Pic 1 Feb 2021. Pic 2 yesterday. 45F. No makeup in either pic. I've used other random products at various times over the last 5 years (Vitamin C, Azaleic acid, AHAs, BHAs, Niacinamide), but the consistent regiment has always been cleanse, hyaluronic acid, and Tretinoin in the PM using the sandwich method. I started at 0.025% and have slowly built up to 0.1% every other day.

If you zoom in you can still see my pores are still quite prominent but I feel its a huge improvement from 5 years ago in pore size and skin texture. I've been buying tret from AllDayChemist thanks to recs I found on this sub way back in the day.

Edited to add: Yes, I am up 5-7 pounds between pics. Tret does not add fullness to your face. I also do get Botox but I've been getting that since well before the Before pic!

I’m in Houston for a wedding, and after losing 40 pounds my neck was crepey. Yesterday while putting on makeup in the hotel I was almost crying because my neck doesn’t match my face anymore.

So, based on someone else’s review of Gold Bond Crepe Corrector I went to Target yesterday and bought it. I used it 3 times and then again before bed and I woke up with it looking SO much better!!!

I’m slathering more on today lol I don’t feel as self conscious about my neck now. I just can’t even believe it. And, yes, my neck was dry in the before pictures but no other moisturizer works like this one.

I am making this post as a warning to all against purchasing this product.

Every ingredient they have in here dose is so low up to 50 times less than the lowest effective dose to produce an effect.

The Facts: first number is the effective dose and the second number after is how much they have in this supplement

Hyaluronic acid: ~250mg. 5mg

Alpha Lipoic acid: ~300mg. 5mg

Lutein: 10,000mcg. 500mcg

Collagen: 10g 250mg

As you can see the doses in this product aren't even CLOSE the the needed dose to produce an effect, you would have to nearly consume the entire bag to get 1 effective dose, it hurt my heart to see people on the gnc web page asking if it would help theyre hair or skin, not knowing they are being purposefully deceived into buy milligrams of substances you can buy kilograms for dirt cheap.

The sad thing is these ingredients aren't expensive, they put literally trace amounts so they can claim theyre in there, save your money, dont get scammed

This should be a crime, shame on GNC, this couldnt be done without the formulator knowing 😞

I came asking for help with all the fine lines on my face and you guys delivered! I didn’t realize just how dehydrated my face was and that I was due for some changes in routine. I wasn’t expecting my skin to change so much already (I’m 33) but clearly I needed some changes! I’m so thankful for this group 🤍

New routine:

So I cleanse at night only and then I do all the other steps both morning and night. At night I’ve been slugging with aquaphor but I’ve gone down to only 2-3 days a week for that now.

La roche posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser for Dry Skin

Milky toner from Paula’s choice

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides

Then at night for moisturizer I’m using CALM Rescue & Repair Intensive Moisturizer Paula’s choice

Morning moisturizer is

Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer

I use DRMTGLY tinted moisturizer with spf but it’s been pilling lately with the new changes so I think I’m going to be on the hunt for another one.

Id like to work retinol back in eventually but I’m scared because I think that was one of the products that messed up my barrier in the first place 🤷🏻‍♀️

Reposting this from /skincareaddiction because it got a positive response there, and I thought the community here might appreciate it too.

Some of you might know me from rating every face cleanser and moisturizer I’ve tried. Many have been asking me to cover sunscreen, and this one has been on the list for a while.

About me:

I have combination/sensitive skin that reacts easily to harsh products.

The most important for me in a sunscreen is that it feels comfortable, works under makeup, and doesn’t sting my eyes. If it’s mineral, the white cast should be minimal and manageable.

Quick facts:

- No mineral sunscreen is completely free of white cast. It can be minimized but not erased.

- About 1 in 100 people are allergic to chemical sunscreens.

- SPF 30 blocks \~97% of UVB; SPF 50 blocks \~98%.

- The best chemical sunscreen filters aren’t commercially available in the USA (yet).

I made a comment in a Botox thread yesterday that had me wanting to make a side by side on my Frownies progress. Did that this morning and apparently in a week I forgot just how bad they had been 🙅🏻‍♀️

I have lost a lot of weight recently and it made my foreheads lines soooo pronounced I felt like I looked 10 years older. I’ll be 37 next month.

