🐌 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

Hi everyone and happy New Year to you all!!

Thought it would be better to discuss the foreo bear on this thread rather than the hair thread Bo. Just been researching a bit. For some reason, I thought the foreo bear was from Korea or somewhere in Asia - not Sweden!! I was reading the Lab Muffin site and watching the video to try to understand the science behind it all (particularly the comparison with facial exercises) - although did note the review was sponsored by Foreo.

I'm very interested in getting it. How long do you use it every day Bo and is there a reason you didn't buy the Foreo serum serum serum as the conductive gel? I hope the serum won't make my spots worse (although it's hyaluronic acid based I saw). On the days you use tret, do you apply if after the foreo routine? Thank you

No it's Swedish which always makes me think it's secretly a sex toy

I didn't buy the serum3 as it comes with a sample of it and tbh it's nice but the ingredients do not justify the pricetag. You need to use a good amount of it so I think the 30ml would go really quick. I also already had the Parker Labs conductive gel as I use that for my Tripolar Pose. Some shops do now have the combo of foreo plus full bottle of serum3 for not much more.

I doubt the serum would cause spots as there's really not much in it. The only advantage is that you can layer other water based serums underneath and you don't need to wash it off. They say the vibrating thing (forgot what it's called, Nuface doesn't have it) helps your other serums go deeper. I'm iffy about that claim.

On Tret nights I cleanse, foreo bear, cleanse the conductive gel off, then do normal Tret routine.

I use it 6-9 minutes, the single cycle is 3 minutes, I did that last night actually as I was really tired but felt a bit unsatisfied as I'm so used to doing two or more cycles, but the results were fine.

Thank you for all that Bo. Yes the serum is very expensive and saw the bear comes with a small sample. The lab muffin site says you can use an aloe Vera gel or an ultrasound gel (I imagine both those have to be washed off). I wondered if I can use the mineral 89 - what do you think?

I will look for combos of the bear and the serum (but if I pay ridiculous prices for delivery then it may not be worth it).

I think I will buy it - quite excited!!

Currentbody has it quite cheaply as they're basically charging the GBP price in Euros, not sure what their delivery is to Greece but it's reasonable to here (free over a certain amount anyhow). I got it from Cult Beauty with a discount and the shipping is free worldwide over I think €40.

I've thought of Vichy mineral 89 too as the consistency is very similar to Serum3 but I don't remember how long it takes to absorb, you can revive it a bit with a thermal water spray. I'm thinking an oil free moisturiser would be handy too as they tend to be thicker and I'd cut out a step but I don't know if there's any moistuiser that's suitable. I still have to research it.

Thanks. Will check out that site.

The lab Muffin lady said she found most gels dry too quickly and then she gets little prickles so she has to apply the gel to each part just before she does it rather than doing the whole face at the start (which is obviously more time consuming).

Yes, I can just apply the gel I use now in one go and it doesn't dry or zap me. The serum3 I had to keep reapplying as it dried which somewhat put me off but I do one half my face then the other so probably it won't be an issue.

I've found a gel from silk'n to use with one of their devices which looks promising, €6 for 130ml. I've also found a Korean one but strangely can only find it in the US but it has a high concentration of Niacinamide so it's very tempting...

All ordered! The only places I found with it were cult beauty and current body. Most places only had the mini available. Prices worked out the same with those two sites and got from current body in the end as cult beauty just kept sending me round in circles when I was trying to pay.

I got the serum too (but discounted as part of package) because i am being lazy I don't have time now to research which serum to use.....

Thanks for all the help Bo

Guess what I've bought ...

DH: "is that a sex toy next to the sink?"

Foreo needs to pay me in sex vouchers already...

I do hope you both like it

(Too tired to think of a suitably witty response but you made me laugh)

Thanks Bo. Doesn't seem to cause issues with sensitive skin. Just felt like a splurge given my skincare routine is stripped right back at the moment

Athough I'm nervous about finding the right conductive product...

DS1 (17) asked what it was when it was charging. I was too busy to explain. Goodness knows what he thinks it is .

Yes the conductive product is a headache as most regular skincare is formulated to be absorbed easily and quick while the conductor gels are formulated to sit on skin, not necessarily be absorbed. The Nuface causes a lot of issue with people so I'm scared off. Aloe Vera dries out a lot of people and it's not ideal either in terms of conductivity, apparently.

The silk'n has salt but I have no clue if that's good or bad just that the Parker Labs one doesn't and that's why it's meant to be so good but most conductivity gels will have salt in 🤷 I'm wondering if I can mix the PL gel with my Hada Labo toner, just thin it out a bit, maybe... I'll experiment tonight.

Tell the 17yo it's for his dad, he'll never dare ask again...

Oh I am so slow ninny: just realised you were saying you've also bought the bear!! (in my defence I was super exhausted yesterday and actually thought both messages were from Bo )

Glad to hear it hasn't caused problems with your sensitive skin. What gel are you using now?

I was wondering whether to try ultrasound gel.

I am peeling like crazy today since skin and me upped my prescription. WFH still thankfully. I should look 18 again by the time I go back to work

Well my experiment sort of worked and not, I couldn't leave it all on but could use less PL gel (I layered the gel over Hada Lab) and could remove most of the excess with thermal water and wipe of a flannel. But this morning it was all feeling a bit greasy so I don't think it's a good idea long term. I've ordered the silk'n gel and it'll be here tomorrow. Did some research, Nuface also has salt so I guess it's not that bad, the silk'n can be left on so I'll see how it goes. If that's no good I'll order the Vichy mineral 89.

Apparently lube also works as a conductive gel

Lol Sophie. I've been using aloe vera gel as I had some anyway and don't want to buy anything in haste. I too was thinking Vichy 89.

I try to avoid niacinamide these days as I'm fairly certain my skin doesn't like it.

Lube 🤢 that's taking it a bit far.

I do have to warn when you fire use it it's not so user friendly to figure out. You have to use it with an app for the first time and it just goes through a program but after that there's no instructions so it can get a bit confusing. Took me forever to figure out how to put the vibrations back on again.

I think I've inadvertently switched my vibrations off. How did you turn them back on again Bo.

I hate that you have to install an app. It doesn't sit well with my minimalist approach which also extends to apps/my phone.

After the first use you can get rid of the app (I think, I've just tucked it in a single folder where all miscellaneous apps live so I don't see them. in the future they'll have different tutorials so I've kept it for now).

You have to double press the on/off button but there's no feedback, so just stick it on your face to check.

I've not added it to one of my screens so it's hidden but I'll keep it for the same reason you've mentioned.

Thanks re the vibration.

Just made DSs spit their pasta out with my "you know that pink thing you saw charging on the landing? Did you think it was a sex toy? ... For dad?

this is how I'm imagining that looked like (hope the giffy loads properly 🤞)