🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Vanities Are The New Shelf Porn

[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?

So You Want To Buy A Retinoid - A Guide

MAY 2020: We're in lockdown and it's doing weird things to our faces

Sorry, Bani meant to reply to you too. Is it like mannish brows? I use the Tom ford men's version for eyebrows and it's great, just for the little comb thing on it, beyond that it's just a super hold gel with a slight tint.

Don't come back shouting at me, but have a look at laminated brows. They don't stay like that, for some reason people like that look but it's just a perm that forces your hairs all to neatly line up and when you brush through them after they just stay where you want them to stay and not wander all over the place.

@bo ah I just assumed every other night but will follow the instructions when I get them.
I’m in two minds about a tinted spf as anything ‘tinted’ never really matches my skin anyway. But might be good to try if makeup is going to look awful
But more important is something that is going to feel comfortable on my skin. Basically I want it to feel and look like I’m not wearing it as much as possible.

Heliocare mineral fluid (not tolerance) is quite transparent for a mineral. It is fragranced which can be sensitising and you'll be extra sensitised by the Tret. Anecdotal, I was able to use it during my Tret introduction period and I'm usually sensitive to fragrance when not even sensitised by Tret. It's a weird orange slightly medicinal fragrance, I am baffled why they would purposefully add it to something

Notino carries it at a low price, just got an offer in my inbox for 15% off sun care with code SUN15 but check Amazon too, sometimes it's cheap on there too.

For tinted, Neostrata is usually a good one as it somewhat adapts to your skin tone. Notino also carry that at a low price. I can't recall if onset Tret face in the middle of the day ruins the look of tinted sunscreen too, it might.

@botemp

Sorry, Bani meant to reply to you too. Is it like mannish brows? I use the Tom ford men's version for eyebrows and it's great, just for the little comb thing on it, beyond that it's just a super hold gel with a slight tint.

Don't come back shouting at me, but have a look at laminated brows. They don't stay like that, for some reason people like that look but it's just a perm that forces your hairs all to neatly line up and when you brush through them after they just stay where you want them to stay and not wander all over the place.

Oh laminated brows seem like an awful faff though, you have to keep going back and I’ve read some reviews saying that eyebrows got worse afterwards. Bits of them are fine, but with age they are getting patchier on the narrow bit and the hairs that are there are like an old mans brows, thick bristly wiry things that stick straight out. They can’t really be just combed into place, and I just don’t like how they feel. :( if I pluck the worst offenders out I end up with no eyebrows (ask me how I know this).

Ooh quote feature 😲 is this a premium thing, it's greyed out for me

Do your trim the length at all? I have a little set from tweezerman with a spoolie and tiny scissors. Just brush up and trim, I find when they're shorter they're better behaved and it's easier to shape them as you just brush up and it actually looks thicker.

Oi, that emoji had wondrous open eyes when I posted it. Is this another premium thing, dead eyes in your emojis unless you pay up

hahaaaa dead eyes too funny! No, I don't pay premium, the quoting is def there is you use computer or browser on phone. Three little dots in the corner of the post will show it. Might not be there in the app? It's very good anyway but you can't edit the quoted parts.

I trim the length, that was what I started with. But I'm not getting great results. The thin bit was really only filled out by eyebrow hairs that were 2 cm long, but 2 cm long hairs is, in itself, Old Person Brows. So I trimmed them a bit but I end up with like a stubbly look, they're so thick and bristly. The fine ones are lost in the bristle.

I'm sort of imagining a product that eats away at the hairs a bit to soften them. [hm]

Thanks for the suggestions @bo!

@Heartbeeps

Thanks for the suggestions *@bo*!

You're welcome heart.

Ooh it works I get it now, I can't quote a quote and it seems to quote the entire post, you can't select a fragment. This is less ooh and aah than I thought. But better than before. I suppose this means I should really respond to people in individual posts in case they want to quote me and not subject everone to walls of text. This sounds like work, but quoting other people should be useful.

I think what you want is a Brazilian blowout for your brows Bani 🤣 the lamination is the closest thing as perming definitely eats away at your hair. Otherwise bleaching the hell out of them would do it too (would not recommend).

Update for anyone who was interested in the deviant skincare gentle resurfacing liquid.

I’ve had a really good experience with it so far and it’s extremely gentle. Does not sting at all when I apply it, it just feels like a toner.

I haven’t used it enough to see if it will help with hyperpigmentation but it has an immediate effect on reducing my skin texture and the salicylic acid in it stopped my blind pimple in its tracks before it reached my skin surface and turned into a cyst.

