Skincare and Suncare

[MargeGunderson]

On 11/13/2018 at 3:36 PM, DrSparkles said:

I bought the Drunk Elephant Sukari Baby Facial & have used it 2x now. My skin is soooooooooooooooo  smooth. LOVE  IT. I bought a small starter kit with their oil from Sephora w my 20% off :)

I love it too! Not crazy about the oil, but that’s because I’m not generally a fan of facial oils (they just seem to sit on my skin). I’ve been using their vitamin C serum and hydrating serum in the morning, too.

[DrSparkles]

12 hours ago, MargeGunderson said:

I love it too! Not crazy about the oil, but that’s because I’m not generally a fan of facial oils (they just seem to sit on my skin). I’ve been using their vitamin C serum and hydrating serum in the morning, too.

Ahh, see I have dry skin, so it seems to sink in pretty well. I use Timeless Vit C (+E + Ferulic) but I might try the hydrating serum (since I only have about 3 serums already JUST FOR am!!!).

[callie lee 29]

I'm not sure who else to ask this so here you guys go... I caved on Sephora sale last week and got Estee Lauder idealist skin refinisher pore minimizer (& another Pat McGrath lipstick). I've used it before and I have a smidge left in my last bottle (I've been hoarding it) but the new bottle I just got today looks like a different formula. Instead of being a cream color and kind of thicker this is white and thinner. It also smells different (I loved the previous smell). Did they change their formula?? Does it still work the same? I loved the way it made my skin feel.

[BuyMoreAndSave]

I'm using a bit of an unconventional skincare routine right now and so far it's working out well. I wash my face with fragrance-free olive oil soap. I've heard you aren't supposed to wash your face with soap and I would agree for most soaps, but olive oil soap is really gentle and I haven't noticed any problems with it. Before I was using the Drunk Elephant Pekee and Juju bars but I ran out and had to use soap instead since I don't drive so I couldn't get to Sephora immediately, but since I'm getting good results I don't know if I'll go back to Drunk Elephant since it is expensive. Then after my shower I put on Vitamin Shoppe hyaluronic acid serum. It was really cheap, like $5, and it seems like it's really good at both hydrating and making breakouts go away faster, even though it's not considered to be an acne treatment. Then I put on unrefined shea butter over the serum. Even though shea butter is thick, it's a 0 on the comedogenicity scale (very low potential for causing breakouts). Currently it's also the only body moisturizer I use since I have a weird condition where I get painful swollen cysts on my torso if I use any cleansers or moisturizers containing fragrance or colorants on there. As long as it's applied to damp skin it works really well to prevent dry skin, which has not been the case for any other natural oils or waxes I have tried. Since beginning this regimen my acne has gone away for the first time in a long time, my skin is hydrated, and I even look younger and "fresher", which has never happened with any other skincare regimen. And I've tried tons of products, before this I was using CeraVe which is considered to be really good and I realized it may have been breaking me out. In the less dry months I will just use the serum and not the shea butter on my face. I might also get a chemical exfoliant although I tried AHAs and BHAs before and didn't notice much of a difference.

(Also, I'm still using the Australian Gold SPF 50 tinted sunscreen in the daytime, even though the UV index is very low in my area currently.)

Edited November 25, 2018 by BuyMoreAndSave

[BuyMoreAndSave]

On 5/3/2018 at 8:31 AM, bilgistic said:

I have Differin, but you guessed it...I'm too lazy to use it. I'm going to start using it, dammit.

I use derma-e glycolic acid cleanser, Paula's Choice BHA salicylic acid toner and Paula's Choice benzoyl peroxide acne treatment. The line is something Clear something. It keeps my face in pretty good shape, but those damned chin monsters that come up from the bone laugh at my attempts to manage acne.

Acne is a cruel joke. I'm 43 and have had acne since I was a teenager, but it was not bad then. It has been far worse in adulthood.

OMG, me too. When I was a teenager my skin was pretty good and I got acne every once in a while. A couple of years into college I started getting hormone-related breakouts, the angry red kind, like clockwork every month. Then I noticed I had closed comedones, mostly on my forehead, and even years later I haven't found anything to get rid of them. I generally don't eat butter and wash my face whenever I eat butter, melted cheese, or coconut oil, or else I will break out for sure. I'm also getting more and more hairy over time. I even went to the endocrinologist and got tested for PCOS and hormone imbalances, but everything came back normal. I've never tried Differin though so I may try it.

