I noticed in the comments on the last Monday Poll that a lot of gals really want to focus on skin care this year, which got me thinking that 1) I’m not the only one! And, 2) I need to update my spring skin care wish list. 🙂
Not to toot my own horn…but I think I’m pretty good about taking off my makeup every night, then washing my face and moisturizing, but as far as my overall skin care diligence, I could do much, much better, like when it comes to exfoliating and using (*GULP*) sunscreen, and diligently using anti-aging serums.
I know, I know! — I used to be a sunscreen zealot, but somewhere between Exhausted Ave. and Sleepless Blvd. I fell off the wagon (there was a loud thump!), so I want to get back on it.
Unfortunately, one of the side effects of that is spending hours reading about skin care online and chatting with other gals about skin care products they like, and then compiling a new skin care “wish list.”
Yes, I realize that Christmas just passed, and a list this length is all sorts of ridiculous, but this is how I amuse myself. 🙂
My skin care wish list is ever growing (these are for the Spring Santa!). It currently contains mostly anti-aging products (toners and treatments), but there are also some moisturizers, cleansers and sunscreens on it.
Dear Spring Santa,
Here’s the edited, pared-down version…
The anti-aging products, i.e. the toners and treatments
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29)
This salicylic acid toner is at the top of my list. I know so many gals who swear by it for general anti-aging, and for evening their skin tone and clearing blocked pores. My skin does well with BHAs, so l’d really like to try it. I just found out that Nordstrom sells the line, and they do have that generous return policy… - Biologique Recherche P50 1970 Lotion ($62)
This cult classic toner was my Christmas present to myself, but it hasn’t officially arrived yet. I ordered it from Rescue Spa, and now I’m waiting with baited breath! - Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster ($49)
I’m still looking for a less expensive alternative to SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, which is a vitamin C serum I love…but it’s $165!I’ve heard good things about Resist C15 and hope to try it, but I need to finish a bottle of Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum first.
- DHC CoQ10 Lotion ($47)
They call this a lotion, but it’s really a toner. It’s filled with compounds for 30+ skin, like alpha AHAs, Coenzyme Q10, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and I’ve heard good things about it.. - Prescription Retin-A (price varies)
I’ve had prescriptions to products containing different levels of Retin-A over the years, but I always stopped and started and stopped using them because I couldn’t handle the peeling.Well, I’ve decided that I want to try them again this year, and I’m just gonna power through it.
- Obagi Nu Derm (price varies)
This multi-step hyperpigmentation and anti-aging treatment is available from dermatologists. I had a friend who used it years ago, and it completely evened out her skin tone and transformed her skin — seriously, she looked like she had baby skin! I’ve been wanting to try it for a while, but it’s expensive.It’s hard to nail down an exact price online, but it seems to be in the $300-400 range (!). So this is a long-term maybe/possibly want.
Cleansers
- DHC Deep Cleansing Oil ($28)
I’ve gone through a couple bottles of this because it just works.When I put in an order for the CoQ10 lotion, I’m also grabbing a new bottle of this to use first as a cleanser.
- Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser ($26)
This is supposed to be great for dry skin, and with all of the agro acids I plan to use, I think it’ll add a welcome surge of moisture to my face.Gonna use this as a second cleanse at night.
Moisturizers
- BELIF The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb ($38)
According to the Interwebz…this is also excellent for dry skin. - Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil ($90)
This also gets great reviews online, but I kinda want it mostly because I think the bottle’s pretty.I probably won’t end up getting this right away, so it’s more of a someday/maybe want.
Sunscreen
- Jan Marini Physical Protectant SPF 45 ($51)
I’m currently using a physical sunscreen (Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30), and I like it…but I want a sunscreen that has more anti-aging bells and whistles.This one by Jan Marini caught my eye because it has antioxidant green tea extract (which my skin seems to like) and CoQ10. I just hope it doesn’t leave a white cast on my skin.
What’s currently on your skin care wish list? LET IT ALL OUT, GIRL.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Well, since you asked–
1. belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb; I love this and have used this and consider this my HG moisturizer for my chronically dry skin, BUT I wish they’d make it in bigger sizes.
