🐌 Fantastic Skincare: New Year, NuFaces

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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

JANUARY 2019: We're exploring gadgets, and I, Accountability Bo, will attempt to keep everyone in line

Mint Ah that's a shame. My DM has a different skin type so I think I'll get her some to try anyway. Haven't looked at the shade range yet but hopefully it's the same as their usual shades. (Although they really need to expand that.)

I'm watching Queer Eye atm and I want Johnathan to join our threads. I 💜 him!

Sallie Hope you're holding up. 🌹

Spelt it wrong... Jonathan.

Oh my fabulous Jonathan gif didn't load

I watch Queer Eye with my 16 year old DS. He came in when I was watching an episode from season 1 and now we've watched them all together which I love. I am waiting to start the new season, but we are in GCSE knuckling down to revision hell and I don't feel I can nag him then ask him to watch with me .

CJ It's a brilliant mood lifter if he needs something to ease the stress. I've just got the last episode left so I'm saving it.

I guess my gif did post

Sorry, will catch up properly later. Back from London but totally forgot to look at the flower beauty stuff at SD and by Terry at SpaceNk, the latter is way too distracting and I don't think I even saw a Superdrug anywhere.

Vaz, for management of the outbreaks, personally I'd be looking at an AHA as your issue seems to be mostly under the skin bumps that struggle to break through. Glycolic is strong and may be too strong if you're on the sensitive side. Lactic doesn't seem to work as effectively though. PHAs still remain my favourite which is gaining in popularity but beyond BR P50 I haven't tried any of the other offerings out there.

Think you can order glycolic from Paula's Choice in the travel size to try out or just use exclusively in the chin area in the run up to TOM. BR P50 is also available in travel size and I think available online in places now.

It's probably also worth reading into cycle synching if you're somewhat regular. It basically atunes diet, exercise, and skin care regime to the different phases and hormone levels of a cycle which hopefully minimises hormonal outbreaks on the skin and for some also makes period pains more manageable.

Just wanted to put a side note on the suggested led mask above, they can be fantastic but if you're prone to pigmentation (as the continued red trauma spots suggest) than blue led lights are not advisable as they can stimulate pigmentation. You can mitigate some of it by slapping on a potent antioxidant serum whilst using them but as a lay person it's rather difficult to determine what actually constitutes that.

Thanks Enid. I'm sure we will watch and I'll be led by him. He is very bright but he is also a "do the bare minimum" kind of guy. He has to be passionate about sth then he'll spend hours at it. He hates English and history. He's a bit behind and his mocks did not reflect his ability. It's such hard work. He will do maths, economics and simple sci A levels and a comp sci degree so he has it all planned out. But at this rate he will barely scrape a pass in English. Oh the plus side, I'll never worry about him burning himself out. DS2 has just chosen his options. He loves English and history and struggles with the sciences and maths. So funny how different they are. He has a high EQ and will find GCSEs very hard and very stressful (DS1 doesn't find them at all stressful, unfortunately).

Anyway, I'm holiday planning. I need a distraction.

Bo I hope you're feeling better.

Also, I hope you're okay Sallie.

Double gif from Enid

Has anyone successfully mastered sleeping on their back? I find my eyes are often puffy (just the upper eyelid ) which tends to dissipate as the days goes on, although there is some signs of ageing/sagging, I can’t deny. Hot and flashy talks about sleeping on her back, amongst other strategies, to improve her eye area.

JDster I sleep on my back. I mastered it when I was pregnant. It took a while to get used to. I used to always sleep on my side with my arm folded as a pillow so my shoulder was always stiff.

Sometimes I wake up though for no reason and I think I may have accidentally swallowed my tongue a bit as I feel like I've just come to from choking a bit.

CJ, thanks, I am doing a lot better and yes BB and similar heavily pigmented mascaras like Chanel le volume ultra noir are awful to get off completely.

I haven't seen the new queer eye series. I remember the original one though from the 2000s, I think? Never really got the love. Is the man with the enviable hair here to make our hair better? Ahem, I really need to see a hairdresser soonish

Hmm, I feel force sleeping on your back is daily UV glove and hat territory of overdoing it a touch. I think for general health, quality of sleep will always trump position. I do sleep on my back, don't know how or why, I always go to bed on my side. I'd say invest in a good quality cushion that gives you support for lying on your back.

I've tried to sleep on my back many times because of a dodgy shoulder but I've given up now.

bo The new version of Queer Eye is much much better than the original one. It has a different feel to it. (Jonathan is hair and does a bit of skincare too but nothing fancy.)

