🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Is Everyone Having Botox Without Me? 💉

[botemp]

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 Thread 17 Thread 18 Thread 19

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

December 2019: Time for The Snailies way more reliable and better than the MN recommends annual roundup (yes I'm still bitter about them quoting me in isolation and making me sound like a wanker please don't revoke my special image allowance privileges, MNHQ )

Also: Thread 20 in time for 2020!!! Ahem, where are my presents?

Hi all, I've had a bit of an extreme skin reaction recently and wondering if it sounds like I've now got a compromised skin barrier. My "winter pink skin" went into overdrive over the last few weeks and after using BR P50 on Saturday night (in the hope of getting rid of some of the flakiness), I had a crazy reaction and my face went bright tomato red, and very sting-y! when I put some moisturiser on afterwards (Lumene Arctic Hydra and Marula oil).

It was still bad the next day, so I've not been using any actives over the last week (apart from vit C for a few days which I've also stopped now). I'm doing a basic routine of washing with Toleriane and tepid water, then using Superdug serum, and Cerave PM Lotion (@botemp 's routine as set out in the skin barrier repair sheet). My face is already looking slightly less pink but I've had an outbreak of zits possibly from using Cerave cream (not the lotion - think the mineral oil in the cream is an issue for me) - is it ok to use a bit of salicylic acid dabbed on the spots I wonder?

Also this has coincided with me starting HRT just over a month ago - anyone else had skin changes after starting HRT? I think it's the effects of the Mirena to be honest, I was expected a bit more glow from the extra oestrogen but it hasn't happened yet!

Went a bit crazy with the bleach at the hairdressers. Loads of baby highlights

Love it Queen!

Thanks for the advice re DS' skin. We got home the Avenue cleanser and LRP moisturiser yesterday so will see how that goes. I'll look at the PC acid too.

I'm not sure about HRT's effect on the skin Tsm but I know the Mirena (especially a few years in) gets a lot of issues, especially hair breakage and loss. But considering it's all hormones it could be both? I thought HRT was supposed to improve skin and hair, but it's really not something I've read up on much.

You can't get a trial size of the PC calm, I think, Pupsie, but you can get a pack of sample sachets to try.

Thanks Bo, yes I guess the Mirena (I had fitted end of January to fulfill the progesterone component of HRT) would negatively affect skin/weight etc but I had hoped the oestrogen gel would counteract the progesterone and help with hair loss - my hair has thinned markedly in the last couple of year to the point I bought some Regaine, but thought I'd give the oestrogen some time to work first.

On a side note, I've not been using any actives for a week and my skin is much less pink and irritated BUT I'm still waking up with little spots/whiteheads every day. I think it's the lack of exfoliation maybe or the Toleriane Dermo-cleanser not washing off properly? Anyway, I'll persist with the "no actives" gentle routine for a while more...

It might just be the hormones running riot as your body adjusts. IIRC you're quite dry normally so it does sound like sebum production has gone a bit frazzled. I'd wait six weeks (from initial pink to red face crisis) to see how it settles.

I'm a big fan of Regaine, I had exceptional results with it (according to my dermatologist), no initial shedding (to my greatest relief), and new hair growth well ahead of schedule. I had been warned it would only really retain what I have, some new hair growth if I was lucky but a year and three months on and everything that was noticeably lost is back again and I'm still getting new hair growth. My hair is denser than it has been in years, I kind of forgot what it was like.

I'm on HRT tsmummy. I'm on oestrogen gel and a progesterone tablet. Both are body identical (not to be confused with "bio-identical" which is essentially a marketing scam from expensive private clinics: it's essentially the same thing). What form are you taking? I couldn't get on with patches.

pupsie did you see my message to you the other day?

Bo it's very interesting to hear your positive experience with Regaine. I'm sure my hair loss is hormonal/age-related...

Pupsie I'm also on oestrogen gel (2 pumps initially) but using the Mirena IUD for progesterone. I'm not loving the Mirena but prepared to give it a few months. I'm definitely feeling less foggy-headed, my concentration is better and no night sweats. My main reasons for wanting it were cognitive/mood-related and it does appear to be helping a little. I'm finishing off my thesis and found it hard to string a sentence together sometimes, however, there's been a definite improvement in my ability to find words and concentrate on a train of thought for more than 5 seconds! What was your issue with patches if you don't mind me asking?

I did mint. My "thanks for the advice" was to all how responded.

*TSmummy" I had patches before we moved to SE Asia. I then struggled to get them out there because apparently they don't really prescribe them due to the humidity affecting their efficacy. Also they started to irritate my skin. Lastly, I didn't like the plaster marks all over my arse: nothing screams "YOU'RE MENOPAUSAL" quite so much lol.

I never had night sweats. But I did notice a big difference in cognitive function/mood as you say. And the rage. TBH I'll probably stay on it forever.

My hair loss was/is hormonal too Tsm, elevated androgen/testosterone levels at play. Not menopausal but PCOS in my case but not dissimilar either. I'm not allowed to do lift heavy because of it as it increases the levels (temporarily but it can set the entire balance off kilter).

Haha Pupsie, I'm now imagining those kiddie plasters in cartoon letters with "YOU'RE MENOPAUSAL" with a smug smiling heart

Picked up a sample of the new Estée Lauder hydra rescue foundation today so going to give that a go and see how it is

Pupsie Haha, I actually like the idea of the plaster marks as a warning!! Ah yes the rage, that's better too...

botemp That's interesting, I wonder if my lifting has impacted my hormone profile over the last few years? It's swings and roundabouts, isn't it? I am/was quite high risk for osteoporosis and putting on some muscle has probably decreased that risk and improved my overall health but thinned my (head) hair... hoping to do a bit more cardio soon when (if) the weather improves....

