🐌 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.

Wondering if I could have some comments on my combination skin routine? It seems to work v well at the moment but could always do with improvement:
Am:
LRP toleriane foaming wash
Grape seed oil
Eucerin 5% urea (normally in winter only)
Spf: LRP dry touch or Korres matte grape (ultra sun 30 in winter or dry bits).

Then erborian B.B. on centre and erborian cc on under eye area.

Pm
Grape seed oil 1st cleanse
Neutrogena pink grapefruit (2% salicylic acid face wash) - I now have no blackheads nor SF due to this. But only on t zone.
Serozinc
Grape seed oil

Weekly: white glamglow mask (t zone) and avene Tolerance mask and very occasionally (period/breakouts) Vichy normaderm salicylic acid lotion.

Skin is looking pretty ‘glass’ but I reckon I need to try actives and don’t know where in my routine I should add them.

Argh, I realised that I was commenting about the first video that Nadine Baggot did together with the Environ owner, I just finished watching the second (latest). I have a feeling @botemp was talking about the second video. The guy does love micro-needling and vitamin A protects him from sun damage. :-s

Hi I'm new to this thread and as you all seem so expert I hope you can answer my question?

I have read time and again on here that Biore Watery Essence 50+ is the gold standard as a sunscreen. But my foundation is supposedly packed with fancy anti aging ingredients, and I'm worried that they won't penetrate through the layer of Biore sunscreen at all?

Does anyone know please?

Biologi you could add a Vit c in the morning after cleansing and before your oil OR a retinol OR a BHA/salicylic acid at night before the oil. Don't add them all at once though and I'd suggest starting a retinol or BHA gradually (twice a week initially) to see how your skin tolerates it.

I'm not sure if using a salicylic acid or retinol with the 2% SA face wash might be a bit much though and could be drying or irritating, & I don't know enough about grape seed oil to advise how that might interact with actives as according to The Google it's mildly astringent. Hopefully Bo or one of the others might be able to advise you better on that.

Penelope I don't think skincare products will penetrate or do their job properly through any decent spf, which is why spf is always used last before makeup. But regardless of the claims I'm not sure if any foundation actually offers that much in the way of skincare or anti ageing, which foundation is it? I use IT cosmetics CC cream which is allegedly anti ageing too but I just treat it as makeup and pop it on top of my spf.

Thank you Sallie. Funnily enough I use the IT Cosmetics CC+ too. Do you not think the spf50 in it is strong enough then?

Hi, can anybody offer a decent retinol? Currently using TO 0.5% and it's not doing anything I have around £25 to spend. TIA

whyme I have heard very good things about Murad Night Cream which has retinol in it. But it's £65 so I'm wary of committing to it

Penelope I used to rely on the spf in IT Cosmetics CC on it's own & it was an improvement on what I used previously (nothing ) but I learnt from these threads that if you're using actives/retinol etc then spf in makeup doesn't give enough protection. Apart from anything else you'd have to slather it on thickly and reapply regularly, given it's a fairly decent cover foundation I don't think that would be a good look. I really like it but just treat it as a foundation and pretty much ignore the spf and skincare claims.

Why I'm not using a retinol right now but ones I've seen recommended here are pestle & mortar, la Roche posay redermic R and medik8. Garden of wisdom do a reasonably priced one but not sure if anyone here has used it, other products from the range seem to be well liked though.

Anyone uses the eyeko yoga waterproof mascara? It came in my Sweaty Betty goodie bag...

Thanks sali.
I will look into he vit c and try and find one.
I really want to try retinol again - I did about 5 years ago and it didn’t work out, but it was the formulation.
I am older now and I reckon I do need something stronger.....!

Bio I went in too strong on retinol last year (Neostrata). What's worked for me is 3 months of LRP Redermic, and now Pestle and Mortar, every other night. LRP is a good starting one.

I've ordered the medik8 3tr which I'm going to introduce very slowly. I'll keep you posted if anyone is interested.

Er retinol purging? Is it normal?
On my chin which is where I get acne has broken out and I'm having some flaking too

Hi Olli (and everyone else 👋), I had a lot of purging from tretinoin 0.5% for quite a while. Like you, mainly on my chin and jaw line where I had the biggest acne problem before I started a retinoid.

I didn't really get flaking which is perhaps because my skin tolerates tret reasonably well or maybe because I built up my use very slowly (started with one night a week and increased it by one night every month).

Mint I really like the Medik8 3TR. I've had no reactions or breakouts and it doesn't irritate my eyes if I get a bit close when applying. I find it very moisturising due to the jojoba base. I'm going to stick with Medik8 for my retinols I think.

My spots have calmed since I cut back on actives. I'm loving Clinique TTDO so thanks for the recommendation mint. I don't think my skin likes full strength vitamin C (I was trialling GOW), so will be going back to a vitamin C derivative instead (Face theory C20).

Oh that's good to know violet thank you. I'm glad your liking the Clinique balm too 👍🏻
Have you tried the medik8 vit c?

No haven't tried the Medik8 vitamin C mint. I was checking it out the other day and noticed that it also has a derivative. How are you finding it?

I'm a bit wary of vitamin C now after GOW as my skin went so spotty and I had itching under my jaw. The Medik8 is on the pricey side too but I think they do a accept returns and offer a refund if it's unsuitable.

Song Yes the TTDO has been fine with my sensitive skin and no eye irritation. I massage it in well over makeup and remove it with a warm flannel. My face feels clean afterwards. I watched a few YouTube videos too of people using it to remove full makeup and it performs well.

I have the LRP Toleriane (non Dermo) to use as a 2nd cleanse but not tried it yet as I'm taking it slowly after the vitamin C breakout.

Violet so far I'm getting on really well with the medik8 vit c.

Song I personally really like the Clinique ttdo balm and my skin is hyper sensitive! The medik8 3tr I've ordered is a serum not a balm, it seems they don't have the balm anymore as it's not on their website.

Hmm I'm thinking I might not order the GOW Vit c then, as ones I've used in the past have made me itchy. Might just go with medik8 especially if they do offer returns if there's a reaction. I don't get spots or a rash from Vit C, just itching so it would be impossible to provide any evidence.

I don't get spots from ret or tret but I do get peeling, and I cannot use a BHA along with it, even on alternate nights with a gap in between as my skin flakes really badly. Everything I've read/watched says the stronger OTC retinols and definitely tret will make your skin look worse initially and you have to power through to get results. By worse they meant dryness and some flaking/peeling though, definitely don't power through if your skin is sore or red. This was for anti ageing, I didn't research about using it for acne.

Just place marking so you don't fall off my Threads I'm On list.

I tried medik 8 Vit C (CE Thione) kindly given to me by pupsie. It was slightly sticky but pretty good. I prefer drunk elephant Vit C. I like the airless pump bottle and it sinks in well. Sali Hughes mentioned in the guardian it’s one to avoid if you’re oily but I beg to differ. It hasn’t exacerbated my oiliness at all and I need very little moisturiser afterwards (still using LRP toleriane fluide).

Medik 8 crystal retinal is my retinol of choice at the moment. It hasn’t caused any irritation at all and my skin looks ‘rested’ in the morning and I feel my skin tone has improved, which is likely the combination of the Vit C as well www.medik8.com/crystal-retinal-10.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw7XC08ez3QIV7r3tCh2uMQvrEAAYAyAAEgIC5PD_BwE

JDSTER i don't find the c tetra sticky at all, it's very watery but glides over skin like a dry oil, maybe it's different to the one you tried? Or just that our skin is different I guess.