🐌 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

Ooh I lost this thread. I hopped on for a while last year and was given some great advice.

I’ve decided to jump aboard the tret train. I’ve wanted to for ages, but IVF got in the way. I still haven’t managed to have my embryo transfer as they’re all abroad and you know, Covid probs, so i’m not waiting any more as it’ll be at least April/May before i’ll get out there.

Not sure i’ll do much good in those 4 months but worth a go.

My Dermatica prescription is as follows -

Month 1 - Tret 0.015, Niacinamide 4%, Azelaic acid 4%

Month 2 - Tret 0.025, Niacinamide 4%, Azelaic acid 4%

Month 3 - 0.05%, Niacinamide 4%, Azelaic acid 4%

And it stays like that from month 4 onwards...

Any thoughts? How often should I apply my first month’s worth?

Would I not use my Paula’s Choice 2% BHA or my Dr Dennis Gross mild peel pads once I start the tret?

I definitely had earrings in when I used it, I will try it again without earrings see if that makes a difference! Thanks!

Hi again, Fete, sorry to hear your IVF didn't go through. I had hoped you'd be able to in the summer.

I'd say use 2-3x a week when you get your first dose and monitor for any sort of sensitivity and then build up to more frequent use. The Dermatica timeline does seem to be that you use it nightly but that doesn't necessarily work for everyone so just go slow and steady.

I'd stop all acids until you're well established in a routine (so when build up to 0.05 without any sort of issues). I'd introduce BHA before AHAs but you might not have much of a need for BHA by the time you're comfortably using 0.05.

Bear update: I think I spoke too soon about the Silk'n gel as I have an annoying under the skin spot not sure if that's the culprit but they are a rare thing on me and usually take their time in revealing themselves. But it could also be hormonal.

I also think I might be a masochist as I really enjoy using the Bear on my forehead and my scalp going all tingly with hairs standing up on end

I've also noticed my mandibular angle has become more pronounced again which means I have less of that porridge face look 👍 having to look up the name for that, I had no idea it was a desirable thing and people have surgery for it

Bo I'm also spotty - a few whiteheads/small red spots in random places, which is pretty unusual for me, including one on my upper eyelid so that'll be Silk'n or Bear related - not sure why it would be happening though? The ingredients are pretty innocuous....

Yeah, weird, I spray heavily with thermal water to get it off as well. I didn't have any spot issues with the Spectra Gel, argh. Back to the drawing board, it is.

Thanks @botemp Appreciate the advice.

I’m wondering would a nice (non pore clogging) facial oil be nice to put on, about an hour after I’ve applied Tret. Just not sure if it would “dilute” it?

I tried the lube...
Bit sticky actually.
I also tried it mixed with hada labo premium lotion and it was almost the same texture as the serumx3
I also tried the HL on its own and so far I like it the most, very even glide and its not sticky at all. I used about a 10p sized dollop and it lasted the whole 9 mins.
Its the gold hada labo from Japan not the superdrug one.

fete sorry to hear covid has buggered up your plans so spectacularly.
You could put an oil or moisturiser on after the tret especially if you feel dry. Lots say the tret works better left on its own. I feel my skin is too dry so I will put the tret on very early evening, especially in the winter. Say at 6pm and then do an oil and/or moisturiser at bedtime around 10 or 11.

Does anyone have any great ideas on how to fade hyperpigmentation?
Liver spot type marks.
I have 2 dark spots on one cheek that I would love to fade even a little. I'm almost 40 and theyve been there for about 4 years. Not pregnancy related.

I keep reading about "great products" but then they are really aimed at hyperpigmentation from spots or acne scarring.

I've been using retinol (through dermatica) for about a year.
I've just finished 3 months of dermatica 0.5% retinol and hydroquinone, which didn't do much. I'm still on the tret but obv now the hydroquinone has been stopped.

I have a vit c, not really happy with it - inkey list. But bought in a panic as my all time love TO 23% is nowhere to be found and the 2nd love timeless is gone. Any recommendations for L-AA vit C?
Also use hada labo whitening essence for the tranexamic acid.
I also use P50 (not on tret days)

I had been saving for laser on these spots but with lockdown and the success of the "bear" I thought maybe there is something out there I could throw at them during the enforced stay at home that might work? Happy to come off tret for a while if need be.

Am noting mentally all your comments on the bear/conductive gel. It's all very useful. My bear has still not arrived. Contacted company who believe it is stuck in customs (brexit ).

Well done for trying the lube Duvet ** I think dermatologists Can do procedures to fade dark spots but assume you want a product.

@70sduvet - The only thing that has been working for me is Skin + Me tret, which I realise is a bit Marmite, either you love Skin + Me or you hate it. It's been quite slow, but is definitely making a difference.

Quite liked the Hada Labo, but decided to cut back on all the various products.

I'm going back to the thread roots and think I'll buy some snail lube mucin to try with the Bear (feels appropriately animal themed ) trying to decide between Benton and CosRX, I think I tried the Benton and liked it at some point but can't really remember, I'll have to search through my 'archives'.

Fête, you can but I would say Tret dryness is different from dryness you know already. I often call it dusty because that's what it sort of feels like, just stuff on your skin that sits there in tiny particles instead of something pulling and prune like and you kind of just want to brush it off but it doesn't budge. The thing you're most hankering for tends to be hydration and a good physical scrub as opposed to something heavy and occlusive (unless you're naturally dry already), but you usually want a bit of both (the scrubbing is a bad idea, no matter how seductive but you can do the gentlest of rubs with a silicone brush or dry flannel). It might dilute concentration a bit, but if you're applying earlier in the evening you already lose a bit of strength as you probably don't sit in the dark after so it degrades due to light exposure, but similarly a fair bit gets on your pillow so there's really no aiming for perfection here and just do whatever works for you. Rosehip is popular to use alongside tret, I can't remember which but it's due to the high linoleic or oleic acid content. Marula is probably good if you're more combo/oily.

