Fantastic Skincare: Skin (almost) sorted- decent fucking summer fucking clothes would be fucking nice. Don't ask us about our hair 🐌

[botemp]

Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6 Thread 7

I am very slowly working on consolidating the gathered information from previous threads into easier to read formats but it’s slow going. If you wish join us on this thread I would suggest reading thread 1 and at the very least the following info sheets (provided they apply to you):

Where to Start

Basics of an Actives Routine

Skin Types vs. Skin Conditions Info Sheet

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. Newcomers are always welcome but please note the following:

Questions and asking for help on this thread is encouraged, however, we can’t give you a specific routine to follow and hope it works out for the best. There are no overnight miracles in skincare whether it be in the form of products or techniques. It’s about perseverance, understanding your skin, assessing its needs and responding to that in a diligent manner.

These threads were created to help those who want to learn for themselves. We’re a group of interested and invested skincare nuts happy to offer tea and sympathy and dole out advice. Everyone’s journey with skincare is different, what is universal and binds us is that through actually learning about the different active ingredients it helps us get to know our skin and help us adapt as it will change many times throughout our lives - with seasons, hormonal changes, ageing, genetics etc. It's in everyone's best interests to get to know their skin and to keep reviewing those changes with the confidence that comes from the gathered knowledge here. We really encourage you to spend the time reading through previous threads and linked info sheets that the many contributors have taken the trouble to share.

By no means are we experts, we're only a bunch of amateurs that can only respond by suggesting what we would do in your place, for any severe conditions please seek out professional help.

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If you pose a question and we need more contextual information to answer properly we may ask you to fill in the following form. Please only use this form when asked, unsolicited forms will be deleted. Responses to the form can be found here

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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.

MAY/JUNE 2017: It’s summer and some of us are hourglasses (and otherwise beautifully shaped) that desperately need to bitch and moan about the severe lack of clothes available to us. Also, some of us are recovering from a ‘fine’ butchering to our hair. Don’t ask. Some of us suffer from all of the above. At least the weather is good, wear sunscreen.

Hi again, Vaz! Good to hear things have been working out well for you. I think the B5 is generally used topically on a spot or in the immediate aftermath rather than all over the face. Is that how you used it too?

It's not as water resistant but perhaps the Body Shop Skin Defence SPF50 is worth trying (provided you can tolerate fragrance) for a more cosmetically elegant SPF?

My dad got 53 going 45ish. And my nan was mistaken for my mum the other week, so that's like 70 going on 50ish. I'm hoping I take after them.

Ah man, come on tho, I'm bear lazy init. Reapplying is long for man. KMT

You should try reading code the abbreviations are different depending on who wrote it, the guy I sit next to giggles when he sees someones used "cont" to mean "container" and is very careful not to geting a letter wrong.

Yes, Caribbean. I'm not going to the beach everyday (not staying in a resort so no lounging by the pool either), couple times a week and then hiking and waterfalls and rivers and stuff (there's loads of forest so I might be shaded, idk. I'm buying shoulder/arm/leg covering stuff too & big hats.

Definitely buying it before I go because I don't want to pay island prices.
I saw the patch but didn't know you could buy it yet. Yay pointless tech! I wonder if it will tell me I have cancer..?

Damn about the staining stuff.

Um...my hair is like Dr Sam's. With a fringe. Maybe I should stop moaning. I can't see the back of her's though and I bet she hasn't had someone hack crap layers into it so it sticks out on one side but not the other.
I swore I wouldn't whine on about my shit cut again didn't I? I'll have to put extra shifts in at the Art Gallery to make up for it.

Whilst I'm on the subject. Her Instagram is really irritating when you look at all the pics together. She holds her head the exact same way in every pic.

Vaz I don't get on with shea butter for the sane reason but with the cicaplast I just blob a bit on each mark and don't rub it in at all. Seems to stop it breaking me out.

Olli Thank you for the link. I'll have a look now. Wonder if the caffeine plays a big part in the good results though?

I'm not sure, I think it's because it's a dry scrub? I may have to buy more to test the theory

I used to make one using granulated sugar and olive oil. It worked pretty well. Messy mind you.

