🐌 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.

Very clear explanation re SPFs Bo. Thank you. I'll be sticking with the Biore Watery Essence I think. I might dabble with an LRP SPF30 once current stocks of my SPF collection run dry.

I'm paying very special attention to my neck at the moment and following Dr. Sam's advice of using a separate SPF for it.

There is Salicylic acid in my beloved Murad clarifying face wash and it keeps my combination / sensitive skin nice and clear and for me it's not drying at all.

I use Paulas Choice 2% BHA skin perfecting lotion once or twice a week which my skin loves.

My skin loves Frezyderm spf 30 which has helped towards my redness on cheeks issues, it seems to work the best as an SPF for me.

PS I have Frezyderm spf 50 but I much prefer the 30.

Yes thank you for that on SPFs Bo, very helpful. I think I will try the Biore Watery essence.

For spots and clogged pores I really recommend the neutrogena pink grapefruit face wash. It is 2% sali.
Likewise someone mentioned la Roche dry touch spf. Is great for oily skin.
And my new matte discovery Korres grape spf.
Both are not at all oily and don’t break me out......but I agree you really do have to cleanse spf off well if you don’t want clogged pores. I use grape seed oil all over then the neutrogena face wash on oily bits.
Occasionally the toleriane one too just in the mornings.

I'm having the best hair and makeup day! Yay

Hi Olli are you on a shoot ?

I am! Will swap glasses for contacts shortly

Amazing hair as always Olli 😍

Does anyone else do a decluttering and clear out at this time of the year? I did my bathroom cupboard, where I keep all my skincare and shower stuff, last week and yesterday I did the drawers where I keep my body skincare stuff and hair tools and products. This morning I did my make up drawer. It's very satisfying. Most of it was just a tidy and sort out but I've thrown a lot of make up bits that I was hanging on to away. Still a lot there that isn't used regularly but I know I'll try it all out now I can see it clearly.

Anyway, it's a good Autumn thing to do I think. Takes up a bit of time though.

Enid yes I did just that a couple of days ago and got rid of loads of bottles and things hanging around the back of the shelf. Some of it was much more out of date than I realised, and I had far too many unopened out of date items

I was lovely though to rearrange everything nicely.

I still haven't opened or used my differin yet and I'm actually not even sure I want to start using it, although I am currently not using any form of retinol in my routine.

Is everyone using some form of retinol at the moment?

I need to declutter, I've got visitors staying in October and the spare room is full of junk, I might as well tackle clothes, makeup and lotions & potions at the same time.

I'm not using retinol at the moment, I've got both differin and tret but my skin gets worse when I first start using them. Apparently that's to be expected according to everything I've read/watched as they are long term treatments so improvements don't show for months or even years and they are both drying initially, but as my skin has been pretty good this summer on my very minimal routine I'm a bit reluctant to fiddle!

I'm also still swithering about adding Vit c back in, I've got the medik 8 one that Bo recommended on my watchlist. I'm definitely going to stay away from the ejaculating GOW one though

GoW have fixed the problem with the Vit C pump. I sent them an email about it and they sent me a free replacement in the new packaging, which works fine. Great product.

Sallie thanks for your input, in which case I'll start using it in a couple of weeks or so esp as I'm now no longer even using any kind of serum either.
I guess I should use up my azaelic Acid and TO 2% retinoid emulsion although I don't really feel like it does anything.
I've gone back to using vit C mixed in with my sea kelp in the mornings.
I'm happy with my BHA.
Yes I should use up what I have before buying anything new anyway.

Thanks Pickled I might risk trying the GOW one then if I'm not going to be squirted at every morning I've had issues with Vit c in the past as some of them make me itchy so I'm always a bit reluctant to try the higher priced ones.

Tant I'm only using Vichy 89 at the moment, nothing else at all apart from cleansers, Vichy thermal water spray and eye cream. I had dug out and started re-using PC BHA, but I've been travelling a fair bit lately so haven't even been bothering with that and my skin has been pretty good, but I think that's a lot to do with it being summer and the warm weather & I'll need to step up the routine again for winter.

Hi Tant, I'm using 0.5% tretinoin. It's been 4 months now and my skin is looking much better (acne-wise). The spots definitely got worse when I first started in tret - I had a real purge. I haven't had any other side effects from the tret but that's probably because I've been upping my use really slowly.

I like my cosrx low ph morning cleanser which has BHA. I also wash my son’s face with it at night as he’s just starting to have hormonal skin.

Tant when I had a clear out recently I got rid of TO 2% retinoid. I didn’t think it did anything and I’m at the point of no longer wasting time with ineffective products. Differin made me a bit dry when I started but using HA serum helped.

I like the nude colour on your lips olli.

I’ve started using teeth whitening trays I got from the Dentist. A bit of sensitivity but not too bad. I hate wearing them though. The feeling of having something fixed in my mouth for 1.5 hours makes me feel slightly nauseous.

Lipstick is stila stay all day - it does not budge!

I'm using Pestle and Mortar Retinol Oil which I like. Been about 2 months but I had a break on hols for 2 weeks just now. I always forget to avoid the corners of my mouth (instructions say avoid area around mouth) and I always end up with dry peeling skin, mainly on one side (probably my due to application). I like it a lot though and will continue. I'm using it every other night.

I just got a lovely nude lipstick from Lipstick Queen. Sali Hughes mentioned their three nudes a while back. It's really creamy and moisturising.

JDSTER if you can face having the trays in for a bit longer you could try wearing them for a while with some Sensodyne toothpaste in them, after using the whitening product. It really helps reduce the sensitivity.

Oh yes to the sensodyne - the rapid repair is amazing after whitening! I had zoom laser done and then use trays to top up

Thanks everyone Sallie Sophie JDSTER Pupsie for your specific product comments that's really helpful.

Olli I need a robust lipstick so will defo try the Stilla stay all day

I think I will use up my Azaelic Acid first then move on to Differin which I haven't opened yet.

In fact I opened and used the AA last night followed by the M&S sleep cream which I normally find too rich so never really use but the AA is quite drying so they married up well.

I'm trying to use what I have before any new purchases due to shelf life especially after my declutter the other day with so many unopened out of date products.

And I will only be buying an item at a time from now on and not 3 of one product that I think is great then actually turns out not to be.

I also have a habit of buying 2 - 3 M&S beauty boxes and advent calendars at a time if they have good products in them, which so far they always seem to have so I'm still working my way through those as well.

Thanks. Yes I’m using sensodyne and Dentist did say I could put trays in with it on. Wishing I’d gone for zoom actually....

I've just applied the Philip Kingsley Elastisizer for the first time on my dyed, straight, non volumous, flat, need to wash once a day hair so it'll be interesting to see how that works out.

I applied from root to tip this first time, next time if all goes well I'll try it again but avoid the roots.

Shooting again today but I have a makeup artist! Spoilt

Hair has definitely improved using the elasticiser. I'm quite surprised at how good it looks it's thicker and smoother.
Now I want to see just how many days it lasts.
I did also apply my Wonder balm by Percy and Reed as my hair likes that a lot.

Here's hoping its a winning combination.