Skin and Hair Care

[Fury Resurrected]

On 4/14/2022 at 4:47 PM, Chataya de Fleury said:

Has anyone tried micro needling?

I do it fairly regularly, supposedly it gets serums and such to penetrate further. I can’t say that I notice much difference but I pretty much resolved my skin issues before trying that.

[Isis]

On 4/14/2022 at 10:47 PM, Chataya de Fleury said:

Has anyone tried micro needling?

I'm going for my first serious facial in ages next week. It has microneedling as an option, I think.

My skin is just low-key annoying me recently. Hopefully a nice facial will rejuvenate it ready for warmer weather. 

[RhaenysBee]

On 4/14/2022 at 1:53 AM, Mlle. Zabzie said:

Did she show when wet?  Because at least my hair bounces when dry….  But I hear you.

Yes, when wet, but then she dried it 2000s straight, so I’m not sure how much bounce there is. 

On 4/14/2022 at 11:47 PM, Chataya de Fleury said:

Has anyone tried micro needling?

Only the at-home kind. I paid a fair amount of money for the roller and experienced the same as below. Then again I didn’t use it regularly. It was the same kinda waste of money as the Clarisonic had been back in… whenever that was a thing. 

6 hours ago, Fury Resurrected said:

I do it fairly regularly, supposedly it gets serums and such to penetrate further. I can’t say that I notice much difference but I pretty much resolved my skin issues before trying that.

Do you apply the serums before or after? 

[Fury Resurrected]

@RhaenysBee I do it after

@Isisif you’re looking for improvement in texture, a medium or deep peel is a great option

[Isis]

On 4/16/2022 at 9:38 PM, Fury Resurrected said:

@RhaenysBee I do it after

@Isisif you’re looking for improvement in texture, a medium or deep peel is a great option

Went for my 'Ultimate Glow' facial yesterday. I was in there for an hour and 45 minutes (!) and as it was my first appointment the beautician wanted to give me 25% off (but I paid the full price). I had dermablading, microneedling, loads of massage, and some LED mask action. But best of all, she removed an ingrown hair from under my chin, which had annoyed me for ages. Extractions have always been my favourite part of facials.

Anyway, microneedling...sheesh. It felt like getting my face tattooed - and much like that experience it feels different on different parts (forehead was especially horrible in terms of vibrations). It was so physically stressful that it made me sweat profusely. The beautician told me afterwards: "you will look windburnt for an hour afterwards and then you will glow". LOL. This morning (12 hours later) I still look very slightly sunburned - a slight pink rather than red. But then as we had some warm weather in the UK over Easter, lots of people actually got sunburned and look redder than I do! I am curious to see if there are noticeable results to this technique...

[Xray the Enforcer]

oh wow, that was stressful even reading about it, @Isis My skin would freak TF out.

So I think I may have finally found a replacement for my previous daily SPF -- Biossance zinc sheer suncreen. It's still missing a bit of the mattefying quality of my last one but the texture otherwise is pretty good and it blends easily. 

Also been using Deciem's Sensitive Fix -- a serum that's supposed to help with redness and sensitivity (thanks, retinol). It's been about a month and I'm pretty sure my face is less red than it used to be, so that's good. 

Finally -- decided to get a tinted moisturizer to try to even out my skin tone, since right now it's a bit of a mess. Eventually settled on Colourpop because I didn't want to spend $30 or more on something that I'd hate (also difficult to find them without SPF). Seems good so far. 

My business mullet is growing out into something closer that I had envisioned when I asked for this haircut, so thank god for that. It's still a ridiculous haircut, but I'm enjoying it. 

[RhaenysBee]

Am I old enough to become my mother by buying the exact same scent she used to wear when I was a child? There’s just something weird about it but I also always liked that scent. I have the same creepy attachment to my late grandmother’s special occasion perfume. Or maybe I shouldn’t buy a perfume and be glad I can still afford food. *insert hide the pain Harold* 

 

[Xray the Enforcer]

Necromancing this thread because skin care is an ongoing endeavor! 

So I learned something over the last six or so months: My skin has changed so much that mineral-based sunscreens are now too drying for me to use. I've tried 15 or 20 of them at this point and none of them are suitable for long-term use. So I went back to the drawing board and have now landed on using a moisturizer with chemical sunscreens and I found one that works with whatever the hell is going on with my skin these days and LOL it's not even that expensive: La Roche Posay Tolerain 30SPF. My skin is stupid as hell. 

