Fantastic Skincare - we're snail here 🐌

[botemp]

Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6

I am very slowly working on consolidating the gathered information from previous threads into easier to read formats but it’s slow going. In order to make use of the below form and join in I would suggest reading thread 1 and at the very least the following info sheets (provided they apply to you):

Basics of an Actives Routine

Where to Start

Anti-Ageing Info sheet

Adult Acne Info Sheet

For those who are taking a peek and wondering what this all about, we mostly discuss a bit of advanced skincare here with a perspective of seeking out the right ingredients (rather than the latest new shiny product and all its empty promises) 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 and the linked docs) 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 . Please note, the form is not here to generate a routine for you, sometimes it involves product recommendations but mostly it's there so we can answer a specific question without having to go back and forth endlessly. Also, 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.

Thanks bo I'll check the ingredients in the syoss cond.

I'm really unsure if hylamide subq is breaking me out, just started using it again after a short break and have got a few spots plus a red blotchy patch on my lower cheek which I'm sure I used to have when I was previously using it too! Only problem is if I stop using it what can I use as my hydrating serum?! Didn't get on with the Superdrug one either arrrrrrrrrgh

Botemp ill fill your form in later, but this is my skin with make up on as you can see its awful. I do have support, but my OH just tells me im being silly about my skin, thats men for you!!

nick sorry you're feeling so bad about your skin. Remember no one scrutinises anyone else's skin as closely as we do our own.

As Bo was alluding to, you've been through a lot. Any positive changes you want to see in your skin will take time i.e.months. We are all inherently impatient but if you set yourself a realistic goal of improved skin in three months with further improvements in six and keep up with the advice and support on here you will see changes.

You already know you need to complete initial questionnaire and remind me, have you read through all info sheets in OP? What's your general health like? Any issues? Do you smoke? Bo I would suggest adding that to questionnaire?

Good to know you're liking the Niacinamide, Pupsie. I'm thinking of getting it too, did you get it from eBay or elsewhere?

I haven't tried much from CosRx personally, their samples are easy to purchase through Cosmetic Love (free shipping). Off the top of my head, their most popular products are the 90something snail mucin, the low pH morning cleansing gel, the pimple patches, bha and the racist sounding aha toner, the galactomyces FTE and the overnight sleeping masks (the rice one seems more popular than the honey one).

I'm guessing the hairdryer/redness may be related to your rosacea as that doesn't respond well to extreme varying temps? Skin on the neck tends to be more delicate so that probably isn't helping either. Could you try air drying partially if you have the time, then finishing off with a hairdryer?

Baggy You can use MAP and Niacinamide together with no issues so I'd incorporate Nia into your AM routine before Vichy/Buffet. Because the BHA is super gentle you can consider doing this within the same routine with the 2% Retinoid, I'd leave 30 mins in between since CosRx supposedly needs the 20 mins to work and it would further minimise reactions. Love the new name but I do suspect you're a bit of a masochist now, voluntarily reliving the memory every time you log into MN

SargeantAngua, I don't really know what you're expecting from us, you want magic skin fixers but not to change your current routine or make it longer and it should cost nothing? From my glance of your routine, it just appears you're over cleansing with stripping cleansers and not giving back anything to help mitigate that damage. That just reads like a vicious cycle to me that's barely holding a precarious balance together.

If you're sensitive steer clear of glycolic and look into more gentler AHAs but you need a standalone sunscreen in place first and if I'm going to guess you've probably never gotten on with any before...

nickpic, it's hard to tell from that picture (I'm not sure if you're wearing makeup or not) but I don't think pores are your issue but rather severe hydration. It may also be the case there's more at play that a GP/derm would be able to judge better. I'll await the form.

JDSTER, probably a good idea to include a smoking/lifestyle/vices question. I should probably also question whether people are obese but this feels strangely invasive. However, it is a contributing factor to skin health in the form of hormones and insulin resistance but not really essential to know all the time. What is everyone's thoughts on this? I really don't want to be in the business of telling people to lose weight or stop smoking for that matter, people are generally already aware of the health implications.

• severe dehydration that should read

Ok yes I'm torn between wanting to completely sort my skin and the fact it's taken a year of trial and error to get to this point. I was hoping there was one thing I could try/incorporate that might help - it seems not, ok. I can't help the fact I haven't much energy or money to fix it but you gave the price categories and I said up to £15. I also can't help the fact I've not a great deal of experience in make up and skin products.
It doesnt matter. I'm sorry for wasting your time.

Sargeant - what you need to do first is stop using the harsh, stripping foaming face washes, & switch to something milder. (Did you only try LRP Effaclar - I didn't like that at all.) Generally, skin is oily because it overproduces oil because you keep stripping it... so don't. A gentle, unfragranced creamy cleanser is generally a lot better for many people. It sounds like your skin is similar to mine - I use La Roche Posay Toleriane cleanser. If you didn't try this, I'd definitely recommend it. I rinse off with warm (not hot) water & a flannel, you need a clean one every day so buy a multipack of cheap soft ones. Also try to use a separate towel for your face & change it every couple of days. Again, buy a few & wash them regularly. I got mine in a discount shop.

