🐌 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

still on a quest for an affordable Vit C

Ninny, there is also a video on the lab muffin website where she went through what all the buttons do. I remember her mentioning re vibrations. Have you used the bear yet? How did it go?

The gif didn't work on my phone bo but Mike does look like he is about to throw up!

I ordered the foreo serum but I certainly won't buy again as it's v pricey (even with discount) and delivery cost. If mineral 89 works then that would be great as use it anyway and I know it doesn't bother my skin. Otherwise was thinking of ultrasound gel ? I don't think that gets absorbed into skin easily. Aloe Vera gets really sticky as it dries.

Hi mrObama. I also started using a new vitamin C: Vichy 10% (which suits my skin a bit as it's temperamental with vitamin C. Used to be ok with the timeless but now it just irritates me.)

Hi all! Just catching up after being rather busy over the last couple of months - I submitted my PhD thesis yesterday after far too many years!

Now I have to figure out what to do next :)
Anyway I'm thinking the Foreo might be a nice present to myself - my skin has been great the last few months after ditching L-AA and using Skin&Me regularly (in spite of the stress and increased alcohol), the thing that bothers me most is sagging around the lower face (and eyelids but I'm guessing only a scalpel will sort that).

And IIRC this is what the Bear (and NuFace) are designed for? Has the NuFace fallen out of favour?

Hope you're all surviving lockdown 3.0 - I was trying to pretend it wasn't happening but the start of home-school arguments with DD yesterday put paid to that....

Oh yes and for vitamin C I've been using Glossier Super Glow (which is a MAP product plus there's some in the Tranexamic acid lotion that Bo recommended. No more irritation :)

@Tsmummy08 - You make a good point - the Tranexamic does have Vit C, and was using it but ran out. It was quite good, so may alternate every other day with the PHA...

Congrats on submitting the thesis Tsmummy!! And interesting to read that your skin has been better since stopping L-AA.

From my research, the foreo bear is a more powerful and more effective version of the nuface. Both target the muscles (so work in a similar way to facial yoga/exercise).

Sophie It was the combination of L-AA and tret I think... the combination of tret, MAP and tranexamic acid is working really well for me. I rarely use an acid these days and even then it's just Inkey PHA, so not v strong at all... my routine is pretty boring!

Hmmm interesting about the Foreo... off to do more reading...

Yes I think that's what caused me the problem: the tret LAA combo
I don't think my new vitamin C is LAA (but not sure actually ) but the lower % helps. Never heard of MAP and tranexamic acid!

Are you using the ampoules Sophie? I've been curious about those but they don't make a lot of sense price per use.

Yes, I remember Tsm really struggling and I think she just ordered a new drunk elephant vitamin c when I suggested she quit the L-AA 😬 as it didn't sound like a happy marriage and was probably the reason she was struggling with Tret. MAP works well in tandem with tretinoin and it's a good choice if you can't use L-AA for whatever reason.

MrObama, is that available in Europe now? My only issue with it would be the silicone base and alcohol denatured. Silicone means it's a bit of a wild card in terms of efficacy. Not to dissuade but I mean, there is a reason why there are so little 'gold standard' effective formulations out there and that's just down to Skinceuticals' patent on said formulation and their litigious MO. Although surely it must be running out soon 🤔 I remember when PHA patents expired a few years back and the market was suddenly flooded with it.

For the Foreo crowd, I found these three videos very useful (unlike the app one and manual) when trying to figure out how to best use it in the begining.

For those considering one, I would say the effect is only superficial, yes it 'trains' deeper muscles and that expansion makes skin look tauter and somewhat fuller and will minimise very fine lines to some degree and overall stimulation will give some glow and lift, but it's nothing substantive, it'll disappear as soon as you stop. But I appreciate the temporary boost and I'm bored with my regular skincare routine (which is effective but dull) 🤷 and yes, it's more powerful than Nuface and for me the before and afters for Foreo were much more distinct whereas the Nuface I was really wondering what I was looking at. I like the t sonic vibrations too, the Nuface doesn't have them, I'm not sure what they're supposed to do but it makes the routine enjoyable to me.

Congrats on the thesis submission Tsm

Yes it is the ampules Bo. But I bought them online (like a Greek Amazon for pharmacy products) and saved myself €15 compared to price in pharmacy. My derm suggested them for me as she likes the fact they are ampules. I use 1 ampule/ week at the moment. They are L-AA as I checked ingredients earlier.

Thanks for foreo videos too - have seen one of them before I think but will watch other two.

Ah one a week sounds better, I assumed you used one per day. They're about €35 for 30 or €20 for 10 here so that's not too bad. I might get some for when we can travel again

To clarify: I don't use vit C daily. One ampule lasts 2/3 days morning and evening application (so not one ampule for the whole week - although maybe close to that if you only apply in morning).

