Fantastic Skincare - Snail Optional 🐌

[botemp]

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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.

Something is goin on with my skin at the moment! I've come out in loads of tiny whiteheads and red spots all over neck and face! This is something that usually happens if I take antibiotics but I haven't had any!

botemp - I finally managed to track down the ingredients of the super cheap secret key cream I keep buying. Not good on ingredients so here's the link - it never breaks me out or pills or irritates, it's the most inoffensive moisturiser I've found!
http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_c87e256475.html

Hi, I'd really appreciate some advice so I can start figuring out how to look after my skin. I've read the google docs and some bits of the threads but I'm a bit lost.

Skin type: Oily slick in the middle and dry flakes on cheeks, tip of nose and forehead.

Approx age (range): 21

Primary skin concern: Dry, tight flaky-ness

Routine :

AM : Umm... my face gets wet in the shower, maybe a bit of soap sometimes, then splashed with water after I brush my teeth and then Simple kind to kind day cream.

PM : Maybe the simple cream if I've showered again, otherwise nothing. Sorry.

Makeup : None

Occasional treatments: Nope

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results: Nothing, I haven't really tried much. I did have a sample of Pai Rosehip oil which I hated because of the smell and I don't like Nivea Creme much because applying it feels like I'm dragging my skin arround.

Things that are really working well for me now: Nothing, I guess.

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant: Nut allergy (Hazelnuts I think but not sure)

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: £30

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]: Did I mention dry flakiness, I want it gone

If it matters, I'm not white - I'm mixed black and white - I will not burn, or anything, in England. (Now I've said that I'm going to get skin cancer)

Well, I've just ordered the BR P50W from SkinCity. Hopefully I won't have any issues receiving it, I'll let you all know. Assuming I do get it ok, which should I start first - the COSrx BHA or the P50W? Both are on order, no idea when I'll get either one. Also, exactly where would the P50W fit into a routine? AM/PM or both, frequency, between which products? I currently use, in this order:

• Oil cleanser in the evening if I've worn makeup, with a microfibre cloth
• LRP cleanser, or Lancome facial wash which I'm using up in the shower (I know but I don't put my face in the spray, I use a cloth & cool it first)
• Plain rose water (as a toner)
• Serozinc spray
• Vichy thermal dynamic serum
• SVR Sensifine fluid (I'm still not absolutely sold on this, but may repurchase)
• SPF in the morning
• Sometimes I wear makeup. Not lots/heavy.

Hello everyone, hope everyone's doing well. Just a quick one for me for now. More soon.

MARCH EMPTIES TRIALS & PLANNED PURCHASES

EMPTIES
TO Vit C suspension - have repurchased. I have to say, I much prefer the dropper packaging for this product.

Phyto Phytolisse express mask - for "unruly and rebellious hair"! Now dc (I think) but managed to track down a supply and repurchased. Silicone-free, effective and quick.

TRIALS
TO BHA - way too astringent for me, the witch hazel makes me skin feel instantly and unpleasantly taut.
CoTZ/Fallene Total Block SPF60 - tinted physical and chemical s/s, v little silicone (yay) - so far so good. Contains both Zinc and TI. Quite heavy, a bit like a full cover foundation, but blends ok. Colour is tweakable with light/dark add-ins haven't quite nailed this yet. This is the stuff.

PLANNED PURCHASES
I have Mommy UV Mild Gel SPF33 and Sunsense Kids SPF50+ and TO 30% AHA + 2% BHA peeling solution all on the way to me at the moment.

Samples of the CosRX Blackhead Power have arrived but I haven't yet tried it out.

Not yet purchased but I've also been looking at Biosolis sunscreens. Anyone tried them?

PS Nice nails *Enid"!

Hi everyone, thread is suddenly moving super speedily so will go back and read through properly shortly.

I know I'm not the most prolific poster but I do lurk a lot so wanted to thank everyone who contributes its all very helpful.

Bo again, thanks so so much I love the Sunday supplements and all your cheat sheets etc. I learn something new each time and effort and time you put in is very much appreciated 😊

I used to read a lot of blogs and watch tonnes of YouTube videos, both of which i have pretty much stopped as a result largely of the thread last year about vloggers and sponsored posts etc. I still watch a couple I like and discovered Gothamista from the Sunday supplement.

Anyhow that's a load of rambling to say I'd really like to recommend a you tuber - Mrs Gingers Beauty channel. She seems to be very genuine and has done quite a few videos on various Ordinary products and seems keen to give good, accurate information.

