🐌 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 mini, is Viola that Amazon one? I believe it's using a derivative of vitamin c but presenting it as the gold standard (dodgy marketing), depending on which one it is (I'm guessing SAP) that can be useful or useless to you. I can't find INCI very quickly so if you can post it here that would help. As an aside, the EWG is a lobby with a very specific agenda, it has little to do with a scientific approach to skincare. If you just want to check ingredients use incidecoder or cosdna, they're not without bias either but they're more neutral.

How sensitive are you exactly, do you go red easily, or break out from products, or get dermatitis, etc?

Hello! Just wanted to say thanks so much for coming back to me so quickly. Will read and reply properly later when I am on a PC and can tag you (bloody MN iOS app!) and because DH is waiting for me to help put up an arch in the garden! Back soon!!!

Thanks @botemp. Right, will lay off the pixi and the soap. I’ve ordered the Superdrug serum and also the Cerave cleanser. Is there any particular vit C product you’d recommend as the REN one isn’t any good?

This one from Timeless Jacob but it has a limited shelf life so if you're starting on Tret within the next few weeks then I'd hold off on purchasing until you're through the Tret adjustment period.

Pearl my DH had a very bad reaction to an LRP spf. Can't remember which one but it was definitely marketed as being for very sensitive skin. His poor face was bright red and swollen for days. Had to use antihistamines. I'm a fan of LRP usually. Hope you find one that's better for you.

Not much to report here. I think the LRP sensitive fluid, that replaced our old favourite, actually gives me bumpy skin. I haven't used it for ages as I'm not wearing a foundation (I like it as a base) and my skin is very clear. Using Elemis cream oil everyday. So I might look at what else LRP have instead. Don't feel like buying anything new atm though so it'll wait.

Hope you're all doing ok.

@botemp It was this one - not Bioderma (lockdown brain!) but Biotherm, and it does contain fragrance unfortunately :(

www.easyparapharmacie.co.uk/brume-solaire-hydratante-visage-spf50-75ml-biotherm.html?queryID=d32caabcca21945c9a95ed2e06956cee&objectID=64241&indexName=magento_en_products#

Hello 👋

Hope everyone is ok, I took a break from social media as found it wasn’t good for my mental health but I’ve missed posting/reading this thread so decided to venture back to S&B but will try to avoid the rest of MN!

Nothing new to report here, I’m using tret every day with no major issues at all, probably due to the warmer weather and no central heating/office air conditioning. My friend the tret dealer is hopeful she’ll still be able to get supplies as has friends/family she can ask to post it once things start getting back to something approaching normal but we’ll see, I’m fairly well stocked up for now anyway.

Pupsie I was using and liking this Purito SPF but have moved back onto frezyderm for summer, will definitely repurchase the Purito next winter though.

That’s a shame about the bioderma spf 30 spray disappearing, I really liked it though don’t need it at the moment. I found the LRP one ok but I found it had quite a strong chemical smell & it made my eyes a bit watery.

I’ve splurged on the deviant skincare gentle resurfacing liquid. It has a blend if aha bha and pha. I’ve really adjusted to tret and I need some exfoliation to help with hyperpigmentation and texture and I heard this is an extremely gentle exfoliating liquid.

Their cleansing concentrate is supposedly extremely popular and is out of stock regularly.
I hope it’s worth the costs because I’ve never spent more than £20 on skincare. However I think if I do splurge, splurging on actives is better.

Hello again Sallie, I was wondering where you were so I'm glad (genuinely) to read you've been ignoring us rather than suffering from a horrible disease. MN is still a bit mad elsewhere but it's relatively ok on here. Lovely to see you pop up again too, Enid

I've been reminded by the lack of Bioderma spray issue (shame the Biotherm has fragrance too Tsm) that I had previously contemplated the supergoop (re)setting mist. They recently changed it to an SPF 40 (from 50) to make it more cosmetically elegant. Also comes in a really handy 15ml pocket size version. I've always been intrigued by the brand as they're just really innovative with sunscreen but they've always been really pricey in Europe and then it just disappeared here altogether. I did see cult beauty is reintroducing them today but only with the one product that's not the spray, hopefully the rest will follow but I may just order from Revolve, it's pretty hassle free, just need to find other stuff to buy to get the free shipping.

A touch more expensive than the Bioderma used to be per/ml but it is a larger size so the price difference isn't crazy either. Someone else can do the math more accurately but I think it's about a third more.

I've never heard of deviant skincare cinnamon, do keep us posted. Sound a bit like they're making a version of Biologique Recherche's P50.

The cleansing concentrate is on my wish list! I've been eyeing it up for ages now
Interested to see what Caroline Hirons kits contain, 2 of them being launched on Friday

Bo no I’ve been physically fine thankfully, wasn’t doing too well mentally for a while (one year anniversary of my Mum dying plus the current situation and work stress) but feeling better now. Still going to avoid the rest of MN though, can’t be doing with all the arguing and finger wagging.

