🐌 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.

Grape seed oil is an antioxidant oil and I have used it for 20 plus years.
It doesn’t clog pores, is light and perfect.
I add a drop to moisturiser (usually eucerin 5%) and it is great under make up.
And as a make up remover.

I don’t use oils, I have in the past but didn’t like the smell of them and didn’t find they made a difference to my skin.

Koko which bioderma spf did you get?

I used their cicabio one last winter and found it fine under makeup, it wasn’t white either which is a massive bugbear of mine with spf as I my skin is yellow toned so any sort of white cast is very noticeable on me.

I think I used that last year Koko and disliked it. Actually I think I used the tinted version. Too dark, as well. I binned it in the end.

This morning I tried the Avene spf50 anti-aging dry touch after seeing it recommended by Simon Scribes on Instagram. It does seem nice so far, but too early to say, I'm not wearing make up today. Unexpectedly creamy but my face certainly feels dry to the touch I suppose.

Tsmummy I do use that Clarins oil but not on a daily basis. I'm quite keen to try the DE Marula Oil and the Protini Polypeptide Cream. Not added anything new to my routine for ages.

Who here uses Essie nail polish? Is there a one coat and/or long wear one? I have a Vinylux top coat. I used it on Thursday as just a clear varnish, on its own, and yesterday it had peeled off half my fingers?! Maybe you're not supposed to use it on bare nails?

Anyway, I'm after something clear/pale which will last a few days. I've looked at Essie's website but it's not clear to me!

The LRP ultra light definitely doesn't. But you have to mix it well or it feels grainy. Never looked grainy on the skin, mind. I never had any problems with it and I wear full make up at work.

But the graininess eventually bored me so that's why I'm now trying the Avene.

Don't discount Boots Soltan. They're harder to get in store now, you may have to click and collect, but they were great. Several different types of facial ones - the dry touch was my favorite.

Also during my research last week this Nivea one got great reviews on the Boots site. I've never seen it instore though so I suspect it's on the shelf in larger stores only. But I stored it away in the back of my mind for when I have time for click and collect. This week I had to just grab and go as I'd run out completely.

Koko this is the one I had

www.easyparapharmacie.co.uk/bioderma-cicabio-spf50-soin-reparateur-apaisant-30ml.html

I like it for winter and will probably go back to it. During summer I switched to frezyderm spf50 (which I’m still using) the clear one is like a primer and the tinted one can be used instead of foundation. Not everyone here liked it though and some found it irritated their eyes quite badly.

Biore spf 50 is liked by some of us here (there’s a watery essence and also a brightening one) but it can be a bit drying, especially in winter. I found it really emphasised any dry/flaky patches and I have oily-combo skin.

None of these are available on the high street as far as I know but frezyderm comes very quickly from amazon especially if you have prime.

Unsuitable facial spf can be used up on backs of hands and neck/chest.

Pupsie I got 2 Essie gel polishes and the gel top coat recently (boots had an offer on). Colour no 1 is a bright red, it chipped after a couple of days and left my nails very stained - instructions say not to use a base coat. I won’t be using it again on my fingers. Colour no 2 I tried for the first time this week, it’s just chipped today after 5 days so better & it’s a mauvey nude so hopefully won’t stain BUT I don’t actually like the colour much, it looked more mauve and less brown on line. So overall not a great experience for me with Essie.

I'm still using the ultrasun face 30 with no issues touch wood.

This is the Essie gel range

www.boots.com/essie/essie-gel-couture

I got Take me to Thread and Rock the Runway as well as the clear top coat

I'm looking for a good waterproof mascara that I can easily grab from boots that isn't ££. Any ideas?

Maybelline Rocket waterproof was great for me.

I use Clarins Lotus Oil once in a while when I feel dehydrated about once every 3 months or so.

If I use it too often ie every night or so my skin gets congested but once in a while is great.

I absolutely love the smell of it plus using it is more cost effective than my sheet masks but they all have different effects.
My best long lasting nail varnishes are by Leighton Denny and their Top coat is amazing.

Mint I still haven't found a mascara that doesnt smudge, possibly because of moisturiser / eye cream that I apply over my eyelids prior to use.

I find waterproof mascara a waste of time because it still smudges and is a right bugger to remove so always gives me sore eyelids afterwards no matter how gentle I am with the cotton pad etc.

Tan, I'm not sure if an oil is the best choice with tret face. Didn't you also use Dr. Jart ceramidin, is that not heavy duty enough on its own? May be worth layering the liquid version underneath it.

Koko, how are you using the Bioderma mineral as it comes in a spray bottle. Best way is to spray into the hands and pat onto, rather than smear, onto the face, if necessary in thin layers, leave to set for at least 10 minutes before using makeup. Mineral sunscreens aren't that cosmetically elegant to use, and most will have a white cast to a certain degree so it's difficult to get a nice one. More expensive versions can be more pleasant to use though, often they're tinted. The Bioderma Cicabio is a good non mineral alternative if you're working on barrier repair.

Mint I’m another that hasn’t had good experience of waterproof mascaras, I much prefer tubing ones. I love my DHC one but that’s on line only as far as I know. I think boots no 7 do a tubing one, Clinique and Estée Lauder do too but they are likely to be £££.

Bo if that's directed at me then no I haven't tried Dr Jart ceramidin but I have had my eye on it, so now you've mentioned it I will purchase.

I'm cautiously using Differin at present so every other night so slightly drier than normal but not uncomfortably so and no peeling or redness.

Sorry, no, autocorrect changed Tsm to Tan. Message was for Tsmummy08.

No7 do a tubing one, it's the one in the gold tube. I wear it on my bottom lashes. I don't wear it on the top as removing any tubing mascara is a PITA. Not too annoying only on the bottom and still no smudges.

(I wear regular stuff on the top BTW, I'm not going around all Clockwork Orange, lol)

Elspeth, tant and Sallie thank you for your response. Actually you're right about waterproof not being effective so I'm not sure why I even said waterproof 😂. I currently use the Clinique tubing one which I like but don't love and it's ££ so was hoping to find a cheaper one. I've tried the no7 one in gold tube but I found that made my lashes really spiky, it needed to be applied extremely quickly and definitely no chance of 2 coats as it did not apply well once first coat dried (which was mega quick) that's just my experience with it though, I know a few people who swear by it.

No I definitely agree no chance of 2 coats! Like you're combing plastic!

I love the DHC one as it’s very natural and not full on at all, but probably not great for anyone who does want a more dramatic look. You can use a second coat as it isn’t plasticky at all, and it’s super easy to remove with warm water and a flannel.