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.

So this has given me a lot to think about. World Book Day and Seb Derm, what a treat for me today is.

I'm not certain it is Seb Term but it does sound a high possibility. Although I've also now read about auto-immune progesterone dermatitis and again about perioral dermatitis. I've managed to thoroughly depress myself as reading various bits online, the summary seems to be if its Seb Derm, you're fucked and if its one of the other, you're also fucked but maybe not permanently.

I've booked a Doctor's appointment for the time around my next expected flare up and depending on that outcome I'm going to see a Dermatologist.

Depending on what it is I may need a steroid cream or long term antobiotics which I'm not thrilled about, or if I'm lucky maybe just an anti-fungal. Perhaps may even be time to reconsider going back on hormonal contraception.

In terms of skincare I am definitely going to try Toleriane out as a cleanser. Following yesterday's advice I paid extra attention in my routine last night and this morning. I noticed that the CeraVe doesn't irritate me in the morning but it does in the evening, I wonder if this is because it follows the cleansing oil with essential oils in it.

My skin was a bit red this morning after washing but thats just the warm water as it went down within half an hour (when its not the water it lasts much longer) but immediately went red again after using the Vichy Aqualia and didn't settle down at all after that.

I think I will remove the Vichy Aqualia from my routine and go with an alternative HA. I don't think I can get away with no HA in my routine.

I'm going to hold off on the Azelaic/ treatment as although people seem to use it with success when they have Seb Derm it seems true that I should address the irritation/compromised skin barrier first.

I think I know how to do this, remove the BHA, Nia etc and use Toleriane as a cleanser. Does anyone have any suggestions for what to use post cleansing in the PM?

Package came today JD thank you!!

Oh and my azealic came today too.

Or however you spell it. 🙄

mint I love the dhc cleansing oil but my skin isn't particularly prone to dryness or oiliness. It doesn't break me out or clog though I'm prone to both those

mintmagnum I tried my mum's DHC and didn't get on with it at all - weirdly it seemed to make me break out on my nose which is very unusual for me (like Dulci I have dryish skin). I know lots of people who swear by it though.

Single condition charities do exist here, Dulci, but they're usually for the really rare conditions so mostly do fundraising for research that would otherwise never get financed. What you've described we have too but they're not called charities (I think, they may be on paper), if I translate it directly it's a patient union/collective. I think they are non-profit and I'm not sure if they require members to contribute to join (probably not). They're very helpful, also very involved within the hospital/GP system helping to improve communications acting as patient advocates, working closely together with specialists, providing special reading info packs, they do a lot of social events where patients (and their families) can support each other, extensive online information, funding research, etc. I think all the smaller ones are part of one larger federation/union which do a fair bit of lobbying and are often consulted when forming/changing health policy.

mint/jo, good to hear the facetheory moisturisers are working well for you as I was concerned there may have been triggering, for you, ingredients among them. It's good you didn't listen to me then . Which ones have you been using? I think the DHC is nice for combo-oily but can feel a bit drying, I prefer the Muji Sensitive Cleansing Oil which is similar and slightly cheaper but a hassle to get as you need to order it from Japan. I also keep meaning to buy the one I spotted on EPP, Edenens, which also has a clean INCI and is only €8,5.

Sasha, it's always overwhelming playing Dr. Google before you have a diagnosis. Good on you for being proactive and getting the GP appointment made and being prepared to push for a derm if necessary. I don't' think you should feel a need to double cleanse for the sake of double cleansing. In this case, less is more too when it comes to cleansing (unless you wear loads of long-wearing formula makeup). As Dulci mentioned switching to mineral makeup might be beneficial too and I think that should be a lot easier to remove. Don't think Dulci is insane either for suggesting no SPF, leave it out for now and reintroduce a mineral one at a later date, possibly the Bioderma Photoderm Mineral SPF50, as that is a no alcohol, no silicones one without major irritants.

I think you've drawn sensible conclusions, the BHA and Niacinamide may benefit you later but for now, it is indeed best to leave them until the barrier issues are resolved. The problem with a compromised barrier is that as the lack of a proper seal on the skin means your natural deeper sitting hydration reserves are pulled from, so it's not so much a matter of adding hydration (though this helps somewhat but it's a bit the bucket in a sinking leaky boat metaphor) but getting things properly sealed in. I'm not really familiar with the hydraluron jelly but do you think you could layer this thinly under another moisturiser to act more like a hydrating layer? Getting lots of thinner layers of hydration in and a variation of hydrating ingredients (so beyond HA) will be key in addressing the dehydration whilst the skin remains compromised.