I like the sound of that supergoop spray, don’t need one right now but will definitely bear it in mind for the future.

And deviant skincare does sound interesting, I’d be interested in a review as well Cinnamon I love P50 but don’t love the price so much, a cheaper alternative would be very welcome.

Ladies, can anyone recommend a decent exfoliant/acid for my sister? 29, no lines/wrinkles, no issues with spots, a lovely even skin tone but a little on the dry side. It’s looking particularly dull at the moment as she’s a bit run down/stressed (She works the Covid positive ward and is super busy)

I bought her the Cerave cleanser and moisturiser. She’s purchased the Superdrug Vit C booster and the Superdrug simply pure serum to have a play around with, but is looking for something to help exfoliate and brighten her skin. She just wants something she can use once or twice a week.

I use a medical vitamin C daily and tretanoin at night, it’s called obagi. I have done for nearly a year, I get it from my cosmetic doctor and can still get it during lockdown, so I won’t look 80 when this ends!!

Oh I have Botox to- definitely recommend!

Oh, and day 3 of using Hada Labo HA light lotion and so far so good. My skin looks so much healthier in the two weeks of using Timeless Vit C, taking SPF seriously and introducing a Hyaluronic acid. Best thing I ever did was come here for advice

Now, to sort this lockdown weight gain out....

@botemp I agree with what you are saying about beauty journalists (I think they are entirely biased) but I have used Vit C from Skinceuticals and it is good but the Obagi vit C serum had more notiable benefit and was half the price - I pay around £70 for the Obagi one, no cheap but better than what I was paying for skinceuticals 🙈

Sallie, that's a lot to deal with. Good to hear you're feeling better now

Is the deviant cheaper in GBP? It's coming up as €40 for 100ml, where P50 is €50 for 150ml.

Fete, does she want an exfoliator? So long as she has no sensitivities/issues with skincare then glycolic is usually the first one to try/rule out. The Ordinary (not the peel, the giant orange bottle) does an affordable one, to be used once or twice a week and really stick to that 3x a week max. If it doesn't irritate the effect can be pretty instant and the temptation is there to use it all the time but you have to keep it in check to avoid aggravating the skin. But, dullness without really any other issues, potentially an essence may be better suited, it's quite brightening and lifting. It sort of depends how you define dullness, if it's sort of the brightness from within that's missing that exudes health or if it's dullness from looking a bit craggy on a skin textural level. The latter is more exfoliator territory, the former essence and/or other brighteners.

Oops lots of x-posting

I've never used the Obagi but have heard good things about it MaryAnne. Does it still contain fragrance? Obagi makes a really good SPF as well but they only sell it in Japan

Fete, good to hear you're getting on well. For the weight gain, I can suggest getting a skipping/speed rope and use a tabata timer with it (easily found in the app store). 20 mins a day with a stop rest cycle and you can do it with DC and it's surprisingly effective. Provided your knees and joints are not an issue and good footwear is a must to handle the impact.

Hi @botemp We were just having a chat tonight on the phone because her Cerave items had arrived and she wanted to thank me. She told me about the Vit C/hydrating serum (She’s ordered them but not yet arrived) And she mentioned her skin feeling a bit dry and said she felt like she needed something exfoliating. Up until now, she’s been using soap to wash her face, so this is all very new to her.

She has lovely skin, but basically could do with a boost. I reckon (from reading on here) that the Cerave will really help, but she’d like to try something exfoliating. I assumed Salicylic was not the right avenue, given she doesn’t suffer with break outs, but didn’t really know what Glycolic (or other) acid products to suggest, given she just wants something to brighten up her skin a little. I don’t know what an essence is

@botemp Googling skipping ropes now!

@botemp does this look pigmentation like or more like rosacea? On my cheek. The chin is hormonal acne as per usual!

An essence is a Korean/Japanese sort of toner. You use it straight after cleansing and contains a high percentage of fermented ingredients (galactomyces which AC always changes into galactic mice 😂) and usually niacinamide. If you're familiar with Estée Lauder advanced night repair, it uses similar fermented ingredients. It's a by product (originally) of sake making as they noticed that the hands of the workers were so young and soft. It's a really good troubleshooter for suddenly stressed skin and helps bring back that healthier lit from within look. Although it is a bit of a gamble like EL ANR some people break out from it, but that seems to be mostly acne prone folk.

But by the sound of it, just let her use the new cleanser and other products for two weeks at least before jumping on anything else new. The glycolic would require daily sunscreen use so it's adding quite a bit of new product all at once and the simple routine may very well remedy the dry feeling.

Could be rosacea but it looks a bit like Tret sensitivity to me, could be both. Tret has been temparemantal with me lately with being indoors so much and seasonal changes. Maybe switch to layering it over moisturiser for a bit and see if it clears up.

Sorry forgot to tag everyone first was in reply to Fete, second to Client.