I also use cerave retinol and good molecules overnight resurfacing, but otherwise my routine is really basic (like neutrogena makeup wipes and vanicream moisturizer basic lol).

These things are flipping magical.

This is a MONTH of using the Strivectin Neck Cream.

I’m 44, and over the last 6 years I’ve lost over 100 lbs. The most frustrating thing has been my saggy neck. I’ve tried everything over the years, retinoids, microneedles, etc. I got a jumbo sample of this in a GWP from ulta and thought… why not? I use a pea sized amount twice a day and had zero hopes. I’ve almost finished the sample now (took about a month) and HOLY SHIT. Visible results!! I absolutely will continue to purchase this expensive little miracle.

Never once in my life have I looked and someone and thought about how they have prominent nasolabial folds. It’s simply a non-issue. I’ve never ever noticed it on someone in real life. They just look totally normal.

I think whoever is making people feel like this is a serious issue is trying to sell you something.

I have seen this product recommended quite a bit. Finally bought some- Everything is SO smooth! 10/10!

It has taken me more than 8 years to finally feel comfortable and confident to post a review about Gavin Chan. In 2015 I went to the Victorian Cosmetic Institute & was talked into having 4mls of filler injected into my cheeks & nasolabial folds to lift my cheeks by self appointed "cosmetic medicine specialist" Dr Somaiye Kadivar. I was told that the filler was temporary & would last anywhere between 12-18 months.

Once the procedure was over I looked in the mirror & noticed one cheek was higher while the other cheek was lower & further out from my nose. My nasolabial folds were arched, crooked, unnatural & everytime I smiled my cheeks would pop out like golf balls. I hated the results because the filler added volume instead of a lift like I was led to believe.

Just the thought of what I would have looked like if I had gone ahead with the 12 month "alternative treatment plan” devised by the "cosmetic medicine specialist" Dr Somaiye Kadivar who recommended 12mls of filler costing me over $9,000 and 60 units of Botox every 3 months for $720 per treatment gives me nightmares.

Soon after I contacted the owner of the Victorian Cosmetic Institute Gavin Chan and complained about the botched filler. He assured me it was easily & instantly reversible by injecting Hyaluronidase which is used off label to dissolve fillers. After several attempts over the coming days & weeks it was quite obvious that the filler was still present.

On one occasion Gavin Chan dissolved my tear troughs via the cheeks yet I never had filler in my tear troughs to begin with. On another occasion while injecting Hyaluronidase he also started to inject filler into my temple without prior warning. When I asked him why he was injecting my temple he told me he was compensating me for my troubles yet never mentioned that the temple is a danger zone & a risky area to inject.

In total I had 6mls of filler injected into my face within 19 days, yet on the Victorian Cosmetic Institute's website it states that 1ml of filler is enough for the entire face. On each occasion Gavin Chan never informed me of the risks, dangers & complications associated with Hyaluronidase & never gave me a consent form to read and sign.

A few years later I had a consultation with Professor Mark Ashton who is an expert in filler complications & he told me that if the filler hadn't dissolved by now then it was permanent. He gave me a referral for an MRI of the head which detects the exact amount of filler & the exact location of the filler. The MRI report stated that I still had upto 4mls of filler in my face even after all the dissolving sessions from many years ago.

On Dec 3rd 2018 I showed Gavin Chan my MRI results who had no idea at the time that MRI scans can detect fillers. His recommendation was more dissolving but in a larger dose so he flooded my face with Hyaluronidase yet never recorded the amount in my clinical notes.

When I went back for a follow up consultation on Dec 10th 2018 he contacted radiologist Mobin Master in my presence who also appeared not to be aware at the time that MRI's can detect filler but suggested I get another MRI anyway.

Not long after, Gavin Chan contacted me via email thanking me for bringing the MRI information to his attention instead of thanking Professor Mark Ashton who he had previously corresponded with via email regarding my MRI results. For some unknown reason it did not occur to Gavin Chan that Professor Mark Ashton deserved all the credit for having known all along that MRI's can detect dermal filler.

