Review: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo(+) Unifant

I’m in a constant battle with my skin; I long for it to be clear, glowing and blemish free, but in reality it’s usually shiny, imperfected and just not worthy of being free from makeup. For years, I covered it in foundation so my face would look flawless but the main issue with this is I hate the feeling of foundation. 

For the last few months, I’ve sworn by a BB cream as my base and it’s been working fine. Fine, but not great. I’d usually put my La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo(+) beneath, and then layer said product on top. It gave me the natural looking coverage I like, but I still felt I was putting too much product on my face and my pores were clogging up.

I was recently lucky enough to be sent La Roche-Posay’s brand new Effaclar Duo(+) Unifant by their lovely PR contact, and I’ve been delighted since I first used it.

Effaclar Duo(+) Unifant is described as a dual-action, anti-imperfection formula with sheer coverage which is amazing, amazing, amazing news. I can finally take one less step out my morning skincare and makeup routine, and if that means one less product to clog more pores up and put me one step closer to having clearer skin, I’m more than happy to be involved!

As well as including a 100% mineral pigment tint which instantly reduces redness and evens out skin tone (so good!), it also includes a couple of key ingredients which are found across the Effaclar range; Niacinamide (anti-inflammatory & soothing), Piroctone Olamine (combats any bacteria which may be lurking on your skin), LHA (helps to speed up how fast the skin cells renew), Linoleic Acid (regulates the amount of sebum in your pores) and Procerad (this is the key ingredient which makes the product diffuse inflammation in one day, and also prevents and treats post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).

I’ve found it works best when I still apply it as I would a foundation/BB cream, so after I’ve cleansed my face and applied toner. I’ll put my La Roche-Posay SPF 50 on first (another firm favourite), and then apply the Effaclar Duo(+) Unifant on top. It’s got a really light feeling and you can barely feel it on your skin, if it all (love!) and it’s super easy to blend in. I still use a foundation buffing brush to apply it, which I find works best for my skin but I’m sure you could also apply with your fingers too. If I wanted a bit more coverage, I would feel quite happy to add some foundation on top, but I’m not sure I really need any more coverage.

So far, since using this for the last few weeks, I’ve had a couple of comments on how my skin looks which is lovely to hear, as I can confidently say it’s not something I ever get. Thanks to La Roche-Posay for sending this to me to try, and more importantly, introducing it to their range! I can firmly say I won’t be straying from this any time soon.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo(+) Unifant is available in two shades; Fair/Light (I have this one) and Light/Medium, available at Boots for £16.50.

Review: La Roche-Posay Serozinc & Effaclar Duo(+)

I'm a big fan of French skincare brands, and their approach to beauty and style in general. I love that all their skincare is sold in pharmacies (I look forward to visiting my first French pharmacy one day!), and that they treat their skin first, before trying to fix any imperfections with makeup.

Slowly, I'm building up a nice collection of French skincare products, and today I have a review of two which I've just re-purchased (spoiler alert: they're fab).

La Roche-Posay Serozinc: £8.50
This feels like it has been a cult beauty product for years, so I might have been a bit slow jumping on the bandwagon with this, but I'm so glad I did.

It's a lightweight, fine, refreshing toning spray which is best suited for oily/blemish-prone skin, which I apply morning and night, after I've cleansed my face. A couple of spritz all over my face is all that's required (perfect for even the laziest of skincare days) and I then let it sink in. Usually in the morning, this is when I'll go and pop the kettle on, or in the evening, I'll put my pyjamas on whilst waiting for it to 'dry' (I say dry, but it doesn't leave a tight or dry feeling to the skin). Afterwards, my skin feels really refreshed and more plump, which I love. It's worth noting I seem to read far too frequently a toner is there to remove any traces of makeup your cleanser didn't... No, no, no, no, no. Your cleanser is meant to remove all your makeup, if it's not doing it in one go, do a second cleanse. A toner is there to tone your skin, not remove makeup.

