🐌 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

I’ve had that email too from Lisa too Bo and might be tempted by another lipstick.

Still waiting on my yesstyle order but apparently it’s reached the U.K. so shouldn’t be much longer now.

Thanks Bo - spent the weekend (no kids whoo hooo) in Folkestone, with high winds and rain. My face hurts.

So my new found instagram beauty seller has opened up my sunscreen options a little more and as the weather is slowly getting hotter and sunnier i'm tempted to try some. She has biore watery essence which I know is popular on here but would it be suitable for summer in an area where the UV index is reguarly at 11+
The other contender is cerave hydrating sunscreen SPF 50, this one is mineral based and i'm wondering if anyone has used it and if its likely to leave me with a nice glowing white sheen as I rarely wear much makeup which would cover it.
Currently using LRP anti-shine formulation which I have been using for a long time, I don't hate it but it does sometimes feel heavy and sticky and if I do wear makeup on top it leads to it caking.

Ello I'm rather useless with foundations as I never wear any, just a touch of concealer. It cosmetics was quite popular on here, everyone seems to have switched to Nars tinted moisturiser but I'm not sure how well that covers redness others who use the Nars TM please chime in. Scarier pricetag, but the Westman Atelier foundation is meant to be good for what you want, you just add it on the redder areas and then can sheer it out beautifully thin, you don't even need to cover your whole face, it just blends into your skin. That founder also has rosacea and loves a skin like finish. I recently bought their contour stick and the formula is beautiful and idiot proof, I'm considering the foundation when my concealer runs out as it can be used as a concealer too and it's a lot easier to blend out/apply.

Out, Biore WE is definitely an indoor (or commuter) sunscreen, meant to be used by those who only briefly venture out. I've never tried a Cerave SPF, American sunscreens tend to be a bit crap as they're limited by the filters they can use but that usually means they put more effort in the physical ones so it could be good? At UV levels of 11+ I'd be going for something with a high ppd rating which tends to be LRP and Bioderma, the latter always discloses it on their packaging.

Your poor face MrObama, hope you had nice weekend regardless.

Sallie, I think the new products are lip liners and a sort of oil/gloss lip product, you know the ones that are like lip gloss but not a sticky mess? The latter has peaked my interest considering the times we're in I don't wear lipstick all that much.

Thanks bo I remembered something like that being mentioned which is why I thought I'd check. Currently I'm working from home and often end up sitting in the garden, going for walks etc. So I'll stick with LRP and maybe try watery essence when back in the office as I'm usually not outside during daylight hours when in the office full time, this is also when I bother to put foundation on so something lighter would be nice.

That’s interesting about lip oil/gloss Bo though my yesstyle stuff came today (finally!) and on first test the watery lip things (which are actually a non sticky gloss) seem pretty good. And cost £4

Ello I used to use IT cosmetics CC cream, I liked it but found it hard to get a good colour match. I’ve now swapped to using either the NARS tinted moisturiser mentioned by Bo above or Bare Minerals complexion rescue. I much prefer these to the IT CC partly due to better shade match but they’re also much lighter coverage, IT CC is medium to full I’d say though you can sheer it out with a damp beauty blender.

That being said I don’t have redness (I’m very sallow so opposite problem!) so can’t comment on how good NARS or complexion rescue would be for that. QVC sell IT cosmetics and they have a 60 day money back guarantee so might be worth trying theif CC cream, as Bo said it was invented by a lady who has rosacea and redness specifically to tackle those issues.

How long did your Yesstyle order take Sallie? Mine shipped on the 21st... I got the Purito SPF, Glasting Lip Tint, Canmake blush and Missha Essence - although I've no idea how to use it Bo! After cleansing in the evening? Or before vit C in the morning?

Is it OK if I have a bit of a moan because my skin has taken on a permanently pink hue again? I'm wondering if I should just give up on actives for a while, in spite of just ordering a DE vit C again after a year, ahem!

I've been using S&M at a v low concentration of tret since the summer (and Dermatica in May), but had a break from tret and most actives between Jan/Feb (?) and April/May - and honestly my skin looked lovely in spite of the stress of that time (and extra wine etc)!

My current routine is:
AM
Rinse with water and SPF followed by exercise
Shower then Revolution vit C 3 x week (tingles v slightly) or Superdrug Soothing HA serum
Ceramidin
SPF

PM
DHC Cleansing Oil
Toleriane Cleanser
Skin & Me 0.018 tret/4% niacinamide/4% axeliac
Either Cerave PM or Ceramidin

Once a week I'll skip tret and use Inkey List PHA and an oil

That's it, it's really basic! Not sure I'm asking for advice just having a moan really among people who might understand!! I wonder if it's just age-related? It's not typical tret-face - there's no stinging and peeling like I used to have with Retirides (the Skin&Me model of starting really gently and building up has suited my skin for sure) and the texture is great. But I've always had pink cheeks (won't self-diagnose rosacea but it's possible) and don't put tret there, it's the rest of my face being slightly perma-pink that's a bit annoying!

Has anyone else backed away from actives?

My skin has gone to shit a bit this year tsmummy, due to the second month/stronger Dermatica and the Skin&Me. It seemed really good after the first month of the Dermatica but realistically I think that was probably actually 3 months+ of the Neostrata retinol which I had built up to with a year or so of the P&M retinol oil. I don't think a month with the lower dose Dermatica would have shown that quickly.

So yes, I had stepped away from all actives. Just reintroducing the P&M a couple of times a week. Hope to get back to the Neostrata at some point soonish. Also using a P&M acid one a week. I've not used Vit C for a couple of months. Annoying as it was a fairly new bottle and I'll need to RP to reuse.

It's very frustrating as my skin was "stable" and looking really good for a long time. Hey ho.

