🐌 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 been trying to post that all day 👆but something weird going on with my phone

JD Thank you, I'll try the cosrx one.

Ooh lovely thanks everyone!

Enid I'll check out the bb grey one thank u 👍🏻

Enid my beloved Murad clarifying cleanser has BHA in it, I love it.

As for eyeshadow I have green eyes and I swear by MAC corduroy which is brown and was recommended by a girl working in their store. I was actually looking at a greyer darker brown but her choice was perfect.

For smoky evening eyes I put a chocolate brown pencil under it on the lid, which is an ancient Barry M super soft, fat nibbed pencil and some black on the edges.

I had a waitlist order on Qvc for a pestle and mortar HA set, I could have sworn I called and cancelled it when I started using/was happy with the Vichy 89. Well guess what arrived in the post today...

I’m going to test but unless I hate it I’ll keep the set, as one of the bottles is a handy little travel size that can go in the plastic bag for air travel and I can ‘dispense’ from the big bottle once it’s used up.

Sallie it always good to try something else even if you have a firm favourite, you never know it may become your new firm favourite.

My skin's going quite dry in this weather plus I've been under the weather with a rotten cold so my under es are looking a bit crepey.

I have to say I'm loving the hydration boost I get from my Face masks which I bought in TKMaxx by 'By Nature' and "Lanocrème' from NZ. They leave my skin really soft and plumped without any reaction which I would get from a thicker moisturiser for dry skin.

Agreed Tant and I seem to get through HA really quickly (use it on my neck and chest as well) so it’s one thing I don’t mind having a good stockpile of. I am a bit concerned about my memory though, I’m forgetting/mis-remembering an awful lot of things lately - presume it’s due to my age & peri menopause

My DH came back from the US today with my various packages! Some of the items have been with Shipito for a month or more so I could barely remember everything!

DE sneaky order with the C Firma kit and Babyfacial (tried this out tonight, a bit tingly but managed 20 minutes; skin feels nice and soft now)
Sephora order of IT CC cream (3rd tube) and Good Genes (the good, US version!)
Maelove glowmaker serum.
BiteBeauty Virgo lipstick (a darker shade that I imagined but I wore it today and love it)

So basically lots of acids and Vitamin C. And lots of minis and samples. Happy out.

Ooh that sounds exciting Miffy! Even better that you'd forgotten. Like presents to yourself.

Which IT cc cream did you get Miffy? I want to try the matte one but could do with using up some of my stash first of the normal one first, otherwise I’ll never get though it all!

A good video from Dr Sam on niacinamide. I like it as an ingredient and I think it definitely helps my skin tolerate retinoids. m.youtube.com/watch?v=1_BsoqkldFs

Thanks JDSTER I want to add ret or tret back into my routine but the peely dryness puts me off, especially in winter when my skin is prone to flakey patches anyway.

I’m using the cerave moisturiser with niacinamide and ceramides but wondering if I should add a separate niacinamide, I didn’t like TO one though & wouldn’t order anything from Deciem now. I’ve noticed GOW do one but don’t see the point of adding it if the cerave will do the same job.

I've just done an amazing shoot
Sneak peek! Own makeup

Sallie I went for the regular one as I know I love it, it is my go-to foundation these days. I think I would need to try the matte one in person before buying it as I wouldn't usually tend to purchase matte bases ( I have a couple but lean towards regular or dewy finish). I will however try it out in Chicago in a few weeks and report back :)

My skin feels SO soft today after using the DE babyfacial. Really impressed.

I am really enjoying my goodies! Today I am wearing bite beauty Chai which was one of my various freebies ;) and I just love it. I will definitely buy a full size. It is one of my favourite lipstick brands (but only available in the US or via a forwarder) and this is a perfect nude-but-darker shade on me.

Re: retinol, I have Neostrata retinol NAG en route, and I think I will try that out when I finish up the Lixirskin drops. I am nervous about going back on tret this winter as I feel it caused/worsened my broken capillaries so if anything I will avoid on my cheeks.

What are you using for a second cleanse? I use grapeseed oil for my first cleanse. I don't know if I should go for a facial wash or a cream cleanser.

My skins oily and I don't like anything tested on animals. Thank you.

I use grape seed oil as first cleanse then either a foaming lrp toleriane or neutrogena pink grapefruit (on t zone only) as second cleanse. Grape seed oil is a mild antioxidant so I also mix with moisturiser and bathe in it!
I agree about tret and thread veins. I think because of the peeling your skin is so exposed and vulnerable to the elements, not just the sun.
Am thinking of adding retinol/tret but based on previous experience it would just have to be once or twice a week.

You look gorgeous Olli 😍 But you always do, I get serious hair envy every time I see a photo of you.

Miffy I typically prefer a matte finish but my skin is a lot less oily than it used to be (especially in winter) and I’m happy with the normal CC, so I’ll probably finish off my stash and try the matte one for next spring/summer. Hopefully qvc will get it in by then so I can return if I don’t like it.

Fluffy I use LRP toleriane hydrating as a second cleanse and love it. However LRP do sell to China I believe so even though they don’t test on animals for the U.K./EU/US market I think their products sold in China do have to be tested.

I was doing with fine first with differin and then with tret (though I can’t use BHA with either of them, even once a week) but parked them over the summer due to the sunny weather and a lot of travel. I know I’ll be fine once I’ve gradually built back up (I started once a week mixed with moisturiser and worked slowly up from there) but the initial peeling & dryness does put me off.

www.superdrug.com/Skin/Face-Skin-Care/Cleansers/Cleansing-Mousse-%26-Foams/Superdrug-Naturally-Radiant-Complete-Cleanser-150ml/p/531416?singleResultSearchPage=true#

Is this ok for a second cleanse.

Hi Olli, love the photo! Stunning!
Would you be so kind as to share what you use on your hair? And how you style it (as in what exactly do you do once you've washed it)?
Thank you in advance

And hello to everyone else 👋

It sounds more complex than it is!
I wash with ultimate blends oat conditioner
Condition with Shea moisture 10 in 1 and cup my hands with water to rinse
Leave in conditioner is whatever I have
Then I apply eco olive oil gel (two big handfuls to soaking wet hair)
Tie it up in a cotton t shirt until it stops dripping
Apply a handful of Pantene curls mousse
Diffuse until dry
Dab of mizani hair oil on hands and scrunch out the crunchy bits

I’m not sure on the answer to that Sallie I use LRP cleanser, which has niacinamide in, for second cleanse at night and use LRP moisturiser, also with niacinamide and ceramides. Both bought in US, with several bottles in reserve!

Thanks JDSTER I’ll stick with the cerave for now, I’m enjoying my minimalist routine and don’t want to be buying/adding too many products back in.

Fluffy that looks ok to me, good price too so not much lost if you don’t like it.

Hi Sophie 👋

Gorgeous Olli

I love Bite beauty lipsticks Miffy. Mainly for the taste Can't buy them here since Sephora decided to be a dick. Glad you're enjoying your new bits.

I have overdone the Vichy clay masks. As I often used to, I saw a lot of improvement from using it twice a week so thought every other day would be even better. Nope. Flaky dry skin on my chin and nose. Looked st some hydrating masks but decided to stick with Vichy thermale serum and good ol cicaplast. I have places to be next weekend where I want too look my best so hopefully it'll go back to normal quickly.

I need a haircut too...