Top 5 | French Skincare

The skincare world can be a baffling one to navigate at the best of times, from trying to figure out what your skin type is and finding the products to target that type, within your price range but still provides great quality results? Yeah. Mind boggling.

Luckily, this little roundup from French skincare brands should hopefully help you if you're in a pickle, especially as most of the brands offer varying products for different skin types.

April Favourites

Well that went quickly, am I right?

I spent most of March and April stressing about work, uni work and then flitting off to Spain and then sorting things out post-holiday... So much so that I actually need another holiday to get over it and I must say a cheeky getaway has been booked for September...

Current Skincare Saviors #3

It's been nearly a month since I last divulged what was rocking my world in the skincare department and so I'll move onto this months - two new and one an old favourite...

Empties #5

Second part in today's empties posts and it's all skincare which to be honest is what most of my pennies go on...

Empties #4

I'm not usually one for an empties post; I love doing a mini review once I'm done with a product but the whole keeping empty bottles around can get a little frustrating. Regardless I managed to keep a whole bag full of empties ready for today's two part post (yes, two parts) so without further ado...

Skincare | Avene

Can I just say that I really, really love Avene skincare? I mean, wow. All my purchases so far have been added to my 'Never Forget About This Product,' list and thanks to Escentual (who were having upto a third off French pharmacy brands at the time,) I managed stocked up on three new bits that I cannot wait add into my skincare rotation.

First up the Cold Cream Gel Cleanser, this is amazing for dry to very dry skin as it's enriched with the 'Thermale' water and cold cream - it's pretty much a double whammy of hydration and it's also suitable for sensitive skin too. 

This can also be used for body as a shower gel/cleanser which is handy for if you're going on holiday. This is soap free, non-comodogenic and hypoallergenic. I'll be using this as my morning cleanser for a much needed boost of hydration in the mornings. 

Secondly I picked up the Soothing Hydrating Serum - it's perfect   for sensitive/dehydrated/dry skin (which I have,) and it is really helping tone down my redness so far. In love. What's more, this serum actually doesn't cost a bomb at it's normal price range either - it's £17 full price but I picked up mine for about £10-£11. Perfection.

Lastly the Gentle Toner had a really good write up and although I adore my Vichy Hydrating toner, I thought I'd try out this one for a switch up. Once again, it's good for dry/sensitive skin. Plus it's in a massive bottle - which means it's going to last a long ol' while!

I feel I need to do a juggling act with my skincare of finding products that hydrate for my dry/dehydration problems yet soothe for redness and so far Avene are really proving to be a good brand for all of these things. 

Have you found any new skincare products you adore?

Peace!

Moiturisers | Skincare Edit

La Roche-Posay Hydreane Riche - Avene Hydrance Optimale 

I have a love hate relationship with moisturisers. They are essential as I have dry/dehydrated skin which is prone to redness but the choice is so dizzying nowadays that it can be hard to find your perfect hydrating companion. Fun, right? 

I've been tackling my skincare problems and so far I may have found the perfect duo for my day and night routine...

For day time I've been using the Avene Hydrance Optimale Rich - which does have an SPF of 20 but the SPF isn't what I bought it for... it was the 'hydrance' bit had me at hello, you see. 

So I did my research and read the reviews (standard procedure,) - I went for the rich version because as I mentioned, my skin is dry as well as dehydrated and figured the extra ooph wouldn't hurt much. I was right to get the rich version, I think light would of been too light for me (but check it out if you have normal/dehydrated or oily/dehydrated!) because even though this is the rich version, it's still light weight, a dream to apply as it absorbs so well and once it is applied? Oh god, the hydration! It literally feels like I just plunged my face into a bucket of water. It's a good base for make-up too - although these days primer usually takes care of that task. 

For night time I have been using La Roche-Posay Hydreane Riche for Sensitive Skin. You could use this moisturiser for day time but to be honest it's actually a little too heavy for spring/summer day time wear - but this is perfect for night time use for me as it packs an equal punch to the Avene - but obviously it does it's hydrating job over night (it is listed as a night time and day time moisturiser on Escentual.) 

I would probably even have to make sure I have a little tube on standby for when I have any dry patches - because this little tube has already fixed a few of those for me! It's also worth mentioning that they also do a light version of this.

I bought both of these at Escentual - they have a third of french pharmacy brands at the moment so while there's still time go have a look!

What's your favourite moisturiser combo?

Peace!

Avene Thermal Spring Water

I fell in love with Caudalie Beauty Elixir - I am one of those that actually likes the smell! However I wanted to have a gander to see what other brands produced (similar to the Beauty Elixir,) and that's how I found Avene's Thermal Spring Water.

It's one of those do-it-all-heaven-in-a-bottle sprays. You can use it as a replacement for your usual toner for a good ol' injection of moisture before applying your serum, it can also be used for irritations to calm and soothe - I've even taken to using it to cool off during this hot spell we've been having - it's been an angel, let me tell you. 

I'm not new to Avene, their products have always been good to me for calming redness and adding moisture and it's reasonably priced, more of a mid-line than budget or high end but still a brand that most could afford. 

The French just have skin care down, and I for one will be picking this up again once it's run out especially the smaller bottle for my handbag. 

I managed to get this on a buy one get one free offer in Boots, but Escentual have an offer throughout June - a third off French Pharmacy brands and of course free delivery when you spend over £30... well, what are you waiting for?

So, what's your favourite French skincare brand?

Peace!

Haulin' - Fragrance Direct & Escentual

Pay day came, and now it is long gone and now I must wait until the next one (oops,) but I did manage to make a killer saving on some things I actually needed to replace...

First up from Escentual I re-purchased my fourth (!) bottle of the Vichy Purete Thermale Hydra-Perfecting Toner. I simply love it, it doesn't feel tight or dry out my skin. Perfecto! Secondly I picked up a new moisturiser from Avene. It's the Hydrance Optimale Rich Protective SPF 20. Let me just say, Hydrance is the right word. Oh dayumn! It's so hydrating, yet light. I'm pleased I got the 'Rich' version because the 'Light' might of been a tad too light. If you have combination skin you might want to try it out though! They also sent out a nail file, which is nice. I always like when companies add that little touch - it's just thoughtful!

So from Fragrance Direct I picked up A LOT of nail related paraphernalia, if you couldn't tell! I bought a cheap pair of nail scissors and they broke after the first week - not great, and when I saw that FD had a pretty large discount on Sally Hansen and Essie (£1.99 for a bottle of Essie? Not bad, right?) so I scooped up some much needed supplies. I'm looking forward to my back getting better, so I can actually bend down to do my feet a pretty pedicure.

A little note though; the colour for Waltz looks more lilac/greige on the website but it is a pure white - which isn't a bad thing, I've got plans for this one!

Have you got any deals shopping recently?

Peace!