Hi again Bo! (not sure how to 'tag' you!)

Ha ha, no, I was slathering it on my whole face 😊

Thanks for the SPF recommendation, I'll try that one next.

Also still on the hunt for a basic moisturiser. Tried the toleriane but it wasn't quite moisturising enough.

But all in all, really happy with my current routine!

Vaz try face theory for moisturiser

Hello all! I'm still here and have finally caught up on the old and new threads...

I've been busy with work/life (having the kitchen torn out, renovated and replaced by DH!) and having my late-DH's parents here for 10 days during said renovations

Anyway, I've enjoyed reading all your updates and clothes nightmares (I too am an hourglass - like Lego, petite with tiny feet)!

My skin's pretty good, apart from the sagginess due to advancing age, but I've also started to use Retin-A and have hesitated to post about my experience for fear of a telling off from Bo!

However, in the interests of full disclosure, here we go: a couple of months ago I went to Madrid and picked up a tube of Retirides 0.05 (Retin-A) from a pharmacy - it's OTC in Spain, along with many other drugs that are Rx only in the UK. To his credit, the pharmacist cautioned me on SPF usage etc etc but also tried to steer me towards the much more expensive Skinceuticals display (I've previous used SC 0.3 and 1.0 Retinol). Basically, I wanted to see whether its effects were different from Retinol - I met CH at an event last year and asked whether Retinol and Retin-A had different effects on the skin, because I'd had a LOT of irritation from the SC 1.0 retinol, and she suggested they did so I decided to try some.

Well, I've been using Retin-A for 2 months now, starting with every 3rd night and am now using it every other night - and indeed have LESS irritation than the SC 1.0 Retinol.

When using the SC 1.0 my face felt constantly sunburnt (and yes I was using high SPF), to the point where putting anything except oil on my face hurt. With Retin-A, I've had some flaking and a little occasional soreness/redness but that's it. I wonder whether it's because my skin doesn't make that conversion from Retinol to Retinoic acid easily, so applying retinoic acid causes less irritation.. I don't know but it's been an interesting experiment.

I wouldn't recommend doing this to anyone else, but was more comfortable buying from a pharmacy than from a random place online. Obviously as prescription from a Derm would be preferable but I feel like I've had enough experience with retinols in the past to have an idea of what I'm doing, and it seems like retin-a is becoming more readily available without a Rx (Differin in the US etc).

In case anyone is interested Asos have 20% off everything today with the code SWEET. I've ordered The Ordinary products that were on my wish list.

Escentual have 25% off ESCENTUAL25

ENID I'll try the blabbing and not rubbing in trick cause I've got loads left

MINT thanks for the recommendation. I had a look at the face theory moisturisers. They look interesting and exactly what I'm looking for (a cheap but basic daily moisturiser author tons of fragrance) but both of the ones I looked at have shea butter in them (although a bit further down the list) this is something I've eventually worked out clogs my pores very quickly and so I've just tended to avoid them. 😕

Haven't worked out how to edit a message, so that should have said dabbing * lol

Vaz I break out easily too but luckily the Shea butter in the face theory hasn't bothered my skin

Thanks Dreamqueen I've just ordered a bunch of The Ordinary products I was interested in especially as I've just run out of my Hylamide Sub Q anti age serum, which I want to replace with something new. so I went for niacinamide 10% + zinc and the vitamin C suspension (is this a serum?)
I've been using a sample of La Roche Posay Redermic R with spf 30 my first foray with retinol which I'm really happy with but want one without spf for night time so bought The ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2%.
And then to try on alternate nights I will use lactic acid 5%. They sold out of the 10%.
I must add that I recently ran out of one of my moisturers the Clinique moisture surge and have replaced it with the wonderful Neutrogena hydro boost water gel and gel-cream. They are half price at boots and I highly recommend them.
I've been using liquid gold for ages hence only just starting with retinols. But I want to use new products. I have found that the retinol is really good for reducing the redness in my cheeks (I always presumed it would cause me more redness) so it's a revelation that in fact it helps.
I have also been using (amongst others) the following cleansers with great effect by Murad from M&S. the essential C cleanser and the clarifying cleanser both of which I highly recommend.

