La Roche Posay Effaclar 3 Step Anti Blemish System

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of La Roche Posay's Effacer Duo+ I spoke about it in great detail 1 tube in here and 2 tubes in here. When I heard that they were bringing out a 3 Step Anti Blemish System containing a much hyped toner I was very excited to give it a try. Here's what's in it and what I thought!

First up is the Purifying Foaming Gel, I have to be honest and say I haven't even tried this. I'm not a fan of foaming cleaners at all, they just don't agree with my skin so I passed this along to the boy to try and give me his verdict. Suffice to say he loves it! He said it doesn't foam too much but still leaves his skin feeling clean but not dried out (he has combination/oily skin). Since using it for the last couple of months he hasn't had a single spot in spite of having a terrible cold. He said he likes that it's an unfussy product in practical packaging and that he'll continue to use it and repurchase it indefinitely! 

The Clarifying Toner is only available as part of this set and it's the product I was the most excited about. It contains lactic and salicylic acid in a glycerin base so it's exfoliating but also moisturising. I've been using it for a couple of months twice a day and really like it although it doesn't tingle the skin as other exfoliating toners do. I'd definitely recommend it, particularly to those who have never used an exfoliating toner before. 

Last up is the Effaclar Duo+, I won't talk about this one too much as I've spoken about it in detail in previous posts, make sure you check those out if you want more info. In a nutshell it's a cream - serum hybrid that can be applied all over the face or just to specific areas. It's incredible at taking down spots in record time and also helps fade any scars they leave behind. A brilliant product that I'll always have at hand just incase!

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Time Bomb Youth Juice Secret Oil

I've always loved using facial oils, they balance combination and oily skin and add much needed moisture to dry skins while being such a pleasure to use. The Time Bomb Youth Juice Secret Oil is no exception, it boasts great ingredients, a blend of 10 natural oils such as olive, avocado and jojoba which have been blended to closely replicate the skin's natural sebum. 

I've been using it for about 6 weeks now and it's managed to keep dry, sensitive, winter skin at bay. My skin feels soft and healthy, which is very unusual for me at this time of year! I've been using it 2-3 times a week and I don't ever feel like it's too greasy or that it just sits on the skin. It always sinks right in and smells of lavender which makes it very relaxing to use last thing at night. 

If I was being really fussy I'd have to say that my one issue with it is the packaging. There is no pump or pipette dispenser like other oils, just an open 'pour' top which almost always means product ends up getting wasted. The thin plastic bottle and lid also feels a little disappointing compared to other oils in this price range which would usually come in a glass bottle. That said you do get a whopping 60ml of product rather than the usual 30ml so I guess you win some, you lose some! All in all it's a great product, definitely worth a try!

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REN Clarimatte Clarifying Toner

I've been using the REN Clarimatte Clarifying Toner for about a month and a half now and as I mentioned in my August Favourites, I love it. Of all the exfoliating toners I've tried (so far) this is my favourite. It's gentle enough to use everyday, I use it in the evenings, but it's still strong enough to actually make a noticeable difference. 

It contains a combination of exfoliating acids which break down and remove surface dead skin cells and increase cell turnover. This means any pigmentation or uneven skin tone fades quicker than it otherwise would. In the relatively short time I've been using it I've definitely noticed an improvement in dark spots and skin tone, plus I've still got just over half the bottle left! 

I've been using Indeed Labs Pepta-Bright for the last few weeks which has helped too, I think the combination of the two are working really well for my skin. I also think this toner would work well for all skin types (apart from maybe super sensitive skin), rather than just for combination to oily skin. It doesn't strip the skin or leave it feeling tight and contains lavender so it smells lovely and relaxing and is a pleasure to use. Definitely a product I'd recommend!

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The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash

I recently spoke about The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil, which I use in the evenings as it's really great for removing makeup, read all about that here. In the mornings I've been using their Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash and I've really been loving it. 

As you'd expect it contains Tea Tree oil which in combination with menthol smells amazing and leaves skin feeling unbelievable cool, fresh and tingly with out stripping it of moisture. It's perfect for anyone who lives in a hot climate or in a country currently experiencing a heatwave! 

It's a cream cleanser so it doesn't foam, something I really like about it as I tend to avoid foaming cleansers. I massage it into my skin and then usually remove it using a warm flannel/washcloth, this leaves my skin feeling really clean and soft. If I have time I sometimes leaves it on for a couple of minutes before removing it, I'm sure there are no skincare benefits to doing this but I just love the cooling sensation it has on my skin!  

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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Two Tubes in

Rather than doing a traditional style review of the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ I decided to write a post every time I finished a tube, that way I could share with you the progress and give you a good idea of how soon you can expect results. If you missed my pervious post, the one I wrote when I was one tube in, you can see that here. That post also contains all the info on what the product does, what it contains etc so give it a quick read if this is a product you're unfamiliar with. 

