🐌 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!
I'll jump in with my heritage theory, I'm convinced I can tell of someone has German roots by the width of their fingernails. I'm usually right. German fingernails are usually much wider and square shaped than Irish/English fingernails.
It doesn't seem true for French or Spanish nails and I haven't met enough people from other areas of Europe to widen my research.
So it's a very very crap party trick but so far I've been 100% right and the person has a German father or grandmother

I have been using the big bear to do small bear routines. Maybe now reading bos thoughts that's been wrong. But so far only seemingly good outcomes. Though I was taking it as like the nuface, the mini being a cheaper less powerful version of the big bear.

Sallie I have quite heavy nasiolabal folds due to weight loss and possibly age coming into it too, the bear is helping soften them. After 2 months they look better than they did. Not the results I would expect from filler but that can't happen now anyway so I'll keep buzzing on and see how it looks when filler is an option and decide then then.

The finger nails is a new one to me. I tend to categorise them as people from generations of manual labour. Although I'm thinking of square but also much shorter on the finger (I'm still surprised when I see them) and often the nail is quite weak and breaks really easily, the hands can look a bit chidlike. I'd have assumed Scandinavian heritage there and lack of vitamin D and no longer having access to traditional scandi foods like fermented cod liver oil and salmon to get the Vitamin D from diet.

The border to Germany isn't far from here so I'd hazard a guess that the Dutch finger nails would have to be like the Germans as borders are just a human invention but I wouldn't categorise them as broad and square. I have a poor sample size here at home though. I'll have to do a Sophie and stare down at some hands while doing groceries later today.

Is this going to o spawn a new sort of thread, can you tell my ethnicity by my hand? 🤣 (tbh anything is better than those annoying tell me how young and pretty I look threads).

Sophie I have sallow yellow skin it does look nice with a tan though of course I try to avoid that these days, I still get a nice glow in the summer even with diligent use of SPF50 but look jaundiced during the winter (and at the moment!)

That’s good news re the bear 70s fillers are expensive to have regularly so I’d rather try the bear even if the results are more gradual/subtle.

I’ve got small hands with long skinny fingers and finger nails. Nails are in absolute state right now from packing but once I’m settled I’ll have to give them some TLC.

This is my uncle, his colouring is identical to my mum so you can see the difference between us! His folds are similar too. But given he's 71 in this pic I don't think the genes are too bad
(Pic is available online so no issues about permission to post before someone asks) as he was a famous sportsperson back in the day

I forgot to look at hands🤦

But in other news, for the annual search for a new spray top up SPF, Kate Somerville has one that looks interesting here. Pricey but it is 100ml, fragrance free but does have lavender oil but it looks a good mist in the picture. I kind of wish it was smaller though as I like to have it with me.

I'm so mixed I can't keep track anymore, I'm from all over and am mistaken for all sorts of things I'm not.

I will take a look at the hands of my German friends (when I get to see them) Duvet! I've got long fingers and really weak fingernails.

Wow your uncle has such different colouring to you Queen!

What is your small bear routine duvet? If you don't mind sharing.

@SophieLion it's crazy. My mum and cousins are all the same colouring and my uncle and cousins had very tight coiled curls too. They just glance at the sun and turn dark brown!

Quite liked the look of the Kate Somerville right up until the mention of lavender oil . Why go to the trouble of creating an unscented product and then add a potential irritant???

Just ordered more Altruist face fluid and it has a waiting time of between 1 - 3 months?

Have been using Altruist as a base sunscreen and then layering with Heliocare tinted which seems to work.

Has anyone used the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette? Is it good as a light bronzer for pale skin? And anyone sure of the difference between volume 1 and volume 2?

Or alternatively, can anyone recommend a gentle bronzer for pale skin? Thank you

@QueenPaws. I have a similar scar. Yours has faded way better than mine which is 12 years old now. I love the tattoo. I have none myself but was fancying something relevant and personal to me. I am woman, I am strong, I am titanium is a good starting point.
Long time lurker, just bought a bear

Sophie I have four hourglass palettes plus a bronzer on its own. I love them all including the ambient lighting palette you’ve mentioned but I’m not pale skinned.

I have volume 1 of the ambient lighting as bought it a few years ago, volume 2 (going on pictures alone) looks a bit darker to me - and may well be a future purchase

SophieLion this video from Susan Yara shows quite well what I do as a mini version routine. I'm not overly fussed on her, she's a bit perky but the positioning is pretty much what I follow. And the holding on of the bear for a few extra seconds to create lift. I also agree with her that you can create a faux contour with it that lasts for the day. I'm hoping this will last further over time with continuing use.

Where she holds it for a few seconds on her eyes is how I got such good results on my saggy lids.

I pretty much just YouTubed to find the foreo mini instructions and took it from there, the full size bearbseems to fit in all the areas the mini is marketed towards. And Susan in this video seems to be struggling to "sell" it as a product needed alongside a big bear. "Great for travel, cuteeee"

The first half? of the video is probably unnecessary to watch if you already have your bear as its just about what microcurrent is, and is basically a sales pitch

Has Susan Yara been let out of the cancelled box? She has been very shady but was always really annoying well before that.

MrObama, I'm convinced that because oils are heavy and there's such a small amount all it will do is scent the air and never end up on your face. At least that's how I'm selling it to myself, I do wish it just wasn't in there, period.

