🐌 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

JDSTER yeah I'm sure it's been discontinued, I don't use it but someone else was asking about it. Thank you I'll go back to beginning of this thread to find the spf info.

mint it's still sold in Boots and Avene UK online.

Mint I think it's OK to go down to SPF30 during the typical British winter but if you're using an SPF50 that you're happy with I'd just keep going with it, that's my plan anyway.

My TO Vit c 30% has arrived but I haven't tested it yet as I've had a bit of a reaction to TO ret 1% I was using it earlier this year with no issues at all, even built it up to using every night & I didn't have any problems. I've not used it at all for a few weeks due to travel, started again on Monday and after using 3 times have got sore, peely skin on my chin and round my mouth. So I'm just sticking to serum and moisturiser for now, will try the ret again in a few days.

user I think if you've stopped retinol for a few weeks it's sensible to start again slowly so once you restart, leave a few days between applications. Particularly retinol as opposed to a retinoid as more chance of irritation with retinol generally. I'll have been off retinoid for over a month by the time I'm home and restart so I'll build up again slowly. I hope you like TO 30%. I love it.

Quiet on here at the moment. I hope everyone is doing ok, what with the ups and downs of life.

Just FYI, the international site for Target are offering free shipping this weekend with the code FREESHIP.

I took advantage of their BOGO half off to get the LRP Toleriane Hydrating GentleCleanser (I think Sali Hughes raved about it in a video?? and it is not available this side of the pond yet). I also got a Toleriane Double Repair Moisturiser to try out in colder weather.

On second thoughts I think it was Dr Sam not Sali Hughes who liked the cleanser...

miffy yes it's Dr Sam who recommended that cleanser. I've got it from US but I haven't tried it yet so can't report back on it yet. I also have the double repair moisturiser which is good. Contains niacinamide. I use it at night as it's certainly richer than the toleriane fluid I use for daytime.

JDSTER that's good to know about the toleriane double repair. Looking ahead for winter comfort :)

I like the look of the double repair too. Going to try it as a night Cream. 👍🏻

JD Hope you're doing ok too. and your holiday is relaxing. Pouring with rain here.

Just realised there aren't any uk stockist for the Toleriane double repair. Is Target the best place to order from? Or will I get charged £££ at customs?

Argh target says "only in stores".

Has anyone on this thread tried label m hair stuff?

That is strange, Enid I was able to order it online. Are you using the international site?
intl.target.com/

It is the only place I have seen it, but it may end up being sold here in Europe eventually (hopefully!)

Not too bad thanks for asking Enid. Hope you're doing ok too. Always good to hear the weather is bad at home when it's boiling here
Toleriane double repair is only available in US. I got it instead of cerave as if I remember correctly it doesn't have the silicones that cerave has. Not that I mind silicone but prefer it as a morning ingredient. I like to use niacinamide for its pore refining properties although regardless of which niacinamide product I've tried I can't say I've noticed a difference .

Miffy thank you but it says "access denied" when I click on that link. I'll try on my laptop later.

What a shame it's not available in the UK, wonder why? We're closer to France, they could just throw a couple of boxes over.

Just checking in, but have not caught up yet, about to tackle giant piles of laundry and all that other fun post holiday stuff. Actually, putting away the giant haul of skincare should be quite fun, as is putting away all my new clothes. Here's hoping I don't get distracted too much .

Also, for anyone wanting some Kiehl's, don't know if it works on the UK site too but currently, they're giving 20% off the entire website with the code SUMMERSALES.

Anyone know a good spf 30 I can get in the uk to use here during winter? I really like the new avene anti ageing spf 50 but would rather a 30 during the non summer months. It has to be fragrance free and suitable for combination skin, I hate anything oily and shiny. Thanks

Mint avene do a couple of SPF30s, don't know they compare to the SPF50 though and I've never used any of the Avene products personally. I have used Ultrasun's SPF30 and liked it but reviews (there's loads on QVC) are mixed as some don't get on with the texture. I'd stick with the one you're using if you like it, I think SPF30 will give adequate protection in the depths of the winter months but SPF50 is giving that bit extra and constant use won't reduce it's effectiveness.

Thanks user I don't think avene do spf 30 any more, I didn't see any on shelf today plus most of their other stuff contains fragrance grrrrr!! I've tried ultrasun and my skin did not like it at all!

