🐌 Fantastic Skincare: The Snailaversary and Winter is Coming, Luckily, we're Part Sheep 🐑

[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

NEWish since previous threads:

Understanding Which Sunscreen(s) to Buy

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

NEW since the last thread:

A Damaged Skin Barrier - Now What?

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.

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.

OCTOBER 2017: It's our snailaversary ! Our baby ripe toddler skins are about a year old now, or rather getting together on these threads about a year ago. I can't believe we're all still finding things to chat on about between the hair disasters. I know I always encourage a bit of catching up at the beginning of the new thread with how everyone's skin been progressing over the last couple of weeks/months but now I'm demanding more and would really like to hear how everyone is doing a year on now, or however long you've been with us. Basically, pledge your undying love for these threads

NB: I've removed the form from the OP as I felt there really wasn't a need for it anymore. I think I've also answered enough of those forms in their previous incarnation for a lifetime so it may just be a selfish decision but it's been made

Massive chin breakout. ARGH. Acnecide is the only thing that sorts it but my skin then flakes and makes it harder to hide
I've started plotting acne on my period app in the hope a pattern shows

botemp I use gosend. I have had an account with them for some time. Initially I paid 10$ a month after a free 3- month trial. Shipping rates were generally good and they combined packages at no cost.

However they did screw up on one or two orders, are often slow to respond to emails and now have changed their whole subscription service. You need to pay $100 upfront for a year for heavily discounted shipping or pay no fee and then pay what I imagine are quite high prices. I may sign up to that one as I don't use it often enough to pay the $100.

If you can find a ode for a 3-month trial then it is definitely worth trying. You choose what value you declare on your packages too ;)

code not ode. (Although an ode might be nice, too)

I’ll do my October round up shortly, but Bo yes I agree regarding TO. Things that seem fine and quite effective at first seem to stop working or in my case causing a reaction. I was happy with TO 1% ret and 30% Vit c initially then all of a sudden they started really irritating my skin. The 2% ret, SA and niacinamide seemed good when I first tried them (could have been wishful thinking I suppose) but a couple of months in I wasn’t feeling or seeing any benefit. I’m not using the smelly ass serum right now, I thought I was reacting to it but turned out to be the Vit c, & also found it a bit too oily for my liking. Not sure whether to bother adding it back in or not, the vit c that I’m going to try from active formulas already has ferulic acid in. Ret 5% is unopened and parked for now whilst I’m using differin.

user is this the Active Formulas Vit C you are referring to? Are you going with 15% or 20%?

www.activeformulas.com/collections/vitamin/products/vitamin-c-serum

Bo, I am also keen to find out more about the Vichy one, is it the one in the Liftactiv range?

My end of month format was a bit off but hopefully you got the gist. Forgot a couple of things under special mentions.

I found a bottle of Keratase Nutritive nectar thermique cream. Basically it's a heat styling protector that you apply whilst your hair is wet before blow drying. Bought it literally years ago, never used. Found it during my clear out so tried it tonight. Seems pretty good. Ends are softer and smoother. Will be able to tell better tomorrow morning but impressed so far. (Hair colour is holding up well, has added a lot of shine and some weight.)

I'm going to make an effort to add a lot more veggies to my diet and stop comfort eating. I've put half a stone on in the past 2-3 months which is fine in itself, I probably needed a couple of extra pounds, but Christmas is coming so I'd better rein it in a bit. 🦃 (Weirdly though, my skin has definitely improved since eating less healthily. 🤔)

Olli Have you ever tried Zineryt?

It's a prescription only topical antibiotic (erythromycin) with some zinc in it. It's clear liquid and you just dab it on where you need it. I get it unmixed, (it's a powder you mix into the main bottle of solution. You have to ask the pharmacist not to mix it or they'll do it automatically), and just mix up a bottle when I feel I need it. It lasts 3 months once mixed. I first got it when I had mild acne but still get it now on repeat to use on the odd cystic spot and any break outs. Hurries it all along and dries them up much faster than most things I've used. Much gentler than BP. Just a thought anyway, for anyone who's struggling to get spots under control really.

I haven't. Not sure how receptive my GP would be to prescribe though
I'll keep plodding along and see if I can fix it! Not on hormonal contraception, and it seems to be a particular patch on my chin that just flares

Definitely worth asking. My GP had had quite bad acne so she was really open to treatments. (I couldn't have anything else because I'm not using contraception, but she actually said retinol is often the best thing.)

I feel like the zinc does quite a lot. Maybe try some Serozinc on it?

Yeah I have shoved some on. And cracked open a sample of this. I grabbed a load of samples from somewhere, anyway, have you SEEN the price of this?!
I tried it and thought yeah, feels nice, let's look online
http://www.seacretspa.com/age-defying-refresh-vitamin-rich-moisturizer

OCTOBER EMPTIES, TRIALS, AND PLANNED PURCHASES

EMPTIES:

Hand chemistry hyaluronic acid body mist.
Love it and have re-purchased but it’s not very economical at £20 for something that lasts just over a month so I’m trying to ration it.

