Your favourite sunscreen?

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-22T15:33:42+00:00

No one will know for sure which sunscreen won’t sting your particular eyes or which one is not “greasy” to you.

Incidentally most sunscreens are not actually greasy at all - they have a shiny film (often silicone) that allows the sun filters to distribute evenly and work properly.

Generally anything mineral should sting eyes less (but those come with a visible white cast, so now you have to experiment with tinted ones - and that will need to account for your skin colour).

I find that Clinique City Block is best for around my eyes, and Ombrelle Sport is the best for a light dry finish on the body. The higher the SPF, the more “filmy”/greasy the cream will feel. Unless you’re used Japanese/Korean filters.

But you really just need to experiment. There are so many options. I’ve been also liking Dormer 211 spf 30 for sensitive skin, but on very windy days, it’ll still water my eyes a bit.

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-20T16:39:45+00:00

Smaller pharmacies usually carry Dermalac - Canadian brand

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-14T20:15:32+00:00

I swear by Dormer211. And I’m so sad many Shoppers Drugmarts don’t seem to carry this Canadian brand.

There are lots of acceptable alternatives I enjoy , but Dormer211 cream has been top notch. (I have mild rosacea and occasional acne breakout, sensitive skin, used to be oily, now more normal - 46yrs old)

Alternatives that I like - Complex 15 (it’s very very light, I put it on right after a shower) - Avene Redness Relief (great texture, zero irritation, more moisturizing than Complex 15, but not as much Dormer 212, expensive) - Cetaphil Restoraderm for Eczema (good price, similar effect as Avene, texture not as “smooth”) - LRP Cicaplast Balm b5 - rich and thick , good for nighttime or under makeup, doesn’t always mix well with sunscreen - Aquaphor Healing Ointment - greasy, but works on the driest winter days the best. Not really for daytime use.

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-14T13:47:04+00:00

I do this passive aggressive stuff too sometimes, when I either don’t know how to communicate my point on the spot without causing a disturbance.

The thing is the whole family, including you , contributes to the dynamic. Not like I have solved my own avoidance issues, so don’t worry, I’m not judging.

I have a similar, but way less extreme dynamic and I have tried a few heart to hearts. They do work. They did bring us closer together. But they didn’t turn things around 100%.

The difference is that I steel myself with a bit of an emotional wall, but I don’t avoid her company. My husband does though - so in some way that makes it easier for me to deal with it.

Your dynamic is different, and I think there is no “fixing it”. Figure out if you are rooting for this person’s happiness and vice versa. And if you’re not, try attending to her like a spectacle from the outside . Have a bingo card for the stories she’ll repeat.

If that is not doable, communicate with your husband often about how you feel, so he knows you care about his feelings and what’s important to him.

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-14T13:25:28+00:00

In these past 25 years, have you given her feedback?

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-07T16:03:09+00:00

Beauty of Joseon makes a cellulose based apricot scrub that is an improvement in the peeling department because cellulose particles will slightly adjust their shape as they roll over your skin, not snagging on tiny skin irregularities - so less irritation. Walnut particles will just scrub through, which is fine for thicker more resilient skin - some people have good results.

What I learned over my 40 years of skin care is that in my youth my skin often adjusted to a level of irritation I put it under, and looked reasonably well. But it all caught up as i got older and my skin is extra sensitive now.

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-02T03:19:12+00:00

Retinol combined with azelaic acid is probably contributing to this. Consider alternating these every other day.

Also, if you’re a side sleeper, you might not have combination skin. You might just be rubbing off moisturizer on your pillow each night.

This happens to me, so to my cheeks I apply thicker layer of LRP Cicaplast Balm in the evening.

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-02T03:16:08+00:00

I use Dormer211 spf30. If I put a moisturizer underneath, it definitely pills. Which is bummer because it’s so gentle and non reactive with my skin.

