sensitive

Magic cream : Weleda skin food

I’ve known about this product for so long but never really thought it would be my jam. Girl, was I wrong ! I have just finished my first tube, and immediately bought a new one therefore I thought I’d write an article for you on this subject, because it’s so, so good ! Also, I’d like to point out that my sensitive skin has not reacted at all to this product, I mean, it has, but in the best way ! No allergic reactions, nothing but plumped, glowing skin !

WHAT’S THIS STUFF ?

It is a multi-purpose rich cream for face, body, hands etc. Weleda is a natural and organic brand created in 1921 that I really trust. I use their shower creams because it is sulfate-free and smells like actual lavender which I love.

Weleda Skin Food has been around for ages, and I’ve actually been seeing a lot of people talking about it on Instagram pretty recently, specifically Makeup Artist extraordinaire Katie Jane Hughes, whom I adore. I decided to go for it, and get myself some. Verdict ? I now need this in my life forever. Just so you know, I have combination skin, dehydrated and I suspect I have dermatitis seborrheic.

HOW I USE IT

It’s thick, and you don’t need much. Warm it up between your hands before application and enjoy the texture and the lovely smell which I could not really describe, I’d say it’s quite fresh, with a hint of lemon/pine/tree ? Honestly, great smell !

Quick treatment

First, I thought it could be nice to try it around my nose, where the dermatitis seborrheic just won’t go away. And it definitely helped ! I think I should be more consistent and apply it regularly, because it’s still there, but it’s definitely not as bad as it was : after applying Skin Food, my skin felt smoother and less irritated. Actually telling you about it, reminded me how good it was when the dermatitis was just at its worst, so I’m going to make it my mission to use it faithfully, starting tonight !

Overnight magic

Then I decided to simply use it as a night cream for a couple of nights. That was a great decision let me tell you. The next day, my skin was souple, softer, nourished yet not clogged. I would not use it as a night cream every night, since I don’t have dry skin, it would be too much. From time to time though, works great !

All over glow

I also, sometimes, only put it on my cheeks at night. I do my skincare routine, and at the end, just massage a tiny amount of Skin Food where my skin could use it. So… basically everywhere except the T-Zone area. I also apply it on the high points of the cheeks if I want to add some glow to my tired face, before I do my makeup. That way I feel like, I look better, and my skin’s enjoying a little extra boost in the morning.

If my skin were to freak out again, I’d, without question, choose Skin Food because of how gentle, effective and reliable it is.

To sum up : gorgeous formula, low price (around 8-9 euros), cool brand… If you haven’t yet, you should definitely give it a try ! Hero product for sure.

The most gentle cleanser I’ve ever tried

Ok, so I’m assuming you’ve read the title of this article. Now, this product is not new in the beauty game, and I’ve heard plenty of people talking about how amazing it is. But wow, it seriously is.

I’ve told you all about my new favorite balm cleanser the other day, today I want to share with you the second step of my double cleansing routine. I’ve been looking for something extremely gentle, though the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is great for my sensitive skin, the gel-like texture made my skin feel a little bit tight, especially with the crazy weather we’ve had over the past couple of weeks.

REN is a brand I’ve loved for quite some time. They were possibly the first brand I got really into when I first discovered my passion for beauty. It was hard to get hold of at the time but I remember telling all my friends about this super cool and not too expensive brand that you could trust because of how transparent it was, and still is ! Furthermore, I really appreciate the fact that it’s a clean skincare brand. Meaning, no sulfates, mineral oils or petroleum, no synthetic colors or fragrances. Which to me is the equivalent of “No Bullshit”. I’m all for that !

So when looking out for a new cleanser, I thought I’d give the Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk a try.

It is lush. The scent which I could not really describe (I’d say fresh and calming) is out of this world. The texture is a dense milk, almost like a cream, and one pump is enough for my entire face. I massage it on dry face, and really take my time. Then I use a hot cloth, and remove it gently. My face feels clean yet protected which is not a sensation I see that often after cleansing because of how sensitive my skin is.

I LOVE it. It’s 22€, and is aimed at, quoting REN here, “Sensitive and/or delicate skin. Skin affected by pollution (city life, smoke).” I mean, it has my name on it. And potentially yours !

Facial Oils : Why, how and which ones ?

I have been using oils at night on my face for as long as I can remember. When I first got into skincare, I was immediately drawn to them because of how luxurious they sounded.

