🐌 Fantastic Skincare: Bear Shaped Pseudo Face Vibrators, Don't Ask us What They're For(eo) 🐻

[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 think it's new, I can't get it locally either, I bought it when I was in Belgium, it's this one. It's not mineral though, but the chemical filters used are the more sensitive skin friendly ones but probably not worth the risk.

I haven't really looked into copper peptides in a long time, not heard much either so I assume there's been no development since but I could be wrong on that. At the time it was all very pie in the sky and only something I think would be worth considering if you really can't use anything retinoid adjacent.

@botemp - Looking at the ingredients of the Avene and it has fragrance, although was towards the bottom of the list.

Did you notice much of a scent?

Anyone happy to give me the low down on snail stuff? Any good for firming?

Wheresthebeach snail mucin is just very hydrating, any firming would just be a temporary trick. I like the CosRX snail muccin, I use it with my Foreo bear, not sure I'd use it otherwise.

Maybe I linked the wrong product, MrObama but the picture sort of matched do I had assumed it was the same. There's no fragrance in it, the INCI is as follows;

Avène aqua, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, coco-caprylate/ caprate, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol [nano], water (Aqua), caprylic/ capric triglyceride, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, diethylhexyl butamido triazone, silica, glycerin, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil (Cocos nucifera oil), potassium cetyl phosphate, mica, decyl glucoside, trimethylpentanediol/ adipic acid/ glycerin Crosspolymer, 1,2-hexanediol, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Ascophyllum nodosum extract, ascorbyl glucoside, benzoic acid, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, carbomer, disodium EDTA, glyceryl behenate, glyceryl dibehenate, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil (Helianthus annuus seed oil), iron oxides (CI 77492) (CI 77491) (CI 77499), oxothiazolidine, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide (CI 77891), tocopherol, tocopheryl glucoside, tribehenin, xanthan gum

Thanks botemp. Any top tips for firming? I use the FOREO bear…

I read the other day that snail mucin is also very good for sensitive skin - no idea if that's true or not but can imagine it would be.

I've not seen that Avene SPF before Bo. I've used the Avene cleanance for years. My derm always recommends it for acne. It is a bit white and can be a bit drying but every time I try something else (recently the sam bunting one), I eventually end up with spots again.

wheresthebeach firming is a though one, if we're talking sagging, there's no cream that can reverse gravity but there are procedures. Off the top of my head there's laser, ultherapy and there's a new filler especially for jaw and chin that can make it really taught and pronounced, apparently you can really sculpt it like a putty.

If it's more tone, buoyancy type, than anything collagen production focused like vitamin c and tretinoin is key, some added chemical exfoliation does a bit too.

Sophie, yeah the snail mucin is helpful with wound healing, I think it's anti inflammatory so helpful for sensitive skin in that sense. Isn't the cleanance also available in a tinted version, I nearly bought that because the packaging is almost the same, it's also in a pump bottle, but that one does have fragrance I think, maybe there's more than one cleanance SPF, I think there were tubes as well?

Thanks Botemp. I was looking at Ultherapy but read there were issues with it so having second thoughts. Also looked at thread lifts...but I'm a bit scared of it all going wrong and looking weird!

Yeah, there's some side effects with Ultherapy that would put me off too, ditto with thread lifts. A series of laser is a large investment upfront but that's probably what I'd look at, although that probably won't have the most dramatic instant change. The fillers (Juvederm Volux) are interesting too, I'm normally not a fan of fillers aesthetically but these definitely have a different look to it.

Back to SPF, I also like the look of a Beauty of Joseon one which is getting a lot of love at the moment. It's full of ingredients my skin loves (rice bran, green tea, niacinamide) and good uv filters and apparently very lightweight (so liked by oily skin) but I'm not sure if I dare to take on another Korean sunscreen adventure after the Purito incident...

@botemp , so I have spent far too much time trying to find the Avene one you mention without much success.

Am quite liking the LRP Anthelios UVmune 400 at the moment.

MrObama, they've not listed the INCI but the picture matches on these UK sites (notino is not UK based though, I think, but probably has the taxes system setup to make it a smooth process):

www.amazon.co.uk/Avene-Anti-ageing-Suncare-Protection-Tinted/dp/B085SDHG18

www.notino.co.uk/avene/sun-sensitive-tinted-protective-cream-for-dry-and-sensitive-skin-spf-50/

(Full disclosure, I only paid €12 for it).

Actually just checked, looks like Notino has a UK warehouse where they despatch from.

Current routine, current skin
Can't be mad at it! Skin and me has been a game changer for my acne
I'm using rapidlash too

@botemp - Interesting. How would you describe the tint?

