🐌 Fantastic Skincare: We're So Drunk We're Seeing Elephants 🐘

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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

WRT to The Ordinary/Deciem:

Most of us had long since stopped using it, partially due to the inconsistency of formulations and the worrying behaviour of the CEO on Social Media.

For more info on the latter, overview here

A good overview of alternatives is here

Since that compilation, other brands like the Inkey, Revolution Skincare, QRXLabs, and Alex Steinherr x Primark have launched with similar products/concepts.

From the limited experience on here, the Vitamin C 23% and Azelaic Acid from Garden of Wisdom (at Victoria’s Health) is well liked and much preferred over TO versions.

OCTOBER 2018: In other news, we’re two years old this month! We’re so old- Drunk Elephant is finally available in the UK, but all this celebration is probably overshadowed by the fear that our beloved LRP Toleriane Fluide may have been discontinued

Second time trying it btw. It stayed clear and smooth after the first time. I think once a week is going to be enough from now on.

Enid I've been using a manual scrub too and it leaves my skin baby soft.

Enid do you Cleanse, maual scrub then mask? Fancy a pamper this eve so might try it

I won't feel too guilty then Tant

I've only done it twice and not totally sure what I'm doing Nice but my face was clean anyway (from morning wash. Didn't feel oily and haven't worn make up today.) so no pre-cleanse, just scrub, rinse, bha, rinse, clay mask, rinse and then cleanser. You're supposed to leave the bha and put clay straight on top and take the clay off with an oil cleanser.

I also only do my nose and chin as my cheeks are sensitive to clay and bha.

If you're not bothering with all that then I'd light cleanse, scrub (rinse) then mask.

But I'll get thrown in skincare jail for recommending manual scrubs so you 'eard nowt. Boots sanctuary spa radiance exfoliator is good but very scrubby

Gentle reminder that physical scrubs are the work of the devil.

As you were.

Thanks, will get the kids in bed and give it a go!

Is this snail ritual meant to overdry the skin? Does it involve a product with an actual snail extract ? 😁

😇

Pigeon The person who came up with it is a blogger callled Fifty shades of Snails. No snails involved...this time. I'll leave the others to tell you about the wonders of snail juice. 🐌

To be clear, you are not supposed to use a manual/physical scrub. The snail method doesn't involve any scrubs. That's just me throwing everything at my chin and snout.

Mention of a manual scrub is enough to get Bo out of hiding

Enid and her chin and snout

Bane of my life 🐽👅 (that's a chin. Ahem.)

Enid Thank you, I found the blog. As far as I know, Koreans use very complex skincare routines with a lot of a lot of steps and products.
My chin is also congested, but I'm afraid to do anything harsh to not upset it further. Maybe I will try a charcoal mask tomorrow.

Vichy grey clay mask is very gentle but I've found it really makes a difference. Some of the charcoal and heavier clay masks are too much for my skin.

Looks like they do sample sachets of it now too (£3) www.escentual.com/vichy/vichymask009/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp9irh77L3gIViOFRCh3Pkgv7EAQYASABEgKLn_D_BwE

^ that was to Pigeon

I got the sample sachets of the Vichy clay mask and really like it, I want to buy a full size but waiting for one of the sites to have an offer on so I can repurchase a few other things too.

I do miss a good old scrubby scrub, but I’ve realised with hindsight that my skin was a lot more oily when I was using them so I’m steering clear.

JDSTER, I have a special bat signal and give me some credit, I managed not to engage shouty caps

Enid your interpretation is a bit different, for convenience sake:

fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/

The order is a little different, but I wouldn't marinate the nose with an ordinary cleanser as you would with the oil cleanser. Pigeon, the whole point is to draw out deep seated muck and then because BHA is oil soluble loosen as much as possible before massaging (gently) it all out.

I wouldn't do it too often, I think when I was actively using the method I did it a few weeks apart, and after maybe 3 times it wasn't necessary as maintenance with an acid toner kept everything clear.

Thank you Bo, it's very clear now. I wonder if it can be done with a charcoal mask, I have one from Paula's Choice that comes out of the tube as a black gel and it's light and not stiff on the face. I never applied it on top of BHA, but I do use BHA after I clean the mask off.
I don't like clay masks that are sold in pots because they are (usually) very scented (but I did not try the vichy one, I will have a look, thank you for the recommendation Enid), I have a green clay powder and I just mix it with water and then apply it. It is fairly drying, specially if left too long. Again, I never applied in on top of BHA.

The Vichy is scented but since it's a wash off product I'm less bothered by it. It is a funky smell though, a bit ocean/men's scent. I've always like Cattier for bog standard clay masks, I prefer the white or pink clay ones, green seems more suited for properly oily skin.

Charcoal mask as in those peely pore removal ones? Though I struggle to think PC would sell those as they're awful for your skin and will only stretch out your pores in the long term.

Enid I've also only used my facial scrub twice so far and it's very fine.

I use a powdered fullers earth clay that I mix with water, although I haven't used mine for ages. I'll try it today actually.

Bo I just checked and my green clay is from Cattier, it's this big one:
www.cattier-paris.com/fr/argile-verte-surfine-77-microns.html

The charcoal mask has a gel texture and it rinses very easily with water (it actually foams a bit with water).
It's this one:
www.lookfantastic.com/paula-s-choice-pore-clarifying-charcoal-gel-mask-88ml/11599731.html

Sallie probably is the HA now I come to think of it - I tried the Indeed labs HA when it came out and I remember now that my skin went peak teenage when using it! I’d completely forgotten - wok round here keeps a spreadsheet and wants to give lessons?!

...anyone interested in a gently used bottle of Mineral 89? Free to good home...

I used that PC clay mask last night. I bought some samples. I really liked it. The Cattier stings a bit. The PC one didn't at all. I will purchase a regular sized one I think. I also bought 2 other mask sachets, and a travel sized exfoliant. I love how you can buy travel sizes and tester sachets.

Aside from the price the PC mask does look interesting, although evidence surrounding charcoal in skincare isn't really supported but it does contain two of my favourite clays (kaolin and bentonite) and since it's not good to let clay masks actually dry out on your skin you can probably wear the PC for longer with the gel aspect?

I do wish they'd just sell masks in smaller sizes altogether, Pupsie. I received the Vichy mask as a tiny sample pot and it's lasting forever despite prolific use in the summer. I usually just go begging asking for samples of others as it's just much easier than having loads of jars of them.

I also bought a Vichy sample of the clay mask based on Enid’s rec. I must try it so I can add it to Christmas list, if I like it.