🐌 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

Ah yes lets do that user I fell asleep at 6pm I just couldn't stay awake and have just woken up arghhhh. I have stuff I need to actually learn so this is highly frustrating for my fuzzy brain.

My lips have had an allergic reaction to something I think. They've got bright red patches on them, red blotches in the corners and unless coated in an inch layer of lanolin, they're tight, dry as paper and shrivelling up like a dried raisin. They're stinging a bit too.

Only thing I've had that's different is a Bobbi Brown lipstick. My lovely new lipstick that DH had lovingly gift wrapped. Do you think they'll take it back as I've reacted to it? Like they would in America? Such a shame. Going to find the ingredient now to work out if it is that.

Ingredients

Worth asking definitely
On the topic of lips, I don't recommend stuff often but I tried this (via eBay) and I adore it
https://hurrawbalm.com/products/moon-balm plus it has nice ingredients and feels like it's nourishing rather than coating. I went for the moon balm as it's richer than the other versions

That looks nice Olli Bet it smells really good. Tant Scents can be helpful for sleep. The twilight range from Lush genuinely relaxes me. There's room sprays like the This Works sleep spray. Think the claims it makes is bollocks but it smells nice. Over the counter sleep tablets are very good. They're basically just drowsy anti histimines www.boots.com/boots-pharmaceuticals-sleepeaze-50mg-tablets-20-tablets-10033171 Not super strong or like proper sleeping tablets but do work. Though get the 25mg ones as you can always take 2 if needed. Best to start off lower.

My hair was dry and static-ky since colouring it. Looked ok, felt horrible. Hate the feeling of rough dry hair. So tonight I use two sachets of this stuff m.feelunique.com/p/Redken-Heatcure-At-Home-Self-Heating-Mask-100ml?url=Redken-Heatcure-At-Home-Self-Heating-Mask-100ml&slang=EN&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInpCP_oOu2AIVTLvtCh3eygtGEAQYAyABEgIc8_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds after shampooing and left it on for an hour whilst I had a bath. It's done the trick. Lovely silky, shiny, heavy hair again. Aaah relief.

Used Elemis milk bath for my soak as well as a frangipani salt scrub and some Lush Twilight shower gel. Very soothing.

Currently have the greasiest lips in the world I have so much lansinoh on.

^obviously try sleep hygiene stuff (no screens an hour before bed, scents, baths etc) before any tablets. Even if they are harmless.

Triple post coming through, make way, make Way...

I meant the This works spray makes bollocks claims, not the Lush stuff. I feel like the lush stuff really does have an affect.

Enid yes defo take it back! And thank you for explaining FRER to me

My fibromyalgia is playing up at mo, my head is killing me and is threatening to become a migraine, and my neck and shoulders hurt 😩

I was wondering anyone here would be able to help- I've got sensitive skin and I've been using the Avene 3 step set for sensitive skin (Extremely Gentle Cleanser, water spray and skin Recovery Cream) and have noticed that the pores on my chin and jawline has become very clogged. I assume this must be the moisturiser? I've stopped using the moisturiser now and will use another, however, I'm left with these clogged pores- would salicylic acid be suitable for my skin to use to get rid of them? It's sensitive dry/combination skin. If so- which salicylic? I've been looking at The Ordinary 2% and the Paula's Choice 2%.

Any advice would be much appreciated as my makeup looks terrible on my chin at the moment and if driving me mad!

I've used both PC 2% and TO 2%, great results from PC, little to no result from TO, very disappointing!
So disappointing that I've stopped using it as it was pointless, I'm using cosrx clear skin pads (can't remember the exact name sorry but they contain a mild salicylic acid) instead now and seen a noticeable improvement in the space of about 10 days.

My hourglass shiny things are here
< claps hands in excitement >
I may have shoved them straight on my face

Mint Cold flannel on forehead or base of skull, hot water bottle on feet, shit loads of water and I hope it eases up by tomorrow. Shitty thing. (don't remember the FRER thing but brain fog so who knows. )

FRER Sounds... ehm... frothy?

