🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Happy Snail Year, Bring Spoons!

[botemp]

Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6 Thread 7 Thread 8 Thread 9 Thread 10

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?

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.

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JANUARY 2018: Thread 11! we're getting old. A recap of The Snailies categories for those still meaning to get round to them:

🐌🐌 THE SNAILIES 2017 🐌🐌

The Well Hello There - newest and latest find that gets your motor running

The Flusher- money spent on this product would have been better put to use by flushing it down the toilet

The Jack & Rose- the product you’ll never let go of because there’s plenty of fucking space for the two of you on that piece of wood. Damn you, James Cameron, for breaking my poor little tween heart.

The LTB- it all seemed so promising, everything was going so great, then they turned out to be a narcissist gaslighting bastard

The Child Prodigy- that one product that’s annoyingly good and isn’t afraid to be smug about it

The Worker Bee- never the centre of attention but has been steadily chugging along like no other

The Troll- the one where you repeatedly asked, ‘Is this doing anything?’, but continued to use it anyway…

The Flabbergaster- that one product or technique that wasn’t really supposed to be used like that or delivered well beyond your non-existent expectations

The Sinner- oh, admit it because we’re all guilty of it, what did you do or use that wasn’t all that sensible like take an acid bath and had the disastrous results you really knew to expect

botemp - definitely! I don't subscribe to this "giant triangle" of concealer thing

I wouldn't say it's completely full coverage, and I've been using it under my eyes and also on spots, because it's quite fluid it seems to work on spots that are drying out, covers them without flakiness. I've never found a perfect concealer but for me, it's cheap, colour matches well and it makes me look less like I've been dug up

mint I find BHA makes my skin feel tight too. I’m using extra strength version.

wellhello I bought a full size cosrx BHA after being wowed by a sample. Unfortunately the effects didn’t last so I moved onto PC.

I really don’t like the soaper duper hand wash. Seems slimey to me and difficult to rinse and the children don’t like it either.

Quick makeup questions please- I need a new lip pencil in a nude type colour. I want an inexpensive one preferably. Also a recommendation for a waterproof eye pencil suitable for tightlining, again preferably inexpensive.

No-one in my area seems to like the handwash either. I love it though so took advantage of the discount and bought 4 bottles. Would've bought more if they'd had them. We're in a soft water area. Don't know if that makes a difference to the feel of it but it doesn't feel slimey here. 🐌

I've overdosed on brownies. Seriously addictive.

JD not sure if this is what you had in mind but I got a colourless lip liner in Kiko which stops lipstick going AWOL and gives it something to cling to (iyswim). I just scribble it all over my lips. It was about a fiver.

jdster I have 2 nude colour lip liners one by Rimmel and the other from M&S Barry M. Annoyingly I seem to have lost the former which came with a sharpener in the lid. I bought it from Superdrug so it might even be a MUR one, not sure and now I cant check both were under £5.

Ohhhh hand wash not hand cream!! Enid said hand cream 😂.

JDSTER gosh do a nude lipliner called angel, that gets good reviews

I've decided P50 isn't for me. Only taken me about 10 months! Still got half left as I hardly use it. I used it last night for the first time in about 2 weeks (since starting retinol). My face was rather pink this morning. I put an Avene mask on this morning and kept skincare simple (no Vit C) and it looks a lot better. Should I avoid acid all together whilst using retinol? Maybe it just doesn't suit. I think I might revert to a PC one but buy a travel size as it takes me an age to get through them. Spots aren't a concern. More fine lines/anti-aging really. Any other recommendations? (I have tried Pixi Glo Tonic and Aveda's Botanical Kinetics and both left me red).

TIA

Rimmel do good lipliners. They have a couple of types but the ones with the sloped nib is gorgeous.

And the No7 one was famously created by Lisa Eldridge so you can't go wrong with that. It's a best seller.

I've discovered I can't use TO 5% Retinoid 2 nights in a row. It makes my skin sting. Not too bad, but enough to be vaguely annoying. It's hard for me not to use something every night, I get impatient! And also keep forgetting when I used it last so I like to do the same thing every night.

I was thinking about moving up strength but I think I'm too nervous.

I quite like Kiko, but have heard good things about Rimmel. The east end snob colour is supposedly a really good dupe for CT Pillow Talk, which is a good universal nude. I keep meaning to look into Rimmel as they're currently selling it with 80% off the second item, I think they may be getting rid of the range here but a lot of it is heavily fragranced so I'm not sure what would be worth buying. Any non-smelly recs to look out for?

