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

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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

My husband was too broke in the early days to afford protein powder. At uni he had tuna, cold, straight from the tin.

I have strawberry and cream, and blueberry protein powders. They're ok, whizzed up with some ice and almond milk. Only usually have them on a weight training day.

Speculoos? There aren't actual speculoos cookies in that are there? Is it branded Speculoos TM and everything. Was a bit shocked to see the Snickers and Mars protein bar versions too.

I have a very boring unflavoured vegan protein powder (from Sunwarrior, whey turns me into a pufferfish), it doesn't taste of anything just has a faintly gritty texture. They once sent me the Vanilla by mistake and they let me keep it but it was awful, I had to use it up in baked goods because it was so overpowering. The smell alone was offputting as soon as you opened the lid. It was also sooo salty, they seem to add a shit ton of salt to those flavoured versions for reasons I can't comprehend.

No not branded, just flavoured! Actually had that one today before Pilates

Link for you to be horrified at the choice of flavours https://www.bulkpowders.co.uk/pure-whey-protein.html

Lemon Meringue how the fuckity fuck can anything liquid resemble two distinctly different flavours? Mince Pie and Cream . If I have weird dreams tonight, I'm blaming you Olli! Please excuse me while I go back and act out my inexplicable outrage at things that don't affect me at all.

It’s very quiet on here

DH arrived home with my Drunk Elephant kit so this morning I applied the C serum and a little bit of the intensive hydration gel. My skin feels lahvley :)

I am kind of coming around once again to the realisation that I do not need to try each and every new thing on the market. It was a problem for me in the past and I stockpiled my favourites as well as trying new things all the time. I spent a year and a half using up stuff and only repurchasing what I loved. I was better off financially and mentally as a result.

Reading and contributing here has educated me a lot in terms of what works for my skin and what is a waste of time (and what are just marketing ploys). So now my goal is to work towards a pared-back, performing routine such as:

AM: Vitamin C, HA, moisturiser, SPF. I will alternate moisturiser depending on weather, skin's needs etc.

PM: 1) BR P50, cream/oil x3 per week. 2) Retinol, cream/oil x3 per week. 3) deep hydration using Asian 7-skin method or a sheet mask x1 per week.

For example I love the Pestle & Mortar HA serum. I have veered away and back to it more times than I can count. So I am going to stick with that. I will also cut out azeliac acid, resveratrol etc. Nice to try them but did not really improve my skin.

I am hoping I can avoid wanting to try all the new things :)

At the same time I have started listening to the Lean Habits book (thank you Pupsiecola for the recommendation). I spent about 6 months losing 10kg and it was tough; low-calorie, reducing sugar, wheat, eating huge amounts of veg etc). It worked but I ended up with quite an irritated gut from too much veg, not enough carbs and my cholesterol went back up too.

Now I want to continue to lose another 10kg but need a new approach. So far from listening, the author makes a lot of practical sense . I am a sucker for snacking and that is how I gain weight. So I have started today with my first habit (3 meals, one snack).

Damn and blast! I think I may have been stung for Customs tax! Got a Royal Mail card through the door saying I had to pay £12. The only thing I can think of is a Dr Jart sample duo I ordered off eBay.

A yesstyle order came through with no problems at all and was of a slightly higher value. Only difference was that it was direct from their website and not via eBay. Is there any rhyme or reason for this? Or just luck?

miffy I'm also liking the DE vit c and hydrating serum combo, they seem to work nicely together, as one would hope!

I was also someone who spent loads on the latest skincare thing over a couple of years but this thread has been great for reducing my spending (apart from my recent American splurge) and getting into a fairly simple routine that works for me, and which looks very similar to yours.

I've got the Lean Habits book on my wishlist because I've just downloaded "The subtle art of not giving a f*ck", which is a skill I need desperately :)

In terms of diet/exercise, small portions has worked long-term for me - there's very little food I don't eat (gluten and pork) but I probably eat less than most... I certainly see that people seem to hate being hungry, it's almost feared, hence the popularity of eating 6 times a day. I used to tell clients they wouldn't die from being hungry and that the body has perfectly good ways of coping without food for a few hours (in the majority of cases). On the other hand, I can't go too long without food (as in missing meals) because it can lead to quite nasty stomach pains - go figure!

Bagel It's anything declared over £15 IIRC - they've really tightened up over the last few years. Sometimes things slip through but it seems to be getting tougher to avoid the dreaded red card!

