🐌 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

I got my samples of the Vichy mask direct from Vichy when I ordered mineral 89 and the thermal spray from them, they are really good at sending 3-4 decent sized free samples with orders but they’re not always the cheapest site to buy from so it’s swings and roundabouts.

Bo I agree it would make sense for masks to be sold in smaller sizes as they last forever, also really wish more brands would offer appropriately priced sample/trial sizes of everything - especially more expensive products, surely it would save them money in the long run as they wouldn’t get returns if someone has a reaction.

I also use and like the una Brennan clay mask but it contains SA, I have used it in the past as part of the snail routine and it was fine, but I’m wondering if might be a bit much now that it’s winter and my skin is drier.

Bo I left it on for 15 minutes and it dried buy wasn't drying if that makes sense.

Is anyone else trying to find out what contains palm oil and what doesn't? I've been aware of palm oil for several years (in Singapore there'd be awful haze when Borneo were burning the forests. We'd moved back to the UK when it got really bad but friends were still there and schools were closed and people just didn't go out. Not that this is the worst issue with palm oil, but just that it's been on my radar). But obviously the "banned" Iceland advert has helped raise greater awareness too. It's not easy to find out what it's in. Has anyone tried the app 'Buycott'?

Makeup done for the day (late shifts)
I really love the FAB bendy avocado concealer, it doesn't crease, not cakey and it's somehow illuminating too. Used revolution conceal and define foundation

I just got a small sized DE Marula oil. I had £10 in loyalty points from Space NK (from buying a colleague's bday present from work, and points earned leaving reviews). So it was £24. I've been wanting to try it for ages. I think I benefit from an oil. But I finally admit that scent and essential total oils don't suit me.

Splat sorry I missed your post earlier, glad you’ve got to the bottom of the issues but sorry you’re lumbered with mineral 89. I’m well stocked up and currency using a pestle and mortar HA but think there’s a few others who use the Vichy one that might take it off your hands. It was SophieLion who kept the spreadsheet at one point, I thought it was a really good idea but was too lazy to implement myself

Puspie yes I started reading some threads on other bits of mumsnet about avoiding palm oil after seeing the Iceland advert. It seems like a complete minefield though as according to what I read it can be called a gazillion different things in skincare and for example SLS can be sometimes be palm oil but isn’t always. Then apparently if palm oil isn’t used other things are which are equally as bad for other ecosystems, so I just don’t know what to do for the best now

pupsie/sallie I have also been considering palm oil today after watching the banned Iceland add. I have to admit it hasn’t really been on my radar. As you rightly say Sallie, it’s a minefield

Yes Pupsie. I'm going to go through all my regularly used things and see if I can spot any. 200 different names according to one site I read! I definitely want to avoid it if I can.

My explanation of the snail method was rubbish btw so no-one go off that! Just read it back and it's way off. I missed that you leave the bha on and that I didn't do anything special to wash it all off at the end. Read the link in bo's post.

I'm not sure what the Iceland as is about, I'll read it up on it later but avoiding palm oil is really difficult. It's pretty much in anything affordable, processed foods, commercial baked goods, chocolate, biscuits, etc. For cosmetics the big brands use a lot of it, so Unilever, Proctor and Gamble, and Johnson and Johnson. So basically all the highly recognisable brands in Superdrug and Boots... Think I remember being quite surprised in finding some in a cleanser or moisturiser from the Body Shop when I was looking at something for you, Pupsie. It's doable to avoid it but expect to feel it in your wallet. Some use sustainable palm oil but I'm not really sure how desirable that is as an alternative.

My fullers earth clay is bentonite and you take it off once it's dry but before it starts cracking. I bought it after CH recommended it. In the past I've mixed it with dispersible aspirin which has salicylic acid in it. It's soft and gentle and doesn't irritate my skin, I just use it on it's own now, mainly just on my nose when required. It's cheap and lasts forever.

It's a very comfortable mask bo, I keep it longer than 15 minutes because I forget about it. It does not feel at all like a normal clay mask.
I prefer to have the masks in bigger containers (a tube is ideal) so I have full control of how much I use (if it's in a sachet I tend to use it once opened).
I used to like the apivita masks (greek brand, used to be stocked at M&S but not anymore sadly). They had a good selection including pink and green clay, all in double sachets :) .

What's the difference between azelaic acid and niacinamide in terms of what it does to the skin?

Mini rant and nowhere else I can do it 😬

God knows I shouldn't have done it, but looked at Brandon Truaxe's Instagram. Now he's slagging off St Thomas's Hospital in London. I assume he's been sectioned but seems to be allowed out by the Thames every now and again.

