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Mon Jan 02, 2006 8:31 pm  |
I love my ISClinical stuff. I use it all and it has been wonderful for my 55 yr old skin.
Maybe it's post-holiday-empty-pocketbook-syndrome, but I was thinking about alternating ISC every couple weeks with another skincare line. The "other" line would have to be cheaper, otherwise there's no sense in changing.
I'm drawn to Ole Henriksen's line or maybe the PSF line. Do you think this is wise? Has anyone tried alternating with another line? My fear is that the overall result will be compromised. My thinking is that ISC probably has higher percentages of keep ingredients compared to others; but I really don't know.
I'd feel better about using ISC if I could save a few pennies overall. Or maybe I'm just feeling poor. 
Lexy |
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Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:58 pm |
I haven't tried the IS Clinical line, but I think if it's really been that wonderful for your skin, I'd stick with it and not budge. It's so difficult to find something that works for each individual's skin. In the end you may spend more just by trying different lines to find one compatible and comparable and still not be satisfied.
-Cheri |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:14 am |
I think if you start alternating, you're going to see diminished results.
There isn't any way around the fact that the line is expensive, but I know that for me, I've actually saved money since I started using the line.
Before I started using IS Clinical I was a total product slut. I would start using a product, if I like the results, I'd continue, but since I was never COMPLETELY satisfied, I was always on the lookout for something new. I rarely completely finished a bottle or tube of anything before traipsing off to try something new.
For me, I've been so totally pleased with the results since I started using the line, that with the acception of Prevage, which I've continued to use once a day, and the occasional addition of the Decleor firming serum for my eyes (especially after a night of partying....), I haven't used anything else.
For a little while, I was able to get a discount on my IS Clinical stuff from a site whose address I gave some people here. After a while though, they became increasingly unreliable. I pick up product on eBay when I can, but only from sellers who I really trust. It's an exclusive sort of line, and I'm always a tiny bit leary when somebody offers the product at a big discount, so I'm careful.
Anyway, after all this babbling, my point is that if you like the results, why mess around. There are other lines out there that give good, albeit not as dramatic results, at a much lower price. If you're going to settle for compromised results, and I think that you'll have to if you alternate, my view is why bother with IS Clinical at all? It's worth the price because of its dramatic results - if those results are compromised, I think you're better off just moving to line that you feel is more affordable.
I hope my reasoning makes sense. Not that you have to agree, mind you. I'm just not sure if I articulated my point.  |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:34 pm |
OK, Ya talked me into it! I'll stay with the ISC because it really does wonders for me. I was sulking last night when I wrote. All my ISC runs out at about the same time (cuz I ordered it all at the same time, duh!)and it's a killer to replace all at once. It's especially noticable after Christmas. 
Katee, do you still use the Skinceuticals retinol? I didn't see it mentioned in your post. I still have my eye on that one.
So it's settled and I thank you for your help. Besides, I am sooooooooooooo worth it. 
Lexy |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:43 pm |
I use both expensive and inexpensive products.
PSF has a much cheaper C serum and it works just as well as the other expensive ones.
Cetaphil is a good moisturizer, Queen Helena is a great mud mask (and I supplement is with glycolic and salycilic from the Personal Formulator). hese are dirt cheap but really good.
Some expensive things are good because they contain good ingredients (IS is fine as is Skinceuticals, I also like copper peptides ). Most of the expensive product price is advertising and profit not ingredients. |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:11 pm |
Good for you, Lexie. I wouldn't suggest that somebody buy eye serum instead of feeding their kids or anything like that (  ), but I really do think a little indulgence is often cost effective in the long run.
To answer your question, I do still use the Skinceuticals retinol 1.0. I dab it under my eyes, under my IS Clinical Eye stuff 2 to 3 times per week. Be careful with it, though. It's VERY strong stuff.... |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:16 pm |
Chiming in a little late with my 2 cents, but I don't think you'll regret splurging on the IS Clinical. I eased into the line one product at a time (because of the initial financial investment), and the results just kept getting more *wow* with each product I added. So, I think that if you substituted for some of your current products, you probably wouldn't get the same cummulative effect. Also, I didn't take the bottles with me on vacation (didn't want to risk breaking them), and I noticed a difference in my skin after only a week's time.
I think we all have our beauty priorities and budgets, it's just a matter of where we splurge and where we scrimp. For example, I have a hair stylist/colorist that's wonderful, but a bit pricey. When money's tight, I cut another "nonessential" out of the budget in order to keep my appointments with her rather than go to Supercuts. I feel the same way about IS Clinical.
Katee - to wander off topic a bit, what does Prevage add over and above the IS Clinical? I've been giving Prevage some thought, but wasn't sure if it would do anything that the IS Clinical wasn't already doing. |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:34 pm |
Hi Hope and all!
I feel good now just sticking with ISC and really appreciate your input. I feel better with more responses like "you're so worth it." 
Like I said, the "mistake" I made was buying the whole shebang at the beginning and now running out of 5 things all at the same time. I used to have a mortgage payment that was less than that! But that just shows my age.