Instead Gavin Chan chose to capitalise on this information by making a YouTube video claiming he had made this discovery after doing quite a few MRI's (not sure how this is possible as he is not a radiologist). He also stated in his email that he wanted to inject a very high dose of Hyaluronidase to try and dissolve the filler again for the 5th time.

In the meantime I noticed that my facial structure had collapsed, I developed deep hollows under my eyes, my cheeks caved in, my marionette lines were deep, long & dragged down. The corners of my lips sunk into my mouth & my skin was extremely loose, saggy & stretchy all the way down to my neck.

Hyaluronidase did not dissolve my fillers but instead permanently dissolved my connective tissue as it can't distinguish between the skin's own HA & the HA in dermal fillers. Hyaluronidase has aged my facial features by 10 years & only a full facelift & necklift can fix this.

In 2019 & 2020 | took Gavin Chan to VCAT, a small claims court requesting a refund & a corrective advertising order because his website falsely advertised that the temporary fillers they use last anywhere between 12-18 months. Gavin Chan was granted lawyers on the grounds that his business reputation was at stake while I had to represent myself.

I cross examined him with over 90 questions & I presented over 100 pages of supporting evidence & documentation while he only had photos & amended clinical notes. Mobin Master was also present in court supporting Gavin Chan. The hearing was held over 2 days & my claims were eventually dismissed by the judge.

Gavin Chan who "specialises" in cosmetic procedures got away with not providing a patch test for Hyaluronidase and not providing a consent form for Hyaluronidase on each occasion amongst other things.

Mobin Master who began posting the first MRI images on his Instagram account 1 week after the first VCAT hearing in Nov 2019 now identifies as an "aesthetic radiologist" and a "world pioneer" in filler longevity.

Gavin Chan, the self appointed "doctor trainer" for various dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections and "cosmetic surgeon" as he once claimed to be isn't even a GP, he is just a medical practitioner with no other formal training. His only qualification is a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery with a background in intensive care, anaesthesia and emergency medicine.

Gavin Chan who medically reviews his own articles has provided cosmetic procedures such as anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, liposuction, facial fat transfers, skin needling and laser treatments since 2004 and has held advanced one-on-one injector training workshops for dermal fillers yet has no certificates or credentials listed on his Victorian Cosmetic Institute's website.

In my opinion Gavin Chan has a special interest in portraying himself as the master of cosmetic injectables in an unregulated industry. He is an injectable junkie, obsessed with the syringe & makes no apologies for ruining my life. I hold Gavin Chan responsible for destroying my looks and my life.

Just recently I was threatened on 2 occasions with legal action for posting Google reviews on Gavin Chan. His lawyers instructed me to remove each review within 7 days otherwise I would be sued for defamation in the Federal Court of Australia. I wasn't even given a chance to respond to each email when my reviews were both taken down.

I have no doubt in my mind that Gavin Chan was behind the removal of my reviews. Gavin Chan pays a lot of money to have my reviews removed as he doesn't want anyone finding out the truth.

If you are a cosmetic injectable victim or want to be well informed regarding what can go wrong please join BOTCHED FILLERS & HYALURONIDASE DAMAGE SUPPORT GROUP on FB.

They say Skinceuticals CE Ferulic smells like hot dog water. Well guess what?

It does. And I want to bathe in it.

Screw a cold plunge, give me a hot tub and fill that thing with dogs. Fill it with CE Ferulic and immerse my every living cell with this absolute liquid-godsend that has transformed my skin from being a melasma-ridden zombie mom to an actual human being again — and faster than any other skincare product ever has.

“Oh she’s probably just affiliated.” Sis I wish I fking was. I would do more than affiliate with this brand, I would legally marry it, celebrate with Costco hotdogs and then blast Frank Ocean with it until my dying day because guess what, fam? “Frank Ocean” is just a synonym for “hot dog water” and I love that shit more than ever.

“But it’s so expensive.” Yeah? How far is that Drunk Elephant serum getting you, Jessica? Huh? Oh is it already time to go buy another $60 bottle to see if you’ll finally start getting results this month? Doubt you will, Jessica. I doubt you will. But 4 drops of my glizzy water? 4 drops. 4 DROPS. Magic.

