🐌 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

It's very generous. Although I always feel that if you can charge those prices once why not always? :(

Well, they do do good offers on the weekend but if you need something somewhat urgently you're sat staring at them waiting on the offer you want, that never seems to come. Then, of course, you buy it, and the next week it's on offer

Oh yes. Ikea do this too - you think "if only they made a smaller desk, one with X features, that would be perfect, ah well I'll get this one instead" - six months later, BOOM.

I’ve just added in TO resveratrol and ferulic to Vit C in the morning on hearing it’s quite oily. I don’t mind so much when it’s colder weather and skin a bit more dehydrated.
My new bathroom is progressing slowly. Due to be completed at the end of the week. Looking forward to rearranging my products (and hoping there’s enough space for everything).

Also meant to ask a question. I’m trying to be better with drinking water throughout the day. Can you explain to me, based on people’s experience, what difference you see in your skin if you do or don’t drink enough water i.e. What visible signs do you see? Thanks

I don't notice massive differences on skin directly but I do get more of a sickly pallor if I'm not drinking enough. I also get headaches and -TMI alert- constipated. It's very noticeable to me physically that I'm running at lesser capacity, cognitively too, and I think the sickly pallor is related to a slowed system but it doesn't show up in the actual skin. Granted I've never gone days on end on low water, then it would probably be different. I've always managed to get a litre and a half in at a minimum but these days I drink close to four. However, a lot of research suggests the obsession with getting X amount of water in is nonsense as we get plenty in through our food and it takes a lot to actually get dehydrated. I do know that drinking a lot of water helps with insulin resistance (it basically dilutes the concentration of glucose so the body is better able to handle it) so I think in my case the noticeable difference may very well be related to that.

The easiest way I find to drinking more is to simply double whatever you'd normally drink, so physically make two of everything or in case it's not water you're drinking, drink a glass of water alongside your tea/juice/coffee/whatever. The apps are good too, annoying with all their reminders but it does make them effective.

JDSTER the visible immediate signs you can see if you are dehydrated or not is if you pinch the skin on the back of your hand, it should snap back immediately, if it doesn't then you are dehydrated.

Hope that helps

My lips get more cracked and my skin is an little less elastic. Otherwise nothing, and its not really ”need to drink more water” more ”need more fluids” like. It’s never helped my acne or anything which is the standard by which good skin is measured ;)

Thanks all. I’m not dehydrated as such, just curious as to what subtle changes people notice in their skin, if any.

The Elta MD was £16.78 on Amazon Bo. I really like it.

Ditto re drinking water Bo. If I don't get my daily 3 to 4 litres in (as well as lots of green veg) my stomach grinds to a halt and I feel far from good. Water + green veg = dream team for me :-). I have an app on my phone where I record my intake. It's quick and easy and on days I don't bother with it I rarely hit my 3 litre target, so it defo works for me. I have notifications turned off btw.

I am listening to a brilliant audio book.

Lean Habits

The intro is a little waffly, but I am sticking to the first two chapters' habits. Going to get going on the next one on Sunday. I had got into the habit of eating 6 small meals a day; aka eating all day pretty much. But now I am back to 3 big, satisfying meals with my pre-bed snack of berries, greek yoghurt, cacao nibs and chia seeds. I'm a few pounds down and feel more in control than I have in the last 18 months. I really recommend it if you are struggling, and if you feel you've wondered far from the path of common sense lol.

I see JLP are stocking Fresh. I love their lipsticks and I was wondering about this:-

Fresh Face Cream

Also, is this any good?

Clarins Double Serum

I seem to have stopped using some actives and am feeling a bit light lol.

Yes, green veg for me too. Also part of my high fluid intake, I usually throw celery, a green apple, and cucumber through a slow juicer and then blend with a large handful of spinach as I don't want to lose out on some of the benefits of eating it whole but all those green veg whole don't make for a nice downable drink.

I get a bit puzzled by the current diet trends, eating 3 meals isn't really novel but somehow it is, I tend to be 3 meals and a light snack mid-afternoon. Also, the intermittent fasting, turns out I've been doing that for years by simply not eating after dinner and having breakfast a little later in the day because I'm usually exercising first thing and drink 500ml before and after that so appetite isn't really there so I usually have breakfast later. It took me a lot of 'unlearning' to not eat if you're not hungry but signaling why you want to eat (in my case it was mostly boredom and that explained the whole grazing in the kitchen concept, much easier to cure boredom than emotional eating I'd imagine).

Have you tried shelled hemp seeds yet for your yoghurt? They add a bit of a nutty taste, I keep mine in the freezer though as they can go rancid quite quickly.

I don't know about the Clarins double serum, the old one was all mineral oil so it got a bad rep, the new one is supposedly different but I haven't really looked into it. Fresh is just a pricey natural brand, isn't it? I'll have a look if they'll ship the EltaMd here, I expected it to be much more expensive than that and I've been on the lookout for something like Cerave but with a better INCI.