I got into skin care in big way when we all went a bit CH crazy a couple of years back on MN with the Quiche beauty thread. I'm only just running out of those products so it will great to try new ones.

It was me that mentioned the orange staining from Avobenzone. It's usually called Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane if you're looking at European brands though. Basically it forms a rust stain on contact with water, vv difficult to remove. I'm still looking for an affordable sunscreen, either mineral or a chemical one that doesn't contain it, for body use. Something in a decent sized bottle, & preferably non-greasy - seems an impossible task.

Lego. I'm also looking for a non staining sun cream. I'm really fed up of ruined swimwear.

botemps just wanted to say thank you for this and your other threads, links and info sheets I'm off to catch up and read through as much as I can an der try not to spend to much in the process. Although isn't The Ordinary stuff brilliantly priced, fantastic I hope it lives up to its expectations on my skin.

Enid your hair is like Dr Sam's? at least your dodgy layers will grow out. Mine is fine with wispy bits at the front which won't grow. My best hairline and hair in general was when I was pregnant. It goes really fluffy with the slightest bit of moisture in the air and I have to wash it every day so I can blow dry it to look half decent oh I've joined the complaining about hair without meaning to
If anyone has any recommendations for good shampoo, conditioner and serum/styling type lotion to use before blow drying (if you've got hair like mine) I'd be grateful. Hair products is not something I've really got into to be honest.

Tantpoke TO vit c is white in colour with a light lotion like consistency.

Tsmummy thanks for your honest appraisal of your 'retinol journey', it really interest me to hear how and why people use and rate their skincare- it's how we all learn

Full makeup on today for the first time in a while! I am off to the tattoo studio

Lego yeah I was confused because I couldn't see avobenzone but late I googled and the chemical name came up.

The TO BHA seems to be having an affect, so yay

Thanks JDSTER just reading everything properly now as I went into a blind panic on the ASOS site as items were sold out then not so wanted to look, order and buy before it all disappeared.

The buffet serum sounds great so that's next on my list. Bit worried now as Lego got a,reaction with TO niacimide and no one has mentioned TO lactic acid so I'm wondering if it was a good idea to move away from glycolic. Nevermind it'll be nice to try something new.

Last year I used Niods multi molecular hyaluronic complex and their copper amino isolate serum. Both of which i liked but felt I didn't need to repurchase.
I had a nightmare finding the right moisturiser for ages but la roche Posay toleraine fluid has worked wonders for me in that I don't go flushed or react and of course they have now decided to discontinue it . I have 2 and half bottles left. Hence my excitement at the neutrogena moisturisers which seem to work for me in that I have no reaction and they moisturise in a way I like.

I got sent home for fainting . I knew I should never have mentioned it to Enid that it had been years since it last happened. I'm blaming the hair, but more likely the hot and humid weather is at fault. Am fine, everyone else seemed convinced otherwise though. BTW, Enid, you're on shit eye cleaning duty I now totally get why you're annoyed with your hair if it's like Dr. Sam's but cut with layers in the back, that's proper butchery! You could try her hairdresser in an attempt to stalk her for a change as she mentioned it in that video...

otyt, I think your Nan wins

If you want someone's username to show up in bold you simply put an asterisk at the beginning and end of it Vaz, eg. vaz. If you stick an @ before it with or without the asterisks then you're officially tagging someone and they'll get an email notification from MNHQ that they've been mentioned in a post. I think the Tenshi No Bihada Hyaluronic Acid cream from Japan I'm currently using may just be up your alley for a moisturiser. It's sort of a gel to water formula with a similar profile to Toleriane Fluid but a bit more suped up in terms of hydration and moisturisation (still oil free, no shea butter). Can send you a decant if you like if you're curious about trying it.

No snail, sorry!! This is number 9, I'm taking part in the Manchester tattoo appeal and having a Manchester bee. I wanted to get something to mark my surgery too and it's a lovely symbol of strength and resilience