Ok, my face really doesn't like TO niacinamide Every time I use it, I break out the next day. Without fail. I'll leave it for a week, convince myself it's definitely can't be true. Use it again and same problem, so it's time to give it up I think.

I like the idea of niacinamide so hoping it's just that formulation I don't get on with. Is anyone using any other product containing it which they can rec?

Will do a proper catchup tomorrow since you're all so chatty but just wanted to quickly ask if you still have the Nia packaging, Bali? They've changed the formulation somewhat recently since it was causing breakouts. Iirc it was castor oil and something else that was taken out but not 100% on that. May be worth contacting them and seeing if they'll refund you or replace it with the newer formulation.

Dulci They're not mine! They're from Pinterest.

I have used a hand scrub twice this week and the hand chemistry cream every night and I do think my hands are looking better. They were good before but there's an extra something I can't put my finger on.

My lovely dark blue nails chipped today 😠 All I did was go into Boots, M&S and gave a mini picnic on the green, nothing major. Blaming my too thick old top coat.

I'll check that YTuber out thanks Shop. Do like a genuine beauty channel.

I don't have the packaging bo Interesting about the formula change, I wish I could find out which I've got. I've had it for about for 2.5 months so maybe I caught the end of the old batch. I might email them anyway, got to be worth a shot. Thanks for the tip!

Mint what do you take the antibiotics for usually? Could you have the start of whatever that is? So it's the 'illness' that causes the breakout rather than the antibiotics if you see what I mean? I'd pare down everything to your basics until it starts to clear.

• had a mini picnic. I used to be able to rely on autocorrect to help me out when brain fog sets in but it's gone haywire lately. 🙄

Just came across this fashionmagazine.com/beauty/antiaging-led-goggles/ LED anti ageing goggles. I don't know anything about the science behind this, or if there is any, only heard about red LED lights used for skincare through CH blog and it seemed like nonsense but those are some big claims there. Only available in Sephora so far m.sephora.com/product/P418301?skuId=1944933&om_mmc=ret-us_news1_Subject%20Line%201-pl-p6-denniseyeled&emtc2=4a1c0720-3195-4efa-bbe6-e18e46aca55e&emlid=babb0e23d4154b18bcb3a8c07f853c30&ematg=9421085531&emcid=64624868&promo=&viq_epid=8480407e-2da9-4c5b-b001-9970f204bad6%7C64624868

Anyone else heard about these or even tried it?

Realised they've only just come out today so all the reviews say they can't tell yet as it apparently takes up to 10 weeks. Even though it says 2 weeks I'm the blurb

And now I really will go to bed.

Enid it's just whenever I've had to take them for anything, ear infection, chest infection etc etc just random and so i know it's antibiotics rather than a particular illness if u see what I mean. My routine is pretty basic anyway I don't use any actives except hylamide subq but not sure if that's classed as an active?....anyway I've dropped that for now so just using cleanser and moisturiser.
Also started using a new hair serum and a tinted moisturiser so gonna drop the serum first and see (it's got silicones in it which are usually 'iffy' for me!) am also popping piriton too so hoping that will help!
Am due on too and some months I'm terrible with symptoms and my skin goes crazy so could be that too, arrrrrgh so many possibilities it drives me mad! My skin feels horrible too and looked shiny and felt tight and hot yesterday

MARCH EMPTIES, TRIALS, AND PLANNED PURCHASES

EMPTIES:
Dr Organics Rose Otto facial oil
I really like this, smells lovely and my skin always looks better the next morning when I've used it. Have already repurchased!

PRODUCTS ON TRIAL:

TO vit C I've been using about a week. At first I hated it but now I'm patting it in and using less I quite like it! Doesn't sting or cause pilling as long as I don't use too much. Will continue.

TO lactic acid I've only used this twice but that was enough for me! Can't bare the smell. I don't mind if a product doesn't smell beautiful perfumes but this is just really unpleasant to me and seems to linger on my skin.

Eucerin hyalyron filler night cream I like this a lot, nice texture. Have been using for about a month with no adverse effects. Would repurchase unless something more interesting catches my eye. I am fickle when it comes to night cream.

PLANNED PURCHASES:

Have just purchased nip+fab extreme pads to trial.

Also want to try tbs chamomile cleansing balm and the skin defence spf

SPECIAL MENTION
superdrug hydrating serum have been using this for months and it has really improved the dehydrated areas on my face.

