🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Hot Snails, Summer in the City - Now with added shelf porn!

[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):

Where to Start

Basics of an Actives Routine

Skin Types vs. Skin Conditions Info Sheet

Anti-Ageing Info sheet

Adult Acne Info Sheet

NEW ADDITIONS since last thread:

Do I Really Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Single Day of the Year?

Understanding Which Sunscreen(s) to Buy

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.

AUGUST 2017: Sunscreen is pretty much non-negotiable at the moment (not that it’s ever not ), RL bumps have been met in the road for some, unfortunately. Grief sucks but we do our best to offer a bit of comfort even if it is just something as inane as skincare chat . Some of us are lucky enough to be nerding out in French pharmacies whilst pretending to do that holiday thing, the Shelf Porn Off is still on…

I can't believe we're on thread 9

I think I'm having a product reaction to TO Vit C 30%. I've been a bit iffy about it since first using it but now I have the classic quick to rise and painful subcutaneous spots in odd places that developed throughout the day but will hopefully be gone by morning after tackling it with P50.

Could also be the smelly arse as I don't head my own advice and didn't leave as much time in between but I'm quite quick with knowing when a product doesn't work for me. I also used a bit more than usual today as the tiny pea I used before barely managed to cover the entire face, never mind the neck.

I'm also a bit poorly so it may just be down to that. Will leave it alone for a few days and try again to see how it fares then.

Thanks for that bo. Out of interest, when did you start using the Vit C?

From Monday, Pupsie. I usually react quite quickly or it's a two week delayed response. Dimeticone is always a gamble with me, fine in makeup and sunscreens but can be irritating to me in skincare.

user it's innisfree that I use (couldn't remember name earlier) and you obviously attribute the recommendation to Enid too .

Shame you're not reacting well to 30% Vit c Bo but I don't think you had high expectations of it anyway? I've been a bit under the weather with a virus this week and my skin looks pretty awful. I'm back on the retinoid but I'm convinced the cosrx BHA I got on Amazon ages ago isn't the real deal. I got a sample right at the start when I joined this thread and I noticed the difference in my skin really quickly. Since purchasing it it just doesn't seem to be doing the job and texture has never seemed quite right. I've got some TO azelaic. Would this be a substitute to use a few times a week or should I be buying a little bottle of Paula's choice BHA? Also toy with the idea of P50 every now and again but I always feel like I'm adding new bits so it never feels quite the ideal time to introduce it

Not me user I'll make a note of the dermablend one.

Thanks Olli. They're sold out atm but I still have a bit left so not urgent.

Hope you feel better soon bo.

And you too JD

I don't think my skin is tolerating the new Vit C very well. Been using it about 5 days. Since yesterday my skin has a bit of an odd texture. Almost rough rather than dry. Today it's a little red. Is this to be expected at first or do you think I should scale back Vit C to every other morning for now?

It's making me realise how stable my skin has been for the best part of a year now.

pupsie even though I've been using 23% Vit C for a while, I've noticed a slight stinging with the change to 30%. I haven't had any redness though.

Yes, JDSTER, without everyone's positive stories on TO 30% I probably wouldn't have given it a try for myself.

I'll have to look up the reddit posts but CosRx did tinker with the pH of their BHA and made it less effective as a result. On reddit they managed to figure out which batch numbers were affected so that may have been at play.

WRT BHA vs. AZ vs. P50. I think Az is more of interest for those who are breakout prone (which you're not so much IIRC, just oily, right?) as it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (so comparable to BHA in that sense it just works slightly differently). P50 would really tackle skin texture and balance, it won't target blackheads and similar as strongly as BHA on its own but if your pores are clear P50 will keep them clear too, I think you'd be best suited to the full strength version but still sensible to start with the W, perhaps needing to rely on some BHA now and then to clear out pores if they're filling up before switching to full on P50 when you may no longer require BHA separately.

Pupsie, before this you've only ever used Vit C in TO versions in suspension form, right? IIRC the Medik8 Thione is a hydrous solution so the L-AA is available more directly. It's also a lower pH and L-AA is a form of acid so it does exfoliate somewhat. Therefore technically, it should have required you gradually building up use despite already being familiar with higher % Vit C products. Perhaps leave it alone for a day or two (longer if necessary) then start again every other day/2-3x a week?

