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

991 replies

botemp · 11/10/2018 14:10

Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6 Thread 7 Thread 8 Thread 9 Thread 10
Thread 11 Thread 12 Thread 13 Thread 14 Thread 15 Thread 16

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 Sad

OP posts:
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JDSTER · 12/01/2019 16:24

I’m not familiar with that skinsosoft. Why are you mixing Vit C with moisturiser? I apply Vit C straight after morning cleanse, making sure I work it into the skin until it’s fully absorbed by my skin, then I go back upstairs (Vit C in fridge) and apply moisturiser.

BagelGoesWalking · 12/01/2019 17:40

The new LRP Cicaplast cleanser looked good until I saw it has Sodium Laureth Sulfate as the 2nd ingredient. That's can't be very good, surely?

botemp · 12/01/2019 20:29

I noted the same, Bagel, however, Laureth, as opposed to Lauryth, Sulfate isn't as problematic. In a face cleanser I'd still avoid all sulfates though. If I have to guess since the Cicaplast line is a comprised of crisis mode products that can treat open wounds you'd want a cleanser that cleans out properly leaving no residue?

Skin, I wouldn't advice putting it in your moisturiser either, it'll struggle to actually deliver to your skin with all the occlusives. The serum (assuming skin pep rather than pop) looks like a dupe for the Skinceuticals one, I don't see anything particularly problematic with it. I'd recommend keeping it in the fridge.

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WineNotTea · 12/01/2019 20:40

Hello all you experts, I have a question if I may 😊

I have some Boots Lift and Luminate, day cream, night cream, eye cream and serum. Can I use the creams as moisturiser after I’ve done vit C, HA etc?

Thanks in advance!

Ollivander84 · 12/01/2019 20:45

Today's makeup needed this lot to remove it Blush
Eye makeup remover
Balance me flash cleanser
Take the day off balm
Cerave cleanser
And a toner

Off for a lie down Grin I've been at a shoot

Skinsosoftandblemishfree · 12/01/2019 22:00

Thanks for the advice Bo and JDSTER, I will use the Vit C neat, and yes, it's Skinpep Blush.

mintmagnummm · 13/01/2019 09:44

Had new passport photos done yest and now my dismorphia has flared :-(

Skinsosoftandblemishfree · 13/01/2019 10:13

Vit C is very sticky: can anyone recommend one that absorbs easily and doesn't feel tacky to the skin a couple of hours after its been applied? Does anyone have any experience of the Mad Hippy Vit C?

botemp · 13/01/2019 10:23

Mad hippy is a SAP bases Vit C (Not as much evidence, potentially useful for acne beyond that it's a guess if it does anything).

Odd that it's sticky still after applying other products over it. Are you using the right amount?

Easily absorbed ones are the Vichy liftactiv antioxidant long name one, and the GOW one absorbs pretty easily as well. I believe Drunk Elephant is slightly sticky as well but disappears when you layer the next product over it.

OP posts:
Skinsosoftandblemishfree · 13/01/2019 10:53

Thanks Bo, have to admit I hadn't layered up so perhaps that's where the problem lies...

WineNotTea · 13/01/2019 11:50

I use Pure Organica Vit C and that’s not sticky at all, smells a bit like chocolate though!
I’ve no idea whether it’s any good though, I’ve never seen it mentioned here, I got it from Amazon and it had good reviews there so who knows!

mintmagnummm · 13/01/2019 12:04

Medik8 c tetra isn't sticky at all it's like water

Skinsosoftandblemishfree · 13/01/2019 15:01

Thanks Wine and Mint: love this thread and all of the associated ones! x

EnidButton · 13/01/2019 15:23

I'd avoid S&B for a few days personally Mint. Hope you feel better soon.

EnidButton · 13/01/2019 15:32

My period started early, and it's a heavy one, so that explains the flare up of symptoms. I'm feeling a bit better now. Bloody (!) hormones.