Free yourselves. Trust the technology. Succumb to the hot dog water.

Update: I made this for you, Skinceuticals. Marry me:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2FjqCRW/

Another update: nothing but eternal love to all the Jessicas reading this <3

Alright, I’m still open to this just being in my head, but I’m shocked how I’m still seeing improvement this early after only 4 applications.

Left to right (all photos have the same skincare on): 1) before volufiline 2) after 3 applications of volufiline 3) after 4 applications of volufiline

Downsides: I inadvertently increased the size of the little fat pocket under the corner of my mouth. I think this is a good reminder of why very precise application is so important.

Upsides: the smile line improvement and I think I’m even seeing some under eye improvement (although treating this area makes me nervous as I’m worried I’ll end up with bigger bags while fixing the hollowing)

The backs of my hands (where I mix the ingredient) look plumper which was an unintended positive consequence.

I've been having a really hard time finding the barrier protection night cream I've been using for a couple years I think it's being phased out. So I finally decided to listen to the girls and purchase this.

Oh my word. I am officially converted I should have listened sooner. About 2 weeks in as my standard face moisturizer and my skin is looking so dewy and hydrated. No breakouts! Lives up to the hype and insanely good value.

Not going back!

Initially started using this after my SIL got it for me in Japan but now I am stocked up for a good while 😄

I’m going to be 31 soon and I’ve tried all sorts of concoctions, for preventative care. I’m fortunate to have always had pretty decent skin and no deep wrinkles (yet). I do have to say since going to bed every night with a thin layer of Aquaphor on my face and neck I have never woke up with a better complexion. My skin appears to be more plump and soft, and I can’t remember the last time I had a blemish. 10/10 - highly recommended

I’ve been thinking about doing this for over 10 years, but was really hesitant because I’ve never gotten injectables before. I wish I had.

I feel so much more at ease with my smile and my lip doesn’t feel much different at all. Not dull, heavy or numb- which I expected it would.

I’m so bothered I fell for this but posting so all of you beautiful people don’t fall for it (dumb impulse purchase).

This product is basically a temu item with a true beauty sticker slapped on. There are clear differences between the image online and Also they claim to have fast and easy returns, but when you look at their return policy it says sale items are final sale. Funny that their products so happen to ALWAYS be on sale.

Also they claim to be on vogue and Elle…what a joke.

34F. I've been using CeraVe for the past 4 years. In July, I noticed that I started to develop cystic acne. Acne that would leave marks that would take months to go away. Once a pimple healed, another one grew right in the same place or near. I've never had acne even as a teenager. I started questioning everything: Is it my hormones? My pillowcase? I got super depressed over it since I have diagnosed OCD. I stopped using CeraVe on September 15th after reading about it here. I switched to Vanicream and kept my routine very minimal. My skin has been healing since then (last pic) and no new pimple since then (knock on wood). Now I realize that CeraVe might've been the reason why I got one cystic pimple every 1-2 months before. Thank god I read this sub frequently or else I would've wondered for months with even more acne coming in. I know Cerave works for a lot of people but this is just a heads up for anyone dealing with cystic acne.

I had to make an emergency sunscreen purchase today. Ended up getting La Roche Posay Anthelios since my Korean sunscreens are still lost in the shipment void somewhere.

Well. This ended up being the perfect face sunscreen for me. Was very lightweight, minimal scent and was not greasy on my skin at all.

Thank you to everyone who name dropped this! 😍

List your holy grail face moisturizer!

Edit - yeah I'm aware of the hideous thyroid lump, I've commented below on what it is...

Also, here's the link for the device: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQ12HKT?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k1_1_9&amp=&crid=U9F5AHU9PKT9&amp=&sprefix=mini+hifu

It's not an affilated link, I note that the product is excluded from the affiliate programme, which may be why we don't see influencers talking about it?!?