Once you find some products you get on with, it's often much better value to buy online. However you need to spend over a certain amount to qualify for free postage. E.g. this site sells LRP a fair bit cheaper but you need to spend £29 to get free postage. They also do larger sizes / multipacks of certain items that can be better value. So don't necessarily write it off as unaffordable.

As Bo has said, you need to have a SPF in place before you start with certain treatments. UK offerings of these are fairly terrible but there are some great ones available - but you need to try them out. You can't just add AHA/BHA without an SPF. You'll get sun damage fairly rapidly.

Whoa! Those hats on Dr Sam's latest post (linked to on Sunday supplement) are £70 .

Cheaper than surgery, as it points out on the website

SargeantAngua, apologies if I came off harsh or hostile. It wasn't my intention at all but it's tough to advise anything singularly when it comes to skincare. It's about an entire approach where all the parts make up the sum, it doesn't all hinge on one miracle product despite what the beauty industry would like you to believe. And no miracle product will rectify it all when other parts are actively working against you.

If you're open to change I would suggest following the outline by JDSTER above, it's the most oft cleanser I rec on here and it's rare that people don't respond well to it. However, I can't guarantee it will work out for you but I can assess that your current cleansers (the Garnier, Biore and Micellar) are unnecessarily harsh and there's just too many of them in a single routine.

I'm guessing you're currently cleansing in the AM in the shower? Please do it at the sink instead with a flannel, the water is just too harsh and hot and we should really be minimising exposure to it in the shower when it comes to facial skin.

You don't wear makeup or SPF currently so you only need to cleanse once, there really isn't a need to cleanse more than that. Overcleansing is an easy way to disrupt skin balance and increases sensitivity issues. If I were you I'd prioritise a gentler cleanser routine and then incorporating an SPF (which will help with hyperpigmentation and helps inhibit sebum oxidation- the initial phase that kickstarts spots) and if you still continue to have issues with whiteheads then consider incorporating an AHA, though I'd prioritise getting a good hydrating moisturiser in as even oily skin needs that, especially the hydration which your current routine is robbing your skin off.

I know JDSTER! I think I did warn about it... think UV hats (not as stylish or swishy) on Japanese Amazon are a few quid at most.

I almost forgot it's the first of the month again, will do the fill out myself later, but here's the form again for everyone else. Remember it's a guide really no need to adhere to it to the letter .

APRIL EMPTIES, TRIALS, AND PLANNED PURCHASES

EMPTIES:

Mini reviews of finished products and your thoughts and whether you’d repurchase or already have.

PRODUCTS ON TRIAL:

Mini reviews of products on trial and your thoughts so far, please include for approximately how long you’ve been using it.

PLANNED PURCHASES:

Products you’re considering purchasing and would like input on/bring notice to.

SPECIAL MENTION:

Product(s) you may not have started or finished this past month but has been giving you noticeable results (good or bad).

Thanks Lego I really appreciate that. Yes is was the effaclar range that I used, but I realised it wasnt doing much for me so stopped (after at least 6 months). It does make sense about the harsh cleaners and oilyness. Would I have to change everything at once or move to gentle cleanser and flannel and still use the micellar water and tea tree stuff, at least for the moment?

I didn't realise that about sun damage, thanks. I'll be careful. I guess I'd switch cleanser first, let that settle then introduce the exfoliating stuff and SPF after a couple of months or so?

I don't mind that the answer is I'm doing everything wrong - not what I wanted to hear, of course, but if it's the answer it's the answer. I'm sorry for being so clueless. I am grateful for the help.

Bo or anyone I didn't like the avene water spray, it broke me out and irritated (no idea why) but do you think the lrp one would be good for me between cleansing and moisturising and maybe again between moisturiser and spf.....or how about the serozinc??

Sorry the outline by Lego not JDSTER*

Thanks Bo that's really helpful. I'm sorry for being a bit sensitive before. You've answered the questions that I asked Lego too, thanks. Looks like I've a plan to work with now. As I said, it's not ideal to be told I'm doing it all wrong but it seems to be the case so I'm listening and will work with what you've said.

Depends on what you want it for mint, if it's to add hydration then no, it doesn't work that way. I use LRP to counteract the hardness of hard tap water and minimise the sensitising impact of that, spray on after cleansing and then tissue it off. Serozinc is more for the acne/oily prone, the water spray is merely a delivery system for the zinc, they're not really comparable products.

Bo it's to help with the bloody shine and red spots without dehydrating my skin any more than it already is :-(
I'm still stuck on the hydration thing, hylamide was Definitely the culprit for some spots and a patch of red blotchy skin!
Weirdly the face theory creams help with my shine (don't look shiny after applying) although it takes about a week to rub in completely lol, it contains zinc oxide so wonder if it's that helping. However the spf gives me a sheen and I get some shine breakthrough during day even though as you know I'm not really oily, more dehydrated. I do like my spf as it doesn't cause me any irritation like a lot of them do!

mint could you use blotting papers during the day for breakthrough shine? I'm never without them, I keep them at work, in my makeup bag and in every handbag I own . It's good that you're managing daily spf.

