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

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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

She I tried the maui and I thought I'd found 'the one' but after using it for about 2 weeks my hair and scalp were not happy! I have the bottles sitting on my window sill! I've yet to find my perfect shampoo and conditioner

I'm taking my 70 year old, fairly dry, sun-damaged-a-bit skin to Southern Germany next week and wondering if there are any 'miracle' skincare and or hair (bleached, OK ish, very ish at times, condition) items not available (or deadly expensive) here?

I love browsing DM there, but never sure what to look out for in their pharmacies where they seem to expect you to know what you want!

Thank you. All contributions gratefully received, of course.

do a full face of makeup with the samples.

They'd go wild in Sephora!

I really need my period to start now. I was a right awkward wotnot this afternoon with someone I don't know that well because I over talk when I have pmt for some reason, part nerves part brain fog. Then afterwards it's like "oh god why did I say that??" Hopefully they didn't notice. 🙄

Anyway, point is, I still haven't quite started my period but my three pmt spots are clearing up nicely already thanks to Zineryt and Cicaplast. They'd normal hang around for at least a week and a half and then leave red marks for 6 weeks.

I don't know anything about them sorry Selena but I'm interested. I don't think we've explored German pharmacies.

Anyone know a good navy eyeliner for the waterline??

Shestood Do you want to do a swap if you can't take your Toleriane Ultra back? I've got some Toleriane Fluide that I foolishly picked up which is way too light for my dry skin (only used a couple of squirts!) and need something heavier like the Ultra for a few weeks until I go to America and stock up with stuff over there.... PM me if that's something you'd be interested in!

Hmm, as much as I like the idea of being able to return any cosmetics that I changed my mind about, in the US the policy is terribly exploited and for hygiene reasons the retailers have to destroy it, whether it's been used or not, ultimately driving up the products overall. I do like seeing that some skincare brands here offer money back on their products if they don't work on your skin and hope that continues to grow, although the ample sample/travel sizes are a huge asset too.

My TKMaxx seems to have cottoned on and all makeup is in sealed plastic boxes now, though that hasn't deterred some either . Not just teenagers here though, all ages are swiping left and right, I've since just stopped looking at makeup in TKMaxx as it undoubtedly will be tainted somehow. I'm sure if you told those teenage girls that a man with glittery hairy balls was swiping said balls with all that makeup they'd soon stop.

Selena, that's a tough one. Since they're just next door I don't really seek out things in Germany specifically as it's much the same here and I spend way too much time in Habitat and Manufactum. A lot of natural brands are very popular like Dr. Hauschka, Kneipp, and Weleda. Nice for bath and body care, suspect prices will be lower than the UK.

Bepanthol lip balm is a popular one, but so are a lot of other lip balms. For whatever reason, Germany seems to be obsessed with dry skin, especially on the body so loads of products/lines for that, must be something in the water (probably v. hard as they're obsessed with Calgonit and similar products for washing machines too).

It's the home of Beiersdorf who do Nivea, Eucerin, and La Prairie. They also make a lot of base creams for a lot of other brands much like LRP does, I half suspect they make the Aldi and Lidl skincare lines too. Should probably all be cheaper there than in the UK (I consider Eucerin a mid-low budget line here where I get the impression in the UK it's more mid/upper-mid budget).

For hair, Schwarzkopf professional is highly regarded by a lot of hairdressers. The cream rinses are good for parched hair. The Syoss line is very much loved around me which is also by Schwarzkopf, promising the salon quality at supermarket prices (can't comment on the quality but they are giant bottles for a few Euros).

I think similar to here the perfumeries are highly competitive and slash prices on the usual big brands, Chanel etc, on makeup, skincare and perfumes so always worth a wander.

For makeup, Artdeco is nice in the midrange mark. Catrice and Essence are very cheap and have a few standout products among them.

Dermasence is also worth a look, they're a bit like LRP. A very wide range of products at low prices but a lot contain things like fragrance. Not German but should be easy to find, Louis Widmar (Swiss) do nice SPFs (in the gold tube) and various other things, and Decubal (Danish) have a few nice products, their Vital cream is a bit like Cerave PM with Ceramides and Niacinamide. The cleansers are good also.

bo, that's above and beyond helpful. Thank you so much.

I'm going to have fun!

selena I remember being in Berlin many years ago and loving all the natural brands like Dr Haushka etc. Bo mentioned Kneipp and they do lovely aromatherapy type bath oils at very reasonable prices. There was a thread on S&B about hand creams and a few peopl mentioned a German brand (I think) that's a little pot with a green Daisy on?