Without reading all nine thousand messages to cut to the chase, do any of you have opinions on skin improving machinery? I have good skin, and no issues other than age. I bought the Nuface microcurrents gadget, which is the only tool with a US FDA approval stated as being effective. Without offering my opinion yet, has anyone been using it for a period? I have been using it for about a fortnight.

The eat less than most thing is interesting. I definitely would describe myself as that (not intentionally, it's just where I naturally sit and I always think it says more about other people's eating patterns than mine but perhaps that's delusional thinking). These days I'm more concerned meeting a minimum calorie count than a maximum. My mother was always quite adamant that as you age you need to scale down your portions, she was very much a listen to your body, blah blah type and apparently your body tells you to eat less with age (though there is a whole science behind it, I believe). It is something I've noticed though, my appetite went down massively around age 30 and can easily do with less now than I could in my twenties. I need to exercise daily though, not so much for vanity but really for overall health. Switching out from mostly cardio to HIIT and weight training has been a surprisingly good switch in recent times, and far less time consuming as well.

It is very much about finding something that works for you in the end. Like Pupsie MFP and Macros bring out the overachiever in me, and it can get quite toxic. I mostly keep track now to make sure I hit a protein target (veggie with the occasional bit of fish so far harder to get there naturally, and a medium-high protein diet works best for me) and getting a minimum of 25g of fibre in daily. It's less pressure and I'm not constantly obsessing and compensating to meet the perfect goals. Variables in the carbs and fat macros really make no difference to me. Sugar, highly refined carbs, and saturated fats are the things I avoid, but that's really specific to me. Saying all that, I am toying with the idea of cutting out soy as I suspect a diet high in it isn't all that great for me wrt hormones, not that I eat loads of it but it's in a lot of things.

I highly suspect the customs tax people have a target to meet for their end of year bonus, Bagel. Commiserations

Sock, we discuss gadgets but no one ever ends up buying them. High commitment price, no real long-term evidence and all that. Microcurrent therapy is interesting and I see how it could work but like with most things, I don't see it sustaining those results without continued use. The trouble with these devices is also the psychological component, people pay a lot for it and genuinely want it to work so small results become bigger. You also have the user set (particularly with cleansing devices) who are incentivised by the gadget to be more consistent in their routine, hence the great results. Think it's always good to take pictures along the way so you can really compare.

Talking about eating less and feeling full etc I have just started taking regucol from Holland and Barrett it kind of fills you up with fibre but also has good bacteria for your stomach etc
Its meant to help lower your cholesterol and mine is creeping up every year so I'm giving it a go.

That's the Phyllis bark or seed stuff, right? Seems to be the new miracle food, hadn't heard of any cholesterol lowering properties yet. This whole obsession with fibre is an interesting development, surely it stems from the side effects of following a low carb diet? The probiotics obsession surely from avoiding dairy (though other fermented foods would have it, surely).

miffy I am at the exact same point re my skincare, and my routine is looking very much like yours. Well done on the Lean Habits book! I listened to the next habits today. Some I can ignore (drinking calories, as I don't tend to do this; eating veg and fruit, as I already do this; 25 to 30 grams of protein with every meal, already do this). (Sorry for spoilers). I am, at the same time, listening to The Life Coach School podcasts which is fascinating. I am finding it goes REALLY well with the Lean Habits book as it is helping me understand myself better in many ways, and helping me deal with childhood trauma. For light relief I am listening to the West Wing Weekly podcasts (am a HUGE WW fan).

tsmummy is that Mark Manson?

Can someone please link to the DE hydrating serum? I can't seem to find it on their website unless it is called something else.

I am not very impressed with the Hylamide (almost all gone, but not very leaving my skin very well moisturised), so I am considering the Pestle and Mortar. But would consider DE too as DH is about to go to the US.

Thanks.

Here you go Pupsie. Not sure what the feedback is on that one though. Sounds very much like the SkinCeuticals version, Medik8 do a version too and I suspect that the Hero Project one will be similar too. My Vichy Mineral 89 is also very gel like (and I like it a lot).

Thanks Bo. I will look at that one. I have never bought an HA whereby I think "oh wow, this is worth it". I don't know why, but I don't find Vichy packaging very appealing and it puts me off lol. #shallow.

The Medik8 Vit C is definitely not good for me. I barely use it these days but I hadn't quite cemented in my mind that I shouldn't ever, probably due to the cost. I used it this morning but feel all burny and irritated. Am at work so can't take it off. To those far wiser than me, is it likely to be the strength that's causing me issues?

