Help with skin care

[JenW]

Sorry Colleen for hijacking your threat a little, but Jen:

Was I supposed to dilute the kiss sample? OMG, I wondered why the Kiss cleanser was so concentrated. I liked it, but wondered why I always felt it was a little too much cleaner. Now I know. Is it better to use the foamer then not? What's the benefit?

I think it has a lighter texture of foam if it is diluted a little....even my DD (12y) loves it and uses it. By diluting it...it does last longer....my DD and I together use about one bottle every 6 months. And by diluting it, it cuts down on the amount of cleaning power/product used, which is easier on your skin if it is sensitive. There is less chance of the skin feeling stripped.

I am not exactly sure how this cleanser was born. My previous HG cleanser was one from Lancome that came in a foamer bottle. And I had put hints to Karen that a foaming cleanser was something I would love. I am not sure it was just my request that led to KISS Cleanser and a foamer.....but I even recently threw away a Lancome Cleanser because the KISS works so much better and is prefume and paraben free.

[krenee]

Are acids like BHA/AHA good for skin that is already red? My skin is red most of the time in the cheeks and nose area. I used to think it was rosacea, but it is not. It's broken capillaries and capillaries too close to the surface because of too much sun and tanning - I realize that now. I've always avoided AHAs because I figured it would make it more red. My skin is much better and less red when it is calm. After cleansing and showering, it is red, but sometimes when I get up in the morning it is calm and hardly red at all. When Karen mentions "dehydrated, fussy skin" - yeah, that's pretty much me.
So what I have is dry skin in cold weather - more combo skin in warmer weather - fine lines around eyes - a few deeper lines in forehead - the redness - dark undereye circles, although I don't have puffy bags under my eyes. The redness and wrinkles are what bother me the most. My skin used to break out, but rarely does any more. (knock on wood) I think mmu and getting away from some of the skin care and cosmetic products I was using went a long way in getting rid of breakouts, along with my skin getting drier as I get older too.
So what would be best? I'd rather start with the best bets than sampling everything. My skin is really dry in the winter. Will something like oatmeal serum and intensive moisturizer be enough?

[Rhys]

It might be, and you could try the new winter moisturiser too - the Daily Defense one. The firming has the advantage of having Reovage in it, which helps most people's skin conditions and is great for anti-aging, but the DD looks good, too. Grab samples of the Firming, Intensive, and DD - it won't cost you much.

I've been using DMAE, Oatmeal Serum mixed with argan oil, and a moisturiser over top of that. I don't get much red, but as the weather gets colder and drier, my exfoliation is a facial loofah once a week - that's all my skin will cope with. The AHA is very mild, but I can't use it this time of year because it's too irritating for me. I suppose you could pick up a sample but I'd wait on it, i think.

The Oatmeal is really good for dry, irritated, red skin.

[Colleen]

What is the difference in the face lift serum and the super serum?

[Rhys]

The short version is that the DMAE is better at treating wrinkles and skin firming, and the Super Serum is better for sun protection, anti-oxidant, and breakouts. They both have skin healing qualities in them, but it depends where your focus is.

When I can afford both I use both, when I can't, I use DMAE, as I need skin firming and don't need break-out prevention or healing. But they both do more than just that.

If you can only pick one, it depends on your skin. As a rule, I'd say over 40 or 45, go with DMAE, younger go with Super Serum, but there are so many individual factors that it's difficult to say for certain.

[Colleen]

Thanks for the reply. I was having problems with break outs, but since I started using the sn foundation my skin is looking really great. For now I might just go with a sample of each and see what I like.

[Rhys]

Sounds like a plan, though if you're like me, you'll probably love them both. Just make sure not to use acids with the Super Serum - it'll make your face go red. So if you want to use the AHA or BHA toners use those at night and Super Serum in the morning - and check to make sure that your face wash, toner, etc don't have salicyclic acid in them - maybe it's just a local craze (I'm in Western Canada), but a lot of skincare products are touting that as a benefit lately.

[Colleen]

Sounds like a plan, though if you're like me, you'll probably love them both. Just make sure not to use acids with the Super Serum - it'll make your face go red. So if you want to use the AHA or BHA toners use those at night and Super Serum in the morning - and check to make sure that your face wash, toner, etc don't have salicyclic acid in them - maybe it's just a local craze (I'm in Western Canada), but a lot of skincare products are touting that as a benefit lately.

Thanks, I will keep that in mind. Right now my cleanser does have salicylic acid in it, but I am ordering the kiss cleanser.

[krenee]

It might be, and you could try the new winter moisturiser too - the Daily Defense one. The firming has the advantage of having Reovage in it, which helps most people's skin conditions and is great for anti-aging, but the DD looks good, too. Grab samples of the Firming, Intensive, and DD - it won't cost you much.

I've been using DMAE, Oatmeal Serum mixed with argan oil, and a moisturiser over top of that. I don't get much red, but as the weather gets colder and drier, my exfoliation is a facial loofah once a week - that's all my skin will cope with. The AHA is very mild, but I can't use it this time of year because it's too irritating for me. I suppose you could pick up a sample but I'd wait on it, i think.

The Oatmeal is really good for dry, irritated, red skin.

My skin will tolerate manual exfoliation, like scrubs, in moderation, although I know it doesn't do anything for the redness - makes it worse of course... The texture of my skin seems to need it though. I get rough texture and it just seems to need that exfoliation to get anywhere on keeping the smooth texture to my skin, KWIM?
I've always avoided AHAs though, since a derm told me it would do nothing for the redness in my skin besides make it worse. So I don't know - might be better not to push my luck at the moment. I do need the anti aging and moisturizing stuff though, too.
Thanks for the advice, Rhys.

[JenW]

Hey K,
FWIW....I have redness, too, and the AHA does not seem to make it any worse.....and from using the AHA the texture if my skin is much better. Try a sample.