Review: Avène Gentle Gel Cleanser

Cambridge & London Haul

My internet has finally(!) returned, which means the blogging can return again to its normal schedule. Last post was about my trip to Cambridge, where after I headed down to London to stay for a few days with my brother. Some shopping happened in both cities because it is pretty difficult to resist, though in my defence I would like to state my brother spent more than me in those few days than I had in total. 

Hydrating Soothing Masks

Soothing and/or hydrating masks are some of my favourite items for a pamper evening. I like putting one on after having used another mask to clear my pores (e.g. Origins Clear Improvement mask), and just feel my skin drinking the extra care up. I always imagine it says, yum!

I have used the Avène Soothing Moisture Mask up completely, even to the point of cutting the tube open to get the last product up. A generous amount is needed, which comes to lay as a visible thin white layer on top of the skin. Currently I am trying out La Roche-Posay’s Hydrating Soothing Mask. A generous amount is needed with this mask as well. However, in difference from the Avène mask, it doesn’t leave a visible layer and it firms at the same time. Depending on the state of your skin, they both sink in quickly and leaves your skin soft for a long time.

If you are interested in trying out one of these or want two good tips, then for the rest of March Escentual has French pharmacy sale, where you can save 1/3 on French pharmacy products, and eChemist has 3 for 2 offer on any Avène products. There is serious money to save!

Have you tried any soothing and/or hydrating masks before?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Review: Avène Rich Compensating Cream

Throwback to June 2012 when I had just been diagnosed with my illness, I was introduced to Avène by my local pharmacy. My skin was so painfully dry and flaky that I was desperately searching for something that could improve the situation – I would literary have done anything. I was recommended the Rich Compensating Cream and I immediately started using it twice a day; after having used it for a week my skin had improved so much.

The cream itself appears to be a mixture of fluffy, yet heavy. It sinks into your skin immediately and leaves it feeling soft and moist, while looking healthy. If you use make-up on your skin, like foundation or BB cream, I would recommend that you allow the cream some time to sink in before slapping on make-up. That way your make-up will look better as well. You don’t need lot of the cream, though if you are in doubt there comes a little spoon-like thing with that tells you how much to use. I personally don’t use it because I know the amount I need. A pot can last 4-5 months easily.  

I am currently on my 6^th, I believe, pot of the cream. Yes, that is how much I love the cream.

In Denmark, it can be bought at most pharmacies over the country, but I would recommend the internet. There are many British and French sites selling the cream at a much better and cheaper price.

Have you tried the Rich Compensating Cream?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Skin Saviours

Lately, my skin has been particularly messed up and so out of control that I felt the need to take extra measures to fix it. It has generally happened around the time of my period, which explains it all. Doesn’t it for most females? My skin was been very spotty and uneven, and I most certainly don’t like that. To fix these problems I have turned to three products: Origins Clear Improvement, Helosan original and the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil.

Origins Clear Improvement is a charcoal mask, which is the first product I use of these three. You apply it to your face after you have washed it with your product of choice. You then wait for it to dry and once it is dry, you gently remove with it with a damp washcloth or muslin cloth. I personally use a washcloth and gently scrub it away in circular motions because that feels amazing. Afterwards, your skin will feel very smooth and even, yet not dried out! I had feared it would dry my skin out, but it hasn’t done it for me… It appears to find the right balance, though how it does that I don’t know.

The second product to use is Helosan, which is a thick skin cream with good healing qualities. It can be found everywhere in Denmark. I use it on the skin where I have or have had spots to help the skin heal better and faster. It takes a while for it to sink in, so if you are in a hurry and usually put on make-up, then you can always apply it right before bedtime. Helosan can be used for many various tasks; mainly, I use it for my hands that go so beyond dry during colder weather.

Last, but not least, is the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil that comes in an admittedly ridiculous child-proved bottle. First time I used it, I spent 30 minutes trying to get the cap off and get the product out. Tea tree oil is known for being able to dry out the skin wherever you apply it. However, once you get it out you dab it onto your spots and probably feel it sting a little to begin with. I only apply it directly on my spots and then nowhere else because the tea three oil series isn’t for dry skin at all, only this little product to fight against spots and zits. You don’t use a lot of it, so the bottle can last for a long time. There are contrasting opinions on the tea three oil – some like me really like and feel it works, some have had an outbreak due to it – so be careful just in case!

What products are your skin saviours?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Review: Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

I mentioned this eye cream in my Just in: The Brussels Edition and therefore, I thought I would do a proper review as it really has worked well for my skin around my eyes and honestly would recommend it to others. Also, as previously mentioned I received two samples of Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado slightly random when I was in town, but decided nevertheless to try the samples as the area around my eyes seemed really dry. What harm could they possibly do? I imagined none harm at all since I had heard Kiehl’s was a good brand and, well, samples are meant to be used in my opinion, else you can just throw them out or give them to somebody else.

I hadn’t expected much when I started on the samples because I tend to get disappointed with products and their promises, which is sort of a neutral statement I suppose, but oh boy I was surprised. After only a few days, the skin around my eyes had changed from being really dry to hydrated, but also it started to look really nice (despite the occasional panda eyes I have upon waking up). That really surprised me and obviously pleased me to no end.

 

It looks kinda gross (after I accidentally dropped it)

Despite its questionable colour, the eye cream is really gentle and upon working with it, it starts changing from this creamy consistency to a slightly watery consistency that makes it easy to work with. Not that the watery consistency makes it run or anything, but simply easy to gently dub around my eyes and then the skin just absorbs it. Yum!

The only downside there is, is that the product is admittedly pricy. However, the amount you get is more than enough to last at least six months, I would guess. You use very little, so even though you use it every day it should last you a while. But, I am looking around the internet to see if I can find it somewhere cheaper as there is nothing wrong with saving money on products you know are good.

How do you find Kiehl’s products? What is your favourite eye cream?

Until next time,

Mia ♥ 

Midweek Post: Skincare & Make-up Remover

So, my package from eChemist finally arrived and thus I decided to make a blog post about it, even though it is Wednesday and not Thursday, meaning I am deviating slightly from my original schedule. But not to worry (I say this mainly to myself), I promise there will be a blog post up tomorrow – a DIY! I actually shouldn’t make this sound exciting as there is the possibility of people being disappointed with it… aw man!

Moving on with what I actually purchased at eChemist! First and most importantly, but also the reason I actually made an order, I bought my daily cream from Avène. I am really low on my old jar and honestly feared the worst, so the postman had the best timing by delivering the package today. The Rich Compensating Cream is perfect for my dry skin, and it has in general worked wonders by also improving my skin dramatically to the better. I love it, basically. I purchase the cream at eChemist instead of the local pharmacy because it is so much cheaper – I bought the cream when it wasn’t on offer, but I still saved 100 DKK (approx. 10 GBP) compared to the standard price in Denmark!  

Also, I decided to try the make-up remover from Bioderma as everybody seems to be raving about it. I am slightly skeptic because I don’t really like make-up removers as they make my skin feel either dry or oily. Yucky! But I will try to forget my bad experiences and give this a decent test-run seeing it is from the sensitive series. I believe I purchased the 100 ml bottle for 40 DKK (approx. 4 GBP)… I don’t know if this is considered cheap for the amount, but you can’t purchase Bioderma in Denmark yet. It is apparently coming to Denmark, but I don’t know when or at what price.

I promise I will do a review on both products, especially Bioderma as I have high expectations to it after all the reviews I have read on it.

What products do you use to take care of your skin? And what products to remove your make-up?

Until next time,

Mia ♥