suncream, zits and wrinkles: rolling skincare thread?

I get where she is coming from with her reviews of a lot of lines that I've always liked or thought were better, like Lush or L'Occitaine. Basically she's saying that plant extracts and what have you are fine, but aren't automatically better than synthetic ingredients, especially when the plant ingredients are known to be irritating or are in the products in such small amounts that it would be impossible for them to do what the products claim (even assuming the claim is legit). And also when the process of synthesizing plant or natural ingredients renders them as synthetic as something that starts out that way. A lot of those high end natural lines are like that.

Also I really like her focus on packaging and how that can impact the efficacy of the product.

As for Lush, I would still buy their soap and body lotion because I like the smell. I can't get behind her anti-bar soap stance, either, since I think shower gel is a ridiculous product.

Here this paragraph from the Aveda overview is what I'm talking about:

Aveda would truly like you to believe that it is in fact the flower and plant essences in its products that are doing the "work" If that were true, why bother using so many of the industry-standard ingredients seen in products from other cosmetics companies? Many of the highlighted plant ingredients merely contribute to the fragrance of the products. That's an obvious draw, but it's not enough to ensure a great (or even good) product. It has also been well established that once many of these plants and oils are purified and processed for use in cosmetics, they retain very little of their original benefit—though that doesn't mean they are worthless ingredients for skin. Furthermore, the manner in which Aveda discusses many of their plant ingredients on their Web site speaks more to historic and folkloric use rather than to published research that establishes a genuine benefit. It may seem intriguing to consumers that some plants have been "used for centuries to cleanse the skin and hair," but lots of things used a long time ago would be a problem today, including lead in cosmetics, not using sunscreen, absence of barrier repair substances and cell-communicating ingredients, and on and on. History doesn't always translate to eternal efficacy or safety, and it shouldn't be a deciding factor when you're choosing a skin-care routine.

The one that really got me was the review on the boring old Pond's dry skin cream I've been using, which I thought would be heartily approved because it's so basic, and which I bought because I just assume all skin care claims are bullshit:

Dry Skin Cream, The Caring Classic takes the prize for the most boring facial moisturizer at the drugstore. It’s a classic oil-in-water with wax formula, and although it can address the basic needs of dry to very dry skin, using it is akin to sending someone a telegram instead of an email.

Oh snap.

The verdict is in: I reordered my old stand-by, Mario Badescu oil-free moisturizer with titanium dioxide, and now I'm getting subcutaneous acne and surface flakiness. So I can't use this moisturizer either and it was probably part of what used to make me break out and I just chalked it up to my "problem" skin.

At this point, the ONLY moisturizers that don't hurt my face are regular old Aveeno body lotion and regular Kiehl's Creme de Corps. But I need a sunscreen eventually!! Do I try a zinc-only formula? What other options are there??

I need kate78!

HELLO. Send me your address.

it's that time of year when i have to spend extra time after showering applying whatever moisturizer will really work best and also be cost effective. any thoughts about liquid lanolin (aside from "ew gross it is from a sheep")?

i'm talking about body not face btw

I use lotion year-round, and the only one that still feels soft and moisturized like 10 hours later is Aveeno. I don't know what they put in that stuff, maybe it's just that my skin responds especially well to it? Not that I'm a special snowflake, but I just can't find ANYTHING that works as well.

you're a special skin flake
lol

Thank you for that.

sorry :-/

i can't believe how much time it takes to properly moisturize
it's really irritating

lol

I know I keep going back to this site, but here are good reviews of body moisturizers for dry skin, sorted with the lowest price first.

agh that is overwhelming
i just started using the lanolin so i'll see how it goes.

Aveeno has oatmeal in it which is supposed to be very moisturizing. Also I was just complaining about the time it takes to lotion up earlier today! I HATE IT. I've found a really good sugar scrub that's so moisturizing that I don't have to use lotion if I use that. Otherwise I've been using sweet almond oil. I just hate having to put on lotion after I get out of the shower. That's a good couple mins that I could use drinking coffee dammit!

I bought a bunch of the Paula's Choice Resist products a while back but I didn't like that. I think they were too harsh for my skin. :( Too drying. I've been using some First Aid Beauty and Khiel's stuff that my skin really seems to like.

Lush has a few lotion bars that I like. You apply them right before you leave the shower, then pat yourself dry: http://www.lushusa.com/Buffy/9999902127,en_US,pd.html#start=1

what i found works best is an oil/lotion combo. a small amount of almond oil quickly over still wet skin, pat dry, then lotion. i tried out some body shop body butter and it was more moisturizing than i expected - like, in the shower the next day i can feel the difference if i used it the day before or not.

oh, and combined with using a salux cloth to exfoliate first (no soap)

Kate - Yes! I love them but I feel like they're kind of $$ and don't last all that long.

I think Amlactin is pretty great for moisturizing esp around elbows and knees and stuff because it has lactic acid in it and is moisturizer and exfoliator but it straight up smells like urine so you have to be careful.

Lac-Hydrin is the same stuff but smells better.

dnw to smell like urine

Weird. Why not?

i dunno i just kinda think it might be not as fun as it sounds

It fades! It's just the initial smell. The results are pretty great tho.

Mmmm urea. For really dry times, I use Working Hands at night. It's unscented and mostly glycerin and salts that pull moisture from the air into your skin.

Seconding Aveeno. Also, when I sunburnt my face this summer (d'oh) I used it directly on my face and somehow it wasn't too greasy!

My feet are so horrible and cracked right now.

That sucks. That sounds like it hurts!

Mine are all rough and my socks get hung up on them. I need one of those egg shaped foot grater things, although I'm scared of them.

My feet have been turning into such old lady feet in the past few years.

Mine, too, but that's because the rest of me is also turning into an old lady. My feet are just coming along for the ride.

I've got a wicked case of plantar fasciitis these days, too, which makes everything that much more miserable.

i will sound like a crazy avon lady shill but I have been using this stuff called Miracle Foot Repair by Miracle of Aloe for like 10 years & it works soooo well. it's some kinda as seen on tv thing but its the best & fyi I have the worst cracked nasty goblin feet

i got given some for xmas & then bought it from linens n things when it existed - the newest tube I found at Ross but amazon def sells it too

highly recommend!

I am BADLY in need of a pedicure!
Jk i've never had one, but i'm tempted to get one of these electric rolly foot file things. Also anyone tried those Footner things?
In other post-pregnancy wrecked body news, the skin is peeling off my hands :(

Oh no! My palms got insanely itchy but no peeling.

You should get a pedicure. They are quite nice.

Ulta had exfoliating foot socks and I had a $10 off coupon.

All the pictures online of the shedding feet of those who've used it are so gross I CAN'T WAIT!!

lol :D

Exfoliating socks!!!!! What?!?!?

Wow those are weird. Please post with updates once your feet start peeling.

YES!

I've wanted to try them but I've never actually seen them for sale anywhere. We need pictures.

I'm going to do this tonight.

Well, here we go!

In honor of your exfoliating socks I paid a grouchy Russian lady to sand away my gross foot skin aka got a pedicure.

Tonight was the first night anything happened. I soaked my feet in warm water for a bit and when I rubbed them I had lots and lots of little flakes. Maybe I will get the big pieces coming off soon?!?

YOU MUST TAKE PICTURES

^^^

Ha ha, I'll soak them tonight and photograph anything interesting.

:D

LL did the liquid lanolin work for you? If not, I use Aquaphor in the white tub with the blue lid on Ivy when her face and hands get really chapped and it works really well. I don't know if I would enjoy putting it all over my face and body, but it's good for particularly dry places.