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

[botemp]

Thread 1 Thread 2 Thread 3 Thread 4 Thread 5 Thread 6 Thread 7 Thread 8 Thread 9 Thread 10
Thread 11 Thread 12 Thread 13 Thread 14 Thread 15 Thread 16 Thread 17 Thread 18 Thread 19 Thread 20 Thread 21 Thread 22

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

Yes it's me. Currently still using Estée Lauder futurist

Hmm glaucoma exam is significantly less glamorous than what my mind had conjured up...

Cute, what was the reason you used the SA lotion, keratosis pilaris? I think Revolution Beauty has a cheaper exfoliating body lotion and a standard Cerave dupe body lotion. I've not tried either (but do like their SA and Urea foot cream) but it could be worth looking at.

WRT Foreo, I do still use it but I do get lazy with it and take long breaks and then I get all excited about using it again, consistent use just doesn't feel as rewarding 🤷

I didn’t really have any problems to use the cerave sa but used it anyway.
I have just found the sheet with all the information you gave me before.
can you believe I wrote the date next to it and it was 7 years ago. In 2017.
I did take your advice back then and my skin is looking good. 😂

@cutecockerpoo12 I’ve also followed the thread for many years. I use Skin and me vitamin c ‘brighten and boost’ which also has peptides in (they do a couple of different but c serums). It’s a nice texture (I’ve used lots in my time-ordinary, medik 8, La Roche posay, geek and gorgeous) and I like skin and me the most. Nice texture, not too watery and not sticky. No stinging at all, feels slightly hydrating. It comes with a little bottle do you can decant done from the larger bottle and leave that in the fridge. They are now selling it as a stand alone product (used to be an add on to your prescription products). I’d highly recommend.

I'm using some vitamin c crystals out an advent calendar but way too pricey!

Thanks so much.
Think I will look for my FOREO bear and give it another try.

What is this slander, I have not been on MN that long I refuse to believe it. I am but a freshly hatched chick that arrived here just the other day... But if true, I'm rather impressed you've managed seven years on my advice 🙈

👋Jedstre, nice to see you again. I didn't realise Skin+Me had a vitamin c now. It looks good (if confusing that there seem to be two almost identical Vit C products with barely distinguishable names. The one you have just seems to have added peptides?). Do you really need the tiny bottle, the formula looks to be stable as it's a Vitamin C derivative in a silicone base?

hello hello!

@Jedstre - I tried the Dermatica Vit C and it was incredibly irritating, so will try the Skin + Me. :)

The great thing about having Glaucoma, (caught early and only in one eye) is the supply of latanoprost. My lashes are fab [shallow]

Hello
I've been following this thread from before not sure if there is a latest one?
I'm aware the regulars here look at ingredients in skincare very minutely, are there any ingredients in everyday skincare we should worry about?

Yes, this is the latest one, we're just not super active.

It kind of depends what you're asking, I don't think it's particularly helpful to demonise ingredients. There are definitely some where you might want to stay on the 'avoid just in case' side if you're TTC/BF or pregnant but beyond that a mainstream brand, not something random off of the internet, is safe as it has to comply to lots of stringent regulations.

Certain ingredients I'm not too happy about seeing in some formulations (usually has to do with everyone's unwarranted fear of parabens and their inferior replacements) but it's nitpicking and more to do with the possibility of the formula going off much quicker it's not really unsafe.

Thanks for your reply @botemp .

I'm way beyond the age of TTC/BF 😀.
I have hypothyroidism and hence raised TSH levels and recently came across scientific papers correlating parabens to thyroid gland.
Wouldn't like to demonise any ingredient but wondered if I could look out for something disguised in the ingredient lists!
I'm always careful with food labels as well and try hard to avoid things wherein the list elongates to a paragraph. In the same spirit was trying to educate myself.
I only use make up on special occasions and hence not too bothered with that but do use cleansers, sunscreens and moisturisers with deligence after following this thread!

I've not followed this thread, sorry, but wondering if it's ok to ask for any YouTube recommendations for a foreo bear newbie?