When you say pink, you're sure your SPF is decent/you're applying enough? Just a thought.

Hi Ninny - is that you Pupsie?! Or someone else? :) Thanks for your experience....

Hmmm I'm using Skin Aqua SPF50 at the moment and was using Neostrata mineral a fair bit over the summer. Apart from my morning dog-jog/walk I'm not leaving the house much. I do sit in front of a window to work but it's north-facing.... Maybe I'll try using the Neostrata more consistently but I don't love it. Fine for being outdoors in Summer but it feels tacky and transfers onto clothes....

Yes, tis I Ts.

Ha! It's got to the point we can identify each other through products used

It so has!

Hi all, I'm looking for product recommendations for the odd dry and flaky patches (perhaps a balm)? Preferably something small enough to take in a handbag (although I guess I could decant).

It would also be good if I could use it on my myself and my son (21 months)

Oh pupsie am so sorry, but guess skin care is like anything else - there is no, 'one size fits all...' so if one product works for one person doesn't mean it will universally be the panacea for everyone.

Remember when I was pregnant with DC3, that I was allergic to mostly everything and there was a moment when I thought even water gave me a reaction .

@EastonSarah, la Roche Posay cicaplast b5 is a good allrounder. Also suitable for use on the entire family, can even be used on broken skin. Comes in various sizes including a handy travel size (although comparatively expensive).

Tsm, not helpful since you just bought some but I think the combination of L-AA and tretinoin just isn't a good one for you. Have you ever tried a derivative? I know that when I first reintroduced L-AA after Tret introduction I had to remove it again as it left me so red (I reintroduced P50 before that without issue so it really is down to these two ingredients), only was able to tolerate it later and only gradually but my derm did warn that some people can only use one or the other and he would prescribe it with MAP vitamin C formulated with the Tret if that was the case as they play well together both in a formulation and on your face.

Good news is, the missha first treatment essence does always massively reduce my redness and works very brightening and even toned. It's basically what makes Estée Lauder ANR so hydrating/nourishing and lots of niacinamide, but it works better than that and it's not weirdly floppy. Per the name you use it first, straight after cleansing, pour some in hands and tap tap in.

That's interesting Bo, I could probably take the DE back to Space NK tbh, they're pretty good... can you recommend a MAP vit C to try? I'll ditch the current vit C (which I think is L-AA)... Glossier maybe?

I'd like to carry on with tret as I think it does actually do something for me and the S&M formulation/gradual build-up is great.

I'm excited about the Missha now :)

Thank you @botemp I've tried the mini spf in the past, but didn't love that one. I've heard the original version is better. Will give it a try.

UK posters, where can Missha be bought from in the UK?

Yes without the SPF is different, Sarah. Although it's somewhat counter to what I usually preach on here, as it contains some common irritants, if you really need something full on greasy and have a (child's) skin that breaks easily with the change of seasons, the Weleda Calendula Weather Cream can be a bit of a life saver, tiny tube as well. You can get missha from the Timeless-UK site but I think missha has a European/UK site themselves too.

Tsm, the glossier one is new to me but going by the INCI (haven't seen the price tag yet 😬) looks good. I only really know of the ordinary one and it's crap and iirc poor value for money as it goes quickly. A lot of the specialty Hada Labo lotions (toners) have and unknown amount of MAP in it. The one I'm using with tranexamic acid that's in a blue bottle and labelled premium has it, not sure I can pin that on anything but it's very brightening (may be the other ingredients though, suspect it is down to the TXA which the MAP boosts).

thanks for your reply @botemp much appreciated

Hi all,

I want to buy a concealer. Never really bought one before. I like Chantecaille and Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. I don't want anything too heavy. Any recommendations re where to start? TIA

Concealer is a difficult one to get right as you need to try a few colours, peachy for correcting or lighter than your skin tone, but not too light, for highliting/dimension, etc. So without being able to sample them currently my best suggestion would be Maybelline fit me or age rewind, if the colour is off it's not a disaster and those can be worn quite naturally. Is there a specific reason you suddenly want it. I always switched to just concealer instead of TM as that still retains the dimension in my face where TM could flatten it out and TM+concealer turned me into a flat canvas which required more make up which wasn't my goal.

Ninny I'm still loving ByTerry Densillis concealer - as Bo says, it depends what you want it for really.... happy to suggest others as I've tried loads :)

In other news my Yesstyle package has arrived - I may have fallen down a Korean-shaped rabbit hole . Love the Purito SPF, love the Glasting lip lint (perfect for older lips), got the shade Rose Splash, and I'll defo get more and the blush seems lovely but need to get my redness sorted out first. I'm excited to use the Missha essence too..

So I was able to cancel my SPaceNK DE vit C order and ordered MAP from Glossier (plus Skin Tint and Boy Brow as well), should be arriving today..

BUT I stupidly burnt my face and arm with exploding soup on Wednesday and until that's healed I won't be using much - the burn is around my eye (missed it, thank God) and on my cheek. Swollen, red and slightly blistered - not great..... anything that can help with that? I've got Flamazine from the GP...
Copper peptides came up in a search for burns - have you heard anything about them in that regard Bo?

Sorry to hear about your burns Ts I haven’t got anything to recommend as touch wood I’ve not had a bad burn since my days of waitressing many eons ago.

But glad your yesstyle arrived, that seems quicker than mine which took exactly 3 weeks. I really like the glasting lip tint too and my peel off brows are good as well, though I’ll likely stick with Maybelline as it’s quicker/easier to get hold of. I’ll definitely keep ordering my Purito from yesstyle though and trying out a few other things too.

Ninny I gave up on concealer as never found it really did anything one way or the other under my eyes and seemed to make spots look worse. I need all over coverage (albeit a light one now) so using instead of foundation or TM never worked for me either.