[thgrlwthcurushar]

I think sometimes I want to do natural beauty more.  I want to try to use only my skincare routine to abolish the imperfections and no makeup. When I was trying to assemble my "For Life" list of beauty products, I wanted to be a Simple Kind of Man. I'm picturing Suave Ocean Breeze Shampoo and Conditioner and Maui Moisture Coconut Oil. It's really minimal. My mind thinks it's a rather odd way I have in life but it's the way I want it.

[kairparavel]

I had my first ever facial today. Getting my eyebrows threaded was the main impetus for booking a salon appointment and I figured to make the half hour train ride worth it.

I got off to an awkward start when I couldn't figure out how I was supposed to wear the terry wrap that looks like a skirt - I'm having a facial done so what level of undress is needed? After a few questions it was sorted and I was on my way to steamy bliss. Extractions aside (ow) it was super relaxing and enjoyable. My skin is excellent I'm told, though a little dehydrated with some sensitivity and redness. I went home with a reasonably priced calming serum from Skinceuticals. Overall, me likey. I'll look to book another appointment in 8 weeks. 

[Starkess]

I also have been using a La Roche Posay sunscreen for my face this summer, I've been layering their Anthelios over my moisturizer. It works pretty well and applies easily, but I still feel like it makes my skin a bit sticky. I've never found a sunscreen that I'm 100% happy with, so I guess this may be as good as it gets for me!

Lately I've been being a bit more intentional with my nighttime routine and went from just using moisturizer and maybe 1x a week retinol if I remember to having a whole "skin cycling" thing set up. 1 night chemical exfoliant, 1 night retinol, 2 nights just moisturizer, repeat. I think it's working pretty well, though I still struggle with comedones, especially on my lower cheek/jaw. And some of my freckles are merging into larger sunspots. So it goes!

[Madame deVenoge]

I have started using Obagi’s serum with Vitamin C and 4% hydroquinone, once a day.

I also had a Tetra Cool CO2 laser peel done, and omg, fantastic results!!!

[Isis]

I was wondering if anyone was skin cycling. I tend to be on a longer cycle of chemical exfoliation once a week, charcoal mask once a week, then pretty mostly the same routine on the five nights in between. I use a gentle retinol most nights (Sunday Riley Luna). 

My skin is alright. But for the amount of skincare product I put on it, it isn't really glowing. Maybe I need to switch to the four day skin cycle? I'm going to be at home for a month post surgery so that might be a good time to try it. 

@kairparavel extraction is my favourite part of a facial. So satisfying. Getting an ingrown hair removed from under my chin was so good!

[Madame deVenoge]

11 hours ago, Isis said:

I was wondering if anyone was skin cycling. I tend to be on a longer cycle of chemical exfoliation once a week, charcoal mask once a week, then pretty mostly the same routine on the five nights in between. I use a gentle retinol most nights (Sunday Riley Luna). 

My skin is alright. But for the amount of skincare product I put on it, it isn't really glowing. Maybe I need to switch to the four day skin cycle? I'm going to be at home for a month post surgery so that might be a good time to try it. 

@kairparavel extraction is my favourite part of a facial. So satisfying. Getting an ingrown hair removed from under my chin was so good!

I have a love/ hate with extractions. I am prone to milia, so extractions are pure torture but very necessary. I love my skin maybe 4 days after.

[Starkess]

I've never done a facial but maybe I should, physical extraction is the only thing that tends to work well on my comedones and it's a pain doing it at home and I'm probably never quite as good about sterilizing everything as I should be. 

[Isis]

Definitely better to let someone else (a professional!) do it for you. I don't really have the spare cash to get more than one facial per quarter done, but the place I go to now I really like the results, it actually feels/looks like my skin is better after.

I was reading something yesterday about 'gritting' to get rid of blackheads. Something about sandwiching different products together, e.g. clean with an oil cleanser, apply an acid (BHA) leave it on for 20 minutes, then clean off with more oil. It's meant to help dissolve 'bad oil/dirt' etc.

While I'm off work for another few weeks I am going to switch up my skincare routine to fully embrace the ABCSPF thing. This translates to using retinol (A) at night and vitamin C and SPF in the morning. I guess you use niacinamide (B) morning and night if you want. Currently I only use a gentle retinol oil once or twice a week...I'll be switching to a cream twice a week. Watch this space and see if my face falls off I guess.