I mentioned in my first post that the most noticeable improvement was in skin texture and that's still the case, the clogged pores on and around my nose have almost completely disappeared, the area now feels smooth to the touch and the pores are barely noticeable. The second most noticeable improvement is my skin tone, it looks significantly brighter and my pigmentation has faded a lot. The marks I could perviously see standing a foot away from the mirror I can now only see if I get right up close to it. A lot of the ones that were already a bit lighter have now disappeared which I'm very pleased about!

I've now started using this just in the areas that I need it rather than all over so I'm expecting the third tube to last me a lot longer than the first two. Especially considering the area in which I need to use it keeps getting smaller and smaller.

As I said in my last post it's a great product that I'd definitely recommend to anyone with breakouts, pigmentation or uneven skin texture. Have you tried La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+?

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Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Night Cream

Moisturisers are a bit of a difficult one for me, I usually find them to be either not moisturising enough or far too heavy and clog my skin. I've found a few exceptions over the years that I like, but never one I've loved, until now. I've been using the Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Night Cream for just over a month now and I can honestly say it's the best I've ever tried. 

Why do I like it so much? The main reason is the formula. It feels like a thick, rich cream but the moment you start massaging it into the skin it sinks in. It doesn't disappear immediately leaving you feeling like you need to apply more but it doesn't just sit on the skin either. I often find that when night creams do that they mostly end up on my pillow! Rodial describe it as a 'plumping' moisturiser, and it definitely delivers on that account, I've been waking up every morning to cushiony soft skin. My moisturising skin serums and oils have been going untouched for the last month as I haven't felt like I've needed them, this cream has been giving my skin all the moisture it needs.  

It contains Dragon's Blood (resin from the Dragon's Blood Tree) which smooths and hydrates the skin, wonder ingredient hyaluronic acid which has the ability to hold 1000 times it's weight in water meaning your skin holds onto the moisture it already has a well as that of any products you're using. Retinol, an ingredient proven to even skin tone and pigmentation and Niacinamide which calms down  irritated skin. It also contains Shea butter which leaves skin feeling soft and nourished but is an ingredient that's best avoided if you have acne or very oily skin, for everyone else, it's fine!

I can't comment on the claim to visibly reduce fine lines in 4 weeks as I don't have any, but as I said it definitely does give a plumping effect. I have however definitely noticed my skin looking brighter and more even toned, thanks to the retinol I'm sure.

   

There is one thing I feel I need to address with this and that's the price, at £58.00 it's not exactly cheap but I do genuinely feel it's worth every penny. As I said before I've not needed to use any serums/oils along side it which is something I'd normally do, so for me this is a 3 in 1 product. As well as that I've been using it every single night for just over a month and as you can see from the picture I've only just scraped the surface, a little really does go a long way with this as it spreads so well. I've already decided that I'll be repurchasing this when it runs out but luckily for my wallet that won't be for a long time! 

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The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

When it comes to cleansers I tend to pass on the foaming ones and stick to cream, oil and balm formulas. I made the switch a few years ago now and my skin is definitely thanking me for it. I found foaming formulas left my skin feeling tight and uncomfortable whereas creams/oils/balms leave my skin feeling soft and nourished. 

I've been using The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil for a while now and I'm loving it. It's a really lightweight oil that you massage onto your dry, fully made up face and it completely dissolves makeup, including stubborn mascara. When it comes into contact with water the whole lot turns into a milky liquid and just rinses off making makeup removal incredibly quick and easy. You can also remove it with a damp flannel/washcloth which I sometimes do and this gives the skin a slight exfoliation, leaving it feeling even softer. 

I find one pump of product is plenty to do my whole face and as I only use it in the evening this bottle will last me a long time. I tend to follow it with another cleanse, just to make sure all my makeup is definitely gone and my skin in super clean, for this I prefer a balm cleanser or coconut oil as it's richer and leaves my skin feeling plumped up. I've heard great things about The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter too so that one's next on my list to try! 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ - One Tube In

I spotted La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ on a 3 for 2 offer a while ago and in spite of never having tried it before I took the plunge and bought 3 tubes. I'm not usually one to bulk buy a product I've never tried before but I'd read so many amazing reviews of the stuff that I knew I couldn't go wrong. 

Rather than doing a traditional style review I thought I'd do a post of how it's worked for me one tube in and then again later on when I'm two/three tubes in. 

First of all, what is it? A non-sticky melt in formula that's designed to tackle clogged pores, blemishes  and the marks they leave behind while also controlling shine and refining the skin's texture. Niacinamide soothes, LHA and Salicylic Acid gently exfoliate and Procerad prevents red and brown pigmentation marks from forming.