Here's what I'd suggest for a minimal routine.

AM

LRP Toleriane Dermo
Paula's Choice CALM Redness Relief Repairing Serum

sasha sorry am late to the party on this one, and you've already had loads of good advice from dulci bo et al on this one...
Am a fellow seb-derm sufferer and all the things mentioned have helped. Would add that I used my trusty rice bran oil (food grade, which I also use as a second cleanse) when mine was bad, to add a barrier/layer of hydration...it worked really well. Have also used Daktarin with success for the itchyness and cicaplast as recommended elsewhere on these threads.
Vit D, B12, omega 3/6/9 and evening prim all helpful too I've found.
Can I asked what horrors from dr google caused you to conclude having seb derm means 'you're basically fucked' by the way??
Do you have it on your scalp too?
I do get some itching round the mouth too, in an odd manner.

My parcel came today too, thank you JD!
I look properly attractive today, have the worlds sorest spot in my ear which seems to have also turned my cheek bright red and made my eye water. Attractive

2 questions re p50w:

Does anyone have the full ingredients list please? Can only seem to find it for the p50.

Is it safe to use when ttc? Hypothetically speaking atm.

I wiped it on rather than pressed, will that be ok? Will do the pressing thing next time. Only used it on my nose (sides and bridge) and between my eyebrows. That's enough to not be too bad if my skin doesn't like it and has enough issues that I'll be able to see if it's doing anything positive. (SF, peeling and some congestion.)

Do I just put my usual moisturiser on top like a 'normal' acid?

Thank you! Sorry, that's more than 2.

And I haven't used the Azz yet. One thing at a time. Plus my eyes are blurry with tiredness so might do it wrong.

LOTION P50W INGREDIENTS: Water (Aqua), Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Magnesium Chloride, Malic Acid, Vinegar (Acetum), Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Cochlearia Armoracia (Horseradish) Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Sulfur, Allantoin, Sodium Salicylate, Serine, Urea, Sorbitol, TEA-Lactate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate.

Fine when TTC, technically ok too whilst pregnant but consult your doctor to be sure.

Pressing/vigorously dabbing is mostly done by the hardcore nutjobs like me fanatic, wiping, whilst not the recommended application method, won't be detrimental.

Yes, pretty much use it as you'd use any other acid, post cleansing then normal routine.

That sounds attractive indeed, Hollin, iirc you did predict this earlier.

Just back from a few days in Krakow so lots to catch up on.

I have a DHC oil I'm willing to pass on. It didn't agree with me either. I've used about a fifth. Happy to just post it out to the first reply.

Managed to burn my eyebrow AND my nose with my p50w sample was careful too, totally soaked the pad. Probably pressed a bit too much on the eyebrow and nose. My nose is still a bit crooked fgs am keen for it to even up!

So pat LIGHTLY Enid!!! And ONCE per patch of skin only!!

Soaked the pad with water btw NOT the acid...

Hi everyone,

As I've now been following this thread for a while I thought I might check back in with my overhauled routine and the things that are working for me. I'm looking for a serum at the moment so any suggestions on that (or critiquing of the routine as a whole) would be really welcome. My skin is so much better now and I really owe it to this thread!

As a reminder I have dryish, sensitive skin with mild rosacea on my cheeks: just redness, no acne.

AM:
No cleansing but my skin is better when I do less to it, so as long as I've cleansed thoroughly the night before it's just a splash of water here followed by..
LRP serozinc spray
LRP Rosaliac AR intense serum, which I have been using up and am looking to replace; it's not doing a great deal for me
Toleriane Fluid which I am planning to replace with the Eucerin previously recommended by Bo if I can't source more..

PM
(If I've been wearing make-up) TTDO balm followed by:
Toleriane Dermo cleanser (used on its own if no make-up)
LRP Rosaliac AR intense serum, as above
Toleriane Fluid, as above

LRP should sponsor me!

One of the things that's actually made a huge difference and I only really discovered by accident when I bought some cheapo flannels from the market is that swapping my Ikea flannels for ones with a less 'coarse' weave agrees with my face much more.

Many thanks in advance

Thanks botemp
My face is still beautifully clear but despite an angled mirror and a phone light I can't see what havoc is being created in my ear

Thanks for the info, Bo, they do sound similar. It's really interesting (to me, anyway) to learn how things are done in different contexts/cultures. Maybe the term charity is just an administrative thing really - they must be formally registered here, although I think primarily for tax purposes? Not sure what else is different about them tbh. Most if not all HEIs are registered charities, which probably says something! Anyway I digress; appreciate your time.