BlackSails, I'd try the Paula's Choice 1% Calm first if you're very sensitive (you can order the sample sachets on the PC website, and get the 2% PL version too, you can order multiple samples). You may want to try an AHA too to use sparingly and in targeted spots but that'll help get the surface layer off quicker so the gunk from below has somewhere to go, a clogged skin as a result of product reaction is usually different from clog prone skin. You'll need to use SPF with both, ease into use (1-2x a week) and probably best not to use both at the same time.

Enid the FRER thing wasn't you 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ that was from a different thread! So It's me who has the brain fog 🤯
And thank you for the cold flannel/hot water bottle tip but unfortunately I have no bloody time, had to go out then came straight home and had lots of chores to do, now cooking dinner for my little cherub before I carry on with more housework 😴😴

enid thank you I will try all those suggestions. That's such a shame re your new lipstick. Is it one that's meant to last longer and has extra clingy ingredients ?

blacksails I didnt get on with the avenue gentle cleanser I never felt like my skin was cleansed properly and it did clog up my skin.

Olli how exciting I love the hourglass ambient light powder in Dim, I wear it all the time. I have the golden beige too but can only wear it when I'm tanned.

I’m thinking of adding a BHA back into my routine, I was using TO one but (like with many of their products) I found consistency/texture a bit odd, think it might be meant to be used on spots rather than all over the face - and it didn’t really do anything. I’ve also used those nip fab pads in the past but didn’t notice any results with them either.

I’m looking at the PC one now as well as FAB radiance pads (though they’re lactic/glycolic) & the cosrx pads, but I use differin gel (currently every night but could drop that back to every second) so not sure if adding a BHA would be too much. I’m basically looking for something gentle, that doesn’t have a strange consistency and actually gives some visible results.

That’s such a shame about your lipstick Enid but at least you’ve got the triple post crown back 👑👑👑

Tant Not sure. The description is all about it being like nourishing balm etc but pigmented so can be used like a stain too. I found it quite dry but I'm used to the Chanel coco shine ones which are really soft and balm like.
Lips feeling better today thanks to lansinoh. Think I'll give it a week and then try the lipstick again but not as much this time.

Mint Take it easy! Don't want to crash. Chores will wait.

Ordered some more Redken heatcure packets. Tempted to buy more Elemis milk bath but it's so ££ and I was very spoilt as Christmas so would be a bit cheeky.

Thanks- I'm a medium level of sensitivity I think. Some products make my skin react (I think it's Fragrance of some form as things like Olay and Vichy set it off). botemp will the 1% Paula's choice be strong enough to get rid of the clogs? I'm only planning on using on my chin/jaw not on my whole face. I already use an AHA product (and spf every morning) which I've been using for years and get on very well with so that hasn't got them to clear on its own.

tantpoke that's interesting- did yours go after you stopped using the cleanser? I think I'll stop that as well then in case my skin just doesn't like the Avene range in general!

Ps. botemp how many sample sachets should I be ordering to give it enough chance to work?

Thanks Enid I always over do it, it's in my nature and I have ocd about housework 😩

I'm unable to over do it now I'm ill. I'd pass out first. Careful you don't end up like me.

I have three decent sized spots on my chin. Totally expected as I've been eating loads of wheat and sugar. But still annoying. Have mixed some fresh zineryt.

Enid, you make zineryt sound like some tasty sweet baked good, did you use the KitchenAid

BlackSails, if you're mildly sensitive you may be fine with the 2% perfecting liquid, it's not that irritating like an AHA and the calm 1% is silicon based which is hit and miss with some. I'd get like maybe 3 sachets of each as you don't need much if you want to try both and be cautious or just get the travel sized one of the PL, it lasts quite well and is good to have on hand. When I had my most recent completely unexpected product reaction I pulled it out again and was amazed all over again at its effectiveness.

Speaking of, MNHQ has beaten me to it with their best of 2017 thread (but I say we still go ahead as planned, will try an put up a template tomorrow) and to top it all off they've apparently quoted me can't even remember the nonsense I sprout on here most days on the PC's 2% BHA blurb and I sound like a proper PC numpty shill

Should add, BlackSails, if the 2% does appear too strong you could also dilute it by using on a damp cotton, or as a strategy to start with it.

user I'm using differin gel and alternating with PC extra strength BHA 2%. No problems with this routine. Consistency is fine as it's very liquid. I've got 2% from TO just because it's cheap but only to use on any individual blemishes- only used once, horrible sticky stuff it is.