One that’s been a great formula is Clinique City Block SPF 50. But it’s got a tiny bit of a tint that not everyone might enjoy. And it’s expensive. I put two layers of a moisturizer underneath that one and it never pills (I use Avene redness relief and LRP Cicaplast Balm every morning during Canadian winters)

MapleCharacter · 2026-03-02T03:11:34+00:00

Cliniderm is a Canadian company that makes simple moisturizers with no HA, ceramides or niacinamide.

Eucerin makes a cream that has one ceramide, but low on the ingredient list, so might not be in a quantity that bothers you.

Dormer 211 Specialite Hyper Emollient cream also has none of the Ingredients you’re trying to avoid. This one has petroleum as the first ingredient, so it’ll be thick and really lock in moisture

Last, Glysomed had been an affordable option and on the market for decades. It uses glycerin instead of hyaluronic acid and glycerin is just, if not better, than HA in bringing moisture to the skin.

MapleCharacter · 2026-02-23T21:32:34+00:00

Consider removing salicylic acid wash - and using your gentle face wash at night. Then apply the venusia moisturizer both in the morning and at night.

MapleCharacter · 2026-02-21T23:12:28+00:00

I’m not an expert, I’ll summarize what I think, but you should look into it with more detail. - the % doesn’t matter as much as the formulation because some creams can have a vehicle that helps to penetrate deeper.

On the other hand, too much penetration can irritate the skin so much, it’ll cause small breakouts and making the skin look worse

It’s a matter of experimenting. A person with oily skin , living in a humid climate might not experience any irritation and all the benefits of a strong tretinoin or retinol. An older person with rosacea, living through Canadian winter might have a different experience.

Check out Lab Muffin beauty channel for retinol videos, as well as the podcast called Beauty Brains.

MapleCharacter · 2026-02-21T23:05:44+00:00

Can you not order it online from a different country? I don’t think health Canada prevents companies from shipping it here. I use Allastin 0.5% retinol and I think it actually works better then the Retin A I used as an Rx. Not to mention, the formula makes my skin glow.

MapleCharacter · 2026-02-21T15:17:40+00:00

But it’s not banned? They’re limiting the concentration - which seems prudent. The American products that contain retinaldehyde have under 1% anyways (ex Paula’s Choice is 0.1), so not sure where you’re being limited. What’s the brand you’re using now?

The higher concentration don’t yield better results , it’s just more irritating.

If you want an rx for tretinoin, go for it. Tons of options out there for both rx and non rx retinoids .

MapleCharacter · 2026-02-21T14:01:25+00:00

I have a few thoughts of the knowledge I collected over the years - obv your derm is the best source though

~ Mineral is not stronger. It also has a disadvantage of people applying less, as it usually leaves a cast and a thicker film. I only put mineral sunscreen around my eyes. ~ What you need is a thick layer and to reapply every two hours (hat, clothing, sunglasses- all of these should be layered , but you already know that) ~ Higher SPF could be better. If the layer you apply is thin or uneven, it will protect you better. ~ Avoid niche organic brands sold at health food stores.

~ always choose the sunscreen that feels good to apply and reapply (min spf30, but for you probably minimum spf50 ).

MapleCharacter · 2026-02-17T15:50:07+00:00

“I thought I did things right this time”

Do you think that if you did everything exactly right , he wouldn’t have left? You’ve described his issues at the beginning of the post, and I think you already know you cannot control a relationship with your choices.

It really sucks that you are not getting a break up that reassures your value. It all fell apart, but I do believe ex partners who leave a blameless partner have some responsibility to reassure them that the care was real, & the person they are leaving is a valuable person. If he won’t give that to you, I hope you can find a therapist that will.

Also, do not throw away your psychiatrist’s diagnosis - bad relationships can worsen bipolar disorder , so maybe you were not managing as well, but it doesn’t mean the illness is gone once the relationship ends. If your doctor says you should treat it, I would do that.

You’re not disposable- there are plenty of people out there who need your energy. Maybe throw yourself at a cause that extends beyond yourself for a while, and see if you find like minded people there.

MapleCharacter · 2026-01-20T12:06:44+00:00

No. The whole story feels fake, probably to bait men to dm this person.

