Fantastic Skincare - we're snail here 🐌

[botemp]

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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]:

---

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.

Your skin looks lovely and glowy Olli :)

This is how my skin was

Congratulations Olli! Looking good!

What do you think made the most difference?

I think going from a balm cleanser to LRP toleriane. And also cutting down acid use. And a strong retinol

Do u not use any balm cleanser now olli? I think I'm going to get the 2% retinol but not sure if I should wait until after the summer??

Very rarely. Once I've used up all my balms I'm going to stick to LRP as my skin likes it
The 2% retinol is fairly mild, I wouldn't recommend the 1% to you

Wow olli your skin looks brilliant.

I actually got the 2% retinoid in my last order because there were so many positive comments on here and I've been using it for a couple of weeks. Still really early days but I really like it. It's totm and for the first time ever, I've got no spots. Well, technically one but it's the smallest teeniest thing it doesn't deserve to count. And I can't put my finger on it but my skin tone just looks better. Putting that down to the 2%. So yeah, new fan over here

I also bought azelaic acid which I don't even know if I want/need anymore or where to fit it in to my routine.

I'm here, I'm here, Olli! What did I do now? Looking good as always! Is this from recent progress or from longer ago? It's very impressive .

I've never quite understood why combo/oily skinned people like balm cleansers, generally it's dry skins that prefer balms and combo/oily get on better with cleansing oils (but I've always assumed the preference was down to ease of use rather than what it does on the skin).

Hmm never had white whiskers with the Bioderma spray, granted Bioderma has many SPF sprays of which only one is the water like misty one for tops and am beginning to wonder if it's the same or that I got an early model with no teething issues since people are so scathing about it . Had a look at the Garnier sensitive one at SPF50 (different to the one Olli linked, they don't seem to sell that one here) and it's very similar to the LRP Anthelios spray - greasy and heavy and it has the worst fragrance which annoyed me doubly as it's marketed as suitable for sensitive/allergy prone skin.

The one I'm looking at looks promising Enid, it comes in 2x 15ml so it won't expire before it's finished. It won some award and they're really not a company that has the kind of PR budget to rig those. It's similar to the Skinceuticals original but differentiating enough. Does have a small amount of HA in it I fear.

Ooh I've just seen Medik8 has a new hand cream, Hydr8 with HA and B5 and SPF25 with anti-pollution properties (really have to start reading into that as I fear that's mostly marketing BS). Promises not to be too greasy, weren't you on the lookout for something, Lego?

Yeah, Crest Whitestrips. I think you want the advanced seal technology ones, or professional results? Something like that anyhow IIRC, a web shop opened up here recently selling them, they're charging full price for half the amounts to get around the legal aspects of it, not sure if they ship to the UK but I could forward if you can't get them there.

Welcome AlfaMummy, are you also dehydrated by any chance? They often go hand in hand and you kind of need to address both. Pixi Glow is an AHA so will never do much for SF/blackheads. You can try other BHAs (from PC the Clear Regular Strength or the CosRx). You can also try switching out balm for cleansing oil as mentioned above but without any further info it's hard to say really.

otyt, I haven't forgotten about your DB. Do you think he'd get on with pads? Thinking the CosRx One Step Pimple Clear Pads (mild BHA that can be used daily with not too much issue) alternatively the Missha pads I've mentioned before may work too. Then the CosRx Oil-Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion after? CosRx also do some HA pads but perhaps that's pushing it in terms of what he's willing to do...

Oops forgot to ask, I've just noticed that my hairdresser has dyed my face!!! Only on one side but it's so bad Anyone know how I can get it off?

So will u just double cleanse with the LRP olli?

Here goes - not been here before:

Skin type: Normal/ageing

Approx age (range): 58

Primary skin concern: Looking wrinkly around lips (don't smoke) and condition of skin - various little bumps that seem sqeezable but aren't. Skin does not look fresh or plump or clean and glowy

Routine :

AM : Wash with Burts Bees oily cleanser. Moisturise with whatever I have on the go - simple light moisturiser or something i've got from clarins or Lancome when I've bought products in order to get a goody bag. Clarins super restorative total eye concentrate

PM : Wash with Burts Bees oily cleanser or Lancome Gel Eclat pearly foam cleanser (2/3 times) if i've been wearing makeup. Clarins super restorative total eye concentrate. Eucerin night cream or liquid gold when I remember.

