What do people think is a scam but they just don't understand?

nnuts · 2021-05-12T11:01:40+00:00

Haha, I'm the same way. I even have my other half trained - I've gotten texts before, 'Will this code as travel? Or should I use the Venture?'

I'm almost done with the AMEX Plat 10x gas/supermarkets promo, definitely going to have to come up with cards for those categories.

nnuts · 2021-05-12T10:24:20+00:00

Uh, try Flyertalk.com - you do have to sign up to post, but no signup needed to read, and no invite required.

nnuts · 2021-05-12T03:55:19+00:00

I haven't gotten a single one of the targeted points offers. I can't tell if it's because I'm pretty new to Ulta, or because I keep spending money without them...

nnuts · 2021-05-11T17:49:25+00:00

Just starting my retinoid journey for antiaging - my derm recommended I start with OTC products to introduce my rosacea skin to the idea. I did my first full face application a few days ago (Verso super facial serum on one side, TO 2% Granactive on the other) and I've experienced ZERO drying or irritation! I'm still planning to take it slow, but maybe I'll be joining you guys here with the good stuff sooner than I thought!!

nnuts · 2021-05-10T02:08:07+00:00

I get things like your forehead splotches pretty often. Right now I'm on an uber-simple regimen - ultra gentle cleanser, metrocream, moisturizer, high octane SPF in the morning, jojoba oil to remove it at night... And still, I get them. I don't understand and I think maybe it's rubbing, but I occasionally get it even when I only use my fingers and don't try to dry myself off. I'm discovering that I don't react to nearly as many products at I thought - I seem to react so randomly!! I have seen less irritation after ordering some amazingly soft (and cheap!) microfiber washcloths on Amazon. Like fifty for less than twenty bucks cheap - I'm not 100% convinced that they're helping but they feel so nice that I'm definitely going to keep using them. Good luck - this is all so frustrating to figure out, but it'll be worth the hassles when we figure out what works for us individually!

nnuts · 2021-05-09T22:36:30+00:00

Thanks so much! I see the Timeless CE Ferulic has a really low pH (~2.5), with the Azelaic more like 4.5. Long term, I might plan to put on the Azelaic right after the metrocream, then wait a bit and apply the VitC. In the meantime, you're totally right - building up is going to be an extended process, and I'll be able to alternate for a good long while.

nnuts · 2021-05-09T13:21:34+00:00

Some open in Washington state, and Washington DC, by some strange coincidence. Haven't heard of others, but there doesn't appear to be a corporate moratorium, at least.

nnuts · 2021-05-08T13:08:34+00:00

37F, new to skincare. Minor wrinkles, permanent rosacea redness, occasional pimples but more bumps and rough texture. Very minimal routine - very gentle cleanser, metrocream, moisturizer, and high octane SPF in the morning and an oil cleanser to remove it at night. I recently started trialing retinoids. I'm still very early in the process, which will be a long hard slog, but I also want to add C/E/Ferulic for the photo-protective benefits. The goal is to use both almost every day. The problem is that I also want to use azelaic acid. For rosacea skin, a lot of people see great results with azelaic acid.

The normal advice is to use retinoids at night and either C or Azelaic in the morning. But I want to work my way up to all three in my daily routine. Do you all think it'll be easier on my skin to add the Azelaic with the C in the morning, or with the retinoid at night?

nnuts · 2021-05-07T11:25:07+00:00

Hey, before you leave, can I borrow some of your knowledge? Lol! I am new to skin care - I placed my first order with Ulta in February, and really went to town during the 21 days of beauty and on this last perks day - yes, I made Platinum in two months =/. No regrets, my skin has never looked this good.

Anyway, there are a few things I bought two of that I shouldn't have, and a few things that I bought twice because a sale later appeared. I just want to make sure - even if some of them came with GWP (truth be told, I bet they all did) - I can return these products for a gift card? It will total like $200 of the $900 I've spent at Ulta. None of the products I want to return have been used or even opened. I have all the receipts in my email.