It's not a pencil but the Essence Superfine Waterproof liner is one of those stiffer nib ones that I usually find quite good for tightlining. Only tried it on the back of my hand and it dried instantly and was really difficult to shift.

Pupsie, well you do have rosacea, even if it is mild, so I'd really be sticking to one active at a time.

I've stopped TO 5% altogether as of recently, Elspeth. I had suspected it was giving me spots instead of preventing them and my skin is doing much better without it. I don't think it was the strength (that reaction would have shown up much sooner on me) but really the type of formulation that I didn't get on with. I always did altenate but then had one rest day on Sunday so it was always the same days of the week.

I have what I think is a blocked hair follicle right at the end of my eyebrow! It's a hard sore red lump! Hopefully the bha will also help this. I'm planning on using it again Thursday evening (few drops on a wet cotton pad)

Yeah, I think I will stick to alternate Vit C and Retinol. Some days have a break altogether. Gently gently. I've been using the Retinol on top of moisturiser and that's been fine. Another few weeks and I think I will mix with moisturiser, and then on its own.

bo, tretinoin is my long-term aim I think, but definitely going slowly and under guidance. I’ll suggest the same to my sister. And thanks for pointing me to Hot and Flashy blog, she seems very upfront and thorough.
Is this the Medik8 retinoate? Sounds promising. I don’t suppose you know how it compares to the Verso or other OTC ret products in terms of likely concentration of retinoic acid? I wish it was all a bit more transparent!

One more question! Can anyone recommend an alternative to TO niacinamide (+ zinc)? Sick of it always being out of stock, but I do think it was good for my skin. Serum would be good as so many creams break me out and add to congestion. Sorry I can't contribute much to this thread - I am still absorbing everyone's knowledge!

Mint I said hand wash. Olli said hand cream. I haven't tried their handcream.

Hand cream I used today. Nice and light, not greasy. My favourite is still TBS almond and honey for not greasy in the day and I slather on neutrogena at night

Oh my apologies Enid it was indeed olli who said hand cream 🤦🏼‍♀️

Neon have you looked on the Victoria Health website as they often have TO products that are out of stock on the Deciem website. I used to use the Nia and Zinc but didn’t really think it did anything for me so abandoned it.

My brow hairs have arrived no glue yet though and I’ll wait till the weekend to start the project anyway as don’t want to be in a rush.

The REN primer samples have also turned up so I’ll give that a go tomorrow.

It's ok mint I thought she said Hand wash. 🙄😁

Went in the shower 15 mins ago, I'm waiting to go back in and rinse my hair, touched my face and it's really dry and rough. I thought I had combination skin but maybe not. DH's is lovely and smooth and soft.
I really think I should've had a gap between battling acne and getting wrinkles. It doesn't seem very fair.

Mild acne granted and no major wrinkles yet but still.

My skin not good at the moment but it's that dreaded time of the month for me again! Honestly my cycles are getting worse the older I get! I start getting all of the rubbish symptoms from around day 16-17! And my cycles can be anything from 28-40 days!

(My eyeroll was at myself by the way)

Mint is it worth getting your hormones checked?

Thanks for lipliner recommendations. I’ll take a look at rimmel and no 7 as they’re easy to get hold of.

user, thanks, and they do have it! Unfortunately VH don't really have anything else I need and I always begrudge paying postage. But I might have to accept that buying more stuff to avoid delivery charges can be a false economy!

botemp I'm a big fan of Rimmel foundations. The one with the red top is a creamy almost-full coverage that lasts a decent 8 hours (a good work wear one). The one with the orange top is glowy medium coverage which makes you look less haggard, and the one with the blue top is a very flattering skin-like light/medium finish.

I also think the cheap Stay Matte powder is the best full Matte powder on the market. It's not skin-like, in fact you can go full Geisha if you overdo it, but I just spray it with Fix+ if I do. It keeps shine at bay like nothing else.

Oh and the Kate Moss lipsticks are really good. She has a line of nudes which really do have a nude lipstick for everyone but they're hard to find on stands.

Yes to Rimmel! I like the kate moss lipsticks, and their eyebrow pencil in hazel as it doesn't have red tones and is dirt cheap