🐌 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

@popularinthe80s - Definitely contact Dermatica, but my pigmentation, and I'm talking about being a teenager in California with no sunscreen, was worse before it got better. Am with Skin + Me, so not sure how Dermatica works?

Dermatica uses hydroquinone, skin + me doesn't at this point (they may in the future). Some people don't have a good reaction to it and it worsens, that happenined with popular IIRC. You already contacted them about that didn't you popular, did they reduce the tret strength or just remove the hydroquinone?

The picture is quite fuzzy on my phone so I can't see much but I'm not qualified to advice anyhow. Is your concern that you're still having issues with Dermatica with the new prescription without hydroquinone?

@ilovemydogandmrobama2 (love the name, by the way) - thanks. I thought I had read somewhere that it can get worse before it gets better. Can I ask what script you're on?
@botemp, your memory serves you correctly, I had the unlucky reaction. Yes, I contacted Dermatica and they switched the hydroquinone to niacinamide (but kept the tret on the same strength).
But this new script doesn't seem to be working. I don't know if that's because it can take a while - just panicking, as I seem to be the only Dermatica user whose skin is getting worse rather than better.
Just looking for reassurance really - but I will keep communication open with Dermatica.

@popularinthe80s - am on .027% and am tolerating quite well, but had ti strip back all the other acids and am just cleanse, moisturise and SPF at the moment. About a month ago, I got a spot which was and then was highly sensitive, so back to basics.

Thanks @ilovemydogandmrobama2

Has anyone bought from these guys before?

www.strawberrynet.com/en-gb/shiseido-anessa-perfect-uv-sunscreen-skincare-milk-spf50-pa-90ml-3oz/225688/

Trying to buy some Anessa. Yes Style no longer carrying it it seems.

Would rather not buy on Amazon.

Thanks.

I've had a look at that site before (a few years ago now) and I think I was concerned about duties/taxes Ninny as they are based in HK. Make sure you won't be charged anything extra before you order.

Yes, they're in Hong Kong, they might send things marked gift but it's still a possibility that you have additional costs. They've also been caught selling some fakes in the past, although I don't know how much stock to put into that, it's said about pretty much any Hong Kong based business, I'm half convinced it's competitors claiming as much as it instantly puts people off from using that business. There must be some UK sellers, here's one, never bought from them though so check, etc.

By the way bo, re the P50, one of the biologique spas here got back to me and we have exchanged emails. They were good in that they asked about my skin type and what I use now. They said P50W is the one for me to start with (which is what I had asked for anyway - the small 50ml size) but then said they don't sell the P50 W without selling the matching cleanser too as they go together (I don't want to buy the cleanser.....) and that I mustn't use it with tret. I'm not stopping tret.

Pfff, chancers yes, the official line is not to use it with Tret and do be really careful if you do want to use both. The cleanser is bullshit (but it is a nice cleanser), hopefully the other spa is more helpful.

@SophieLion I bought my p50 though m beauty. The didn’t try to sell me a cleanser! I lied and told them I wouldn’t use tret . Their service and comms are brilliant.

Hello, I have lurked on here for ages, and wondered if you could help me re Timeless vit c and ferulic acid. I bought some about 6 months ago from Amazon (I’m in the UK) and it’s still available on there now. Should I take it that it’s not legit? I also saw on timeless uk.com a hyaluronic acid + vit c with matrixyl 3000 serum. If the stuff available on Amazon isn’t legit, is this one worthwhile? Thank you!

Update from skincity - stock held in the UK is for UK and Ireland, and is not the same stock held for EU countries, wherever that is.

Prices for Ireland are exVat and customers may be charged for customs duties. I think that must be why the Sterling price was lower - no VAT. I'd imagine customs duties on £200+ would have been a fair bit.

Skincity used to be good for regular offers on Heliocare, which was handy, but probably wouldn't work out now.

Most of the other sites have a separate option for Ireland and now have reassuring 'no extra charges because of Brexit' banners. I always assumed Skincity was UK only and didn't realise they had /NL/France options. It would probably make more sense to add Ireland onto one of those now because of Brexit.

That is very weird and confusing wet Skincity, Apileofballyhoo, doesn't make much sense, poor Irish customers. You can get heliocare fairly cheaply from Notino, takes a while though as they're somewhere in Eastern Europe but shipping cost isn't too bad and they occasionally do free shipping, or you buy a free shipping item but none of those ever appeal to me.

AfternoonNaps, I'm not sure, they're unofficial sellers so you have no idea how fresh they are or where they're coming from on Amazon. I don't know if they make fake timeless, would be a bit harder with the new bottle but there's still an element of risk of getting an expired or otherwise faulty product. I don't think the other product you mention is a vitamin C serum, it probably just contains a stable form as an add on ingredient for marketing purposes.

