Foil Challenge

[ather]

I know we all talked about this but I need it in writing to hold myself more accountable! I have picked out around 28 foils that I am hoping to get through by the end of Feb. that’s 1 foil a day unless I decide to stack more than one! Here’s what I’ve picked randomly! 

 

[ather]

@itsfi  Oh no. What caused your skin to loose its barrier? Anything in particular or just life? I hope your skin heals super fast! 

[itsfi]

@ather, I wondered what it might be and I feel like it might more than just one thing that caused my skin barrier to be compromised. That said, I suspect the major reason is the number and frequency with which I had been using products with actives in it. I KNOW!!! I'm usually pretty good (or at least I think I have / had been) of not overdoing actives, but after going through some of my products, I'm realizing there are some products that contain actives that might otherwise be less potent but when you take into account the products with actives that I might be using, whatever their dosages, the volume adds up. If I stuck with one or possibly two of them on a weekly basis, with just using them once per week, I imagine my skin would be fine, possibly a smidge sensitive, but otherwise, fine. But, cumulatively, and in combination with probably not moisturizing my skin enough and the weather/HVAC situation, my skin was really, really dry and irritated, with flakiness and more and lingering redness.

The Rhode cleanser includes pineapple enzymes (an exfoliating enzyme). And the Augustinus Bader Essence also contains actives. And add to that a peel every week or every other week, and my skin was just like "hey there, let's dial things back a bit!" I've been on a back-to-basics (and I mean very basic) skincare routine,  morning and night, and my skin has responded really well to it - I'm very happy about that. 😊 

You raise a very excellent point, not surprising! Life probably is playing a bigger part with it; I hadn't really considered that, and I should have. Well, we're on the mend so we'll focus on making sure there are no hiccups or minimal ones along the way. 🤞🤞

[ather]

@itsfi  Aww. Well whatever the reason I hope it gets better fast!! 

[itsfi]

Thank you @ather. I've seen some marked improvement over the last couple of days, which is comforting, since the dry patches were recovering at a snail's pace about a week ago. 😅 I just need to be better minded about which products I use when and to make sure that I don't use certain combinations of product in the same routine. Have you ever had different routines for use on different days?

[ather]

@itsfi  Yes! I actually use either retinol or an aha on separate days. I try and leave a day or two between them. And when I notice my skin talking back I just skip both all together until I feel my skin is better. I actually tried to incorporate some Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum  foils and my skin is extra dry now. It could be the combo of the Rhode cleanser with pineapple enzyme and the TLC together that was to much. I only used it once a week and 2 times total so I’m surprised I’m so dry. Lucky enough it’s not bad. But I do notice most acids I can only use once a week. 

[itsfi]

Hmmm… do you think the non-summery weather has anything to do with your skin being drier than usual this time of year @ather? 

[ather]

@itsfi  That’s also a great observation! It totally could be. My work has the air conditioning on so that could be drying me out more than normal. I actually was thinking with all the rain I would be less dry but I didn’t think about the air conditioning being on. So you definitely may be on to something!!! I’ve been using the Rhode milk and Glaze and RBC and my skin feels like it’s on the right track! 

[itsfi]

@ather, I feel like the heating and air conditioning systems can play a big factor, especially because it runs all day, which let me just say, I'm thankful for because not having it is no fun. Has it been windy or cooler when it rains? That may be a contributing factor as well. Rain here is usually accompanied by wind and rain so even with the moisture and hydration, there are drying factors. Rain while on vacation in Hawaii? Usully warm so not drying. 

Your skin loves the Rhode products! 😍 Do you use all 3 of those products morning and night?

[ather]

@itsfi  So funny thing it’s always windy here. Like always. It’s pretty annoying. I miss a calm day! This season for soccer was so bad. It was either cold and windy or raining and windy every game and practice except the last one! Which it was still windy. I felt bad since it was so windy it would pick up the soccer ball and put it in the goal without trying 🤣 I remember one game Felix was upset they didn’t get to switch goals so they got the advantage! 

I do use all 3 morning and night! Unless I am in a hurry and I only have time for the milk and the glaze to dry enough before I do my makeup! It happens some mornings are just not my morning! I also use the cleanser at night only! Which ones are you using? 

