🐌 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

Yeah internal collagen doesn't work that way, unfortunately, other benefits though.

AFAIK depths that are safe to microneedle at home on your face are helpful for acne scarring but you need a deeper length for collagen stimulation/anti ageing that only professionals should use (risk of permanent scarring again). Not sure it could undo sagging either, maybe improve the appearance of it to an extent, you'd have to consult a professional, really, and hope they're honest. Generally among dermatologists microneedling is considered a bit old hat, it does a job but it's very 'rough and ready' compared to the techniques they have available now.

Thanks @botemp Sounds like 'at home' options aren't going to do what I'm hoping...I may have to give up and 'age gracefully' 😁

Do you think there a some people who just cannot tolerate vitamin C whatever the form, % or buffering etc? Beginning to think I fall into that category (if it exists) which is a shame as I would like to use vit C

It's difficult to say, it may just be down to vitamin c just not playing well with the impact of your other products (I think you use Tret and Skinoren iirc) or for whatever reason your skin just doesn't like all forms of vitamin c 🤷 Which derivative types have you tried so far?

Thanks Bo, I wonder if LED masks will end up like sun beds too, they make me nervous, especially being so close to eyes.

Trying this out today, the rosemary one
I love the smell of rosemary so I figured it was a nice scalp treatment if nothing else!

https://hairsyrup.co.uk/collections/syrups

Thanks Bo. No I've stopped using Azelaic acid. I am trying buffering now and going very slowly - so just using a small amount once a week. I have the dr sam brightly serum (which actually does have AA in it but a weaker % than what I was using as a stand alone)

Boucleme offer here for £9 inc delivery

https://www.boucleme.co.uk/products/curl-define-hold-duo-travel?pos=1&sid=f879dd86f&ss=r&fbclid=IwAR1BOW96QFuqbGGH4-AGJAADYJO8xJCaXTK6h6hGDhCG4A8VEMJjOplhzY

A very belated Happy New Year to everyone, hello again! It's good to catch up and see what everyone is using - the hair discussions have been interesting as my hair has really thinned at the top/front over the last year... in spite (because?) of being on HRT and using Regaine 😬I'm going back to the Doc soon to see if my oestrogen needs to be increased but I'm intrigued by the microneedling as an addition to the regaine - can anyone link me a stamp thing they've used?

In other news, I ditched the tret a year ago and my skin is no longer perma-pink. I've even been able to reintroduce a mild vit C (C-tetra from Medik8) and mild acid, after switching to R-retinoate. Spendy but cheaper than the wasted Skin&Me etc subscriptions!

Did anyone indulge in a beauty advent calendar? I went for the CB one, first time in years I'd indulged!

Are you getting on well with the brightly serum, Sophie?

Martinis, admittedly it's a bit tin foil hat territory (I also get the heebie jeebies from wireless earbuds as they need to make an electric connection through your brain to work, the damage to your hearing is really the thing I should be worrying about instead), standards seem a lot higher these days but I'd definitely buy something reputable over a cheapy from Amazon.

Have you had Covid tsm? As that is also known for causing hair loss. Good to see you, and reports of non perma-pink skin. How do you like the r-retinoate results, I remember being really impressed by it (and I only used it EOD not twice a day as they advise) but I then moved onto Tret which is also impressive but I can't really remember what exactly I liked about r-retinoate so much.

No advent calendar, did nearly succumb in Paris in La Samaritaine in the sales as theirs was marked down from €150 to €50 and a full size Olaplex 3 and another product that was interesting enough would equal that spend but it was heavy and bulky so I left it behind. If I could have ordered it online I probably would have.

Hi Bo, yes I did eventually get Covid about 3 months ago, but I thought Covid hair loss was similar to other illness-related hair loss and happened about 12 weeks after infection (flu etc). For me, that would be about now as I finally got it in October... the reason I think it's hormonal is that it was manageable and actually improved after I'd accidentally overdosed on oestrogen during the summer and my hair started to grow in thicker (even my hairdresser noticed it). But when I cut down on the oestrogen around October, it started getting noticebly thinner, which has continued. It sucks!

It's honestly hard to say how I feel about the R-retinoate results (which is mad given the price), but I'm 50 this year, I've been using actives ((of varying efficacy) for years, been having Botox since I was 33 (and the odd drop of filler), and generally feel I don't look too bad for my age (as someone who likes a drink but has never smoked)... I'm sure, looking at friends, and photos of my mum at a similar age, all the care I've taken of my skin must've had an effect - (at least I hope so)... But what has helped I've no idea! It seems that after many (many) tries I can't tolerate tret, so will continue with the least irritating, most effective version out there.... if anyone else has any other positive experiences of moving away from tret, please tell!

