suncream, zits and wrinkles: rolling skincare thread?

i finished a bottle of the Buffet but didn't feel any way about it. If it was on sale again, I would probably pick it up but I didn't love it like a lot of people do.

I do like this snail stuff a lot though.

Looooove the Buffet but it has turned out to be a bit too dry for winter weather so I added one of their moisturizers--I forget which one. Something I don't love but I want to use up.

I put Aveeno body lotion on my face for YEARS and it was the only thing that didn't burn my skin, and now if I do give in to the dryness and use it, I get breakouts the next day. (It still doesn't burn me though.)

Though I’ve worn an spf tinted moisturizer for years or used mineral makeup, I’ve always had a bit of a reaction to it

I completely gave up on sunscreen for my face. It all burns like blazes. I wear floppy hats while gardening & at the beach, instead.

I cannot be at the beach without a hat and sunglasses. If it's too choppy to get in the water without a hat and sunglasses, I constantly have my hand shielding the sun and squint until I get headaches.

Wearing a hat saves me SO MUCH fatigue and sun stress. Just having the sun's rays not hit directly on my head is amazing.

Agree
I’m out there with an umbrella if I have to.

People who enjoy laying out in full midday sun are a mystery to me

I can handle it on my body but not my head & face. I've noticed in the past few years that I find it really fatiguing, which I don't remember happening when I was younger. I used to spend a lot of time outdoors but it's been a while, I guess.

Speaking of aging I thought I was having hot flashes for a while, and it's possible that I was, but they seem to have been exacerbated by stress, because I quit my job and they've stopped. I think? Also I skipped my period for like 5-6 months and had OFF THE CHARTS breast tenderness (I spent most of the summer wondering if I were pregnant but too avoidant to test it, also it didn't seem likely bc I have an IUD so w/e but the symptoms were just weird) and then bled for two weeks straight, which made me go to the doctor where they said nothing is wrong, that whatever it is, I'm fine. So this is going to be fun.

Oh dang this isn't no boys allowed. Oh well. Sorry, anyone who didn't come for the menopause diaries.

People who enjoy laying out in full midday sun are a mystery to me

― just1n3, Tuesday, 21 January 2020 23:53 (yesterday)

I am this person but I live in Scotland so I take whatever sun I can get. Also, I have psoriasis and the sun has a magical effect on it.

What does the snail serum do?

It's really soothing and rehydrating. My wife bought a toner from a Korean skin-care importer, and somehow won a three year supply of a 10-step luxury Korean beauty routine, including three brands of snail mucin. I use them one of them shaving, or after being out in harsh weather. The texture's endearing and very snaily.

ok, sounds good.

how on earth do they harvest it?

Ostensibly by letting them crawl on special screens in a dark room, but I mean...

the snail stuff isn't that pricey considering I went into sephora for the first time in awhile and was surprised how all skincare seemed to be $40+. It feels very nice on.

re: being in the sun. I really like the beach and water activities and the laying out is an unfortunate byproduct. Especially, if I go with people who want to stay all day at the beach and I don't want to be the person that makes people leave. I just spent 6 hours each day of this 3 day weekend at the beach and I am exhausted but I was enduring the length for other people who were super stoked regardless of the weather. Like jed mentions some people live for the sun.

I’ve been using the Biologique Recherche p50 and it’s pretty good - not mind blowing - but I think I need the hardcore 1970s original formula bc the regular version doesn’t even tingle a little bit

My skin issues right now (the same ones I’ve had for ages)
Closed comedones that won’t surface around my chin and jawline
Broken capillaries across my cheeks
Big under eye bags
Sunspots

My actual skin *feels* really hydrated and smooth though

I was just in the store checking for decently priced mineral sunscreens before ordering online. Banana Boat has "reef safe" ones but they still had avobenzone in it which was really tripping me up. I finally found one of the Banana Boat spf50 kid/baby ones that was mineral decently priced like $7 for 6 oz. Going to give it a try.

