eli
#754
This is the one I also use - they also hace an “invisible mist “ spray which is great for touch ups during the day over make up - so far I haven’t found a better (AMAP invisible) spray for the face than this one.
Have had Sculptra done many times, not for lines but to increase volume as my face is very thin. Was very nervous about it because had read about nodules (the Sculptra solution has to be prepared perfectly to avoid this). And also concerned I might be too old to generate enough new collagen. My doctor had been suggesting I do it for years. He has many years of experience and I would not trust anyone else to do it. Also, he uses a cannula which enables him to place more with fewer entry points. In the ads the models typically get 2 or 4 or even more vials but 1 vial was enough for me to treat the entire face to my satisfaction. I get a touch up once every two years or so. I feel it makes a big difference – but I recognize that only when I compare to the photos of myself before I had any Sculptra injected. I would not trust anyone but my doctor with Sculptra. Be very careful about choosing an injector if you decide to try Sculptra.
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Beth
#756
This is the only chemical spf I am willing to use. This stuff is sorcery!!! I can not detect that it is anything but a thin lotion.
https://www.iherb.com/pr/beauty-of-joseon-relief-sun-rice-probiotics-spf-50-pa-50-ml/114686
I’ve smuggled in Ultra Violette spf which is very highly regarded, and while it truly is good, it still feels like spf to me (their spray is nice, though)
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What Are the Best Sunscreens, and Why Aren’t They Sold in the U.S.?
Why Aren’t Better Sunscreens Sold in the U.S.?
A decade after Congress told the FDA to expedite the approval of more effective sunscreens, the federal government still has not approved sunscreen ingredients that are safely being used around the world.
The Food and Drug Administration’s ability to approve the chemical filters in sunscreens that are sold in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and France is hamstrung by a 1938 U.S. law that requires sunscreens to be tested on animals and classified as drugs, rather than as cosmetics as they are in much of the world. So Americans are not likely to get those better sunscreens — which block the ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer and lead to wrinkles — in time for this summer, or even the next.
Sunscreen makers say that requirement is unfair because companies including BASF Corp. and L’Oréal, which make the newer sunscreen chemicals, submitted safety data on sunscreen chemicals to the European Union authorities some 20 years ago.
Full article: What Are the Best Sunscreens, and Why Aren’t They Sold in the U.S.? (Scientific American)
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PBJ
#758
Sometimes, it makes you wonder what is going on with some of the “low hanging fruit” at the FDA.
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jnorm
#759
Has anyone used Apostrophe? It seems like a Hims-type site, but specifically for tretinoin.
I was looking at some pictures from about five months ago, and my skin looked amazing. Right now, not so much. I think it’s because I’ve been taking kratom daily for about two months now, and there’s a lot of reports of it making skin looked more aged. So my first order of business is to get off the kratom, but I think I’m going to start tretinoin as well.
Beth
#760
I haven’t heard of that source, but fyi, I’ve used curology and now use to dermatica
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"… “The sunscreen issue has gotten people to see that you can be unsafe if you’re too slow,” said Alex Tabarrok, a professor of economics at George Mason University. “The FDA is just incredibly slow. They’ve been looking at this now literally for 40 years. Congress has ordered them to do it, and they still haven’t done it.”
FDA makes my head explode when I read such things.
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Reapplying doesn’t do much if you exceed the maximum sun exposure time for your skin type.
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I believe a good glycolic acid lotion (10%) would work better for this.
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New study results. Use the least expensive Hyaluronic acid as it is the metabolites that matter.
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Thanks for the video, @DeStrider . The summary for those of us who don’t have 16 minutes:
His favorite three skin anti-aging supplements are
- collagen peptides
- Hyaluronic acid
- Astraxanthin — for skin elasticity and moisture, but not for wrinkles
And alway use sun screen: sun exposure is the biggest damage to skin by far.
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Thanks for this second video, @DeStrider for those of ys who don’t want to spend 9 minutes:
Hyaluronic Acid is effective in reducing wrinkles when taken orally
It decreases in the skin as we get older.
The more-expensive high molecular weight version is broken into low molecular weigh version in the git before absorption, and it is then efficiently transported to the skin. So use the cheaper low molecular weight version.
He sells supplements, and uses 200mg of the low molecular weight sodium Hyaluronic acid.
Its also good for skin serums (it plumps and hydrates the outer skin) but because of its large size its not absorbed into the deeper skin, so effects aren’t permanent.
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Any thoughts on this homemade sunscreen? I think it is just coconut oil and beef tallow as a medium, and then mix in zinc for blockage, and whip so it is more “creamy”. No preservatives is a positive. And I know there are a lot of people who wouldn’t smear animal fat on their skin. But does this seem effective? — I’ve been paralyzed on using carcinogenic and other crap compounds in my skin for sunscreen and lotions (“paralyzed” because I suspect they could be bad but I also know I should be using something for both).
I have done an initial experiment with topical pantostin (17-alfa-estradiol). I used it on my face for a few weeks, with the intention of finding out how I tolerated it. I have now put it on the shelf, since I suspect that P started to interfere with my (male) sexual function. Of course, I don’t know if that really was the case. I will try it again in the future and see how I respond.
But I also noticed that my facial skin improved. I am absolutely not saying that P is better than other options when it comes to skin care. But It was an intriguing observation and somewhat in line with your observation regarding estriol cream.
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Beth
#770
If you are trying to avoid ‘crap” and you want spf that if creamy and as ‘clean’ as possible, I HIGHLY recommend Josh Rosebrook… I only stopped using it because it’s spf 30 and I have moved on to 50 this year. His stuff is not inexpensive but no one cares more about their formulations than he does.
I’ll add, I would NEVER do DYI spf… it’s one of the most vigorous tested products and if you don’t do it perfectly, there is a lot to lose… I say this not having watched the video and maybe that was addressed. I’d dyi almost anything else… I used to make my own lotions etc… no problem if those fail 
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I hear you on not DIY-ing sunscreen (the “home depot sunscreen”?). And I’m considering doing this but good chance I’ll skip it But if the issue is to get 50 spf you just need x concentration of zinc powder well-mixed and applied in a certain (reasonable) thickness using a medium to spread it (coconut oil? Tallow? Cream?). It really should be that simple, right? — its a surface blocker and not absorbed. Testing shouldn’t matter if it is reasonably evenly applied. Or maybe I’m oversimplifying it?
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Beth
#773
I’m no expert, but the experts I follow say the challenge is how do you mix something thick (or even thin) so perfectly where there are no holes?
Lab Muffin (who is well respected) has a quick video here addressing the animal fat spf. I’ve also seen her post that shows with a special light that diy spf doesn’t lay down evenly on the skin
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