Does it work? For me, in a word, yes. Although I don't often get spots, when I do they seem to stay put for a while and leave behind marks that take forever to fade. This manages to speed up the lifecycle of a spot, meaning it disappears a lot quicker. The biggest improvement by far has definitely been to my skin texture, it feels smoother and all the clogged up pores on and around my nose look noticeably better. My skin also looks a lot brighter,  any new blemishes I've had since I've been using it definitely haven't left marks and although the old marks are still there they seem to have faded a lot, thanks to the exfoliating properties I'm sure. I've even managed to switch from wearing foundation everyday to a CC cream, something I've never been able to do before because I've always needed that extra bit of coverage. 

I would definitely recommend this product, to those with oily/congested skin as well as to those with just pigmentation. I'll be sure to do another post 2 tubes in to update you on the progress!

Have you tried La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+? What did you think of it? 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

I've never been particularly interested in makeup removers as I've always used a cleanser that removes makeup and I hardly ever wear waterproof mascara. However, since I started reading beauty blogs and writing my own I've been hearing about Micellar Waters constantly, everyone seems to use them! The most popular is of course Bioderma but as it's not particularly cheap or readily available in this county I never got round to trying it. 

When wandering around Boots recently I spotted the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, an obvious Bioderma copy, even down to the bottle. As it was on offer for a mere £3.33 (regular price £4.99) I thought I'd give it a go, and I'm so glad I did, it really is amazing! It manages to remove an entire face  of makeup, including eyes, with just 2 cotton pads. No rubbing required, at all. I just soak 2 pads, hold one over each eye, press down for a few seconds and wipe away. I then turn the pads over to remove the rest of the makeup on my face. 

The bottle claims that it will last 200 uses, which I'm not entirely sure about, I'll have to get back to you on that on in one of my empties posts. I do however think it will last a really long time, I've been using mine for more than a month and as you can see from the picture I not that far through it!

Have you tried any Cleansing Waters?

REVIEW: Botanics Ionic Clay Mask

I feel like I've been raving non stop about the Boots Botanics skincare range as of late, but hear me out, I promise it's worth it! Their products are really well thought out and made with good ingredients so they're great value for money. Their Ionic Clay Mask is no exception, I've been using it for the last few weeks now and it's great for congested and clogged up skin that just feels like it needs a good clean. 

The consistency is a lot thinner than other clay masks I've tried, which means it dries a lot faster so there isn't so much waiting around. It rinses off really well without dragging or pulling the skin and leaves it feeling cleaner and fresher but not completely stripped and screaming out for  moisture. 

I've been using it anywhere between once a week, as a skin maintenance product, to every other day during times when my skin is oilier or more congested than usual. It's really great and speeding up the lifecycle of spots or just getting skin back to normal.

What are your favourite face masks?

REVIEW: Sephora Gentle Exfoliator Cleansing Cream

Yesterday I spoke about a cleanser I really dislike so I thought it was about time I turned the tables and spoke about one that I love. It's the Sephora Gentle Exfoliator Cleansing Cream which I brought in Sephora when I went to France last summer.

It has a thick creamy consistancy which you massage into the skin and wipe away with a warm damp flannel. I contains exfoliating fruit acids (AHAs) which gently rid skin of dull surface skin cells without the need for using harsh grainular products that can often irritate sensative skin. 

I tend to use it as a mask rather than a cleanser, I just smooth it on and leave it for about 10 minutes, that way all the ingredience have a chance to work for a bit longer. When I remove it my skin feels really soft and smoother and looks a lot brighter. I'll definitely be repurchasing this next time I'm in France! 

REVIEW: Clinique Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser

I'm not a big fan of foaming cleansers and this one only reminded me of that. I like to keep things quite positive on this blog but I do feel it's important to mention when I don't like things too.

I generally prefer cream and oil based cleansers because I find they're a lot kinder on the skin, the only time I really use foaming cleansers is if I'm travelling. I had a mini version of Clinique's Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser so I thought I might as well give it a try.

It's safe to say I really, really didn't like it! It foams up well but isn't great at removing makeup, something I always expect a cleanser to. I had to wash my face twice to get it all of and it left my skin feeling really awful. It felt tight, squeaky, uncomfortable and dry. Even after pilling on the moisturiser afterwards my skin still didn't feel quite same. 

That said, everyone's skin is different so what doesn't work for me might well work for you! 

REVIEW: Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief is a light moisturiser with a gel texture. It sinks straight into the skin as soon as it’s applied and I think it would be perfect for combination/oily but dehydrated skins.

At the moment I feel it’s not quite moisturizing enough for me because my skin is really dry due to the cold weather. As soon as I put it on, my skin just drinks it up and feels dry again. That said I do think it would be perfect for me come summer when my skin tends to loose all it’s sensitive tendencies and is prone to looking a bit shiny. It leaves skin with a matte to natural finish and works amazingly well under makeup, no overly shiny residue at all.

So I think I’ll be stashing this moisturizer away for now to use in the summer when I’ll get the most out of it!

Have you tried this moisturizer? What do you think of it?