Fantastic Skincare - we're snail here 🐌

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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]:

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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.

Meant to say I have the urban decay one but it dries my eyes out and irritates them

purple Was it the LRP Toleraine Fluid you were using? And they've discontinued it? I can't find it on their website now, only the Ultra one noooooooooooooooooooo!

mint I love the NARS one, but I do wear it under eyeshadow. I'm not sure how it fares just on it's own, as it's texture doesn't feel like it would be very oil absorbent, if you know what I mean. I think a primer is sort of set with the eyeshadow over the top. Maybe a primer and then a light powdering over the top would work? I also see a lot of people applying concealer and setting that with powder as a base.

Phew, I've finally caught up after being distracted by illness/injury/insomnia over the last few weeks!

Mint what about using Maybelline Colour Tattoo eyeshadows in Nude or there's a beige colour? They're long wearing cream shadows but lots of people use them as primers for powder shadows, similar to mac Paint pots. I use the Nars Primer too but only under shadow.

Yes it was the fluid
And the ultra is not the same and not recommended for me .i really liked it as well.

nickpic, as mentioned previously you need to go slow and only introduce one new product at a time with at least two weeks in between. (Only cleansers go a bit quicker). 'Skin getting used to product' is an inaccurate myth, some purging can occur with acid toners but otherwise, this equals product irritation and the whole reasoning behind introducing things one at a time so you can isolate what is irritating you. Are they proper spots or more the superficial kind?

Nabootique, good to hear things are somewhat better now. Curious what the Vitamin D drops do as I've yet to really figure what benefit they have to the skin. And yes, the LRP Fluide has been discontinued as of May last year , right around the time Chanel introduced the seemingly identical Solution 10 bar the addition of white tea extract and shea butter. Either escentual or lookfantastic still have some stock, and strangely last time I checked it was still available in the US.

apple, ah it's a synthetic retinoid then, isn't it? I would consider for the upcoming summer months where we're expecting higher UVB exposure to be really diligent with your sunscreen (and probably look into something more heavyweight than a commuter sunscreen like the Biore WE) and/or switching the Differin to nighttime use.

otyt, no it isn't related. Drinking a lot of water is never bad health wise (well, too much is deadly but we're talking shit loads then) and whilst it is true that if you are dehydrated (in the body) of course the skin is the first place your body will draw moisture from, but if you're suffering from bodily dehydration your skin is usually the least of your concerns. Dehydration in the skin is usually down to age, incorrect product use, and/or sensitivities. There's a genetic component to it as well, eg. my skin is better suited to hot and humid climates the rest of me isn't.

purple15, nothing particularly suspect about TO NMF, some ingredients some may be sensitive to but very individual. AFAIK, Olli used it and aside from it being an odd texture it's fine.

mint, the Laura Mercier one is decent too but it is tinted so you need to get the right colour to make it look like you're not wearing anything. THE Sisley Concealer does it perfectly for me but a rather steep price if it's just to cover eyelids.

I am bereft My favourite moisturiser. First Artemis and now this. Why me? I'd give the Chanel a go but really try to avoid shea butter as I'm so congestion-prone. I will snap some of the Toleraine up on Look Fantastic.

The vitamin D is just really nourishing, in this non-greasy way. When I first used it my skin felt so comfortable, and previously I'd never thought of it as feeling uncomfortable. I mean, it didn't, but then it just felt really good. I hadn't really realised until I started using the NIOD copper serum how much redness I actually had. I'd always focused on other things. I'm a bit of a sugar addict (trying to cut down) and I think that doesn't help. Between the vitamin D and the copper serum my skin is very even toned now, with no redness. I don't really need concealer anywhere other than bastard hormonal spots that I have a couple of at the moment.

Oh, and thank you for the flowers, Bo. I was distracted by the moisturiser disappointment.

