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

[botemp]

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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.

I've heard of them, and it's still on their website for the original RRP...

Not sure if any of you will be interested but my routine has changed a little. I still can't figure out how to do the whole routine layout lol so I'll just write it out.

AM
Avene extremely gentle cleanser
Vichy thermal water
Medik8 c tetra serum
Lrp toleriane ultra fluid
Ultrasun face 30

PM
Clinique ttdo balm
Avene extremely gentle cleanser
Vichy thermal water
Lrp toleriane ultra nuit

I had been trialling pestle & mortar recover eye cream but had to stop as it irritated my eyes terribly! Can't work out from the ingredients what was causing the problem as it all seems inoffensive but something definitely didn't get on with my eyes which were left irritated, extremely watery and so so so sore.

How are you finding the Ultrasun Mint? I think it'll be on my list to try next and IIRC you struggled to find a SPF you liked?

Bluebell yes you remembered correctly! Surprisingly I'm liking the ultrasun, I used their face 50 in the past and didn't like it which is why I was dubious to try it again but the face 30 is better for me.

That's interesting Mint I find the UltraSun 50 weirdly exfoliating! I had discounted the 30 for that reason but if they are different I might give it a go.

Interesting feedback on the P&M eye cream, mint although I know my eyes are not quite as sensitive as yours so I will probably keep it on my wishlist. Need to finish up my Keihls midnight recovery one before I buy another!

Hi Mint how are you finding the Medik8 C tetra? I'm currently trialling GOW vitamin C but finding it needs an additional moisturiser over the top. Does it sit well under makeup?

My skin is also so spotty at the moment on my left cheek and chin and I'm wondering if it's the GOW or perhaps because I've switched to a full vitamin c from a SAP?!? I also noticed itching on my neck under my jawline which comes and goes (I'm prone to allergies and dermatitis).

I did suspect the Dr Sam cleanser as the cause of spots but now I'm not sure. I'm going to cut back the routine and get the cleanser sorted first. My skin feels clogged. BHA is helping but I need a decent cleanser as the Toleriane Dermo just isn't cutting it especially on a day when I've used Avene spf instead of Frezy. Hopefully my TTDO balm has arrived today so looking forward to trying that. Then I'll introduce the standard Toleriane as a 2nd cleanse. I'm going to stop all other actives for a few days and see if my spots settle.

I've cut back a bit on dairy too just in case it's that and I'm glaring at the office electric heater which is next to my desk, wondering if that could be the culprit

Mint I'd be interested in a review on Medik8 C Tetra too, I'm swithering between that & the GOW wisdom Vit c. I think the Hero Project one I linked above is a bit too risky given my issues with Vit c and whilst it's not mega bucks it's not cheap enough to take a punt on.

I used to really like ultrasun for face back in the day but I think they maybe changed the formula and I found it a bit sticky/tacky. That could have been the spf50 though.

Pickled I know what you mean about the face 50, the 30 isn't like that.

Miffy if you decide to try the p&m eye cream I could sell you mine cheaper if you would be interested (I would give it to you but it was ££)

Violet and Sallie I've only been using the c tetra for about a week but I've had no irritation at all, it's very watery so I make sure there's only a very small amount in the pipette then squeeze into my palm and using the fingers from other hand I pick up a little of the liquid and apply to each area of my face then smooth it all in. Although the texture is like water it actually feels like a light oil on the skin, I leave it for a couple of mins before applying my moisturiser. Haven't noticed any difference in my skin yet but it's very early days, the fact it doesn't sting or irritate at all is a good starting point though! I am hormonal at the mo so my skin is a bit spotty but don't think it's anything to do with the serum, time will tell....

Thanks Mint watery is what I'm looking for and I know you've got quite reactive skin so if you're not getting any irritation then hopefully I won't get itching! I'm still tempted to try the GOW one first though now they've sorted out the ejaculating spurty spout as it's a good bit cheaper.

Pickled have you seen any results with the GOW one yet or is it too soon to tell?

And arrgggh I've just remembered a Deciem product I'm still using and really like - their Hand Chemistry hand cream. I've got a fairly good stockpile of it but reluctant to buy more when that runs out, has anyone else who used & liked it found anything as good? I don't have particularly dry hands, I'm looking for something to tackle ageing and dullness.

No worries Sallie. Have you tried the clarins hand cream? I've not tried it myself but people absolutely rave about it.

