🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Jump through flaming hoops, repeat, 'Beauty is Pain', and acces to this thread will be unlocked

[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

Just catching up with the thread. Life has been busy with a recent house move. I have the Nuface Sophie but I only use it a couple of times a week so it probably doesn’t do much.

In terms of Vitamin C, I’m using skinceuticals at the moment and SPF I’m using Biore bright milk as it works well as a primer and I’m not seeing much daylight at the moment. I like Heliocare and LRP oil free versions spring/summer.

I’m alternating differin and tret5%/niacinamide from dermatica but I’ve cancelled the subscription.

Hope the house move went well Jedstre I’m hoping to move some time in the next year, need to start decluttering (and stop stockpiling skincare and makeup!) in preparation.

I’ve cancelled my tret from Skin&Me, going to stick with dermatica but have pushed the next delivery to mid January as have some to use up still.

Not sure what to do about Vit c, timeless was the only one I’ve found that didn’t irritate so I’m very reluctant to pay much over £20 for something I might not be able to use.

I think the Geek and Gorgeous vitamin c with its ridiculous shipping costs comes out around £20 all together shipped, Sallie. You just have to get over the fact you're paying more for shipping than the product (or buy more of their stuff).

The Foreo Bear looks very much like a toy, actually, the fact that it's only available in hot pink has put me off somewhat to be honest, but I figure at least it won't be hard to miss when bleary eyed in the morning...

Hmm, there's now a New Zealand SPF scandal, 5/10 SPFs tested well below their advertised SPF. Although I think it's a bit of a non scandal and more of a carry over from the American testing centre (as that's who tested these) that was fraudulent and didn't perform half the tests -ALLEGEDLY-. Dear Klair's, another Korean brand, has a rather hilariously snippy (if it wasn't so depressing state of affairs) CS response about their SPFs as they're made/developed by the same company as Purito's.

To clarify, the American test centre tested these for the documentation to sell it at whatever SPF number is on the bottle. Some NZ consumer agency tested their actual values recently.

I like Purdito and still have hope that independent analysis will save it, but tbh, the only thing that was irritating (in the mental sense, not the physical sense) was that one had to buy in bulk to take advantage of the lower prices. But still, it's a good product.

It will be interesting to see what happens post Brexit with standards, but guess they will stay the same with the EU standards.

Next step with DD1's teenage skin. Saw consultant Dermo in October, and got Epiduo which is benzyl peroxide and a retinoid. It seemed to get better, and then worse and is getting better again. The highs and the lows are emotional, and am thinking that perhaps we need to take the next step of seeing GP for the plan set out by the dermatologist being low dose of antibitoics. It's better than her being on a low grade pill, which she is not keen on doing yet.

She had to do a self portrait for art, and she drew a photo of herself in charcoal and then in an Jackson Pollock moment, threw red watercolours at it.

Oh your poor daughter mrobama. I guess the change in seasons may be contributing to the on/off results?

I had to email my derm last week because the inside corners of my eyes have flared up again. She's prescribed an ointment. I can't remember what it's called and the presecription is with the pharmacist who needs to order it in. I did look it up though. I need to use it for 2 weeks.

Given all the recent information I’m coming to the conclusion that Purito is likely no less effective than many others and it’s difficult to know which (if any) SPFs actually do what they claim. I’m still using Purito as I’m rarely outside in daylight at the moment (sound like a vampire 🧛‍♀️) if I do need to go out for any length of time I slap some tinted frezyderm on top.

Thanks Bo I’ve just been having a look on geek and gorgeous, there’s a couple of other things caught my eye so I might get up to €30 for the free shipping but will wait a bit yet as I’m still bubbling away at the moment.

Sorry to hear about your DD Mrobama sounds like she might need the antibiotic. And hope your eyes heal soon Ninny

Just realised that last post makes me sound like I’m on the boil should have said I’m away in my bubble though that sounds equally as ridiculous!

On the boil

I've never heard of this expression, what does it mean? I'm thinking pregnant or farting, or potentially farting while pregnant 🙊🙈

Bo it might be colloquial/regional but ‘on the boil’ means you’ve got something cooking on the stove top - ie ‘the potatoes are on the boil’. Pre covid if you talked about bubbling round here it would usually mean something was boiling/simmering (bubbling away) on the stove.

