🐌 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

Thanks guys. I'm actually in a town with a Space NK hence asking.

I want it for days when I don't want to wear TM (increasingly!) and just for the odd blemish/redness.

LM Secret Concealer isn't too bad for blemishes, in a pot, quite thick, but I have to say I go back to Collection Lasting Perfection for great zit coverage!
On a daily basis it's ByTerry for undereyes/round nose/chin...

I'm with Sallie in that I find concealer makes spots look worse and it looks better without anything and tbh at this time of year a bit of redness is to be expected.

Does SpaceNk give testers? I thought they didn't do any in all of the UK rather than it being dependent on store chain. You could look at the Nars one in the tube, think it's called creamy concealer, it's what the Maybelline fit me is a dupe for (although the fit me seems to be preferred these days to the original), it's just a general all purpose concealer to wear instead of a base, use a beauty blender or similar damp sponge with it.

Ouch Tsm, I'm not sure on copper peptides but copper is known to accelerate wound healing, it's in Cicaplast B5 for that reason alongside a couple of others like zinc, manganese and I think magnesium, as salts rather than peptides and I believe that is backed by some more substantial research than copper peptides.

Thanks Bo - I've got some Cicplast (of course!) so will start using that in a few days when risk of infection has reduced....

You'd have to check Tsm but I think you can use it immediately after a burn. Don't take my word for it though, definitely check their information.

I very rarely get spots, and I couldn't imagine trying to cover them up on the rare occasion I do get them. I'll take a look at the By Terry thanks ts. Ouch re the soup. That sounds really painful!

I have been on dermatica since April and have an adapalene niacinamide and clindamycin prescription. It’s really improved my acne and I only get the odd manageable spot here and there now. My skin is on the oily side generally and I have never had a need to use heavy moisturisers so use a gel cream but only when I need it

However, I have been advised to use my dermatica every day but on the 3rd day generally my skin starts to get dry and my usual products sting a bit so I cut back and invested in LRP cicaplast baume. I have vichy mineral 89 and wondered whether my dermatica would still work wel if I put the vichy on before my dermatica or must dermatica always be applied first to be effective?

cloud, technically if you want the full dose you always use it first but pushing it to the point of irritation isn't helpful so it's fine to layer it over something else, just make sure it's settled in because if you were to layer it over something watery like mineral 89 whilst it's still damp it'll actually penetrate faster and be more irritating.

Meant to add, easiest is just to do your routine and then apply Tret prescription a half an hour later or just put it by your bedside and apply before going to bed.

Ello I found IT cosmetics too heavy and it looked cakey, much prefer the Nars TM. I have rosacea and I find the Nars is enough coverage to get rid of my redness. My favourite is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk though! The No 7 Hydraluminous is quite good too. For more coverage but without looking cakey I find Lancome Teint Idole works well for me. Hope that helps!

Has anyone tried the new Medi8 PHA? Am guessing it would be a cheaper alternative to P50?

DD1 (14) had her dermatologist consult yesterday, and my only regret is not having done it sooner. DD1 doesn't have fungal acne, which is what the GP said, but bog standard acne. The dermatologist suggested several options, and DD decided she wanted to try the Epiduo which is a prescribed version of adapalene and benzoyl peroxide.

So pleased that DD1 was told that none of her spots would scar, which believe me, was so important for her.

Hmm, I've just had a look at that one MrObama, but I'd say it's much milder, probably not as low a pH. Whether it's more economical I wouldn't know either, I pay €25 for a 50ml bottle (the larger bottles work out more economical but I don't go through them that quickly) and that lasts me a little over 6 months. The Medik8 requires 3-4 pumps (which seems like loads, I'm familiar with those type of bottle dispensers) and then used daily AM and PM, maybe you'd reach 6 months but I doubt it, so it wouldn't necessarily be cheaper in that sense. Don't think you can get the 50ml bottles online in the UK though, so this all a very useless calculation, I now realise

So glad your DD got helped well, and that she doesn't have to worry about scarring. I must say, going by Mumsnet, I'm getting a bad impression with the GPs and their skin diagnosis ability online, they seem to be doing the opposite of their usual MO when they still saw people in person of just dismissing it (mostly) or dispensing out of date treatment and information to random diagnosises (I'm sure most are getting it right though and MN is an odd representation).

MrObama Have you tried the Inkey List PHA? I used to use the BR P50 but found it quite irritating. The Inkey list one is still "tingly" but I don't go full tomato with that one, so am sticking with it. I've got a bloody full thing of P50 as well!