Hi Sallie, I use the Vit C under my spf to boost it and hopefully help tackle my melasma. Because I use tret and hydraquinone as well it's hard to see whether the Vit C is making a difference to the discoloration.
In general my skin loves Vit C and the general 'tone' hasn't deteriorated since I switched to this version, so it seems to work as well as various previous Vit C products I've used.

Thinking about it the biggest difference I've ever seen with Vit C was a Jan Marini version years ago, can't remember which one but do remember it was £££.

Same Sallie. I also use Neutrogena unscented concentrated hand cream as it's brilliant for dry cuticles and really nourishing skin rather than sitting on top of it like a lot of creams. But it doesn't do what the hand chemistry one does. I've never found any that were like that one. I still have a tube and a half left but I'm like you, reluctant to buy anymore but not sure what else is out there.

Thanks Pickled I'm veering towards ordering the GOW one just because of the price. If I don't get any results I'll upgrade to Medik8.

Enid I think maybe what we need is a hand cream with glycolic acid and/or other actives, Alpha h do one that sounds quite good. I've got a stockpile of hand chemistry so should last me until we find something.

Mint that Clarins one looks promising but at the price. I've never liked the smell of clarins stuff either but I've not sniffed any for ages so might not be as pungent these days.

I've looked for a decent handcream with a decent SPF over the years but never found one. Best I've found is SPF15. Why isn't there one with an SPF30?

I would like to use actives on the backs of my hands to see if I can improve them (not that they're awful, but they're almost-49 year old hands). But I'm loathe too without SPF. Bo what do you do re hands and SPF? Anyone else?

Pupsie I've been using up bioderma cicabio spf on my hands - so hand chemistry at night and again in the morning, let it sink in and apply spf to hands before leaving the house. Where I fall down is remembering to reapply spf after hand washing - though I have been using the bioderma spf 30 spray on my face, neck, chest and back of hands if I'm going to be outside for a while.

My Mr Spurty-Dribbler is the black one, Pickled.

Pupsie, I use the urea handcream from Eucerin at night and I just use a water resistant SPF for the body on my hands in the AM. I think SPF in handcream can be a bit of a gimmick as you're constantly washing your hands, so unless you're constantly reapplying.

Medik8 did recently launch a higher SPF handcream that also contains B5 and hyaluronic IIRC. Will be pricier, I assume, but it may be an option? I can only recall the Hand Chemistry having HA, what else is special about it? Think Verso may also have done a hand cream with R-retinoate in it. Or maybe it was a lip balm

Thanks for all the tips - i am still really enjoying (mainly lurking on these lovely threads). I went berserk in a Paris pharmacy on Monday and got the Cattier green clay mask and a massive amount of reduced Nuxe oil. The mask is amazing for my pores and the oil look good in my thick course hair.
Bo: I also use eucerin for hands (and face) and I think the urea ones are great and underrated.

Ooh thank you Bo and Biologi I really like Eucerin as a brand and find their urea face and body moisturisers good, so will definitely try the hand cream when the time comes.

I've also got a small tube of LRP cicaplast hand cream lurking somewhere in my stash that I should probably try, it was a GWP and don't think I ever opened or tried it.

I also like urea in hand creams.

I use Boots no 7 protect and perfect hand cream spf 15 before I pop out- it’s by the front door. If I’m out and about longer I just use any old spf I’d use on my body but just apply to back of hands as they always feel heavy and sticky to me.

I use the eucerin hand cream too, it's really good but doesn't have the anti ageing benefits you were looking for. The eucerin face cream has changed! Saw it in boots today and there's now one that's for day and night (one product) it's called something repair I think and says urea and ceramides on the front.

I can't believe by Terry is on tkmaxx, I just ordered a lipstick and the eye shadow/liner , I always wanted to try stuff from by Terry but the price is prohibitive. Too bad the shade description is missing on some of the products...

Pigeon, you can often get By Terry at half price and even up to 70% off in the SpaceNK sales. You have the most choice on the first day, their products are a bit hit and miss though.

Biologi, I think Urea as an ingredient is highly underrated. Which is probably a good thing as it means it's still affordable. I also like the Eucerin 10% body lotion for winter and use it on feet too. I only have a touch of eczema on my hands and their hand cream really helps keep it in check, I suspect the body lotion is great for atopic types who have mild eczema on their body.

@botemp Thank you for the info, I subscribed to the newsletter. 🙂 Do you have any recommendations for by Terry ? I was looking more at the makeup, because I assume the skincare is very scented.