IT cosmetics cc cream. I love this too and already had a replacement on standby. Even better news they have added a new shade which is perfect for me so I no longer have to buy two shades and mix them.

PRODUCTS ON TRIAL

OTC differin gel. Too early to see results but skin tolerates it well, had very mild flaking round my mouth and chin at first but that’s settled down now. Am going to start using it every night but will drop back to every other if I get flaky.

First Aid Beauty ultra repair moisturiser and face wash. Really like both of these and think they have helped prevent flaking and dryness from the differin. Moisturiser seems quite greasy at first but sinks in quickly, still only using at night but may give it a try under makeup and see how it does.

LRP thermal water spray. Pretty innocuous but seems to work well in a layering routine with hylamide and the FAB moisturiser mentioned above.

PLANNED PURCHASES:

Was going to be active formulas Vit c, but now eyeing up the Vichy Vit c which is more expensive but not massively so (quite reasonable on Easyparapharmacie), I will take the plunge on one of them very shortly.

THINGS TO NOT SO SUBTLY HINT ABOUT AKA THE WISHLIST

SkinCeuticals or Drunk elephant vit C.
More IT cosmetics stuff, currently eyeing up a CC powder and one of those cushion type compacts. Selfridges have started selling it now so I’m hoping they bring more choice than qvc currently offers.
I’m sure I’ll think of more, though I’m supposed to be on a makeup buying ban apart from a genuine need to repurchase a staple.

Miffy Yes that’s the Vit c I was going to get, the 15% one as 20% is sold out, & my skin seems a bit reactive to Vit c so thought that would be better to start with.

I’m swithering between that and the Vichy vit c now, the Vichy one I’m looking at is VICHY LIFTACTIV ANTI FATIGUE FRESH SHOT - sorry for caps I c&p as was just looking at it on the EPP website, it’s £23 on there.

Thanks for the gosend info, miffy. Just did a few shipping calculations and that savings with the subscription came out a dollar cheaper in several scenarios so a bit of an odd sell wrt to a $100 subscription.

Yes, it's the Lifactiv one. I have to say with the new products they've been bringing out it's the first time ever that I've been gravitating towards the brand. Never bothered with them before on account of the heavy fragrance but their thermal water has dethroned LRP for me recently which is quite a feat and I'd only really bought it because it was such pretty packaging. I'm also really enjoying the Mineral 89, it's really basic in a way but it really gets the job done without all the bells and whistles other hydrating serums claim to need.

Vichy Liftactiv Antioxidant & Anti-Fatigue Fresh Shot INCI:

AOUA/WATER - ASCORBIC ACID - ALCOHOL DENAT. - DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL - GLYCERIN - LAURETH-23 - NEOHESPERIDIN DIHYDROCHALCONE - SODIUM HYDROXIDE - TOCOPHEROL - HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID - PINUS PINASTER BARK/BUD EXTRACT.

For comparison the SC:

aqua / water / eau, ethoxydiglycol, ascorbic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol, laureth-23, phenoxyethanol, tocopherol, triethanolamine, ferulic acid, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate

Not 100% identical, which would be breaching patents but since they're both L'Oreal owned perhaps not a problem, but very similar by my eyes, a pH test would confirm more. The Alcohol Den. is there as a penetration enhancer (so like in an SPF, purely there for function) the SC uses ethoxydiglycol instead. As far as I can tell the NEOHESPERIDIN DIHYDROCHALCONE is there for masking that funky L-AA smell, and Pine Bark Extract replaces the ferulic, also an antioxidant, supposedly 20x more potent than Vit C or E and "are amazing multi-taskers that actually recycle vitamin C, regenerate vitamin E, activate antioxidant enzymes and protect against UV radiation."- from an article here. So functions very similarly to Ferulic in that sense.

user, that's been my experience as well and it's not one I have with most skincare. That's what has been leaving me to wonder if their overly simple formulations just aren't really designed to have a longevity in use as there simply isn't the budget for it, preservatives are very simple or absent too. Or it's purposefully designed that way so people will instantly rave on SM about it but I'm not sure one can really formulate like that.

Enid, before I forgot, saw shed loads of MF Ultra HD powder in TKMaxx today I do hope this doesn't mean it's being discontinued, are you still enjoying it. I hardly ever wear powder, especially this time of year as it's a bit too drying but it was only 12 euros so it's been plaguing my mind. Tell me you hate it

I’ve gone for the Vichy Liftactiv, I ordered a Vichy antiperspirant too as the one I’m using at the moment (sure) is a bit irritating so I got a sensitive skin one and qualified for free shipping on EPP.

Bo I’m starting to come to the conclusion with TO that if something seems too good to be true (really effective products at bargain basement prices) then it usually is. I’m a bit sad really as I was so excited when it first launched, though to be honest the super low prices did me no favours ultimately as I got carried away over ordering rather than making considered purchases. And I think you might be right that there just isn’t the budget at their price point to make long lasting formulas. I’m wondering if the products I reacted to went ‘off’ a bit which caused the irritation to kick in after a few weeks rather than straight away.

bo I really like it! It does need reapplying to my nose a couple of times which isn't ideal as it's loose so I'm going to get the pressed one for that, but no clogging or settling into places it shouldn't. Doesn't build up where it's been reapplied, keeps concealer etc in place plus if I dab some extra over my under eye concealer it seems to lighten it even more. It's subtle and light which is what I wanted. I wonder if our TK Maxx will have any? It never has the good stuff though.

