🐌 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?

Could I ask is the retinol of choice tretinoin and ordered online from abroad? I had a look at the Dermatica website but they're not taking new customers at the moment.

@agteacht if it lets you go on the waiting list it was only about a week

Hi LittleMiss, I started with a very pared down routine as I was getting acne (those big under the skin painful spots) and my derm wanted to cut everything out (I live in greece so the system with dermatologists isn't the same as in the UK). I didn't use a moisturiser (and only rarely use one now). Just face wash, thermal water and an eye cream. And SPF of course!

First added in the tretinoin to deal with the acne as this was priority. Then at some point I started with Mineral 89 (this does contain HA and Bo does make comments about this and sensitivity) It was more me than my derm who wanted to use a hydrating serum.

I don't use any purely exfoliating products - only go to doctor 2/3 times each winter for exfoliating treatments. I'm on and off with vit C use -
If my skin is a bit sensitive then I stop for a bit.

Hello Agteacht, I use tretinoin because I'm in Greece and it's cheap and very easy to get here.

Thanks for replying @SophieLion that’s useful to know

Little, Avene and La Roche Posay both have a good heavy moisituriser in their Tolerance/Toleriane range. The traditional Toleriane dermo cleanser would probably work for you. In your case I'd probably just rinse with tepid water in the AM and use cleanser in the PM.

Agte, no, prescription tretinoin is as it suggest by prescription only, it's not a brand just a generic name for the drug. Dermatica is an online dermatologist service that prescribes it in a custom product. Some Southern European countries are a bit in grey territory with their rules and sell it in local pharmacies but not online as it's still a medicine and needs to be used under some supervision.

Some people therefore pick it up on their holiday abroad. I don't recommend going it alone in this way at all, it's not your average cream, it requires certain instructions of use and someone does need to check you're suitable for it as it can cause permanent (irreparable) damage.

From what I gather on here, the waitlist on Dermatica doesn't take that long atm.

CGM CHAT yes it can be quite sciency, Sophie, but I also think the science is rather woolly. A lot of the CGM is rather counter to what dermatologists advice about hair health. There's a Reddit called haircarescience (I think) which is sometimes helpful as an alternate source as it's actually science based. Eg. Hair porosity as represented in the CGM is not how it's classified in scientific literature, a bit like skin types. Although that Reddit seems to have been overtaken by people with hair issues rather than the hairscience nerds gathering spot it used to be, but I think the sidebar still holds useful information and you can read back.

Heated cap, I contemplated getting one but I realised in my initial excitement I wanted so many things that I'm better off just buying very little and working my way up because I don't want to end up with 10,000 bottles and a graveyard of towels, caps, brushes, etc.

My sample shop is open again so I'm trying to remember again what I decided on last time 🤦

Thanks @botemp I’ve actually just brought the cleanser and was looking at the eucerin Ultrasensitive cream so I’ll take a look at the LRP first. Thanks for all the help

Eucerin is also good but I'm not sure how rich the Ultrasensitive is. Their urea facial cream is also good for dry and dehydrated skin but less so for really dry skin.

Agteacht following on from what Bo says re tret, in case I wasn't clear, I am using it under supervision of a dermatologist. But I'm in one of the Southern European countries where you can just buy it over the counter at the pharmacy! Although, saying that, I haven't actually come across anyone else here who uses it.

CGM CHAT I'm thoroughly confused as to my hair's porosity and so plumping for medium! I did order the thermal cap but in my defence, I didn't order a gel or styling product as already got. It is so easy to end up with hundreds of products.

Sorry to ask @botemp, is it the ultra cream or the sensitive rich that you were referring to?

Sensitive Rich Little.

CGM CHAT did you get the hot heads cap Sophie? I'll be waiting in anticipation if it's any good for you so I can get it too. I have low porosity hair by the traditional definition, as it's not colour treated and I don't heat treat it (bar with a diffuser). My hair does behave a lot like low porosity in the CGM definition so it's covered on both ends. Density I'm unsure, I think it's thin and therefore low but it's probably just about medium. The whole protein/moisture balance sounds a bit hocus pocus to me, my hair likes protein (it's why it likes the Devacurl so much) but according to CGM lore I should be avoiding it 🤷

Thank you very much!!

CGM CHAT my cousin has the hot head cap, Bo. She had initially bought a cheap one off Amazon but it was so uncomfortable that she got the hot head one and is very happy with it. I ordered the curly Cailín one. Have you read her website/blog? She has some very interesting articles and info and AMAZING hair. She also discusses the protein/moisture balance (she doesn't say to avoid protein) and how and why she deviates from the traditional Lorraine Massey CG method.