I'm desperate for a hair cut. Mainly colour and a treatment but it needs a good trim too and my beloved fringe has long grown out. The fear is stopping me booking one.

CJ Really impressed he has a plan. That's half the battle. Good luck to him.

Just remembered my friend has cut out refined sugar for health reasons and her skin is glowing suddenly. It's only been about two weeks. It's motivated me to go back to no refined sugar. Fell off the no sugar wagon and into a vat of Mini Eggs.

No sugar is the final frontier for me. My staple diet is chocolate and sweets. I'd say it makes up 90% of all my diet and has done for the last 30 odd years. How I'm still alive is beyond me. If I go without in the morning, I start shaking like crazy by the afternoon. It's just such a huge pleasure for me though that I just can't seem to give it up. My skin would thank me for it though no doubt, although my skin is the best it's ever been right now tbh.

Any thoughts on Paula's Choice Resist 2% BHA vs the standard Skin Perfecting BHA? I've been using the Skin Perfecting (trial size) for a few weeks now and had no problems so was able to build up fairly quickly to using every day. Now nearing the bottom of the bottle and wondering if I'm likely to see much benefit from the Resist's additional anti-ageing ingredients. (And want to make up my mind while PC have 15% off exfoliants!)

I also decided to try out the DHC Cleansing Oil after the love I've seen for it in here and elsewhere. Only been using it for a couple of days, but I'm regretting getting the small size rather than just the tiny size bottle to try. Can't get past the fact that it just feels and smells like I'm slathering my face with cooking oil and, despite not taking it near my eyes, it still seems to leave them stinging gently when I'm trying to go off to sleep.

I think the jojoba oil base of the medik8 c tetra is breaking me out, think I need to go back to basics again! I feel the less is more approach works best for me but I always feel like I'm missing out on actives etc 🙄

Oh and I've been using faith in nature fragrance free shampoo and conditioner which hasn't caused me any reactions but the shampoo makes my hair feel like straw and my hair feels dry and damaged 😔

Hi again!

Firstly, thanks to everyone for the replies and apologies for the delay in returning/getting back to you...work is manic this week

Enid I'm certain its hormonal, as it normally only at my totm but at present I've now got 4 . I've tried an oral antibiotic recently (fluxicillan sp?) but it didnt help at all and BP just makes them all dry and scabby and impossible to conceal but not actually any better!...I will ask the GP for that cream...I'm going to try and get an appointment for my day off on Monday. I usually avoid the GP like the plague but not only is this really getting me down,,,it bloody hurts...even lying my face on the pillow is sore. I'm miserable!

I'm pretty much wheat and dairy free after following a low FODMAP diet since about november for an IBS flareup, so i dont think its wheat?

I'll hunt around for the clay mask you suggested...i'll try anything just now. And defo no picking... I'm a picker but there is genuinely nothing to pick or even squeeze

Mint...is the acnecide cream prescription only?...and just of curiosity...why no acids?

Bo...i have both glycolic and lactic acid from Bavura london (which you paint on then wash off), which i use pretty infrequently tbh....but i hadn't even considered them as i thought the salycilic went deeper to clear out the pores? I've never tried a PHA...but I'm off to nosy!

I'm very regular but only cause i'm on the pill (same pill for years with no issues)

I would say I am prone to pigmentation (not like sun marks...i use a good spf) but redness following spots/scabs/trauma to the skin, so I'm not sure the LED mask would suit (thanks for the suggestion though Ruddy)

Any suggestions from anyone for helping to fade the red marks post spots? They literally take months to leave

thanks everyone!

Vaz I took minocycline for a long time for mild to moderate hormonal acne and it really helped. My skin felt very balanced too. But I don't think they prescribe that one much now. There might be another type you could try that will work better for you. Being that physically uncomfortable is awful and you shouldn't have to put up with it. The zineryt is a liquid in a little bottle that you dab on with the sponge on the top of it. I hated bp and couldn't take oral antibiotics anymore so zineryt was the best one for me. I hope you have success at your appointment. There's definitely something out there that will sort it out for you. It's just bloody hard work finding it.

For red marks I swear by cicaplast b5 applied right after they've 'finished' whilst still in the crusty healing stage and continued until they've gone. Think you tried that already though?

But I guess if they never come out of the hard lump stage then the cicaplast won't work the same. I think skin takes about 3 months to fully replace itself (?? Put that totally the wrong way and someone else will know the proper time. Maybe google could help explain it better.) so there's a chance the formal diet might start helping your skin soon too.

Fodmap not formal

Vaz acnecide isn't prescription you can get it from boots but it's behind the counter so you have to ask for it. My skin doesn't tolerate any acids, they end up breaking me out constantly.