Thanks for the Enid, I'm actually in the mood for some but since I hardly ever eat it the reality of it is always a bit of a let down in comparison to how I've conjured up cake tastes in my mind, if that makes any sense at all Taste buds are also a bit crap at the moment, is anyone else having huge adjustment issues to autumn eating or is it just me? Supermarket and my usual recipes of rotation are still somewhat summery and now all I want to eat is warming soup which doesn't really make for a proper nutritious dinner.

Yes Bo it is hydrous. I thought I was handling it okay because it is so comfortable after application, unlike the tingly sensation of TO. I'm only using acids once a week atm so I will continue with that, have a break from the Vit C and then start using 2/3 weeks as you suggest.

Having had a couple of birthdays this week I can highly recommend a dollop of clotted cream with chocolate cake. So much for me avoiding wheat and sugar. Been out for a few meals too. But it's been very nice.

Powder has arrived. Haven't tested it yet but the bit I dabbed onto my hand felt very light and smooth.

Thanks bo. That's really interesting about cosrx and might explain things. You're right, I'm oily and usually no breakouts (sfs around nose and chin) I've had a few spots lately which are really deep and take ages to heal. Very unlike me but I think a mixture of bereavement and a two week holiday with a suboptimal skincare regime is the cause of the problem. I might start on the azelaic, given the recent breakouts, and see how it goes. I'm assuming night time and 2-3 times a week alternating with retinoid ok?

enid could you give us a full update on that powder please once you've tried it as it's definitely of interest to me.

Will do JD.

Haven't had clotted cream in forever, is it not too rich or is it like the crème fraîche with chocolate cake revelation? Which is reminding me of the joy that is chocolate cake for breakfast with yoghurt and some cocoa nibs.

JDSTER here are the threads from Reddit:

www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/5s0xoa/cosrx_response_on_bha_rather_worrying_ph/

www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/5st1d1/psa_cosrx_friendship_teams_update_about_bha/

I had a cake jar this week and it was glorious!

Ooh not had a cake jar!

It is pretty rich bo. Goes really well though. I'm anti-creme fraiche but could be persuaded if chocolate cake was involved. Yogurt sounds very nice.

Pure cake 😃

Oh my god!

Is it ok if my moisturiser tingles very slightly when I apply it but causes no redness or irritation or any other problems?

Ugh, I only seem to be getting worse instead of better. I've lost all my appetite now and the lovely looking cake fest is instead making my stomach turn . Bed and lots of cups of tea it is for today, .

I don't think any of us can answer that, mint. But no, I wouldn't consider that a good sign in something which is generally innocuous like a moisturiser.

Skin back to normal today. I put a hydrating LRP on last night, and kept skincare very simple with the Deciem HA and Cerave moisturiser. No Vit C this morning. Will give it another day or too. Is it wrong to like that it's clearly strong enough to have an effect?!

Quick Fenty update. Still liking the foundation; I used it 5 days in a row over the Fenty primer. Then today I switched to another, more hydrating primer (I think the combo of the primer & foundation was a tad too drying for me on a daily basis) and the combo was great. I will try the primer with a more hydrating foundation too.

The contour stick is still fab; haven't managed to properly get to grips with the concealer stick yet and the highlighter will be saved for nights out. If I were to go again I would probably just get the contour.

The gloss has now moved to my handbag as I love love love it. I line my lips with a Wet n Wild liner and then apply the gloss and it lasts for ages.

I'll do a powder update when it's had a fair day to judge it by. Today wasn't a good physical health day and I'm having a bad mental health evening.

I've had a horrific outbreak of cystic spots just under my jawline, I know it's because I used the Emma Hardie Moringa balm.
I do love it but it always does this to me I'm going to have to bin it so I'm not tempted to try it again. Annoying because I bought the 200ml
I had to strategically keep my chin on my hand all afternoon during a meeting. However the TO salicylic is helping to clear it up faster.
My keyboard is being weird so I have to reboot now

I sometimes wonder if the EH breaks me out Tant. I always blame it on wearing makeup or having food I don't usually but those things coincide with having to double cleanse with EH instead of just the LRP. What do (or will you) use instead?

Bo & Enid

I've run out out LRP toileraine fluide so have been using an Avene moisturiser I won and I have two massive cystic spots on my chin now

Also not loving the film feeling left from the LRP cleanser either!

It had been going so well!