WHY

I have combination/dehydrated skin. My t-zone sometimes gets oily so why would I you might think ? My skin truly benefits from the use of face oils. First I have to say I use them at night because I have combination skin. If I were to apply an oil during the day, it would be too much and probably sit on my skin. But in the evening, it calms my skin down, nourishes it which tends to make my face product less sebum and helps it recover from any reaction… i.e if I’ve tested too many different products which I’m often guilty of, or simply had a reaction because my skin’s extremely sensitive.

HOW

I cleanse my face, spray thermal water, sometimes use an acid exfoliant (thought I haven’t lately because it’s too much for my skin) and then, take whatever oil I’m using, apply a few drops in the palm of my hands, and rub that on, gently. Here’s the secret : I have recently come across for the second time (can’t believe I forgot the first time I saw this), a video of Caroline Hirons explaining how to massage your face with an oil. I have been doing this technique for a few days now, and it has simply changed the way my skin look when I wakeup. I’ve talked about Caroline Hirons before, she’s simply the queen of skin. Her blog and videos are no non-sense, no bullshit, you will learn from her, I know I have ! Watch this, and do it tonight, and go thank her !

Which Ones

The first one I got, that I should repurchase quite soon, is the Paï Roseship BioRegenerate Oil. I would highly recommend this if you have sensitive skin, that tends to take ages to heal and recover from spots and scars. But Paï says it works on all skin-type, so honestly, if you want to try a face oil, this could be it ! The smell is quite intriguing but in a nice way. The texture is lush, and it absorbs really quickly into the skin. It’s also a good yet reasonably priced product, and you really need the tiniest amount.

Next up, Clarins. Clarins is a brand that I deeply trust and I haven’t yet come across a product of theirs I don’t absolutely adore. So, there’s that. Their oils, are no exceptions. Story time : I, when cleaning my bathroom last week, smashed a full bottle of the Lotus Oil on the floor. My bathroom floor’s now looking very hydrated and plumped… Anyways, the two face oils I’ve tried (they have three in total) worked wonders. I alternate between the Lotus Oil which is targeted towards “Oily/Combination skins”. Clarins says “this face oil is Clarins’ exclusive blend of Rosemary, Geranium and Lotus extracts, which purify the skin, tighten pores and refine skin texture. Hazelnut Oil softens, soothes and seals in moisture to prevent fine lines and moisture loss.” I could not have said it better myself. Whenever I’m a bit hesitant on what to use if my face’s erratic, I slather my face in this and it instantly feels happier.

The other one I use, less often nowadays because my skin’s more in need of the Lotus one, is the Blue Orchid. The smell of this one is to die for. It is soothing, hydrating, and helps fight fine lines.

The last one, is a recent discovery. A friend gave this to me, and thought it’s not as pleasant to use as the ones I already mentioned, it’s lovely enough. It is the Overnight Detox Oil by Caudalie, aimed to detoxify and regenerate the skin. The texture is very light, which you might like if you’re scared of oils (but honestly, don’t be).

A similar one that I’ve been enjoying for years now, is the Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-oxidant facial treatment. It’s thicker, and gives you a little more playtime if you want to really massage your face. It’s quite intense so I would not use it every night, whereas I do use the others every night, not at the same time of course !

So, there you have it ! I would never be without a face oil, they’re a true game-changer, and they add that little something to the actual application of products. The smells, the textures are really comforting and luxurious, making it nicer to actually apply skincare when all you ca think about is your bed…

Do you use face oils ? Would you be kind enough to share which ones ? I’m always up for trying a new one !

The serum I would not live without

I remember distinctively the first time I bought this serum. It was the most money I’d ever spend on a beauty product. I had just started to really get into skincare, but did not know that much about it and thought it would be wise to spend money on a serum. Because if you don’t know, serums are complexe formulas that have a much bigger impact on your skin than moisturizers.

I remember thinking “Isn’t it a bit risky to buy and potentially fall in love with an higher end serum ? Because if you like it, you’ll have to buy it again, and again…” Needless to say, I certainly did !

I loved it ! And I haven’t been without it since I first got it 3 years ago.

It ? The Advanced Night Repair Serum by Estee Lauder. Yeah… That kind of it.

Whatever the state of my skin is, this serum makes it better. Truly a multi purpose product. It kind of does it all ! Sadly, it does not make me coffee, but you get the gist…

It’s always been a cult product for sure, but no one around me has ever really been into beauty, so I would read about it in magazines but always thought it maybe was too good to be true. And I bought it, tried it and fell in love with it.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way : I love the packaging, the smell is sort of medicinal and the texture is light. Also good to know : one 75ml bottle lasts me for around 6 months.