[thgrlwthcurushar]

For hair I like to just use a curl cream after I shower to enhance my naturally beautiful curls. Right now, I'm using Maui Moisture Coconut Oil and also Garnier Fructis Curl Refresher. The Curl Refresher, I use if I have not showered and need the hair to pick up some volume instead of it being limp and frizzy. I know that it isn't anything fancy, but I only shop with my Mom. This is what the places we go got! I do enjoy this Suave Ocean Breeze shampoo and conditioner. I have a pixie cut right now, so I do not feel the need to have anything more than this since Suave is pretty simplistic.

Does anyone know the cause of acne at thirty years old? I look so bad still. Especially since I want to do some really simplistic makeup - simplistic and minimal. I cannot seem to find a really good combination of cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. I am on medication for psych reasons. And it could be my diet. I just want to eliminate the acne since I want to use less to none of the makeup that I usually do. (For when I lounge around and even do a quick stop somewhere).

Anyway, I am trying this stuff for my face: Vitamin D Creme from Big Lots, Olay Witch Hazel Toner, and OXY Acne Cleanser, and Clean & Clear Acne Exfoliating Scrub. It's not much but I buy my beauty products when my Mom and I shop together.

[Madame deVenoge]

13 hours ago, losers reject said:

For hair I like to just use a curl cream after I shower to enhance my naturally beautiful curls. Right now, I'm using Maui Moisture Coconut Oil and also Garnier Fructis Curl Refresher. The Curl Refresher, I use if I have not showered and need the hair to pick up some volume instead of it being limp and frizzy. I know that it isn't anything fancy, but I only shop with my Mom. This is what the places we go got! I do enjoy this Suave Ocean Breeze shampoo and conditioner. I have a pixie cut right now, so I do not feel the need to have anything more than this since Suave is pretty simplistic.

Does anyone know the cause of acne at thirty years old? I look so bad still. Especially since I want to do some really simplistic makeup - simplistic and minimal. I cannot seem to find a really good combination of cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. I am on medication for psych reasons. And it could be my diet. I just want to eliminate the acne since I want to use less to none of the makeup that I usually do. (For when I lounge around and even do a quick stop somewhere).

Anyway, I am trying this stuff for my face: Vitamin D Creme from Big Lots, Olay Witch Hazel Toner, and OXY Acne Cleanser, and Clean & Clear Acne Exfoliating Scrub. It's not much but I buy my beauty products when my Mom and I shop together.

Adult acne is fairly common. Acne is not really tied to diet (this is a myth that has been around since at least the 1980s). 

You might be over-doing it to your skin, with witch hazel AND acne cleanser AND acne exfoliating scrub.

Less is often more, in the skin game, especially as we age out of teenage skin. The whole cleaner-toner-moisturizer as “routine” thing was set up to sell skin care products. Your skin could be sensitive and breaking out BECAUSE of all of these products, some of which are quite harsh, even in isolation. 

Even if one swears by such a routine, having multiple active products in that routine can spell trouble. You might consider cutting back to one active product for a few weeks (i.e - try a mild cleaner and neutral moisturizer and the Clean & Clear scrub if you think you really need the exfoliant action and want to maintain a three-part system of a routine; or something similar, keeping your favorite product as the active product of the three). I personally only use an “active” product (in my case, 4% hydroquinone and Vitamin C serum) every other day and also only use it a few months at a time - due to the nature of hydroquinone, in my case.

If one considers that *three* active steps might not be advisable, the “K-beauty” trend of having a 13-step skincare program on a daily basis can cause havoc with sensitive or sensitized skin. 

The other possibilities in your 30s are genetic or hormonal. If limiting your skincare to one active product doesn’t work, you should consider seeing a dermatologist. They can help with the acne that seems like it cannot be assailed.

You might also consider what kind of acne you seem to have. Is it:

1. Blackheads / whiteheads? This would lead me to think hormonal or genetic, but still can be helped OTC. If milia, these can be taken care of by a dermatologist or a good aesthetician.
2. Is it a lot of erythema (redness) and solely pustular? This would be second stage rosacea, which is classic adult acne and you just need more gentle products.
3. Is it nodular, cystic acne? Only curable by dermatology, there is literally nothing you can do here OTC.