2. Ren Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic; it’s a lactic acid (better for dry skin than glycolic) exfoliator and it comes in a huge size that may actually be better (or, at least, similarly priced) to The Ordinary’s Lactic Acids. Better yet, it’s not in a dropper format!
3. Farmacy Honey Savior All-in-One Skin Repair Salve with Echinacea GreenEnvy Honey; Farmacy is like the Charlotte Tilbury of skincare–when it works, it’s a knock-out, but there’s a lot of meh stuff in there too. I suspect this might be a really nice, heavy duty occlusive for my dry skin at night and I really want to try it on top of my beloved belif True Cream to lock it in.
Good news—Belif just released Moisturizing Bomb in a 3.38 oz size!! I use it twice a day, so I’m ecstatic.
YES! I’m all over this!
Hi Karen!
I’ve been reading your blog for years and this is my first time commenting 🙂 I just had to let you know to absolutely get the Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser. I used to use the Perricone Gentle Cleanser and then the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser, and the Korres is hands down the best cleanser I have ever used. It leaves your skin so silky with no feeling of residue. I use a micellar water first to remove makeup and then cleanse with that. Works great with my clarisonic as well.
Hi Shelby,
Ahh, thank you for saying hi today! It’s very nice to meet you, finally. 🙂 So, I’ve had this cleanser on my list for months now and keep putting it off… Now, after hearing you (and so many others) rave about it, I think I need to finally take the plunge. I love it when skin feels clean and nourished but heavy, ya know?
My current skincare want list is niod cais and survival 0, plus new bottle of good genes. i’m in love with p50, and also really happy with my retinoid and vitamin C from The Ordinary,
My major goal for right now though, is to find an ideal luxury foundation, Chanel, Dior, Armani something like that, for my dry normal skin. I have hourglass vanish stick and mac face and body, but who doesn’t love trying new things.
Well, I want to try this moisturizing serum by Rocky Mountain (handmade in Canada, all natural/organic products) for something extra. I use Josie Marans Argan oil every night. Question; what is the order for layering at night? I’m never sure. And that’s kind of it. I fell off the wagon for regularly scrubbing (same brand) but it comes in a dry form and I mix it with oil for a more gentle scrub. Amazing. I’d also like to find a light moisturizer to wear underneath my makeup for the day. I haven’t been able to find a moisturizer that doesn’t break me out, though…
Hi Karen,
Many websites often have Obagi on sale for 20-25 % off (plus cash back from Ebates 🙂 ). You don’t have to get it from a dermatologist and there is no need to use an entire “system” if you already have toners, cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreen, etc. that work well for you. The key products for evening the skin tone are the two containing hydroquinone—one is for day and the other is for night. For those people who don’t want to use hydroquinone, there are two comparable products containing arbutin. They also both contain an AHA to help with penetration.
Prescription strength retinoic acid is not something that you just jump right into and it sounds like you were never given good guidance as to how to accustom your skin to its use if peeling was a constant problem. You need to slowly condition your skin to the use of something that strong. You also have to monitor your skin condition and make adjustments now and then, but the payoff is huge! I’ve used prescription strength retinoic acid five days a week for over 20 years and my skin looks extraordinary. People are always asking me what I use.
Start with a good OTC retinoid like the ones by Skin Medica (can also often be found online at 20-25% off 🙂 ). It comes in three strengths and each one also contains ingredients to sooth the skin and help mitigate inflammation. Start with 25% if you’ve never used a good retinoid. Otherwise, you can start with .50%. Only use it three times a week and gradually add days until you hit your sweet spot. Once you’ve finished .50% you’re ready for 1.0% or a prescription strength. If you opt for the prescription one be sure it is also in an emollient base that will sooth your skin—none of that teenage acne version of Retin A! That can be very harsh and drying. There are also a bunch of guidelines for application and use with other products, but I’ve taken up entirely too much space already.
Hi Eileen,
Thank you so much for the advice. You didn’t take up too much space! I love hearing from you and finding out what has/hasn’t worked for you. I’ll definitely look into Skin Medica retinoid; I’ve heard about the brand and know that a lot of people like it. To be honest I’m a little nervous about doing purchasing Obagi online, because I don’t want to accidentally buy something that isn’t the real thing.