[Mellmars1185]

May Foils = 3

I have been MIA for a while but now I am back and it feels amazing!

 

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, we're glad you're back! How did you like the scent on the Moroccanoil shower gel and body lotion?

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Thank you 💞🙏. To be honest the shower gel smell ok but I wasn't noticeable after showering. I wasn't much of a fan of the lotion. It smelled 'off' to me. I prefered the texture of the body souffle over the lotion. I found the lotion a bit runny.

[ather]

@Mellmars1185  Good job!! Welcome back! 

[Mellmars1185]

@ather Thank you!

[itsfi]

May 2024 Foils  

Only a handful of foils this month @ather. 

Product Details: 

Spoiler

🙅🏻‍♀️  Botanist Botanical Shampoo Iris & Freesia - the scent is subtly floral and that was about the only thing that worked for me for this shampoo. It made my hair feel stringy and dry. No bueno. 

🙅🏻‍♀️  Botanist Botanical Treatment Peony & Berry - Even when I'm not fond of a shampoo, I usually like the corresponding conditioner. That was not the case with this after shampoo treatment. I thought perhaps it was because the shampoo made my hair feel so stringy that this conditioner was already handicapped before I even got to using it. Not so; I tried it after a well-liked shampoo and same results - my hair didn't feel hydrated or moisturized and working the product through the length of my hair was much more challenging than I expected or prefer.

👍🏼  I had forgotten but I've used Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Anti-Aging Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid  (x2) a few times a while back. I recall liking it then, and I like it now. It's not necessarily a product I feel like I need to run out and purchase, but it is one that I would be happy to use if I had it lying around.

🙊 innisfree Cherry Blossom Dewy Glow Jelly Moisturizer with Niacinimide 1.69 oz / 50 ml is a lightweight gel moisturizer. It's nice but too light (not moisturizing enough) on its own for my skin type (normal-to-dry). It would be better suited for those with oily skin types

Emoji Key:

🐐 = GOAT = Greatest Of All Time (have gone through at least two of the particular product and other comparable items)

😘 = Chef’s Kiss = Outstanding 

❤️ = Love 

👍🏼 = Like 

🫤 = Okay; “It’s fine.”; “meh”

🔬 = Undecided = “Still looking into it”

🙊 = Not for me / my skin type

🙅🏻‍♀️ = ❌ = “No, non, nein, nyet, …” 

Foils Dashboard:

Month-to-Date = 5

Year-to-Date = 43

[CookieGirl1]

@itsfi what a bummer about the Botanist samples!  I've actually given Botanist the side eye for awhile and have toyed with the idea of trying out their products but you're the second person in the last week that's mentioned how drying their products are.  I totally appreciate your review because I think maybe that's convinced me to pass on trying the brand.

[itsfi]

Ohhh, I'm sorry @CookieGirl1. It could just be that my hair wasn't a good fit for the shampoo and conditioner, and same for the other person, maybe? I was actually surprised by how this S&C duo performed - my hair has responded either well or very well to about 80-90% of Japanese or Korean shampoo and conditioners that I have tried. This Botanist combo though, ouch! fell flat. I went through both foils so 2 full uses and each time, I had to follow up with one of the shampoo and conditioners in my regular rotation. It made it easier to stick to my shampoo-and-conditioner-no-buy though. Ha!

[ather]

@itsfi  Great job using up some foils. It’s to bad they didn’t work out but better because there’s so many 🐐’s out there. No need to waste time on not for you! I think I have one of those CT moisturizers kicking around. I haven’t tried it yet I don’t think. 🤔 

[itsfi]

So true @ather! They can't all be 🐐🐐, right?! Right!! The CT moisturizer is fine - I know many folks enjoy it. There are just other moisturizers I like more and would choose over the CT. I've decided that moving forward, if I have a foil sample that I'm just not feeling wowwed about trying, I'll put it in the "things to be donated" bin. That way, someone who could use the product can do so and it'll help clear out products that I wouldn't otherwise enjoy or want to use. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Such a smart idea!! 

[itsfi]

Thanks @ather! It's the most practical solution I have at the moment when it comes to foils. That, combined with trying very hard to only pick up foils of products I really want to try or that I know I will use / reach for.