🐌 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

Sounds like you have generally good skin that isn't problematic and are experiencing some dehydration which makes ageing look more apparent. Incorporating a hydrating serum is probably your best first step, you'd apply it after cleansing in one or both routines.

So the basics,

Serum generally means a very watery concentrated product, tiny bottles as you don't need much. So a Vitamin C serum is just a few drops of water like substance that you pay onto skin and then follow with a moisturiser. You can also find it in other products like an SPF or moisturiser but it will be a less effective form and in much smaller concentration. Generally this is done with buzz ingredients, a consumer will assume that anything with it in it sounds good so it will be bought over something that doesn't have it even though in all likelihood it will have little or no efficacy in those products.

Eye creams are a bit controversial, you don't really need one but there are some exceptions, if your skin reacts differently there (eg. prone to millia or it's much drier), you have specific concerns there (lines or darkened under eyes), you want a smooth base for under concealer.

Retinoids are usually in a cream, gel, or oily base, sometimes a little more watery like a serum, it really depends what form you buy. This is now also getting added to everything like Vitamin C but for both you need to do your research and buy a good formulation for any hope of it doing something.

great thanks, this has given me some clear basics. I will go and find some products and give them a try

Do you know who is shipping your bear sophie I have had a nightmare with couriers lately mainly ups and hermes. The ups parcel was apparently in one place for 3 weeks according to online tracking but when I followed up they admitted it was lost. Hermes where slightly more helpful by just outright admitting it was lost a few days after it was due to be delivered.
I switched the hada labo whitening lotion back to vichy 89 for the past week as i've been travelling around the country and it was smaller to pack and my skin is looking a lot less red. Wondering if maybe the hada labo didn't agree with me. There was never any obvious irritation but suddenly my skin tone is looking more even. Might take a before picture and reintroduce the hada labo to see if its my imagination or not

You're welcome King if you need a specific recommendation, just ask, I'm always hesitant to rattle of a bunch of products as you really need to go one at a time and I don't know what anyone's budget is either.

Vichy Mineral 89 is probably the most popular hydrating serum at the moment.

Forest, yeah I've been having an issue with Feelunique getting my black Friday order delivered and having to send it again after about a month's time when it was declared lost (untracked delivery). Going by the feedback on trustpilot it seems they faked a lot of packages being dispatched when it wasn't the case, probably thinking that would give them time to catch up but then Christmas and covid border shutdowns happened.

Hello KingsArmy

I'm not entirely sure who the courier is deepintheforest. It's not UPS or Hermes (UPS seem very good between here and NL/Germany actually). Sorry you lost parcels. So frustrating.

Am really annoyed about the whole thing. Saying that, had some slight progress: as of yesterday bear is still in Basildon but has now cleared customs....

welcome King - agree mostly with Bo about CH, but one of the things that she summarised quite well was where to spend money, and her advice is to spend it on the actives, in other words get a good enough cleanser and moisturiser.

I use La Roche Posay Dermo Cleanser, and B5 Cicaplast as a moisturiser, in winter and Skin + Me at night and Paula's Choice C during the day and Heliocare 50 over it. Every other day use Medik8 PHA.

I used CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, but had a reaction to it - not sure why.

If I had unlimited resources, would use only Skinuticals as their products are fab. Love their cleanser and CE Ferulic.

Hi @KingsArmy I was also sucked down the CH hole in the first lockdown I did learn a little bit about what certain actives were, and what a decent routine was, but since finding this thread (although I dipped out of it for a bit when life got in the way, I realised that less was more.

It’s overwhelming at first, but if you strip it back to the basics and stay consistent, you’ll notice a real difference in your skin.

My AM routine is -

Cleanse (Olay cream cleanser)
Eye cream (Cerave or No7 usually)
Vit C (Timeless)
Moisturiser (Olay moisturising lotion)
SPF (La Roche Posay)

PM-

Double cleanse (Superfacialist oil cleanser, followed by Olay cream cleanser)

It varies each night but after cleansing I’ll either apply some Tretinoin (Literally started this last week) Or i’ll apply Hyaluronic to a damp face and seal in with moisturiser. Other nights i’ll use an acid after cleansing such as Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid (This is good for congestion/helps prevent blackheads etc) Some nights i’ll use an acid with AHA
In after cleansing - this seems to help cell turnover and brighten my face up a little. I switch between the BHA and AHA acids. Probably use BHA twice per week, AHA once.

I finish off with moisturiser. In my bathroom at the moment I have Cerave and Neutrogena Hydroboost. I also have some Indeed labs squalane facial oil for when i’m really dry.

I probably should invest in a nice serum to target my concerns. Will look in to this...

A couple of questions, oh wise ones...

Started using Dermatica tret last week (0.015% with 4% Niacinamide and Azelaic acid) Probably using it 3 times per week.
Slight peeling going on, on forehead and around chin. Do I gently buff this? Do I just leave it?

Second question - Timeless Vit C is out of stock. They aren’t sure when it’s due back in. Any alternatives? Something fairly similar in consistency to Timeless? I love that watery consistency. Didn’t really want an oil or cream.

Thirdly, once my skin is more used to it, on the nights i’m not tretting, can I use an AHA or BHA maybe once per week? Is it too much? If it’s not too much, any recommendations for a decent AHA? I have the Dr Dennis Gross gentle peel pads and I honestly think they are grossly overpriced as they appear to do sod all for my skin. Looking for cheaper but more effective alternative....

Hi @KingsArmy I'm new too so I've not got any advice to add.

