🐌 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.

I've ordered the revolution giant concealer and the new conceal and define foundation

The smell of urea maybe puts some people off. I'm very sensitive to smells and it's quite strong to me. I love the effects of Eucerin 10% body lotion but not the smell. I'll look at the handcream still, it might not smell as strong.

Talking of scents, the new Charlotte Tilbury face powder stinks! I'm assuming it's what a lot of powders would smell like if they didn't have any perfumes in them although I've had plenty of unscented ones that didn't smell like burnt plastic. Doesn't smell once on which is the main thing. 😁

Is anyone interested in buying my pestle & mortar eye cream? I've used it twice only. If so pm me 😊

The 5% urea has a plumping effect on my fine lines - I think because it is a humectant and binds water
It is also slightly keratinolytic so helps slough off the top layer of skin and is really good for nails.
I love it.

Baby I have the lip balm in two colours:-

www.byterry.com/makeup/lips/balms/baume-de-rose#!lip-balm

www.byterry.com/makeup/lips/balms/baume-de-rose-nutri-couleur-rosy-babe#!no6-toffee-cream

They''re lovely! I won't RP though. I'm a bit lazy with balms like this.

I actually love this. I'm on my third one. It's a perfect shade for me.

Lanolips Tinted Balm

Enid it's strange as I'm usually put off by smells too but am fine with Eucerin urea, it's herbally or floral smells like Clarins and Liz Earle that really get up my nose! And of course the Una Brennan oil that smelled of toilet cleaner

I've never looked at By Terry stuff and think maybe I shouldn't start....

Mint I'm on the lookout for an eye cream but given your experience and the fact I have similarly easily irritated eyes I think I'll steer clear of the P&M one but thank you for the offer

No problem Sallie x

@Pupsiecola: thank you. :) The pot packaging is not ideal because I know I tend to forget to use it.
The lanolips balm really looks good and it has a nice SPF aswell. I will give a try.

pupsie/pigeon I too like the lanolips in rhubarb. Boots also sell it and it’s often on offer there as well

Let me know how you get on Baby. It's so easy to apply too!

I agree re the pots. Such a faff. I bought a brilliant little retractable lip brush from Boots too, but still no motivation lol.

I like the look of lanolips in rhubarb too, I'm popping into Boots at the weekend to collect my Essie order so will try and pick one up.

I have lanolips rhubarb too, however I find it a bit too much on me as my lips are quite pigmented naturally! I want my lips to look softer/paper but have always struggled because of their pigment. I don't like putting concealer or base on my lips so can't achieve it by covering them first :-(

Thanks for the offer, mint. I will hold fire for now as I reckon I have a few months left in my Kiehls.

No worries miffy

First time poster on this thread, although I've been reading for a while.

I've always been very lucky with my skin, occasional black heads and hormone spots at the time of the month, but other than that very clear skin, and never really needed to bother with foundation etc.

However as I'm nearing 40, I'm looking to improve my skincare routine. At the moment I use a serum in the mornings (Clarins double effect) followed by a moisturiser (sometimes Clarins hydraquench, but more often Garnier Ultra Lift).

Cleansing is normally La Roche Posay Effaclar in the morning.

I'm very bad with the night time routine, I'll remove make up with micellar water but very rarely remember to moisturise.

Essentially what I am after is a recommendation on day cream, night cream and possibly an acid type solution to help with the fine lines which are starting to appear. Any other advice on anti aging would be appreciated (already on the case with suncream with some ultrasound face cream on the way).

I'd say my skin type is normal with the slight oily t zone. Only bad reaction I've had to a cream in the past was the boots protect and perfect moisturiser many years back, which brought me out in hives.

Thanks all

Welcome Rosie. When I started this thread alnost 2 years ago (!) it was to ask the question "sod the marketing claims and the fancy product names, what are the ingredients that make a difference?"

So with that in mind I would say it's worth looking at a vitamin C, an acid and a retinol. Generally here people subscribe to the view that it's not worth spending a lot on a moisturiser; serums/actives are more important in terms of them having a specific purpose (vit c, for example). Paula's Choice do some good acids, and in travel size too so a good way to see if sth works for you.

