🐌 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

Ooohhhh thank you so much Queen I’m swithering between Natasha Denona and MAC. Lookfantastic are always sending out offers and discounts so I’ll hang on till I get the next one and then decide. I’d probably get two MAC refills and the little holder thing for them.

Natasha Denona eye shadows are beyond lovely, only ever had a swatch and play with them in Sephora in Paris, but they're amazing quality. Granted, I'm not much of an eyeshadow connaisseur but I was tempted, were they not such massive pallets. I might pick up that green one next time I need something else from LF as it's one of the few colours that doesn't just blur into one indistinct mass on my narrow lid space and the size seems ideal.

Sallie Yes, it's a private Consultant Dermatologist. Of course I love the NHS, but unless you have cancerous skin tumours, your chance of seeing a dermatologist on the NHS is close to zero. There is just such a small window before DD1 goes into total distress about her skin, so I want to make sure that she gets the help she needs/deserves. The Dermatologist she is scheduled to see, also has an NHS practice at Great Ormond Street, and says in her bio that she has experience in dealing with acne and dermatitis, so here's hoping.

Was so sad last week when DD1 said she wouldn't be part of the school orchestra, she plays Grade 6 in flute, as she would be embarrassed with her skin looking so dreadful .

Poor thing, this is a pretty exhaustive post on fungal acne that can be useful. Just read it with a critical eye, that blogger has always been angling for monetisation (which in itself isn't an issue but it gets my hackles up when it's specifically targeting vulnerable people who have little hope left and exhausted all other options) and presents themselves as more of an expert than he is. With all the talk of cures and a bit of a whiff of Messiah complex it can feel a bit snake oil in places. Let's just leave it as, it's an interpretation of a lot of scientific studies and that interpretation can be flawed in places.

Is it a digital appointment with the dermatologist?

Got a 20% off code from look fantastic, Natasha Denona palette is on its way

Thank you again Queen as I’d never heard of that brand before.

Bo Thank you for the link. She loves chemistry so is quite excited about the science. . Not a digital appointment but a face to face with the consultant.

Somehow have a very irritated eye now an infection, possibly from sunscreens, so am wondering what is the best type for non irritating? Chemical or mineral?

Face to face is good, glad she's able to get that even if it requires a bit of a wait. I was on another thread with someone with potentially FA and another poster mentioned using the vanicream cleanser. I have always wanted to try that as the most blandest of all bland cleansers that is surprisingly good at removing makeup, apparently you can get it from Amazon here these days, may be something for her if her current cleanser is not FA approved.

Not so FA focused but she may also enjoy Dr Anjali Mahto's Skincare Bible, it's a good general book that's accessible but not too dumbed down either despite looking quite girly on the outside.

Mineral tends to be the easiest to buy that's least irritating as you don't have to check all the different chemical filters. I have this overview of the chemical ones that I keep meaning to translate as it's very handy. The third column indicates likelihood of irritation,

Weinig= 'little to none' known cases of contact allergy

Mogelijk = 'possibly', less than 20 known cases of contact allergy

Veel = 'high', more than 20 known cases of contact allergy

I'm not sure what they mean exactly with cases I'm thinking different types of reaction presentations as I doubt it's individual people going by the numbers so I just go by the minimal, medium, high potential as a guideline.

You can also just use mineral around the eye, the white cast acts a bit like a brightener. Skinceuticals has a special one but no need really, if I was going to pay out for a special eye version I'd get the colour science one which is also a sort of concealer/colour corrector. The bastards only ship within the US and UK though

Speaking of envy, are we to be green with envy over your new palette, yet, Sallie?

No Bo because it arrived smashed two of the shades (which are my favourites) are unusable as they’re all broken up and crumbled. Look fantastic offered me 30% off but I’ve told them it’s unusable and I want a full refund or replacement.

It does look gorgeous though I’m scared to test in case it disintegrates completely, but given that it was packaged very well I’m a bit concerned now about it being too fragile to carry round in a makeup bag or travel with.

I am all over your palette, Sallie. It looks like a travel size so really should be okay in your cabin luggage, shouldn't it? I assume someone just handled your package too roughly, as I doubt the demand on the parcel workers has diminished much. Hope LF remedy the situation as 30% off an unusable palette is a bit of an insult.

