🐌 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

The GOW alpha arbutin arrived this morning and I like the texture. Its a thin liquid, goes on like water, no smell and sinks in well.
I put it on first today but ideally would like to layer it over Vit C, which i will try tomorrow. Today I put the Vit C etc on after and it all layered fine.
No big hopes for the pigmentation but worth a try at £12.

Because I have literally nothing else to do and homeschooling is killing me I have been "researching" other ideas for pigmentation... I had laser planned in a let's reinvent myself after a shite 10 years but covids wrecked that so I don't mind wasting a bit of money on crackpot ideas but I'd still like to have my laser fund if this doesn't work way...
So, Neostrata enlighten pigment lightening gel
It appears to be a gel you put just on the dark patches. It has all the right ingredients, retinol, kojic acid, vit c, licorice root. And after a time of skin cell turn over the spots will crust and reveal lighter skin. You have to be scrupulous about spf which I am and not wear makeup, which I can do, and not mind about scabbing, and whilst staying at home what better time?

Or DCL c30 overnight vit C

And I need to make a decision about the normal vit c too. I've had skinceuticals in the past and honestly I liked TO just as much so the £££ is a concern.

Again please remember I have completely unreactive skin. When people recoil in horror at what Trinny does I think ohhhh, nothing I have ever put on my skin has ever been annoying. I did have, until I got a skin care routine KP all over my face so that may have protected me somewhat and I am very glad I no longer have a scaly face, with thanks in the most part to lurking these threads and saving me from Trinny/CH madness)

The medik8 c15 is calling to me because of the addition of glutathione which is meant to be good for pigmentation

I think Ninny used the Medik8 vitamin C in the past and had a really strong reaction to it but her skin is a bit like Russian roulette, fine with lots of things and then dramatically not with something random. So going by that, you'd probably like it.

I've used Skinceuticals CE ferulic in the past and it's what I measure all Vitamin Cs against. It gave me a great glow, and Timeless came the closest of all to it. TO was mostly meh but fine but I went though a tube a month, it was just a pain in the arse with all the supply issues.

I remember when DCL 30 came out and there was unanimous love for it but the texture was not pleasant. I think only those with melasma raved about it though, which is the annoying thing with pigmentation, it's not one thing but it gets treated as such. To me it doesn't make a whole lot of sense as anything over 20% L-AA is overkill and I've not heard anyone still going on about how amazing it is. I must admit, counter to all my sensible instincts, the battery acid from Neostrata sounds fun and totally designed for this weird time. They also have some hardcore peels that you can only buy from Spain or the US that intrigue me and have nearly bought several times 😬

Quite rate the NIOD C and also the PC one, but as you say Bo, the Skineuticals is the Holy Grail.

I did see Skineuticals CE for £95.00 retail and am wondering if the supply fell off the back of a lorry is genuine?

To be fair to the skinceuticals I used it before I had discovered acid toning and urea, so it was struggling against the KP.

I could probably try it again and feel very different.
I really need to use those two ingredients to see skin rather than scales. So I probably didn't get the full benefits of it.

Its only been since November TO has been completely unavailable to me and I miss the grittyness, again that little bit of extra exfoliation suited and I got the Vit C glow from it.

I'm going to order the Neostata. This is pretty much the only time in life I'll have the chance to be happy with actually creating a scab on my face (if it works) and if I need to go outside the position would mean it would be covered by a mask so no UV exposure.
And all this covidness is going to end ASAP so its my only chance right????? ;)

Yeah this isn't melasma its actal old lady liver spots (which arrived at 36 - I think I can place their arrival to being in hospital in a sunny bed by a window for a month with no spf, I've been great about spending for about 10 years apart from that month but who knows)

And I'll go for the medik8 c15 as it would be sensible to have a new vit c in place before I start with a crazy product

Thanks Bo!! Have a relative in Italy who (in non-COVID times) flys back and forth fairly frequently so will give that a whirl...

I have been using the Skinceuticals Vit C for about 6 weeks without issue. Not sure I prefer it to the Timeless but needs must.

