🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Happy Snail Year, Bring Spoons!

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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?

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

Congrats on the new job Olli! Good luck today

Thanks bo it's all been very long-drawn out and stressful (we had 2 places on the go whilst one sold) but now it's all done so we can finally start to settle - horses included!
So skinwise, as we now have moved into the same century as everyone else (we had a v v old house with not many mod cons. Loved it though!) my skin, interestingly has not seemed happy with the move - central heating and double glazing/actual hot shower have contributed to drying my skin out massively, rosacea none too happy either, plus hormonal acne is trying to make a comeback (stress prob a factor too) plus drinking mains water for the first time in a very long time (and it tastes very chemically I think so am resorting to bottled for actual drinking rather than cooking etc)
And concurrently, the horses now live at home so I'm actually outside much more than usual through this wet wild windy snowy winter (because I can see them through the windows and therefore am out fiddling about with them far more than when they were at a distance!).
PLUS I've been on a tight budget due to the two-house situation so I've been using up anything skincare I had stockpiled and slathering cheap n cheerful but fantastically useful rice bran and sweet almond oils on as cleansers/pre-shower protectors.
Although all that said, there is far more light in this house than the previous Jacobean gloom we were used to so I was interested to see when we visited MIL for the first time since we moved that my skin in her bathroom mirror was actually looking much clearer than usual....so it may be that on a daily basis this is why I'm seeing it look worse, because it's just far lighter in the new bathroom.
Make-up has also changed accordingly...plus have finally run out of Sephora tinted moisturiser thing so am working around that til I decide on a replacement...
But now....I am now finally in a position to restock across the board Yay! I have a long list....and will be seeking recommendations from you all 😀
Phew that was long-winded sorry.
I will hit you all with a list if anyone wants to chip in with their recent discoveries or general recs, shortly.
Good luck with your new job olli!

Yes I did bo. Doh. I had it in mind that Neostrata was 2% so thought this 1% would be better (the Neostrata marketing says "it's essentially as strong as a 2% or sth like that and I must have just seen 2%, when I bought it a year ago). Gah. Hey ho. It's a travel size at least. Do you have any recommendations for a gentler Retinol please Bo? I'm struggling to find one for beginners. I cut back on all other actives whilst using the Neostrata, even my DE Vit C. I'm wondering if I just stick with LRP Redermic.

I have also relegated the P50 to the backs of my hands. And have purchased the Calm 1% for once a week use (when not trying Retinol obvi).

Hi yong 👋🏻

Good luck with the new job Olli. Hope your first day is going well.

Thanks, bo. I am not concerned re cancerous lumps - I attend a dermatologist regularly for checkups and everything is fine. This, to me, is more like ageing symptoms - some mornings I wake up and the area is all creased as well as lumpy!! Must try lying on my back. I am also wondering if my skin doesn't like the spf I am using right now so I might use a different one for a few weeks and see if that helps.

I guess I was just hoping there was something I could try that might improve the skin texture that would not cause too much irritation (vitamin C, retinoids etc). I will look into urea lotions, thanks.

Really good first day! I wore my new m&s trousers, they're high waisted and like pull on type, mega comfy and feel like jeggings. Waiting for them to come back in stock in black so I can get another colour

Pupsie Have you tried Skinceuticals 0.3% or 0.5% Retinol? They're pretty good and I noticed a big difference between those and the 1%, which I found very irritating.

Olli Glad the new job went well, yay! :)

Miffy I get the creased decollete look too - the first time it happened I had a flashback to the way my mum looked when she was in her 40s... she loved a tan and her chest always had a bumpy, creased look in the summer, which I'm trying to avoid (though not altogether successfully it seems)! I tried using a strong retinol on the area and ended up with an unsexy, scabby rash but wonder whether a slightly less "active" product might be the way to go... Possibly a good use for my leftover TO Retinoid 2% that wasn't much use on my face?..

That’s great about the new job Olli & those trousers sound good, do you have a link as I might check them out when they’re back in stock.

Talking of trousers (well jeans actually) does anyone know how I can find ankle length jeans? I’m tall but long bodied with proportionately shorter legs, & ‘regular’ length jeans all seem to be top of the foot length on me, and I don’t know how or where to find ankle length ones (on line shopper only and don’t want to spend much as am losing weight).

Bo the brows did look good before they fell off and I’d got the knack so if they had stayed on (even for a few days) I’d have been happy. I’ve found a salon near me that does them (though not Ilah) and it’s a bit of a typical local suburban type place, but I messaged them and a lovely sounding lady has replied asking loads of questions and to see my brow photos so sounds like she might know what she’s about. Hopefully she’ll be honest with me about how long they’ll last once she sees my pics, and it’s very local so I can go in for a nosey and ask to see examples of work before committing.

Miffy my chest/décolleté is a bit like yours, very sensitive and reactive, I can’t usually use any actives on it and I often get an excema like rash there if it ‘dislikes’ a product or sometimes from my clothes or jewellery. I’ve been using Eucerin either 5% urea (taken down from my face) or 10% urea (taken up from my body) and both have been fine. And I recently found I can tolerate the Hand Chemistry retinoil too, this is a retinoid (obvs!) but seems to be a very mild one.