I've had a foreo sitting there a while and I'm a little afraid! I had a cheapo similar thing years ago which was quite stingy.

@mumno11 yes, that's usually how they get you, prey on health anxiety. I assume it was about the potential estrogenic effect of parabens. That really is scare mongering, but the misinformation tide just isn't worth fighting if you're a skincare brand so they all just tend to cater to it. Speaking of food, your food is full of naturally occuring parabens 🤷 Labmuffin beauty probably has a good explanation video but iirc it's essentially based on experiments where they expose some tissue to a concentration that would never be feasible or realistic.

@CapybaraDreams I posted a few a long time ago, if you click on see all posts under one of my posts it'll be in there somewhere. I've not really kept up with any specific YouTubers since finding my own routine.

While I'm here, since you seem to try everything @buffyslayer any chance you've tried the redken acidic bonding for curly hair? I had been meaning to try the original and have now discovered they do a curly version, not sure which one to try now 🤔

Cheers botemp

@botemp I haven't
I've used olaplex and K18 which haven't done much for my hair, I do like the joico spray and treatment though, link here

curlmaven.ie/how-to-use-joico-kpak-deep-penetrating-reconstructor/

My friend used the curlsmith bond repair and really rated it but she has bleached curls so I guess more damage?

Hi @botemp I hope it's OK to post on this thread. I've had some really great advice on here before, for several years.

What can you advise for mild-moderate post-inflammatory pigmentation please? The marks are on my face & a few on my shoulders. They're not severe, just very persistent. I don't get many blemishes any more, but the occasional few I do get invariably leave a slightly raised, pink mark, which flattens over a couple of months. It can take several months for the colour to diminish though. It's quite visible on my pale skin. I also have a very mild amount of discolouration from electrolysis, mainly on the point of my chin, although that might be fine veins under the skin?

Skin type is combination - slightly oily, tends to det dry/dehydrated very easily if I'm ill, allergies, in very cold weather etc. I've had roaccutane before, it's been a couple of years though. I rarely wear makeup other than mascara & lip colour.

I currently use:

AM
Neutrogena hydro boost water gel cleanser (it was on offer & I couldn't get mÿ usual one but it seems OK for now, I've almost finished it)
Kohaku hada labo amber lotion
LRP light lotion (the prebiotic one)
Biore watery essence SPF

PM
The same face wash as above
ditto the amber lotion
And the moisturiser
once or twice a week, Inkey list retinol.
other days, I ditch the amber lotion & moisturiser, & do a hyaluronic acid sheet mask just before bed.

I don't do well with niacinamide, or wheatgerm oil, I break out quite badly. If I do get a blemish I totally baby it & try to reduce it ASAP. From my research on Reddit etc, it seems like either vitamin C or azelaic would be the best options? But have you any specific product recommendations?

Also, I am still - despite being 40-something - battling sebaceous filaments. Any suggestions? They're mainly on my nose & just to each side.

Is there anything else you could suggest for future consideration? I'm aware of not trying multiple new products at once.

TIA.

Hi @AnotherMansCause , no problem with reviving this thread. Are you sure it's hyperpigmentation and not a post inflammatory erythema? I suspect the latter going by colour and how long it sticks around.

Assuming PIE, it's a vascular thing so try to incorporate anti inflammatory products. BHA would be good to incorporate, both anti inflammatory and good with clearing out sebaceous filaments. Paula's Choice has the 2% perfecting toner or they also have that bha and azelaic acid in one product but I know reviews are mixed on that. Azelaic would also be good theoretically as it's also anti inflammatory, I'm not sure it'll do much to resolve the pigmentation quickly though it's effect is more in inhibiting the pigmentation in the first place.

Vitamin C, yes it does help to some extent, just anecdotally, the Japanese Melano CC serum seems to work really well for PIE specifically, designed to be used topically. It's got some sort of fragrance though. The Geek and Gorgeous C-Glow is a good one as well, just an all over serum.

