🐌 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

Bo Only had it as part of colouring process so far. I think it's just because it supposedly protects against damage caused by hair dye and because it will the. Be left on the hair whilst the colour processes. I only get semi permanent colour so nothing too harsh. Intend getting it by itself.

The first time had the best results. I think it was left a bit longer than the other two times. Last time (3rd) I wasn't impressed at all. Going to mention this when I go. Possibly not enough used?

So just going off first and second times, it didn't weigh my hair down at all or add any coating. It lasted a few weeks with hair washed 2-3 tines a week with a clarifying shampoo. The main thing I liked was that my dry prone ends felt very smooth and hydrated.

I've never used the in between at home treatment btw.

Think I'd describe it as a glossing treatment. Don't think it actually adds moisture, that's just how it felt to me. Frizz and dryness was definitely improved.

Thanks, Enid, that's my main interest my ends don't split that quickly but they do seem to get a bit dry and dehydrated so it sounds a good match for that.

I keep eyeing up the olaplex 3 to use at home but reviews are mixed as to whether it does anything without the hair dresser treatments (which will not be happening ) so I’ve not taken the plunge.

I’m not planning any big makeup or skincare purchases - I bought quite a lot in the Black Friday sales and a new hourglass palette shortly before that so I don’t need anything. I do keep looking at hourglass powders because I love them so much but I’ve barely made a dent in the stuff I already have yet so I’d just be buying for the sake of it.

My echo dot that I bought on Black Friday has arrived but I haven’t even opened the box yet I’m mad busy with work travel and social stuff (also mainly work related) and feel Christmassed out already, nothing exciting planned for the day itself (eating, drinking and sleeping) but have got a party to go to on Boxing Day and friends visiting for new year.

I reapplied my makeup at midday in the car mirror in bright sunshine daylight and my skin looked very sort of mottled ie flat red non bumps luckily though not dehydrated as I had cleansed and applied serum, moisturiser and Nars TM earlier. But clearly it was not enough to cover and last.
I also had very fine hair on my upper lip which I've never particularly noticed before with longer darker hair towards the outer edge of my top lip, marvellous.
So I guess I will be looking for a new foundation this winter.

Car mirrors and bright sunshine are the work of the devil Tant I avoid looking in mine as it depresses me, ignorance is bliss I’ve got a friend who always plucks her eyebrows and other unwanted facial hair in her car mirror, she says it’s the only place she can see them all properly.

Or magnifying surround lighting mirrors in hotels . Let’s just say I’ve applied a clay mask when I’ve come home today.

Ha yes it was excellent for plucking my brows as well Sallie

Jdster Oooo I'm intrigued, what have you been getting up to in the afternoons

You forgot rule one of S&B Tant. Never look close up in a mirror in broad daylight. JD Rule two, don't look in a magnifying mirror unless absolutely necessary.

Actually rule one might be, never look in a magnifying mirror in broad daylight. The horror! 😱

they might just be my rules tbf

Sallie Busy sounds good! Make sure you have some time to yourself too.

Reminds me I must use my elasticiser again.

enid rule number 3 if in doubt squint (or refuse to wear contacts or glasses ever again)

Not up to anything Tant . Away for work purposes and magnifying mirror with bright lights around it in the hotel bathroom convinced me the pores needed a bit of clearing, hence the clay mask last night.

Streaming cold here and I'm out out tomorrow night as well

I've used the Olaplex treatments at home, it didn't really do anything for me. I've just recently been looking into hair porosity and have realised I've high porosity hair. I got the Aphogee two step protein treatment and applied that and it's made a massive difference. I also slathered my hair in coconut oil before colouring my roots this week and my hair looks the best it has in years (still a wreck, but a softer and shinier wreck). I have frizzy curly hair that is also damaged from colouring, so my hair is the bane of my life! I did pick up a couple of protein hair masks this week at boots, so will be trialling those over the next couple of weeks.

I treated myself to 3 beauty advent calendars so have quite a lot of new things to try. So far I'm really enjoying the Elemis Pro Collagen Overnight Matrix and the REN AHA body serum. I have the Keihl's midnight oil to trial once the Elemis is gone. I have now used up my GOW Vitamin C and am debating whether to repurchase or to try something new.

I think mine was porous 🤔 I cant remember that glass of water trick we all tried, I'll have to google it and have another go. Presumably it can change overtime with treatments etc?

About to have another hot chocolate even though milk gives me wind when I'm moaning about putting weight on in Jan, remind me of the 103 costa hot chocs I drank in December. 🙃

It's awful weather though so cosiness is needed. I'm using more body moisturiser because of the central heating. It might be time to get the bath oils out.

Hope you feel better Olli. Loads of colds around atm. 💗

Body serum sounds really nice. Have to google that.

I do like a costa hot choc Enid.
DH bought me some REN rose otto bath oil today to put away for Christmas. I also got some NARS tinted moisturiser. Both from space NK with £15 off a £60 spend so not bad at all.

I love the smell of that rose oil! 💗 The hot choc wasn't as good as usually. Have to get another tomorrow to make up for it.

I've just cut 4 inches off my hair, DD trimmed the straggly bits, and I've applied elasticizer and it looks and feels great.

I never know if I'm applying too much or too little but I really need to apply it more often.
I might make myself a nice hot chocolate sounds just what I need.
I'm having a PC 2% BHA and Differin evening to even out my skin.

I used standalone Olaplex treatments and found they worked well. I bought 1 and 2 from eBay, but made sure to buy things that came in original packaging.

Previously I’d had it at the hairdresser as part of a colour, and used number 3 at home to top-up with good effect.

I found an Olaplex 1, 2 and 3 sample sized test kit for my first purchase (I think it’s some kind of freebie they give out to hairdressers). It was only about £20. I did a stand-alone treatment with that which really made a massive difference.

Use 1 and 2 as a stand alone about every two months, and incorparte in a home colour gloss on the alternate month. In addition I do an Olaplex 3 overnight soak once a month and a 3 hour castor oil soak once or twice a month.

My hair needed intensive care after a bleach/balayage disaster- regular stylist on maternity leave so owner stepped in. The Olaplex saved my hair,. I would have needed 6 inches chopped off, due to one disasterous huge bleached patch at the back.

So basically the olaplex is holding your hair together, which proves it's pretty good stuff I guess CBear.

I just bleach my roots myself and somehow everyone is surprised I dye it, so I guess I'm doing a good job of it. It's a Pfaff using elasticizer, I'm a wash and go type, but I'm going to try it once a month to see what difference it makes to the thickness and smoothness.

That’s about the size of it Tantric. It’s about 8 months ago now, so I reckon it’ll hold together long enough that just the odd trim will get rid of it gradually. You can’t tell it’s there now.

Just stay away from Balayage in future because it would seem that not many hairdressers have an actual clue of how to make it look any good.

I’ve gone back to dark now and it’s staying that way! Pinterest has a lot to answer for...

Hi all first time posting here, I am finding the pores seem to be getting larger and more noticeable, particularly as I don’t wear a lot of make up. Does anyone have any good recommendations of skincare that can help reduce pore size?