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🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Happy Snail Year, Bring Spoons!

997 replies

botemp · 04/01/2018 13:34

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.

_

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

🐌🐌 THE SNAILIES 2017 🐌🐌

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

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

Halo 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.

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

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

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

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

Confused 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

Blush 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

OP posts:
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Tantpoke · 25/01/2018 01:40

Yes I love my Kate and my JLo Rimmel lipsticks they are just the perfect shades.

mintmagnummm · 25/01/2018 06:39

Enid I've had hormones checked lots of times, last time was only actually couple of weeks ago and they are all normal. I don't have any Fallopian tubes though so that may be a factor, who knows.

JDSTER · 25/01/2018 08:10

elspeth thanks for those rimmel recommendations above. I could do with a cheap pressed powder to take on holidays.

I’ve heard good things before about Kate Moss lipsticks so I’ll keep my eye out for those too.

I like ELDW Foundation and have never found anything better for me. I got a sample at the weekend of the water fresh version so I’ll try that today.

EnidButton · 25/01/2018 08:46

mint Ah right. Yes, sorry, obviously you'll have had them checked loads, I wasn't thinking. Think if you have ovaries it's the same hormone wise. Not sure though.

I've woken up with a cold. Which explains the dry skin as weirdly my skin always gets tightish and sensitive just before a cold or the flu.

botemp · 25/01/2018 11:47

neon, going by your username are you in NL as well? Tret's a lot easier to get access to here, I've never ventured as I'm very sensitive so I just don't see it ending well. Yes, that's the Medik8, I don't know how it compares except the few reviews I have seen described it as very strong but not irritating. I'm planning to buy the Medik8 somewhere in February so can't say how it compares at this point.

Is it the Zinc or the Niacinamide that you respond to with TO, do you know? Asos usually have stock as well and sometimes Lookfantastic, Cult Beauty also have quite a bit in stock usually. If it's the zinc (soothing) you could try Serozin from La Roche Posay, for a high % niacinamide (pore tightening and also soothing but in such high concentrations that may no longer be the case) there's Dr. Troub Niaten serum from S. Korea and Paula's choice 10% Niacinamide booster.

Aren't the Rimmel lipsticks famous for being very smelly? Anyhow, I'm going to sound like a complete spoiled brat and snob as I don't like budget lipsticks packaging (but the Kiko ones I do appreciate). They just make me go ugh and I have the L'Oreal slogan going off in my head, albeit in an altered version, I'm worth more than this shitty packaging Blush. I'm fine with cheap packaging on more functional products like a brow gel or a pencil though Confused I'll keep the rest in mind, I never wear foundation or powder though, tinted moisturiser is about as exciting as it gets and only worn on rare occasion. I may try the lipliners, 2 of those seem like a sensible investment and I hope they don't smell.

OP posts:
EnidButton · 25/01/2018 11:52

The Rimmel lipstick I have does smell but it's of cinnamon so quite nice. Packaging wise it has a good click. I like a click.

botemp · 25/01/2018 12:21

I like a snap, a magnetic snap is the best. I love the Nars Audacious lipstick packaging, best snap ever... could I sound any pervier?

OP posts:
Tsmummy08 · 25/01/2018 13:30

Mint I had an ectopic two years ago and am fairly convinced having a tube removed has affected my hormones... I've not found any real evidence that there is a link between the two but I did find some anecdotal evidence that there might be: I wonder whether some of the blood supply that's taken from the ovary when the tube is removed affects its hormone production in some way - for example, I rarely ovulate on that side anymore (I get severe ovulation pain so I know which side is "producing"!) - why would that be if the ovary was working as it should?

However, I got my FSH levels checked as I thought I was perimenopausal and apparently no, I just have "really bad PMT" according to my GP Hmm. Not much help, but from a personal point of view, having a tube removed didn't help my hormonal balance...

ElspethFlashman · 25/01/2018 13:33

JDSTER the Loreal Infallible in the squeezy tube is very very close to ELDW. In fact once I'm out of my bottle of ELDW I'm going to replace it with that. I only had a sample before, I was v cheeky last year and went into Boots with some wee sample pots and went around and squeezed a drop of "long wearing" ones into each to try to find a dupe. That one was sooooo similar I couldn't really tell the difference.

ElspethFlashman · 25/01/2018 13:35

Oh and two other cheap pressed powder that I really really rate are the Loreal True Match (major coverage, almost foundation level coverage) or the NYX Stay Matte but Not Flat (not as much coverage as the former but much more natural looking as the name implies)

JDSTER · 25/01/2018 14:25

Elspeth I like your style with the sample pots in Boots Grin
I’ve heard that L’Oréal one is good but I’m a bit snobby about certain makeup items, foundation being one of them. I also have the perfect shade in ELDW. I only use a bit so to be fair the bottle lasts ages anyway.