Anything special on people's Christmas List?

Have to say, since being on this thread, don't feel the need to have many products, although DD1 does say that we need to start using reusable pads rather than cotton.

I have some reusable pads. They are really good. They come in a little bag and I wash them with my towels (so no fabric conditioner). They stain a little bit from eye make up remover. Although I've not used much lately. Eyes still a bit problematic. Derm called me on Friday. Plan is to try this new ointment for 2 weeks and if not completely better consider allergy testing.

As for xmas, nothing skincare or haircare related for me.

Here's a verso eye serum update, not sure if it shows how much the line under my eye has changed

Oh and no plans for anything...
I am doing a no buy 2021 with one rule. If I run out (so say completely run out of mascara unlikely) i can buy

I can definitely see a difference Queen

I’m joining you in a no spend 2021, partly to save money but also because I desperately need to purge and declutter. I’ll only be buying to replace skincare staples that have run out and absolutely NO MAKEUP

I don’t have a Christmas list apart from booze and chocolate but I’m treating myself to fillers and maybe Botox next week.

Popping on (with a slight name change) to wish you all a lovely christmas. My skin care routine is still very boring currently soldiering on with the benzoyl peroxide each evening and tranexamic acid in the morning + usual LRP dermo cleanse twice a day and SPF.
Benzoyl peroxide is still helping keep spots and blackheads at bay, not convinced the tranexamic acid is doing much but its only been six weeks so I will keep at it.
My Christmas list contains no skincare products at all this year which is unusual so I must've learnt something from this thread

Happy Christmas to you to Forest and everyone else.

Which TXA product did you end up getting?

A Foreo Bear is on its way to me, not really a Christmas present, just got it for myself. I ordered some Surratt makeup in the sale (again for myself, I should probably admit to some comfort buying) and Amanda Harrington fake tan, the whole set with brushes and several steps and a chemical exfoliator, had been curious but kept forgetting to buy it and it was a good deal, won't be able to use it for a while but I'm sure I'll appreciate getting it at the first sight of nicer weather.

It was the hada labo one, it feels nice and soothing to put on and I'm not a freckly as I would normally be (but that could be spf) but it hasn't done an awful lot for reducing red marks and pigmentation from old acne

Hmm, yes, IME txa works better on recent trauma than old. Vitamin C and hydroquinone (not that you can get that without prescription) tend to be better for that but it takes a bit of time. Kojic acid is also meant to be good but I've never tried it and haven't read up much on it yet.

@ilovemydogandMrObama

Anything special on people's Christmas List?

Have to say, since being on this thread, don't feel the need to have many products, although DD1 does say that we need to start using reusable pads rather than cotton.

For the first time in memory no skincare, haircare or perfume on my Christmas list. Keeping things low key and buying more things for the house. The only thing I’ve asked for is bar soap.

I've been very restrained
Bought this set https://www.narscosmetics.co.uk/en/undress-code-lip-balm-set/0194251007038.html

And this palette with 20% off
https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/natasha-denona-mini-zendo-eyeshadow-palette.html

Ooh I like the middle, silvery shade in that pallet.

Those of you who have been using tretinoin for a while now are you starting to see any major differences now? I'm mainly thinking in terms in facial lines.

@Purpleblondelady - the difference with Tret has been slow, but someone who I hadn't seen in months asked about my foundation - I wasn't wearing any, so it has been great for pigmentation.

@Jedstre - What bar do you use? Am mostly spending on house also! Getting a new roof and last week the roofer was here and at the same time, new flooring in the front room and hallway. Electrician is this week.

@ilovemydogandmrobama2 that's a great compliment!

Hello - Merry Christmas to you all.

I really need some help.

I've been happily washing my face with Cerave, using Purito SPF, Cerave Lotion and Dermatica at night... for a good few months and my face has been pretty happy.

However in the last couple of months my face is really, really flaky and dry. Any advise on what I can use to get rid of the flakes and give my skin back some moisture?

Thank you!