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

[botemp]

Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6 Thread 7 Thread 8

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'm such a sheeple I ordered the RMC powder yesterday and it turned up today

I've just used it and so far so good. It looks super white in the container which concerned me as I have medium, sallow skin and non tinted mattifying powders are typically not a good look for me. This did look a wee bit too white when I first put it on, but it settled in minutes and became invisible.

It's got an amazing soft, texture and makes me skin feel soft but matt at the same time. My only grump right now is the container which is not user friendly at all but I've ordered a couple of cheap as chips powder dispensers from Amazon to transfer it into. I am heading out shortly and have quite a long, busy day ahead so will report back on how good it is at keeping the shine at bay.

Hope everyone is feeling good today :)

What is the general consensus on the new TO 30%? It seems to be quite potent and/or irritating? Would people repurchase or opt for the original? From TO I have only used the MAP 10% and I like it but am searching for my next Vit C trial product. The Indeed Labs one was way too silicone-y for me which is why I hesitate to try the new 30%.
Anyone use the 20% oil version (ATS 20% in Vitamin F) and like it?

I am not sure I want to take an expensive Vit C leap this month as I have just purchased the Verso eye serum on Skincity (thanks once again Bo) but will take any and all recommendations right now for research purposes!

I have that RCMA powder, must take it out again. I like it but it is quite faffy to use. However I recently bought a glass jar in Sostrene & Grene and the lid is perfect for use with foundations and powders (like the petri style dishes the girls in MAC use)

I'm using the rcma again today. Very first impression was that it was more drying than I expected. My face felt a tiny bit tight where I'd put it. Invisible after application though. Not as smooth or fine as the Eshiko powder that I'm trying to replace. I could tell it's a film and theatre powder if that makes sense. No scent, completely white, impractical basic packaging which I guess brings the cost down. I've tipped a bit into a Laura Mercier lid. If I like it I'll take the powder out of that pot and decant the RCMA into it as I never use the LM one. Will keep an eye on wear today and let you know later.

Used one of these today. Very odd to wear but my feet feel the softest they've ever been now. Really impressed
https://m.lookfantastic.com/skimono-beauty-foot-mask-for-total-conditioning-16ml/11513409.html

Ok really unimpressed by the rcma powder. It's only 3-4 hours later and it's patchy, settled into usually invisible fine lines and my concealer has worn off. There's some caking too. It's a bit of a mess.

I have used LRP Toleriane fluide, Kiehl's avocado eye cream, Vichy thermale serum on nose and tiny bit of Cicaplast on nose. Patted a bit of Elemis flash balm stuff onto cheekbones and sides of face. Then Lancôme teint idole 24hr, Laura M under eye concealer, Nars creamy concealer and amazing Cosmetics concealer (liquid one in tube). So that's the base the powder needs to set and keep oil free as much as poss. All my usual stuff. Usually touch up powder after 2-3 hours and use dry beauty blender to blot in any oil around nose.

Applied a small amount to t-zone, early afternoon, using a fat powder brush. Dabbed a very slightly damp beauty blender over the obviously powdery bits. Looked ok. It's now 6pm. Mild day, no rain or sunshine, no extreme temps, just pottering around a couple of shops. Nothing major.

So it's cheap and when first applied seems ok but doesn't last for me and worse, there's caking and patchiness. 👎🏻 👎🏻 I'll keep it to try in colder weather and look around to see if I did something wrong but for now I'm back to Lancôme. I need eshiko powder a finer lighter powder. Ordering MUFE loose powder next.

I like base make up to be invisible so perhaps this is more for the selfie and baking make up wearers. Or my skin behaves unusually. Interested to see what user thinks after a day's wear and you too Miffy.

Mixed reviews on the powder.... talking of mixed reviews miffy I really like 30% Vit c, very different texture to 23% which I still like. I'll repurchase 30% and have another 23% in my unused drawer so I'll keep them both going. I've just received reversatol/ferulic acid so I'll start mixing a drop into Vit c. Is Liberty in London the only place to get p50? I'm in London next month but I seem to remember it can be a hassle to buy, having to answer a million questions. I think there was a link ages ago for an online retailer if anyone could remind me?

My virus is at last clearing and the spots seem to be disappearing too so hopefully I can get back to a more normal (as in usual) skin to deal with.

