Happy Birthday JDSTR! Hope you had a lovely day. Happy belated Birthday to you too, Lego. Mine’s in about a month’s time and am also stuck on the whole asking thing. Well done Pupsie on the half marathon! yongnian and Tsnmummy08 hope you’re feeling better soon!
£30k you say otyt
It is bonkers though and I have a hard time understanding the many many people who do it and earn fuck all (and if you would properly add it up, costing in labour they’re running at significant losses) vs. the huge payouts some obtain. I always struggle as we never get to see how much that £30k investment yields in actual sales/increased engagement. In comparison to old school advertising, the age of the internet is so momentary in terms of effect especially considering the bots, paid followers, etc. I have a really hard time getting to grasps seeing those investments returning themselves (especially since the tide seems to slowly be turning against individual beauty bloggers and brands that exclusively use them) but I suppose they do because companies wouldn’t be shifting that kind of money if it didn’t. I’m also half convinced that only bloggers read each other these days along with a lot of programmed bots...
Ok answer time… have been too lazy to cut out the question bits and have had to split it in two as it was too long for MN:
Wellhellothere1 Thu 20-Apr-17 19:08:05
Hi could anyone recommend a moisturiser for oily skin that I can use after vit c application? I currently use Cerave PM moisturising lotion and I really like it but it contains niacinamide which I gather you shouldn't use in conjunction with Vit C. I feel vit c is making my skin brighter so would like to continue with it. I was using TO vit c 23% at night but wanted to switch to morning for maximum benefit (and also to cut down the no of products I apply at night) so I am now trying TO ascorbyl glucoside 12% in the morning. The 23% one is too oily to wear under make up in the daytime. Very confusing!
The Nia + Vit C contraindication usually refers to L-AA form Vit C (like the 23%) as it can cause flushing (which is unpleasant but not detrimental) but it’s not a guarantee as it’s dependent on the formulations (so TO Nia 10% + Vit C 23% don’t work together but I’ve used plenty of nia containing products not from TO in lower concentrations 3-5% with TO Vit C 23% with no issues), you can test it out by trialling it on the inner wrist (skin is delicate there) to test for any reaction or sensation of flushing. A workaround for it if you do suffer from flushing is to leave a bit of time between the two.
ilovetocook Fri 21-Apr-17 12:19:17
Like Dulci I was going to say it could possibly be melasma too as it has the classic hallmarks of starting during pregnancy. It’s hard to treat, even by dermatologists and a very long process and is more a case of managing it and stopping it from spreading further. IIRC Azelaic is used but that may have to do with it being safe to use during pregnancy. Other recs are a mineral sunscreen but preferably wearing hats and other protective gear as the first line of defense. Not a thing to tackle on your own and definitely worth seeing a professional about.
Sort of off topic, Dulci, ever tried the Bioderma Mineral SS? It’s Alcohol and Silicone-free IIRC.
StainlessSteelButtercup Fri 21-Apr-17 12:55:50
Ladies, are any of you early gym fiends? I am adding strength training to my distance running (I've discovered I've hit a wall in how far I can go on my weak glutes) which means I'll be packing a gym bag for early morning visits before work. When it comes to AM routines, do you keep a "travel version" of your skincare or just pack & unpack?
If I’m exercising in the AM (outdoors) I skip cleansing and slap on a bit of facial oil and SS then do my normal skincare routine post workout. It’s sensible to do a proper cleanse after strenuous exercise (and before if you wear makeup) anyhow so it makes more sense delaying it than washing your face multiple times a day.
ohgoonthenjustonemore Fri 21-Apr-17 16:53:38
I am currently working through the previous threads in order to get up to date and I'm finding all the advice extremely helpful and interesting. I do have a quick question...I've just added the PC 2% BHA liquid to my collection of TO products and I'm unsure as to whether it's ok for me to follow the PC with my Niacinamide 10%+Zinc1% ?
