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]:

---

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 think it was the novelty of getting a waitrose. I still can't go in for one thing without needing a new mortgage. Lethal
Also I really need to cleanse but the cat is fast asleep on me and he looks so comfy

Hi all, just checking in for the new thread. I'm still hanging around in the background reading your info and loving the thread!

I've been busy over the last month with work and life and by the time I caught up on the last one, it was just about moving to this one.

Anyway, skiing was great. However, I didn't love the French pharmacy So disappointing! Only one in resort and it was pricey. Resort prices I guess, I could get LRP cheaper in the U.K. so didn't seem worthwhile.

You may remember DP got started on LRP redermic R for eyes. He's getting on with it wonderfully and you can see improvement in his skin, although he does grumble when I force him to wear spf. He thinks his 1/2 Asian skin means he is immune to sunburn/damage (it's not, he learnt the hard way a few years back in Thailand )

Me on the other hand, I have been using the face theory moisturiser for 3-4 weeks and quite like it. I randomly got another one sent through this week which referred to my original order that I'd already received. It was very kind of them but I'm unsure whether I should confess to them or keep quiet

Ive also purchased Paula's choice skin perfecting BHA which I like a lot . I've stepped up my exercise and was noticing an increase in clogging. I got a trial of their pore perfecting cleanser aswell. I have no idea how it reads on the INCI but I really really like it.

Sorry, that ended up being rather a long 'hi' post. Hoping to be a bit more present on this thread as I do really enjoy them.

Hi goat Liking the sound of the redermic eye cream. DH has been asking about eye cream, wonder if he'd get on with it.

You can't move sleeping cats Hollin, it's the law. (I'm just jealous of your Waitrose because we'll never get one here.)

I have moved him with lots of grumbles. He doesn't get my need for nice skin

Buttercup thanks for the update about BR in Liberty, it makes me feel a bit better now about not being able to get hold of the stuff!

I'll be interested to follow your progress with the TO Retinoid 2% as that's on my wish list. It will probably be the next new product that I phase in after settling into my new current routine.

I bought my P50 over the phone. Not even a single question. Although I did say I'd used it before (from a sample from Bo). I use it twice a week and use other actives, although not on the same night.

Interesting re the Redermic eye cream. I forget to use mine. I use the TO caffeine stuff every morning but should use the LRp in the evenings. I guess that's the best way around?

Ooh I'm going out tonight (as in out out) so am deciding what makeup to do. Too much choice!

Out out!

I'll live vicariously through you Hollin as I'll be in tonight. What are you going to be wearing?

I'm wearing this, with a black and gold clutch bag and some black and almost gold (subtle!) leopard print heels
http://m.asos.com/club-l/club-l-harness-detailed-maxi-dress/prd/6698877?iid=6698877&clr=Black&SearchQuery=Harness%20dress&pgesize=17&pge=0&totalstyles=17&gridsize=3&gridrow=3&gridcolumn=3

That is a Wow dress! 😍 Like a bit of leopard print too. All sounds gorgeous.

It is really lovely, I had it altered as the straps were a bit long on me so she moved the whole bust area up and it fits perfectly now

Send pics when ur ready hollin

I think I have exceeded my pics allowance with cat photos but I will take some to post tomorrow
Am doing a copper eye look with a sort of dark burgundy (it's called cherry cola) in the crease and lots of eyeliner

That sounds lovely

All makeup geek eye shadows, I can't recommend them enough. Using cherry cola, and the copper is called flame thrower and is a kind of metallic type
Probably urban decay all nighter foundation

love copper eye shadow. Especially on green eyes.

I love copper eyeshadow too and think it would suit me (green eyes, strawberry blonde hair) but I'm scared of applying strong colours on my eyes plus my eyes are EXTREMELY sensitive and usually the more pigment the more irritating they are for me

I am just popping in (have difficulty keeping up with you) to say thank you for the analysis you did for me on the last thread, and on the back of which I went a bit mad with The Ordinary Almost a month in, and I am loving the Buffet best I think, feel really plumped afterwards. The C as predicted takes some getting used to and did break me out at first (think it was that) but I am persevering!

mint - I never used to wear strong colours and now I love them! I wear a lot of red, orange and copper on my eyes and pink and red on my lips (not all at once)
Have painted my nails and toes and off for a soak in the bath

Enjoy your night out Hollin - Make up geek shadows are lush and that dress is va va voom!

Photos hollin! Don't forget!!

Stsinless that's interesting re The actives. Now I think about it, I had carried on with the galactomyces essence and the redermic. My skin was blotchy and I suddenly had a reaction to the redermic. The p50w must amplify other products.

