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.

Hah, I just looked up my measurements and google says I'm a rectangle !!!!

38-34-42

I've great shoulders and legs though, so feck it

I'm 35-27-39, so triangle/pear Just having a browse for summer outfits for my shape, might find some shopping inspiration.

One of the fitness plans I did was based on Ectomorph, Mesomorph, and Endomorph body types and estimated the amount of calories on it, but I ended up a bit confused too, and just assumed I was in somewhere between a couple of them! I had more luck by using the standard TDEE calculators

bo your in holland so your supposed to be tall! Your about my height and my waist is 25 or 26 inches I haven't been 24 for years and I'm pretty thin.

I'm sun ready today black loose shorts and a silk t shirt blouse, nice and cool, plus my naturally tanned but pale skin. Some colleagues and I played some games in the park after work and had a picnic. I'm pretty sure I've got some bug bites to deal with now though.

I must say summer/warm weather is my favourite time for clothes - I hate layers, or at least am terrible at looking stylish in them. A nice, simple, well-cut sundress and some sandals I can manage.. (I am an hourglass too, I think.)

Though I must say if I go into a shop and start examining what appears to be a nice wearable dress only to find it's got HOLES cut out of it in unexpected, impractical places I will scream. Backless can be a very elegant look but it feels like it's every item at the moment.

Hah, it was this one Bo

A rectangular newspaper I think I'd prefer my pic, wilting

Ha! Yes, that's me, otyt, single-handedly bringing down the average height . Actually, it's more men that are very tall (and the men in my family are all in the 2m range). I'd say I'm about average height but then I'm in the city and there's a lot of immigrants who are comparatively shorter.

In all honestly, mentally I'm still catching up. I've been the same weight and proportions pretty much my entire adult life only when I was really ill did it go up a bit and only with really intensive exercise and diet I could lose a bit at other times but it was impossible to maintain. I had made my peace with it long ago, I wasn't terribly overweight but for health reasons, it did always bother me so always did the exercise and healthy diet bit to mitigate it all somewhat even if it didn't impact my actual weight. I really don't know what the fluke was that suddenly started the mystery weight loss but I expected to just revert back to my natural plateaued weight as before. In my mind I look exactly the same, technically I am thinner but I'm not thin (never will be, or appear to be anyhow without being significantly underweight). Hourglasses (especially if you're short) always look bigger than they are unless you're willing to walk around in your underwear.

mintleaves, I used to think that too and always think hourglasses complaining were exaggerating, we do have it a lot easier, fitting models are hourglasses, patterns generally follow those proportions. If I need occasion dresses (this one from &other stories is lovely but I have no need for it, it's another one I'll keep an eye on in the sales) or similar it really isn't a struggle but it's always casual that's more difficult to do for an hourglass I feel and NL is very casual. This season, however, seems to be universally shit for everyone. I think the only positives are the trousers (which is not really what you're looking for in summer) and the backless stuff, I know it's a mortal sin to own up to that on MN but I REALLY like backless things, always have. Far more enticing than cleavage or legs on show in my book (provided there's no visible tan lines).

Thinking about it I was the 'perfect' hourglass when I was a bit bigger (2 stone heavier than now) I had that 0.75 ratio bang on. Plus bigger boobs. Perhaps I'll just eat Magnum ice creams all Summer. I'll be spotty but still.

I am so hot. This super duper extra powerful bloody expensive fan isn't doing its job at all. Weirdly my skin looks brighter. I think the fresh air and sun did it good.

I'd forgotten about &otherstories. Tomorrow some serious online shopping will be done.

How're the stitches looking Olli?

Looking at my routine now that I have some new products I'm thinking:-

Morning:
Cleanse (LRP)
Vit C (TO)
Moisturising Serum (Corsx)
(Not going to repurchase TO Buffet - don't feel I need it atm. Maybe it's a winter thing for me?)
SPF

Evening:
Double Cleanse (EH + LRP)
Acid tone - twice per week
Alternate retinol + Azeliac (won't be introducing the new retinol for another month, and slowly at first)
Nia
Cream or oil

My question is, is that too many actives in the pm? Would only be one a night mostly plus Nia. Don't want to drop the Nia as I really like it. And nothing I can switch to the morning? Could I alternate Vit C and retinol in the morning perhaps?

Have to say, I'm really happy with my skin atm. Since dropping the products that weren't working for me it's looking and feeling good!

Lol Enid. I read your last post as "perfect hourglass, bigger boobs, I'm so hot" as in check me out .