There was that thing where I read in the Debenhams description, it HA in it but then it didn't. Hope that wasn't an accidental leak of them changing the ingredients.

Thanks Enid, you don't find it especially mattifying or drying? I currently have the Laura Mercier TP which I know you don't like, I'm fine with it but I find it a bit heavy in terms of chalkiness and therefore feels dry to me in winter.

They had at least 10 in my TKMaxx, I'd offer to send on but the shipping from NL probably negates the discount.

Not visible at all. Any excess is easily brushed off or blotted off. It's basically invisible. No caking when my nose goes oily.

Battery about to go...

Thank you btw. Our TKM had a literal heap of MUFE stuff but no powder. Presumably that means a packaging change rather than anything else. Hopefully anyway.

By visible I mean it's not powdery looking or chalky.

Bollocks this is a triple post.

Ladies I need your input. I had booked myself in for a facial at my local (excellent) salon. It was a Juliette Armand facial, a Skin Booster one. I didn't want a pampering session, I wanted good old solid skincare treatment :) Which I duly got. However they were recommending a course of 6 plus products. Now they are not the type to push stuff on you, I know the owner for years and have been a loyal client for the same length of time. So I don't feel it was a shifty sell if you get me.

However the 6 facials cost a total of €500 and the products €200 so I said no for now, paid for the one and left.

My skin feels incredible. It is supposed to be a non-surgical facial, and plumps up the skin, improves lines etc. I will see how I look in the mirror tomorrow and see how my makeup goes on.

Any of you got any feedback on this type of facial? I feel I have gotten so far with my skin (my dermatologist complimented me the other day on the excellent condition); HOWEVER at 48 I am not sure I can get much more out of it just applying stuff at home. I was tempted to go the botox route but DH would disagree I know. I don't have too many wrinkles but my skin has felt dull, congested and a little tired. I would go for it for my Christmas present if I thought I would feel and look amazing but am hesitant.....

Thanks User, I will see how you get on with the Vichy...keep us posted. And I will do the same with my DE from next week :)

Re the TO range, I am not sure what to think. If you held a gun to my head I think I would say I will continue to use Buffet (but isn't that like many other products on the market, a MIX of good stuff?), Matrixyl (but I have use the Timeless one before that so it is a product I love), the glycolic 7% and maybe one or two of the oils...although Trilogy is my favourite rosehip seed oil. I won't repurchase Azeliac acid, NMF, argireline or the newer antioxidants. When you add up all the costs it just becomes expensive. And time-consuming.

I think they have done a good thing though and hopefully have shaken up the market a bit, as well as making some people realise they don't need to buy the £100 jar of miracle promises to make their skin look good. They need to improve their marketing to a) explain the products to the lay person, b) get a bloody SPF out stat or there will be many people suffering damage as they lash on the acids but fail to heed the warning signs and c) give better routine ideas for people.

Thanks again, Enid. Might pick it up if it's still there tomorrow. Maybe even three

miffy, I can't really find much info on the facial but it looks like a chemical peel and the subsequent product course look like intermittent milder versions to maintain results of deep exfoliation. Depending on the time layout with several skin cycles I can imagine you end up with more youthful looking skin after a while but I'm not convinced results will remain over the long term. At those prices I'd be looking into CACI facials or very intense retinoid facials or Vit C at a cosmetic dermatologist, or researching what proper laser treatments would cost in all. Provided you'd be able to handle such high strength treatments.

Just dropping by. It’s been busy on here this week after a quiet spell. Interesting comments about TO. I’m trying to use up some of the products like niacinamide and zinc, bought for oil and pore reducing properties but I’m not convinced by it and I find it a bit sticky so won’t repurchase.

Azelaic acid- don’t know why I bought it! Won’t repurchase.

Buffet I can take or leave. I prefer NIOD HA which i find very good to prevent dehydration over the winter.

2% retinoid. Nice texture and gentle. Again I’m using up then I’ll go back to differin. Differin does cause a bit of drying so with the change in season I reverted back to TO but won’t repurchase.

Vit C alternate between 23% and 30%. Both fine but I’ve never used Vit C before so if for example I started using SC would I notice a big difference? I was watching a Dr Dray video last night on why she won’t and doesn’t use topical Vit C. Basically saying good antioxidant to have in your diet but no evidence for use topically. Also talked about detracting from important things like SPF (which we are all so good at using ).

I’ve started using the new LRP cleanser from US. It’s very nice. Texture similar but better imo to toleriane one a lot of us use. Also doesn’t leave residue, which I find with original. Also happy with LRP double repair moisturiser. Almost at the end of first tube but kindly repurchased for me by TSMummy

Just realised I should’ve put all this in the empties/trials format