Olli your quiet are u ok?

Mint you could have a look on Easyparapharmacie at Avene I think that's where I saw SPF30, don't know about the fragrance though.

I used TO Vit c 30% today, really like it - it's not too siliconey at all and is a good base for makeup.

Not gone back on the ret 1% yet, skin is no longer flaking but I'll give it a few more days then start again with it very sloooowly!

Thanks user.

Did someone on here recommended a bioderma mineral spf?? If so can someone link it for me please? If anyone has tried it what are your thoughts? Thank you

Hello everyone!
I started reading these threads over a month ago, I confess I've not reached the end, I started at the very beginning and I'm now on thread 7, still chugging away. Would've liked to reach this thread with a triumphant entrance declaring I'd read EVERYTHING, but..er.. I haven't sorry. Also I wish I'd made notes, why didn't I make notes?!

Anyway, I've always had oily skin, congestion, bit of acne but not too bad. Skin like a rhino, not sensitive to anything. But lately my skin is dehydrated, especially right under my eyes, it's really dehydrated there and making my wrinkles look awful. All crepey and deep. I'm 33, I shouldn't look this old

I started using PC BHA last year. Added in the AHA at some point early this year (the bottle says twice a day! I did not do it twice a day!) but didn't like the gel AHA texture so stopped. Discovered double cleansing, and for the past few months been using BS Camomile balm, and Una Brennan Vit C oil. Both I like and it really made a difference to my oily skin, but my skin now feels tight afterwards. Use the Vit C oil in the morning and both in the evening. SPF 50 every day.

Been using products from the Ordinary for a couple of months, did not know what I was doing until I found this thread and sorted out my routine.
AM-
Cleanse with Una Brennan Vit C oil
TO Vit C suspension- love this doesn't pill and texture doesn't bother me
TO Buffet
Olay Total Effects day moisturiser
SPF50, currently boots sultan, horribly greasy. Biore is on the way from japan.

PM
Double cleanse, BS camomile butter, Una Brenna Vit C Oil
PC BHA, currently on the Resist version, will go back to Clear when it runs out I think
HA, really like this, think it's helping with the dehydration
Also add in one of these 1-2 times a week each-
Lactic Acid 10%- much prefer this to the 8% glycolic from PC I was using
Azaleic acid- can't get on with this. Whereever I place it in my routine it pills horribly. Like PVA glue on my face. Also really drying.
Niacimin- I seem to be reacting to this!
Olay total effects night moisturiser and/or boots face oil. Think it's a botanics one.

Since starting acid last year I think my skin has become sensitive to the Olay moisturisers, it stings when I put them on. Stupidly I've ignored my face stinging, 'I don't have sensitive skin' I thought to myself. I even repurchased when they ran out

Now that I've tried the Niacimin from TO I realise it's that ingredient that I'm sensitive to. That also stings, a lot. And makes my face red, sore, and bumpy.

Could the sensitivity to niacimin and my relentless perseverance with it have caused dehydration?
What would you recommend I do to tackle the dehydration particularly around my eyes? Heavy creams don't feel right, I've been using a face oil, and even my daughters eczema cream but no joy.

I'd like to try one of the AB hydrating toners. A bit confused which one to go for, and I didn't write down the name/names. Can someone point me in the right direction?!

I'm snail curious, I've looked at the CosRX one, and Benton. I'm considering buying one and using it in place of the olay moisturiser. Or maybe I should go back to basics and try toleriane? I'd like to try the dermo cleanser too, I'm almost out of BS camomile.

I've been really good and not bought anything the entire time I've read these threads, now I need to get moisturiser, cleanser and something to sort hydration and I'm getting giddy. Talk me down. I've got 3 shopping baskets open in different online stores, with different products. Is serozinc worth it? nope don't answer that, tell me to stick to moisturiser, cleanser and hydration!

I do have a recommendation though- I've been using CheekyWipes cloths for double cleansing. I have the bamboo velour ones, and they're so soft. Really lovely. Small though, but that means you can't do any aggressive whole face scrubbing like Caroline Hirons. I definitely recommend them.

Oh and Loreal Elvive Low Shampoo, it's fab. No conditioner needed.

crap that was long, sorry I got carried away!