There's a bit of debate about tranexamic acid, I was convinced it was working really well for my PIE but I switched to a simpler formulated product that's just TXA and Niacinamide and I'm not finding it as impressive as the Hada Labo Shirojyun Premium Whitening Lotion I used previously that contains TXA, licorice root and vitamin c derivatives. Might be a formulation thing, it's always difficult to say, might just be the other ingredients, but it's maybe worth considering switching to the Hada Labo when the amber lotion is finished?

Above all the most effective for PIE does seem to be tretinoin, not sure how your feelings are about moving to prescription strength. The subscription services will likely incorporate azelaic acid in the formula for you, so that would be useful. Only but is that while introducing tretinoin you'll be experiencing inflammation so in the short term it's not great for resolving the PIE.

Other things to consider is sunscreen, you want something with a high UVA rating. I think the Biore is pretty high but probably not the maximum you can get. Not sure that would make all the difference on the daily but potentially have something more maximum strength in the UVA spectrum for days when you'll be out a lot?

Good to see the thread revived and Interesting reading. My son finished a course of isotretinoin a few months ago (after a couple of years of working our way through epiduo and oral antibiotics). It’s worked brilliantly but he’s been left with some pigmentation. I bought him inkey list tranexamic acid. Onto second bottle and using each morning but not sure it’s made a difference. I think I’ll try some of the Melanoma cc for him.
He’s also using azelaic acid most nights with a couple of nights of differin so he’s using a retinoid twice a week. I did wonder about skin and me or dermatica instead. Do you think there would be more benefit for tretinoin over the differin@botemp ?

Difficult to say @Jedstre , I really don't know if differin vs tretinoin will make a difference, afaik there's never really been any research comparing the two (medically not much of a priority, I guess) and since they theoretically work the same way I'm not sure one would be better than the other, probably best left to the judgement of a dermatologist.

If you can throw money at the problem I'd suggest going for laser (by the sound of it he's not having much active acne anymore, it's all old scarring?). I didn't suggest it above as that sounded more like minor but annoying in its lingering presence but for your son it sounds like something that's more established and it would be a relative quick fix comparatively which a young person would probably be very grateful for. Although I don't know if there's a minimum age for laser treatment.

Funnily my skincare is so minimal now
Cleanser, moisturiser, tret and vitamin c

I still love my elemental herbology serum

And my hair is falling out so.. that's good

Oh no, I know how demoralising that is Queen, I assume you've already had your blood works done? Is Minoxidil an option for you?

The doctor said it won't help. It's telogen effluvium (spelling might be off!)
I had campylobacter in October that's caused it, because I had such a high temp and was so unwell it caused my hair to all go into the resting(?) phase
Basically means it all sheds at once. In handfuls

Having some bloods done but my last ones were good. Taking multi vitamin, omega 3/6/9, extra vitamin d, iron, collagen and protein

Yeah, it's a known delayed stress response. Really annoying, sorry to hear of your struggles 😔

I won't contradict your doctor but afaik Minoxidil does help with TE. The only good thing about TE is that you know it's temporary and will get better. It's kind of a waste to invest in one of those red LED helmets just for TE but if you know a balding person who uses one it might be worth asking if you can borrow it a few times a week, it's really helpful with speeding up regrowth with TE.

I'd also recommend being vigilant about scalp care, avoid having any sort of product/dead skin build up there. I just use the Ordinary glycolic acid and I really like the L'Oréal professional metal detox shampoo, super gentle and non drying for a clarifying/chelating shampoo.

Definitely. I think it's slowing ever so slightly
If it doesn't start growing back I'll definitely look at that. Using a clarifying shampoo, I think I have some of the ordinary acid scalp stuff so will have a rummage
Also using act and acre scalp detox

This is how much I'm losing every 3 days on wash day, there has been LOTS of tears

It really is shit, isn't it? It takes more than just the physical from you, it touches something deeper in the psyche and it's not a comfortable place to be. Be kind to yourself, it will get better. Unmumsnetty hugs 🫂