[Petunia13]

On 11/23/2018 at 9:48 PM, callie lee 29 said:

I'm not sure who else to ask this so here you guys go... I caved on Sephora sale last week and got Estee Lauder idealist skin refinisher pore minimizer (& another Pat McGrath lipstick). I've used it before and I have a smidge left in my last bottle (I've been hoarding it) but the new bottle I just got today looks like a different formula. Instead of being a cream color and kind of thicker this is white and thinner. It also smells different (I loved the previous smell). Did they change their formula?? Does it still work the same? I loved the way it made my skin feel.

I would ask a rep or tweet them, but Estée Lauder as a brand is notorious for changing formulas of skin care and perfumes. I feel like Beautiful and one of the foundations changed the past few years. Come to think of it in the spring when they did they're GWP sale I spoke to someone who got idealist and they said it was different. 

[Frozendiva]

EL Doublewear foundation changed its formula. Most of the cleansers have also changed.

[callie lee 29]

@Frozendiva and @Petunia13 Thanks for the responses. After a few uses it seems to feel the same, mostly. Not sure if I'll buy it again, but I'll leggings this one. I also liked the glass bottle they used rather than the current plastic one. 

This doesn't make me hopeful Daywear Plus sheer tint release.

[Frozendiva]

I used Doublewear for many years. My last bottle got gloopy and so I switched to Armani Luminous Silk. Still looking for some other options.

I think that Doublewear Light was or is being reformulated. It was the step-up GWP for one of the stores in August - to clear out old stock.

[Cupid Stunt]

You can have the “perfect” vagina, through vaginal bleaching, but it’ll cost you.

"Like many trends devoted to improving the aesthetics and overall performance of the vagina and the area surrounding it, from labiaplasty to Brazilian waxing to Gwyneth Paltrow-endorsed jade eggs, vaginal lightening is often attributed to the widespread prevalence of internet porn, as performers tend to have lighter, more compact vulvas.

“When you look at the porno industry, for the most part, you see Hungarian, Russian, Eastern European girls. They’re light-skinned girls with pink vaginas and anuses who’ve never had any babies,” Taub says. “Everyone wants that. Everyone wants a pink anus.”

But the truth about why so many people request vaginal bleaching — and why, as Taub recounts, it is a source of immense anguish for many — is more complicated and more distressing than that. There are also numerous safety risks."

[BuyMoreAndSave]

On 12/9/2018 at 9:25 PM, Cupid Stunt said:

You can have the “perfect” vagina, through vaginal bleaching, but it’ll cost you.

"Like many trends devoted to improving the aesthetics and overall performance of the vagina and the area surrounding it, from labiaplasty to Brazilian waxing to Gwyneth Paltrow-endorsed jade eggs, vaginal lightening is often attributed to the widespread prevalence of internet porn, as performers tend to have lighter, more compact vulvas.

“When you look at the porno industry, for the most part, you see Hungarian, Russian, Eastern European girls. They’re light-skinned girls with pink vaginas and anuses who’ve never had any babies,” Taub says. “Everyone wants that. Everyone wants a pink anus.”

But the truth about why so many people request vaginal bleaching — and why, as Taub recounts, it is a source of immense anguish for many — is more complicated and more distressing than that. There are also numerous safety risks."

TBH I would be majorly creeped out by any guy who cared about what it looked like in that area to that extent.

[bilgistic]

First of all, anuses don't have babies.

[DrSparkles]

On 12/9/2018 at 9:25 PM, Cupid Stunt said:

You can have the “perfect” vagina, through vaginal bleaching, but it’ll cost you.

"Like many trends devoted to improving the aesthetics and overall performance of the vagina and the area surrounding it, from labiaplasty to Brazilian waxing to Gwyneth Paltrow-endorsed jade eggs, vaginal lightening is often attributed to the widespread prevalence of internet porn, as performers tend to have lighter, more compact vulvas.

