🐌 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

Oh dear, sometimes Mother doesn't know best good to know she's been paying attention though.

I'm still trying to spot the Blue Ginger and HA in that INCI, are you sure the description matches the INCI?

botemp, have you seen the new REN primer? I have a sample and I quite like it but the price
Link with ingredients https://www.renskincare.com/uk/face/by-range/perfect-canvas/perfect-canvas.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzZzSz7O62AIVjpPtCh1x5QzREAAYASAAEgJjhDBwE

That's what confused me too. I thoUght it was me maybe not recognising the scientific names.

www.rituals.com/en-gb/intensive-moisturising-mask-106358.html

Wow, expensive. But i can't say anything as I'm currently using Genefique cream & serum (serum was a sample & cream a Christmas present). I like the serum but not sure the cream is worth the price. Im sure other cheaper stuff would do the job just as well.

bo Don't worry, no link between excellent chest and wind. Normal service will resume shortly. Once I've stopped grazing on Christmas snacks.

My fibro has flared up, I definitely overdid it yesterday with cleaning everywhere after the Christmas madness! I spent all of my spoons and most of this weeks in one day! (Thanks for that link bo was really interesting) also my wrist has been extremely painful and am wondering if I may have a little arthritis! I get pain in my thumb joint too (since I was much younger) and a previous doc did mention arthritis to me then.

Caroline Hirons blog. I only go now for entertainment value.

Slagging off French Pharmacy. I've noticed on Sam's youtube someone once left a comment that she only recommends the same brands over and over. No shit she does, it's the stuff that works.
I know we're now used to bloggers/vloggers/journalists coming up with new product in every post/video but if something works then why change?

My two absolute holy grails are Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser and Cerave Cream (the one in the massive tub) both SB approved and both would probably be sneered at by CH for not smelling like a meadow (the former) and having PETROLATUM in the INCI (the latter).
And yet they both actually healed my compromised skin barrier (and I don't mean dryness and redness, it was more of and open, seeping wound where my chin should be) So thanks but no thanks CH, you can stick your lovely smelling £175 Blue Cocoon balm and the rest of your PR. I'll pass.
I'm only sad not to see Cerave on her list of 2018 UK launches. I swear it must be my biggest google search. Who knows, maybe it just isn't on her radar, such a boring bland brand.

I’m still pondering on my Snailies, in the meantime my PC BHA has arrived. I was planning to use it after cleansing and then follow after about 20 mins with LRP thermal water spray, then HA serum and moisturiser. I presume this will be fine but just want to make sure I’m not going to be diluting it/making it less effective with the spray.

I don’t pay much attention to CH, I find her blog too much of an information overload for me as she seems to recommend an awful lot of stuff and a lot of it is £££ and not easy to get hold of either.

Figuier do you know when Cerave is launching in the U.K.? I used to buy it fairly cheaply with Amazon prime but it seems to have really gone up in price the last few months and some things are not available at all any more.

Hope the wind settles down soon Enid I’ve got the opposite problem as I’m bloated but can’t seem to get any release, I feel like a balloon that’s about to burst

THE SNAILIES 2017

The Well Hello There – Not exactly new because I started using it earlier this year (April) but oh my gods Ceramidin Cream by Dr Jart is just perfect for my skin. I’ve used a few other moisturisers lately, which are perfectly pleasant but keep coming back to this one. It’s so rich and moisturising, smells lovely and I’ll continue to repurchase it.

The Flusher - Skinceuticals Mineral SPF – I’m sure it works but looks so bad, it’s complete worthless bollocks.

The Jack & Rose - Retin-A (Retirides) My skin looks noticeably different since starting to use this in April. I’d been using Retinol and other vitamin A products for years but fine lines on my cheeks (running north to south, sort of like extra smile lines, if that makes sense) have almost disappeared. I only noticed recently but my skin definitely looks slightly “fuller”. I won’t be giving this up!

The LTB - A difficult category but I’d pick the Caudalie C15 polyphenol oil. I thought it was great and persisted, in spite of hating the smell and thinking it wasn’t nourishing enough – then I had an affair with Neal’s Yard Rose oil and realised how useless the Caudalie oil was being. So I LTB ☺

The Child Prodigy - Drunk Elephant Vitamin C… so good, so expensive, and so annoyingly not stocked here (although I believe it’s finally coming to space NK or Cult?). God knows how much that’s going to cost ☹

The Worker Bee - DHC cleansing oil and Lush Ultrabaland – my cleansers of choice, they’re great, simple products that do exactly what they’re supposed to do.

The Troll - TO Retinoid 2% - I’ve no idea whether it does anything at all, probably not. I’ll use it during the summer as I cannot tolerate using Retin-A with any sunshine, even using mineral SPF 50 (or so I learnt last year).

