Fantastic Skincare - Snail Optional 🐌

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For those who are taking a peek and wondering whether previous threads are worth reading, we mostly discuss a bit of advanced skincare here with a perspective of seeking out the right ingredients for our particular skin 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 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 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.

I'm using Elvive for men intense anti dandruff and a mix of other stuff as using things up, it seems to be helping

Bo, that's amazing, thank you! The linked article about vitiligo is much more informative than anything I've seen. I happened to be at the GP earlier today so asked if I could be referred to a dermatologist for the vitiligo, but I think it may take a long time if I ever get there - she said I would need to meet the practice's referral criteria. The GP said she thought physical exfoliators would be a problem for irritating the damaged skin, but she didn't know about actives in general.

I'll go through the recommendations in more detail when I get home tonight but wanted to thank you in the meantime.

Hi, me again.
I'm still searching for a BHA that works for me. I've tried the PC 2% in the blue & the grey bottles, but not the extra strength. Should I give up & go for a different brand? I mainly want it for my T-zone (blackheads / SFs), mostly on my nose TBH. I think the COSrx (?) was mentioned, where would I get it please? I've not changed anything else except that I got the LRP cleanser a few weeks ago to use instead of my previous face wash (Lancome). Seems fine so far.

Also, back spots...please help! I don't use conditioner or SLS shampoo. I don't eat (much) refined sugar any more, or much processed food. Pretty healthy diet (lots of fresh food etc). I am on medication for a health condition but that apparently doesn't cause any problems. I take vitamins...quite a lot actually as one of my meds is known for depleting vitamins from the body. I have recently started running but I always shower straight afterwards. It's been a problem since I was a teenager, more than half my life now. I've had 2 full courses of roaccutane & my liver won't take another.

Lego Try hibi scrub for your back. Use it as the last wash before you get out of the shower. Apply neat and rinse thoroughly. (Read the leaflet thing properly first as there are a few warnings.) I got my Corsx from Amazon. Took a couple of weeks to come but otherwise fine. www.amazon.co.uk/Cosrx-Blackhead-Power-Liquid-100ml/dp/B00OZEJ8R8?tag=mumsnetforum-21

www.boots.com/hibiscrub-skin-cleanser-250ml-1-bottle-10086267

Have just ordered a new tinted moisturiser to try, the balm balmshelter one.....will let you all know what I think, I'm scared lol

I bought this sample pack from PC. I used cleanser, toner, BHA gel, serum and gel moisturiser last night and this morning, I skipped the BHA and used the spf 30 moisturiser and WOW! My skin feels amazing and no shine has broken through all day!!!

My neutral stuff came today. Haven't tried the toner yet. The hand cream smells a bit like paint but it's a nice light cream to shove on when out and about as it sinks in instantly and leaves a nice smooth barrier

It's been a rough week. How's everyone doing?

Thanks, 2babas2cats. I just ordered a different sample pack, I have wanted to try PC's stuff but wasn't sure where to start.

Hope you like miffy2!! I'm trying out the face mask just now before bed! I didn't order a full size cleanser but I wish I did as it feels so good!

2babas I have the PC clear pore cleanser and really really like it! Glad I'm not the only one enjoying PC cleansers

My colleague is going to USA in a couple of weeks. What should I be asking her to bring back for me? (I did see the Dr Sam video, back from Orlando with a LRP cleanser that might be interesting)

Cheddar cheese goldfish crackers.

Probably not what you meant.

Stop being silly Enid

Will do a proper check in tomorrow but you were all on my mind this afternoon. Hope everyone and their loved ones are safe and sound

But they're amazing JD! 🧀 Do you, or any teen girls you know, like Eos lip balms? They're a lot cheaper in the US than the U.K.

bo

Yes, seriously I hope everyone got through today ok.

My face is misbehaving

Thanks, Tsmummy08. I still haven't made up my mind on the Vit C and have now discovered it's completely finished . Did see lookfantastic have started selling TO which means free shipping without a minimum spend and their eternal 15% off. Of course, the Vit C is out of stock

I don't with know how many name changes I can cope, I shall insist on calling you weird versions of it

bali/goat which would make you sate kambing in my book, I digress, wrt subcutaneous pimples it really is a waiting game. I find AHA does speed up the process somewhat and then attacking it with BHA when it comes to a head the best plan of attack usually.

WanderingNotLost, congrats on the upcoming nuptials ! How much time have you got? I wouldn't want to be held responsible for you being in the midst of a purge on your wedding day!

MaryLennoxsScowl, ugh the tales of access to dermatologists always fill me with despair. I hope you meet the criteria.

Speaking of, I finally had a look at the CH post about Boots & Superdrug's acne clinics useless apart from providing direct links. It does seem to be backed with comprehensive questionnaires that acts in place of a normal consultation. Of course, there's always the risk of engineering your answers for the right outcome but I suppose that would be the case with a GP too, except they don't work in a commercialised model. I'm curious to know what your DH makes of it, Enid. It's not exactly clear to me who is prescribing/evaluating it either (more specifically how those get paid).

LegoCaltrops , CosRx BHA can also be bought from Jolse (no minimum spend for free worldwide shipping). I did see that there are some sellers on Amazon (UK) where it's fulfilled by Amazon meaning it's in a (somewhat) local Amazon warehouse and the delivery is much speedier. Cult Beauty also sells it but with a markup (£22).