When my first bottle ran out, I tried my skincare routine without it, and my skin really missed it. It didn't feel as nourished as previous, and I think my skin was getting a little more oily. That said, it could always be the warmer weather! I still however decided to buy another bottle and I'm very happy I did, I can see it being a firm staple in my routine for a long time.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo(+): £9.50
Another must-have product, this is a moisturiser best suited to skin with imperfections. My skin is going through a particularly low point at the moment, so I'm really trying to keep my routine as basic as possible. I don't want to strip my skin of it's oils, but I don't want to use a rich moisturiser all over my face... Cue Effaclar Duo.

It promises to unclog pores, correct the appearance of blemishes and refine the look of skin texture. So how does it fair? I'd say it certainly doesn't feel like it's clogging my pores as it's very lightweight, and the velvety texture of the cream helps with skin texture. Whether it corrects the appearance of blemishes, I'm not sure - but it certainly doesn't dry them out, or make them any worse. And for those reasons, I can get along with it very well!

In a similar vein to the Serozinc spray, when my first bottle of Effaclar Duo was running out, I tried my routine without it, but it just wasn't the same. Other moisturisers felt too heavy, too rich, and made me even shinier. Not cool. So it was decided I would re-purchase, and I'm super happy I did!

La Roche-Posay can be found at Boots here.

Review: Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment

Whenever I'm nearby a Kiehl's store or counter, I can't resist a little peek at their products! I love them and have an ever-extending list of goodies to try from them. A few months ago I was able to tick another item off said list, their Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. 

The little pot of goodness is enriched with avocado oil, making it super moisturising for the delicate skin under eyes. As it is very rich, I find it works best when I apply it at night, and wake up in the morning to my skin feeling suitably nourished. I have tried applying it in the day, but find it's a little too heavy for under makeup (I need to find another option for day - if you have any recommendations, do let me know!). 

It costs £20 for a 14ml pot, but because it's got quite a thick consistency, a little goes a long way. I take a tiny amount every evening and gently dab it under my eyes (patting it rather than rubbing), along the orbital bone and up to the corners of my eyes.

I bought mine from the lovely ladies at the King's Road store in Chelsea, but you can also find it at Kiehl's online here.

5 Reasons to have a Beauty Routine

(Image source: weheartit)

I've always loved taking the time out of my day to pamper myself and really relax, but towards the end of 2015 it became an absolute chore and I fell out of love with treating myself to a face mask, or slathering my hair in coconut oil to give it some much needed hydration. Fast-forward four months and I've got a routine I'm proud of, and I'm back to realising how important it is to have one.

1. Your skin will thank you for it

(Image source: weheartit)

The first and most obvious thing is my skin in particular improved. It's by no means perfect (nor am I ready to go bare faced to work), but my makeup applies easier and I wear less because of that, which in turn makes it clearer, and so on. I've gone from using a makeup wipe just before bed to take off what remained on my face after a long day in the office, to making a point of taking it off with a cleanser, using a toner, a serum or oil, an eye cream and a moisturiser, all before I sit down & enjoy my evening at home.

2. It gives you the chance to learn

(Image source: @kiehlsuk Instagram)

I love to learn new things, and if I'm not learning then I'm pretty bored. I'd been feeling quite uninspired when I decided to immerse myself in reigniting my beauty routine, and I was delighted at just how much I could get into it (who knew oil on oily skin could work wonders?!). I've spent hours trawling Caroline Hiron's blog, reading reviews of products from bloggers all over the world, and discovered just how much I love Kiehls products in particular.

3. Do as little or as much as you like

(Image source: weheartit)

One of my favourite things is realising having a beauty routine doesn't need to be a chore. Some days taking my makeup off using my favourite products, or putting some coconut oil on my hair before I go to bed is all I feel like doing, but other days I'm just in the mood to pamper. Sunday evenings are usually my favourite time to indulge, and even these vary; some weeks I'll have a bath in the afternoon (what a luxury), apply a face mask, leave coconut oil on my hair for hours, give myself a manicure and pedicure, the lot. Other weeks, just a manicure is all I do. I guess my point here is that even the smallest things can make such a change to how you feel.

