🐌 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

Oh sorry what I should have said was Lf's 20% code doesn't work with that so 10% off. I'll go with skincity I think

Ah ok, I think cult beauty also carry it, they usually have 15% off offers going. Skincity will probably still be cheaper though. You could always message them and ask if you can get an eye cream sample with your order. I've found their customer service to always go above and beyond.

@botemp

Ah ok, I think cult beauty also carry it, they usually have 15% off offers going. Skincity will probably still be cheaper though. You could always message them and ask if you can get an eye cream sample with your order. I've found their customer service to always go above and beyond.

Skincity customer service that is. Cult beauty CS is not all that great IME.

@ilovemydogandmrobama he uses the Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser and the LRP Toleriane Ultra. That's reminded me I must book him an extraction facial as my beautician is taking bookings for next months now.

Sharing this as it's a good one on how we purchase into beauty products and how to prioritise a scientific mindset into it.

Bo Thank you and great points - have saved it for DD1, although I can be very superficial about packaging, and what looks nicer on the shelf given specific products. For instance I like Medic8 range, it does work, but have a fondness for bottles.

pupsie I want to live where you do - hairdressers, beauticians... Nothing where we are in the Southwest is open...

Ehm, the hairdresser and beauty salons have been open for weeks here... I've not been once

I'd like to get my lashes lifted but I'm not comfortable with such close face contact in a very small space and am now contemplating DIYing it 😬

I'm a sucker for good packaging too. Especially nicely boxed stuff (and get irrationally angry at retailers who just plonk it in a jiffy bag or unprotected in a box and the beautiful presentation arrives damaged, can highly recommend ordering Chanel cosmetics from Chanel directly it's a joy to receive). I've often contemplated getting a nicer bottle to put my cleansers in and I do wish Frezyderm came in something less gaudy... I like that Japanese brands offer refills of things which you can just pour in whatever you like, wish more would do that here, it's less of a plastic burden too if I understand it correctly.

My hairdresser came to the house a couple of weeks ago and cut my hair in the garden

I see Dr Sam has a new serum combining a number of ingredients to use in the morning drsambunting.com/products/flawless-brightly-serum

Is that allowed Jedstre?

Expensive but I do like the look of that new Dr Sam serum, it sort of looks like it's been designed with pregnancy skin in mind.

Bo I keep trying to upload my beautiful blue bottles that have been hijacked by DS for a homemade disinfectant . They were old Neal's Yard Bottles that I loved, but used to use them for a variety of face washes and moisturisers.

Love love the idea of having refills. I get Splosh and pre lockdown DD1 used to go and get refills for shampoo and conditioner locally. When I rule the world, people will be able to get refills of everything

Here you go MrObama, try not to drool everywhere

www.mironglass.com/

Back when I was a wee one Ecover offered little self service refill stations in all the health food shops here. It was a machine, and it was the highlight of my year (no concept of time as a child, obvs) when I was allowed to refill the bottles with laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, etc. I was so overjoyed I even forgot to whine for a macaroon at the checkout

Ilove nothing is open until early July and that's only provisional based on what the Government have said so far. The business owners have started to book in their clients from then on on the understanding that the appointments might have to be postponed. But I guess if you're running a by appointment business you would want to start filing up your appointment books. They have sent out comprehensive rules: wait outside until called in, don't bring a handbag, don't touch your phone whilst in the building, masks etc.

My dermatica came on Friday, it’s a much nicer texture than retirides so really hoping I’m able to use it more consistently & not keep stopping and starting. And the packaging is much nicer too I’m not really fussed about that with skincare, though I do like pretty makeup packaging.

I’m having a garden haircut on Weds, no it’s not strictly allowed but it’s a friend & we trust each other. I gave myself a DIY haircut at the beginning of lockdown and just want it tidying up a wee bit.

Is anyone in England planning on hitting the shops this week? I dislike in person shopping at the best of times but might pop into a couple of local places depending on queues etc.

@botemp that dr Sam serum does look nice... tempting!

I have a haircut booked for 20th July... earliest I could get 😮... I have really thick hair and am already desperate to get it cut so by the time that date comes I will need it so badly. Haven't had it cut in over 6 months as had it done just before I had my baby in December, not knowing then how important it was to get myself booked back in promptly in the spring!!

Had a bit of an issue today with red blotches and slight stinging. I introduced the timeless vit C and upped my tret within a day or so of each other and I guess my skin didn't like it. I've just cleansed these evening and used cicaplast. I'm thinking I should remove all actives for a few days and then start to reintroduce one at a time.

Small issue here
I applied my SPF to my face, went into the garden with my tea about 10.40am. Came back in at 11am
Ouch. I just didn't think, or it didn't occur to me I would burn that early

Ouch Queen (name change?).