Aah ok, so which would you recommend that I introduce first (sorry seem like a right mothering pain).
They are spots, not really sure of the difference, but when my skin was normal I did used to get a few spots when it was my period, which it is now so maybe this is happening again and not the creams etc

My skin seems to like the cicaplast B5 - I'm realising how dry some areas were as there were open pores near my nose that i thought were due to oilyness but actually look smaller for a good dose of moisture overnight. Getting the cleanser today so will see how I get on with that too.
There's a couple of things I'm a bit confused about if that's ok though please -
I know it's not something to use yet if at all but the chemical exfoliators puzzle me a bit. I understand why you'd start gently, but things I'm reading online suggest you're then always working up to more frequent and stronger ones - is it a case of once you've started you can't stop, you have to keep using them and needing stronger ones? You can't just use it as a treatment for a week or however long it takes to have the desired effect then stop?
What are your views on facial steaming?
Thanks

Thanks nabootique, tsmummy, and bo. I'll check those all out

Olli just to warn u that 13 reasons why is a little disturbing so be prepared. I've just watched the last episode and feel a little emotionally weird.

naboot and purple I stocked up on LRP toleriane fluid from look fantastic (I think). I've got about 6 bottles in reserve so all is not lost naboot
bo I was asking last night about using DHC oil cleanse? For me- pore reduction/refinement- as discussed previously- what's the best technique to use it as first cleanse? I to then follow with toleriane dermo cleanse?

Oh sorry, JDSTER, basically as someone else answered ( apple? ) use on dry skin then massage in a bit, wet hands/finger tips and emulsify, repeat minor masssage then rinse or flannel off. I generally think rinsing off is more suited to combo-oily and flanneling off is preferred for dry-normal.

Nabootique, no worries. I had hoped the flowers would help soften the blow that is discontinuing news. LRP discontinue really good products far too often, unfortunately .

nickpic, product reaction spots generally come (and go if you stop using the product) quicker but it differs per person and the type of reaction it is. Sometimes it's in unpredictable spots, for example the cheeks or forehead when they would otherwise only breakout in the chin or jaw area.

It's oil cleanser, SubQ, and Eucerin that you started using at all once, right? I'd just use the oil cleanser for a few days, then try reintroducing the SubQ again once your hormonal period is over and you're sure the oil cleanser had no ill effect. I'm concerned the Eucerin may be too rich for you but it could also be the HA in the SubQ irritating at the surface level so see how you get on.

In all honesty SargeantAngua, I think we've all gone a bit acid toning mad. Exfoliation stands front and centre of modern skincare approach, mostly because it reveals healthier looking skin. I prefer building up to a higher strength acid toner so I can use it as little as possible (2-3x a week) but others seem to have an obsessive need to go higher and higher with greater frequency and into the heavy duty peels. It reminds me a bit of people chasing their first high and why I regularly warn about over-exfoliation on here. Acid toning is one of the few things that have quite an instantaneous effect (and physical exfoliants are similar and equally overused) so I do get the appeal especially since people associate that tight smooth feeling with healthy skin. You're not obligated to use it for life but it basically sloughs off the outer layer of dead skin cells and since this is an ongoing process if you want to retain those results it needs to be part of your routine for the long haul.

Facial steaming is very dependent on skin type, sensitive skin, rosacea, etc. should avoid it. I generally go with the theory that anyone with a skin condition like acne, inflammation (health-related or otherwise), eczema, etc. have a certain amount of sensitivities and should be treated as such.

Thanks Bo that all makes a loud of sense

*lot

I bought the Soaper Dooper hand soap in Fruity Tuberose as I like the 'cake smelling' (?) one so much and after two days of using it I've realised it's incredibly drying. My hands are never this dry. So strange, could be the lemon oil perhaps?

I've fallen down the Easyparapharmacie rabbit hole so much bioderma and LRP stuff - and so much cicaplast - I'm overwhelmed! Have got a load of stuff in my basket but am going to ponder as I really do not need it all, but really do need to curb my enthusiasm & stop getting carried away with new products. I've already been down this path of over excited over purchasing with The Ordinary.

Purple I have got The Ordinary natural moisturising factors. I don't love it, but it seems fairly innocuous & does a good enough job as the last step in my routine and hasn't caused any breakouts. I only use it at night, it's a bit too heavy for me to use under makeup but I have oily skin.

