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

[botemp]

Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6 Thread 7 Thread 8 Thread 9 Thread 10
Thread 11 Thread 12 Thread 13 Thread 14 Thread 15 Thread 16 Thread 17 Thread 18 Thread 19 Thread 20 Thread 21

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

@Purpleblondelady I’d agree with @ilovemydogandmrobama2 that the change is slow with tret and to be honest I didn’t have any lines to start with. My skin is quite oily and interestingly, other than when I used tret without any additions of niacinamide and the like (retrides from Spain), my skin remains oily. I thought it might ‘dry up’ a bit. I think my pores are less visible and general clarity is improved.

@ilovemydogandmrobama2 I’m not too fussy about bar soap. I got a couple of beautiful ones last Christmas that DH picked up in TKMaxx. Probably never to be found again! I have also had the electrician in this week .

That was speedy!

Bo thats good to know, Vit C isn't a good mix with benzoyl peroxide if I remember correctly which is why I went for the tranexamic. My skin is looking as good as it ever has though even with the older scars and pigmentation so i'm not to stressed by it. Currently just happy that the endless cycle of huge spots is fixed.
Queen that sparkly gold colour is lovely if only I had any idea how to work eyeshadow

I've been really into smudgy soft stuff at the minute, did this the other day which I liked

Merry Christmas all. I have been reading through this thread and wondered if I may ask advice/thoughts about my plans for finally sorting my skincare regime in 2021.
I am 35 and have normal/combination skin. A few fine lines (especially on my forehead and around my eyes) and a few little spots every now and again. A few sebaceous filaments on my nose but not many blackheads.

I have allergic dermatitis so have to be careful and not use too many fragranced products.

May I ask you thoughts on the following:
AM- squalene cleanser
Simple light moisturiser
Heliocare gel SPF 50

PM squalene cleanser
Trilogy rosehip oil

Thinking of adding Skinceuticals CE ferulic acid in the morning before my moisturiser. at the price, but have read rave reviews.

A little nervous to try a retinol yet. Is there anything anyone suggests would also be beneficial? Possibly a twice weekly mask (maybe the ordinary aha bha treatment)?

Thanks for your thoughts

Merry Christmas everyone ☃️🌲

Catching up

@Purpleblondelady, tretinoin is a long game but I do find it gives me the most consistent good skin with really good tone to it, once you're past the whole adjustment period.

@Karcheer, LRP cicaplast is good for dry spots from Tret. I also really like the Cerave moisturising cream as opposed to lotion this time of year in combination with Tret. A head's up, the Purito SPF has been removed from sale as testing showed it did not deliver the SPF protection of 50 but rather something like 19. It's not that disastrous at this time of year and not being outdoors much but I'd suggest

Ruby, if your skin is very sensitive and prone to dermatitis I would not buy the Skinceuticals ce ferulic and go for a derivative instead. Medik8 does a good one in the form of C-tetra, Garden of Wisdom (Victoria Health) does a lower percentage version if you want to go cheaper/more cautious.

For retinol you could consider putting some of that Skinceuticals money towards Medik8 R-retinoate (the white bottle not the super expensive black one). It's the most mild and effective retinoid I've ever tried, no side effects, very suitable for sensitive skin.

I would not recommend peels, for one it's a really bad pairing with dermatitis but otherwise it's not that useful either. It just removes the top layer of skin which is a temporary gain but not in the long term the way Vitamin C and retinoids are.

Lost the test of my sentence.

Karcheer I'd suggest switching it for something else. If you're not overly oily Bioderma Cicabio SPF 50 is similar.

@botemp Thank you. I will give the moisturiser a go, I had a bad reaction to LRP cicaplast in the past, so will avoid that one. I've been applying Elizabeth Arden's eight hour cream at night which has been working.
I didnt know that about the Purito SPF so i will replace it with something better - thank you.

I wrote a long reply but it's disappeared

It's a year since I discovered this thread, I think it was your end of year reviews that started me off.