4. You switch off

(Image source: weheartit)

I've got a lot of love for taking time out. I spend most of my day online from the minute I wake up (nothing quite like the bright blue backlight of the iPhone to wake you up in the morning!) so I always think a break from this is never a bad thing. For those few hours when I'm taking a long bath, doing my nails, putting a hair mask on, I generally leave my phone well alone. Besides not wanting to drop my phone in the bath or sink, it's also because it's just nice to switch off.

5. It makes you feel good

(Image source: Clementine Daily)

The final point and probably most important, is that it actually makes you feel good. I'll never think to myself 'Oh I wish I hadn't taken my makeup off last night' or 'That bath did me no good whatsoever'. I really think it's important for your wellbeing to always make time for yourself, realise you do need to have 'me' time, and do something you really enjoy.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Review: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream & Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Like most beauty obsessives, I'm always trying to find the holy grail of skincare products, and whilst I'm guilty of not posting to this blog as much as I would like to, my bloglovin' app is probably one of my most-used as I'm always catching up on with posts from my favourite bloggers.

Last autumn I was out shopping in Northcote Road in Clapham Junction, and decided to venture into Kiehl's, having heard so many amazing things about their products from so many fab bloggers. Around thirty minutes later and my bank account over £60 lighter, I gleefully left the store with two raved-about products in tow, excited for them to work their magic! 

Ultra Facial Cream - £24

Having had my skin tested by the assistant in the store, I was advised I had normal skin (as opposed to dry or oily) so this was the moisturiser for me. I've always thought I had oily skin, but was willing to take the expert advice onboard and test it out.

First impressions were the cream is very thick and once applied, it really sinks into your skin; this is lovely for overnight as it has a good 6-8 hours to get to work, however not so great for the daytime. I used it in the mornings a few time, but it was just slighty too greasy to use under my makeup. Or so I thought... Having decided I couldn't justify £24 on a moisturiser just to use at night, I was fairly sure I was going to take it back to the store - handily, they have a refund/exchange policy which allows products to be returned (even if used) within 28 days. For one reason or another, I never got round to taking it back, but now 3-4 months on, I'm very happy I didn't!

As the weather has gotten colder and we've finally had more of a winter in England, I've been reaching for this moisturiser every night and morning! Because of it's thicker consistency, it's become perfect for making sure my skin is nourished and hydrated throughout the day, despite the chilly weather and being sat in an office for most of the day, five days a week. Now the ingredients make a lot more sense to me - particularly the Antarcticine; a Glycoprotein extracted from microorganisms sourced from sea glaciers and notable for an ability to protect skin from cold temperature.

Midnight Recovery Concentrate - £37

This was the product I was most excited to try, having had it on my never-ending 'don't need it but really want to try it list' for years. I tend to get poor skin around my jaw always, which apparently is stress related, so besides the little tips and tricks I've been trying to add into my daily life which aren't beauty based, I was hoping this would help soothe my stressy skin when it appears. 

Filled with lots of delightful oils, including Evening Primrose and Lavender, it promises when used overnight, your skin will be looking full of radiance the next morning. I've used this sparingly since I got it, but whenever I do, my skin does feel a lot smoother and well-treated. It does leave a shiny look to the skin, but once I cleanse my face in the morning this disappears, but my skin still feels lovely. 

When I did pop into the store, I also received a few samples including their Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado and their Damage Repairing & Rehydrating Conditioner and have been really impressed with both of these. I was lucky enough to win a bottle of the conditioner in their Halloween Trick or Tweet competition on Twitter, and loved the full size as much as the sample.

Do you have any favourite Kiehl's products I should add to my list to try out?