Queen Looking forward to your thoughts on the Estee Lauder :)

I'm currently having a bit of a nightmare regarding hormonal spots. I went a bit insane and looked through all pictures from the last 12 months and I'm now certain it's the birth control as it seems they started about a month after switching and are like clockwork in appearance.
The complicated part is I'm struggling to find anyone in this country that knows how to remove the dam thing
I've nearly finished my bottle of toralein dermo cleanse which I've been using as a first cleanse. It's working well and I've not been getting the usual dullness I do when using alot of sun cream. However it smells and feels likes pva glue and I hate using it.
Any similar products, ideally LRP, Vichy, aveno or clinique.
Also what is the general view on clinique a branch just opened but I've never really used them other than moisture surge

Out, Clinique tends to be a bit aggressive and stripping, which is quite annoying when it's marketed for sensitive/spotty skin. The Avene extremely gentle cleanser is probably a good alternative if you can get it. I've always wondered if you could just DIY it out yourself, probably not recommended. Is there not some overpriced expat medical centre around?

Tsm, I've also been advised not to do high intensity cardio and HIIT. I think I discussed the HIIT with Pupsie at some point on here as well (menopausal in her case IIRC) as it just tends to back fire and make you gain weight/show no results for the amount of effort put in because it throws off the hormonal balance.

bo I'll give clinique a miss then, I do like moisture surge but probably use it once every two weeks or so or after swimming when my skin feels a bit tight.
I was also wondering about DIYing it but was concerned if it went majorly wrong my medical insurance won't cover fixing me and then spots would be the least of my worries
I've compiled a list of doctors/clinics that market themselves toward expats just need to give them a call and find out whether its doable without costing a months wages.

Yes that's right Bo. Any exercise is a stress on the body of course, but HIIT is particularly stressful and in menopausal women especially, high stress/poorly managed cortisol can lead to weight gain. I do like HIIT and it has a really positive effect on my mental state, but I try to limit it to once a week now.

Yep, basically any exercise where you have that fantastic residual high of feeling great, is crap for hormone levels. Annoying AF 😑

This eyeshadow brush arrived today. Beautifully soft
https://www.rephr.com/products/brush-03

I haven't been keeping up so I'm just popping in to use you.

I bought the Cerave Hydrating cleanser. I'm not sure. Have we had opinions on it?

I've just stumbled across this post after thinking for ages that it was for those of you who had injectables!

Really hope you guys can help me with my complex skincare needs. I'm 38 and have dry and sensitive skin. This is the easy part, as have had eczema my whole life so used to topically treating patches that sometimes flare up between my eyes.

I've also got a severe chemical allergy to Methylisolizolinone which can make skincare/life really tricky! I've got to be really careful to avoid the 'liazolinone' family of products that are chemical preservatives. On top of this (nope I'm not done yet!) I've also go angioedema and suffer with patches of urticaria (mostly on my neck and body).

I seem to have totally lost my way with skin care and don't know what to be using on my skin. At the moment I'm mostly using up some dermatologica, REN and Kiehl's minis that I've received as presents along with micellar water to remove makeup.

I really want to get myself a load of new skincare items but it all looks really complicated and I don't know what is good or not?!? Could I get some recommendations for premium and more budget items that you think would be a good start for me to use morning and night for my very dry skin to stop me looking so old, grey and flat toned (I appreciate you aren't miracle workers )

Thanks so much.

@PAtothegruesometwosome hopefully @botemp will be along soon I have cholinergic urticaria and dermographism, waiting for a trial on Xolair
I'm obsessed with the Superdrug simply pure hydrating serum but not sure if the ingredients would work for you

Bani it's my new favourite forever and ever cleanser and a lot of others on here like it a lot too but I have found it can be stingy when I apply it on dry skin and get distracted and it son there for longer than 10 seconds. So despite the marketing I think the brand is good for normal to slightly sensitive skin, but I'm hesitant to recommend it to anyone with actual sensitive skin. Think Pupsie had a really bad reaction to it, whose not super sensitive but has the odd unpredictable reaction.

Welcome PA, are you in the UK? MI isn't that difficult to avoid anymore as it isn't used in anything except wash off products in the EU through some dermatologist/manufacturers agreement. I only really come across it occasionally in haircare products.

Is the angioedema connected to urticaria? They tend to go together often IIRC. I assume you've already been turned inside out WRT allergies that may be causing it?

In terms of products, I'd be looking at the most sensitive lines from French pharmacy brands Avene Tolerance, LRP Toleriane, Bioderma Sensibio, Eucerin Ultrasensitive, etc. Potentially something from Paula's Choice for a specific troubleshoot. They tend to have the most minimal ingredient lists, often don't include preservatives (but ensure the packaging keeps the product safe to use) and eliminate the most common and less common irritants. Which products from which line sort of depends on need and condition of your skin. How well do you react to water? I know the very problematic and dry eczema types often have an intolerance of water too.

That's right Client, quite a few of us have cholinergic urticaria and/or dermographism on here IIRC. Probably connected to sensitive skin issues (my completely non medical brain fart opinion). Mine has gotten a lot less since stoping sugar and non cultured dairy. I've been suspecting peanuts from contributing lately, but I don't have an allergy 🤔