@Jedstre are you still using Spainish retirides or did you move onto one of the monthly subscription trets?

I wish I could do eye make up like you @QueenPaws, it looks great.

I'm a bit behind you all, I'm only just starting retinol now. I have been using Bakuchiol since the spring. I patch tested Indeed Labs today and I will probably start it properly tomorrow. Then I'm going to go back to researching what next after that.

@Purpleblondelady I watch this woman a lot on YouTube, I find her really helpful!

Ooh thanks for that Queen. I need to youtube eyeliner techniques too

Well, I got enough bars of soap yesterday🎄 to last me the year

@Purpleblondelady. No I didn’t even finish a whole tube of retrides. I switched to dematica tret/niacinamide which has absolutely no effect in terms of causing dryness or peeling that it somehow makes me doubt the efficacy

@Jedstre - not sure if you have been on the thread when several people were discussing Dermatica v Skin+Me. Some have gone on the Dermatica route, and tbh, I did try it for a week but as you mention, the gel and wondered if it was making any difference and got on much better with the Skin+Me formulation, which is probably more of a personal choice, but about 9 months down the road, there has been steady, slow improvement.

Agree with @botemp about Cerave. It isn't glamorous but does the job, although a bit of a toss up between LRP Cicaplast, but Cerave is probably better value.

No expensive skin care on Christmas list, I got a lovely pair of earrings from DH, and DCs did a lovely piece of music.

DD1 is now obsessed with LabMuffin on You Tube, which is good, but is also now thinking of doing chemistry for A levels... So happy. :)

Skin and me have upped my tret to 0.06 I think it is
Bizarrely I've had an almost overnight improvement. Skin has suddenly gone incredibly smooth, the only way I can describe it is like Botox skin?! No bumps that I used to get on my chin, nothing

I’ve been using dermatica for awhile now and it’s definitely improved my skin.

I’d love to use some more expensive brands that look nicer on the shelf. Cerave doesn’t look nice in my bathroom 🧐 but it works so it stays...

Thanks @ilovemydogandmrobama2. Yes on the thread with the discussion about both online tret offerings. I’ll probably try skin and me next. I’ve still got dermatica to use up.

I’ve just finished skinceuticals Vit C. I was using phloretin version (better for combination/oily skin apparently). I see they’ve now got this one for oily blemish prone skin www.skinceuticals.co.uk/en_GB/silymarin-cf/3337875746267.html

What are people using now that Timeless is more tricky to get hold of?

For next time I moan about my skin
Wearing a BB cream this week, and before when my acne was bad
I don't really get any acne now apart from the odd single hormonal spot

@QueenPaws- you really have transformed your skin, it looks great. Can I ask, are you still having occasional botox or are you just sticking with tret now?

@Purpleblondelady no Botox since June 2019
I would have it again, I just haven't felt the need to and my 11 lines have really softened

@QueenPawPaws which BB do you use? You're skin's looking great. How old are you?

My acne has been INSANE this month (worse than your pic but exact same area). I bit the bullet and went to my GP. Any tips for handling acne and then keeping it away?

@QueenPawPaws I’ve had a similar transformation my skin was so sore and red too. The tret has been amazing, I do still get the odd spot but nothing like before and I also feel less of a need for Botox.
Your skin looks amazing in the picture.
I’m not brave enough to wear a BB but could really.

@PusheenLove I'm 36 and it's a Korean one dollish veil vita in purple
I think it's the skin and me that's keeping it away TBH!

@QueenPawPaws it's a brilliant result that you've had. Number 11s (or just a 1 really!) are my main concern. Too much and home schooling 3DCs in the spring/summer hasn't helped me this year!

Queen surely that's a typo? 26 yes?!

Is a CC one up from a tinted moisturiser or is that a BB? I'm a bit clueless when it comes to make up.

Also, I think we've discussed this before and the answer was "not worth it": collagen supplements?

@NinnyNewName 37 in 2 months