Hi Yong nice to see you again

Forgot to say that I like the REN primer obviously great that I like it, but it’s so expensive. I’ve ordered some more samples so I can give it a really good test run before committing.

Oh my J one jelly pack arrived! Will be trying it as a primer

Trousers here http://www.marksandspencer.com/mock-fly-bi-stretch-skinny-leg-trousers/p/p60132197?image=SD01T595315Y0XEC_90&color=BLACK&prevPage=plp

Ooh, Ollivander I really like those trousers! Look like they come up to a decent height and I like the ankle length. (Hoping for as M&S 20% code in the coming weeks so I might have to try these out)

I have the jelly pack too, got it a good while ago. It is nice as a primer, I just keep forgetting to use a primer when doing my makeup at 7am. I must leave it out with my foundation as a reminder!

user thanks for that. I have the Hand Chemistry retinoil and I used it once or twice, never got into the habit but will try again when the skin is in better nick. This is not permanent, it comes and goes, but I am definitely going to get the urea cream tomorrow and the shower oil.

Rant alert!!! Those M&S trousers are £29.50 which currently equates to €33.50. M&S Ireland price them at €42.00 over 25% markup. It really gets my goat.

Miffy I use the bioderma shower oil too, I love it.

I really like those M&S trousers, AND they look ankle length - might get the short length ones though to make sure as my legs are not long like that model.

They have a cheek about the price in Ireland though, I find a lot of US brands do that too and charge the same in £ as they do in $.

They've got elastic in the waistband and quite thick fabric. Look smart enough for work but I would wear them every day too so I'm pleased with them! Didn't want anything too formal

Yes, pricing is all over the place. A lot of places bumped up the € prices a few years ago when the exchange rate dipped...now it has gone in the opposite direction they somehow forgot to fix it! VAT rates are v similar too so there is no reason other than greed and knowing we will pay the inflated prices. Zara, Mango et al are the only ones I know of that don't - if the price is €35 then it is also £35!

I am heading to a large local chemist tomorrow to get my Eucerin and Bioderma :)

I've bought some kefir to try. Like a total sheep 🐑

Hello - have lurked for a while, so hope you don't mind if I ask a couple of questions having not made any other contributions so far...

Have just discovered my local version of Superdrug sells Biore Watery Essence in both the original and gel formulations. I've been using Clinique City Block in both SPF25 and 40 but thought I should upgrade to Biore as I can (apparently) buy it easily!
Any thoughts on which type is best? The one reviewer I found online said she preferred the original formula so I wondered if any of you had a preference?

I've also been trying to work out how much retinol is in the PC Resist Intensive Wrinkle-repair (hmm) Retinol serum? The ingredient list and website aren't forthcoming, and I've ordered her 1% Retinol treatment, which I'm assuming has a higher concentration? My skin is pretty tolerant of the actives I've tried, so I thought I could work my way up to 1%. Would I be right to assume that if the percentage isn't given in the ingredients or on the dispenser, it's going to be low?

miffy I just bought some Lash Paradise this morning. €18.95!!!

I normally wait for a 3 for 2 but I have literally lost my last mascar, the kids must have got to it, and it's my HG so I decided i couldn't wait.

€18.95 = $23.54. RRP in the States? $9.99!!!!

Bo I need you again! Now I've found products and a routine which for now are working really well thanks to all your recommendations, I'm looking for a base that I will love as much! I don't really like foundations, I hate the feeling on my skin and they always seem to make me look worse! I want something that doesn't feel heavy, tacky, sticky etc that gives me enough coverage to deal with some redness and blemishes but can still see my skin if that makes sense?! I don't want to look shiny at all either. Anything springing to mind?

Yikes, Elspeth! Hope you at least got some Boots points :)

I was very lucky to get a friend in the US send me three tubes of it before it launched here, I have just thrown out the first one as it has thickened, so I will make the other two last as long as I can and then DH will be on a mission next time he goes to the US.

Where is everyone?

👋🏼 mint
That's my criteria for a base too, pretty much. I've just come to the end of a Sephora own-brand tinted moisturiser thing that was pretty good. I'd RP but I also have like Laura Mercier for similar so wondering if to go back there again...
This product will be on my shopping list for recommendations shortly so maybe we'll both get some decent recs from here.

Hi Yong
Fingers crossed we both find our base!

I use IT cosmetics CC cream and love it, there’s someone else on here too who is a fan think it’s maybe Tant?

My grump is that it’s hard to get hold of, only sold on QVC (if there’s any actually in stock) or at Selfridges if you’re near enough to one and want to test IRL. QVC do a no quibble 30 day MBG and they had restocked this week so I ordered two in my shade - which was quite a lot of money to fork out but I didn’t know when I’d ever see it again.

Brit I’ve only used the Biore brightening spf, the one in a little pink tube, and I really like it but can’t comment on the watery essence.

I’m guessing that if the % of retinol isn’t mentioned on a product then yes it will be low. I use hand chemistry retinoil on my chest area and my very reactive skin there can tolerate it, there’s no % mentioned on that either so I presume it’s pretty weak.

There’s a third off French pharmacy skin care on Escentual today if anyone needs anything, sorry a bit late in the day, I’ve only just seen their email.