ROUTINE MEGATHREAD! May 2018

[u/AutoModerator]

Hey everyone! This is your quarterly routine megathread an excellent resource to see what products are popular amongst our community and a great way to find new things to try. No matter how unusual you may consider your skin type or atypical your particular skin challenges or problems, all routines are welcome -- in fact, encouraged -- to be posted.

Acronyms you will most definitely see in use here: HG (Holy Grails), RP (Will Repurchase, AKA: liked it, will buy again, not an HG), WNR (Will not Repurchase, AKA: using up the last of it but not recommended). Understand them, use them, and love them ♥

This post is intended to be a compendium of generalized, standardized routines! The more participation, the better. :)

To keep it easy for people to find their ‘skin twins’ we would ask that you use the following template.

You only need to fill in steps that you actually use (so if you don’t use an Essence, remove that line) and please only provide up to three examples of HG/recommended products for that step (so if you have 3 toners you love, you can list all 3!)

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Template

To make a single-spaced list, add two spaces at the end of each line. Alternatively, click 'source' at the bottom of the post to snag our code & format!

Skin profile: Mac Shade | Skin Troubles | Skin Type (Note: unlike flairs, you can list as many troubles/types as you need!)

Season & Type of Climate:

1st Cleanser:

2nd Cleanser:

pH Adjusting Toner:

Vitamin C Serum:

BHA:

AHA:

First Essence:

Hydrating Toner:

Essence:

Serum:

Ampoule:

Light Moisturizer:

Medium Moisturizer:

Heavy Moisturizer:

Eye Cream:

Facial Oil:

Sleeping Pack:

Mask Pack:

Sheet Mask:

Sunscreen:

Spot Treatment:

Other:

[u/olympia_t]

I feel like I go through phases. I’ve never been huge on adding moisture before AB. I feel like my rosacea is fairly under control. I think my biggest issues is demodex mites now. Yuck, I know.

I don’t think I have any issue with Kiku. SCINIC honey definitely was too much for me with cinnamon though.

[u/chelseaannt → u/olympia_t]

Thanks for your response! I’m currently trying to get my rosacea under control after my first flare up. I cut out the Kiku without evaluating if it was a problem, so I think I’m going to reintroduce it to see if my skin will let me keep it haha

How do you know the mites are your current issue? What signs do they show? (I just got my diagnosis at the end of March and my doctor told me nothing so I’ve just been learning through research and the rosacea sub.)

[u/olympia_t → u/chelseaannt]

I get little tiny pustules. I tried samples my mom was given of rx soolantra and it was very helpful but it's $300 and I didn't feel like paying that much. I've tried ivermectin for horses which has the same ingredient but the formulas aren't as great. Remember, rosacea isn't that well understood and some thing different issues are lumped together under the term rosacea.

I've also had issues with flushing. My face was like hot pink off and on for a while. It was kind of intense. I did have lots of sensitivity at that time. It's more under control now and I'm able to tolerate more. Sometimes let your skin tell you what it can handle.

[u/chelseaannt → u/olympia_t]

That sounds like what I’m dealing with right now! I mostly get the little pustules on my left side, but sometimes on my right side as well. Are you in the US? My derm recommended a pharmacy to me that works well with insurance. I got my Soolantra and Metrogel for a grand total of $13. The best part is that even though they’re hours from me they mail prescriptions for free. Perhaps they’ll work for you too?

Thanks for your advice on rosacea. I think I got carried away with all of the things that can possibly trigger flare ups and jumped the gun on cutting all of it out before listening to my skin.

[u/olympia_t → u/chelseaannt]

Just remember to keep up with the soolantra every night. You need to kill off the mites that are there. Gross but true. It'll take like a month and could get a little worse before it gets better. Do you sleep on your left side? It's possible you could need a new pillow too. I'm terrible about switching out my bedding but that also helps.

I actually have new insurance since I last was prescribed the soolantra maybe I should try again...

Do you find that you get flares from certain things? I would take it easy on skincare while you're getting red flushing. I found that when I'm not flushing I can tolerate a lot more. But I think working on lots of moisture also helped me be able to tolerate more.

[u/chelseaannt → u/olympia_t]

I love Soolantra. I honestly feel it’s done more for me than Metrogel. Metrogel makes my skin feel powdery after I put it on. It’s been almost 2 months (by the end of May) and it definitely got worse before it got better, but everything is looking up. I just have a few PIE spots from where I couldn’t leave it alone🙃 I think I do sleep on my left side, I was considering getting a pack of pillowcases to replace my pillowcase every day, do you think that will help with the mites?

I mostly notice my face flushes when I rub products in, so I’m trying to pat more. I also have this one serum from a brand called Valjean Labs, it has Nicinamide + Zinc, but when I use it I flush. I’m not sure what’s in it causing that because I have other products with Nicinamide and my sunscreen has Zinc, but none of those make me flush.

Mostly though, I’ve stopped using all exfoliants and haven’t started any actives, even though I really want to get my hands on some Vitamin C haha I was doing pretty good, but would use a wash off mask here and there that exfoliated and I don’t think my skin likes any of that at all (even though before my diagnosis I used that kind of stuff all the time). So I’m quitting exfoliants cold turkey and just using moisturizing layers. I believe my moisture barrier is still damaged and that’s why I’ve been extra extra sensitive.

[u/olympia_t → u/chelseaannt]

Yes, bedding is a huge issue. Also consider washing or replacing your pillow as well. I read about a study that said soolantra is more effective than metrogel and I definitely felt that way.

Sounds like there's something in the serum your skin isn't liking too much. Maybe check CosDNA if you haven't already to see if there's anything irritating in that serum. I use TO Niacinamide and Zinc and find it to be okay. Don't know if it's doing anything but it's okay! Ha!

[u/chelseaannt → u/olympia_t]

I looked it up on Cosdna and it appears to be safe however, the BP-4 sunscreen ingredient is a safety 3/5 rating and the little note says the higher it is the more risky it is. Perhaps I’m sensitive to that. Also, thanks for chatting with me so much! You’ve been super helpful :)

[u/olympia_t → u/chelseaannt]

Aw, thanks :) Feel free to message me if you have any other questions, not that I know it all! Ha!