I'm not one to check ingredients - if it works I use it. Active Serum, or one of them has some retinol, right? So would another retinol be overkill? Prevage isn't a retinol and Kinerase is a "something" like retinol. And I'm wondering if I should be adding something like that.
With ISC, I don't mask or exfoliate anymore. No need, I don't think. But maybe I'd look perfect if I did! I dunno.
Katee seems to be the ISC queen. Whatcha think?
And WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT!?! I'm whining about money and looking at more stuff!
Lexy |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:47 pm |
I think the pro-heal has retinol, but not much really. Adding retinol wouldn't be overkill-sorry. Besides, I think Katee meant she uses the retinol 3X a week under her eyes.. I alternate active serum with 1% retinol.
Just like to add, Is products last a very long time. I've had the active aerum for 5 months now and there's plenty left. You really only need a few drops. The same with the creams. I cheated & tried Wexler's serum (cmparatively cheap) except that the one ounce serum barely lasted 3 weeks.
BTW, have you tried the firming cream yet. Just mentioning since we're about the same age bracket- |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:19 pm |
Marina, I LOVE the Firming Complex! I started using it over the Active at night and what a difference!
What retinol do you use? Skinceuticals? Do you alternate it with Active at night? Instead of guessing, I'll just let you answer. 
I take it that you use the Firming also? Great stuff.
Lexy |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:26 pm |
Lexy - I can totally relate. My first mortgage payment was about $400! I couldn't imagine at that time that any house this side of a mansion could possibly cost $100,000 or a skin cream would ever cost $100. There are some things that I'm very frugal about (still can't bring myself to pay more than $25 for a purse) and others that I'm willing to splurge on. I don't use the IS Clinical cleanser because I don't see the value in it. And I haven't ventured into the IS Clinical moisturizer or eye cream because I have too many half-used jars of other products that I feel like I have to use up first.
Marina - I'm in the same age bracket (I'm 52), and I love the firming cream. I alternate it with the active serum. I also incorporate Skinceuticals retinol 1% once or twice a week into the rotation.
Lexy - did you have any reaction to putting the firming cream over the active serum? My skin is very resilient, but the first time I tried active serum was the first time I ever had sensitivity to any skincare product. I've been very wary since of mixing the active with anything else. |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:32 pm |
Yes, that's exactly how I use it..actually I tried it one night by mistake over the active serum..I thought it was the moisturizing complex. MMM (menopausal memory loss) comes in handy sometimes. I was hesitant about mentioning it since I thought you had sensitive skin-pro-heal is usually recommended for sensitive skin.It works better like this than alone.
I was using skinceuticals (alternate nights with active serum) but now that EDS no longer carries it..I think I'll try the new PSF one. I like their products.BTW, If you need a really rich eye cream try the PSF hydrating one.
At any rate, every time I come on this board complaining about the cost of skincare products, I end up leaving with a new list of products I should order...never ends...BUT I've never been this happy with one product line for this long..I no longer have a burgeoning reject box..that certainly was $$$ wasted over the years. Anyway, I'm starting to ramble again.....  |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:37 pm |
| Hope wrote: |
Lexy - I can totally relate. My first mortgage payment was about $400! I couldn't imagine at that time that any house this side of a mansion could possibly cost $100,000 or a skin cream would ever cost $100. There are some things that I'm very frugal about (still can't bring myself to pay more than $25 for a purse) and others that I'm willing to splurge on. I don't use the IS Clinical cleanser because I don't see the value in it. And I haven't ventured into the IS Clinical moisturizer or eye cream because I have too many half-used jars of other products that I feel like I have to use up first.
Marina - I'm in the same age bracket (I'm 52), and I love the firming cream. I alternate it with the active serum. I also incorporate Skinceuticals retinol 1% once or twice a week into the rotation.
Lexy - did you have any reaction to putting the firming cream over the active serum? My skin is very resilient, but the first time I tried active serum was the first time I ever had sensitivity to any skincare product. I've been very wary since of mixing the active with anything else. |
Just saw your post...the first time I tried active serum I literally jumped up & down-may have been the menthol-I don't have sensitive skin. After 3 days, no further reaction. I can use the firming cream over active serum with no problem..the initial sensitivity did not recur. I recommend you try it-skinterra told me NOT to try this but happily I grabbed the wrong jar & it was an epiphany. |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:38 pm |
Hope, It was suggested by Skinterra to use the Firming over the Active at night. I had been using the Active for about 6 months when I added the Firming. The first few times, my skin felt a little "hot" and flushed. I can't use both every night - maybe 3 nights/week. I use either/or Firming/Active on the other nights.
My skin is very sensitive to some things but not this! I'm a dark blonde with medium/fair skin so even I was surprised.
For some reason, using the ISC has made my skin more resilient, not sensitive.
Lexy |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:43 pm |
| marina wrote: |
| -skinterra told me NOT to try this but happily I grabbed the wrong jar & it was an epiphany. |
Well, they must have changed their mind! That is EXACTLY what they told me todo!
And we think we don't know what we're talking about. 
