I'm A Believer!
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I don't use anything so I'll have to take your word for it
I have to say that this sounds interesting... Do you happen to have any tips, hints, suggestions? Links?
And I agree, as long as you do your homework, it should be perfectly safe! Goes for a lot of things...
Oh, I also got a few samples of Idealist Micro-D/Idealist; can't wait to try those! [/b][/quote]
Well, there're so many things about the wonderful world of DIY peels, I seriously don't know where to start.
This market has certainly gone a long way in the past few years and the sheer amount of options available are mind boggling. I've tried a few things so here are my 2 cents:Any product containing Retinol, such as Retin-A and Tazorac, is good at speeding up skin renewal and resurfacing at a shallow level of the epidermis. It's great if you don't have too much hyperpigmentation problems or scars and simply want to even-out your skin tone, as well as adding a healthy glow to it. Obagi is a dermatolgist-developed line of specific products for problem skin, one of which is called Blender, a lotion to be mixed with Retin-A to increase its effectiveness by boosting its penetration into the skin and bleaching. I find from my personal experience that Retin-A works best this way.
Downside: Retinol by nature enlarges the small blood vessels underneath your skin as it's speeding up its renewal - that's what's causing the healthy glow. You can easily go overboard with it and end up with an awkward redness that's semi-permanent. My advice is to use it as a peel treatment instead of a daily regimen. Following each application your skin will take 1-2 weeks to shed off its upper layers. You can start with another application once the peeling subsides, if needed.
Glycolic Acid peels have about the same effect as Retin-A, but each treatment has a shorter cycle - it'd take only about 5-7 days to finish peeling, and it's less noticeable so it doesn't interfere with your normal life. But some variations of it can be hard to apply, resulting in an uneven peel. If excessive amounts are applied, it can temporarily turn your skin brown, which may or may not be permanent depending on your skin type and the body area to which it's applied. It can also sting like hell. Personally I do NOT recommend Glycolic Acid, because of a newer, much more effective alternative known as TCA...
...which is short for Trichloroacetic Acid. It had been used for years by dermatologists to perform deep resurfacing peels for people with problem skin, but has been available to the general consumer only very recently. The fundamental difference between TCA and other chemical peels is that it goes beyond the epidermis and actually into the underlying layer of skin called dermis, so it's much more effective against stubborn hyperpigmentation or post-traumatic scars. Despite that penetration TCA is also much safer to use than Glycolic Acid because it is the only acid which does not need a neutralizeer - it reacts with the natural proteins in your skin and stops working once the required depth is reached. There are many variations of TCA available on the market, mainly distinguished by their levels of concentration. 10% is sufficiently strong for most people, but up to 50% is available for people who want to get an instant, dramatic result (of course the down time would be longer, and the unsightliness of the peeling process is also higher.) I'm currently using a TCA complex that is about 8% in strength, and I'm already finding it very effective. This one also comes with a host of skin brightening ingredients so it simultaneously renews and brightens your skin as the upper layers are killed off and peeled away, revealing fresh new skin underneath.
(I don't want to be mistaken for spamming, so if anyone is interested in knowing the name and sources of this product, please PM me and I'd be glad to provide them.)
There aren't too many downsides of TCA that I'm aware of. Of course there is down time and awkward peeling involved - that's why it's called a peel. Schedule your sessions around your social life and it shouldn't be too big of a burden, and you can always stop once your desired results have been reached. You can also spot-treat individual blemishes with it instead of doing a full-face peel. Here are some links that would further elaborate the science behind it:
link 1
link 2
link 3
Acne.org is also a huge archive of resources for all types of skin renewal processes including peels.
Gosh that was long. Hope all that typing proves helpful!
Yes, Idealist is great for uneven skintones, open pores, flakiness and redness... After I went through my crazy acne rage, I started using Idealist and Micro D (their all famous scrub), which helped me out mantain the highest level of pureness and perfection on my skin...Im not saying that my skin is 100%perfect, but with this product, I can say that a 75% of my skin has been completely changed...