I popped into Boots after school drop off and picked up Rimmel sloped lip liner (on Boots points so free really Wink) Re- reading the thread I see I’ve picked up the one Bo mentioned- eastend snob. Quite a pinky nude. I’ll check out the powders you’ve recommended- thanks

mintmagnummm · 25/01/2018 14:57

Tsmummy that's interesting thank you. I've had 2 ectopics hence both tubes going. I do ovulate every month though and always know when I am, sad really as I think I'd fall preg easily if I could. My ovulation pains can also be excruciating

Tsmummy08 · 25/01/2018 16:19

Mint Flowers that's a shitty situation, I'm sorry :(

EnidButton · 25/01/2018 17:16

I'm quite pervy when it comes to packaging bo.

Tantpoke · 25/01/2018 18:47

Actually my JLo lipstick is by L'oreal, sorry. I quite like the packaging and the smell though.

userallusedup · 25/01/2018 18:58

I’ll have to start checking out the more bargainous high street foundations, I had reactions to both Rimmel and l’loreal (broke out in spots and whiteheads) and I didn’t like the smell but that was many years ago so I should maybe try again.

Even though I’ve got oily skin, I don’t like super matte foundations as they seem to oxidise and clump/separate on me when the oil starts breaking through.

My eyebrow glue is here so that’s me ready to rock the brow extensions at the weekend.

I completely forgot to test the REN primer this morning, it’s a tiny sample vial so I just overlooked it.

Tantpoke · 25/01/2018 19:09

Rimmal and L'Oreal smell identical (I have just done a sniff test Grin), they have an old fashioned lipstick smell imho, like you would imagine old Hollywood Stars to have on their dressing tables, at least that's what I'm going with Wink
Lipsticks are not something I need to splash out on as I'm just interested in the right shade. I do think Rimmel lasts a bit longer though although L'oreal feels more nourishing so plus points for both.
However at the moment in the day when my rimmel or loreal wear off I'm wearing M&S Rosie H lip butter stuff in a garish gold crayon shaped applicator thingy, it hardly lasts at all but I just love applying it like a lip balm (it's not) and the colour is lush.

Tantpoke · 25/01/2018 19:12

user I can't use high street foundations either, they do all sorts of wierd things to my skin. I'm ok with TO foundations though.

I do however in the summer wear Boujour city radiance a lot as its light and has spf.

Wellhellothere1 · 25/01/2018 19:19

JDSTER sorry just checking back in again. Thanks for the info on Cosrx. I remembered you saying the same about great initial results then nothing. Very strange isn't it? I'm going to get the PC's BHA to try.

Wellhellothere1 · 25/01/2018 19:23

Oh sorry just noticed tantpoke asked me about my red eyes. I haven't bothered the GP or ophthalmologist about it as I just put it down to ageing/PC use/tired eyes. I'm sure if I rested my eyes more and gave up caffeine and alcohol they would be much better! But not sure if I'm willing to do all those things yet!

mintmagnummm · 25/01/2018 19:45

Thanks tsmummy, Thanksfor you too.

Used my bha again this evening and had a very very slight tingle but no tightness this time. Have got quite a few breakouts at the moment so felt good swiping an acid on them Grin, eff off spots I'm too old for you now!

miffy2 · 25/01/2018 21:31

Speaking of high street foundations, I have been using a new one by Rimmel, not a brand I have really got on with to date (apart from the lipsticks and lip pencils which I too rate highly). This one is Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation. Well, on my mature, normal-ish (used to be dehydrated, now it is more normal but I get oily in the t zone) skin it lasts all bloody day! I put it on around 7am with a brush, which works better with it than a sponge, and set it in the T zone and voila. When I cleanse my face at 10/11 there is still good coverage. It is light as a feather and feels like nothing on your skin. The applicator is pants, though. It is like a big paddle brush (not unlike the Tarte Shape Tape concealer applicator, just bigger). I can overlook that however. I have worn this every day but one since I bought it 2/3 weeks ago. Can't say better then that!
Shade wise I am 3 up from the palest (classic ivory I think) and I would be a MAC NW15-20.

userallusedup · 25/01/2018 21:39

I might try a rimmel foundation and see how I get on, that breathable one sounds good Miffy or the l’oreal infallible. It’s probably over 20 years since I tried those brands so they must be a lot better now. I love my IT cosmetics cc cream but it’s very hard to get hold of and Qvc are always out of my shade.

neonlicht · 25/01/2018 22:34

Bo, no, not in NL, just a Kraftwerk fan! The sites you mentioned don't have stock unfortunately, and I'm not sure whether it's the nia or the zinc I benefited from. I thought it helped with pore visibility and possibly congestion, so assumed nia. Now doubting how much it helped anyway, which is a common pattern with me and TO products... Quite interested in the LRP Serozinc spray though. Would it work over makeup to lessen shine and generally refresh d'you think?

On the topic of foundations, I've started using Bourjois City Radiance after months of trialling disappointing expensive ones and really like it. It's not perfect, but it manages to tread the dewy-not-shiny line better than the YSL, Nars, Lancome, EL etc ones I tried. Very light coverage though and limited shade range, so not for everyone.

EnidButton · 25/01/2018 22:39

neon I find the serozinc leaves a slightly greasy film so wouldn't like to use it over make up. I do spray avenue water over my make up though. It seems to set it and it takes away any excess powder if I dab it a bit with a beauty blender.