Moaning about the doctors, nurses and psychiatrists at the hospital and his ridiculous, paranoid theories. Not unsympathetic to mental health problems but he is trying my patience.

I also presume he's not paying for his stay as the UK healthcare system doesn't work that way. It pisses me off that a multi millionaire won't have to pay a penny for any help and assistance he's getting - wish they'd bloody put him on a plane back to Canada.

I know what you mean, Bagel, it's difficult to disengage with it all and it harks back to my annoyance at how close these brands operate with consumers. I'm sure there are plenty of burned out CEOs with various health issues that we just never know about when it all falls apart, a company should be able to carry on in their absence but his presence is completely tied up into Deciem it's become difficult to seperate the two and it continues to leave a bad taste behind when he acts out in the way he does, especially difficult when you can't suss out what is disease and what isn't.

I assume he does pay into the Canadian healthcare system and the treatment is without cost due to some reciprocal agreement, so in that sense it's not that exploitive. Does seem odd that he's allowed access to SM as it's not much of a stretch to assume it isn't a positive influence on his MH?

I’m surprised that he’s getting treatment for free on the NHS, I know Americans are not entitled to use it for free and I wasn’t aware Canadians were either - and there doesn’t seem to be any reciprocal arrangement.

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/visiting-or-moving-to-england/visitors-from-outside-the-european-economic-area-eea/

Though I suppose he might have an ancestry visa or even a British passport if a parent or grandparent were born here.

Whoever is treating him really needs to get him off social media for his own sake as like Bo says it must be detrimental to his MH and recovery.

Ah sorry, I assumed since Canada is part of the commonwealth some sort of reciprocal agreement would be in place, as I believe is the case with Australia.

Had a very brief glance, out of morbid curiosity, at his Insta and the most eye roll inducing thing is the encouragement from commenters. Some dangerously telling him the staff are playing tricks on him. (Paraphrasing)

I'd actually sway towards him being a private patient as I'm sure NHS would confiscate any devices that can be used to access social media. Especially as it seems to have played a significant part in his illness. But like I said it was a really quick look so nothing to back that up with, just speculation. St Thomas's does take private patients.

Either way it's a terrible thing being witnessed by hundreds of people and I would hope someone would intervene. Hopefully the experts can help. It's a good hospital.

It's one of the best Hospitals in the country. Not sure they can confiscate items but they'll be too busy doing their jobs to be in the slightest bit bothered by his comments.

He probably is private as like Enid said it does take private patients and he would want his own space no doubt.

Oh good, I sincerely hope he is a private patient. I didn't realise they took both so thanks for letting me know.
The "cheerleading" comments are really incredible, aren't they? Sheep behaviour in the extreme.

Thanks to whoever recommended PC's Resist Anti-Aging 2% BHA Exfoliant. I really like it. I'm sure it's helping with any slight redness I have.

BT being a private patient does sound most likely, though he may well be trying to imply that he’s getting treated on the NHS to rile people up and feed his need for controversy.

I do wish someone would intervene, but I guess they’re in a tricky position regarding confiscating devices if he’s a private patient who has checked in of his own accord, unless he agreed to it. They could try and block access to WiFi maybe but that would affect everyone else too, and presume he’d still have 4g.

He's there against his will following an A&E admittance as far as I can gather. I'm guessing that his stay could be considered emergency care in that sense, according to that link shared earlier that would be covered by the NHS, same way appendicitis surgery would be covered if you were visiting from abroad?

If it was an A&E admittance that would make a difference Bo but as far as I understood looking on that nhs website yesterday once the immediate emergency has been dealt with then on-going treatment is chargeable. I’m not 100% sure how mental illness would be categorised though, especially if he’s considered a danger to himself or others.

I started using my GOW azelaic acid again and my skin is breaking out, could it be purging or does my skin just not like acids 🤔. I had to stop the medik8 3tr due to consistent breakouts and now it's happening with azelaic too. I just want something to use alongside my other products that targets texture/pores/breakouts! Any ideas ladies?

How about these ones?

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/resist-anti-aging-daily-pore-refining-treatment-bha-m7820.html?dwvar_m7820_size=fullsize&cgid=#q=2%25%2Bbha&lang=en_GB&start=0&top=2364

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/niacinamide-booster-m7980.html?dwvar_m7980_size=fullsize&cgid=#q=Niacinamide&lang=en_GB&start=0&top=192

The bha is available in a travel size as well.

I purged a lot when I started skinoren but the GOW isn’t as strong is it?