🐌 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

Hello Ladies, have skimmed the thread, read botemps factsheets and would love some advice please.

My routine is this:

AM: CeraVe hydrating wash
Micellar water - will stop having read comments but unsure whether it needs replaced with different product
Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Serum
Caudalie Reservatrol Lift moisturiser

PM:
CeraVe Hydrating face wash
The Inkey List Retinol every 2/3 nights
Marks Absolute Ultimate sleep cream

I just started the retinol. It's probably not the most effective but was an impulse buy on a very rare trip into Boots!

Would like to add an acid exfoliator but haven't a clue re brands and AHA, BHA etc. Have seen Paula's Choice mentioned on a few threads but no idea which would suit my skin.

Would also like a night-time oil or serum but would rather do one thing at a time and sort the exfoliation out first.

When I finish the Caudalie serum was thinking of a Vit C serum for mornings. I used GoW in the past but didn't like the texture on my skin.

And spf I guess!

My skin is early 50's with nothing remarkable to report. Can be dehydrated rather than dry and I do have blackheads/sebaceous fillers around my nose.

Would love product suggestions if anyone can recommend any please.

Welcome Lululu, definitely get yourself an SPF first before contemplating anything else.

Thank you @botemp, I’ll put that at top of my list and will do an advanced search to see what’s recommended although from what I have read, it does sound as though it might be a bit of trial and error.

Meantime, would you have any recommendations for an acid please. I really don’t know where to start! Thanks.

@botemp

What would you like from it, skin type, is it sensitive/have you had bad SPF experiences, budget (taking into consideration you'll use one bottle a month, roughly), etc.?

Lululu, as above difficult to recommend things without knowing more.

If you've just started with retinol and still need to find an SPF it'll be weeks, if not months, before starting on an acid. Sorry, I can't just recommend an acid when I don't know what you want from it, different acids target different things and they're not absolutely necessary either.

@botemp - think, 'flare,' is applicable and akin to bell bottoms, although only a true fashion icon would be able to distinguish the difference.

And, 'flair,' is someone who has a talent or skill. So, French women for example have a flair for managing to eat, yet not put on weight.

I’m active on the S&B boards but first time posting on this thread, you lured me in with the foreo chat, looking to give myself permission to purchase but need more convincing!
After many years of mild but persistent hormonal acne issues which flared up post pregnancy, I finally bit the bullet and got roaccutane, life changing stuff.
That was mid thirties and now 43, I’ve dabbled with lots of skincare but need to be consistent. Currently using :

Am - cetaphil wash / avene rich skin recovery cream sometimes with a beauty pie serum.
PM - Japanfusion cleanser, dermatica prescription - just trying my new one tonight Tret 0.05 / azelaic acid/ Niacinamide. Have just been moved off HQ as apparently skin needs a break every 6 months. Sometimes layered with a BP facial oil/ ceramide capsules or the avene.

My main concerns are ageing with some minor pigmentation. Skin is dehydrated too. After much deliberation I finally bit the bullet and got Botox for my persistent angry line between my eyebrows and I absolutely love it. I’ve not really any wrinkles on forehead so only get the bit between eyebrows done. However, my lower face seems to have collapsed in lockdown. 😱 I’ve always been naturally slim with not much padding on face (great cheekbones though) but my nasiolabal folds and marionette lines are really pronounced now. Would a foreo help? Will consistent use of tret help? It’s like the shape of my structure underneath as opposed to skin wrinkles, if that makes sense?
Anyway, look forward to following this thread and any musings on falling faces much appreciated!

@botemp, thank you. I guess I’m trying to run before I can walk. I will get the spf and then give it a couple of months before adding anything else in. Thanks for your advice.

MrObama, yeah, it's a Reddit thing and neither definition would fit. I'm pretty sure it's a flair but you basically have a little banner by your username that you can fill in. Depending on the sub it can be quite functional like your skin type or mac foundation shade so that whoever reads it knows if your comments are useful to them or not but they can also be very humorous. I'd screenshot it but I think I switched them off and don't use Reddit enough to find them again 🤷

Welcome, Joan, difficult to say as I had more of a face that was looking a bit undefined as opposed to a slipping one and while it doesn't look like anything drastic happened to my face, the light just bounces off my face in a flattering way, finding high planes, it just has more dimension now.

No worries @Lululu22, if you need help with picking an SPF just ask, it's why I included the previous quote on what's helpful to know from you so we can make suggestions

Thanks @botemp. I think I may be a wee bit harsh on myself, seeing my recent no make up terrible angle progress shots for my dermatica prescription that scared me. More definition is probably what I’m after, especially along lower face.