APRIL EMPTIES, TRIALS, AND PLANNED PURCHASES

EMPTIES:

Nothing this month.

PRODUCTS ON TRIAL:

• SVR Sensifine Dermo Soothing Fluid Intolerant Skin - too rich for me. Not awful but it's just a bit much, especially at certain times of the month. I've already purchased an alternative to replace it.
• TO Niacinamide. I've only just started this, too early to tell. No obvious irritation so far.
• Soap & Glory Clean on Me shower gel, for my KP areas on arms & legs. Too early to tell - some improvement but I have also been a bit more assiduous with the body lotion recently. Smells glorious though...

PLANNED PURCHASES:
I'm seriously contemplating trying out the 2017 version of the Biore Watery Essence SPF - has anyone else tried it?
Also the Mama Labo UV hand cream with SPF 30. Any thoughts Bo? I just want something reasonably priced that will stop my hands ageing significantly faster than my face (which they really are), & which won't stain my clothes.

SPECIAL MENTION:

Combination of Eucerin PH5 Dry Skin Shower Oil, followed by Hibiscrub - this has made a massive improvement to my back acne. Given that I've endured goodness knows how many rounds of antibiotics (guaranteed yeast infection), 2 full courses of Roaccutane (liver damage, painfully creaky joints), & a number of prescription topical treatments (sore skin, hassle to apply, usually stained my clothes), I am so relieved to find an easy way to sort it that works. I'm currently trying out just using the shower oil, to see if the Hibiscrub makes much of a difference - AFAIK it's pretty strong stuff. Point to note re the shower oil - it does make the shower slightly more slippery. Probably not a problem if you use a built-in shower cubicle, but we use a bath with shower over, & a non-slip mat, which has suddenly started slipping. The only thing we've changed is my shower oil.

Sargeant I have ME too. You have my sympathies.

For hyperpigmentation, after spots have dried up, I and a few others, like La Roche Posay Cicaplast B5 baume. Dab on each spot and leave overnight. It really redness the red marks.

I think a lot of my skin problems have got worse since being ill but as soon as I started being more gentle with it (no squeezing!) it really calmed down. I suspect you're probably dehydrated.

Redness= really reduces the red marks.

Sargeant

Also, start washing your pillow cases, face towels and any flannels in a non-scented non biological washing powder.

I use an Ecover one but there's probably others. That made quite a difference for me in reducing breakouts.

Just regarding ME. I won't go into it too much here, but have you tried D ribose powder?

I have a teaspoon in water each day and it really helps reduce brain fog.

Someone recommended it to me on here so I like to pass on the favour.

APRIL EMPTIES, TRIALS, AND PLANNED PURCHASES

*EMPTIES
Finishes first bottle of LRP toleriane moisturiser. Onto second with another 5 or 6 in reserve before it's disappears forever to product heaven. My skin really likes it, so light without adding any oil.

PRODUCTS ON TRIAL:
LRP toleriane double repair moisturiser. Only available in US at the moment. Contains ceramides and niacinamide. A thicker cream than the toleriane I'm using in the morning. Just using it at night. Only started a week or two ago so too early to tell. I'm not expecting any miracles from a moisturiser but at least I'm getting niacinamide in every night.

*PLANNED PURCHASES
I'm toying with a cleanser change/trial. Using an oil at night, as per previous recs and maybe medik 8 one for a.m use/second cleanse. I do have an unopened cosrx low ph cleanser so not sure if medik 8 necessary but seduced by the magic ingredient Bo mentioned for clearing pores.
Controversially perhaps, I would be interested in thoughts on using adapalene /differin gel (OTC retinol in US, licensed for acne not anti ageing which is where I'm coming from)

SPECIAL MENTION:
Nothing special really. TO retinoid 2% ok but not as much an effect as I was hoping for with a retinoid/retinol. I appreciate it's a long game but almost the lack of irritation signals to me it's not doing much (not logical I know and I should be glad it's non irritating etc etc)

Thanks Enid for you too, it's a very frustrating illness. I'll look into that LRP product. Does it work on old redness or just when a specific spot is dried up and on the way out? Interesting thought about the washing powder too...

I'm actually having a break from the ribose at the moment. Thanks though. I took it for a year so thought I'd see what happened without for a bit then restart it see what effect it has. I've definitely made progress over the last year and that may well have been a contributing factor. I added most of Dr Myhill's recommendations and had life change that's had a pretty significant effect on my mood and anxiety (so better sleep and less nervous drain on my energy, and more fresh air) around the same time so now I'm trying to narrow down what supplements are having an effect.

JDSTER - the ordinary 1% has made an amazing difference to my skin compared to the 2%. But it is irritating

Yes olli I'd noted your thoughts on the 1% previously
lego meant to say I haven't tried 2017 Biore, using original/older version but would definitely be interested is your review if you get it