I started noticing results the exact minute I apply it, because your skin feels extremely soft, without being greasy or shiny... and after a week, your skin texture is glowing, softer and smoother... [/b][/quote]
Thanks Alejandro - I'll definitely try it out once my peeling sessions are over.
another product that is making difference, is "Perfectionist" from este lauder but i use it rarely and only at night.
for those searching new products/brands you have to try
royal jelly and grape seed / adioxidant skin-defence caps
by Korres from their day and night elixirs
it comes in a one dose cap (which always lasts me for two)
and it feels like an oil but it is instantly absorbed.
great for night use.
for those searching new products/brands you have to try
royal jelly and grape seed / adioxidant skin-defence caps
by Korres from their day and night elixirs
it comes in a one dose cap (which always lasts me for two)
and it feels like an oil but it is instantly absorbed.
great for night use.
my mum uses idealist, problem is idealist got discontinued from the european market and just replaced by 'perfectionist'Originally posted by Alejandro@Apr 9th, 2004 - 9:41 pm
Perfectionist is great also, Lena, It was the product launched after Idealist, but this one targets all of the issues that Idealist treats, but Perfectionist works with fine lines and wrinkles...
i was quick enough to grab two 'bottles' for my mum,
to be honest i think 'idealist' is a bit better than 'perfectionist'
but there was some kind of retinol problem with 'idealist'
regarding sun reaction.. anyway, my mum loves it
DressageChick
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Once in Russia I was buying mascara and the saleslady kept on urging me to try some sort of acne care line, even though I had just bought a prescription medication the day before. I agreed to try it, because it was only like 100 rubles ( around $3) for each thing. The stuff was AMAZING. People were asking me what I was using because it was working so well. The company was called Samuel Par and their line for acne was called La Formule. I've had no luck finding La Formule sutff anywhere since the store where I bought it stopped stocking them because they would have been too expensive. I've found Samuel Par products online, their creams and masks are around $40.
hmm thats obviously too early IMO
until 25, i think its sensible to use creams that are appropriate for young skin
[/b][/quote]I do use products suitable for my age (not into anti-ageing yet).. i guess i am a bit surprised that the eye cream (sisley) and serum (LP) i am using now seem to suit my skin perfectly.
oh well, there's always the anti-ageing stuff and other brands like CDP to try when i am older
we got a CLE DE PEAU spa here and i will be checking out their facials.Originally posted by Alejandro@Apr 10th, 2004 - 7:08 pm
Is Cle De Peu any good PradaP?? the only thing I have bought is this electric turquoise eyeshadow, that I love, but I was never interested in their skincare...funny funny
will let u know.
but CDP is known to be brilliant apparently
OK, I tried Idealist Micro-D/Idealist last night... My face got smooth and matte immediately, and felt extremely velvety!
BUT, the texture of Micro-D is horrible to me. It's very thick with large, sharp grains. Since it's so thick, you have to drag it out to get coverage. It feels like it really scratches the surface instead of polishing it. Maybe that's the point...? Today, my skin feels very tight and abused. Is this normal??
Over-all, a not so pleasant experience.
BUT, the texture of Micro-D is horrible to me. It's very thick with large, sharp grains. Since it's so thick, you have to drag it out to get coverage. It feels like it really scratches the surface instead of polishing it. Maybe that's the point...? Today, my skin feels very tight and abused. Is this normal??
Over-all, a not so pleasant experience.
Did you used the Idealist after the Micro D??
Tott, another question, did u applied the MicroD on your face while being wet? because sometimes you even need to dilute the Micro D every time you use it on your palm, in order to make the grains less harsh on skin... I have noticed that some friends of mine have the same reaction about it, but after your skin gets used to it, they love it... you should give it a week after making a final desition...at first it's always harsh to adapt to something...
Tott, another question, did u applied the MicroD on your face while being wet? because sometimes you even need to dilute the Micro D every time you use it on your palm, in order to make the grains less harsh on skin... I have noticed that some friends of mine have the same reaction about it, but after your skin gets used to it, they love it... you should give it a week after making a final desition...at first it's always harsh to adapt to something...
Yes, and yes. I'll give it another try though, maybe a bit diluted this time... It can be stressful for the skin to try new things, I know!
My skin is also a bit sensitive so it reacts against stuff a bit too easily sometimes...
if you have dry skin, try the Gentle Balancing Lotion, it's absolutely amazing. the nicest toner for dry skin I've ever used. it just doesn't feel like a normal toner at all, refreshing and moisturizing at the same time, leaving the skin wonderfully smooth and suppleOriginally posted by Alejandro@Apr 10th, 2004 - 1:08 pm
Is Cle De Peu any good PradaP?? the only thing I have bought is this electric turquoise eyeshadow, that I love, but I was never interested in their skincare...funny funny
the Gentle Cleansing Foam (for dry skin) is also great.my mother-in-law uses the cream and eye cream and she loves them
