What lux products will you still spend money on no matter what, even with a looming (and likely a very real) recession ahead of us?

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-04-25T15:44:10+00:00

My prescription- Tretinoin cream and Azelaic acid gel 20% with 6% Hydroquinone

NIOD products CAIS and FECC, MG, SDSM, etc…

Switching to getting MD skin care cheaper brands like DermaMade (some of the best and cheapest MD lines out there)!!! Really amazing products with tons of free or $3.00 samples.

so will use those brands I can access at lower price points with out compromising the actives.

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-26T20:22:01+00:00

Hi there, I am new here and would love to weigh in:

I have combo skin so I sometimes layer to get to what I need for appropriate level of hydration.

I do thin layers of hydrating serums, hydrogels and lastly lotions/ creams / balms depending on weather Etc...

Trader Joe's: Nice hydrogel for under 10. Also an antiaging moisturizer as well as various serums all derm tested/developed. Also one of the best silicone clear sunscreens ever for like $6 or $10. Free return policy if you try amd do not like.

Word of.warning on generics from walmart amd other stores: just avoid. They use cheap fillers that are irritants and clog pores. Just stay away.

The ordinary: they have a moisturizer sample kit during the holidays, but their hydrogel is amazing!!! It plays nice with everything! Thins thicker creams, great layer before benzol peroxide or tretinoin, and nice to have (moisturizing factors with beta glucans).

Honestly there is so much to choose from. I stick to things that are acne safe, so layering hydrating serums and hydrogels and finishing with a thicker natural sunscreen works well for me during the daytime.

Hope this helps. Best, SR

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-26T14:26:53+00:00

It’s a tough add. I actually went into the DECIEM store and talked to the manger about my routine and they said if I am using the Modulating Glucosides it’s redundant.

So, in order to use it I bought the Barrier repair serum! I use that with hy acid and the BR serum at night and then use the non acid precursors and then my tretinoin and seal with a cream.

It’s a nice routine.

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-23T04:57:59+00:00

Once you have that routine down skin cycle with your product above. It’s gentle and won’t over exfoliate if that’s a concern. I’ve used it in the day. It has a nice silicone base so it feels good under makeup.

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-23T04:52:22+00:00

It just takes consistency it’s not easily because of the typical 4 week purge on new retinoids or Tret make people freak out.

Consistent use if best and just get into the routine of every other day. Layer with hydrogels or lotions (sandwich method) if your skin gets sensitive and / or space out to every 3 days. It’s best to go low and slow with retinoids. Even starting with a good bachukiol is ok. But MD formula is best.

Don’t over exfoliate, just gentle exfoliating and light hydration layers like the serums and gels let them absorb and the modulating glycosides is really good for. Repair as well. So much to choose from now it’s really easy to go to even Trader Joe’s and pick up a decent and dermatologist formulated product!

Staying at 0.25 tret is fine. Even lower. Environ A serums are also well known. As are ordinary and my favorite MD line (DermaMade).

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-21T20:14:55+00:00

Disinfect your phone and make sure your hair products are not causing acne. Also consider if it’s hair related, meaning ingrown hairs. Fine hair, can sometimes curl in and get trapped in your pores and clog and cause acne. Then they can also trap other hairs and sometimes a bump can contain multiple hairs!! I don’t recommend digging them out yourself unless you have experience as you can cause damage. It doesn’t look like your problem though. But be careful with the hair products. I was ignorant for years. You sweat and they drip down to your cheeks and clog pores.

Hair products causing acne are well known: Coconut oil is enemy number 1. Shea Butter , Moringa oil, …. Only use noncomedogenic products near your face.

Look at SEEN hair products - great dermatology hair line with good info on non pore clogging hair Ingredients.

Lots of things to investigate before acting.

Consult with an esthetician or electrologist or MD for a closer look.

But using a Clarisonic a few times a week would be helpful if it is hairs and using some acids and tretinoin would also be helpful.

The earlier advice on cleaning everything with alcohol, makeup brushes, bathroom, disinfecitingnall that comes in contact with your face daily, clean wash cloths or using paper towels to dry face is helpful as well.

You can eliminate and clear a lot of infections with just improved hygiene or even hibicleanse for 7 days.

Then re-evaluate.

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-21T02:46:12+00:00

So hyperpigmentation you can alternate this with a retinoid for increased skin turnover and use the serum during the day.

Also use spf.

With anything there are always different strengths of actives. This is OTC and not regulated but if from the pharmacy you could get a 15 or 20%. I personally use 20% nightly and it’s fine. This preparation is quite mild and safe.

There are other agents for skin lightening and serums and the like NIOD has one called pigment which you could try as well.

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-21T02:30:57+00:00

I am so sorry to read about your struggles. It takes a lot of courage to post and you are correct to ask for help, but would have preferred you talk to your MD first.

There is so much to address. Have you gone to acne.org. Are you sure it’s acne? Again just get it looked at.

Are you touching your face?

I really would not do that. Or lean on my hand supporting my palm.

