The truth about looking good, BBC1

[lovemylover]

Very interesting programme on BBC1 about skincare, moisturisers etc,and which work best
Also about Botox

ASOS have some 2% retenoid Rollerbird
HERE

Oops, cross post!

Mary Beard the historian is my heroine.

She is just so comfortable in her own skin that she doesn't give a fig what people think about her appearance.

She is so clever too. I love that woman. Well I love her attitude!

Wish they got Caroline Hirons on the programme, too little information given regarding retinol/vit a etc.

People now have a buzz word to search and potentially purchase products without thorough research.

I found Liquid Gold a good place to start and easy to slot into any routine, have been using for years!

I got some from asos
Thanks

I also missed it, will look on iPlayer.

I bought some of the retinol serum
And have to say even after a week my skin feels smoother.
But who knows. Maybe just the placebo effect.
Anyway it wasn't expensive
I've also always worn moistureizer which has an spf and foundation with spf
I also bought spf 100 and use it around my eyes in the summer
I do agree that spf is the most important thing you can do.
I have to add, as I was very poor for a long time I never went abroad! So that's probably helped!

Thanks OP for starting this thread. Just started watching the programme. Got to about 20 minutes. Never going out the house without SPF again (especially since I live in a Mediterranean country)!

Really interesting and helpful comments on this thread too. Thanks all!

Which Retinol from the Ordinary was recommended ?

Pretty sure it's the one Ive got (via asos)
2% retinoid.
On another vein -
Now i will wear sunscreen daily, does anyone Have fake tan or tanning moisturiser etc recommedation for when i go to spain for 3 weeks this summer?!

Hi Holly, I don't remember the exact product they recommended for retinol but I recall they did say that you need product with at least 0.1% retinol. After a few months upgrade to 0.3% or 0.5% and then gradually build up to 1% retinol.

From the Caroline Hirons site I jotted down INDEED LABS RETINOL REFACE SKIN SERUM (£19.99, Asos). I am deciding which retinol product to get myself (there were a couple of good ones further up this thread I think) but I've just purchased Liquid Gold and want to try that on my skin for a while first before I introduce retinol. My first Liquid Gold application will be tonight and quite excited at how my skin will (might?) look in the morning!

No idea re fake tans I'm afraid.

What is liquid gold, seen it mentioned a few times?

The best starter - if you want to try the Ordinary - is the 2% Retinoid.

I know Paula's Choice have a lot of different ones but I don't know their products.

Bagel - am I correct that this is a more advanced product than retinol which gives similar effects but much less irritation? 2% is the lowest concentration for the granactive retinoid?

So confusing knowing what to buy as so much choice and some products are incredibly expensive. Was just looking at The Ordinary. Also saw First Aid Beauty has a 0.1% retinol serum. Both were reasonably priced.

Holly, I'm sure someone can explain better than me but here goes: Liquid Gold is a strong acid toner. Contains glycolic acid so exfoliates and supposedly revitalises and brightens skin, can get rid of scarring, acne marks etc. I'll see what I look like in the morning as got it on now. Tingled at first - like when I've had a mild peel but stopped pretty quickly. Should use it 3 times a week or every day maximum as it's pretty strong.

Sorry the Liquid Gold bit was for lovemylover. Can't see the previous posts when typing a response on my phone.

I never had spots or acne. I have dry, ageing skin.

SophieLion Thank you i will get some of this,i believe M&S sell it

SophieLion No, other way round! Retinoid is less irritating than Retinol. So the 2% Retinoid is the most "gentle". Then you can go up to 5% Retinoid.

Retinol can begin at 0.1%, for example.

Victoria Health website says this about The Ordinary range:

Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane (Moderate Strength, No Irritation)

Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane (High Strength, No to Low Irritation)

Retinol 0.2% in Squalane (Low Strength, Moderate Irritation)

Retinol 0.5% in Squalane (Moderate Strength, High Irritation)

Retinol 1% in Squalane (High Strength, Very High Irritation)

Hope that helps.

Hi Bagel, yes that was my understanding: retinoid less irritating that retinol and I was thinking best to get the 2% granactive retinoid. Perhaps I wasn't very clear in my previous post!

In any case, thanks for taking the time to respond. Once someone has progressed through the strengths of the retinoid (I assume increasing every few months?), do you then move onto retinol itself? Or not necessary?

Have you been using retinol/retinoid for some time? You sound pretty experienced

I live overseas so now got to find out if I get get The Ordinary delivered here or if I can find it here!

Is anybody able to recommend a good non-foaming cleanser? Mine current one is foaming (because I can get spots) and I've been reading that this is a big "no no".

Have had Dermalogica ultra calming cleanser in the past but not sure if something better out there now. Thank you!

Sophie, Victoria Health do deliver abroad. I bought about 20 Ordinary products last year when everyone was talking about them.

I used Liquid Gold years ago and wasn't impressed, I might give it another go.

Body Shop Chamomile cleansing butter is lovely. I like a hot cloth cleanser so alternate between that, Liz Earle and the Superdrug Vit E one.

All of these products take time and perseverance and the willingness to put up with a bit of protest from your skin as you change routines.

I use tazarotene (high strength prescription retinoid) once or twice a week, liquid gold every three days and nip and fab pads on the other days. That combination seems to work for my skin.

You have to have a routing though or they'll do very little. None of them are products that you put on and then see a transformation the next day (with the possible exception of over application of retinol products which will make your skin fall off )

The Emma Hardy Cleansing balm is good. I also like Eve Lom but Caroline Hirons is not a fan and its £££

I take the bulk of my make up off with micellar water and then do a cleanse with emma hardy.

Thanks Perfume. I’ll have a look at the Victoria Health site. I also found a site Cloud 10 that delivers overseas (think it’s based in Ireland). Will see which has the lower delivery charge. I’d never even heard of The Ordinary before I watched that beauty programme the other day. It has so many complicated-looking products! We have The Body Shop here so can check out their cleanser.

User 187656748, thank you for the recommendations. Yes I agree that most products don’t give immediate results. Do you know anything about Dr Murad or REN cleansers (the website I found has these brands but not Emma Hardy).

I’ve always taken good care of my skin but the last few years with the DCs have been tiring and I’ve been a bit more relaxed about it (although always cleanse, take off make up and moisturise). I’ve also been getting spots (especially ones under the surface of the skin) which I think are a combination of stress and hormones.

I started upping my skincare routine at the start of the year: double cleansing, flannel and hydration spray/toner before moisturiser. I started using First Aid Beauty acid toner on Monday (am and pm). I had a couple of people comment on my skin yesterday: one told me that my skin was glowing and the other said she liked the make-up i was wearing - I wasn’t wearing any! [big grin] [big grin]

As I mentioned, used Liquid Gold for the first time yesterday evening (didn’t use acid toner yesterday pm and didn’t put anything on top of the Liquid Gold). My skin feels very smooth this morning and I think some red scars from spots (I’m a terrible picker but new year’s resolution is to stop picking) might look slightly better (but I could be imagining it and it could also be from the acid toner!). I didn’t see a massive difference but then one of my cleansers also exfoliates and I try to use an exfoliating salicylic acid mask when I remember.

I also try to use Vitamin C serum 10% 2 or 3 days a week.