🐌 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 was planning on using tret in the summer as I’m not very outdoorsy and live in the north - but was most definitely NOT expecting the summer that we got so stopped as like you say JDSTER I was paranoid about being adequately protected even with spf50.

My skin is always prone to flaking in the winter even though I’m oily/combo - think it’s the cold weather outside and central heating inside that sets it off and tret makes it worse. I didn’t have any extreme peeling but it was enough to be annoying, all the YouTube videos and reviews etc said it’s completely normal and just to keep going as long as it’s mild and there’s no other irritation so I’m just being a bit pathetic about it really.

Maybe I should use it as a spring and autumn thing but the consensus seems to be that you need to use consistently over quite a long period of time to get results so not sure if it’s worth bothering for a few months a year. Would be interested to hear what derms say about this when they prescribe it.

Yes, JDSTER, I'm still enjoying the Medik8 R-Retinoate. It's a bit of a Hanukkah miracle as it still hasn't run out.

It has really given me a bit of false confidence my skin can handle anything now as it has really improved my dehydration issues. My skin is also hardier so need to use acids more frequently to see the same results. I think when it's done I'll go off it for a bit and see how my skin maintains itself and monitor how my barrier function is. I may try a bit of A313 on it, if I tolerate that well I'll get some contraband myself, though I'll get it from a dermatologist, I need to see one about my hair anyhow.

Have you tried buffering it one to one with Cicaplast? When tret is used for anti-aging purposes brute strength isn't all that beneficial (nor the higher percentage), so buffered or a lower dose does the job just as well.

Second time of using bo I applied my usual LRP night cream with niacinamide first, then applied a heavier toleriane over the top (the one bannanafish -I think user name is -was recommended by Dr Emma). No flaking so far and like you sallie despite being oily/ combo my skin gets quite dry over the winter months.

I'm scared that using Tret will thin my skin too much causing sun damage regardless of SPF and that I'll look more wrinkled than I started off with

Tant according to the reviews I read you will look drier and hence more wrinkly initially but after 6-12 months you see a positive difference. I think I’m just too impatient to go through the ‘shit skin’ phase & I did use it for 6 months without noticing any changes so it just seems like too much pain with not enough gain. (Pain as in pain the arse, I wasn’t in physical pain just in case anyone gets alarmed )

Very early days but I’m liking the P&M retinol oil, I’m using it every night and no irritation or peeling whatsoever. Way too early for results but my skin feels nice after using it, I am using cerave moisturiser still as well after give me the P&M an hour or so sink in but don’t think I’ll need it in the warmer months.

I have just had to stop using the kiehls avocado eye cream! Thought I was ok to a winner but it began making the skin around my eyes so sore it was horrible! Not sure what else to try as feel I definitely need an eye product for my lines/puffiness/dark circles etc! I feel like my eyes are a weak point for me and I always look tired even when I'm not!

Mint can't remember if you get on with Niacinamide or not? If you do, the CeraVe eye cream. I've heard good things and someone on a group just spoke highly of it today. Or perhaps the Avène is worth a look? No Niacinamide in that one but also no ceramides.

That’s a shame Mint what moisturiser are you using these days as might be worth getting an eye cream from the same range.

I’ve had the best luck so far with the alpha h eye gel but it’s more of a temporary fix as I don’t think it does anything really in the long term. I got some samples of IT cosmetics confidence in an eye cream so I’m going to give that a try, I’m fine with their cc cream so fingers crossed.

Bagel I used to think I couldn't use niacinamide but have been using the lrp toleriane overnight cream which contains it and it's absolutely fine. I think my barrier is in better condition these days which could be why it's ok now. Is the cerave eye cream in boots? Thank you for suggestion x

Sallie I'm using the toleriane ultra fluid and the overnight one. I know they do a sensitive eye cream, as do avene but think they are purely just to hydrate rather than correcting any issues if that makes sense?

Cerave eye cream is out of stock in boots Mint Timeless have it though it’s a bit more expensive

www.timeless-uk.com/products/new-arrival-cerave-eye-repair-cream-14ml

I’ve used it before and it didn’t irritate my eyes but didn’t found it did much at all - I have the same problem as you that anything with more active/potent ingredients makes my eyes sore but the ones that don’t irritate don’t really give any long term results. I tried the IT cosmetics one today and it’s a nice brightening and moisturising eye cream but can’t see it doing anything more than that.

Thanks Sallie. It's so bloody frustrating isn't it!