Obagi has authorized online retailers like LovelySkin which is the one I use because a few times a year they have sales on the products I use. They sell the real deal and guarantee it. No need to fear getting a counterfeit. If you explore the site, you’ll see the range of Obagi products, their ingredients, and how they’re to be used. The same is true for SkinMedica. Although many dermatologists sell those brands (mine does 🙂 ), you can also get them from legitimate, authorized online dealers.
The SkinMedica retinol is an excellent choice when starting a retinoid regime. Although it is OTC, it actually contains a meaningful amount of retinol, is formulated to minimize irritation, and is properly packaged to preserve its strength. Even the weakest .25% contains more retinol than the vast majority of OTC products and the 1.0% is actually comparable in efficacy to using one of the milder prescription retinoic acid products. Anyway, enough from me! I’ll wish you good luck in whatever you decide to do. Have a relaxing evening with your lovely famil.
I love the Obagi Tretinoin and have used it for years. I purchase it at my local “skin care clinic”, which is more of a spa and not a dermatologist. Just start with the weaker strength and work your way up. I occasionally have peeling if I stop for a while, but I’ll just start again over a 3-day weekend because the peeling doesn’t last much longer than that. Tretinoin / Retin A is a must!! Best of luck!
Love the DHC cleansing oil! I’m curious about the REN Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum and Sunday Riley Good Genes. Thankfully Sephora is good about giving samples, so I’ll take advantage of that before I decide to take the plunge. They’re both pretty pricey.
GIRL, Sunday Riley Good Genes is the business! I’ve gone through quite a few bottles.
Just wanted to mention I got the Paula’s choice radiance kit at hsn I think or maybe qvc. It was the bah liquid, retonoil something and moisturizer for $48. It’s really good but makes me a tiny bit oily so I use it at night. Makes me glow!
I’d like to try Vinters Daughter but I’m paying off bills right now.
Hi Janine,
Thanks for letting me know! I’ll see if I can find a similar kit on her website. Happy Tuesday to ya!
Hi Karen,
I’ve been loving and reading your blog for the past almost decade. Thank you for all that you do!
Skin care wish list:
1. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
2.Biologique Recherche P50 1970 Lotion
3.La Mer soft cream
4.Vinters Daughter serum
5.SkinCeuticals 0.25 Retinol
I love DHC CoQ10 Lotion and recommend it if you’re looking to ad CoQ10. One product that I fell in love with in 2017 was Sunday Riley’s Good Genes. Also, LOVING Biossense Squalene and Rose oil (Excuse my poor spelling, typing this during lunch break!).
One item that I’m surprisingly not fan of that the Interwebs loves is Sunday Riley’s Luna. It’s fine, but it just doesn’t perform better than Neutrogena’s or ROC’s retinol. Also, I turns my skin a slightly green tint for a good few minutes because I’m olive toned and the oil is dyed with blue tansy.
Hi Maxine,
Thank you for reading MBB for all that time, oh my gosh! It’s hard to believe it’ll be 11 years next month… CRAY to think I grew up on this site. Good Genes is AMAZING, I have to agree. I’ve finished more than a few bottles, but after my last one I wanted to branch out. I still think it’s one of the best serums out there though, so I’m eventually going to repurchase it again.
Funny that you mention Biossense because I’m about to try a makeup remover from the line.
It was nice to talk to you here on your lunch break! 🙂 Looking forward to chatting again soon.
I go by brands I want to try , so its:
Klairs
Vinters daughter
Jordan Samuels
Biologique Recherche
DHC
Shishedo ( i have this gift set in my possession and have yet to open it)
Hi Ericca,
I’ve been dying to try that Vitner’s Daughter serum. If you grab it you’ll have to let me know if it’s good! Everyone raves about it.
well , I am on a no buy. so, next year maybe
OK. Well, if I end up trying it I’ll let ya know if it’s good.
Keep up the good work with your no buy! I know it’s hard to resist temptation.
No buy here too….need to use what I have up first.
Sandy, good luck .
Ok. I will keep my peepers peep.lol
I bought my mom the Korres cleanser and she loves it! She has normal-to-dry, quite sensitive, mature skin. I’ve also used the Belif cream and it’s gorgeous, as well as the Aqua Bomb (the gel version).
