The first products that I'm going to talk about are a surprise even to me. This is because the cleanser and the toner can both be picked up for just £9 each in Boots and, anyone who knows me, will know that I have always been (at least for as long as I could afford to) a sucker for believing that the more expensive the product, the better it will be. Hence, in recent years, I have relied on Chanel skincare, which as I'm sure you can imagine, does not come cheap.
While feeling particularly impoverished one day, I came across the new skincare aisles in Boots, that were honouring the likes of Eau Thermale Avène, Vichy, Embryolisse, La Roche-Posay and other fancy, French-sounding brands that I had never heard of. As I had recently ran out of my Chanel Sublimage Le Fluide (costing a mind-and bank-blowing £185) and Shu Uemura cleanser (£75 for 450ml) I felt unwilling to reach so deep into my pockets for products which, while enjoyable, I wondered if perhaps replaceable by products significantly cheaper and perhaps even higher performing. That's when I noticed Eucerin.
Now, don't get me wrong, I - along with a couple others - circumnavigated that aisle for what felt like hours, oscillating between products, reading the descriptions, putting them down, picking back up, clutching three at a time, putting all three back, beginning to walk away then creeping back. The options were endless. Purifying, clarifying, what's the difference??!
Well after what felt like decades of my life and the fleeting thought of how much easier it would have been (albeit a lot less thrifty) to have just marched straight up to that Chanel counter and collected my usual prescription, I stood my ground and decided upon both a cleanser, toner and exfoliator.
While I consider myself to have very oily skin, I had recently felt it to be dry and dull. I opted, therefore, for the 'normal to combination skin' option and chose a cleansing gel over the milk as I find it more refreshing. I chose a toner as I like to wipe off any traces of leftover makeup and also like how fresh your face feels after. Sometimes a cleanse just isn't enough, especially when you've had a full face of makeup on all day. Lastly, I chose a scrub, which I was drawn to due to its Lactic Acid formula, which is known to target blemishes (a major skin struggle of mine) and its promise of being gentle and non-drying. In the past I have found many exfoliators to be too harsh, scratching the skin, encouraging breakouts and very drying, encouraging further oil-production.
It has been a few weeks since my purchases and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. I have found the cleanser to be highly effective at removing makeup, hydrating and soothing. The toner is great for that final feeling of freshness and doesn't dry out the skin or sting like some toners tend to. I did worry that the products might be too gentle, but in fact my skin has never felt so clean or refreshed. The scrub is also fantastic, probably my favourite that I've tried - and I've tried a lot. It is gentle, but highly effective, doesn't feel scratchy on the skin and I have seen some improvements on my blemishes.
Now, onto my next discovery!
When I saw this product on the shelves, I was reminded of an article I had recently read about "secret| products that have been habitually used on models backstage at catwalk events for years. The Embryolisse cream is one of them and claims to be the ‘best kept secret among models and make-up artists’ (read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2915928/Hitting-UK-20-miracle-moisturiser-Boots-brings-cult-French-brand-loved-Gwyneth-Paltrow.html#ixzz3bdvVaIiX).
Apparently loved by stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson, this cream is supposedly meant to plump, glow and leave as soft as a baby's you-know-what and at only £22 (a whopping £163 saving from my staple), I was eager to see what all the fuss was about!
I purchased the concentrated anniversary edition, while there were fluid versions available. As I mentioned, my skin was feeling particularly dry and dehydrated at the time and I also recalled a spa therapist once telling me that my oiliness was in fact due to my skin being dry and was therefore over-producing oil to compensate (go figure).
Anyway, I must say that this product is wonderful. I was pretty concerned with it claiming to be so concentrated and hydrating that it would feel heavy and oily on my skin like so many other dry skin treatments, that my makeup would last five minutes before needing to be powdered and my blemishes would be even worse from using it. Quite the opposite. The cream sinks into the skin almost immediately, but leaves with it a softness without residue and a glow without it feeling or looking oily. As it claims to also be used as a primer or repair mask, this explains why it works so well with makeup and I haven't had to touch up my makeup once during the day, when I was previously constantly blotting or applying powder even after using fluids as opposed to heavy creams. It's also great for chapped lips and feels lusciously indulgent to apply - you would never think it to be available at such a steal and maybe once everyone catches on, it won't be for much longer!
This is one to snap up ladies!
The next product that I'm going to tell you about is a foundation discovery.
I have been a fan of Guerlain products for years, I love the packaging, the way they smell and the way they look. But somehow, the foundations have never quite worked for me. One uncharacteristically warm day earlier this year, I walked up to the Guerlain counter in Fenwick and asked for a BB cream that might be nice for my forthcoming holiday to Malta. Without hesitation she said, rather than a BB cream, you should try this. This being, the new addition to the Terracotta bronzing range, the Joli Teint Foundation. I was sceptical as I often find myself in the dilemma of liking a heavy coverage, but still wanting a dewy/glowy finish rather than a dull, matte one. MAC Pro Longwear Foundation has served me well over the years, but for my holidays I wanted something lighter that was going to allow my skin to breathe.
This foundation is a wonder product and I am especially hard to please in this department. It gives a great coverage (if you have any skin concerns, like me), but gives a lovely natural, radiant finish. It claims to combine 'the perfection of foundation, the beautiful effect of a skincare product, and the sun-kissed radiance of Terracotta' and it certainly lives up to this declaration. Ontop of that, it smells divine, like all other Guerlain products and is ideal for the warmer months. It stays put, but feels as though you have on just a tinted moisturiser. I apply it with a Bobbi Brown full coverage face brush.
The above product is one that I used for years and have recently come back to, having had my hopes let down by the highly-regarded Eve Lom Rescue Mask, which I've found to be too potent for my sensitive skin. The dr.organic Manuka Honey Face Mask is something that I picked up in a Holland & Barrett store when manuka honey was the in thing. The description reads as follows:
Bioactive Organic Manuka Honey has a host of skin supportive properties. We combine this unique organic honey with a proprietary blend of bioactive, natural and organic ingredients including mineral rich Kaolin (China Clay). This nutrient rich clay based formulation draws oil from the pores while ridding the skins surface of dead cells and impurities. It helps to stimulate the circulation deep into the capillaries to leave the skin feeling purified and perfectly nourished.
I try to use this mask once a week or whenever my skin is suffering from bad breakouts or looking particularly lacklustre. After using, it feels refreshed, deeply cleansed and softened. Plus, you only need to leave it on for 10 minutes, which is a bonus for hectic lifestyles.
This blemish treatment gel is one that I will be surprised if you have not heard of. It is a cult favourite, endorsed by the likes of Cheryl Cole. It really is a product that I will never go without in my bathroom. Salicylic acid along with caffeine and red algae team up to speed healing, relieve irritation and eliminate excess oils. While you shouldn't use it with the hopes of your spots disappearing by morning, it does massively reduce size, redness and soreness. A must for hormonal, misbehaving or acne-prone skin.
If you try any, let me know your thoughts! x
No comments
Post a Comment