That should have said "beautifully perfumed" please excuse typos

Can't believe I forgot to include this in the Sunday Supplement considering the reason for the snail in the thread title:

- the timing of this video (and even the title, video doesn't seem to be attached to fanserviced-b I think) as it showed up in my subscription feed was quite the Oprah moment .

bananafish81, nothing intrinsicly wrong with the hyaluron filler system (iirc) beyond the fact that it's a bit pricey for what it is. The Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum has a few good barrier repair ingredients as well and I'm assuming I recced it on the back of that alongside price. WRT French Pharmacy things we can't get here, with the internet that's less the case these days. Most French people buy their things online these days with places like EasyParaPharmacie, Hyperpharmace, and PowerSante, as a lot of pharmacies will carry one range and not the other so the process can be quite exhaustive. FP is also difficult to get the INCIs on and since they don't utilise the PR blogger/vlogger system a lot (Bioderma and LRP do but in very limited amounts) it's hard to get a lot of info on them sometimes. There are plenty of French brands that I wonder about and should really look into further but it's rather exhaustive tbh, certain products trickle through especially since France has a very strong beauty cult status with certain products.

Yes as JDSTER mentioned Chanel polish has a great colour selection but the quality is pants. It wears away at the edges within 3 days on me and even with a top-up layer I can then extend it to 2 additional days at most. I like to get at least a week's worth of no maintenance out of a nail polish because I'm very lazy when it comes to nails (have crazy strong ones that I need to remember to cut before they grow too long). DL usually lasts me two weeks without any top ups needed.

Olli, aside from possibly triggering ingredients like fragrance and silicones, it has a few good ingredients like squalane, adenosine and EGF (the latter in very small amounts) along with useful humectants like glycerin and HA but it is stuffed with a lot of extracts that aren't going to harm you much but they're not doing much either. If it works for you, it works.

Lego, have done an overview for you here. I'm guessing the P50W will arrive before BHA, but I'd say wait on that first probably. BHA is gentler so in that sense that is safer but equally the P50W contains a BHA form in lower concentrations, so you might not need both in the end, something that you'd probably be able to tell better as a frequent user of BHA and seeing how your routine performs without it as a standalone product whilst trialling the P50W.

Shop, not to be a downer but I did remember Mrs G's Ordinary reviews when it was just launched and unfortunately her info wasn't all correct and she reiterated without any discern a lot of the rather 'interpretative' Deciem PR and passing that on as 'accepted fact' (as did Sali Hughes' at the time, annoyed me then too, was almost word for word the same nonsense about Vitamin C and the ideal %). Haven't seen any of her other videos so I'm not the best judge of them overall but that impression has lasted with me.

Bali, if you bought it from them directly I'm sure they'd be able to tell you which batch it was from?

@olderthanyouthink , it’s a common misperception that you won’t burn with darker skin, you will it just takes longer and the incurred damage is all the same. My consistent mandatory sunscreen use mantra upholds the same for you as anyone else on this thread which is recommended beyond the protection of sunburn.

You appear to be suffering with dehydration (which is honestly a bit rare at your age, I’m not quite sure what could be causing it). Whilst skin is pretty low maintenance at this age I think in your case it’s just a matter of getting a good routine going to restore the balance as mentioned in the docs, keeping your face away from the shower head and soap specifically.

AM and PM a cleanse with LRP Toleriane Dermo and a warm flannel (at the sink) followed by the Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum and if your current moisturiser is working for you use that (but not at night please, it really is a day only cream on account of the integrated SPF).

You’ll still need a standalone broad spectrum for the AM and you’d probably benefit from a bit of chemical exfoliation (1-2x a week) once you’ve got these basics sorted, a gentle low % AHA would be best for you. I still need to get a bit more feedback on the TO offering and will need to try the Missha ones myself but that’s the direction I’d be looking at, resist the urge of the Nip+Fab pads, I don’t think these will help your skin for the better.

If you truly are dry (but I really do think it’s more likely dehydration or a combination of both) a facial oil will give the most instant relief, maybe try rice bran oil as its smell is pretty inoffensive. TO 100% Squalane (though not technically an oil) may also be of interest, you could use one of those in the PM in place of moisturiser (or with one, just not the day one).

Thanks botemp. It's v odd that it doesn't break me out! But it's cheap so

botemp thanks for replying , I'll have a proper look later.

I am fully aware I can burn, it just takes a lot. 2 weeks constantly outside with minimal sunscreen in the south of France did it for me, I haven't repeated that mistake. And even my black dad starts flaking eventually.

Bo I thought the same however (while she isnt an expert) she's gone away and seemingly done a fair amount of research and posted several updated videos.