“When you look at the porno industry, for the most part, you see Hungarian, Russian, Eastern European girls. They’re light-skinned girls with pink vaginas and anuses who’ve never had any babies,” Taub says. “Everyone wants that. Everyone wants a pink anus.”

But the truth about why so many people request vaginal bleaching — and why, as Taub recounts, it is a source of immense anguish for many — is more complicated and more distressing than that. There are also numerous safety risks."

WHAT?! No.

[auntlada]

On 12/26/2018 at 12:37 PM, bilgistic said:

First of all, anuses don't have babies.

I've known a few people who make me want to argue that point.

[Cupid Stunt]

The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich

[luckyroll3]

16 hours ago, Cupid Stunt said:

The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich

Well duh! Lol!

[BuyMoreAndSave]

Today I got the Shea Moisture Fragrance-Free Sensitive Skin Body Lotion. It has been difficult to find a body lotion with natural ingredients and no added fragrances or essential oils, so I hope this one is good!

[bilgistic]

I use Shea Moisture shampoo and conditioner and it has changed my life. My hair is so much healthier. I was using Paul Mitchell before.

[ivygirl]

Where has this thread been my PTV life! Seriously, just noticed it thanks to the forum revamp. 

Anyone tried a Perk facial? I really really want to, but I’m concerned about how my sensitive skin will handle it. And I just got my routine down so I’m nervous about throwing it off. 

[BuyMoreAndSave]

On 2/10/2019 at 7:51 PM, bilgistic said:

I use Shea Moisture shampoo and conditioner and it has changed my life. My hair is so much healthier. I was using Paul Mitchell before.

Before I switched to shampoo and conditioner bars to cut down on plastic (I use the Lush Honey I Washed My Hair shampoo bar and the Brite Bar None conditioner bar from Ulta, in case you're curious) I used Shea Moisture on and off. We have hard water so sulfate-free shampoos don't work for me since the minerals build up in my hair over time, but I really liked their conditioners, and I'm not even the target demographic (I have 1C/2A hair).

Paul Mitchell Shampoo One dried my hair out so much. It was fine for a few weeks but then would get more and more dry as time went on. The Super Skinny Serum also left a gross residue on my hair no matter how little I used (it did smell really good though, like Bubblicious grape gum). I'm also allergic to tea tree oil so couldn't try most of his other products.

[Scatterbrained]

My fave new face wash isn’t even a face wash: Dove Baby Tip to Toe Wash - Sensitive 

[BuyMoreAndSave]

Currently using:

Sunscreen: I stopped using the Australian Gold because for some reason it started pilling up on my face and when I sweated it would leave white streaks on my face that were impossible to blend in. I think my skin changed or something. I am now using the Vanicream SPF 50 and Neutrogena Sheer Zinc SPF 50. I don't plan on repurchasing the Neutrogena because it leaves too much of a white cast (plus it isn't cruelty-free), but the Vanicream one is good and I will probably repurchase. What I don't like about both of them is that they don't really dry down though so I'm not sure how well makeup will work over them. Overall I like Vanicream as a brand so far. I think my Walgreens started carrying them recently as I never noticed their products before.

Cleanser: Vanicream cleanser bar...I was using the Drunk Elephant Pekee Bar but I have not been able to find it in Sephora lately, so I tried out the Vanicream and it works pretty well. It's way cheaper than Drunk Elephant and hasn't broken me out like Dove or CeraVe. It's really weird because all the cleanser bars have very similar ingredients but some break me out and some do not.

Moisturizer: I'm using a random unscented/sensitive one right now from Harmon Beauty because that's all I have on hand, but I think it's breaking me out (it's not really meant for the face) and I might try out one from Vanicream that has more skincare ingredients. I have to get better about moisturizing every day in the summer because I frequently forget.

Other Skincare: Hyaluronic acid serum and BHA treatment from The Ordinary (BHA only used for breakouts). I get lost with skincare because there are too many options so right now I just have these two. I'm not sure if I want to use any AHAs, retinol, Differin, etc this time of year because they increase sun sensitivity. I don't know if I like The Ordinary hyaluronic acid serum as much as the Vitamin Shoppe one. It seems like it maybe dries my skin out a bit?