Yes, as usedup mentioned, shouldn’t be an issue to use together (I have and found no ill effects).
LegoCaltrops Fri 21-Apr-17 22:42:13
I'd really like a hand cream with SPF in, something not greasy (so almost everything at Boots & the supermarket is out!) Also not terribly expensive, & convenient for a handbag. Any recommendations?
Easiest just to get an SPF that can withstand some handwashing by being waterproof and use that on your hands. LRP Anthelios has a richer version but it will be greasy I fear.
Pupsiecola Sat 22-Apr-17 11:07:50
I could do with a lighter moisturiser I think, now the weather is a little warmer, less windy, central heating off etc. Any recommendations please?
My recs are Japanese as they do that intermittent product of lotion really well but not sure if that’s what you’re looking for? They’re more hydrating than moisturising. There are a few Korean options as well.
ilovetocook Sat 22-Apr-17 15:08:43
Rather excited my TO niacinamide and advanced retinoid arrived with another Vit c. So I'm ready to add one to routine today as its been 2 weeks am I best trying the niacinamide or advanced retinoid first? I'm so loving TO products
Retinoid is a longer haul game and has a longer gradual introduction period (start 1-2x a week and build up to 3x/every other day) so it depends on your patience, Nia tends to show results a bit quicker.
banivani Sat 22-Apr-17 15:42:448
However, biggest news is that my daughter was ordering from a webshop and got a choice of three free samples, none of which appealed to her. So she took the anti-aging one for me. Turns out it's Bioeffect EGF day serum, 5ml of it, worth more than I'd spend on any serum full-size... Worst thing is - it might actually be good? Hell and blast, if so…
Happy to hear you’re safe, and your friend too! Bioeffect EGF serum is probably the single most impressive skincare product I ever used in terms of immediate and lasting results. Granted, I was still in my twenties and only ever used Vit C (in a low-ish concentration of 10%) as any form of active. Also was a sample and I was really tempted to get it but the amazing thing about it, is that you just use it for a short period of time to really lift your skin and then you don’t really need it anymore. The deluxe sample (it was about half the size of a full bottle) did that for me easily and thankfully the improvements lasted.
Wellhellothere1 Sat 22-Apr-17 17:24:05
An SPF question for the experts based on another thread in style and beauty. Someone asked at what stage in their morning routine to use sunscreen and the consensus seemed to be to use a chemical sunscreen on bare skin under serum, moisturiser, primer and foundation and to use physical sun screen over serum and moisturiser I think. I'm worried now as I have always applied my chemical sunscreen after serum and moisturiser. However I've not had any problems with this. Just back from 2 weeks holiday in a hot country and my face is still chalk white luckily. Any advice?
So here’s the thing, as far as I’m aware this question has never been studied. There’s papers on the combination of SS in combination with other skincare ingredients (like antioxidants) but never in a layering routine. I always say ‘last’ as you have to view SS as this protective seal that works best if sat undisturbed on your skin, once you start going over it with other products that seek to penetrate into the skin you start moving that seal around and disturbing the integrity of that seal and some suggest anything you layer on top has no use anymore as it can’t get through (I’m not wholly convinced by that because a large part of the reapplication throughout the day advice is due to our own interference with the integrity of the seal through touching, cell phone use, etc., same way you’d restore makeup application throughout).
In theory if you want the ultimate in suncare protection you use sunscreen and nothing else but for day to day that simply isn’t achievable so best and most practical is to use it as your last step of skincare and let it sink in and dry properly (ideally 30 mins and here’s where the quick drying Japanese SPFs come in with the advantage) and then proceed with your makeup. I don’t really see the distinction between the physical and chemical sunscreens and their differing application advice. Though they’re often explained as working differently they don’t really, for more info read on here. Another reason for me to ignore the sunscreen first argument, they’re usually spouted by the same companies that claim a single application is enough, which is a questionable claim and breeds a false sense of security (and strangely only seems to exist in the UK).