Hello all, another newbie here and have read this thread and some of the info sheets, really interesting to hear all your advice and recommendations, thank you.

For background, I'm about to turn 39, I've always thought my skin is fairly normal, no major issues but have had quite deep lines on my forehead which I've been toying with the idea of getting Botox for some time and had been planning to this year (well, if lockdown allows...) as getting married in September. Recently - maybe lockdown stress, maybe just the effect of staring at my face so much on Teams calls and FaceTime (I hate what this has done to us!) I feel like I'm definitely ageing more, there's just more of a sagging around the lower half going on, so am also thinking of a small amount of fillers to go with the Botox - and I bought a NuFace a few months ago - dammit I WISH I had seen this thread beforehand seeing as you all think the Bear is more powerful. That being said, I do see a subtle difference with the NuFace and had been doing a decent amount of Gua sha and facial massage as well that I definitely think have been helping a bit with sculpting / reducing the porridge face and sagging.

Now for the other issue - the past month or so my forehead has been breaking out with v small blemishes - more whiteheads than spots, sometimes about around chin too, and they just take ages to heal / leave a red mark for weeks and weeks. Only things that have changed have been 1) stress of new job and longer hours and 2) I (foolishly) was having a clear out and thought I'd use up the multiple travel sizes of myriad different products. Hmmm have gone back to my regular routine and also have a virtual consultation with a dermatologist booked.

My routine is:

Am:
BP cream cleanser
Nip + Fab Glycolic acid (although I've been seeing you all use your acids in the evening and it does give me tomato face for an hour so maybe am going wrong here)
BP vit C
BP super healthy skin moisturiser
Eurcin SPF 50

Pm
BP double cleanse - balm then cream
BP retinol booster, sometimes the retinol moisturiser , sometimes the ceramide capsules over the top

Based on this thread am thinking of a tranexamic acid to help with the red marks after these blemishes, but think @botemp you thought the Hada Labo one less good for older PIE? Also going to speak to dermatologist about switching to a prescription retinol (I presume this is the tret you all speak of?) as properly time to tackle my ageing face. @QueenPaws so impressed with the picture of your forehead with retinol use, my lines are deeper than your before photo but it gives me hope.
But if anyone has any other suggestions re my forehead spots ie preventing them in first place and fading the red marks they would be gratefully received.

On everyone's quest for decent spf and vit C - these maybe no nos as I don't see them recommended by anyone else but I have been using the Eurcin spf 50 oil control for a few years and like it - absorbs easily, doesn't leave me shiny and greasy and no pilling if wear make up over the top.
Also just started on the BP newish vit C and quite liking it, after finishing up a GoW one which I felt did nothing. Once had a minuscule sample of the Skinceuticals one which was as you all say the gold standard. The BP has a very similar consistency (and similar slightly bacony smell) to the Skinceuticals so we'll see.

So sorry this has turned into an absolute essay!

I need to catch up properly on this thread, haven’t been on in a few days, but before I have a proper read through does anyone know what the hell is happening to my face when I have an alcoholic beverage? This is a new thing. It’s only started recently.

Only changes in my life have been catching Covid early Jan, and introducing Dermatica Tret late Jan.

Everytime I have a glass of wine/champage/prosecco or a beer I go bright red. As I say, this is a new and incredibly annoying occurrence.

As a reaction to alcohol it could be rosacea fête which the Tret may have triggered. I'd ask Dermatica to be sure. I don't know how old you are but it could also be the perimenopause.

Welcome Lemony, if you're using the Superdose C, that already has Tranexamic acid in it. Don't think it's a high concentration though. I think I said that it doesn't really touch very established pigmentation (may have been about Forest and acne scarring?) not PIE, necessarily, as I understand it PIE don't stick around long term anyhow, they turn into PIH after a while and those are actually easier to tackle than PIE ime.

If you're just seeing the dermatologist for a tretinoin prescription you'll probably save yourself a fair bit if you get a Dermatica or Skin + Me subscription instead. Otherwise it just sounds like you had a bad reaction to random products (keep in mind if you've had them for a while some may be expired as well) but if there are other reasons don't let me put you off.

@botemp 35, but defo not menopausal. I have really high AMH and shit loads of eggs left (But PCOS and blocked tubes)

It’s only started happening recently. I’m only on 0.015% Tret, but I can’t remember this happening before Tret, and I have a glass of wine a couple of times per week.

I don’t usually have sensitive skin.