I’m still really enjoying the GOW eye Contour Serum mint onto my second bottle & it lasts ages. I’ve just introduced the LRP Rdermic R eye cream as I wanted a retinol so now just use the GOW in the mornings

Lisa Eldridge mentioned in a video (about xmass gifts ideas) this skincare line that can be found in primark:
www.primark.com/en/features/beauty/2018/october/alessandra-steinherr-the-collection
I think it looks good, especially for teens, considering the price point. I'm thinking of trying that lip mask.

That range sounds interesting BabyPigeon & the multi purpose stick thing seems like it would come in handy for travel.

The small primark I go to never has much in on the makeup and beauty side (great for socks and round the house comfy clothes though) and the big primark in the city centre gives me the heebie jeebies as it’s so big and crowded, and usually a right mess too

Yeah I was just thinking to ask tips on where might be the beauty section be in Primark. I went once looking for for a Jo Malone perfume dupe but I never found it and I got disoriented and just left. I find the store really confusing.
Do they also have some makeup range that sort of copies the Fenty packaging?

I think the ‘good’ stuff is only in the larger stores BabyPigeon - the one I go has a few perfumes which don’t smell very nice to me, no idea if they’re a dupe of anything but they’re not my kind of scent. They dont have much in the way of makeup and skincare and what they do have seems aimed at the very young (lots of glitter and things in cartoony type packaging) and has often been obviously opened/tested/tampered with. It’s on the same floor as women’s clothing quite near the tills, but it’s only a little Primark - everything I’m interested in is on the ground floor which is why I can deal with shopping there.

The one in Manchester city centre is huge (3 or 4 floors I think) and I cannot deal with it all, it’s absolute chaos. No idea where the makeup and beauty stuff is in there, I’ve not got further than sticking my nose in the door and making a hasty retreat for many years.

I flagged the ASxPrimark co-lab on here when it was launched, even photographed some of the INCIs and posted them on the thread. IIRC it was mostly the cleansers and masks that were of interest. Everything else was quite silicone heavy with the active ingredients very low down the list. It's very affordable but for whatever reason, they don't stock the entire collection in the places that do stock it (only larger cities I think, think you can look it up on the Primark site). I also have no idea whether it's permanent or not. I think some things haven't launched either, I was interested in the oil cleanser but I've visited several Primark's that have stocked in through my travels over the last few months and none had it.

I must have missed/skimmed past you posting that Bo (or more likely with my shocking memory just completely forgot). Sounds like it will be hard to find it in stock though and will probably never come to my little primark.

Oh wow Sallie that sounds like a huge Primark, I was thinking a 2 story one is big. I never go because it always seems to be very busy and it's not a pleasent browsing.
I missed out on that info Bo, I was looking for the ingredients on the website and I could not find them, but I didn't expect much for the price. It seems the products can't be ordered online sadly.

Look Fantastic have got 25% off LRP and Vichy at the moment if anyone needs to stock up.

We were talking about primark in work today, one of my colleagues needs to go to the Big Scary One so I’ve tasked her with checking out the skincare - if she can find it

There's no Primark near me I always feel a bit deprived when I see the bargains people get. But I can't stand routing through messy shops. It's why I avoid sales. Thank goodness for online shopping!

Will order cicaplast using the FeelU offer. Thank you.

Rooting...🤔

I don’t like rooting either Enid - one of the reasons tkmaxx stresses me out! My Little Primark is not rooty - it’s just the makeup bit that’s in a mess, the rest of it seems fine though I only really go in for socks, leggings and hoodies. My colleague went to Big Scary Primark and didn’t even find the beauty section, think she was a bit overwhelmed and escaped as soon as she could

at Big Scary Primark. I was thinking of our local TK Maxx being messy. It's not that bad really but all those super long racks...🤯 I'm a delicate flower obviously

No skin issues or purchases to report. Had a small chin breakout which I think was the very abrasive ??????... green scrub that I was testing. Cleared up now thankfully.

Anyone hoping (or ordered yourself) for anything nice for Christmas? What are people's plans? 👃🏻

No Christmas presents planned but SpaceNK did just send me a £15 gift voucher and the GBP isn't performing all that well so I'm contemplating now. If I don't I'm happy to pass the code on, it's valid with a £65 spend though. Think DE Vit C is the main contender but I'm somewhat concerned I'll have a bad reaction to it as I'm not usually a fan of things like pumpkin enzymes but the GOW one is oxidising atm and I'm not overly enthused by it anyhow.

Enid, did you ever get olaplex as a stand alone treatment or just as part of colouring? I'm contemplating the former just not sure if it's worth it and if it would end up weighing my hair down. Wondering what your experience was like.