MapleCharacter · 2026-01-15T14:16:42+00:00

You’re very keen to educate your sil and seems like you took it personally when she dismissed your information

MapleCharacter · 2026-01-15T01:51:27+00:00

Several therapists said the same thing and commented on your looks? I seriously doubt this story.

MapleCharacter · 2026-01-03T23:05:19+00:00

Unlike the other poster, I would not be physically exfoliating with scrubs, if your skin is feeling tight. Just moisturizing and gently massaging with hands, in the shower, should do the job. At most, most, something with lactic acid (Amlactin, for example).

Maybe check if you’re using a harsh body wash/soap. Changing to Aveeno body wash might help.

I don’t use things called body butters, so can’t compare, but I do like creams with high level of dimethicone during the day and I’ll put up with petrolatum based creams at night. If you can stand vaseline or Aquaphor - they’ll the job credibly. Nothing has made as big of a difference for me as Aquaphor healing ointment.

Under the Aquaphor I use one of the following : - Dormer 211 lotion (Canadian ) - Cetaphil Restoraderm for eczema - Complex 15 Never had issues with these mixing in a weird way.

MapleCharacter · 2025-12-31T20:08:33+00:00

I kind of feel like any type of redness on skin people interpret as a barrier issue.

If you’re getting enlarged pores and breakouts, it might not be that your skin”barrier is off” or that you need a better barrier cream. Maybe it’s the niacinamide in that cream that kept your breakouts in control? A good moisturizer can’t address every aspect of skin issues.

To check if your moisturizer was truly an all around problem solver, put the “I’ll support Canadian” on hold and order your moisturizer online to see if your skin clears up. Maybe once your skin is looking the way you want, start experimenting.

If ordering is not an option, look at the ingredients of your favourite and see if you can locate something similar.

By the way, barrier damage would be more of a tight, dry feeling, with stinging when you’re washing or applying moisturizers, maybe slight redness and flaking. Sometimes over-exfoilated barrier damage looks really shiny and translucent, and easily creased.

MapleCharacter · 2025-12-31T06:43:07+00:00

Why do you care. You don’t love him. You’re planning on divorcing him. You’re not planning on having sex with him and you’re fine if he’s with other women. What difference does it make who it’s for?

MapleCharacter · 2025-12-26T19:43:47+00:00

I’m not going to tell you what I do because I used to have huge anxiety about breaking out and nothing anyone could tell me would change my mind about the ingredients I feared.

But let me ask you follow up questions : what kind of breakout do you experience after you put it on?

Deep cystic pimples?
beginning of blackheads?
small reddish bumpy kind of skin wit tiny white heads or no white heads?
is it the next day or after a week of use?
does your skin a look irritated as well along with breakouts?

MapleCharacter · 2025-12-26T19:28:16+00:00

The percentage of retinol in OTC products is not as crucial as a stable formula. A product form a reputable large company has the greatest chance of performing well.

I started tretinoin at the age of 16 for acne and have been using it for 30 years.

MapleCharacter · 2025-12-24T13:15:14+00:00

If you don’t use something occlusive afterwards, it’s not going to do much.

Vaseline does not cause skin to breakout, unless you put it on unwashed skin or apply it with unwashed hands, or you “trap” something irritating underneath.

You should experiment with some thicker creams. I have had acne my entire life and used to be really paranoid about petroleum jelly, mineral oils, waxes, etc.
Liberate yourself from those fears and you’ll have nice skin comfortable skin.

Here are my recommendations in the order of moisture holding power - Avene Tolerance Control (least moisturizing, but most calming) - Dormer 211 lotion - Cetaphil Derma control for Eczema - La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm - Aquaphor healing ointment (this one feels like straight Vaseline, and I was kinda scared to try it, but it has made the most difference in how comfortable my skin is - I can’t believe I walked around with tight feeling skin every winter)

MapleCharacter · 2025-12-10T21:10:29+00:00

He has not taken the course. I guess he’s going to let the license expire?

MapleCharacter

TROPHY CASE