🐌 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

[botemp]

The miisha FTE was one of my first kbeauty buys, I liked it but it wasn't that life-changing either, it's very subtle. I mostly liked the pretty bottle and the ritual of it tbh.

I do like the beauty of joseon SPF a lot though but I usually stay away from Korean SPFs, definitely go for the Japanese ones if you're looking at others.

[StrychnineInTheSandwiches]

Oh why do you avoid Korean sunscreens? Is it to do with the Purito scandal? I was fuming about that, thought I'd found my HG sunscreen and then it turned out just to be a plain old moisturiser with next to no sun protection. It's certainly put me off that brand.

[botemp]

Yes, it has to do with their regulations that basically have loopholes and allowed the Purito situation to happen. Labmuffin did a really good video explanation of it all and a follow up video of why the beauty of joseon was a 'safe' pick as it didn't utilise the loopholes. But tbh I don't want to put in that level of research into every potential Korean SPF that looks good. I'll take labmuffin's word for it as she has the academic background and does the deep dive when she recommends something.

[botemp]

SKIN 1004 - Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum is meant to be quite similar to the Purito, or at least people who really liked the Purito now really like this one. It pretty much went through the same procedure as the Beauty of Joseon one so with an assurance you're actually getting the SPF protection. Labmuffin approved anyhow.

[StrychnineInTheSandwiches]

Thank you, I will try that one next. I have heard of LabMuffin before but never watched any of her videos. But yes, it is concerning that Korean brands aren't entirely reliable and with SPF that's kind of a non-negotiable. I'm actually wearing the Joseon one today and after being lukewarm about it yesterday it's actually a lovely base for my makeup today. I've been alternating that with a very unglamorous one called SOS Sunscreen, which my skin quite likes. I'll buy the Madagascar Centella and add that into the mix too.

[Jedstre]

Talking of Stylevana, is there anything particularly worth buying? I’m going to do an order of the Nivea UV SPF gel. After trying a fair few, it’s the one my son likes most. There’s a face powder I like from Innisfree but it’s not enough for the minimum basket level so I’m not paying p&p.

[botemp]

Skincare or makeup? The Hada Labo cleansing oil appears to be on 96hr offer, I've heard good things about that. Canmake has nice cream blushes. They now also offer the Nivea SPF in a refill package. I think labmuffin actually has a what to buy at Stylevana video as she was sponsored by them, but I think it was more of a haul type thing.

Sandwiches, yeah, the Beauty of Joseon SPF has a really nice finish for makeup, not that I use much beyond concealer and maybe some cream blush but it sits really nicely regardless.

[Jedstre]

Anything really that’s worth buying that I can’t get in UK. I’ll see if I can find that labmuffin video for ideas. My daughter is starting to get into makeup so I’ll look at those blushers.
I bought the Beauty of Josef spf for Christmas for my son. Surprisingly I haven’t thought to try it but I’ll give it a go (he says it makes his eyes water so won’t repurchase for him)

[botemp]

The canmake makeup packaging is going to be a love it loathe it thing for your DD it's very girly, sparkly princess.

There's also the Flowfushi Mote eyeliner with a really nice brush if you're into eyeliner, on the pricier side.

The Skin 1004 brand seems to be really trending in the kbeauty sphere but I don't really know what and why, it just seems to be very pretty packaging for not insane amounts of money. But it probably does actually do nice things for people too...

[Rebellious23]

@Jedstre

Anything really that’s worth buying that I can’t get in UK. I’ll see if I can find that labmuffin video for ideas. My daughter is starting to get into makeup so I’ll look at those blushers.
I bought the Beauty of Josef spf for Christmas for my son. Surprisingly I haven’t thought to try it but I’ll give it a go (he says it makes his eyes water so won’t repurchase for him)

innisfree microcara is my holy grail for lower lashes. The wand is like the size of an interdental brush! I've been through maybe 8 of these

Missha cotton contour does very pale contour powders which are also great as every day eyeshadow

Hand creams are usually good, I have a tony moly one which is blue with a pic of dogs on it and smells like clean laundry

Macqueen liners are good, both pen and pencil types

[Jedstre]

I’ll take a look at those recommendations, thanks, and I love the sound of microcara @Rebellious23

[Rebellious23]

It's not expensive and doesn't smudge on me but the brush is so teeny you wonder how you ever used a normal one on lower lashes!