Something interesting here. Early last summer I wore a pair of flip flops on a local walk. I'd worn them before the previous year. Half way through the walk they started rubbing on the top of my right foot. It got quite bad and broke the skin a 3 places. It took ages to heal and I was left with visible scarring. I'm quite pale and they were obviously red. Well since lockdown started I've been putting Alpha Renewal Body Lotion on my lower legs and all over my feet, with a couple of drops of Marula oil added too. I've been doing it once a day (either morning them putting socks on or as I go to bed). My feet are baby soft all over now but today I realised the scars have completely disappeared. Can't even see where they were!

I’ve just been made aware of another online dermatology service similar to dermatica.

It’s called skin and me: www.skinandme.com/

Much lower social media presence and less reviews but judging from the website it seems like the same concept.

They have slightly different ingredients to dermatica on offer but do offer tret, niacinamide etc.

I’ve just done a consultation as it’s only £3.50 right now and if it’s just as good as the dermatica stuff at a lower cost (only £20 a bottle after) then it may be worth it.

Pretty surprised that it doesn’t seem popular even though it’s basically the same as dermatica.....(is that telling?)

That's good to know cinammon, tbf Dermatica was pretty unknown for quite some time. I think it was only because I was lamenting that there wasn't something like Curology here that someone (think it was Queen) did a google or a mention from a blog. It's gotten really popular in the last 3-4 months but before that it was pretty unknown too. Good to have other option, is the £20 including postage? I also came across one that's specific for eyelash growth (the prescription stuff like latisse). They offer the service throughout Europe but they were sold out last I checked with no waiting list. I'll post the link if anyone else is interested, but I'd have to seek it out, wasn't cheap but neither are those commercial ones.

@botemp

It seems like it is £20 including delivery but the bottle is 12 ml instead of dermatica’s 15ml.

You are right, dermatica has only recently become popular and so it makes sense that this isn't yet popular.

It is just because on the skinandme website it said they were formed in 2018 so I was confused that they were not as known as dermatica but reading further I think they have only started actually delivering treatments in the last few months.

The main advantage now seems to be that they compound up to three ingredients into a treatment where dermatica only does two. And they use tranexamic acid for pigmentation rather than hydroquinone as hydroquinone is generally not deemed safe for long term use.

I’ll report back what they prescribe me. If it’s tranexamic acid and azelaic acid in addition to tret then I think I’ll be tempted to give it a go. I still have some dermatica tret but you can cancel then restart skinandme at anytime which is convenient.

That sounds interesting cinammon. Yes do please keep us posted. I think I'll skip the next Dermatica delivery as I am still on every 2-3 of the 0.05% one.

Bo - Where have these bottles been all my life? Thank you! Have requested a quote, and am ridiculously excited...

Got an offer for a dermatologist online consult. At this stage, am not going to do it as want to give more time for my current routine to get properly established before introducing stronger creams, and would think for pigmentation, would be a strong Retinoid. But it's £100.00 for the consult, although not sure how much private prescriptions would be.

online consult

Interesting on the difference in amounts of product, cinammon. I'm happy to hear about their offering of transexemic acid as hydroquinone is indeed controversial and not always the best choice, especially for people with skin tones that are not white.

MrObama, Miron glass is surprisingly not crazy expensive despite being Swiss and all magical properties new age vibes. There's a few shops that sell it here (I use some of the apothecary jars for spices and it really keeps them well) and this one ships to the UK but there's probably UK suppliers too but just to get an idea of pricing, although I'm morbidly curious now too of what they'll quote you. I'm annoyed as I really like their new extended nozzle bottles which would be perfect for cleansers but for whatever reason they're US only

Cost of prescription from dermatologists vary a lot. If they carry Obagi medical it's anything from £70 upwards for tretinoin iirc, with hydroquinone it becomes even more expensive and there's a lot of pressure to buy into the whole system that runs into the high hundreds. Some of the Harley Street derms import it from Germany and charge whatever they want for it. Since the NHS doesn't have tretinoin as a treatment your local pharmacy won't be able to fill it, although I believe there is one near Harley Street that can supply it from prescription and the cost is not crazy but I don't remember what it was, something like £30 probably. It's why things like the online dermatologist services are a good deal, despite per ml it's still a bit of a swindle. For reference I pay €17 for my prescription (50g) and by European standards that's high, Spain it's around €10 I believe and in Greece it's even less than that.

Just read the thread about the fake Biore Watery Essence. I have been using the one that the OP has said is fake. I've not burned. But I had noticed it smells very boozy.

I always buy from eBay.

That has happened to me Agteacht with tret and timeless vitamin C. I didn't put anything on my skin for 4 days (I think) until the red patches had completely gone away. Everything i put on stung my skin and seemed to irritate it further (including the avene equivalent of cicaplast).

My skin doesn't seem to tolerate timeless as well as other brands and I use it twice a week or so now.

Ouch Queen. The sun must be really strong. Hope it clears up soon