Hmm, not much better today, unfortunately. Still stuck in bed, instead of what I'd intended to do this weekend, have a perusal of Victoria Beckham's latest colab with EL, has anyone had a look yet? Usually not a fan of celeb colabs at all but even without VB and Rihanna attached to their respective lines I'd still want to have a nose so I figure I can live with a clear conscious on these. I promise not to bring up any Kardashians in the future

Pupsie, no that sounds completely normal and a definite sign of superior skincare nerdery frustration when everything seems to meet the skincare holy grail requirements except your skin doesn't want to play along...

I do have to say there's something psychologically compulsive about the EH balm, I only ever used a travel size version of it that they sell at Christmas to try it. I even bought it in the January sales so it really couldn't have cost much. Despite hating it on the first try, or rather my skin and my poor eyes, I was intent on liking it and continued to use it despite all evidence to the contrary. Even when it slipped from my hands and cracked the lid, I still didn't toss it out, determined to finish it out. It's like the skincare equivalent of crack cocaine or something

miffy, I'd take my preliminary bad luck with the TO Vit C 30% as anecdotal, if you got on well with MAP I believe it's similar in consistency. Wasn't your complaint with the MAP how quickly you went through it though? I think the TO Vit C 30% would go just as quick.

That's a bummer on the powder front, Enid. I find that a lot of hyped up products on YT suit very young skin without any problems. A lot of products liked by 'older' skin hardly get any mention like the By Terry Hydrapowder, I know that one is no use to you on account of the HA but I'm thinking there's another powder that has a sort of quiet cult-like status for older skin. Is the eshiko you mention no longer available, or just ridiculously pricey?

I think there is a medispa in London that also sells it, JDSTER. Think someone on here ordered by phone or email with them with no hassle IIRC. Otherwise, the site is Skincity but you have to order through their Swedish site (so .se instead of .com), it was a bit of a loophole but don't know if they've left it like that for all that time now.

botemp - meant to pick your brains! The REN serum has sorted out my damage (yay) but now I have chin spots. Again
What can I do so that I don't damage the skin barrier but so that I can clear these spots? Acnecide is the only thing that really helps 🤔
It's like a balance between keeping my skin not damaged and breaking out

I'm quite impressed with the RMCA powder, but I do have very oily skin and (since I've eased up on ret 1%) no dry patches. I wore it today over the bioderma nude touch tinted SPF 50, applied with a big, fluffy brush that came with a tarte mattifying powder. Blush, minimal eye makeup and lip balm added afterwards. I've been out & about all day (and it was sunny and warmish here), not touched up at all and my skin is still pretty matt/non shiny so seems like it's fairly powerful stuff - but possibly too drying for non oily people.

True test for me will be wearing for a day in work as that's when I typically greasy/shiny (think it's the recycled air in the office) and the mirrors in the work loos are extremely unforgiving, so any caking/patchiness will be more noticeable. I'm also not a fan of the dispensing system but the pots I've ordered from Amazon should sort that out. I normally steer clear of white powders as they make me look ghostly but this one seemed to adapt to my skin tone. And I much prefer pressed powders to loose due to the mess factor, but if it works as well in the office as it did today then I'll put up with that.

Any of the AB enthusiasts tried Koh Gen Do Moisturising Concealer?
Just wondering about it and probably adding it to the list of things that I ponder over for ages and only get round to buying about a year from now
A little while into using the TO Reservatrol/Ferulic with Vit C 23% and do think it's speeding up healing time - having good results with some recent acne-scarring/hyper pigmentation.
Also still liking buffet.

Olli, unfortunately at this stage it's best to just leave it alone and live with it

Only ever tried the cottons from Koh Gen Do yong Lush but buggering expensive. I've wanted to try their dewy foundation, it's called something something moisture which has a really good reputation and also their cleansing wipes, I know, I know, are supposed to be something else and sound like a great travel/emergency option. Supposedly there's a theatre/stage budget brand in Japan that has almost the exact same formulations for a 1/4 of the price, it's on that My Asian Skincare blog somewhere I think.

Enid I am wondering if the base products you used (teint Idole 24hr and the Amazing Concealer) were too thick or drying to work well with RCMA? I know when I use it, it tends to be over very hydrating foundations that give a little too much glow.