[botemp]

@NinnyNewName , this article on the Dennis Gross mask popped up in my recommended feed. Though it was interesting as they measured it with some machine that 'determines' skin age by analysing flaws in it (I'm a bit 🤔 about tying age to flaws).

It was interesting to read the person with rosacea's experience. She seemed really positive about it but results didn't really reflect that, there were other things going on that could have influenced results though. Also interesting to read that the other results were really quite marginal, I'm still on the fence about what it would do extra on top of Vitamin C/Tret.

[NinnyNewName]

Thanks @botemp. Appreciate you thinking of me. I'll give that a read. My skin has been pretty well behaved otherwise. No rosacea flare's but then again I've not been using retinol consistenly for about a year. I have some super dry patches around my nose that started in the cold weather. The area has been really red too on occasion (but not in a rosacea way). Anyway, I've stripped my routine right back for now and returned to LRP Toleriane.

[popularinthe80s]

Reading with interest.
Could anyone recommend a clinic in the Hampshire area that offers laser treatment for hyperpigmentation? I had some really effective treatment at a local Spire, but they're no longer offering this. I'm looking for a personal recommendation as the place I was currently considering has suggested CO2 laser treatment - that requires too long a downtime for me.

[botemp]

Sorry popular, I don't have a recommendation for you, I only know of Debbie Thomas in London by reputation but that's probably not the best place for hyperpigmentation either. It's a shame the local clinic no longer offering it, do you know which machine they used, you might be able to find a different clinic that way?

[popularinthe80s]

Thanks botemp.
I think it was Fraxel. I may post a request in the general style board and see if I get any responses.
I had barely any hyperpigmentation until I used Dermatica (retinol + other ingredients). Dermatica of course insisted that it was nothing to do with them, though my attempt at an experiment suggests otherwise, as I deliberately didn't use it on my forehead and have no hyperpigmentation there. It's probably rare as most people seem happy with Dermatica but it's an expensive mistake for me:-(

[botemp]

Did you post about the issue with Dermatica causing pigmentation with you previously on here? If not, you're not alone.

I do vaguely recall someone visiting SK:N clinics on here and recommending them. They appear to offer Fraxel and have a lot of locations around the UK.

[popularinthe80s]

Hi Botemp, thank you, that's a great idea.

[Rebel2]

Botemp what do you think of this? It's currently heavily reduced and wondering whether to purchase

https://merumaya.com/collections/product-range/products/iconic-youth-serum

[botemp]

Hmm, that's a lot of patented ingredients I've never heard of. I expect it'll be a bit like Estée Lauder ANR as it has some fermented ingredients plus botanical extracts and wouldn't expect it to do much more than hydrate.

[Rebel2]

@botemp

Hmm, that's a lot of patented ingredients I've never heard of. I expect it'll be a bit like Estée Lauder ANR as it has some fermented ingredients plus botanical extracts and wouldn't expect it to do much more than hydrate.

Thank you - I've gone for it as it was £11 and figured it's probably worth that!

[Rebel2]

Off topic but I can't find the hair thread, I had my hair done by a curly specialist and he was lovely

[botemp]

It's so long now, Rebel 😲 Has the pattern changed, I remember you having a much tighter curl pattern, is it just the weight of the hair stretching out the pattern or have you gone wavy?

[Rebel2]

It's always less curly when the hairdressers do it, not sure why! I'm going to wash it myself today and see what it does

He styled it upright so I guess that might be why? Lovely guy, and he knew exactly what I meant with the shape (it had layers but like a short triangle then wispy longer layers and looked disconnected)