Garden of Wisdom

[chiaberry]

Hmm... no actually. I think someone mentioned that they loved it though. I'm also very interested in the muds and clays but since I'm just starting out I should pace myself. Do you like the glacial?

No I'm finishing off my supply of a clay mix from Miessence (Australian brand btw) and not sure what to get next. I mix it with apple cider vinegar. Makes it more powerful for my resistant (non-sensitive) skin. Learnt that tip from a mineral make up forum. ACV also makes a cheap toner (needs to be diluted).

[tanyic]

I was going to formulate my own vinegar toner as well to compare it with my cocofen tonic I've got quite huge pores around my nose...

Maybe you can get a clay sampler from them? It is reasonably priced but they give you a whole range and you might end up not using some of them. It's a good way to find a good clay for your skin though

[chiaberry]

lol....I don't think any skin care product, organic or not, can fill up huge pores. You can only aim to keep them clear and hope to minimize their appearance. When I'm in a cooler and drier climate, they are less obvious, so you should find them much improved when you are in Australia. I'm not a complete "organic" skin care user. I use azelaic acid (in the form of Finacea which can be bought from the pharmacy in Australia). The GOW equivalent "active" is azeloyl glycine (not sure if I got the spelling correct). I find it helps to reduce the pores and also reduces oil secretion. Niacinamide is also a good active but I use pro-niacinamide in a non-organic product which is supposed to penetrate the skin better. I'm older than you and have more sun damage so need stronger "weapons" to help my skin....

Thanks for the suggestion on the clay sampler.

[tanyic]

Yup they can't fill them up unfortunately. I just hope the vinegar can tighten the pores a little better. The cocofen does seem to be helping. I'm going to get some ahas and bhas in my next order so I can degunk and get the deep blackheads out, hopefully once and for all.

[tanyic]

I missed your edited reply! Thanks I'll check the actives out Trying to create balance while young so next time I won't need too many weapons! I was also thinking of trying the black willowbark.

You sound like you've lived in aus before, have you?

[tanyic]

How do you use the mandelic acid? I'm interested in getting more products from them but am not exactly sure how to fit them all in..

mm... I basically use it after toning. So it's cleanser > toner > mandelic, give it 20mins then antioxidants etc. I do it this way because for the treatments step, I've read you should layer your products according to importance. When you say "fit them all in", which products are you referring to?

[chiaberry]

I missed your edited reply! Thanks I'll check the actives out Trying to create balance while young so next time I won't need too many weapons! I was also thinking of trying the black willowbark.

You sound like you've lived in aus before, have you?

No, but my parents live there and I go there about once a year on holiday.

After you've stabilized your skin, the best weapon while you're still young is a good sunblock and vit. C serum underneath to minimize sun damage. Have you tried GOW's sunblock? Any feedback on it? Not asking for myself but for other girls who have PMed me about it. Those girls who break out trying a lot of sunblocks asked me if the GOW (Devita) one might be more skin-friendly for acne-prone ppl. I don't use it as I'm a chemical sunblock user. But I would appreciate your input if you've tried it.

[tanyic]

I've not tried it myself unfortunately. I'm not really a fan of having a layer of sunblock slapped on my face if you know what I mean. I just get irked out Most GoW girls seemed to have success with it although Lain (moderator on GoW forum) broke out using it. I guess girls will have to try before knowing. I probably would add it into my next order since I wll need it in aus anyway. I'll feedback on the Devita when I've used it okies? I should be getting my next order in in 2-3 weeks

Which reminds me, anyone located in aussie and wants to share shipping please PM me

ArchangleMerc: I should be ordering about 8 March or thereabout. Is that period of time good for you?

[chiaberry]

You have no choice but to use sunblock in Aus. Even here in SG you should use sunblock. Don't think that just because you're young, you can get away with not using sunblock. You may not see the damage now but it will surface sooner or later. Especially if you had acne. Acne prone ppl are more prone to sun damage. It's because the skin cells don't cycle normally in the first place (which is why they get acne). And the same underlying problem in the skin cells that causes acne also makes them more prone to sun damage.

There's no point to use GOW Lite and Brite serum if you don't use sunblock. It's got arbutin which gets converted in the skin to hydroquinone. If you use this kind of whitening product and don't use sunblock, your skin may get more pigmentation instead when exposed to the sun (paradoxically). You won't successfully lighten pigment without sunblock even if you're using highest concentration of hydroquinone itself.

At least protect your skin with a powder mineral sunscreen like EDM Natural Reflections if you are using acids and lightening agents on your skin. You know of course that AHAs can thin the skin (that's how they work) and thinner skin equals more prone to sun damage.

[tanyic]

lol don't get me wrong. I'm just not a fan of commercial sunblock or the creamy kind. I used to have very oily skin and so that's probably why I don't really like anything that leaves some kind of layer on my skin, espcially when I can feel it on me all the time. I don't have acne but I used to have pimples without fail all over my forehead and those cystic ones sometimes on my cheek and less often on my chin. I didn't really know how to care for my skin then.

I've tried a lot of different brands of sunblock but so far, haven't found anything that keeps me from being an oil slick. I use EDM as sunblock for now in SG although I know it isn't really enough in the first place.

I'm aware of the paradoxical effects of using lightening products without suncreen. I use my AHAs, acids and all only at night anyway to be "safer". I wouldn't even consider myself too young to start preventing damage to my skin. I don't think one can be ever too young to do so. I've seen girls in their 20s having brown spots and wrinkles appearing. So for this summer, I'll give Devita a try and hopefully it's the first that works for me. I currently use antioxidants as well. I'm really glad I've started to "discover" my skin a whole lot more.

Thanks for your concern chiaberry! I appreciate it

[chiaberry]

Well, even if you use AHAs only at night but it still makes your skin more vulnerable to sun damage the following day. Applying any of those products at night doesn't make you immune from their side effects by any means. You really do have to take care in Aus. Ozone layer noticeably much thinner over there. See how you go with Devita. If it's not enough protection, you will see brown spots coming on quite quickly in Australian summer.

[tanyic]

Yep I'll have to careful about sun sensitivity issues even if I use it at night. Of course, I don't expect it to keep me immune, it's just better than putting it on in the day. Mm.. actually I have never had any brown spot issues even in Australian summers.. so I don't think I'll know for sure if the Devita is "enough". I guess if I start tanning really badly then I need somemore stronger in SPF?

[spicypink]

hi guys!
there's a few stuff i wanna buy at GoW.

any good face scrubs/cleanser/masks that target acne-prone oily combo skin? :>

so far, i am lemming for the strawberry scrub and the lemongrass cleanser or the simply clean tea tree oil cleanser. seems very yummy and effective. anyone tried?

p.s. how much will a sample size of 1oz lasts? seems very little?

thanks! hehe

[trueblue_86]

hi,
I had tried the lemongrass cleanser. Smells very nice. And it's a good physical scrub. You should try. as for the tea tree cleanser, I'd not try before. I tried the jen green tea/shea cleanser. Quite good but a bit drying for me. I also had acne-prone combo skin. But sometimes also dry as well. A very weird skin type.

for the scrub, you can just get the sample, will last you very very long. As for the 1oz cleanser I think can last about 1 mth if you wash twice a day.

[spicypink]

thanks for the helpful info trueblue_86

any reviews on the strawberry scrub, scar cream and the anti blemish gel?