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

[botemp]

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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

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?

No BHA won't burn you, especially since it's in a soap form so the pH pretty much makes it ineffective and you're washing it off, it'll hardly make any impact. The soap would just set back any progress because it can be drying and the ln the physical exfoliation aspect of it. I would not use it on the face, the body can handle more but that really is too much to subject your face to. If you want BHA for your face just get something specifically formulated for it like Paula's Choice 2% BHA perfecting liquid. Also, as long as it's not shipped yet, you can still cancel your order with Amazon.

Caroline Hirons two kits have been launched, one at £150, one at £160

Hello all
Been dipping in and out for a while and must say your knowledge here is amazing.

Could I please ask where best to read up about Cerave? I want to buy the body moisturiser for KP but also a cleanser but am feeling overwhelmed!

@ClientQ I’m going for kit 1. I’ve been using Vit C and Hyaluronic acid over the last few weeks and can notice the benefits already. Both are in this kit so figured I try it. I really like the look of those Dr Dennis Gross pads too, but not sure at what point to introduce them.

@agteacht I probably won’t be much help here as fairly new to all this, but this thread introduced me to Cerave and it’s wonderful stuff, I’m finding it to be really gentle and nourishing. Is KP Keratosis Pilaris? If so, my DD has that (She’s only 10)

@VillageFete they do both seem good value

Hey @VillageFete yes that's it! Does your DD use Cerave for that purpose?

Hi

Re. the CH kits...
Is there a list of the kits anywhere? I started to listen to her video and I can’t stand the woman!
Thanks!

Hang on.. here you go. All full size

Kit 1 (£160)

Jordan Samuel Sensitive Skin aftershow cleanser

Dr Dennis Gross Pads (Ultra Gentle Formula, looks like a full size product so 30 pads inside)

Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream

Oskia Super C Capsules (30 in there)

NIOD MMHC (Hyaluronic Acid)

Ren Evercalm Day Cream Moisturiser

Medik8 Advance Day SPF 30 5* UVA

Kit 2 (£150)

Beauty Pie Plantastic Cleansing Balm

Pixi Glow tonic to go (5% glycolic acid)

Oskia Super C Capsules (30 in there)

Inkey List Caffeine Eye cream

Zelens Z22 Absolute Facial Oil

Kate Somerville Peptide K8

Brilliant thanks! Not sure I’m going to go for it. I do love those Dennis Gross pads but don’t know much about the other products...

I'm tempted by kit 2 as always wanted to try that Kate Somerville moisturiser but it costs £127 by itself 😮

Hello everyone, I used to post on this thread a while ago (couple of years?) and have been following it again for a few months. I live in Greece and was around with the Frezyderm craze started on here.

Particularly interested in the curly hair talk as I'm also a curly girl. From the product list that Bo/ClientQ have posted, I also don't like the Umberto Giannini - Curl Jelly scrunching jelly (30ml). My cousin really likes the Curls Blueberry Bliss reparative Leave in conditioner. Not used it myself as long it's not easy to get most curly products here. My cousin did just recommend the Matrix Biolage hydrasource conditioner - saw a photo of her curls and they looked really good with this conditioner. I've ordered it myself to try as found it here. I envy people in the UK who can go to get proper curly girl dry cuts - I think the cut makes all the difference.

Skincare-wise I still have issues with acne if I don't take proper care of my skin. Currently on tret 0.05% every other night and was using Skinoren azelaic acid (cream not gel) on alternate nights. They have a shortage of the cream here now though and tried another azelaic acid which my skin didn't like at all. Also using Timeless vitamin C maybe twice a week. Got to take it easy with vitamin C otherwise I get a rash. I've had two acid light peels/treatments over winter (think citric acid and another but forgotten which one) - that's my exfoliation really as don't use any other products which are solely exfoliating.

Oh Bo, I use a Denman brush to brush in all my
Products thoroughly while my hair is still wet. The bristles are a lot stiffer than the wet brush (DD has one - although there may be other types with stiffer bristles).

Hello again Sophie, I remember you, my Frezyderm friend Hope you and your family are doing well. I put in an order for Frezyderm from a Greek pharmacy on Monday but I think they're overly busy for obvious reasons as it still hasn't shipped. I do hope it's a legit pharmacy though 😬

The CG sample shop has closed for holidays just when I was about to order so I'm going to have to wait. I'm definitely going to pass on the UG because I think it's liked for being cheap and easily available but that's not really the case for me here anyhow, it's about the same price as the other gels (bar Innersense) I'm looking at. Think probably the same for Noughty brand. I'm jealous too of the ease of buying things in the UK. There are some natural hair shops here though, so I can find most things online for decent prices but I find the physical shops rather intimidating as they're heaving with product and according to the Google reviews nothing is priced so you have to ask/find out when paying.

I'm not sure about the curly cuts. I've had one, she wasn't CG as she used Kevin Murphy but it was probably the worst cut I've ever had. I had to heat treat it to look decent because it just hung so bad if dried naturally. She used way too many stylers and the next morning I woke up with a completely tangled and matted bird's nest when my hair isn't prone to tangling or matting. I also find that some of the curly cuts can end up looking a bit 80s, especially the wavy haired ones.

Sorry, tuned out with all the box talk, I always find those poor value for money and contributors to heaving cupboards. But meant to reply to agteacht about Cerave. What help are you looking for, their own website does have an overview of all the products. Do you need a cleanser for face or body?