The main thing on my list is the new Tarte Knockout Tingling Treatment. I scoffed at first, because rarely do makeup companies make good skincare, but the ingredients look quite nice and there’s no big red flags for me. If not that one, I want to try the Biologique Recherche, but since the Tarte is cheaper I’ll try that first. Other than that, I’m pretty pleased with my routine right now.
Hi Katie,
I wanna try that toner too! Maybe after I use up the P50 1970. 🙂
nice list! Kudos to you for recommitment to sunscreen. I got lazy with it when my kids were young and now it’s showing up as spots and wrinkles where I neglected. Don’t forget your hands- my kids never even did outdoor sports but just driving them to and from dance, karate, theatre and chess club took its toll. Do your hands a favor and add Deborah Lippmann Rich Girl spf 25 to the wish list. As for my wish list, I want to try Drunk Elephant Sukari Baby Facial, and a whole lot of Korean skincare lines. I found a blog that will guide me through the K skincare maze and lists dupes for some of my high end favorites! can’t wait to get started.
Lorraine, thank you for the reminder! I do need to get better about putting sunscreen on my hands. I’ve used Rich Girl before and remember liking it a lot!
My skin care routine has been so hit or miss due to hormonal problems, but I recently purged my misc drawer (good cause – my son’s girlfriend took all the travel and trip sizes) right now i am using:
*Ole Henrick’s the Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser – I seem to just like a foaming cleaner best, and this one isn’t drying
*Skin Lab Vita Energy Toner Mist – not sure if this is doing anything, I may or may not not buy it again because – I fell down the rabbit hole during my last Sephora run and bought –
*Tatcha Indigo Indigo Rice Enzyme Powder – I have been looking for an exfoliator and nothing was working. OMG this is awesome.
*Tatcha Essence – This is why I may not buy the toner. not sure if I need both???
*Tatacha Silk Cream – YUM so yummy, no breakouts around my nose or chin (my only problem areas) and while it’s not overly scented, it does have a very nice aroma.
Hi Lisa,
I’m into exfoliating powders (the Amore Pacific one is great), so I’ll check out the Tatcha one next time I’m at Sephora. Thanks for the recommendation. 🙂
Hope you’re having a nice Tuesday by the way!
Hi Karen,
You may want the Spring Santa to bring you Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Cleansing Oil instead of DHC. I have Rosecea. I’ve tried DHC’s oil in the past and it was too harsh for me. Yeah, my skin is really that sensitive. Palmer’s was mentioned on a few blogs and I absolutely love it! It’s gentle and works, butdoesn’t leave my face feeling like an oil slick. It doesn’t make my face tight or itchy. One possible negative: it smells like a lot of roses whic is okay for me; reminds me of my grandmothers rose garden. ? it’s also $8-10 at Target, Walgreens or Palmer’s site. Best stuff ever!!
Love Amore Pacific’s Enzyme Peel. I think it’s $60.00 at Sephora. It’s not a traditional peel. It’s a powder when mixed with water will gently scrub every inch of your face. Scrub minus the scrubbies and again gentle enough for sensitive skin.
I want to try Belif products. I wish I had purchased the kits offered for the holidays.
Hi Robin,
I’ll see if I can find that oil next time I hit up Tar-ghay! BTW I love that Enzyme Peel by Amore Pacific. It’s something that really helped me with hormonal acne; I haven’t used it in a while, but I think I might grab a bottle soon because I’m breaking out more than I usually do.
I’m going to write spring Santa a letter and ask for
1.Belif Moisture Bomb in 3.38 oz size
2. The new Supergoop sunscreen that is supposed to be light and invisible under makeup (Unseen Sunscreen I think??).
3. A backup of the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright eye cream. I just started using it this week, but it is true love and I’m afraid to ever be without it.
I just bought backups of all of my other skincare with Christmas gift cards (my family knows me well), so I’m good other than that! Also, if you’re thinking of trying a prescription strength retinol again, Differen is now sold in lower strengths OTC. I use the .3% prescription nightly, and it took a while to get used to it, but the effects on my skin are without a doubt worth it. The .1% is available at Walgreens and maybe Target, and could be a good, inexpensive starter to get your skin a little more prepared for the big dog. I’ve used Tretinoin in the past, and could never get past the burning and peeling phase. Differen is a different form of retinol, and it hasn’t been tested exclusively for anti-aging benefits, but my skin has legitimately never looked better.
