La Roche-Posay Effaclar and Skin Care Routine
On having successfully set up the custom URL for this blog I thought I'd celebrate with a new post as I have been working on this on and off for a few weeks. Technical difficulties that is, not this post.
I haven't really written much on skin care on this blog as much as my previous one, when you wear as much make up as I do it's an important part of my beauty regime. I thought I'd split this post into sections as it covers, skin type, routine and of course the La Roche-Posay Effaclar range.
Skin Type
Bitsa. That is bitsa this and bitsa that I have been through the full spectrum of skin types, apart from thankfully any serious acne or scarring problems. I have had really clear skin, combination, oily and severely dry; at this point it's oily which when you are applying your make up at 8am and expecting it too last all day causes a few glaringly or should that be shiningly obvious.
I get a few breakouts at certain points, always on my chin which clear up on themselves, don't scar and generally don't cause me many problems. I also have quite enlarged pores just over my nose which is annoying, although don't cause many issues unless you're right up in my face yo.
Skin Care Routine
By the time I get home at night ALL I want to do is rub my eyes and get all this make up off! So I remove all my eye make up, my eyebrows (!) and the rest of my mask. Pure bliss. I was using that fantastic Bioderma Crealine H20 which is a Micellar lotion a soothing, alcohol free, hypoallergenic cleansing lotion. This product has had massive hype in the beauty blogging world and rightly so it's hugely effective and can be used on both eyes and face. This is another French pharmacy skin care brand which I used to buy on Ebay it will soon be available to buy in the UK high street in 250ml and 500ml bottles.
I generally don't moisturise at night and have no idea why, I am going to look into a repairing night serum at my old age this will be needed. Perhaps even the coveted and (justifiably) expensive Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum.
Morning
I more often that not still wake up with panda eyes no matter how thoroughly I though I removed my make up the night previously. I wash my face in the shower with either Nip Fab make up remover oil or Sanctuary Cleansing Balm both of which I'm not very happy with just now and am on the look out for a new facial wash. I have an Elemis foaming cleansing wash that I find to be a little drying so I am looking for recommendations?
Following on from my recent purchases one lunch time last week as Boots are currently doing two for £15 across the Effaclar range. I picked up the La Roche Posay Astringent Lotion - tightens and helps unblock pores. Since the old three step Clinique I have been a fan of these lotions as I feel they remove any impurities even left over cleanser and are extremely light on the skin giving a nice base for moisturiser.
Some may argue that having oily skin using an astringent product may cause my skin to over compensate and produce even more oil, I have not had any problems yet. This also does not feel or smell like you are putting acid on your face as the step 2 in the Clinique routine does. The bottle states that this is a micro-exfoliant and contains LHA helping to unblock and reduce the appearance of large pores.
I apply this with cotton wool, concentrating on the t-zone and avoiding the eye area. The Effaclar range is formulated for those with oily skin with imperfections and this product does contain alcohol so I would not recommend this for dry skin.
A couple of weeks ago I needed a new daily moisturiser and owing to the fact my face is rebelling and making me shiny I needed it to both light weight and mattifying. Cue - Effaclar Mat Sebum Regulating Moisturiser which is Anti-Shine and Anti-Enlarged Pores. This is an excellent moisturiser very refreshing and light weight, sinks in quickly and have a nice scent, I'm not sure about the mattfying element as I can still be quite shiny during the day. This product cost roughly £12 for which you receive 40ml of product, using this daily means that it doesn't last very long and I'd like the option to buy a larger tube.
The second of my lunch time purchases was the highly talked about Effaclar K -
EFFACLAR K is a daily care product which combines LHA and retinol Linoleate. The micro-exfoliating action unclogs pores and helps to transform and refine skin texture. With daily use, it helps protect against a future relapse of imperfections. Paraben-free formula.
This is a skin perfecting product (to be honest I wasn't 100% sure) I have however heard really positive reviews so I'm giving it a try. It has the consistency of a serum, is nice and cooling and applies to the skin like a primer. It also says on the packaging that it makes an excellent base to make up, I apply this after my moisturiser let it set in a little and then apply my foundation.
Wish List
As I mentioned before there are a few products on my wish list and as I'm sure you can see a few steps missing from my skin care routine. I desperately need a new exfoliator, it's an essential step for me in my skin care routine, I would exfoliate three times a week. I was using St Ives Age Refining exfoliator, I felt I wasn't getting any real benefit from this product and the grains were too large.
One of the best I have tried was the Dermalogica daily microfoliant which had lots of fine beads and an effective base - why so expensive?!
The second is an eye cream specifically a de-puffing, refreshing daily one to use in the morning that still has anti-aging properties, so I'm on the look out.
Tips
- Remove your make up - religiously
- Moisturise every single day
- Avoid sun beds and frying your face in the sun like the plague
- Use sun screen appropriate to the climate your in (try use a moisturiser or serum with SPF in it)
I hope this post has been useful to you and given you some insight into someone else's routine or introduced you to the wonder that is French skin care. If you have any suggestions for products let me know in the comments.