Thankfully my soup-scalded face is healing nicely and the scabby bits are sorting themselves out... my wrist fared worse and is red and pretty itchy. I'm VERY thankful it missed my eye though, could've been much worse all considered....

Hi knowledgeable people, what are your thoughts on the new Paulas Choice 20% Niacinamide Booster?

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/niacinamide-treatment-m8030.html

apple, niacinamide is a great ingredient but it becomes potentially highly irritating over 5%. It's a great addition in a moistuiser or other products but I don't see the point of these stand alone niacinamide products in high percentages. It's a barrier support ingredient, not an active ingredient that requires a specific formulation. For the benefits claimed on there for that product there are other ingredients with better scientific backing (all niacinamide research is in the 4-5% range) that will do that better.

Tsm, I must admit I never saw the sense in owning a soupmaker but your harrowing experience has definitely validated their use. Glad to hear you're recovering well.

TS - No, I haven't tried The Inkey but am not really impressed with the few products that I have tried. If you want to sell your P50, let me know!

Bo - To be fair to the GP, they are not seeing patients, so her, 'diagnosis,' was based on photos that I sent in. Although not sure why the consultant dermatologist is safe to see patients . Anyway, she did say that she would be sending her recommendations to the GP so if DD1 wanted to go on low dose antibiotics or a mini pill, the GP could prescribe. Am a bit about my 14 year old being on the pill even though she goes to a girls school and has zero interest in boys. because I go through her text messages

Anyone tried Medik8 new ridiculously expensive r-retinoate? Any good? Am a retinol newbie but I think it maybe time...

@Mummyingetc

Anyone tried Medik8 new ridiculously expensive r-retinoate? Any good? Am a retinol newbie but I think it maybe time...

I used the original (not sure what's new about it) and it was very happy with it (before switching to prescription tretinoin) but it worked for me due to specific issues I have with conventional retinols, if that hadn't been the case I'd probably not have felt it was worth it. The Medik8 Crystal Retinaldehyde wasn't around at the time but I probably would go for that these days.

Or do you mean the intense version? I think that's been around for a while now. That's like the r-retinoate and crystal Retinaldehyde had a baby as it contains both. I wouldn't recommend it as a beginner retinol but more something for someone who wants good results with low irritation because they can't tolerate prescription stuff and have a lot of cash to spare as you use it very frequently.

Thanks Bo- yes it was the intense. Crazy money. So the crystal would be a good opener?

Thanks for the advise @botemp I knew someone on here would know

@Mummyingetc, yes it's good one, depending on how sensitive and/or cautious you are you can start with the 3 or 6 strength.

You're welcome @applepineapple, niacinamide is a bit of a buzz ingredient at the moment, they're just trying to make cash out of it while they can. Bit disappointing to see it coming from Paula's Choice.

MrObama, yeah it's weird how eager GPs are to stick everyone on the pill as early as possible. I know the general line is that it's fine to be on it for most of your life so long as you don't have side effects but so many women do have a lot of side effects that often get ignored as to be expected

I am really enjoying the deviant skincare cleansers I got (balm and oil) they feel very luxurious and the balm smells lovely
Off to the dentist tomorrow so I might even slap on some makeup which is a rare event now! Still WFH...

In defense of Paula's choice, Paula herself cannot use retinol so she's always looking for other anti aging ingredients/alternatives. Since she saw very good results with the 10% niacinamide product they have (mainy reduction of pore size I think, as she has oily skin) she turned it up a notch and made a more potent product. I believe these niacinamide products are mainly her creations as she loves the ingredient.
I know all of the above from watching the YouTube live chats with Bryan Barron, research director at Paula's Choice. He also said he didn't get the same results as Paula (with the 10% product) but the results are also dependant on concerns.
He stressed the fact that the new product is for more advanced signs of aging and advised ppl to consider that they may not need it (at least not yet).

Thanks for that @BabyPigeon, I thought she wasn't as involved as she used to be with the brand anymore. It still feels a bit counter to their science backed approach that is usually their norm but if it's a product made for Paula herself than it makes more sense. I haven't really looked into the marketing but I hope it's covered there as I suspect a lot of people will come out disappointed otherwise.

Annoyingly a lot of the budget brands will make copies and pay zero for formulation development and strip it from any soothing ingredients (which I'm sure PC will have as they always make sure to include them) and I'm rather worried what it'll do to those consumers especially since niacinamide continually gets touted as good for sensitive skin.