I do like the noughty care taker I think it is, as my scalp can be quite dry and I find it soothing. Moogoo conditioner is also excellent on my hair

Cuts are tricky! I use two hairdressers, one works from home and cuts wet but uses all my own products. The other costs £10 and does a dry curly cut

Ah it's nice to be remembered! I'm not even using Frezyderm but keep wondering if I should try it again as the one I use now (Avene Cleanance) is great for (not giving me) spots but always makes me look white.

Which pharmacy did you order from Bo? For deliveries in Greece the service is generally very good by courier. We are slowly starting to open up here now so things should be moving more quickly.

I guess dry hair cuts are touch and go then. I don't know who Kevin Murphy is - a famous curly haircutter? Must google. I have found a guy here who is very close to my house and cheap and have had 2 cuts with him. First time I was fairly happy. Second time he cut the top layer too short and it really sprung up when dry - probably would have looked great if I had straight hair! I don't let them use any products on my hair and leave the salon with wet hair. I think they all think I'm mad!!

I am using Nature Box shampoo and conditioner at the moment. They are decent priced and curly girl friendly. As I say, not much choice here. For styling I was using Deva Curl cream and ultra gel (cream no run out) and I found it gave soft curls. A complete pain to get hold of though and very expensive. I know there's been a issue with DC products recently though. I also use the Cantu curl cream and gel which I think I like. Sometimes it's hard to tell because I find end result is very dependent on how well I've applied products and whether I use too little or too much (I often put too much in). Tried Boots curl cream again yesterday and don't like at all - made my hair kind of frizzy and not soft at all when dry.

Kevin Murphy is an Australian hair care brand, it seems to be very popular with hairdressers here and I have no idea why. It's sort of a halfway house of gentle surfactants but still sulphates and water soluble silicones. I've had a shampoo and conditioner from them and while I liked it initially I started to hate it with continued use.

I love Devacurl Wavemaker but I bought it just before the scandal hit and I'm scared of it now as I used it very little out of caution, but started losing hair recently. No idea if it's the cause, I have hormonal issues with my hair, could be down to being cooped up all day, seasonal changes, etc. Otherwise I use Christophe Robin products (shampoos do contain gentle sulphates but I don't think it suits wavy hair to go sulphates free completely IME), the curly cream is quite similar to Devacurl wavemaker but the DC gives more oomph and that defined softness that I haven't been able to replicate with anything else. I also have a leave in conditioner from Kiehl's which I've used for years, it works well for me but it can sometimes be a bit heavy, it works best if I skip normal conditioner entirely but in winter it works well as a typical LIC.

I always apply products upside down, seems to work best for me, but despite not having masses of hair I always seem to miss a whole section at the back applying on soaking wet hair seems to save me from over applying, as it just absorbs what it can absorb and the rest ends up in a towel or t-shirt, does mean I go through product quicker.

The pharmacy is bestpharmacy.gr I did check elsewhere that they seemed legit and they accepted PayPal. They offered quick shipping with TNT/FedEx of 2-3 days so it seemed promising. I'm running out of suncreen though, my Japanese order is many weeks late as well. I do still have a tube of Altruist which I don't like too much on my face but I'll use it if needs must.

Thanks @botemp I think I've landed on buying the foaming cleanser (is this just for face or can be used anywhere really?) with the SA cream which I wanted to use for my arms and legs.

Foaming cleanser can be used on both, not sure what it's like as I tend to stay away from foaming cleansers but I believe that one is meant to be good for oily skin.

agteacht I use the cerave foaming cleanser for my morning cleanse in summer when my skin is oilier, despite the name it’s not actually all that foamy and seems much less harsh than a typical foaming/oily skin cleanser. That being said I do find it a bit too drying for me to use in winter though so it depends on what your skin is like, but yes you can always use it up on your body.

I also use and like the hydrating facial cleanser and the facial moisturiser, I haven’t tried any of the body/SA stuff.

Hi Sophie 👋 I remember you too, and I’m still using frezyderm was it you that kept a spreadsheet of products with our reviews and recommendations?

Hi Sallie! I'm happy that Frezyderm worked out for so many of you. I wish it had worked for me! Yes I had made a list of all the different types of actives and all your recommendations etc. Was just getting so confused with everything and it really helped me organise things in my head and understand everything a lot better.

Bo, all this curly hair stuff is a real rabbit hole. I almost ordered DC styling cream today (found it for 35 euros plus 7 euro delivery - ouch) and then decided to finish off some of the other products I have here. I'm sorry to hear you've been losing hair recently. I watched the original girl who brought up all the issues with DC products (she was VERY upset) but I can't remember what ingredient she said that was causing the problem.

I've recently tried applying my products with my head upside down but also put them on with my head up so I don't miss spots (that also happens to me). Then with gel I rake it it, do prayer hands and then scrunch - just to make sure I've got all angles covered Curly hair (if it's like mine) is annoying. Straight hair would be far simpler and cheaper.

I do upside down with the bowl method, as I wash my hair upside down so seemed to make sense!

@agteacht Sorry, it’s me who uses the Cerave, but my daughter was prescribed Nutraplus Urea cream and it really helped. It’s pretty much under control now.

What is the bowl method ClientQ?