I don't really use powder with the Fenty foundation, just a tap of MAC Blot powder on my t zone.

I think I will give the 30% a go, I wonder if I used too much of the MAP each time? 30ml in liquid form (like the Facetheory C serum I am using) seem to take forever to get through, whereas creams don't last that long, so I think it is me, I need to use less at a time!

user will you let us know how the powder fares at work please?

Hmm I think you're right, maybe it was the teint idole foundation that it didn't sit well with the rcma. I don't use much foundation and only down the centre of my face really but from what you said User and Miffy I think that that foundation is already matte and not dewy enough for it. I do get a fairly oily/shiny t zone so must be the base. I really like the teint idole though so the rcma probably isn't for me. Do want a different concealer to amazing Cosmetics though. It's not quite right.

I noticed they've added HA to MUFE hd powder? 😠 I was hoping it'd stop being The thing soon. It's in everything.

bo I can't buy the Eshiko powder in the U.K. now. Looks like it's USA and Japan only and nowhere ships. Guru Makeup used to stock it. It's ridiculously fine, you take the lid off and it flies everywhere but it worked well for me.

Like the look of that Olli. Added to growing list.

enid I will stick to my Clinique TTDO for a Balm Cleanser, it's never let me down.

My skin has improved tremendously I have been wearing no make up the last couple of days, although I was sorely tempted on Friday as i was looking a bit rosy of cheek and spots were annoying but I restrained my self (got to get rid of those pesky craters)
So I've just been using my Murad Vit C face wash, followed by TO Vit C 23% and TO salycilic acid on my breakout humongous spots (tempted as I was I did not squeeze or poke)

bo EH as crack cocaine, it really is isn't it, I just can't help sneaking another go of it.

Olli I really like TO salycilic acid for my spots, it's really helped with my under chin ones the last couple of days

enid give the dermablend loose powder a go maybe, just don't peel all the sticky label off so the powder just comes out of a few holes, to help control it.

Tant oh yes I forgot that one! Where do you buy it from? I can only see the Vichy dermablend available in uk sites but guessing it's the other one? (Just says Dermablend)

Tant Looking at ingredients, the Dermablend is mainly talc which I think is why I didn't get on with the rcma and a couple of others. So I'm going to risk the ha in the MUFE one and try that first.

I got two samples of the new Clinique TTDO cleansing oil the other day and it is lovely. Totally without fragrance, quite thick yet runny, took off all my makeup easily (not eye area-friendly). I need another cleansing oil like a hole in the head so I will put it on THE LIST and wait until I have used up at least 2 of my cleansing oils

Anyone tried the bioderma atoderm shower gel? (Blue bottle) my skin is getting increasingly itchy after a shower

@botemp Just caught up on your documents - they're great! Couldn't remember which toleraine it was I needed (was in boots and have just paid an extortionate amount for the tiniest bottle but my skin will thank me!) and it's all there in a handy document!

Enid, are you sure they switched up the ingredients on MUFE, I thought the whole selling point of that powder was that it was 100% hydrated silica.

Mint, I've tried the Eucerin cleansing oil, the LRP Lipikar CO, and the Avene xeracalm which are all marketed to atopic skin. I personally like the Avene best but the Eucerin us the one most recced by seems and GPs. Never tried the Bioderma, don't ask me why, never caught my attention. I don't have atopic skin, btw just hate shower gels and soap dries me out.

You're welcome Storm, I'm currently contemplating what to tackle next. Probably an overview of the most discussed ingredients on here, then I should really get cracking on moving to its own little space on the interwebs. Don't think I've asked before but are there any specific sheets people would like to see?

bo I thought that too but the description said 'with added hyaluronic acid'. Unless I dreamt it (very possible). I'll see if I can find it again...

Thought I was cracking up then but finally found it www.gurumakeupemporium.com/cosmetics-c5/face-c3/make-up-for-ever-ultra-hd-loose-powder-btg-p2255 Says it's the 'new enriched' version 😏 The description for it on the Debenhams website doesn't mention the HA so maybe they have some old stock?

Thanks bo my skin isn't atopic either but it does often feel itchy after a shower. I'll check out all those u mentioned too thanks.