Speaking of new things, I spotted Aromatherapy Associates have entered the cleansing oil (to milk) market for the body. Usually not a fan of fragrance in anything but their stuff does smell good and they have a few of them. Might be a good one for Christmas lists/gifts?

I’m Very Sad too Bo 😭😭😭 not heard from LF today & their live chat is down so will have to pester over their rather clunky messaging system again tomorrow.

Oh no for the palette some of my parcels have arrived recently looking like they've been sat on
I like aromatherapy associates, have the oils and the cleansing balm

This arrived today! Body wash

Ooh I didn't know they did body care now. Is it fragranced? Do they mention the % and pH anywhere?

Hope LF answer you already Sallie, I've always found their CS really helpful but never had an issue like yours.

@botemp
Link
https://www.revolutionbeauty.com/uk/en/body/body-wash

They do lotions too

And lotions
https://www.revolutionbeauty.com/uk/en/body/body-moisturiser-and-lotion

I’ve had hormonal acne for years and only being on the pill helped. I always had at least one cystic spot on the go and no skincare helped. I got slightly desperate and signed up for Dermatica with the expectation that it would just maybe make the spots a little less angry. I got prescribed Adapalene/niacinamide/Clindamycin and to my surprise I haven’t had an hormonal zit for a month! I’ve had one small spot. I’m thrilled with the results and have had no redness or peeling as my skin is used to harsh products being thrown at it

I just wanted to know whether I can expect to stay on this regime or will they change it at some point due to there being an antibiotic in my current prescription

Thanks Queen, The body washes have all the actives after the fragrance and preservatives so probably less than 0.5%, will be surprised if you notice anything from the active ingredients.

Cloud, I don't know much tbh, it was my impression that topical antibiotics are just continued so long as it works and it's then maybe weaned off but the oral ones are limited to a specific time period? I'd just ask them, if you can.

Good news LF are processing a refund. I’m reluctant to repurchase as even if it arrived undamaged I think I’d always be a bit wary about carrying it round in a makeup bag.

I’m going to see if I can do anything with the crumbled shadows & seen a couple of videos on YouTube about repairing with rubbing alcohol or makeup setting spray, has anyone ever tried this? Other option is to dispense them into small empty jars and use as loose shadows.

@botemp I'll see if it does anything! Smells nice so I figure nothing lost. Doesn't lather which is very strange
Haven't really purchased anything much of note recently, a new handbag and a lipstick
The makeup brushes I bought are incredible, I love them and wish I had got them years ago

@SallieSallow I've not tried but seen good results. Personally I would be tempted to use as a loose shadow, I've done e that before with ones that have crumbled

Bo have been looking at Vanicream, and am now getting to be a bit obsessed with INCI after my eye irritation that turned into an infection.

So, have stripped it all back and just using LRP dermo, Altruist Fluid the consistency is thick enough not to run, and Skin + Me. So far so good, and tbh, would only really add Vit C to my routine. Have an interview on Friday, so may just stick to the basics until then.

Oh, and just found that the NHS hospital nearby offer laser treatment for hair removal and some cosmetic treatments. It's so much cheaper than the cosmetic clinic where I got 65% off. Plus it's all under medical supervision. And the added bonus that one is putting money back into the NHS. .

Thanks Queen I found some info about resetting using a makeup wipe and much to my surprise it seems to have worked!! Not sure if it would be robust enough for taking out in a makeup bag but it seems ‘set’ enough for at home use.

Hey, I've been a bit AWOL from this thread as Corona has not been kind to my finances and also I wanted to give the BC change time to settle before being tempted by anything new.
The hormonal spots have improved quite a bit, still getting the odd one on my chin but much better than the huge jawline outbreaks of before. I do however have a lot of discolouration on my jawline from previous cystic spots and scarring from where I was terrible and popped them. Anything I could use to help this? Almost time for my biannual import so any brand but ideally not to expensive

You could (theoretically) get Timeless locally, right? Hopefully the import charges and expat markup aren't insane on it, but Vit C is good for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The other is retinol and there are some specific anti pigmentation ingredients. Where are you looking to buy from, it's probably easier to narrow down that way. Lookfantastic?

Wow things have progressed fast on here! Just place marking again as I lost you!