General advice is to introduce one product at a time (with the possible exception of cleanser) and wait 4-6 weeks to see if you get a reaction/start to see results.

The most important product is SPF, all year round. From an anti-aging perspective but also it's a must when using actives. And with SPF comes the need for a thorough night time cleanse. A highly regarded is Clinique Take The Day Off. LRP Toleriane is also recommended often. Lots of people try to stay away from scent/colour in products.

It's hard to recommend products and I'm not sure what your budget is.

Maybe someone with similar skin will be able to advise.

I actually popped in to ask if anyone uses Glossier's Boy Brow? I'm looking for sth to keep the brows in position. I don't really need colour as I have them tinted but don't mind a mid brown if needs be. They just have a way of pointing horizontally/slightly down in places and I'd like them to point up a little. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

pupsie I use Pixi's brow tamer which is clear and I'm more than happy with it.

Hi Rosie 👋

It sounds like you don't have many skin 'issues' and are just looking to step up a bit in terms of routine so I agree with Pupsie that you need to look at actives. I'd start by getting a proper night time routine in place first and an spf 30 or 50 for daytime.

Night time - if you wear makeup then you can use micellar water to take that off, but you need a second cleanse to actually clean your skin. I use la Roche posay toleriane hydrating cleanser and really like it. I've never tried effaclar but sounds like it could be a bit harsh for night time, the toleriane one is milder and gentler.

I'd then think about adding an acid toner (BHA/salicylic acid might be a good choice if you get occasional blackheads, agree with Pupsie that the Paula's Choice one is a good idea as comes in a trial/travel size) OR a retinol but don't introduce both at once! Follow up with serum and moisturiser, I don't know anything about the ones you are using now & I don't get on with Clarins but if they suit you then you could probably just use keep using them.

Keep the morning routine as it is for now if you're happy with it but add the SPF.

See how you get on with that, then like Pupsie says you can add other products gradually ie a Vit c in the morning or a retinol to use alternative nights with the the SA/BHA.

I completely forgot to post what I'd actually popped on to say which is that Vichy 89 is currently £16.50 with free P&P direct from Vichy's own website if anyone needs to stock up.

www.vichy.co.uk/mineral-89-serum

I can't help with the brow tamer Pupsie I've got nothing to tame here

Hiya Rosie, fancy seeing you here

As others have said, Vitamin ABCs of skincare (A- Retinol, B-vitamins for barrier health, C-vitamin for antioxidants to protect from free radicals and environmental stressors) plus SPF should see you covered for an anti ageing routine.

I think if you're normal skinned without too many issues an acid exfoliator is not as necessary and they won't do anything for fine lines. Easier to get kerolytic (exfoliating) action elsewhere, a good retinol would see you covered and actually tackle fine lines, but since you're asking after a moisturiser I'd look at the Urea 5% cream from Eucerin, it's a good general moisturiser and has kerolytic properties and consider a retinol product.

Pigeon, hero products from By Terry are the concealer pens, the lip balm, the ombre star eye shadow sticks, the setting powder with HA in it is particularly good for mature skin, some of the foundations are much loved too but IIRC they contain fragrance.

Pupsie, I've not tried boy brow but I think it's quite natural so not sure how stiff it is. If you're looking for more budge proof I've been meaning to buy the one from Surratt once my current brow product is finished, that one is supposed to be quite good at holding hairs in place quite firmly without it looking stiff.

Does anyone know of a product to use on the eyelids to even out veins and redness etc? Something like a primer I guess but can be worn alone without needing shadow on top?

Benefit used to do an amazing product called LemonAid, mint, but last time I tried to buy it they had discontinued it and replaced it with something rubbish (can't remember the name of it now). Sorry not much help!

I use the Plouise base and that could be used alone
Or something like maybelline colour tattoo in a nude shade?

Thanks guys. Have earmarked the Surratt one as a potential bday present to self next month lol. And possibly their eyelash curlers. I've been using Boots ones which have been fine but I've always wanted some better ones.

Pickled yeah I remember lemon aid it was good but it did crease on me and looked too yellow on my colourings.

Olli I've not heard of that, where do you buy it? Thank you