Hi tsmummy, No I've never bought a beauty advent calendar actually. I also stopped using tret: the cream I always used (airol) was discontinued here and so I had to use the tret in a gel form which my skin didn't like at all. I've been using the dr Sam nightly which I've been able to use every day without problem and will try her stronger one now. Active is Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate plus niacinamide and bakuchiol.

Bo, I have the impression that brightly (I suppose the vit C in it) dries my skin. I aimed to use it twice this week. Last time was two days ago : a small amount on top of moisturiser and now I've woken and my skin feels tight and dry. Maybe should have stuck to once a week for a month and then gone to two times....
What do you use for vit C (if you use it)? And your retinoid?

@Tsmummy08 - I've been reading up a bit about hydroxpinacolone retinoate , and think it's interesting although haven't done a deep dive into the science as chemistry confuses me

here

I'm still on prescription tret (moved onto 0.05% now, no desire to go up further) and geek and gorgeous C-glow for vitamin c.

Hydroxpinacolone retinoate is the one in the Ordinary's granactive retinoid iirc. It's one of those ingredients that gets pushed really hard by the manufacturer of said ingredient (the Ordinary has a lot of these, it's probably how they were able to launch with such low prices). From what I remember it's a good one to add to formulations as opposed to have to build a formulation around so it's easy to see why it's popular with bigger mainstream brands.

Sorry, was replying to Sophie there.

Thanks Bo. To be honest I think I'm going g to my ice up in vit C. Whenever I use it in any form, there's always a reaction on my skin: spots, dryness, redness, irritation etc
And I always make excuses that there's some other reason - but I know it's the vit C!!!

Revolution have done a dupe of K18

https://www.revolutionbeauty.com/uk/en/hair/styling-and-treatments/masks-and-treatments/revolution-haircare-r-peptide-4x4-leave-in-repair-mask/1646666.html?xnpetifc=4u4L4kYdhkYZhFL.hfbXxMpDhu4.MdsO.YpxFzZ4jXlh.1DxfnXbIexIssOfnX&utmsource=newsletter&utmcampaign=170223%20New%20and%20Trending&utmmedium=email&utm_content=en

I did see that but I doubt it's an actual dupe. Is it just me or are all supposed dupes just a disappointment and you end up paying out more on several of those over just buying the thing you wanted 🤔

Sophie, yeah seems totally sensible to just avoid it, it's by no means necessary. You could consider other antioxidant serums, but again by no means necessary.

Sometimes definitely! I have contemplated trying it...

My Stylevana order arrived yesterday.

Order placed on the 8th Jan and received on the 16th Feb. Everything looks present and correct, so as long as you place an order knowing it's not a 'delivery between 2 and 4 business days' situation, well then I'd recommend them.

@botemp I agree about dupes. There’s the odd decent dupe (fragrances from perfume parlour for example) but just because packaging and blurb is similar that does not mean the product is in any way the same, or has the same ingredients etc

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches Stylevana was fine for me before Christmas and I’d happily use them

I've started using Curel cleansing gel. I really like it. Once you rub it in its spreads easily, and emulsifies nicely as you rinse off. I usually use an oil cleanser like Simple.

I'm not a perfume person (it all smells like toilet cleaner on my skin chemistry 🤢) but I've heard as much about perfume. I'm also perfectly happy with Zara home candles over the fancy brands (wtf is happening with scented candles btw, prices seem insane ATM). I think the only true dupes are found in the supermarket where you do still have supermarket own brands selling the same products with a different packaging.

I think at some point it may have been true with beauty products but especially in makeup it's become an entire industry in itself, Revolution is pretty much a dupe brand from it's founding, isn't it?

I'm jealous you can get Curel at Boots in the UK, still hasn't launched in Europe yet afaik, I've heard good things.

So Stylevana is 4-6 weeks, I think the 2-4 working days is the time in which they dispatch. I'm still somewhat skeptical but I'm currently mostly annoyed at the sheer volume of newsletters and for whatever reason it won't let me unsubscribe, I've had to block them in the end.

Sandwiches, can't remember if you told us previously but if so, remind me of what you bought, please? <nosey>

The curel mist is on my list to buy
Agree with perfume parlour, I have a few of their perfumes and they really are spot on. Sadly my weakness is for expensive candles but zara does great perfumes and I still need to try their candles

I bought

The Cosrx Snail Mucin (my skin loves this one)

The Cosrx Overnight Rice Mask (new to me, but rice seems to be such a valued ingredient in East Asian skincare. And I love gloopy overnight mask)

Missha - Time Revolution First Treatment essence (have read for so long that is a dupe of the ££ essence from SK-II. I've never actually tried that so I won't be able to feedback on whether that's true or not!)

Illiyoon Ceramide Cream (200ml tube of bland ceramide unctuousness)

I think I'll buy a couple of SPFs next. I'm currently using the Beauty of Joseon one that went viral. It seems a decent enough product but I wouldn't say I love it.