General Info and Skin Type Mid-twenties, continental Europe. Dealing with hormonal acne (mostly CCs, sometimes cystic). My skin has calmed down a lot in the past three years, however, it’s sensitive and reacts almost immediately to anything it does not like. Always on the dryer side, my skin has been chronically dehydrated since I’ve started using tretinoin about 6 months ago. I get oily if I don’t moisturize properly. Been using actives for a total of 3 years, gradually progressing in strength and type.
Goals Evening out skin tone and texture, fading PIE/PIH, ridding myself of those last stubborn CCs. Have healthy looking skin with wrinkles in the right places as time goes on - smile lines are fine, frown lines are not ;-)
Patch testing method I patch test for 48 hours for allergic reactions, then I use the product on half my face for two weeks before evaluating if I should move on to a full faced test for another week or two. If I like it, the product stays. If I don’t, it goes on other parts of my body.
General approach to skin care Skin care for me is a ritual, I like taking my time. However, in the mornings, I get up so early that I tend to save my actives for my evening routine. I like products that feel luxurious, so texture (I adore thick, silky creams), packaging and fragrance factor into my decision whether I want to keep a product or not. Bearing this in mind however - if something works, it works. I travel a lot, so I simplify my routine for days on the road and break it down to the basics plus maybe one product that I take along solely for the pleasure of application. Also: I believe that leading a healthy life style (without obsessing over it) and mental health play a critical role for my personal happiness. So I try to take care of myself, eat healthy (but allow myself cheat days), be physically active (I love running, hiking and weight lifting) and read a good book once in a while. It’s made my skin happier, too. :-)
For ratings, I am using a scale aligned with Fiddy’s from Fifty Shades of Snail: 1/5 - This should be taken off the market. 2/5 - This product was actively bad for my skin but might work for someone else. 3/5 - Meh. Doesn’t hurt, doesn’t do anything special. 4/5 - Quite good, I am liking this product. 5/5 - I never want to replace this.
RP - Will repurchase. WNR - Will not repurchase. HG - Holy Grail.
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Mist What can I say, it’s a mist. It’s water in a bottle and you will occasionally question yourself why you felt the necessity to pay money for a product like this. I honestly don’t care about the mineral content of the water or some of the other stuff it’s marketed by, I just like this as a refreshing spray on hot days or early mornings (I keep one bottle in the refrigerator for amusement). The nozzle is nice, it’s not stupid expensive, it lasts me for a while - solid mist, I’d say. (3.5/5 - RP)
La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Gel What a weird product. I bought this mistaking it for a foaming cleanser - boy was I surprised. The directions say to apply it onto your skin and to take it off with a cotton pad, no water needed. That’s not a philosophy I can follow, so I use this as a standalone cleanser right now (it’s winter here and apart from concealer and mascara, I don’t wear any makeup). I wash this off with water which makes my skin feel cleansed and hydrated, not stripped at all. However, I do have to use micellar water to get off my concealer first, so if you are looking for a make-up removing cleanser, I don’t think this is for you. (3/5 - WNR)
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 I believe this is somewhat the French pharmacy answer to all those looking for Dr. Jart+ substitutes. A thick, heavy cream dispensed from a tube, it soothes and soothes and soothes irritated skin, reduces redness and moisturizes to no end. However, this does leave some shiny residue on my face, so if I’m looking for something cosmetically elegant, I have to look somewhere else (it might have a slight white cast as well, but I’m so pale I can hardly tell). I love this as a hand cream as well and as a protective layer during harsh winter hikes in the mountains. It’s a lot cheaper than Dr. Jart+ Cicaplast Cream and I have yet to do a direct comparison - but it holds up pretty well on its own. Really like this! (4.5/5 - RP)
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 SPF 50 I was under the impression that this is the SPF-containing equivalent to the Baume mentioned above, however, the consistency is considerably different. This has a strong smell of sunscreen (which I love, but may irritate some people) and a heavy white cast that even I notice on my very fair skin. It’s not as moisturizing as the Baume without SPF, so I layer it on top of it during winter hikes and cold mountain activities. Although it does not specify to be, I believe it to be quite sweat resistant from my experience. Might not repurchase, just because there are other water and sweat proof sunscreens out there that I like better. (4/5 - maybe RP, probably not)
La Roche-Posay Nutritic Intense Riche Was looking for a good, heavy cream to purchase in-store in Europe when I came across this gem. As mentioned above, I love thick, silky creams that venture into the consistency of balms - they feel incredibly luxurious and seem just right for my dehydrated winter-skin. This hits the spot. It’s a thick cream that comes in a glass jar and when I say thick, I mean thick: Imagine sticking your finger in until you hit the bottom and when pulling it out, you leave a dent rather than pulling a bunch of product with you. The smell is pleasantly simple and fresh, it reminds me of something my grandmother would wear (but in a good, expensive grown-up-skin care kind of way). Despite its thickness, the cream spreads easily, sinks in almost immediately and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth and hydrated without being too greasy. I love this stuff for a daytime moisturizer, however, I’ve noticed that liquid concealer will not set well on top. Definitely a staple in my routine now. (5/5 - RP)
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Crème Visage Nuit Lovely cream that I used for day and night in winter time. It’s thick, silky, applies well and sinks in after about 15 minutes, leaving a dewy finish (I’d expect the corresponding day cream to be a little less shiny). The smell is pleasant, albeit herbal and nothing like honey. I felt moisturized and pampered after using this, my skin drank it up. And while I loved it, the price point is not easy to justify for a cream that lasts me about 6-8 weeks with daily use. So I won’t be repurchasing just because I believe there are cheaper alternatives that treat me similarly. (4/5 - WNR because of price)
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm I am addicted to this stuff. It’s a thick balm in a little pot that in cold temperatures might feel a little gritty on the lips, but soon turns into smooth smooth goodness. It sinks in well and does not leave my lips shiny, but rather plump and natural-looking, which I enjoy. Lisa Eldridge once recommended this in one of her videos, saying she uses it as a base for lip makeup, which I can absolutely recommend as well. It’s expensive for a lip balm, but in my opinion well worth the price. (5/5, HG)
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Shampoo I like this as a luxury product for days that I need a pick-me-up. It’s a very gentle shampoo (dry scalp prone to seborrheic dermatitis when irritated) that does not foam too well, however cleans my scalp and hair gently but efficiently. The smell is heaven, although it sadly doesn’t linger too long. Price point: Too much for a shampoo in my opinion, but I love this too much to give it up :-(. (4/5 - RP)
Submitted January 16, 2018 at 11:07PM by NotSoMuchDoctorHouse http://ift.tt/2FId0o5 SkincareAddiction
No comments:
Post a Comment