Duvet, I was going to say laser is probably your best bet. In the meantime you can try something with kojic acid and arbutin. There's a few Japanese products but they're £££, I think the inkey list or the ordinary have something with both now but no clue if it's any good (I suspect not as good as the Japanese ones anyhow as they've been around a while). We're all still looking for a good L-AA since Timeless was removed from market here, I keep forgetting to mention Paulast Choice has one, aside from being a smaller bottle and allegedly smelling like arse it's a decent middling option. The one with the most potential seems to be from Geek and Gorgeous but the shipping from Eastern Europe is more than the product (less of a bad deal if you buy more from them).

Well I shall be sticking with the Vichy 89. It works really well and no spots here. I do have to spray with water about half way through (I generally do 2-3 cycles with the Bear) but that's okay. Then I pat dry with a tissue and apply whatever I'm applying.

Thanks @70sduvet and @botemp i’ll see how I go. My tret arrived today. I can’t wait to start

Oh I got myself one of those Vichy fortifying instant recovery masks today. My skin is a little dehydrated. I’m just getting over Covid, left isolation on Sunday, and it seems to have really dried my skin out? Probably because I’ve had the central heating on non stop.

I'm peeling on my chin again from tret. It's a miracle product though, the small bumps on my chin have vanished, acne has gone, sebaceous filaments disappearing... magic!

I fell off the thread for a while and you're suddenly all electrocuting your faces with something called a bear sadly nothing that fancy going on here. Although if it can contour my face maybe I can be tempted

Haha forest turn your back for a bit and it's all sex toys here now

Is your Bear anywhere near arriving yet, Sophie? So annoying!

I've ordered some snail goo, should be here tomorrow. I went with CosRX in the end as I was looking at the wrong Benton INCI, the toner would have been great if it wasn't so watery but the essence goo one had glycolic acid, so no good for me.

Snail goo seems like a throwback to the old threads
Did some skincare swaps so no buy still
Got stay naked urban decay foundation and also have the fenty SPF on the way

Don't get me started on my bear bo. It now transpires they sent it from their uk warehouse and not the EU warehouse so it is stuff in Uk customs I believe. I hope it will not be subject to customs at this end. Company has apologised profusely and said they will cover all and gave me a £10 Gift card for their site (as if there is anything there that costs £10 - although I've not bothered to look - and as if I'm going to order from them again...)

I think snail goo sounds worse than lube

Village sorry you've had COVID. I hope you're feeling better .

Oh no Sophie. Brexit has been a total shit. Hopefully your bear will arrive soon and it lives up to expectations.
Thanks for the recommendations for the hyperpigmentation. I've ordered the alpha arbutin and kojic acid, and some L-AA powder.
I'm also looking into a Mandelic peel product from

Sorry that posted too soon..
Peel is from MUAC but I don't know if I can get it delivered here or not. All amazon stores apart from .UK have stopped delivering to NI. I dont know if its the same in England?

Covid really dried out my skin too Fete. Lots of oils and night masks to get it back to normal. I have elephant dry skin though anyway

My marionette lines really are less deep

Sorry to hear @VillageFete and @70sduvet having Covid. , and hope it was mild.

Although am decluttering everything at the moment, to such an extent that I boxed up all the stuff that wasn't hanging in a closet, and asked the kids to name any of their stuff that was on the floor to get it back. Other than DD2 (9) naming 3 of her teddy bears, and DD1 naming her Latin GCSE book, it's all going to the tip tomorrow.

Anyway, in the spirit of decluttering, realised that I've used up most of the products on my shelf, hence justifying the purchase of Paula's Choice C.

Will report back

Hello all.

Great thread and the SPF info on the OP was really informative.

I’m currently pregnant and need a new SPF- I have been using Thank You Farmer but am after some other recommendations.

I’m a bit dubious buying off Amazon as had a bad experience once, so any from the high street or cult beauty etc that anyone recommends? Thank you

Welcome Oliver, what are you looking for exactly? Mineral or chemical, SPF 30 or 50, to wear under makeup or not as important right now, skin type, avoiding anything in particular, any terrible experiences in the past?

Poor you Sophie, yeah, I suspect a vat and import duty bill is heading your way, but current body will have to pay it, but still, how annoying. Feel really bad for recommending that shop now, never had issues with them

Duvet be careful with the L-AA powder, labmuffin has a video on why it's not the most safe product. Isn't muac in the US, I may be mixing it up? I think Bravura used to have a lot of peels, possibly a mandelic one too.

Queen, curious about the Fenty SPF, as by the description it sounds like an inferior rip off (because of the use of US approved filters instead of our much nicer EU and Japan approved ones) of Frezyderm, bit like that overpriced Murad one.

MrObama, do report back on the Paula's Choice stink factor 🙊

In other news, I'm really happy with the snail goo as it doesn't absorb very quickly so I can use quite a thin layer and I had forgotten what a nice ingredient it can be, it's very plumping and softening, had to grab a lighter moisturiser and my skin felt so lovely when waking up. So long as I don't get any reaction I think this will be my happy medium.

Botemp I shall review when it arrives! I also have the medik8 advanced day something SPF which I haven't tried yet
Was finishing up a Nivea one but TBH I'm going to bin it as it just turns into balls of white on me, even on dry skin it pills