The Flabbergaster - Verso Eye serum. I was sceptical because no eye product has ever made a jot of difference. This stuff works (for me) and it has certainly reduced discolouration and possibly even my bags (gasp!). Thanks Bo!

The Sinner - OK I admit it, I bought a dermaroller… used it a few times, now it’s languishing at the back of a cupboard. Ouch. Also don’t get your brows waxed if you use Retin-A…. just don’t ☹

I hope you'll excuse me if I don't do a roundup of my success etc this year. About a month ago I started back on doing a proper skincare routine, after having stopped in about August... my only new planned purchases are the following:

• BR P50 (I've always used the P50W but have had absolutely no issues with it, not even any tingling. I suspect that what I'd always assumed was "sensitive skin" was in fact a compromised barrier due to using incorrect products.)
• Medik8 GentleCleanse. I've always liked a proper face wash, as opposed to a cleanser, so I'm keen to try this out. Plus Bo mentioned one of the ingredients in this helping to eradicate blackheads, which are my last remaining skin issue. (On my face, anyway.)
• I'm still possibly in the market for a BHA to deal with aforementioned blackheads. Possibly the PC one that appeared in the MN Swears By 2017. They are stubborn.
• I may contemplate a better Vit C at some point in the future. Maybe the Medik8 but it's more spendy that the TO so I'll have to weigh up how much I dislike the TO. Where did you get the sample, Bo?

Oh God, no! Sorry! I don't know if it is launching but I'm on the lookout almost daily. It was rumoured in one of Dr Sam's video and been spotted in Ireland www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddictionUK/comments/7jn7f4/theres_no_cerave_pm_on_amazonuk?sort=old but other than that I don't know!

If it's Cerave in the tub you're after, you could try amazon.com with shipping to the UK. I've ordered this Tub with a pump and even with delivery it was under £15. There also seems to have cheap PM lotion but I didn't want to go over £15 and attract extra taxes and customs, might order it when the tub arrives.

Thanks Figuier I use the foaming face wash but I’ve put it on hold for winter so not desperate for it, I was also looking for the PM lotion but I’ve found a couple of others I’m happy with now. Sounds like it may pop up in boots at some point though if it’s already in their Irish stores.

Interesting that Primer looks more like an AB serum than a make-up product, and priced accordingly. Hard to say go cheaper though, as it's down to the formulation that will make that work as intended. If it didn't have fragrance I'd be having a closer look, why I don't know as I don't bother with foundation, never mind primers

I can't get into the joys of hate reading Figuier, I tend to just ignore the noise coming from her (which is quite easy to do), but her drama antics do seem to reach me for whatever reason and just make me sigh and roll my eyes. I do wish she'd stop with the mineral oil fear mongering. I don't like it either in a really expensive product where it makes up 99% of the formulation but it's a good skincare ingredient for most. I think she uses it far too much to justify not discussing more affordable brands, like French Pharmacy I honestly have to say the most shocking things I read on these threads was the number of people with really problematic acne skin had bought so much crap of her recommendations, sitting uselessly in cupboards, thousands of pounds worth, always including the Blue Cocoon shite which is maybe nice if you're bone dry but still not worth that money. It has pretty much eclipsed SH's rec of you need this £240 cream for the days you're feeling poorly on your period

user, you don't need to wait too long, just until the BHA has absorbed. PC says quite explicitly there are no wait times required with their products.

You can get Cerave from iHerb. If you make a larger order and use UPS (which comes in quite cheaply then) you prepay the taxes (which aren't that much when they don't charge the admin fee) to UPS. It's quite stress-free.

Oh wow on the Verso, Tsn, good to read someone who isn't using it preventatively get such good results with it.

Don't worry Lego, snailies are not obligatory and I know life has been all over the place with your health and job this year. Which Vit C are you currently using?

And for mint, I hope you're taking it easy for a bit now.

Thank you bo I am trying my best.

Have gone back to using the no7 stay perfect superlight foundation instead of my balmshelter tinted moisturiser to see if that helps my skin in any way....

botemp - I've used it a few days now and actually really like it bloody typical
It's applied after moisturiser like a primer but texture is like a serum

I wonder if you could experiment with other serums, I assume it's slightly tacky? INCI wise it's similar to a lot of the EL ANR dupes, which is also quite sticky and smoothing

I have to go out and be mobile only until late at night today so have put up the new thread in case this runs out before then:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3130064--Fantastic-Skincare-Happy-Snail-Year-Bring-Spoons

Hi 👋 I'm new and need to sort my face out so I'm going away and do all my homework then come back and chat!