Argh it isn't Sunday, just panicked for not having a supplement ready to go for nothing. Public holidays are ruining my sense of time

I read it the same Pupsie I'm sure she is though. I think the amounts of actives is fine with the Nia, is the CosRX the birch sap lotion or something else? Am confused by the serum term.

Mango is actually not terrible this season (a bit like what Zara used to be) but I struggle with the quality there, it really is cycle in, cycle out clothing. I did come across some really flattering silk dresses from Rixo London in TKmaxx a while back. I'm not a big fan of vintage patterns (fabric not fit) so unfortunately it wasn't for me but the fits are really great for hourglasses. I haven't come across anything that wowing since. I'm hesitant on the online shopping front as I'm not always sure what size to get now. Have you found that at a size ten and under it becomes substantially more limited in terms of wiggle room if you're an hourglass, or is that just this crop of weird summer offerings, Enid?

Ok so I think the alcohol in the clarins tanning drops are just becoming an issue now, face feels bit tight and itchy. Seems fine in my spf though thankfully

Bo, sorry for the confusion. It's the moisturiser you recommended. I think you said it's light like a serum. And because I take everything you say as gospel, in my head it is a serum .

I'm about 20lb over my optimal weight at present, mostly due to medication changes messing with my appetite & energy levels over the past 18 months. However when I'm at my ideal weight I'm a size 6-8 (I'm under 5'3") & a perfect hourglass, usually around 35-23-35. I also take a size 3 shoe which most shops don't tend to stock... I don't mind children's trainers but I draw the line at school shoes. Just no!

I've realised the TO MAP is causing pilling. I've missed it out a couple of times ti check. Annoying as it's improved my skin tone but it's such a faff to apply the other stuff after & not make it all ball up & come off. Does the vit C 23% do the same? Or is there an alternative that doesn't please?

So are all hourglasses just hiding out on MN? Weirdly I have proportionally large feet (UK6 sometimes a 5.5 but they used to be a 7-7.5 for years). I've always been convinced I should have come out 5-10cms taller. A UK3 is an EU36, isn't it? Quite a common size here.

I've experienced no pilling with the 23% (do think following it with something watery after a min 30secs helps) but I know there have been others on here that have struggled with it.

Yes a size 3 is a European 36 AFAIK. I could definitely try the 22% followed by a spray of thermal water - if I could get hold of the 23%! The only way I can get the MAP not to pill is to pat all subsequent layers on... not convenient with 3 more layers. Grr. Actually my other issue with the MAP is the cost per use; it's so thick it just doesn't go very far.

UK 3 is tiny! I'm a UK5.5-6

I can leave work early today, so hopefully I can go oxford street and at least look at/try on some summer clothes before going to my parents (there are a few places the buy nasty polyester and nothing else there). Do you recon it would be busy or not because it's a nice day?

I tried calling my hairdresser but they aren't picking up, hoping to get a fairly last min appointment. Not sure I want to go lower than director though, I need a fairly big trim and the shape sorting, so I might have to wait a while.

How long should BHA take to clear stuff? I've got a couple sebum plugs (I think that's what bo said), under-the-skin/flesh-coloured spot things (closed comedones?) and then a little whitehead. I imaging the whitehead should go first?

Enid - they are out! Yay it's looking good, red still but definitely healing

Lol Enid. I read your last post as "perfect hourglass, bigger boobs, I'm so hot" as in check me out wink.

I properly laughed at this! It does read like that. If you could see me today...I swear I am the least attractive person in the North today. Like someone left a stick of butter out in the sun.

bo Not sure what you mean re clothes sizes but I know I can sometimes find a dress that fits my waist but is too tight around my thighs and bum and jeans can be very tricky. I don't remember it being easier at size 14 really.

Are we almost onto a new thread?

Ooh and good Olli! Glad it's healing up well.

bo I missed a bit...yes the cuts of clothes this season are very weird. Very boxy.

Bo that OtherStories dress is almost exactly what I'm looking for for a wedding in June. Am going to order it pronto, thanks. I really do love this thread,.

I do very much like the backless style in general and have a couple of lovely ones (from Other Stories!), it's just that it takes a bit of planning for me re underwear, and at the moment I'm desperate for some easy dresses you can shove on for work without thinking about it too much. Every time I think I find one at the moment it's got a cut-out right where my bra strap would be.

However - I guess too many dress options isn't the worst problem in the world..

I'm wearing a blissful old Dorothy Perkins dress today. 97% cotton and straps that cover bra

you lot are giving me terrible anxiety: new thread here