So why would I recommend this serum to you ? Because, it has changed my skin.

My skin is now smoother, brighter, more even and seems to recover from dry patches, hormonal breakouts, reactions to too many products testing… way more quickly.

It contains hyaluronic acid, and reduces signs of ageing. I’ve noticed I’ve started to have lines around my eyes and mouth, I don’t really mind to be honest, but I feel like using ANR now, may help my skin to age beautifully.

HOW I USE IT I tend to apply it at night, after cleansing and toning. It’s quite hydrating, at least for my skin which is combination. What I really enjoy about this serum is how it simply fixes my skin. If I have spots, it calms the inflammation. If my skin’s reactive, it instantly makes it feel comfortable again. If I’m tired, I apply it morning and night, and it definitely wakes up the complexion. Whatever the state of my skin is, this serum makes it better. Truly a multi purpose product. It kind of does it all ! It does not make me coffee, but you get the gist…

Also, little tip… When I reapply concealer before going out for example, I usually mix a couple of drops of ANR with my concealer/foundation, and it wakes up the under-eye area, brightens up the skin, and makes the application even more dreamy.

It’s a hero product in my bathroom. Advanced Night Repair is a good starting point if you want to see a real change in your skin with a serum but still use something gentle that just feels really really good and soothing. I know it’s not cheap, but it lasts a good amount of time and your skin, in my opinion, is a good element to invest in.

What’s the serum or beauty product you could not live without ?

“Stick to a routine” they say. “Try everything under the sun” I thought.

You may know I’ve had skin issues for the past few months and I seem to have found products which do not make my skin angry. I now understand that my skin is very sensitive, which means that fragranced, rich or acids based exfoliating products make it react.

I think I may have had too much fun trying out many different products at the same time. “Stick to a routine” they say. “Try everything under the sun” I thought.

Now, my skincare “routine” is not the most exciting, but who cares ? I suppose I liked to have fancy serums or cheap-ish amazing moisturizers, but my skin was telling me it was not happy, I just would not listen for the sake of staying in the loop I guess. My skin’s a bit snob…

I was always shit at science in school, but suddenly my bathroom became my lab, and I could not have been happier to play the scientist.

Skincare is a magical perspective to me. It can change how you face feels, fights the outside, repairs itself at night and not like makeup, you have to wait days, months to see a difference. It’s like watching a seed grow into a flower, takes time. I have to admit that I felt great joy experimenting with products. I was always shit at science in school, but suddenly my bathroom became my lab, and I could not have been happier to play the scientist.

But hey, guess what ? I was a shitty scientist. My skin was good, and I wanted it to look even better. I had no spots, but dark circles, what tackles that ? I had a good skin texture, but lines on my forehead, was there an acid that would make a difference ? My skin was not dehydrated but a bit grey, was there a serum that could help ?

Also, in my defense, there is a product for pretty much anything. My curiosity had no limits, because the beauty industry seemed almost limitless. Consequently, my skin reacted. More redness, some areas were a bit itchy, I thought I had allergies. I then realized seborrheic dermatitis was the main issue and so I had to give my skin a rest. More importantly, I had to be consistent with the products I was using. Same serum morning and night ? Had no other choice. If I’d change one (trust me, I did), it would completely freak out again.

So here am I, telling you all about how I stick to a strict skincare regime… Now, let me tell you about this new serum I tried.

I KNOW.

After finishing my Avène Serum, I came across this one on Asos. I like the brand Hylamide, it’s part of the Deciem company, which also owns the Ordinary.

The name “sensitive fix” appealed to me, and I simply trusted the brand. Verdict is in : I love this serum. I use it morning and night after toning, it has massively helped the sensitivity of my skin. Paired with the Ducray moisturizer it is the skincare routine made of dreams. The serum is light, non fragranced, is absorbed really quickly by the skin, and leaves it feeling calm, protected. Also, it’s around 22 euros which is a very decent price to me, though I think I might run out soon and only got it a few weeks ago. Will update you on that !

I do have learned my lesson though. I now understand and take in consideration that I have sensitive skin, and that if I want to include a new product, I need to be very cautious, read the ingredients list, incorporate one new product at a time, and little by little… Won’t be playing scientist in the bathroom for a while, my skin’s never been so relieved, and so much so it has stopped being snob !