That’s really helpful, thanks botemp

I need a dupe for this, it's bloody lush but my god the price. No, I didn't pay full price bargain Hunter

No Notino for Ireland either, bo. I just did a search for random places selling it and found a skincare clinic selling it for €52! Out of interest I checked to see where they were based - I assumed one of the wealthier areas of Dublin - but no, Co Kerry.

@smudgemylife I was thinking about your post so I went back and checked what you said. I recently bought a little tube of CeraVe moisturising cream and it does that sit on my face thing you've described. Nearly like I could run a fingernail along and it would gather under my nail. I'm not that bothered as I bought it for night time, but it did make me remember you and I said I'd ask if you have ever tried the CeraVe moisturising lotion in the pump bottle? I usually use that and it sinks right in without leaving any feeling of something on my face. I'm not sure how occlusive it is - I use it for my hands too but cold weather and hand sanitizer have made them much, much drier than normal and it's definitely not enough for that type of really dry, rough skin when you really need a layer of waxy whatever it is to prevent any moisture loss. Just thought it might be an option as it absorbs so well when heavier creams don't.

I also like the Avène Recovery cream, I'm not sure if you said you had tried that already. Haven't had it for a while but I think I felt it absorbed well without leaving that greasy feeling.

@Apileofballyhoo, I just got a 20% off code from SpaceNK, they carry the Bear and deliver DDP (and will cover any unexpected charges in case you do get them). You can probably get a bit back on a cashback site too. (They no longer do free shipping, €5, but you can't have everything). Although with the rate of pound sterling at the moment it might be cheaper from Lookfantastic whenever they have a 20% off code again.

Hello,I’ve been lurking for a while, and thanks to you lot have nearly bought the Bear on several
Occasions over the past few weeks ( still resisted!). I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good serum that doesn’t contain HA? I’m definitely sensitive to it I’ve now decided. I have generally sensitive, currently dehydrated skin and am looking for something to help with hydration and ideally to even out skin tone. Thanks!

Welcome Ladyyellow Indeed Labs hydration booster is HA free, it also has 2% niacinamide, which isn't a lot but cumulatively with niacinamide in other products in your routine could help with skin tone evening.

@Apileofballyhoo so sweet of you to think of me. running a nail through it is a brilliant description! I haven't tried the pump bottle - I am using up the current items and will replace each as it runs out so will give it a go.

I liked the avene hydrance aqua gel so opted for the cream version which doesn't feel as moisterising. I think I need that 'wet' feel that serums/gels give me.

The avene SPF is pure white on application which is really annoying and has tiny lumps in too which doesn't help the piling. My dermatologist is recommending heliocare so might ask for a sample at my next appointment.

Yes it was annoying bo. But, she did manage to put me off P50 with my sensitive skin. Will wait for my other recent purchase to arrive instead.

Thank you bigbuttons. I will keep that in mind if I decide to use P50 in the future.

Hello ladyellow

The last time I checked in here, I was saying that since starting Tret, when I had an alcoholic drink I would go flushed/red. Anyway, I think I’ve pin pointed the issue, it’s when I drink alcohol and I have Tret on my face that I flush. If it’s not a Tret night and i’m having a wine/beer/cocktail I don’t seem to go red.... will keep an eye on it, but that seems to be the pattern...

This Bear, I think my mum would bloody love one. I see there’s a mini one, would this do? I keep mention HA being used with it, do you just slap a bit of Hado Labo on with it and then use it?

I saw someone a few pages back with incredible results around the eye lid (sorry, I can’t remember who) But wow, you look fantastic!!

Paula’s Choice Vit C - I like it. Similar consistency to Timeless. Still prefer Timeless though, unfortunately. Will it ever return?

@Tsmummy08 I missed what happened to you with the P50W. Did you have a reaction? It’s on my “to try” list

Hi Village, I used P50 before using tret (IIRC) and it was always fairly sting-y but I used it last January/Feb while tret was being more irritating than usual due to cold weather and had a bad reaction. My face went bright red and was really sore for a few days - so I stopped using all actives for a few weeks. I tried it again a few weeks ago - and came to the conclusion it's not for me as there was a similar reaction. I can't use the Ascorbic Acid form of vitamin C either (while using tret) and have realised my skin's pretty sensitive (even mild PHA stings).

I need to put a note on my bathroom mirror not to get swayed into revisiting products I KNOW don't suit me because my skincare routine is quite boring these days and I'm craving excitement!