I still have bad dry skin around my mouth issues that started with the retinol. I think I made it bad again by using spf lipbalm and since I am allergic to like 95% of lipbalms/lipsticks i think that set it off again.

Mine does too and that's the thing. The surface and texture is good, maybe very good, but eyebags and sagging jawline etc are pretty much unfixable other than surgically.

xp

Jawline thing is the thing I would do were I down with plastic surgery, which I am pretty sure I am not

I have gotten good at wearing sunscreen! But I want to switch. I am p much exclusively going for UVA protection and I understand that avobenzone (the "best" UVA blocker approved in the US) is actually just not that great at UVA protection compared to stuff that's in use in Europe and Japan, and ALSO that SPF only refers to UVB and not UVA??? Wild!

I want to try one of these magical beloved cult Japanese sunscreens, ideally something fragrance free (so prob not the Biore Watery Whatever). My face is on the oilier side of normal, I never have problems w dryness so I don't mind trying something w alcohol.

Has anyone tried either the Nivea Sun Protect Super Water Gel or the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk? Or does anyone have any other suggestions? I get the impression that PA+++ is enough and I don't really *need* ++++, and I also have a moderately resilient face (I like to think) and so my biggest priority is weightlessness and invisibility and a barely there feeling, ideally with a bit of waterproof-ness as well since a lot of the time when I'm outside these days it's bcz I'm running errands on my bike and thus sweating

I am also a little oily, and also mostly indisposed to fragrance. I use (and love) Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF50 + PA ++++ . I am not aware that of an aroma - if there is one there it is very faint, and it recedes quickly. Other posters might weight in too, because I could just be habituated to a thing I wear every day?

In other news, I completely quit any skincare routine three months ago. I just wash my face with water, morning and evening, and I slap on sunscreen when I leave the house. I am sandpapery and old, now.

I got the eltaMD UV Clear and I loooooove, but it is zinc-based so I dunno about the PA stuff.

Xps that nivea one gets a lot of good reviews from skincare enthusiasts

I've tried the Skin Aqua - they have a few different formulations and all of them are really light and non-greasy and highly recommended (the one I'm currently using is in a pink bottle). iirc the one that's more waterproof/sweat-proof comes in the yellow bottle.

ok I just sprung for the Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, it's sweat/waterproof (where the Nivea is not) and it's supposed to go on clearer than the gel. Fingers crossed!!

Dhc cleansing oil is changing my life

One of the best - been rotating between that and banila co’s clean it zero for a few years now (basically buying whichever one happens to be in stock or on sale when I run out)

Oh yeah I've been using the DHC at night for years now. Pretty much one of the first things I bought and stuck with when I started reading about skincare etc

Glad we are all happy with our cleansers!

Re sunblock--should I be trying to source one of the Korean faves that's not approved here yet? I don't use any at all because both the chemical and physical options available here inflame/burn/hurt my skin. I just wear hats and/or suffer. I'd like to do better though. Any recommendations or sources?

I use Avene Hydrance Optimale, the 'light' version. It's spf20 and fine as a non-heavy base for makeup

― kinder

I mean, this is basically my catchphrase now, but the bastards discontinued it - there is a version that seems similar but is not.

Re sunblock, I don't know, I mainly use that fluid one, maybe La Roche Posay? for face. For body, any old stuff but I am growing to hate the claggy/greasy feeling.

I don't think I can tolerate the zinc, inconveniently for me.

have you tried supergoop unseen sunscreen?

Yeah Anthelios in both the matt fluid & stick form rules

i have never tried cleansing oil -- should i? i loathe the word cleanse but i will get over it if the product is good and affordable.

Yes definitely, I had a sample Sephora sent me and I was really impressed.

There are also lots of oil based balms out there right now for double cleansing. I'm using a cheap drugstore balm for the 1st and then a gentle non-foaming cleanser afterwards. The Elemis cleansing balm is fantastic but expensive.

Caroline Hiron's did a collab with pixie that has an oil based balm and a cream cleanser that is really great.