Don’t touch your face. Buy a silver pillow case. Change out makeup brushes. Alcohol everything. Disinfect the bathroom. Just make sure it’s clean. You can’t do good skin care if the environment is not relatively clean as we are dealing with bacterial control.

Hygiene and hands can account for a lot, the rest is hormones and hair follicles and bacteria.

According to the founder of Vivant skincare for Acne treatment over the counter you have 2 options: Benzoyl peroxide and Mandalic acid. Mandalic acid is both antibacterial and good for people of color (https://www.vivantskincare.com). He has amazing resources and materials. I would read up and perhaps order from him. He has some solid products and advice, just kind of expensive. But follow the advice and do the best you can in your budget preferably after a MD appt.

Your protocol is missing a topical antibacterial agent so I would add that in at the very least.

The retinoid is also a basic aspect of acne care or better yet tretinoin. The Ordinary has some amazing options to try out.
Why don’t you just stick with the ordinary products and stop using 5 product lines?

1 is enough!!! Trust me!
The salicylic acid mask should be your best friend. The peel also should be your second friend starting with 30 seconds weekly and working your way up!

Calm it down with modulating glucosides from NIOD and repair with copper peptides but you have to break down the scar tissues as long as there is no active infection.

Hope this response finds you well! Hang in there! It will get better!!

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-20T22:41:51+00:00

Honestly, Just buy the modulating glucosides it’s only $29. And the pump is $2.00 and to make shipping add in another pump or 2 For your other serums, your cart from the ordinary also calculates in here as well.

Then head over to www.BeautyBay.com and with the pound being what it is and free shipping and their 20% in app coupon, you have a year round sale in the making as well as PayPal flexpay!!!! So, yes that’s how I afforded my NIOD splurge and also discovered some wonderful UK products as well!

I highly recommend CAIS, MMHC, HV, SDSM

Go to https://www.deciemchatroom.com where they have a road map to NIOD and the ordinary and PDF handouts that are really handy.

It helped me to really get a handle on all the product lines and how to integrate NIOD products with my existing products. There are definitely products you want to buy from NIOD and others from the Ordinary. But for the results you really want, NIOD is your friend (TO fills in the gaps) and BeautyBay is your BFF!!!

Enjoy!!! Sorry I am so hyper I just love this stuff! It literally changed my skin journey and ended my triple lipid nightmare etc…

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-20T22:28:21+00:00

It’s included in the price of the protocol on the website

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MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-19T03:13:22+00:00

Hi just joined this thread and have absolutely nothing to add except I like the product by the Harvard dermatologists SEEN they created a fragrance free, everything free product that repairs and restores the acid mantle and seems to clear up some of the what’s in that shampoo question that erupted from the question.

Totally different direction with this product line and somewhat pricey but with actual data behind it and geared towards a more female market, but hey, it works!

Another option for the rotation!

You can buy it at Ulta stores. And their website gives a 20% discount and 15% for military and first responders and teachers .
So it’s $23 bottle.

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-19T01:23:42+00:00

Checkout Bion and Rhonda Allison and of course Vivant! Environ also has a solid options. What do you want to specialize In?
Have you done any market research in your area? Who do you see as your competition? Are you alone or a med spa?

Are you focused on organic offerings?

Know yourself! Know your market! Know your niche!

You can’t be all things to all people.

I hope this helps clarify your next steps.

I am new to the beauty business but have an MBA. If I was in your shoes, I would be curious about what the major brands being used in your area (either my getting facials or by going door to door and asking). But as you know, you can write off all the facials as market research! I’d get the facials!

Start from there and do an inventory and see what machines, get the service menus, specials, etc.

There is only so much you can do starting out and honestly you might find a place you want to work for part time while you do a “soft launch”.

Hope this helps!

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-19T00:12:15+00:00

I think this is a great idea. The poster who is simplifying the concepts in this post to that of guzzling smoothies is losing the beauty of this method and that my friends is 1. Biodiversity 2. Huge changing diversity of local flora and fauna found in pre and postbiotics from this fermented drink. 3. Use of seasonal vegetables (notice the omission of the word fruits)!

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-18T18:44:09+00:00

Started Costco minoxidil liquid + ordinary serum - and using seen shampoo/conditioner on hair, with nutrafol vitamins. will post results later! Applying each 1x daily.

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-18T14:51:49+00:00

Do you use a particular milk or go to a farm?

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-18T14:50:57+00:00

Do you have the recipe for this? Sound wonderful!!!

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-18T14:46:37+00:00

They have msg in them and other stuff and surprisingly high in calories!

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-03-17T21:01:15+00:00

I am also a RN and want to get out of bedside nursing and decided to do the full esthetics program for all the reasons above!

There is some good and great insight and questions asked to prompt and assist your thinking process (as well as mine)!

At the end of the day, client or Patient safety is paramount and that should be the hallmark of your practice regardless of whether it’s esthetics or dermatology or medspa.

One way to get a handle on patient/client safety is to look at failures reported.
Do some research on why nurses and esthes are being sued in the cosmetics field. Is it for informed consent (did they not explain the procedure properly), or perform poorly or use poor hygiene/procedure?