Hi Abbey,
I’ll think about the Differen because I like that it’s easy to find! Honestly access to products is such a huge factor for me. I don’t want to have to jump through hoops to find something ya know? It’s so nice to be able to pop into a store and grab whatever I need.
What backups did you get with your gift cards?
C-Firma, B-Hydra, Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 PIGM400 (true love 4-ever), and the holiday Belif Moisture Bomb gift set.
Continuing our thread on the “Beauty Goals for 2018” post, Karen: Nordstrom does have a great refund policy, but if you don’t want to shell out full price for Paula’s Choice yet, you can purchase deluxe-sized samples from the Paula’s Choice online store/website. It’s one of the more unique features of the brand
Spring Santa, I’ve been good with my winter skincare no-buys, but when your season rolls around, I’m wishing for the lesser-known drugstore acids:
– Alpha Deep Wrinkle Repair Cream (.15% retinol)
– Alpha Enhanced Renewal Cream (12% AHA in glycolic form. Still using and loving this in the original Alpha Hydrox packaging, but be warned, readers, that this is strong and requires a diligent sunscreen use)
– Let’s also throw a random moisturizer in the mix: one of Trader Joe’s Nourish moisturizers, which was recommended to me by a middle-aged male bystander a few weeks ago! (I didn’t buy either because I have other moisturizers to use up.) The ingredient lists on both are surprisingly great
I’m with a commenter above that I’m on a high-end foundation search for my paler, winter skin. Karen, are you going to review the new NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in the future? I love your foundation reviews
Hi Katie,
Thanks for the heads up on the smaller sizes. Maybe I can even grab enough smaller sizes for free shipping, woo hoo!
Ya know, TJ’s does lovely moisturizers. I haven’t tried any of the face ones but I am in love with the body butters.
And yes, I have a NARS Natural Radiant Foundation coming up. I’ve been on a foundation frenzy lately and it’s on my list! 🙂
Hi Karen ,
All of Paula’s Choice products are at the top of my list .
Also ,one thing about Sunscreen: it is anti-aging !
I use it even in the winter and I’ll be 70 . People think I’m 40 something.
Happy New Year ???
Nothing new on my list. I’ll probably just repurchase something when it gets used up, unless it’s one of the duds.
Haven’t tried either the Drunk Elephant or SkinCeuticals C serums, but I’ve been using DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE
C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum and I like it.
When it comes to prescription retinoids there are two paths to making them more tolerable. Caroline Hirons recommends using it for a week on and a week off. Another route is to use it once a week for a month, then twice a week for a month, then three times a week for a month, then 4 times a month, until your skin builds up tolerance to it. I usually use mine 3 to 4 nights a week max and never more than two days in a row. I dropped the tretinoin because no matter what I tried it made my skin rough and ugly. Now that Differin is available OTC, I just use that.
Girl, I’m gonna nag you about sunscreen. It’s the number one anti-aging skincare product out there. The sun is so damaging to skin. I use it 365 days of the year on my face and neck and chest.
Karen, you might want to try some serums from Timeless skincare- I have used several and get them online. Free US shipping, too! And all for under $30. I’ve used the 20% Vitamin C+E+Ferulic Acid, the Co-enzyme Q10 Serum and the Matrixl Synthe-6. They’re all good and you can’t beat the price. The texture is great on your skin and they work well under makeup or alone, I think. Found out about them from blogger Angie at hotandflashy.com.
I’ve got my skin looking really good for the first time in a while, so I probably shouldn’t mess with it too much, LOL! What’s working for me is:
The Body Shop Aloe Calming Face Wash
A toner that’s pretty much just aloe juice
Silk Naturals Green Tea and Aloe Hydrating Serum
Stratia Liquid Gold moisturizer
CosRx Honey Overnight Mask
Plus eye cream. I did just get a sample of a toner I’ve been wanting to try from Benton with aloe and 0.5% BHA (I used to use the Clinique Mild Clarifying lotion, which was eliminated and replaced with something that burned my skin), and a Benton aloe / propolis gel. Aloe and Propolis seem to be working for me lately.