Thank you bo that all sounds good ingredients wise and thanks for the other info, Wilting's post sounds scary so I will very lightly dab it on next time will leave it a day or two as instructed.

Wilting oh gawd, I was a slap dash. Think I've got used to put the Corsx on which is very mild and applied it the same way. Probably went over the same bits more than once... . Well it's been a few hours so no point washing it off now. We'll see if I'm Rudolph in the morning or not. 🤡

*a bit slap dash

Thanks everyone for the advice re the dhc, I think I'll give it a miss.

bo I know, I was fully expecting to hate them but I wanted to give my skin a fresh start with things I've previously said my skin doesn't like to see if that was definitely the case or whether it was part of my dismorphia. Also I feel like the hylamide has helped somewhat in repairing my barrier (still a way to go but definitely an improvement)
Anyway so I ordered the relaxing night cream with the lavender scent as I know my skin is ok with lavender and I like the smell (it is literally from pure lavender as opposed to fragrance) and the signature moisturiser unscented version. Both are very thick and go very white which weirdly is something I quite like, but once gently massaged in they completely disappear with no trace of greasiness and actually has a 'dry touch' finish. I was a little concerned at first as they felt similar to moogoo face cream id tried a while ago and hated (it made my skin feel tight and irritated) but so far my face has felt comfortable and two people now have made comments that my skin looks fresh and that's the only new thing in my routine. I hope I don't regret these words of praise lol.

I'm new to these threads so spent last night reading through as much as I could. Amazingly helpful information, thank you to everyone who gives up so much time helping people out.

My routine is pitiful so I'm going back to basics today and going to get a good SPF and cleanser sorted. If I could ask you to recommend the basics for now that would be great. I've read through some of the recs for those with similar skin so have an idea what I need but I'll put my info below just in case.

Skin type: v sensitive/combination

Approx age (range): 42

Primary skin concern: ageing/avoiding sensitive flare ups

Routine : v little (sorry embarrassed to say) almond oil to cleanse, currently using a MEN'S Moisturiser believe it or not as it doesn't irritate.

Occasional treatments:

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results: lots of products irritate me and I was diagnosed with rosacea once but that seems under control at the moment (mainly due to do few products though)

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]:
I'm starting from scratch and with sensitive skin I know I need to be patient introducing 1 item at a time.
I'm looking at getting a LRP SPF and cleanser and starting from there.
I've tried a sample of Alpha H glycolic acid which I do really like and my skin likes but with regards to other acids I'm unsure which I need.

Sorry to sound so completely clueless, if anyone can advise me on some basics recommendations I'd be massively grateful. Low-mid price range.

Ok, thanks all for the advice. I’ve come up with a clear plan of what I’m going to do.

Yongnian I hope I didn’t offend you about being fucked with Seb Derm. Yeah I did go fully down the rabbit hole of Dr Google and associates. I was on the Acne.org site, is full of good info but also has a forum where I actually read the quote about being fucked quite a few times and then of course felt massively depressed by it all.

I don’t really suffer from Dandruff/itchy scalp apart from at the same time my skin starts to flake which is just before my period. That does seem to be the main difference with my Seb Derm and what I’ve read as although its red and I can feel it, its only itchy, flaky and angry prior to my period or if I’m run down/ill.

I think in a way I had been doing a similar routine, especially during the day by adding several layers of hydration I just hadn’t realised that there were also lots of irritants in those products and so would never get past a certain point of healing.

I’m going to take things very slowly and learn from previous mistakes of doing it all at once. I know some of my current products are irritating and it makes sense to stop immediately but I want to be gradual as otherwise how will I know if the new things irritate me. Firstly as of today I’ll be starting on Toleriane as my cleanser and using Vaseline at night. I can’t expect I’ll have any reaction to either as have used both before although not in this way. Will test this for a week with no other changes, then the following:

Week 2 - Start using Daktarin (twice daily for a week as advised by a pharmacist this morning). Course of this ending will coincide with my doctors appointment.

Week 3 - Try not wearing SPF on face only, will still use on neck and chest

Week 4 - StartPC Redness Relief Serum

Week 5 - Start Bioderma Tolerance thing

After 6 weeks, I should be able to report back and say if there’s been any improvement. 6 weeks will also take me jut to the end of what wold be my April flare up so I should have an idea if theres been any change in that area specifically.

Sounds like a good plan Sasha. Good luck!

I have a q for the sugar-free advocates - do you generally include fruit? I'm finally jumping on board with it but I'm not sure whether to "allow" fresh fruit. I've done various low carb things previously (= no fruit) but this time I'm going for something rather more sustainable. Would welcome your thoughts.