🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Heatwave, schmeatwave, we've got our trusty SPF50 and are donning wide brimmed hats

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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.

I am very slowly working on consolidating the gathered information from previous threads into easier to read formats but it’s slow going. 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

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?

NEW SERIES:

So You Want To Buy A Retinoid - A Guide

JULY 2018: Sorry, terrible title, I haven't been keeping up but I assume Dr.Sam’s new cleanser will have some fans on here.

Does anyone know if the GOW vitamin C needs to go in the fridge? It doesn't mention it on the bottle?

Someone has pulled Dr Sam up on her cleanser surfectants vs her video (yesterday - not watched yet) about ingredients she has always avoided on her skin. There's a bit of back and forth going on. On IG.

Is this the bubble bursting NOW?

I do have to say the thumbnail and Wayne Goss clickbaity title of her latest video did nearly make unsubscribe last night. She's on a three strikes and you're out notice with me, which is a bit odd really. I'm wondering if she's under official social media talent management now or hired in a different social media team with the launch of the brand.

Violet, I don't keep it in the fridge as I assumed it was okay due to the airless pump. Although that's not really an airless pump (as I discovered later) but I haven't seen any sign of it oxidising.

Sallie, I'm none the wiser after that blog article

and will someone please screenshot IG drama around Dr Sam for my entertainment, please?

She's in Thailand at the moment so not sure if she will reply any more.

Thanks Bo

Mint I've just had a look at the Clinique TTDO and pleased to see it comes in a mini size. I think I'll give it a go. Have you tried it? Any probs with your eyes?

Thanks, Pupsie, it just looks like she's been pulled up by her simplification of the science (to cater to a general audience) by chemical formulators. It's a bit juvenile but I do get their point about misrepresenting the science as someone who is presenting herself as scientific. Does look a bit like a hijack in the comment section to get followers to their account though.

They only have 4 followers Bo, and no posts so not sure how aggressively they're building their IG!

Ah I see, Instagram doesn't mention how long an account is active for, right? They may have just started and their myth=truth profile pic does seem to suggest they're on some self appointed mission.

I'm all for the scientific community representing itself well, but there is the classic issue that translating the intricacies of it all in layman's terms is something they struggle with as the science is holy and should not be 'dumbed' down. Totally fair enough to call it out when the wording used is to manipulate the consumer into buying product A over product B, but having not seen the video I can't say if that was being said there.

And if I was on Instagram I'd totally follow their empty account because their comments made for interesting reading.

Here you go Bo.

An extra follower within a half hour, hmm... and I was right about their mission then.

WRT to Dr Sam it will be more interesting to see her response to cleanser experience from users. As it hasn't been that great for all skins as advertised or been very cost effective. I mean for balance, is anyone really pleased with it and RPing it when it runs out on here?

That follower is me Bo .

Her video has made me consider my use of scent. I don't have many scented products but my beloved morning moisturiser is. And the Clarins toner. I want to reduce redness. It's not chronic but it's there sometimes. I wonder about trying an azeliac again. I only tried one and it didn't suit. Can someone recommend? I'm thinking of going scentless and pared back for a while. In fact I'll post my current routine in a mo as that may help...

The GOW one or getting it on prescription through the boots acne clinic or that online subscription dermatologist would be the best route for Azelaic, Pupsie.

This is where Azelaic confuses me (thank you Bo). I don't have acne. Never have, even as a teen. I get the odd spot, once in a blue moon and usually a reaction to a product. I don't get hormonal spots these days. But I would like to focus on redness. So if I use AA will it dry me out?

Violet yes I use it and I'm fine with it. I remove my eye make up first though so don't really use much over my eyes but no stinging at all. Just a little bit blurry until I've removed it all.

My skin really disliked the dr Sam cleanser and I was made to feel like it was just me and not possibly the cleanser, I see I'm now not alone....

Pupsie, I don't think it should dry you out. Technically it has the potential to be an exfoliating acid but it doesn't perform well at a low pH so it will only ever be a very mild keratolytic. How exactly it helps with redness and evening of skin tone is a bit vague to me (as I've never delved into it properly, I might this weekend as it's set to be really crap weather) beyond being anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory but the prescription stuff definitely has the scientific backing and is noticeably low irritation and easy to tolerate and AFAIK it's differentiating factor from other acne medications is that it doesn't inhibit or regulate sebum production which could lead to dryness.

Thanks Bo. Appreciate your thoughts.

Has anyone used both the lrp toleriane hydrating cleanser and avene extremely gentle, if so how do they compare?

I like toleriane creamy dermo cleanser.
It is creamy and removes make up but isn’t dry.
It does have surfactants, as do most cleansers. I think the non foaming debacle is all about the amount of surfactants in the product. As that person says surfactants do tend to lather a bit.
If you want a non foaming cleanser then you would use an oil alone. It would be terrible for pores.
I agree dr Sam was over simplifying for a lay audience. It was probably a bit of a mistake though. People are more clued up these days as you don’t need to be a scientist to look up stuff on wiki!

Are you sure you mean the Dermo cleanser, Biologi as that's one of the few cleansers out there without surfactants in it. Not that it detracts from your point, it makes sense to have them and as said in those comments it's the concentration that matters and some do benefit from a harsher formulation, for example in a hard water area with very oily skin something mild is unlikely to cut it as your single cleanser.

I agree a better strategy is just to acknowledge you've not communicated it to its fullest, thank them for pointing it out and possibly make it the subject of a future video that allows to go a bit more in depth. For example I think it would make an interesting video to go through her cleanser ingredients one by one and explain why she chose that over other options.

Oops
I means toleriane softening gel cleanser
Sorry!
My pores are clear but I do use the neutrogena pink grapefruit face wash on my nose from time to time too - salicylic acid and like paint stripper but I don’t get Seb filaments anymore!

Sali Hughes recommends dr sams cleanser in the guardian this week.
Interesting to note that it doesn’t remove make up very well.
I suppose it depends what you want in a cleanser. I’d rather use something stronger but less of it to remove make up than huge amounts of a partially effective cleanser.

The Sali Hughes article was a bit disappointing - she only recommends 3!

I'm wearing the revolution pro foundation drops again today, obsessed! They are so lightweight