@70sduvet is it The Inkey List vitamin c with EGF that takes 15 minutes before you can use other products on top? That was on my list to try, I'm not sure what to think now.

purpleblonde yes its the one with EGF
It doesn't say it on the bottle but it did say it on the leaflet that came in the box, or it said it on the box.
Maybe I am being "too down to the letter" with it as I have the time at the moment as I'm at home. I am also really trying to work on pigmentation so will give it an extra chance

Days where I've needed to slap the rest of my routine over quickly I've not noticed any difference.

I've also not seen much "glow" or brightening from it which I felt I did get from TO 23% Vit C but I know a lot of people have issues with it. I have very unsensitive skin so I think personally I am looking for something with a bit more kick

Its not drying or difficult to use, it goes on like a very slightly viscous water. Its about £10. I was intrigued by the inclusion of the EGF. There isn't too many value vit Cs about at the moment so I would give it a go and see if it works for you.

I meant to say value LAA Vit Cs

Wow. Busy here! Welcome Kings.

Thanks Queen.

I've been to knackered to use the Bear these last few nights but I've missed it so will be doing it later.

Sorry about all the delayed deliveries.

Hi been using frezyderm spf
But I can’t seem to get it. Any ideas where I can purchase or any alternatives. It’s on Amazon think sold by Amazon not sure if it’s ok.

Thabks for the review 70s I think I will keep it on my list to try, I won't be needing in for a while though.
I think I need to do a bit of at least 2 items out for each 1 in. Have quite a bit stockpiled at the moment.

I have a challenge for you: I would like skinceuticals lipid restore 2:4:2 BUT with no fragrance, for less pounds, not in a jar.

Bonus points for anyone who explain to me what a sphingolipid is.

Anyone game? Many thanks!!

@KingsArmy

great thanks, this has given me some clear basics. I will go and find some products and give them a try

Hi Kings- I dip in and out of this thread and over time have learned to not buy anything if someone here hasn’t mentioned it at some point... If some example products that work for me would help-

AM
Water
Skinceuticals serum 10 (the cheap one!)
Neostrata SPF

PM
Simple cleansing oil
La Roshe Posay toleraine cleanser
Plus one of...

Recherche P50 acid
Medik8 Cristal retinal
Skinceuticals triple lipid restore- but see above...

Good luck!

Ah mummying that's a tough challenge. Céramides are difficult to formulate in higher concentrations so the lipid restore is quite unique in its formulation wrt the high concentration of lipids and céramides. Have you used it, as the fragrance is meant to not be irritating.

Medik8 has something similar, but that's full of essential oils , it's in a jar and probably not that much cheaper.

I think the closest dupe there is, (all L'Oréal brands too so definitely sharing research), but isn't available here (yet, I think) which is from Cerave and in a jar, [[https://www.cerave.com/skincare/moisturizers/skin-renewing-night-cream this one]. We may already have it under a different name/packaging but you'd have to do some INCI comparison, or bother their customer's service online.

Agnes, I usually buy through Amazon sold by Amazon. I wouldn't order from the Frezyderm UK site as it seems you're liable for VAT and a huge charge £13 per package per day if it's stuck at customs for longer than three days never saw that before.

Fête, officially leave the peeling alone. My unofficial advice, when it's really annoying, either take a little silicone face cleanser pad thingy or a soft dry towel and gently get the worst of it off.

Timeless isn't out of stock, it's been removed from market as it contained something that wasn't allowed by the EU. We're all still looking for something better and are failing so far. Best possibility is Geek and Gorgeous from Eastern Europe but with Brexit it's not the best option, also the shipping is more than the product but all together it's around the same price as timeless was but not if you have to deal with courier charges although it probably would be under the threshold and exempt if you only buy that (total ex shipping below £15).

I still swear by P50 but it's very full on so just wait until you've got the hang of tret before contemplating acids again. It's pretty economical in use but not in initial purchase.

Link fail

clicky

Quick Google, you can get it on iherb here.

Or at an inflated price on Amazon UK.

Also on a Dutch acne site but that's probably useless to you, unless you're in the EU (they do deliver throughout Europe).

Thanks Bo- I did splurge on the skinceuticals as the rest of my routine is pretty cheap now really (p50 lasts ages!!) but I think the fragrance gives me red panda eyes if I take it too close. They fade fairly quickly- I’m see-through pale with freckles- but I thought I’d put the challenge out there!

In my own google- the new cerave skin renewing gel oil looked promising but I can’t seem to get it in England...

Thanks for all the welcomes and hi's !

I bought some LRP Anthelios SPF and body shop camomile cleanser, however i noticed afterwards its for dry skin, I will see what its like when it turns up. Also found Nadine Baggott on youtube who explained things in a much more idiots guide - this currently suits my levels of understanding for all things skin care

Well @botemp i’m heartbroken about Timeless! What the hell will I do without it?!

I tried a bottle of the Dermalogica Biolumin C and wasn’t impressed. I wasn’t impressed with Oskia either.

Join the despondent club Fête, I'm waving my flag in defeat and will get Skinceuticals when my Timeless is finished.

Mummying, I think that got discontinued/got replaced by their retinol serum. There seem to still be some on eBay but the shipping is high.

Sorry forgot what I came for Mummying, I may have found something. Feel free to read through this very long post but in short this cream from Italy looks very promising as an alternative to Skinceuticals and in preferred packaging as well as fragrant compounds free. Not sure how easy it's to get hold off in the UK but it is just under £15 so could come in under the VAT threshold if you buy it from Italy.