I too like Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen a lot. It's what I'm using at the moment.

https://www.pixibeauty.com/collections/cleanser/products/double-cleanse

Xps Beauty of Joseon makes a great Korean sunscreen - very lightweight, doesn’t sting my eyes, no white cast.
https://www.yesstyle.com/en/beauty-of-joseon-relief-sun-50ml/info.html/pid.1107744417

ive gone all Korean in my skincare. They got me. Snail goop for days.

my boring skincare gamechangers are cetaphil foaming facewash, and the cetaphil oil-free sunscreen moisurizer … i think my skin is finally almost uh normal

have you tried supergoop unseen sunscreen?

^^ Still haven't been in the Sephora here yet. Only been to Westfield a handful of times since it opened but the line was at least 15 tweens deep every time. No way, no how. I love the damn store but I'm not waiting in line lol.

Came her to say that Geek and Gorgeous is an amazing skincare brand. It's similar in concept to the ordinary or inky list but I've started a using a few of their products and I LOVE them.

https://geekandgorgeous.com/

Ahhh I started using one of their moisturisers (Hydration Station? maybe) a while ago as it's nice and light. No SPF though. What products do you use?

The vitamin c and the A game which is their retinal. I need to find someone going to Spain who can get me some otc tretinoin. I got an Rx from my derm but it's £100 to fill it here so I'm using this in the meantime and so far I love it. Will check out that moisturiser next time I need one though I love the Sali Hughes one I have ATM.

The philosophy lip serum is legit

Stuff I like and have been using, nonexhaustive list

- Sunday Riley aquamarine melt cleanser. I usually use DHC cleansing oil but this is lovely too, very gentle, whatever they put in it is relaxing, melts to an oil-like texture.

- Boots dermacare kp exfoliating cream. I was watching some instagram reel about body exfoliators and they recommended some product that I was interested in getting but it’s US only and I’m not jumping through hoops like that in the tariff era. Fortunately I was in boots the next day and saw this cream which had 99% of the same ingredients and which is fantastic. Does everything it claims to. You do need SPF on exposed skin though.
https://www.boots.com/boots-dermacare-kp-exfoliating-cream-200ml-10339708

- La Neige Cica sleeping mask, just very good like all their stuff.

- Philosophy Microdelivery Resurfacing Solution, only been using a short while but seems pretty good

I continue to stan for Japanese sunscreens. So many good ones, and not too pricey even ordering from the US.

Do you rinse-off or cloth-off that Sunday Riley cleanser? I’m having to hunt around a bit to find one to take off with a cloth these days - they are still available but seem to have fallen out of fashion a bit. And I like them!

Depends how I feel, I have some Lisa Eldridge cloths but I’ll also just rinse it off with my hands in the shower if that’s when I use it. It definitely works well with a cloth. Didn’t Eve Lom cleansers come with a muslin cloth for this purpose?

Yeah, Eve Lom was the OG. Liz Earle copied, then so did everyone else. Cleansing balms tend to be better at removing makeup than the old school creams, but the best thing is the cloth is gently exfoliating. I never bother with an AHA or similar because of that.

Update since I got very into Japanese beauty products and also hit up French pharmacies recently. Mainly focusing on stuff I like because I’m just rotating a few things atm:

Caudalie shower gels (various) - EHHHH. I got four of these (2 for a friend of mine) at €5 each and I can see why, the texture is too viscous, the scents are pretty good. Not for me, Clive.

Care:Nel berry lip night mask - like La Neige but so much better. I spend my life trying to keep my lips soft and this was great for at least three hours. When I woke up my lips were dry but smooth.

E45 lips and dry skin balm - on the same subject, basically petroleum based but with beeswax and lanolin too. Very heavy going, would just smear this on before going out when it’s windy and it protects. Probably good to do a second layer at night over a mask or oil if your lips are really dry (or it’s really cold)?

Avene Cicalfate - the hype is real.

Wild Source cleansing balm - got this in a Liberty box sample and forget oils and everything else I mentioned, this is really it for me. I could not get over how soft my skin was after and how well it took off all my makeup.