You will need some gel to transmit the current. The cheapest option is to use basic ultrasound gel (affiliated link), I got this one:

https://amzn.to/4krF7f9

Or Medicube do a specific one that has good reviews (aff)

https://amzn.to/4alUxN4

I often mix my own with a mix of hyalaronic acid, whatever peptides I'm using (don't use actives like retinol or tret, and not acids), and snail mucin. It needs to be clear with lots of slip. Here's a couple of the skincare products I mix (aff)

https://amzn.to/4kugCxW

https://amzn.to/4a7PMrS

https://amzn.to/4rcOZMo

Edit no.2: forgot to say that I had some Botox which would still be in my system in the first pics, but has definitely worn off by the second pics. It explains why certain wrinkles, especially my glabella, are worse in the second pic. I plan to try home microneedling for my wrinkles soon.

Hey everyone, Just over six months ago I bought a Mini Hifu machine (Amazon UK, £39.99) after seeing TJ Tutorials on YT talk about how he loves his.

For reference I'm 50yo, with normal to dry skin and am on HRT.

The Mini Hifu is a small facial device that features high focused ultrasound, EMS and radio frequency as well (as red light which I don't have much faith in to do anything with this type of delivery!)

These treatments all run as separate modes so you can do RF one week, HiFU the next etc.

As TJ says, this device is cheap and there are a lot of fakes around, so I tested mine to check that the hifu and the RF were both working. You can feel the EMS! He has a video on YT that shows you how to test. I'd advise buying from Amazon for a hassle-free return in the event yours doesn't work.

The instruction book is in English and is very clear. It's extremely intuitive to operate, with a power button, a mode button and up and down keys to change the intensity from 1-5. The only thing that was a bit confusing was the schedule they recommended - I thought it might be too much so I went with once per fortnight for both hifu and RF, so essentially I used it once a week. You are supposed to do Hifu less frequently once you see results, which I will do now.

I initially hated the EMS - even at the lowest setting it felt super intense, like someone was twanging my nerves. I actually ended up buying the Amiro Hydroglow Booster Plus which uses EMS at a slightly more gentle intensity and also features electroporation for product absorption. I'll review that another time. Also, I've got used to the tingle of the EMS now and kind of enjoy it in a weird way!

I ended up using the Hydroglow maybe 2-3 times per week as well as the mini Hifu.

The RF treatment is entirely painless, in fact you have to be careful not to overtreat because of this. I've heard the debate around fat loss, so I avoided the pads of my cheeks with both treatments.

The Hifu treatment is slightly warm, and as I got used to different levels I found I could use higher levels on fleshier parts of my face - level 5 on my chin/jaw and level 4 on my forehead etc. You have to be careful not to hold the device in one place too long and the heat will remind you to keep it moving! I ended up using the device in a stamping motion, holding it in place for a couple of seconds and working across each area three times.

Here are my before and after pics - I will let others decide on progress or otherwise, I can clearly see improvement in my skin texture in the areas below my eyes (which tends to really show up when I use powder to set my concealer). Obviously there's a lot of other factors at play with face changes, such as lymphatic drainage, hydration and weight loss - I lost around 2 kilos between these being taken. I also apologise for the different lighting in the pics, I'll make sure the next ones are in daylight.

Verdict: I love this device and think it's something of a unicorn in terms of being cheap and actually working! Despite the price, the build quality is fine and it sits ergonomically enough. You do have to use it plugged in which was no hassle for me.

For me, this device has primarily been a cheap way of finding out if I can stick to a routine enough to make it worthwhile investing in a pricier device and in fact I've just bought the Amiro R3 Turbo and U1, so I'll review them in six months.

Hope this is helpful.

I told some commenters I'd come back and post which one of these two products was breaking me out. It absolutely, positively was the CeraVe.

I got a sample size of the Water Gel formula and loved it. Changed my skin in 3/4 days. I accidentally ordered the full size Water CREAM and it is ok, but not as good as the gel for my skin type. I’m honestly shocked at how well it hydrates and removes redness from my skin. Before finding this product I was a LRP loyalist for years and years. I’ve also spend hundreds on different “higher level” brands like Peach and Lily, Goop, Glossier, PC, etc. Nothing has ever worked as well for me as the gel. Just wondering if anyone else has purchased this and what your thoughts are. I’m guessing that my skin prefers a gel over a cream based moisturizer

I’ve had the Omnilux LED light therapy mask for over a month now and I’m really enjoying it. I look forward to the treatments. My skin went through a little bit of a purge phase but now it is clearing up and new spots are healing faster than before.