I like Neostrata as a brand 70s. Let us know how you get on.

I still haven’t chosen a new vit c, was going to wait till I’d moved but I’m out of timeless now and noticing a difference without it.

I’m reluctant to order outside the U.K. now which is limiting my choices further & I can’t afford skinceuticals right now

Any thoughts on this one from Cerave

www.amazon.co.uk/CeraVe-Vitamin-Hyaluronic-Brightening-Fragrance/dp/B07PNCCLD2?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Just popping on to say I have Heliocare mineral SPF50 with no fragrance. It's nano particles though, which might not be ideal, but I'm not sure I can get worked up about. And the colour leaves me slightly pale but not enough to bother me really, not in winter. The great sunscreen hunt continues!

Hi ladies,
Can i pick your brains please. I'm 62 with ok skin, a few lines obviously, the odd spot, my neck is my worst a bit droopy, only in recent years have i extended my daily suncream to my neck!
At the moment I use the superdrug hot cloth cleanser twice a day, biore watery essence spf in the morning and nivea moisturizer. My skin isnt sensitive. I've tried the ordinary 2% retinoid in squalene, made no difference, I used it every night..

So I'm thinking I need an oil cleanser, recommendations welcome please.
I am going to buy LRP sun screen, and pm cerave facial moisturizer for use morning and evening.
Then vitamin c for the morning if seems the skinceuticals is the best, I don't mind splurging as I haven't spent much over the years.

Is this a good start, shall I use this for a while then consider some sort of retinol?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Hi Therealone
I'm currently using the simple oil cleanser. Its very basic but does the job. You can get it from Boots or Superdrug. I'm lucky in that the local Boots pharmacy where I collect my prescriptions sell it but you can also order online. Its around £4.50

I've also used the DHC cleansing oil which was lovely. I got it from amazon or lookfantastic. Its about £25. But you can get a 30ml sample for around £5 to see if you like it.

I've also used cleaning oil balms which are solid. Luxury ones such as Emma Hardy morniga balm. It does contain lots of essential oils which can be irritating. And its really overpriced! Lovely to use but I don't think its worth it for a cleanser.

The body shop do a good balm, the camomile one. And clinique take the day off is popular.
I've heard that boots do one in their botanics range which is meant to be good and quite cheap but I have never used it.

I'm not sure LRP are the best sunscreens. I've always found them a bit heavy and stingy. Though possibly I didn't try the correct ones. Maybe read the factsheet bo has done on sunscreen to find some recommendations. I think its linked in the first post of the thread.

I currently wear biore watery essence which I ordered from eBay. Its very lightweight and not greasy.

Definitely a good plan to have a solid routine in place before introducing retinol.

I've been lurking for a long time but only just started posting but I hope I'm right in saying that the usual advice as well is to introduce all new products slowly (about 2 weeks in between) so if you do have a reaction you know which product to blame.
And that the first product to get in place is the sunscreen.

Unless of course the sunscreen is going to take 2 weeks to come and you can buy a cleanser tomorrow. Then cleanser tomorrow, sunscreen in 2 weeks.

Welcome Therealone. Ah well done Duvet, yes, I don't think LRP sunscreens are that adored on here aside from a hot destination holiday one for some.

I was going to suggest simple cleansing oil too. It's cheap and does the job.

If your only retinoid experience is with the ordinary with no noticeable results then you haven't really tried one IMO as they're pretty poorly formulated. Since you have resilient skin you could contemplate going the prescription route via skin + me or Dermatica. But if you're going to sign up with one of those, I'd put the Vitamin c purchase on hold, they don't necessarily go well together when introducing Tret and vitamin c goes off quite quickly so I wouldn't want you tossing it out prematurely at that price point. It's not a matter of getting used to vitamin c and then starting Tret, no matter how used to all your products you are Tret can throw your long trusted routine for a loop and it's not entirely predictable.