Sophie, I don't really get the fuss about the hourglass ambient powders, but that seems to be just me. I do know the bareMinerals Invisible Bronze in Fair to Light is a bit of a holy grail bronzer for fair skin but I don't use it myself and not sure how easy it is to get hold of. Depending on budget Sisley and Westman Atelier both do lovely bronzers but not sure how suited to fair skin they are.

@ilovemydogandmrobama2 did you order the Altruist on Amazon? It gave a similar timeframe when I ordered but arrived within a few weeks.

Yeah Susan is one shadddddddyyyyyy lady but this video gives the best summation of all the little bits and bibs I've picked up.
Highly highly annoying though.

Sophie I've never used hourglass and not a big user of bronzer in general, I usually use a taupe eyeshadow shade if lightly coutouring and all bronzers I have tried have been too orange toned for my quite yellow toned skin. But you have reminded me I've been meaning to ask...
sallie which shade of the hourglass finishing powder would you recommend for sallow skin?
I was just thinking of getting the small travel size as historically I either forget about powder (laziness again ) or don't like the finish. These look interesting enough that I may use, but don't want to break out for a big pallette until I've tested myself. £22 is OK.

@SophieLion I have the ambient palette with the three shades and love it. I have just ordered the brush as the ones I have are rubbish. I also have a single dim light and a blusher. They really suit my skin tone. I suppose I am slightly sallow with warm undertones. Use all three at once and highly brush over my face (in a very non professional way- I am lazy and inept and wanted something that a a complete incompetent couldn't get wrong). They kind of add a filtered finish. I hardly wear make up and no foundation but it really makes a difference.

would also like to give a big thumbs up to the kevyn Auction sensual skin enhancer. It's an amazing product- again I am inept and lazy when it comes to make up. I have had my pot for years now. It is so very pigmented that I only use the tiniest amount each time. I have recently taken to adding it to my sunscreen as my final layer. It stops the white look and gives a lovely finish to the skin.

Sorry MyBug, to tut tut like this, but it's not very sensible to mix SPF with anything, you could be compromising the stability of the formula and therefore the protective qualities. I can't remember who now, think it might be dermablend(?), recently came out with a tinting product specifically for SPF that would not compromise it but the standard advice is never to mix SPF with anything.

It was dermablend but they made all claims of it mixing with SPF disappear so don't mix those either. More info here, I do want to try that Evy foam sunscreen also mentioned there for long summer days, looks really interesting.

@botemp

Sorry MyBug, to tut tut like this, but it's not very sensible to mix SPF with anything, you could be compromising the stability of the formula and therefore the protective qualities. I can't remember who now, think it might be dermablend(?), recently came out with a tinting product specifically for SPF that would not compromise it but the standard advice is never to mix SPF with anything.

Hand slapped 😂 thanks for the advice though. I’ll mix it with my moisturiser instead. I certainly don’t want compromise my sunscreen efficacy 😲

@FreshFaceTime - Good point. No, I didn't order as thought it really would arrive in May, but thanks for the advice.

Update - DD1 who saw a consultant dermo as a private patient last year. Am really impressed as DD1's program was sent to her GP, who is continuing to prescribe Epiduo and antibiotics.

Thank you all for the responses re the hourglass.

I didn't know there were 4 palettes Sallie! So what is the difference in effect between the bronzer and the palettes? Yes, volume 2 did look a bit darker to me.

Thanks for the bronzer recommendations bo. The hourglass palette wasn't exactly cheap either! I was going to see if there was a mini version as the palette I saw on look fantastic (I think) was €70.

I was also wondering about the guerlain (but possibly too dark) or benefit hoola lite. Just want something to add a hint of colour really.

That's really useful mybug. Ive also seen professional make up artists say they just swipe across all three colours and apply like that too. I am fairly pale with pink undertones and dark hair and eyes.

Don't want to do any contouring (and think I'd been rubbish at it too!). Also many thanks for the bear video Duvet.

Re the bear: does anyone's bear sometimes go on this "automatic" mode where it stays on (buzzing away) all the time even when it's not in contact with your skin? Mine does this randomly and means I either have to keep turning it off or put it on my skin when it's on and sometimes get a little shock.

Sophie the other hourglass palettes I have are the ‘edits’ which have 2 blushers, a bronzer, a highlighter and two ambient light powders. They are limited editions that come out round October/November time and cost around £80 though I’ve always managed to get discounts bringing them down to £60ish.

70s my hourglass bronzer is radiant bronze light and I also have a standalone blusher in radiant magenta. I’m sallow with yellow undertones and very dark hair and eyes so (against all the usual advice) I tend to go for bases & powders that are darker than my skin tone as they warm me up and suit my colouring, anything too light makes me look like a jaundiced corpse

I’m very impressed with the bear so far. My NL folds are quite lifted already and forehead lines softened. I am also using it around my upper lip and lower orbital area and it has been effective in reduce eye hollows and building up my mouth area. Thank god I decided to buy it.

Need to catch up on this thread, life’s been hectic. I’ve got to catch up from page 32, so before I settle in to read I just wanted to ask a question...

Those of you who are seasoned Tret users, when did you notice a real difference?

I’ve had a month of 0.15, then 0.25 and now i’ve had a month 0.5 - all with Dermatica.

I’ve just started using 0.5 every other day. Very slight peeling (make up looks crap because of it. Do I buff the dry skin off?)

There’s a definite improvement, but it’s subtle. Still wouldn’t feel confident without make up, and I still don’t have that lovely fresh/flawless look. Does it take while?!