Makeup : eg. no/light coverage/medium coverage/heavy coverage
Usually just Lancome mascara and I fill in a few gaps in my eyebrows plus lipstick. When I wear foundation - maybe 2 evenings per week and the occasional day - its body shop foundation. Also Clarins concealer under eyes
Occasional treatments: Face mask at home maybe once a week - whatever I have, perhaps Clarins mask in red packaging.

Things I've tried in the past with disastrous results: Clarins day moisturiser in pink packaging seems to make me spotty

Things that are really working well for me now:
Nothing in particular but I do notice when I make an effort, by having a definite skin care regime, that my skin looks better but can't claim anything I'm using now is particularly impressive

Any dietary/health concerns/pregnant: None

What I'm willing to spend on a single skincare item: eg. >£10, £10-20, £20-50, £50-100, no limits. £20-50 but obviously would prefer less.

I specifically [want help with/am looking for a product to/am curious about trying]: Lines around my lips which have developed in last year or so - I don't smoke - and look very ageing.

Any guidance/ideas/thoughts would be welcomed.

I don't double cleanse as such - have to use a separate eye makeup remover as my eyes are mega sensitive and I wear a lot! Then I just cleanse my skin once

Oh I see, do you just cleanse once even if wearing spf and foundation?

Meant to say ur skin is defo looking good u can really see a difference

Olli your skin looks brilliant, that's an amazing difference!

I'm going to try TO retinol 1% but not for a couple of months as I've introduced a lot of actives/new products recently & I've got stuff I need to use up.

I've got oily skin and steer well clear of balm cleansers as they always gave me whiteheads though admittedly I wasn't double cleansing last time I used one. Some oil cleansers cause break outs too, but I've been using the one from Deciem for a while now and that seems to suit.

Bali I bought TO azeliac acid on implulse and had no idea what to do with it! After getting advice here I've started using it over the top of TO retinoid 2% every second night (use TO SA and nia on the alternate nights), I've not had any reactions and according to Deciem it can be combined with nearly anything else from TO as well. I'm not over impressed with it as the tube is nearly empty and I've only been using a 5p sized amount every second night since just before Easter. Maybe I just got a duff one but doubt I'll re-order it.

Yes because the eye makeup remover is my first cleanse

Interesting user I might give it a try tonight after my 2%

I always remove my eye make up seperately too but have also been double cleansing my skin after as thought you had to if wearing spf and make up I'd prefer to just cleanse once tbh so may give it a try

I don't but I massage my cleanser in for at least 60 seconds. It's all individual really, my skin is happier without a double cleanse

If I had been at the stables and SPF and sweaty I would be more likely to use a balm cleanser

I watched a video from Dr Sam Bunting that was quite interesting about a vicious circle of covering skin with full coverage long wear foundation, then not cleansing enough or over scrubbing to remove which then = worse skin and needing more foundation. That's what led me to trying just one cleanse but with a fair amount of product and a really thorough massage in

Day to day it works perfectly for me, after a shoot I'll have had a LOT of makeup on then it can take two eye makeup removers, 2 balm cleanses and LRP to shift but that's when I've been made up as black swan or something

@botemp - recent progress has been the most impressive but the spot pics to now are probably over the course of these skincare threads. The vitamin C has been going on for 2 days now so I'll keep an eye on how that helps the red spot aftermath

My skin is very odd, I think I was treating it as combo/oily but I suspect I'm not as oily as I think as I can flake and get dry patches v easily

Thank you bo I'll have a look and let you know. Was the '2X15ml' reply about the medik8 vit C? I asked too many questions the other day and lost track.

Maybe it's time I looked at adding a retinol then Olli. Are you using The Ordinary one? I have seen a big improvement since switching to LRP t cleanser and reducing how often I use EH balm too.

Wasn't me Stainless

Although I don't want to start on retinol and vitamin C together.

Any advice which I should prioritise bo?