MrObama, when it comes out of the pump it looks scarily medium colour but it's hardly any coverage when applied but just enough to harmonise iykwim. Supposedly it adjusts to you skin tone and it does seem to work that way when I try it on different parts of my body.

I did try two layers on top of each other yesterday and that wasn't a great experiment, it sort of separated by end of day and didn't look great up close, so no good to top up with. I'll mostly use it on low UV index days or as a sort of light tinted moisturiser over another sunscreen.

@botemp - I am following numerous sunscreen, uh, fans and one pointed out the LRP, 'Shaka,' is very similar to the garnier super uv keeping in mind that they are both made from the same factory, so is in essence a, 'dupe...'

I haven't had a chance to look at INCI but the consistency is about right.

Not getting on to badly with the tret @botemp my skin was looking awful for a while so many spots, dry and red but I seem to be coming out the other side now thankfully. I've spent a fortune on moisturiser in the last month.
I am currently loving eurecin sun allergy protect gel for face and body. I wasn't expecting much due to it saying face and body but it actually sits really nicely on the face, doesn't sting my eyes and I haven't had any sunburn despite the tret and high UV index days.
Yet to find any sort of tinted sunscreen I like but I've been applying a layer and then adding a second layer mixed with a bit of it cosmetics CC cream which works well. I find it way to thick as foundation but mixed with sunscreen it's a lovely tint

Are they a thing now MrObama, SPFluencers? My skin didn't get on well with a LRP antheliosis once so I've kind of always avoided them, I know some other people have random breakouts with them too. I think I've tried the Garnier one in a shop but there was something tacky about it that I didn't like. Maybe it goes away or you get used to it? I think there's always been a bit of overlap between anthelios and Garnier SPFs but I think Garnier uses cheaper filters although how that works out with the rebranding of an eco friendly/quasi naturel brand now (aside from recycled packaging).

Good to hear you're though the worst of it Forest. I hate to tut tut but mixing sunscreen with something else isn't always the best idea. You can diminish the protection by destabilising the formula, especially when there's chemical and physical filters in the mix.

I'm still using the fenty one for now, no eye stinging, no greasy feeling and my skin likes it

@botemp that's good to know, I always apply a sunscreen only layer first as I don't wear enough of the mix to get proper coverage but I will keep that in mind.

@botemp - yes, there are numerous. I quite like scamander14 on Instagram. He has a SPF data base.

So, have decided that slugging is not for me, although I really really do like the idea of it. My skin looks terrible. I am also not listening anymore to Natalia Spierings that any cheap cleanser will work.

It doesn't.

I picked up the LRP "dupe" today as it was 1/3 off in boots

@botemp - about Timeless - my mother is visiting from the USA so is happy to bring over some things. Do I want 10% or 20% Vit C/Ferulic? Skin isn't overly sensitive at the moment. Am keeping an eye on Kliraworld which is soon to be launched skin care line by Dr Emma Craythorne, with the theme, 'your skin, decoded.' Maybe another Dermatica/Skin + Me?

MrObama, I'd say probably 20 if you're not sensitive, I did find the 20 stingy at times if my skin was sensitised. Anything in the range of 10-20% is ideals so either would be fine tbh.

'Your skin decoded' sounds a bit like those scammy US schemes where they take your blood and other bodily samples and tell you you can't eat a huge list of foods and prescribe a whole load of questionable vitamins.

There was a new skincare brand that launched somewhat recently that makes you do a really long questionnaire and then things are 'specially' formulated for you (not really, it just narrows you down to several options). It was quite expensive for very basic things but it marketed well to those who get overwhelmed by skincare but have specific concerns. I would quite like a concept where you can add ingredients to a base product but I suppose with all the variables formulation might be challenging.

I ended up buying the Beauty of Joseon SPF when I spotted it in a local kbeauty store, I quite like it so far. I imagine it's nice under makeup as it gives a very smooth satin finish (my favourite SPF finish, aesthetically speaking) does take a bit to dry down though.

I had Ultherapy a few years ago on my lower face. It was very painful and the recovery took a while - my lower cheeks and jawline swelled up for a week or two and I looked ridiculous. I remember having to wear a scarf to try and hide it in work.

Anyway, after all that I didn't really see that much difference, although I was only mid 30's and had very mild laxity issues. The therapist said it would keep working for a few months, but I never really saw any great results to be honest. Especially not for the cost of it.

I haven't heard great things about threads either, and would be worried about infection or longer term problems having them in your face. I would recommend saving up for an actual lower face/ neck lift instead.