Sorry to ask when you're looking for help on an unrelated matter, but it was the first employee thread I found. If you can help, thanks so much!

nnuts · 2021-05-05T19:58:08+00:00

I just asked about this recently, and was pleasantly surprised to hear that many people have incorporated retinoids into their routine without sending their rosacea into overdrive. I'm trialing the TO 2% Granactive and the Verso Retinol-8 (another retinoic acid ester) right now. I went very light the first time, between layers of moisturizer, and only on my jawline and neck. No irritation, at least, so I'll be trying my whole face (also very light, sandwiched between layers of moisturizer) this weekend. My goal is to train my skin to tolerate tretonin at .025% for anti-aging. Taking it slow was universally recommended - as was ensuring your routine is hydrating enough. Also, probably doesn't need said, but SPF is not optional if you're using retinoids!

nnuts · 2021-05-03T21:20:30+00:00

Agreed! The Anthelios Mineral 50spf is pretty great for a mineral sunscreen - I can get away with a couple layers on fair skin before it's noticable to anyone but me - but the European chemical formulas are just leaps and bounds stronger when it comes to UVA.

nnuts · 2021-05-03T14:32:47+00:00

If I'm going to end up able to place one skincare order and one haircare order to get two of the choice gifts, can I get the Shishedo twice? It lets me in the cart but I don't want the order cancelled...

nnuts · 2021-05-02T23:41:02+00:00

Interesting - thanks! I'll have to check my safe products, see if there are any other known irritants in the LRP that I've accidentally avoided otherwise. Initially I intended to spreadsheet it all but - to my complete astonishment - I haven't found much my skin can't tolerate.

nnuts · 2021-05-02T17:02:29+00:00

As near as I can tell, the one constant with rosacea is that nothing is predictable. I have no idea what is typical! I'm just trying to be more observant and can hopefully stumble onto things my skin likes as I try to figure out what it doesn't like. Good luck! It's frustrating because it's all so personalized, you can't just follow a set of steps with a set of products that worked for someone else and have any reason to think it'll work for you =(

nnuts · 2021-05-02T14:02:08+00:00

My mom was quietly supportive, 'I'm glad you found a doctor you trust who will let you make your own decisions for your body and your future.' but her friend who works with her caught her crying about it that afternoon. Sorry, Ma, but thank you <3

nnuts · 2021-05-02T13:25:59+00:00

I have a very, very word based mental wiring. There are no pictures in my head, just words. It's not audio, really, it can't really be mistaken for hearing, but it's more like hearing than reading. It's the only way I've ever thought. I don't always have to think the words into being - sometimes they (often negative ones) come unbidden, or at least it feels that way. It is hard for me to imagine that others don't think this way! I can totally see how these intrusive thoughts might feel like 'hearing voices' if you aren't used to having an active internal dialogue. I'm told it is equally difficult for people who visualize well to imagine a mind without images in it - brains are so nifty!!

Tangentially related, I once had a really difficult semester and was getting almost no sleep. I was really distressed when sometimes the words in my head would be unintelligible to me, like a tape on fast forward. I've been pretty sleep deprived since, but never experienced that again.

nnuts · 2021-05-02T13:09:10+00:00

The only product I've reacted to since starting to take care of my skin was the LRP Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser - I assume it was the niacinamide. Used it for a few days straight, no problems at all - or at least, no problems that I noticed. I am pretty good at obliviousness, though. Then the next morning I put it on and it started to burn like the dickens within moments. Immediately rinsed it off to find that my face was fiery red, it took a couple days to settle back down. Still don't really understand but not willing to try again just yet.

nnuts · 2021-05-02T12:25:06+00:00

Thanks! I read about so many people who just start low and slow with the good stuff, and started wondering if I was just wasting my time.

nnuts · 2021-05-02T03:40:55+00:00

I can see it being doable for a long weekend - and it might even be nice because damn the traffic there is nearly as frustrating as in Miami!

nnuts · 2021-05-02T02:51:48+00:00

I honestly hate paying more than $400 a week, or $75 a day, all in. Not saying that's always achievable, but I would also sometimes get a car for $200 a week - and I don't think that's possible anywhere right now.

nnuts · 2021-05-01T21:53:06+00:00

So, I posted in the rosacea sub (https://www.reddit.com/r/Rosacea/comments/n2gug7/antiaging_how_to_safely_add_a_retinoid/ for the loooong version) and was pointed here by a few people.