Apileofballyhoo, I've never tried that one but I did mistakenly buy their other mineral sunscreen with fragrance (a weird orangey one at that, reminds me of child medicine) is one I really like. I'm normally sensitive to fragrance but that one is fine for me.

Sallie when I click your link it say £26 plus £19.99 shipping it's a lower percentage in silicone base so I wouldn't expect anything major from it but it probably does a bit. At a lower price that would make more sense.

Thanks for your advice @botemp and @70sduvet.

Simple cleansing oil is on my shopping list.

Do you think the cerave pm facial is a good choice?

I have been considering a prescription retinol, that makes sense about trying that before vitamin c. The skinceuticals retinol looks good but I see that's more expensive than the prescription service!

There's nothing wrong with Cerave pm, but if you're using Nivea in the tin, it might not be rich enough. I'm not especially dry but like the cream version from Cerave better as it seems to work well alongside tretinoin.

I'm not sure they're making the one with fragrance any more, botemp. I was searching to see what I could find about tint and mostly it's the one I'm using seems to come up, and the fragrance one doesn't seem to be on their own websites. I do like the one I'm using but it's slightly too pale. That does fade after a bit though.

Agree about LRP being a bit stingy, duvet, though I get on ok with it if I'm not using retinol or Vitamin C, but that's not an option!

It's this one, Apileofballyhoo.

I love Heliocare and like Bo am normally sensitive to fragrance.

Also quite like the Altruist Face Fluid (do not get the anti redness) and Garnier 50 fluid.

DS (12) has gone through his Sam Farmer, and announces he has been using my LRP Fluid, and he prefers it.

Saw Lab Muffins latest video about the need to wear sunscreen if inside, and she seems to suggest that she isn't in favour.

Did I get this wrong

Ah, boys have the most expensive taste if you let them. The lesson is don't ever let them, they'll happily live in ignorance with their smelly socks

Is that an older video? I remember she did one and she basically calculated it and came to the conclusion that if you're 1.5 metres away from the window at all times you technically don't need any but I don't know what that's based on. I took it more as a mental calculation than contradictory advice. I use a lighter weight SPF when I know I'm indoors as I don't really want to social distance from all windows all day. Anyhow, treat prescription says quite clearly to always wear SPF 50 so on that alone I'll wear it 🤷

Tret not treat autocorrect

@botemp, thanks.

I can safely say my avoiding sun is working. Vitamin D level of 9
Now on 40,000 a week until my levels get somewhere nearer 75-100

This is the one I have with no fragrance. It is very comfortable to wear. I was wondering if mineral sunscreens are more likely to rub off.

heliocare.co.uk/products/mineral-tolerance-fluid

Interesting that one says new packaging and it looks to be the same name. Is it fragrance free now? I remember it had a white cast but that would disappear after a bit. The non fragrance version was just called mineral in my memory. I should give it a try but I seem to have loads of sunscreen atm.

Yes, physical sunscreen protection is more easily disrupted than chemical.

Good point @botemp about tret, I hadn't factored that in.

Ugh boys - he smells onions/garlic a mile away, but not his underwear/socks/PE kit. Love that he is interested in taking care of his skin, so will turn a blind eye to his affinity for French skin care.

@QueenPaws - wow, what vitamin D supplements are you taking?

@ilovemydogandmrobama2 I'm on prescription ones now!

I haven’t been keeping up with these threads at all but am going to be super selfish now and just jump in to tell you about my Biologique Recherche P50 experience. Ages ago I had bought small sizes of these products when Skincity sold them and before Christmas I splurged on a full size from a seller here in Sweden (Revivekliniken). It’s v expensive but no hoops to speak of. Anyway (my point is arriving) I’ve worked my way up to daily use if I want to and have recently been told by two separate people that I look younger than my years. It is very surprising to me because I think I do not, but there we are. Clearly the product is doing something for skin texture. So I’m recommending. I can’t think of anything else that’s done it, that’s the most recent thing.

I’ve just received my Retirides from Farmaciaenandorra so I’m fully expecting to look 25 soon.