I was talking about the 3 meals thing with my DH who has been a body builder for almost 30 years. I suggested it stemmed from that arena. He agreed. Body builders want to eat every 3 to 4 hours to maintain their hard-won muscle mass. But they have big meals too, and lots of calories. Somewhere along the line I think we have been sold the "6 small meals a day" idea. None of those meals were enough to keep me full for long.

For me personally, because I do train (weights or running) 4 to 5 times a week I had slipped into 6 small meals too. But it's a bit ridiculous; I am not overly muscley. I think I had also convinced myself I get low blood sugar/hangry as a means to justify what felt like constant eating.

This book explains that really you should eat enough at each meal to stay satisfied for a good 4 to 5 hours. And actually you should feel hungry for that last hour. That signals the body to burn fat, rather than carbohydrate.

It's fascinating, but as you say not rocket science. Hence my previous comment about it suiting those who have perhaps strayed from the common sense approach.

I think we get afraid to be hungry. And lately the fitness arena has encouraged you to prep prep prep and take tupperware with you everywhere you go. I am enjoying "mastering hunger" which is one of the habits (number 2) and I am defo getting stronger and a better sense of control from that.

No, not tried those hemp seeds. Will take a look.

Thanks re Clarins. Yes, no mineral oil in this one.

Pupsiecola

I need some food inspiration is the book
Lean Habits for Lifelong Weight Loss Georgie Fear

Yes purple that's it.

I meant more that the 3 meals a day is pretty much the way my grandparents eat/ate. They'd have a biscuit with their tea maybe but a really healthy dry biscuit rather than a rich butter cookie.

I do think it also stems from bodybuilding as a lot of that has gone mainstream (although that has me rolling my eyes a bit too, eating like an athlete and all the supplements and specific protein powders before and after exercise surely make an impact on premier athletes but it's so minor for your average overly active body & fitness nut).

The six meals a day is related to the blood sugar management but I also think that if you're not actually struggling with insulin sensitivity it has little benefit. I've been on it too under advisement of a dietician (but she wasn't very knowledgeable tbh) but I find it very limiting as you were either choosing very small nutrient-dense meals that satiated but it took a while for the brain to catch up to that as 5 walnuts psychologically 'feel' like a meal or you'd eat pretty empty low calorie food but larger portions that appeared to be more and satiated in the short term but not in the long term. It manages insulin spikes in a more controlled manner but you're not really tackling it head on so I personally found it unhelpful and indeed it keeps you consistently yearning for just a bit more (which is different from being hungry, which is completely alien to most people now), especially if you exercise.

I also make an improvised tabouleh with the hemp seeds (as a side dish, like Chia seeds they're quite nutrient dense so I don't want to be eating them in excess) in place of the bulghur. Just a shit load of chopped flat leaf parsley, cherry tomatoes, finely diced cucumbers and radishes, and sometimes a bit of spring onion. Simple lemon vinaigrette and it pairs easily with a lot of different foods.

*don't 'feel' that should read.

Pupsiecola

Thank you

I'm doing intermittent fasting along with calorie counting. 2st 6lbs down now, and 1st 4lbs to goal weight

I agree bo. My fitness coach has such a refreshing pov. She is quite muscular (said with no judgement at all). Very strong Only really does weight lifting. And even she says "ffs, if I don't eat within an hour of training my muscles are not going to fall off".

My DH does tend to eat several times a day. And he does have 2 or 3 different protein powders. But he's maintained his body shape/muscle mass for nearly 30 years. Is very old school. Not at all into fads. He has my respect on this. But that doesn't mean I should try to emulate him!

I had got into tracking calories and macros again and tbh I found it fed the perfectionist in me. And it was a brain drain. I am trying really hard to eat intuitively now. I do believe though it's about finding what works for the individual.

I think for many it will also become 'don't change a winning formula' without evidence that all these added extras are actually doing something. I do admire the old school bodybuilder types as they went on very limited research (yet it's upheld much better than most nutritional fads) and ate some really terrible things. All those raw eggs . No birthday cake flavoured protein shakes for them, though I'm still puzzled about who voluntarily drinks those. Or the myriad of high protein foods available now in the shape of cookies, candy bars, and whatever else they can think of. Slightly off topic but saw Eatlean cheese in the supermarket on offer today, seems to come from the UK, really high protein, low fat, low cal, clean ingredient list, sounds too good to be true almost. Surely it must taste like shite? Anyone tried it?

I've seen the cheese but haven't tried. Also are you stalking my kitchen cupboards? I have birthday cake flavour protein powder in there 😂

Oh vom, Olli

Not usually! I do have greens powder on its own but it's apple flavour so not too bad if I down it quickly
I use the protein powder alone, or make it into pancakes or have it with Greek yoghurt for a quick breakfast

Greek yoghurt? how have you not moved on to Skyr yet? Iceland's (not the supermarket) where it's at don't ya know, they're mega strong and uber slim.

Is it actually nice? I can't even conjure up a flavour for 'birthday cake' beyond chemical fake vanilla box mix...

I don't mind some Skyr but prefer total!
It's basically just vanilla. Also have banana fudge flavour and speculoos