Enid I collected my parcel today. The woman at the post office was at the surname "cat sticker"

Thank you so much, and for the little gifts too . The packaging on the RCMA powder is just like the pots of white pepper you get at the supermarket! I'll start road testing tomorrow.

You're welcome, JD 🐱 Glad it got there in one piece! It's not the sturdiest of pots. Fingers crossed it works for you.

Oh yes, the daisy thing, can't remember the name (something Sonnen I think) apparently all Lufthansa stewardesses carry that and it became even more popular as they shared it around with others. If you see an Asian tourist frantically looking for something, just follow them

Forgot to mention Lavera, little seen outside Germany but it's one of the natural brands but at lower prices, they do lots of smaller packaged stuff like single wash off masks, etc. As JDSTER mentioned the Kneipp bath oils and salts are really nice (perfect for if you head to one of the thermal spas but I know the mandatory nudity deters most British people). Lots of these brands will sell little gift sets too, you can get the entire Kneipp bath oil range in miniatures, for example, must be around €10. Good early Christmas shopping too if you need it.

Enjoy your trip, take pics for us depraved deprived of some good shelf porn .

Bo Lavera!- I had a spell of using that brand, I'd completely forgotten about it.

I got my husband the Kneipp bath oil gift set last year with with the miniature bottles. I got it from VH for around £10. I must remember to add one to my next order as they do make a nice gift

JDSTER let me know how you get on with the RCMA powder, I'd try and dispense it into another pot if you can as the pepper shaker is AWFUL! Also a word of warning, I used it today over a Tarte foundation stick and it had gone all claggy round my nose by lunchtime. I think it's great over a BB/CC/tinted moisturiser type base but doesn't play nicely with full coverage foundations.

Ok I’m just going to be really rude now, sorry. I haven’t been able to keep up with the threads and I just KNOW that what I want to ask is buried within the pages. Please forgive me, peccavi etc ... but have pity on me!

And tell me what the opinions are on all the new retinoids and retinols from The Ordinary.

I have two questions, oh wise ones

What's the best spot treatment to use on individual spots? I just get the odd one but I've noticed they seem to hang around a lot longer. Maybe an age thing........
Anyway, I don't know what I should be putting on them.

Second query- DH has a large red lump (spot/boil type thing) in his hairline/ in hair follicles at the front of his head. His hair is pretty much shaved so it's visible (although not bright red obvious iyswim). He can't resist touching/picking, hoping he'll get something out of it but it's not budging and it's been there a few weeks now. Any advice on his behalf please? (Yes he knows picking at it not good )

JDSTER I've been using TO salycilic acid directly onto my spots, it works brilliantly imho and they go very quickly including the revolting cystic acne type spots I got under my chin the other week from using EH mornega balm.

In fact I applied some tonight around the crease of my nostrils because I have 3 tiny white sore spots, Urgh. I rubbed them off earlier with cotton wool pad and micellar water

As for your hubby he should see a dermatologist really or get referred by his GP. Say it's causing him unnecessary stress.

As for German products they love their Nivea and weleda moisturisers and Fenjala and Badedas bubble baths.

Kamill is hand cream - with the sunflower logo

Daisy or chamomile sorry not sunflower

Mind you Fenjal is Swiss but they love it nevertheless

JD I use zineryt but it's prescription only so probably not much use to you. It's very good though if anyone ever wants to try a topical instead of oral antibiotics.

DH lump could be an infected hair follicle. Sounds a bit like a cystic spot but as it's been weeks I'd go and ask a gp. If you can persuade him that is. Or failing that go in to a pharmacy and ask a pharmacist, they know if it needs GP/nurse attention or if there's something over the counter that'll do the trick.
Actually, he could try washing it (carefully) with a little bit of neat hibi scrub and then wipe it off thouroughly with a damp cotton wool pad or flannel. Think you have to ask for it at the pharmacy but I know Boots stock it.

*thoroughly

Can no one recommend me a waterline navy liner then?

mint you should know by now if no one has given a recommendation yet it's because those of us on here at the moment don't have a recommendation to give . I'm sure Olli will be along in a bit.

Hello
Just wondering if any one has any advice.
I'm using the following:
Am routine

LRP Derma cleanser
T0 Buffet
LRP Toleriane Fluid
LRP Antheios spf 50

The problem is everyday I end up with flakes of white all over my face.
I try to wait 20 minutes between layers. I have tried rubbing it in fully and then also just putting it on top of the skin with not much rubbing.

I do t know what I'm doing wrong?