CGM CHAT, The curly Cailín has been in my Etsy wishlist for a while. The shipping costs in proportion to the item price put me off but yes the blog is quite helpful, especially since she's in Ireland which is similar weird weather as we have here. Although, she has some weird people in her comment section. There was one going off on a rant for her marking things as curly girl and later having to rectify it (which seems like the sensible and responsible thing to do). I was really if it matters that much to you, just do the research yourself and don't rely on randoms on the internet (even if they have a blog, they're not the CGM authority and are allowed to make mistakes). It was so bizarre but posters like that seem to pop up a lot on that blog. I think it may be part of CG community, they're very 'spirited'.

I've been thinking of making a hot cap myself as I've been getting back into sewing and I still have a bag of organic flaxseed from trying homemade flaxseed gel which was just too much effort for the results.

CGM CHAT yes Bo, the shipping was expensive but it was the same price to the UK as to Greece. Not sure why and Amazon isn't delivering a lot of stuff here at the moment so decided to go for it. I hope it will arrive quickly because it should do with that delivery charge!

I agree that people do get very spirited in the curly hair community. The first girl who did the video about DC products ruining her hair was acting (IMO) as though she had serious health problems. Extremely emotional and distressed.

Good luck if you try to make the cap. Post a photo!!
Did your stuff arrive from Greek pharmacy?

Did you ever buy the Global Babes sun hat? Last summer I had several women come up to me by pool or beach to ask about it. They had seen my folding it up and putting it in bag. Great way to meet people!!

Wow, what an informative thread. May I join?
Reasonably interested in skincare for several years. Two children later and my skin has been neglected and looking tired. Lockdown has reinvigorated my interest in my skin and I have been following a routine again. Using retinol for the first time and my skin looks much better than it has in ages. I can go without foundation and have a glow. I'm 36 with dry skin, prone to dehydration, enlarged pores on nose (thanks to blackheads) but near invisible pores elsewhere. Still get a bit of congestion in the mouth/chin area occasionally, but getting less common as I get older. Have fine lines, which don't bother me. Although I have got quite bad frown lines now, which I don't like as they make me look grumpy. Although not expecting any topical skincare to get rid of those!

My current routine is:

AM cleanse with BP Japanfusion or CeraVe

PM double cleanse (as above or sometimes a balm, but I am out at the moment)

AM - acid tone (P50 or BP Dr Glycolic)

AM&PM - hydrating toner (currently BP Japanfusion Hydra Prep or JeJu spray - both of these are too fragranced for my liking, so looking to replace)

AM - moisturise with CeraVe Moisturing Lotion, followed by Eucerin Urea Repair

PM - BP Super Retinol serum and moisturiser

AM - SPF currently Anthelios, which I am absolutely LOVING. May be my HG SPF.

I am missing a serum from my AM routine. Hoping to try the PB Triple Hyaluronic Acid serum, but all out of allowance this month. Apparently there is a hydrating mist coming out in the same range which I am keen to try (as it is earmarked to be fragrance free, I have issues with PB as much of their skincare is heavily fragranced).

I see a lot of talk of Vitamin C here and wondering if I should incorporate somewhere...

Thank you@SophieLion and @botemp

I'll see if dermatica come back in the next few weeks

La Roche Posay retinol (redermic) is good if you can't get it from a dermatologist at the moment. Not as good as a prescription product.

Hair porosity test:
organigrowhairco.com/pages/hair-porosity-test

Thank you @thisenglishlife

Am in the middle of watching all of Caroline Hirons videos on retinol! Have watched 4, I think
3 more to go 😂

@agteacht I registered for Dermatica last month and I was only on the waiting list for 6 days. Once I completed the questionnaire I had my tret within a week. I haven't started using it yet as I bought LRP's Redermic in the meantime which I will use up first (think there was 25% off at Superdrug at the time). If you do sign up for Dermatica, check up thread as someone posted a voucher code for the first month free which may still work - I think it was something like 'Caroline Hello' .

@Handsoffisback I have a few Elemis products (Marine cream and cleansing balm) that I bought last year on a QVC event that I'm using up but won't purchase again. They're nice enough to use but you can get better products, with active ingredients, that will work much better at a fraction of the price. I'm sure the very knowledgeable Bo will be able to help you.

Oh @TattiePants that's so helpful. I only registered on Saturday. I'll look for the code too! Thank you!

@agteacht found it 'CAROLINE-HELP'. It was still working a couple of weeks ago and if you happen to work for the NHS it was 3 months fre.

Amazing thanks so much. Is it obvious where to use it when you go through the process?