JDSTER, I'd be interested in that new LRP Toleriane Cleanser too but I assume it'll come out here at some point hopefully. Also from that lineup exclusively in the US, I'm quite intrigued by the LRP Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer which is sort of a Cerave/Olay hybrid with ceramides and niacinamide but for oily/acne prone skin without the gunk Cerave and Olay utilise. Might be a tad silicone-y but it's only dimethicone (but quite high up in the INCI).

Things I've never tried but the Americans always go on about is the Stridex 2% BHA pads (they're alcohol free but they do contain menthol making it a bit stingy/irritating to some). Then we're entering grey area as the EU/UK rules don't allow these to be sold here due to concentration strength but especially with Benzyl Peroxide IIRC the regulation only allows higher strength stuff and not the lower . Anyhow, people tend to swear by PC's Benzyl Peroxide (I'm not sure whether it's the 2.5% or 5% one). Also of interest is PC RESIST Weekly Retexturizing Foaming Treatment 4% BHA. Would point out that PC have been steadily increasing their prices (esp. in the US) over the last twelve months and I don't actually know where to buy PC in store in the US.

@2babas2cats , so I’m hoping you’ve read through the sheets and taken some of the suggestions here on board. A better cleansing system is definitely in order especially considering the heavier makeup you wear. I’m not the biggest proponent of microdermabrasion, mostly because it’s a temporary effect and it’s quite harsh on the skin. Also, if a peel did little for you then I’d anticipate similar results with this (especially long term) as it’s sort of the physical counterpart to peels (chemical).

I don’t know which PC cleanser you’re trialling at the moment but I’d be inclined to recommend you a salicylic acid based one (CosRx Low pH Good Morning cleanser is a gentle version so perhaps the best to start with Skin Actives do a 2% version) for AM and 2nd cleanse PM.

Then the Clinique TTDO balm as a first cleanser.

I always advocate getting on the SPF train before introducing any forms of actives, the Biore Watery Essence is probably the lightest out there so may be worth trying as SPF is definitely a product that can be very clogging and make blackheads worse.

Once you have those settled and working for you I’d consider an HA serum. After that you can explore the PC Resist Anti-Aging Skin Transforming Multi-Correction Treatment with Azelaic Acid + BHA (build up to regular use daily) and introducing gradually (all products should be introduced with adequate time apart, min. 2 weeks apart once fully embedded in your routine, including samples) Vitamin C, Niacinamide, and Retinol. Really only start looking into any actives and then further actives when the basics are well situated in place and everything is working favourably.

As JDSTER pointed out the Effaclar mico-exfoliant is very astringent and is more likely to contribute further to drying and therefore oil production.

The LRP Toleriane Fluid (if you can still find it) and the Eucerin UltraSensitive for combo-oily skin are my standard least likely to irritate or clog skin recs for moisturiser.

AM :
Garnier mattifying face wash
Efflacar micro-exfoliant
Either No7 pore serum followed by No7 moisturiser for oily skin or simple light moisturiser ← Finish up (unless it’s irritating, causing clogging, etc.)
PM :
Garnier micellar face wash
Garnier micellar water or simple cleanser
Efflacar micro-exfoliant
Yes to grapefruits pore lotion ← ^Is this doing anything , it appears to be a lot of occlusives (which could potentially be clogging) and all ‘beneficial’ ingredient touted on the blurb are present in extremely low concentrations

re dermatology referral on nhs, my ds15 has been on differin for two months and oral antibiotics he has to stay on same meds another two months. but the GP said if at any time it gets worse he will do a derm referral straight away, approx six week wait. Looks like roaccutane would be the next step which worries me due to mental health side effects but I guess the damage to self esteem caused by acne balances this. perhaps depends on GP we are in Scotland and both myself and DH work in nhs xxx

bo he hadn't been told anything about it! He's looking into it this week.

That's what I did in the end bo!!! Dug old my slightly neglected but not that old liquid gold out which is the only AHA type product I have. Woohoooo all my lurking and reading must have done me some good!

I'm tempted to try the Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning cleanser mentioned. I had the 2 week trial of the PC, which lasted longer than 2 weeks but is nearly empty now. If nothing else, Cosrx is cheaper

Was in town all day yesterday for meetings, very sombre atmosphere in the afternoon and everyone jumping slightly at every siren. There but for the grace of god, etc. Tons of police everywhere - felt strangely very safe.

Back on topic, has anyone tried any of the new TO acid stuff? I've just reordered the Vit C and threw in the 2% bha and bha+aha one, to try. Any early thoughts from anyone on either?

Phew, I've finally caught up with quite a few pages of the thread. Hope everyone is well!

Talking about dermatology referrals, I've got an appointment with my GP on Monday. I'm not sure what she might suggest next as she prescribed Duac and antibiotics last time. I did see a recent article on BBC saying that there's a lack of NHS skin specialists hence the issues with referrals. Have looked at the Boots Acne Clinic before too, but would be good to hear more about it.

I've finally ordered Buffet and it's on the way, so am going to start slowly introducing it! I'm hoping it'll work well.