happier

So glad that's working for you, Hollin! I just couldn't get past the silicones in it. Such a shame because I'd like to give azaleic a proper go, sounds fab.

I've actually been considering DE again recently, Dulci, since I've been waiting for forever for the stock availability from TO to get in to get my Vit C order. It sounds ideal, packaging, pH, %, rare to find a scathing review, etc. bu the total price with import taxes just does my head in for a product that costs pennies to make.

Thanks for the feedback Hollin, it's not really of interest for me but I had been wondering how people were getting on with the silicone heaviness of that.

I just had a proper look and the TO Salicylic and it doesn't appear to offer any savings . It's 15ml for around 5 euros, per ml that's the same price of the PC travel size which is 30ml (the full size would work out a lot cheaper per ml and that's disregarding the 15% discount they do on the exfoliants on a very regular basis). With their suggested daily AM and PM use you'd be through that tiny bottle within weeks.

That's the thing isn't it - I just can't see how it can be that much better than TO for the extra price, esp as you say factoring in taxes etc. And I definitely need to catch up on this thread properly, I didn't know that TO were doing salicylic now (I thought the founder guy didn't approve of it??). Going back to page 1 to see what else has slipped through the net....!

PS my Amsterdam/Brussels work trip was last week, and after all that I didn't have any time for shopping. Spent an hour wandering around the nine streets bit but Storm Doris was upon us and I gave up Didn't even make it Dany Diop, I was looking forward to testing out the bat signal

Hmm, I must be using too much. The little bottles are tough. Have warned the 5yo thoroughly not to touch unless I'm there doubt that'll work

Also Asos now sold out of the retinol too! I really shouldn't have left it so long. Surely it'll be back in soon? They didnt have everything I wantedso I dithered.

€5 for 15ml???? that's a pretty useless amount of any skincare item really.

Yes no silicone issues and I'm usually the first to break out with silicone. I find it feels slippery but not greasy and quite dry feeling

Oo oo oo, just checked and the retinOID (oops) is back in on TO website