Spots calming down, with Cicaplast ⭐️ coming to the rescue.

Just about to order lrp toleriane fluide (Sensitive one) and cleanser. There's a new serum by avène that I'm thinking of adding. What do you think? www.escentual.com/avene/avene0135/

AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER (AVENE AQUA), COCO-CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE, WATER (AQUA), GLYCERIN, DIMETHICONE, SILICA, METHYL GLUCETH-20, NYLON-12, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, ARACHIDYL, ALCOHOL, ARACHIDYL GLUCOSIDE, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, DISODIUM EDTA, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM), HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OIL), HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, ISOHEXADECANE, LENS ESCULENTA (LENTIL) SEED EXTRACT (LENS ESCULENTA SEED EXTRACT), PENTYLENE GLYCOL, POLYSORBATE 60, PVP, RED 4 (CI 14700), RIBES RUBRUM (CURRANT) FRUIT EXTRACT (RIBES RUBRUM FRUIT EXTRACT), RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT (RUBUS IDAEUS FRUIT EXTRACT), SCLEROTIUM GUM, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, SODIUM SULFATE, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL GLUCOSIDE, TROPOLONE, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS FRUIT EXTRACT.

Nothing really active there but some oils that I think my skin would appreciate as the new lrp moisturiser is very light. Nothing acne causing.

EnidButton · 13/01/2019 22:12

Bought the Cicaplast hamdcream to try. Excellent reviews for it on Escentual too. I've left the serum for now and just stocked up on moisturiser and cleanser whilst the offer is on.

Damnit, should've bought more Bioderma shower oil 🤦🏻‍♀️ I had free postage as well.

botemp · 16/01/2019 08:51

Finally got my Snailies done Halo

🐌🐌 THE SNAILIES 2019 🐌🐌

Wink The Well Hello There - newest and latest find that gets your motor running

Don't know if this technically counts as skincare but I recently switched from ordinary cod liver oil to fermented cod liver oil (I suppose it can be viewed as a supplement but I tend to consider this as sort of food as it is just an oil from a fish source, the fermented version uses an old fashioned distillation method) and it's been rather interesting to see a quite sudden difference (as nothing else changed in my skincare routine) as I suddenly have a very healthy inner glow thing going on which is pretty much unheard of at this time of year. It's a good source of omega 3 which is great for skin, and general health, so it isn't that surprising but it seems, for me, the extraction method makes a difference.

Angry The Flusher- money spent on this product would have been better put to use by flushing it down the toilet

GOW Vitamin C 23% version 1.0 as I literally had to toss this twice due to malfunction of the packaging. Version 2.0 is only marginally better and I'm not convinced it's a standout formulation. It is however decent and a good budget option so I'll continue to recommend it as such but otherwise, meh. Should mention that Victoria Health customer service has been brilliant throughout.

Halo The Jack & Rose- the product you’ll never let go of because there’s plenty of fucking space for the two of you on that piece of wood. Damn you, James Cameron, for breaking my poor little tween heart.

Newly joining the ranks this year would be the Frezyderm Velvet Face SPF50. Although I'll probably remain a bit polyamorous with it as sunscreen is one of the few products I still swap and change and use on rotation as there genuinely are advancements worth keeping an eye out for.

DHC cleansing oil, I'd sort of forgotten how nice it was and since the price is a lot better than it used to be, I've been steadily repurchasing and stocking up.

Christophe Robin haircare, I strayed, paid the price and wandered back again. For whatever reason the products just really work for me but I do get annoyed that they lack certain products. I could really do with a leave in conditioner, currently their offerings are either very light or very heavy masks and whilst I love the mask it isn't the best choice to use all the time.

Biscuit The LTB- it all seemed so promising, everything was going so great, then they turned out to be a narcissist gaslighting bastard

I suppose the GOW Vitamin C 23% again, but solely down to packaging malfunctioning.