Have quit all actives this week and did just ONE cautious use of p50w and skin much happier.

Hi ladies, have been eagerly devouring the threads, would welcome any insights into AHA vs BHA + retinoids for acne, plus top tips for oily but dehydrated skin! I’ve read the threads, but am still confused about the right combo of actives for my particular skin concerns, so would be super grateful for any thoughts anyone may have

(sorry for essay, tried to provide sufficient detail as requested, possibly rather too much detail - apols in advance!)

Skin type: Oily + dehydrated

Age: 35

Primary skin concern: Acne (hormonal due to PCOS, and a shitload of hormones for IVF which are probably confusing the hell out of my skin), crepey dehydration lines

Routine:

AM:

Hot cloth cleanse with Liz Earle C+P
Pixi glow tonic
Serozinc
Eucerin hyaluron filler serum
Eucerin hyaluron filler oil free day lotion (SPF 15)

PM :

Hot cloth cleanse with Liz Earle C+P
Some nights add in Clarisonic + Avene gentle gel cleanser (when I can be bothered)

Routine thereafter is mostly:
Alpha H Liquid Gold
Estee Lauder ANR
Possibly some Clarins Blue Orchid oil depending on how dehydrated I’m feeling
Institut esthederm intensif hyularonic night cream (freebie from a mate who's a beauty editor - previously used Eucerin Hyaluron filler night cream or Givenchy Hydra Sparkling)

I do (I know, I know, BAD banana) have some 0.025% tretinoin cream from an overseas pharmacy where you can buy it OTC - so as it’s not been prescribed by a dermatologist I am very aware that this is a very bad idea! I have been swapping the above post cleansing routine for slapping on the tretinoin every few nights - however I’m not seeing a palpable difference, so I suspect it’s either because I’m not using it nightly or it’s not an effective formulation. And that I might be better with a milder retinoid from a reputable brand rather than a questionable tube of stronger tretinoin? (please do advise oh wise skin gurus!)

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

Before TTC when on the pill and PCOS was under control, had brilliant skin and just wore Laura Mercier oil free tinted moisturiser

Now my PCOS is raging and skin is berserk with IVF meds, I need more coverage. So use Smashbox oil free photo finish primer, followed by Lancome Teint Miracle foundation + Nars creamy concealer + Innisfree no sebum mineral powder

Clarins instant smooth perfecting touch polyfilla for some little forehead creases (not sure where in the layering I should be using this!)

Occasional treatments:

Aesop spot gel as a topical treatment on my spots

Try to do a weekly face mask. Usually one for my spots, followed by one for hydration

So either REN clearcalm 3 clay mask OR Dr Sebagh deep exfoliating mask

Followed by Origins Drink Up, or Drink Up Intensive if it’s feeling particularly thirsty

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results:

I didn’t get on with PC 2% BHA gel, it felt sticky and serum didn't sit well on top to hydrate my thirsty skin. Maybe I should have tried a BHA liquid instead?

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic - expensive, stinky, don’t remember seeing any benefit

Foaming cleansers - nuff said

Hydraluron - hated this!

I tried Panoxyl 10% benzoyl peroxide for the acne but found it just too drying, everything felt super tight

Things that are really working well for me now:

Erm - my foundation?!

My skin doesn’t feel irritated by anything I’m using, but it isn’t looking particularly brilliant. My skin feels comfortable and un-parched after the Eucerin serum and day cream, but don’t think I feel especially well hydrated (note to self: drink more water), and the crepey lines / crow’s feet around my eyes are getting worse

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant:

I eat too much sugar which isn’t doing my PCOS acne any favours. Having a very hard time with fertility treatment that’s going very badly, miscarriages and a cancer scare, so have been self medicating with chocolate!

Diet isn’t brilliant at the moment - undereating and underweight, weight loss due to stress. Taking all my vitamins (incl probiotic and omega 3) but not getting my 5 a day, Must try harder.

We’re doing fertility treatment but trying to work on my uterine lining to prepare for an IVF transfer - my Dr has OK-ed me to use retinoids until we come to do a cycle, because I can’t conceive at the moment

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: No limits

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

Help with acne and dehydration please!

Should I be using AHA or BHA?

Retinoid as well as or instead? If so, which retinoid?
Something more hydrating than the Eucerin - Hylamide perhaps?
Crows feet - should I be using an eye cream?

Thank you SO much in advance!!

PS Hope you have a FAB night out in your fab dress hollin!

You might want to drop the Tret:

www.drugs.com/pregnancy/tretinoin-topical.html