I'm really annoyed though because no matter what I do, I still get brown spots on my hands and face in the summer. They go away in the winter and come back in the summer every year. I recently read on some random dermatologist's blog that even if you wear sunscreen, the heat from the sun may cause the spots to reappear. I know on my hands too that even if I put on sunscreen, some of it comes off every time I wash my hands, and I can't reapply every time I wash them.

I'm also pissed off because I think I have a slight tan on my face and I don't know why. It's not even on my neck, just my face. I have two theories on when it might have happened. I left my first jiu jitsu class in the middle of the day and I had sweated, but I still felt sunscreen on my face and had a hat so I didn't reapply because I was about to go home and shower (the jiu jitsu place doesn't have showers). But maybe more of it sweated off than I thought. Then later that day I went out for about 20 minutes around 6 pm without sunscreen, but I was wearing a hat and I thought the UV index was too low at that time of day for any tanning. I think it may have happened at 6 pm because after the jiu jitsu class I was wearing sunglasses, but at 6 pm I wasn't wearing them, and I don't have a "sunglass tan."

Edited July 4, 2019 by BuyMoreAndSave

[caitmcg]

I have been using the Neutrogena Sheer Zinc SPF 50, and it works for me. The white cast isn't an issue for me because I'm pretty fair, and within say 10 minutes of application it fades down on my skin. This formula does dry down on me (my skin is normal tending to slightly dry), but I don't generally wear foundation or other face makeup, so I can't speak to how that works over it.

Last year, I had to switch up some skincare products because I had been using moisturizers from a local purveyor that went out of business (after 45 years). I have since been using Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, and I will repurchase. I've also got a big pot of Clinique All About Eyes Rich that will probably last me well over a year. I have used the hyaluronic acid from The Ordinary and it worked well on my dryish skin, so I will repurchase sometime soon, probably along with a vitamin C serum and a retinoid serum. I am lucky in that I do not have any skincare issues, and I am mostly lazy enough that I do just the minimum (moisturizer and sunscreen), but I do want to address the fine lines on my forehead and under my eyes.

[Sally Chantal Pa]

Never forget to do a patch test

Don’t use expired products

Don’t be afraid of drugstore skincare

Sunscreen is everything

[annzeepark914]

Can someone recommend a tanning cream that doesn't streak? I've been using Jergens for several years but now it seems to be streaking a lot on my legs.

[Guest]

On 8/23/2019 at 12:28 AM, annzeepark914 said:

Can someone recommend a tanning cream that doesn't streak? I've been using Jergens for several years but now it seems to be streaking a lot on my legs.

I'm super, extra pasty so I've self-tanned since forever (right now mostly get spray tans) but these are my recommendations for home use:

Inexpensive: CVS Deep Color Sunless Tan spray

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Hydrating Self-Tanning Mousse

Expensive: Coola Dry Body Oil Mist (I use this on my face between spray tans)
Coola Sunless Tan Firming Lotion

I use a large foundation brush to go over where I've applied for even coverage. I never had much luck with the tanning mitts.  😞

[luckyroll3]

Anyone doing a Korean 10-step skin care routine?  If yes, what products are you using?

[Athena]

On 12/30/2019 at 5:47 PM, luckyroll3 said:

Anyone doing a Korean 10-step skin care routine?  If yes, what products are you using?

I do a multi-step skincare routine. Most reports about Korean 10-step are exaggerated; it is rarely ever 10 steps. It is usually more than the Western one and is focussed more on hydration, moisturizing, and sun protection. I average 4-5 products each routine from a mix of mostly Japanese and Western products. I always use a hydrating toner (or "skin" in Korean skincare), often a treatment (an acid), moisturizer, and an occlusive at night or sunscreen during the day. I'll add a serum, face oil, or other product as necessary. A lot of people love sheet masks as well. 

[Trini]

I hate it when brands change their formulas. Just when you think you've found something great, the next bottle isn't the same thing.

I'd already heard stories about Shea Moisture watering down/changing their products, but now I know firsthand. The lotion that I bought last year (as my "winter" lotion) is now a different consistency, and the first ingredient is water when it used to be shea butter. It's just really disappointing.

[MargeGunderson]

Oh, me too! I used to love a Paula’s Choice serum that was so awesome for my dry skin in winter, and now it’s not as good.