It is on the expensive side but it should last at least six months even with frequent use and it’s understandable as it’s an indie brand.

Definitely would recommend if anyone is looking for an all in one AHA/BHA/PHA.

Ooooh new quote feature, how exciting!

Thank you for that review cinnamon I may try it when my P50 runs out as I don’t like being at the mercy of embassy of beauty as the only P50 stockist.

@SallieSallow I've never heard of argan oil so I'll give that a try.

@Tsmummy08 thanks for the Verso offer but I decided to bite the bullet while it was on offer on Skincity so I have some ordered (fingers crossed I like it).

I'm still on the lookout for a spray SPF that can be applied over makeup as a top up. I know the Bioderma that was popular is no longer stocked but has anyone tried this one.

On a separate note, my DS has sensory processing disorder and really struggles with SPF. I spotted that Bioderma have a foam. Has anyone tried it?

This one!

tattie - have you tried Avene Spray? It's SPF 50....

I haven't, this one? www.avene.co.uk/suncare/sunscreens/sunscreens-sensitive-skins/very-high-protection-spray-spf-50

@TattiePants

I'm still on the lookout for a spray SPF that can be applied over makeup as a top up. I know the Bioderma that was popular is no longer stocked but has anyone tried this one.

On a separate note, my DS has sensory processing disorder and really struggles with SPF. I spotted that Bioderma have a foam. Has anyone tried it?

I use this: Ambre Solaire Sensitive Hydrating Face Sun Cream Mist SPF50. It's on Amazon for £5. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and press the nozzle all the way down to get the fine mist.

Morning everyone

Any thoughts on the M&S offer? £15 when you spend £25 it seems

https://www.marksandspencer.com/beauty-bag-summer-2020/p/hbp60433341#intid=hphpsalebnr-btn1128052011txt_shopbag

@agteacht

Morning everyone

Any thoughts on the M&S offer? £15 when you spend £25 it seems

[[https://www.marksandspencer.com/beauty-bag-summer-2020/p/hbp60433341#intid=hp]]hpsalebnr-btn1128052011txt_shopbag

It's not very skincare heavy, everything is also teeny tiny. The nuxe SPF will be very highly fragranced, REN AHA will also be full of fragrance and as an exfoliant it's very gentle (that's not necessarily a negative). I'm unfamiliar with pure but going by the label I expect it to contain essential oils and/or fragrance. I'm struggling to see how that adds up to £110 value, it's certainly more than £15 worth but not enough in it for me to want to pay that and find something additional from M&S to buy as well.

I've use that ambre solaire, stupidly because it said sensitive I assumed it was fragrance free. I hated the fragrance, but as a sunscreen it was not too dissimilar to the Bioderma, a little chalkier in finish though. Most sprays tend not to work as mists, the ambre solaire does though.

Thanks @botemp you've stopped me again from buying something I don't need!!!

I think I’ll give that amber Solaire a try, thanks BabyPigeon. It’s cheap enough so if the fragrance bothers me or stings my eyes I can use it up on chest and hands.

The Bioderma one mentioned sounds good too but it’s quite a big size to carry round.

Admiring my new palette

Usually am of the view that you get what you pay for, however am a bit excited about this Retinol which was released today.

No 7 Retinol

Botemps - Haven't tried Dermatica, but tend not to like subscription services, except for dish washing tablets as I forget to buy them . But it was a good point about the strength needed to address pigmentation, and am making an appointment with a dermatologist when lockdown is over.

Gah, Boots do that every time with a release, these ridiculously long waitlist press releases that plays on FOMO. Even longer than the last one! No one can actually verify those numbers as they're the sole retailers. M&S does it too, remember that ghastly pink dress that was an instant 'sell out hit' and no one but a bunch of contracted influencers would be caught dead in and it subsequently littered the sales racks?

No 7 is weirdly expensive for what it is, at the RRP you can get a retinol of the same percentage from the more expensive cosmeceutical brands that specialise in retinoids and spend a lot on R&D of specifically retinoid formulation with a long-standing record, way better value for money. I assume the no 7 will always be on some sort of offer averaging 25-33% off.

MrObama, seeing a real dermatologist probably even better. I agree subscription services have their issue, but not everyone can afford the upfront costs of seeing a private dermatologist so it does help make it attainable for more.

Very pretty Client, will you show off an eye look with it for us?

I can try! Not been wearing makeup recently but I will slap some on at some point