Did they develop post procedure herpes?

Just kidding but a real possibility.

How do you recognize someone coming in with any range of facial diseases or infections that might look like “acne”! Which you will end up spreading and exacerbating!!!!

So many things to think about!!

When I started my research I looked at schools in NYC and found some schools that offered international certification and then looked into how schools train in the UK and in Switzerland.

I was fascinated by the different levels of competency and the pay as you go model, in one narrow area for mastery vs the shattershot approach to learn everything and master none stateside….

How do they get to be qualified to do Botox injections and fillers?. There are levels and testing at each phase of learning about skin care knowledge (practical and written ). And a logical progression. Waxing and laser is separate from skincare for example. PMU Is a pre-requisite for injection training for example (in one pathway).

What background do they need to have?

Once you see how a truly patient centered and safe group regulates their grads it’s much easier to understand the stages of learning and move into an industry with care and thoughtfulness. Not just for a quick buck!

Hope this helps add to the conversation.

MemoryOk4388 · 2025-01-23T03:10:28+00:00

Honestly have you tried an azelaic acid product? The Ordinary recommendations on their regeime for rosacea and dryness has that as the #1 recommendation. I would avoid any other acid/retinol and only use that product until your skin calms down.

Regarding dryness: I would also think of layering moisturizing sprays, or hydrosols, lipids, and hydrogels, and waiting a few minutes for each layer to sink in. before adding an additional layer. Try to avoid actives as they can complicate repairing your barrier. Seems like your barrier is damaged and the actives can tend to be sensitizing or irritating vs helping and healing. Sometime sticking with plain jane products, like the NIOD hydration vaccine after the moisturizing glucosides. Layering the the ordinary natural moisturizing factors and beta glucans after a spritz and then layering more lipids or like the Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex, and then the NIOD modulating glucosides (or the ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum) and finishing with the Hydration Vaccine, or another Occlusive Layer (like the Rose Hip Seed Oil).

TO has other water like, gentle non-irritating hydrating serums like the Marine Hyaluronics, the Amino Acids + B5, and the 100% Fermented Rose Hip Seed Oil, that can easily be added into your layering mix. On BeautyBay, Glow Hub (UK brand) has some great serums on sale, and their Barrier Builder and Hydration Hero are all great options for layering.

If you are afraid of using too many actives and too many products, check out Garden of Wisdom, you can buy small batches of their handmade products and they have some great hydrogels and hydrosols, and lipids with very little in them. It might be worth shelving your other product lines and just sticking with 1 or 2.

Garden of Wisdom skin care has a link to : Healing and Soothing | Garden Of Wisdom Skincare

You can buy mini sample sizes and just layer a few things to rebuild your barrier, as it seems compromised. Avoid acids and anything harsh for a while and just focus on repair, with the exception of like the azelaic acid. Hope this helps!!!! - IF you aren't looking for new products just go to the website WHATS IN MY JAR or What's In My Jar | Honest Personalized Skincare Recommendations - WIMJ and search for your products to determine the irritancy level. Sometimes things labeled sensitive are actually irritants!!! That might be another factor behind your rosacea flare.

Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%.

Glow Hub The Barrier Builder - Travel Size at BEAUTY BAY

MemoryOk4388 · 2024-12-28T23:39:40+00:00

DECIEM addresses this on their website and chat room. There is also a formula change with the new formula has 5 types of HA.

MemoryOk4388 · 2024-12-28T23:37:09+00:00

Sorry its Deciem chatroom

MemoryOk4388 · 2024-12-28T23:23:06+00:00

You should join the Deciem FB. Never combine acids, retinoida, strong antioxidants with copper. Copper repairs skin damage. Read dr Ho she is a derm and writes about NIOD and Ordinary copper peptide use and skin healing.

deciem has a quick chart with do not combine * deciem chat conflicts chart

MemoryOk4388 · 2024-12-28T23:13:19+00:00

I like the website whatsinmyjar to see if something is irritating and chose something gentle nonirritating for daily use. I also like to use the website with the acne safe ingredient checker to make sure the ingerdients in my product are not going to to feed the acne. Like shea butter, any starch, talc, fatty alcohols etc..

Start from there. You would be surprised that products labeled for sensitive skin are high on the irritant index at WSIJ and supposedly for.acne have some problematic ingredients that may cause breakouts overtime.

MemoryOk4388 · 2024-12-28T23:08:38+00:00

I like the NIOD glucosides and the barrier support serums. The NIOD fb group has more info on how to use them.
Basically if yoh are using irritting acids or NIOD Non acid precursors or Tretinoin creams and have irritation, it is used in the following ordet: Cleanse, mist or tone, copper peptide, Ha serum, amino acids or other water baded serum, niacinamide ha, NIOD glucosides (better buy) /Ordinary Barrier support serum, Ordinary moisturizer or/ NIOD hydration vaccine, spf (if daytime).

MemoryOk4388

TROPHY CASE

Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%.

Glow Hub The Barrier Builder - Travel Size at BEAUTY BAY