Enid I find a lot of hand washes drying - including the 'posher' ones like l'occitane or Molton Brown. I don't do well with scented washes in general though. LRP need to bring out a cicaplast hand wash

Excellent idea user The other Soaper Dooper one I got is pretty good. (Smells of cake- possibly vanilla and something?) and there's a Simple one that is ok too. None are ever moisturising though.

More than happy to answer any questions about my derm appointment - fire away

I'll happily show before and after pictures of my lines if that helps?

To answer your questions :

Recommended routine:
AM

• cleanse with either La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermocleanser or Effaclar Hydrating Cleansing Cream
• Skinoren cream
• moisturise any dry areas (recommends La Roche Posay Toleriane Riche/Effaclar H)
• SPF (recommends Elta MD Non-Tinted SPF46 or Neostrata SPF 50)

PM

• Cleanse as AM
• Treclin cream
• Moisturise where / if needed after 10 mins

Think the plan would be to add some actives back in at a later date but for now just to strip it back while starting the prescription creams

A consultation was £350 - that's Harley St prices though, so a dermatologist outside London would I'm sure be less pricey. She is in the same practice as Dr Sam, the name of the clinic and the email address is all Dr Sam. I'm not sure how many sessions would be typical - am sure it's possible just to go for the initial consult and get the script and just leave it there. Although I'd imagine a follow-up would be needed at some point if only to get the prescriptions refilled.

I'm going back in a couple of weeks to have my botox done. She said the skinoren and treclin ought to help my spots and congested t-zone / blackheads, however no topical treatment is going to solve the fact that the skin around my eyes looks like a dried up old peach. A stressful few years has really done a number on my skin - I seem to have aged noticeably in a pretty short space of time. Dr Emma agreed that my laughter lines weren't brilliant for someone of my age (35), and said a bit of botox would really help. I said that like most people I didn't want to lose facial expressions or end up with muscles bulging in weird places around overly frozen bits - she said the goal was to look like me, but fresher. She did say that the danger of doing it too light was that it didn't last and would need topping up much sooner, so will discuss more when I go back.

I totally appreciate many don't agree with the use of injectables, but I'm at a point where I'm having a really shit time and I would really like to look decent and not see some haggard bint in the mirror. I'm really excited about the prospect of not seeing the crepey lines all round that area - it's not going to transform my appearance, but if it can make me look less knackered, then I'll be very happy indeed. And really hoping for an improvement in my acne. The wrinkles are doubly getting me down because I now have to wear foundation to cover my spots, and even with primer that sinks into the fine lines. When I was on the pill my skin was amazing, I barely needed to wear any tinted moisturiser. She said the goal most people had was to be able to be comfortable without makeup, which is a pretty fair summary tbh.

I'm gonna have a shitload of toners and serum and facial oil put away in the cupboard if we're stripping back my routine!!

Oh and the consultation was about half an hour

I didn't mention the thread but will try and remember next time!

I went to homesense instead of TK Maxx today which proved much more expensive as I bought a new piece of furniture
Would have been cheaper to buy skincare just saying

Sorry apple for not seeing your reply about cleansing oil. I was thinking about differin as an alternative retinoid. How have you found it? At all irritating when you first started? (I don't have acne by the way)

banana thanks for indulging my questions about your consultation. I've seen their recs on youtube/instagram for the spfs. Did you buy them from the clinic? I'd be interested to hear what you think of the one you've chosen. Please keep us up to date with progress. I think injectables are entirely reasonable when recommended and administered by a consultant dermatologist. The problem is those who administer injectables purely for financial reasons with minimal training. I wouldn't let them near me with a barge pole and that includes medically trained who aren't derms (I've seen their work!)

And yes to before and after pics if you don't mind sharing

@JDSTER I haven't actually bought the SPF as I have a shitload of different SPF ready to use up - Biore, anthelios, bioderma. I use decent moisturiser and SPF that aren't a million miles away from what they've recommended, so I'd rather use up what I have before buying anything new. The regimen sheet that was sent through said that the Elta MD SPF could be purchased via the clinic, the secretary could order it.

Slightly fuzzy picture, as don't have my lenses in and took my glasses off to show the area in question (so I couldn't really see the selfie!). But hopefully enough to get the gist of what we're trying to treat - acne and crepey lines