Lexy |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:02 pm |
While we're on the IS topic,can you tell me why pro-heal was recommended..I'm almost finished my super serum & was wondering about pro-heal. Everytime I do the skinterra form, they recommend superserum-even when I put normal as my skintype. My skin is not as oily as it used to be-it's almost-gasp-normal. But I seem to keep treating it as oily-I guess it's a habit. Even at my age(I'm actually going to be 50 in April but I've been saying I'm 50 for the past year so I can get used to it ) I hesitate using creams or serums meant for normal/dry skin. That's why I'm not sure about pro-heal, but the fact that it has vit. E would make it a good & more stable C serum.
Thanks |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:21 pm |
ProHeal doesn't do a lot for me, maybe because I don't have the issues that ProHeal targets - mainly breakouts. Let me take that back, I used ProHeal about 3Xwk in the heat of the summer to reduce potential clogged pores and it worked great to prevent breakout. I'm medium oily, BTW. Much less so in the winter.
What surprised me was the Poly-Vit Serum. I use that about 2Xwk in the winter and in the a.m. my skin looks noticeably healthier. It has E in it also.
Lexy |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:27 pm |
| I had a sample of the poly-vit serum & really liked it-the same as you-my skin looked healthier. I was told that this serum is normally used when you want to give your skin a break from all the actives. That's the reason I didn't order it-the price & the fact that it was not an 'active' serum-to me, this means it dosen't do anything. At the time, I just reasoned if I wanted to give my skin a break I'd just use moisturizer. Maybe I need another sample. Thanks for clearing that up. |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:27 pm |
I'm curious about the different recommendations, too. I've done the Skinterra analysis a couple of times - once saying that my skin was normal to dry and once just calling it dry. Both times I've gotten the recommendation to use Superserum, active serum (which I thought was for oily/acne prone skin and I don't have either one) and to alternate the Active with the Firming Complex. I adjusted quickly to the Active Serum (but yes, at first I too was jumping around like I had unexpectedly bitten into a jalapeno), but after that initial experience I didn't have any problems.
I've been wondering whether the Active serum may be making my skin drier and whether a different IS serum might be more appropriate. I've been compensating with a heavier moisturizer, so it's not a big thing. I'm just curious, since I always get the recommendation to use the Active.
Thanks Marina and Lexy for the tips about layering the Active and Firming. I'm going to try that and see how it works for me. |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:41 pm |
I'm pretty sure Active is recommended for all skin types except sensitive. The only serum, I think, that targets acne/oily is ProHeal.
You may want to get a sample of the Poly-Vit and see how you like it. Very soothing to the skin and just the ticket when Active is "over-active" on your skin.
Or maybe the Firming? But maybe you're not of that age yet. Firming/Active/Poly-Vit are all recommended for evening use. Super and ProHeal are for a.m. use.
Lexy |
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:54 pm |
Another source for information is:
http://theskincareinstitute.com/catalog/is_clinical_356189_products.htm
I asked for information regarding skinc. ferulic vs. superserum and the person gave very thoughful, considered advice. Although there is no skincare form to fill out (this may be a plus) I may ask for some recommendations regarding IS Clinical.
Added bonus: free shipping for $50 & over & she is very generous with samples-I used to order here before EDS carried IS. |
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:05 am |
This thread has renewed my lemmings for IS Clinical. I'm 45 with combination/oily skin. No breakouts, but I use PTR correction pads with acids to keep the clogged pores at bay.
What would any of you recommend me starting out with? I'd like to buy one or two products at a time. I'll be using a cleanser and eye cream from other lines.
Any recommendations?
Edited to add: I also like to use a prescription retinoid about 3 times per week in the winter and all the time in the summer.
-Cheri |
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:45 am |
Hi Cheri,
I could tell you what I like, although doing the skinterra thing wouldn't be a bad idea. I like superserum-although pre-heal may be great for you if you have clogged pores-I may try this one next.
Active serum-I use firming complex over it. You may like the moisturizing complex. I find the hydracool too sticky & like that the moist. complex is more matte.
The website I mentioned above also gives great recs & provides samples of products you want to try. I'm not sure if EDS has any samples. |
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:52 am |
| It's amazing the differant recommendations for active. I too ordered from skincareitnstitute before EDS. Really super and very fast turnaround. I use the proheal and hydracool in the am and have just recently added the active at night in minute amounts in areas that need pore reduction and unclogging, not allover, and hydracool over that. My med/spa recommends the hydracool type products for oily/combo/sensitive skin and Cellex-c has one as well, the hydration complex. It is comparable to hydracool, same basics, I don't know about price. Although I love DR H CC, it does not seem to be doing the unclogging for me. |
_________________
Joined the 50 club several years back, blonde w/ fair/sensitive skin, Texas humidity and prone to rosacea, light breakouts and sunburns, combo skin type, starting to see sundamage and fine lines |
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:52 pm |
I hope you all share the recs you get from different companies. I'm very interested.
Well, thanks to myself, I just ordered the PSF Retinol. Had some paypal money burning a hole in my pocket.
I'll never learn and happy for it.
Lexy
PS - Has anyone reviewed or commented on the PSF Retinol Night Cream? I couldn't find anything in my search. |
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