Envy The Child Prodigy- that one product that’s annoyingly good and isn’t afraid to be smug about it

Medik8 R-Retinoate, it's just been stupidly great, particularly for my issues with dehydration and seems to have strengthened the ability of my skin barrier. Insane price tag but I only bought the one last year and it's still not finished.

Smile The Worker Bee- never the centre of attention but has been steadily chugging along like no other

LRP Toleriane hydrating wash, it's not particularly special or joyous to use but it works a treat and does it all without complaining.

LRP Toleriane Ultra Nuit, as above, just gets on with it and never lets me down.

Hmm The Troll- the one where you repeatedly asked, ‘Is this doing anything?’, but continued to use it anyway…

Ogliotherapie as recommended by Joelle Cicco institute in Paris. I stopped using the copper as I really wasn't all that convinced by it, but have continued to use the Manganese and the Selenium. There's at least some backing for those in research papers and I actually do notice it keeps my skin very calm and even but beyond that it seems a lot of hassle for only marginal gains but it isn't very costly

Confused The Flabbergaster- that one product or technique that wasn’t really supposed to be used like that or delivered well beyond your non-existent expectations

Pommade A313, bought it for my KP on my body as advised by my dermatologist and it does really seem to work well for me as keralytic but out of curiosity I patch tested it on a rare spot on my face and was rather astonished at how quickly the pigmentation aftermath and healing was expedited, some trace of it usually lingers for months but not anymore.

Blush The Sinner- oh, admit it because we’re all guilty of it, what did you do or use that wasn’t all that sensible like take an acid bath and had the disastrous results you really knew to expect

Packing all my skincare items in hold luggage recently as of course my bag didn't arrive Angry and I had to make do with emergency skincare products whose labels I could barely decipher as it was in another alphabet on top of language. If I ever needed confirmation that I had a well curated skincare routine for my finicky skin, that was mod definitely it. My skin suffered terribly and only seemed to sigh happily again once it got some P50 on it.

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Vendace · 16/01/2019 09:00

Anyone have feedback for Kate Somerville products? I have a Space NK voucher to use by the end of the month and I keep seeing them pushing KS, a new brand for them, on my FB feed. Not sure whether it's worth trying a couple of them.

botemp · 16/01/2019 09:07

It has a lot of common irritants so I've avoided the brand entirely. There are some well liked products though, think the goat milk moisturiser and an exfoliator? Drunk Elephant might be of interest, and there are some interesting bits in their sale currently.

OP posts:
Vendace · 16/01/2019 09:21

Thanks botemp. Irritants I can do without, will take a look at Drunk Elephant instead.

Skinfulnappies46 · 16/01/2019 10:24

What are the general thoughts on the REN vitamin c seem ? Have 20% off code for orders over £60 but don’t want to make a rash buy. Loving the cicaplast hand cream. Has really soothed really red,some and inflamed areas on my hands. Not at all greasy.

BabyPigeon83 · 16/01/2019 21:57

I never used the REN vit c serum but I had a look at the ingredients and alcohol denat was the 3rd on the list. And no citric acid either, but has other forms of vit c, I don't know how good/effective they are. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will come along.
Off topic, I stumbled on this interesting video about beauty myths

EnidButton · 17/01/2019 00:24

I was just looking for something to watch Pigeon. Smile

Just used the Cicaplast handcream. Really like the texture. Think I may have used too much as I'm used to piling on the Neutrogena. But like it so far.

Hair appointment is imminent.

Skinfulnappies46 · 17/01/2019 08:06

Thanks for that pigeon will give it a miss then. Glad you are enjoying the cicaplast hand cream Enid Good luck with your hair appointment 🤞🤞

EnidButton · 17/01/2019 08:32

I cancelled my appointment and bought a hat. Not joking. Blush

After doing a search for my posts to see how my last appointment went, as I'd forgotten, I've realised I've been borderline obsessed with my hair. Sorry guys. Cake I'll stop.

Cicaplast handcream seems to work even after washing your hands so that's very good.