Or, is it a combination of the above?

You can easily find photos of acne subtypes online (thank you, Doctor Google), if you are unfamiliar with the subtypes.

I was on Accutane twice in my life - once in mid-twenties, one in mid-thirties, so I know what it’s like to have nodular, cystic acne at that time of life. As someone of Northern European heritage, female, and over the age of 30, I have also been beset by rosacea. 

ETA: With hormones, I believe, in my limited experience, that it might be easier for people who identify as female to get help in this area, as most of the hormonal methods of helping acne are geared towards women. For example, there is an androgen antagonist that is helpful for women who battle blackhead/ whitehead acne, as are some formulations of the Pill, and for me in my post-menopausal state with no uterus, unopposed estrogen.

Edited November 13, 2022 by Chataya de Fleury

[Ravenhair]

On 11/8/2022 at 2:45 PM, Isis said:

Definitely better to let someone else (a professional!) do it for you. I don't really have the spare cash to get more than one facial per quarter done, but the place I go to now I really like the results, it actually feels/looks like my skin is better after.

I was reading something yesterday about 'gritting' to get rid of blackheads. Something about sandwiching different products together, e.g. clean with an oil cleanser, apply an acid (BHA) leave it on for 20 minutes, then clean off with more oil. It's meant to help dissolve 'bad oil/dirt' etc.

While I'm off work for another few weeks I am going to switch up my skincare routine to fully embrace the ABCSPF thing. This translates to using retinol (A) at night and vitamin C and SPF in the morning. I guess you use niacinamide (B) morning and night if you want. Currently I only use a gentle retinol oil once or twice a week...I'll be switching to a cream twice a week. Watch this space and see if my face falls off I guess.

I'm taking a Retin-A break, and my current nighttime routine is double cleanse, toner, 10% AHA, moisturizer, and eye cream. In the morning, I cleanse with Youth to the People Superfoods, tone, and then apply Vitamin C (without E) and Allies of Skin Prebiotics and Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster. With some exceptions, I switched my skincare to GM Collins, and I am loving their products. I really appreciate the fact they have a Vitamin C without Vitamin E. Most Vitamin C formulations have Vitamin E, and Vitamin E turns my skin into a grease pit. The Allies of Skin product was a great find for me because Niacinamides increase the oil on my face, and this product does the opposite. It does have a weird petrochemical smell even though it is a vegan product. The smell dissipates quickly, though. 

Your proposed skincare routine for your time off sounds perfect. How is it working out so far? Have you ever used an AHA before in place of a retinol or Retin-A?

 

[Isis]

10 hours ago, Ravenhair said:

I'm taking a Retin-A break, and my current nighttime routine is double cleanse, toner, 10% AHA, moisturizer, and eye cream. In the morning, I cleanse with Youth to the People Superfoods, tone, and then apply Vitamin C (without E) and Allies of Skin Prebiotics and Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster. With some exceptions, I switched my skincare to GM Collins, and I am loving their products. I really appreciate the fact they have a Vitamin C without Vitamin E. Most Vitamin C formulations have Vitamin E, and Vitamin E turns my skin into a grease pit. The Allies of Skin product was a great find for me because Niacinamides increase the oil on my face, and this product does the opposite. It does have a weird petrochemical smell even though it is a vegan product. The smell dissipates quickly, though. 

Your proposed skincare routine for your time off sounds perfect. How is it working out so far? Have you ever used an AHA before in place of a retinol or Retin-A?

 

It's great that you can get formulations with just one active ingredient in them these days. Skincare is such a huge empire that you can pretty much get whatever thing you want or need if you look in the right place.

My skin does feel a tiny bit drier than it did before I started this. It's not showing any visible signs of reacting badly but it just feels a bit tighter. Saying that, I started using the Niacinamide AND the Retinol at once, which were both new for my skin so perhaps it is low key annoyed about that. I'll persevere with this and hope my skin adjusts, drink plenty of water and stick some nice face oil on before bed every night. I recently got a really nice Gua Sha tool so that's my latest piece of faddy nonsense and I use that to massage my face oil in.

I've used acids on my face for quite a while now and my skin gets on fine with it. I like the Drunk Elephant glycolic night serum, but I only put it on once a week so I can't honestly say it is doing anything special. There is a place for both acids and retinol I think (but not on the same day).