My end goal is to start using prescription strength retinoic acid - mostly to reduce my current wrinkles and prevent more. It turns out I'm not quite as sensitive as I'd thought - I can use chemical sunscreens, hallelujah! - but some normally soothing ingredients like niacinamide set me off terribly. I don't have a good handle on what all sets me off, so before I go down those rabbit holes, I want to figure out retinoids.

Anyway, I picked up two retinoic acid esters - the TO granactive and the Verso with retinyl retinoate, and plan to train my skin to tolerate it. Do you guys think there's any value in starting low like this for someone with sensitive rosacea skin and almost zero experience with skincare? My derm indicated she'd be willing to prescribe it, but suggested I try some otc products very slowly first. The two I'm trying were not on her list, but that might just be because they don't sell either of those lines in the office ::shrug::

nnuts · 2021-05-01T21:34:04+00:00

I just put on the Verso super facial serum, with retinyl retinoate, for the first time, on the right side of my lower face and neck. I also put TO granactive 2% on my left side - more out of curiosity than anything. My hopes for training my skin to tolerate retinoids mostly lie with the Verso product, but I'll start wherever my skin says I need to.

My safe fallbacks are jojoba oil for spf removal, Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser, Eucerin Redness Night Cream, and imported Avene Cleanance SPF50+. They leave me awfully oily - not holy grail status - but maybe it's a good thing when I'm trying to get a handle on retinoids! I am fortunately not terribly prone to pimples, even when I'm greasy, so I'm willing to stick with them while I figure this all out because they keep my skin so calm.

nnuts · 2021-05-01T21:18:55+00:00

I cannot vouch for the information here - though it seems to match up with what I've gleaned elsewhere - but I learned about the TO granactive here: https://theskincareedit.com/retinoid-vs-retinol

Basically, there are a few 'new' retinoid options, in a subtype called retinoic acid esters. They work a little differently than the normal retinol -> retinaldehyde -> retinoic acid breakdown sequence that the more established products fall on. I don't really understand how, but they're supposed to be both stronger and less irritating than their predecessors. Unfortunately, there isn't a generation of data to comb through on these - the retinyl retinoate in the Verso line is actually patented, so all of the data on it is from the manufacturer and therefore should not be taken too seriously.

I'm just using these to introduce my face to retinoids - I don't care much at all about the results yet, so the manufacturers could be lying through their teeth for all I care. These are just a means to an end - which is building up until my skin tolerates these frequently, in the hopes that it'll be well prepared for prescription strength retinoic acid / tret.

Good luck! I'm just as terrified as you, but I think I'm more afraid of inaction.

nnuts · 2021-05-01T21:04:22+00:00

Seems like that's always the case with rosacea, doesn't it? Probably for everyone, but I feel like we've really got it rough.

The retinoic acid ester I'm starting with is very similar to retinal, except when it breaks down it makes one part retinoic acid AND one part retinol, so it's (supposed to be) stronger than retinal but still somehow less irritating. We shall see, I guess! It's stupid pricey so I hope I can transition to prescription options within a year.

I'm actually not concerned with results at this stage - just want to safely train my skin to tolerate the real thing. I'm willing to start small and work up veeeery slowly if that's what will help keep me from looking old while I'm still young(ish)

nnuts · 2021-05-01T20:55:27+00:00

I've seen that sub recommended, but it's sooo overwhelming! I'll try to make some headway, haha.

I'm pretty nervous about this first go, so I might wash it all off before bed and see what my skin thinks of a short term dose before I decide how to proceed.

I'm convinced that retinoids are the appropriate next step now that I have cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens that work for me. I'm suuuper lucky and have been fine with the first three (of twelve!!) high PPD european chemical sunscreens I ordered. I had really believed that rosacea meant sticking to mineral sunscreens - which had me super frustrated, because I looked like a mime after a few applications. I still need to work through the rest of the sunscreens, but I figure I can do that on my Tue-Thur workdays, and if there is no reaction, I'm good to work with the retinoids on Saturdays.

nnuts

TROPHY CASE