1. My beloved Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs. I’ve used it on and off for ages, and haven’t had any in a while. It makes me feel peaceful when I use it.
2. Le Weekend de Chanel is on my dream list. I have sensitive skin with rosacea, and I found this to be the strongest thing I can handle. It’s effective enough to show real results, but doesn’t irritate.
3. La Solution 19 de Chanel is also on my dream list. Gets the job done, and it leaves a beautiful finish on the skin I haven’t seen from another face cream.
Honestly, I’ve toyed with the idea of dumping all my steps and just going with the two Chanel products. Together, they do my skin right. The wallet can’t handle it at the moment, but maybe someday. I love the simplicity of this idea.
Whoops–Solution 10. I was thinking of my perfume as I wrote that 19. Ha.
Chiming in to praise Paula’s Choice! In addition to offering trial sizes, they are constantly sending out promotional offers – free shipping for any purchase, % off, GWP, etc. Just create an account and you should start getting emails. I use their C serum; it’s very good, but going from the drunk elephant to the Paula’s Choice is an adjustment re: texture. My wish list is for their Resist spf 50 moisturizer. I am using up the trial size and the half bottle of CeraVe I have before I buy it, but it works wonderfully for my dry, mature skin, and is great under makeup!
I’ve been on the kbeauty bandwagon for a while, and I want:
1. Banila Clean It Zero
2. Corsx Lightening Vitamin C Serum
3. Laniege Sleeping Mask
4. All the sheet masks. I like the cheap ones (less than $2).
Have you tried the Laniege lip mask for night? It’s some kind of witchcraft because my lips are super dry (like peeling , cracking, bleeding dry), and they are baby soft after using this once.
Someone praised Timeless upthread, and I want to chime in on that praise – I use their Vit C serum, because like you, I couldn’t spring on that Skinceuticals serum… and the Timless one is a perfect dupe. For 25$. Love it, it’s one of my HGs.
Hi Dorit,
Thanks for the rec. That’s a great price! I wonder if it’s just as effective as Skinceuticals, hmmm…
All these comments are so interesting and informative!! I just purchased over the holidays a lot of Dr. Perricone, and also skin ceuticles, Drunk Elephant, Skin Medica TNS products because I couldn’t resist all the sales and wanted to get on a good skincare routine for 2018. I also purchased a lot of beauty tools on sale, so I need to get everything organized so if something is working, I know what it is, as some of the products I purchased overlap each other! So will have to methodically implement my skincare routine. Also, I’ve heard most people who use liquid, powder, and supplement/capsule collagen for about a year are really pleased with their results – enough to continue its use.
Hi Amy,
I’d love to hear how the Skin Medica TNS works for you. Someone recommended that line of products to me a while back and I’ve been wondering if they’re any good.
GURL, my list is long AF!
My biggies rn are Vintners Daughter and NIOD everything. There are a few things I want from the Deciem in general. I’m also wanting to try everything from Jordan Samuel, MUN, De Meil, May Lindstrom, Pacific, Allies of Skin, and Fresh’s new Lotus mask.
I’m also dying to try Klaris Blue serum and SPF. I need to get my hands on some other Korean products too, they are usually great! The only line so far I’ve tried that hasn’t worked for me is Make Prem.
Hi Erin,
Everyone (including me) seems to have Vitner’s Daughter on their list. Gahh, want!
I am constantly on the look out for a great eye cream for mature, dehydrated under eyes…it wouldn’t hurt if it also assisted with my dark circles and puffiness LOL
I just picked up a new eye cream from Volition on Sephora, highly rated and highly recommended…so here’s hoping (crosses fingers)
I would also love to try the Biologique Recherche P50 1970 Lotion, maybe this year I’ll pull the trigger!
Sometimes I also think we use too many products on our faces…my bathroom counter looks like a pharmacy! I look at women of a certain age in my life (step mom/mother in law) who look wonderful and they grew up on Ivory soap and Oil of Olay. I mean how much of a good thing is too much?
Best Lisa
@LittleMama71
Hi Lisa,
I finally got my bottle of P50 1970, woo hoo! I opened it last night to try it and MAN! It’s stinky. It smells like mouthwash and melted cough drops. LOL
Funny that you should mention Oil of Olay, because I remember both my grandma and my mom using Oil of Olay back in the day (when it was in the pink bottle). They’ve both aged so gracefully, too.