My derm isn't too keen on me using vit C but I did keep asking so she gave in - I think even the 10% gives me some sensitivity with tret.

The foreo bear video with the advanced techniques was good by the way. I like that she looked at all the facial muscles. Hope mine arrives soon - they've not yet sent the despatch email....

I just went to Boots' website to order some Vichy 89 and there's all sorts of variants today. I have no energy for that today.

Last time I checked it's the OG mineral 89 in three sizes, an eye version , and a sheet mask. Have they added more?

I'm kind of curious about the sheet mask, you can use the Foreo Bear over a sheet mask so that seems like a nice occasional thing to do.

2/3 days stil a good amount, are they easy to store once you open them Sophie? I'd worry they'd oxidise or spill over just by accidentally knocking it over.

My delivery got delayed so I won't be able to try the new conductivity gel until tomorrow

I don't want the duo.

The packaging of the single one looked different but actually I thinks the same product.

Thanks for the recommendation to come here and get some foreo armtwisting botemp

Now on a deep delve into the larger foreo bear.
I'm in NI and our deliveries are really up the left with brexit so I will have a few more days to torture myself with indecision before I eventually do buy one and then sit on a knife edge wondering if it will ever arrive.

On the lube thing.....
I think it may have something to run with
For honest medical reasons we have a lot of lube in the house. Durex all natural water based lube has the same 1st 4 ingredients as the foreo serum serum serum. Water, glycerin and propanedrol (humectant). The other 6 ingredients are stabilisers, surfactants and a prebiotic. I think its £9 in boots for 150ml. I buy in bogofs

The addional ingredients in the foreo serum seem to be mainly hydralonic acid. So lube mixed with a bit of hada labo could be a much cheaper way to go.

So now. Hi eveyone. I'm duvet, just introducing myself to your wonderful longrunning thread by suggesting you do rub lube on your faces before attacking yourself with your new pseudovibrators

honest medical reasons

I'd say my ass but that would be wildly inappropriate/suggestive

Is DHL express any good to Northern Ireland, IME they've been the most reliable in terms of delivery in this pandemic. You get free DHL express shipping with Cult Beauty when you spend Foreo Bear money, it got to me pretty much the next day. Discount codes also worked on CB, which are usually easily found, at least the 15% off one.

I have the mineral 89 eye one and normal one ninny. Not sure the eye one is doing anything extra. Don't think I really need it - more of a gimic really. It has caffeine which the normal one doesn't.

I've also seen many different types of packaging here for the normal mineral 89. It's confusing.

Bo, The ampules come with a kind of lid/dropper thing (one lid/10 capsules so 3 lids in total). Once you've opened the ampule, you store it with that lid. Never had a problem with leaking but last week I didn't put lid on properly and the whole thing spilt inside my little bag.

Hello duvet! I pop on and off this thread. I do actually use lube on frizzy bits on my hair. Saw it recommended online and it works really work. Bo was deeply unimpressed so doubt you'll convince her to put lube on her face!! Think it's a bit too much for me too

Am cross I was unable to order my foreo with cult beauty as no idea when current body will despatch it - I ordered Monday evening.

I ordered the Mineral 89. I'm not sure I got on with it very well before and all I'm concerned with is not having to cleanse face after. But I might tissue any residue off and see how I go, in the absence of any other obvious options.

Hi duvet. Sounds like you'll be a fun addition to the thread .

Hi Duvet - Can't get past the medical reasons for having lube, and am googling frantically

It may be that I'm a brothel owner overstocked by lockdown restrictions

Its for catheters and medical tubing

I've also passed the morning reading the backs of many different lube brands seeing as we have so much of the stuff (we also get a lot of free samples with the catheters) that its almost a waste of money for me not to buy the foreo as the conductive gel is just lying here (if I zing my face off I can only blame myself but it was in the pursuit of research)

Either that or I should open an under the table brothel to pay for the foreo and take payment in skincare and boots

I'm imagining an entire pantry full of lube now

The brothel is a poor excuse though, pretty sure that business in those has been continuing as usual. And you'd probably have B2B rates for the Foreo pseudo vibrator and wouldn't even need to think about it at those prices

Well it's no lube, but I am enthusiastic about the silk'n conductivity gel. Only tried it on back of hand though but it feels very similar to Serum3 and doesn't dry instantly. Made good contact with the Bear (now wondering if I should do my hands too 🤦) and is relatively easily absorbed after. Had to work it in a bit but I assume this would be easier if left on longer and I also probably used to much for such a small area. I'll report back later on the face experience, but am hopeful as at €6 for 130ml it seems like an excellent alternative.