I’m drinking a gin cocktail now and it hasn’t happened, but it does with wine/champagne/beer. Strange

Red wine followed by white wine and beer are the most visible alcohol triggers with rosacea. Definitely have a chat with the people at Dermatica.

Thanks @botemp That’s really interesting! As I say, it’s definitely only started recently. I will contact them

On the subject of alcohol I think I'm going to email my derm tomorrow. She prescribed me an ointment before Xmas for use on my eyelids in place of a steroid cream. I used it for a couple of weeks and now use it very very sporadically. I've had 3 single G&Ts since Xmas, and not when I've used the product, but omg my eyes go so tight and I have huge angry red rings around them. I literally had 2-3 small sips each time and within 10 minutes the same thing and the G&T goes down the sink.

I can hear Bo thinking "why did you try 3 times ?" .

Well, as I said, I'd not used the ointment for a couple of weeks each time. And from what I've read it should be fine to drink when not using it.

I'm not massively fussed about the drinking. I'm almost tee total anyway, but it's more a bit of a worry.

Another one here who has the same flushing with alcohol - it seems to be inconsistent and doesn't happen every time I drink, so I've never pinned down the cause. It wouldn't surprise me if my rosy cheeks were actually rosacea, which I know can be triggered by alcohol but who knows....

Almost a week after the P50 incident (it was P50W) and my face has calmed down again with lots of TLC and zero actives (and no Bear because the hyaluronic acid gel was stinging too much). Will send some photos to Skin&Me and see if I'm allowed to restart tret :)

Talking of flares, my DD12 is well into 90s fashion - it's so weird to see her wearing things I would've worn in my teens/20s.... anyone else get this? Makes me wish I'd kept some of my old clothes for her - she "borrows" enough of mine as it is.... although thankfully her feet are now bigger than mine so don't have to worry about that!

I've avoided red wine for several years. It's definitely a trigger for my rosacea, as are spicy food, the wind, extremes in temperature, intense exercise/running. I don't do HIIT any more and I don't tend to flush with weight training, but a 5k run once or twice per week is a non-negotiable for me.

I personally never like P50 (sorry Bo!).

Yeah, generally rosacea and the heavy duty stuff like Tret, L-AA Vit C and P50 don't tend to go together. Dermatologists disagree on the use of Tret but generally it's not used.

It was anecdotal but there was a poster on here previously with rosacea and she had found some correlation with tannins, so low tannin stuff was less likely to irritate, but this is based purely on her anecdotal experience.

I have pictures!
This is my eyes after 1 month using the foreo

History...
I lost almost 40% of my body weight in under 4 months because I was pretty sick about 3.5 years ago. I've put about 1 to 1.5stone back on, depending on how I am feeling. I honestly looked like Dot Cotton, my face was round my neck. I had no cheekbones, my dark circles have dark circles as all the fat pads had gone from my face.

I have been into skincare and cleansing, acid toner, vit c, tret spf etc in varying levels for about 10 years.

This past year has been hard for everyone, we've had a few serious operations with our son to deal with. And a few operations that would have helped me gain more health have been cancelled.

So to deal with this stress I've decided to turn to skincare to block out the shite of day to day and have some time for me. I turn 40 in a few months and I've said before I had planned to have a bit of botox and maybe fillers to fix my sagging, and laser for the age spots. (Neostrata seems to be working there)

But along with covid came the BEAR! And look!!!!!

My eyelids are up where they should be again. In a month. They are still slightly saggy in the inner corner but I'm not having to raise my eyebrows to the sky to put on mascara, I wore winged liner and it worked! I have room for eyeshadow!

There is also a bit more fullness to my cheeks and the marionette lines are not as strong as they were. I think these will improve with more time. As bo said there is a freshness and more dimension to my face. Its almost like wearing very well applied natural makeup when you aren't.
Hopefully it continues. So after a month I'm a very happy convert, the lube works as a conduit, but I prefer to use the hada labo premium lotion then I can do it in my routine. ( I actually prefer the lube to their serum serum serum as it dries out so bloody quickly...but a spray of water does make it go again)

Forgot the bloody picture
Left before
Right after
Incase it wasn't as obvious as it is to me.
I'm over the moon

And here I thought I gained a bit of lid space , I'm a total fraud that before and after is really impressive duvet. And, yes, agree it does look like good natural makeup, like when I've done some sort of shading/highlighting thing that takes a lot of effort to not look apparent.

Wow 70s. Fabulous results. Have you been using it daily?

Sorry to read about your health struggles.