Hey Karen. After reading Beautyeditor.ca I bought the Lotion P70- the original version. I used it straight up and boy, did it hurt. And I already use Retin-A and Paula’s Chice BHA Lotion. But my skin wasn’t ready for this bad boy! I can’t tell you how bad it stung and how crappy my skin looked. I stopped using it. I decided after about a month to try again but to take the advice I saw given originally by Beautyeditor.ca and that was to dilute it by wetting a cotton pad and then adding the Lotion p70. Omg now my skin looks amazing. And I’ve started using it full strength on my nose and diluting less everywhere else. It really works- if you don’t go hog wild at first and think Less is More!
Hi Stef,
The bottle I ordered arrived (finally, it feels like I’ve been waiting for years) and couldn’t wait to try it so I used it little on my forehead last night since I was nervous about trying it all over my face. It didn’t really sting too bad in that area, but I think that might be because I’ve been kinda prepping my skin for it by using these 10% glycolic pads from BeautyRX. I’ll probably end up diluting it though for the rest of my face, since everything below my forehead is sensitive. Thank you bunches for the tip to wet my cotton pad first.
What do you think of the scent, by the way? I really hate it. LOL
Hi Karen,
I adore your blog- thanks for giving your honest feedback and keeping things fun! (I’m 33 and no next-to-nothing about makeup, so your blog is a learning reference for me!) I do, however, know tons about skincare. So I hope you don’t mind if I share.
On Vitamin C: there are at least seven different forms. L-Asorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ascorbyl glucosamine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. L-Asorbic Acid (LAA) has the most research behind it that proves its effectiveness as an anti-oxidant, as a skin brightener, and for fine lines. However, in order effectively penetrate the upper layers of the skin it needs a very low pH (Skinceuticals patent is for a pH of under 3.5). Additionally LAA is notoriously unstable- it needs a cool, dark, air-free environment and even then it will still oxidize. To optimally use a LAA serum you’d want to apply it first thing after you cleanse (when face is dry, not damp) and let it sit for 15 minutes before applying any other layers. And unlike some blogger advice out there please do not use exfoliating toners after your VitC- putting a pro-oxidant acid on after an anti-oxidant serum completely negates the effects. (You could use your exfoliating toner first after cleansing, then wait 15 minutes for it to neutralize then apply your LLA serum and wait another 15 minutes before finishing your routine. But who has time for that? If you end of loving your P50, just alternate it with your VitC every other morning. VitC stays bio-available for 72 hrs so alternating days is fine.)
All the other forms of Vitamin C are trying to correct some of these deficiencies (stability, pH range, depth of absorption, water vs oil soluble). Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THA) is oil-soluble making it both more stable and it penetrates into the deeper layers of skin (promoting collagen formation in the dermis thus also effective for deeper lines). An example of a THA serum is Sunday Riley’s. (The blogger FutureDerm also makes a VitC serum with both LAA and THA.) The most exciting new form is 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid: it’s both water and oil soluble, extremely stable, and just 2% was shown to be as effective at brightening as 15% LAA and because it also penetrates into the dermis it promotes collagen formation as well as THA. A examples of a 3-O-EAA serum is Algenist GENIUS Vitamin C+, which is going to be 50% off at Ulta on this Sunday 1/14. (Dr. Dennis Gross and Farmacy also have 3-O-EAA serums.)
The golden rule with skincare seems to be “your mileage may vary”. So I can’t tell you which form of VitC your skin will love best. You have to experiment.
I’ve written a mini-thesis here, so I won’t comment on retinoids as other users have given you solid advice about spooling up slowly. I will say, you may want to look into Azelaic Acid in lieu of hydroquinone. Unfortunately the effective concentrations (15% gel, 20% cream) are only available via a dermatologist Rx in the US. However, azelaic acid is a do-it-all wunderkind. It brightens hyperpigmentation, it exfoliates *gently enough for sensitive skin and rosacea patients*, and it is anti-bacterial making it possibly the only topical that has been shown to help with cystic acne. (I wouldn’t recommend The Ordinary’s version- it’s a lower % and so silicon heavy that its impractical.)
Thanks for being awesome and best wishes for a great 2018!