Alpha H liquid gold is amazing stuff - what else is like this?

[HelenHywater]

Honestly, I look about 5 years younger and as though I've had 15 hours of the best sleep ever when I put this on my face.

I don't know if it's a bit harmful doing it every night.

But if this works for you, what else works on your skin?

So where does it fit in? I use vit C in a morning and retinol and hyaluronic acid of a night, preceeded by cleanser(s), followed by facial oil.
My skin is normal, in good condition for my age. I just keep it as hydrated as possible.

Netaporter
Why do you double cleanse in the morning? Double cleansing is recommended in the evening as the first cleanse is to remove make-up/SPF. Only a single cleanse is needed in the morning.

I just put it on at night after a double cleanse and astringent @Ingridla.

I have lots of other products I toy with, but nothing has such dramatic results as liquid gold!

This thread is such an education

I think I'd give some of the posters on this thread a coronary if I said I wash me fizzog with shower gel/or soap in the morning because I haven't taken my make up off at night .

The percentage of glycolic acid in toners such as Pixi is tiny compared to Liquid Gold so they're not really comparable. I haven't found a cheaper alternative to Alpha H, its brilliant stuff.

Other products ive found to have a transformative effect are retinol, BHA, and Vitamin C serum (basically just another type of AHA)

Which products do you recommend @XiCi ?

I've been using Alpha H Liquid Gold for years. Like XiCi said above, it is much stronger than daily glycolics like Pixi Glow Tonic. I use it once or twice a week on freshly cleansed skin and don't put anything on top. If you have sensitive skin or are new to it I'd take it carefully. The first time I used it, I applied it on damp cotton wool and put moisturiser on top. Once I knew I didn't react to it, the following week I didn't dampen the cotton wool. Later I stopped the moisturiser as Alpha H recommend that for optimum benefit you use it with nothing on top. I have good skin, but occasionally when I go away my skin can feel a bit congested, so I always take Alpha H with me and it sorts my skin out quickly. I find that a bottle lasts me ages.

I’m tempted to give this a try along with the Sarah Chapman steamer mentioned upthread. I was already planning on adding a Vitamin C serum. I swear before lockdown I was what you might consider a “ basic bitch” around skincare. What’s happened to me? 😂

When do people find the time for all these beauty routine?
I use nourish London products and the ones are use are cleanser, toning mist, peptide serum and moisturiser and then makeup on top. Night time same without makeup. This takes time as products need to settle. I cannot imagine having that much time to put what posters are using as it will take me up to an hour!
I have two small children and currently pregnant so my self care time will be even reduced. I'm sleeping a lot now and thanks to good genes my skin still looks great.

Having said that the Alpha-H does look good may try it at some stage.

Where are people sourcing tretinoin?

@Mishmased I was you when my DD was young. Now she spends as long doing her own routine

To the poster who asked why I double cleanse in the morning, it’s after a sweaty fitful menopausal sleep also, buying skincare products has replaced shoe buying whilst there was nowhere to go so I’ve a fair bit to use up.

@Divebar2021 I too was a basic bitch with a bit of no7 protect and perfect or sarah chapman if I was feeling flush.

@Netaporter that makes sense if you have older kids haha. If you don't mind me asking how old are you and when did you 'up' your skincare regimen? I worry that one day I will wake up and be shocked when I look in the mirror😂 I'm 34 don't drink or smoke and eat reasonably well, that should count for something 🤣

You can buy alpha h on qvc. If you don’t like it you can send it back for a refund.

@Mishmased late forties. Honestly only upped the routine after first lockdown when I bought a kit from Caroline Hirons. I got caught up in the hype . Since then I do think the more reasonably priced brands like the ordinary and the inkey list deliver key ingredients at very keen prices. Look at those. The inkey list has a really easy way to layer products without too much fuss.

I’ve never really had bad skin but in my teens and twenties I absolutely caned sunbeds and the sun. I’ve never smoked, make all food from scratch but I do drink . I could deffo lose weight but I do walk my dog 5k every day and play tennis so I’m not unfit. Part of me is worried about weight loss and my face looking gaunt so I’ll look at medical aesthetics in the future for sure. One thing I wish I’d really known in my thirties was to wear spf every day. Start just with that.

@Namaste6 which led mask do you use or recommend? Thanks 😊

@Netaporter thanks I currently use Nourish London nourishskinrange.com/collections/combination-skin for skincare and bare minerals for make up (spf 30 I think).
Cant exercise at the moment as currently 33 weeks pregnant with SPD. Talk about healthy eating I'm currently stuffing my face with ice cream and rich tea 😂 in my defence I've had terrible nausea the whole time until today 😁

@Mishmased aww

I’m gonna look up that range. Think they are nominated in the Sunday times beauty awards tho.

Part of me is worried about weight loss and my face looking gaunt so I’ll look at medical aesthetics in the future for sure

Yes I’ve lost nearly 2 stone and I can definitely see a difference in my face regarding wrinkles. Happily my basic bitch routine has always had SPF so I guess it could be worse. I think I’m going to start a little savings fund for treatments.

I hate these threads because whenever I resolve to care for my skin "properly", I spend loads of money and end up with the worst skin of my life with painful cystic spots.

Double cleanse with aqueous cream and a warm flannel and an E45 type moisturizer is by far the best way to care for my skin....and I must not be persuaded otherwise.

I use a Salicylic Acid face soap most days...would it be too much to use that and the Alpha H Liquid Gold?

You probably don't need it then. It's another type of acid. Your face wash is doing much the same thing, in practical terms.

I must not be persuaded otherwise
Repeating to myself on a loop.

@CoffeeandCakeEqualsLove I often use a salicylic or vit c face wash as part of my cleansing routine (morning and evening). Then the liquid gold overnight a few nights a week. The Liquid Gold is the only product I use that I can see the effects of immediately

Retinols often bring me out in horrible spots or I overdo it and end up peeling for days. (yy I know I need to start on lower dose)

Interesting, thanks @HelenHywater
I've only recently started using the Salicylic Acid face soap and I have definitely started to see the difference. But been wondering what / if anything I should be using on alternative days with a low dose retinol.