It comes in two mini bottles. The second is unopened. Does anyone want it? I don't want to bin it. I don't want anything for it. I would wash the dropper and put that in the package too.

Let me know.

I know I like Vitamin C. I used to get on with the TO 23% but I'd still like to find a better alternative (grainy, irritating at times). I am going to try the DE one, but DH not in the US for another month.

Has anyone tried the Super Facialist one?

www.boots.com/super-facialist-vitamin-c-glow-boost-skin-serum-30ml-10160291

Sali Hughes has talked about Vit C over the weekend. Her top pick is too pricey for me. Has anyone tried the Dennis Gross?

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/nov/11/sali-hughes-beauty-melasma

www.cultbeauty.co.uk/dr-dennis-gross-skincare-c-collagen-brighten-firm-vitamin-c-serum.html

Face Theory have an offer out with 20 % off everything and since they seem to be on a permanent sale that makes it rather good. Also a free shipping offer I believe.

Skyr is disgusting. So there. And the only thing that's holding back my appetite is my husband's slurping at the table it's getting fucking worse and it's doing my head in. Am I the only one on this thread who happily eats cake???

I'm not getting along with my TO silicone packed vitamine C. Bummer. It's just so ... siliconey.

I very happily eat cake banivani. I LOVE cake!

Bani I’m also getting put off by my husband’s way of eating - just in the last few months! He’s always eaten quickly but seems to be cramming too much in and it really bugs me. Also, reminds me of his mother. A nice enough woman but not the best table manners

Btw, really liking the Pyunkang Essence Toner. Just a few days of using it and mostly just patch testing on neck and one cheek but it seems absolutely lovely, makes my skin so soft and “cushiony” which is a bloody miracle. It’s a big bottle so should last me for ages. Might invest in their nutrition cream and balancing gel at some point.

Definitely recommend to anyone with skin that seems to react to pretty much everything. The Essence just seems to calm everything down.

Bani, I do eat cake, happily so, just very rarely. If it didn't have such a direct noticeable impact on my health (and I don't mean the vanity of my waistline, it means not getting through the day and collapsing mid-afternoon from sheer fatigue or my 7 day period causing me to resemble a limp bag of salt desperately depositing myself on any vertical surface I can find) I'd probably eat a lot more of it. I'd love to be someone who can eat anything and that not having an impact, but alas it's not the case. But how is Skyr disgusting, it just tastes like any old plain yoghurt to me...

Dr. Dennis Gross supposedly not terrible Pupsie but it's an L-AA derivative, not straight L-AA. UB is SAP based, another derivative. You could try the SC in the 15ml bottle, that's the one I have and I think it will easily last me 3 months. Sephora does sell a hydrate and Vit C DE set so that may be of interest if DH is heading there. Vichy also has the new Vit C that's very similar to the SC.

I think we've discussed it before, but you're not massively dehydrated IIRC so the need for it as a standalone product/step isn't as imperative. Using a day cream with HA would probably cover you well enough. I also found that TO Vit C 23% was adding to my dehydration, with the SC I don't desperately need a hydrating step as I did when using TO. I get you on the Vichy packaging, I tend to keep the nice bottles to decant things into but the Vichy actually doesn't look as terrible in RL.

Meant to add, bought the Eatlean cheese. It's a bit dry and crumbly, I don't really ever eat cheese as cheese, usually just melted over things and it works really well like that. I actually quite like it as it's not that greasy (which can make me nauseous with normal cheese if it's too much), I've had it as a cheese toastie and as the topping on some Melanzane Parmegiano. A tiny bit of parmesan does seem to liven the flavour up a bit (it's mild but not offensively so) but if you really like cheese for cheese's sake it's probably a disappointing substitute but to cook with it works really well. I can also see it working well with other Alpine cheeses like Gruyere or Comte. The only downside seems to be the short shelf life once opened, just a week.

I like eating cake not right now though as I’m poorly

Glad I’m not alone with a slurping spouse - it’s really extraordinarily aggravating. And I don’t even claim to have the best table manners myself. 😉 anyway, speaking of cake I made a very promising pumpkin seed cake - you grind toasted pumpkin seeds with sugar and add butter and eggs and a bit of plain flour. I’ll cut back in the sugar but it’s a promising recipe and practically health food, right? Because pumpkin seeds.

I think Skyr is too thick and lacks acidity, so it’s not yoghurt at all, more like kvarg. I suppose it’s not disgusting, but if I want yoghurt I want yoghurt not kvarg iyswim.