New Skin Care Finds | Lierac Paris Double Cleansing & Hydragenist Product Ranges

As much as I enjoy planning and organizing events, I never though wedding planning will be as stressful. We have a little more than a year to go and with May being one of the peak months for weddings in Malta, we struggled to find a venue we liked which was available and the stress definitely took its toll on my skin - I was breaking out uncontrollably until we settled on a venue so of course I resorted to a skin care routine that helped my skin get better in a matter of days. Apart from Eau Thermale Avene's Cleanance range, I've been using a few new products from Lierac Paris too, namely, their new additions to the essential range, all of which offer double cleansing.

I was delving into double cleansing at the end of last year thereby I was delighted when the people behind Lierac reached out and offered me deluxe samples of their newest products which I will gladly share with you in this post. What exactly is double cleansing? Double cleansing usually involves layering two cleansing products during your skincare to make sure your skin is thoroughly cleansed and free from makeup and pollutants.

I will start with the Foaming Cream Double Cleanser which is meant for makeup removal, gentle scrubbing and anti-aging. I found this product a bit too rich for my skin but nonetheless, it does an excellent job at all it claims to do. The cleansers transforms to a gentle cleansing foam on contact with water and leaves the skin fresh and purified with floral notes of jasmin, lotus flower and gardenia.

The other two products in the range require no rinsing and they are the Double Toning Gel Lotion and  Double Cleanser Micellar Milk. These are more up my alley especially after a long day when all I want to do is just remove my makeup and go to bed. I don't like removing my makeup in the shower - I prefer taking it all off in front of my bathroom mirror so using products that require the use of a cotton disc are sometimes favoured over gel cleansers especially when I am not wearing any or too much makeup. I find that the cleansing milk is an effective makeup remover and leaves my skin feeling clean even though I don' rinse it off. The toner, on the other hand, has the perfect consistency which enables it to be easily absorbed and help keep my skin toned and hydrated. They both transform into water on contact with the skin and the milk also features the same floral notes as the Foaming Cream Double Cleanser.

The last two products that I want to talk about are from the Hydragenist range which is aimed at younger skins and targets their adequate hydration as the name suggests. I'm going to start with my favourite - the serum! During these last couple of years, I have been making it a point to include serums in my skincare routine and so far I have only used Lierac serums. I love the smooth, velvety texture and my skin feel re-energized immediately after application. The other product is a moisturiser. I like to use this mostly in the evening as during the day I prefer to use something with SPF in it. It is light enough not to make my oily skin feel oilier and it does a great job of keeping my skin hydrated.

Lierac is one of my favourite skincare brands but these two ranges have definitely got to be at the top of my favourite skin care products from the brand! Did you try them already?

PR Samples

Review | LIERAC Dioptifatigue Energising Gel

One of my main skin care concerns is dark under eye circles and signs of fatigue under my eyes, something I not happy about. Consequently I have been looking for a good eye product for quite some time now before I settled on Lierac Dioptifatigue Energising Gel.

The Lierac Diopti range is comprised of 5 different prodcts, each targeting a specific problem related to the sensitive area around the eyes. I found Dioptifatigue is the best fit to address my concerns and I have been using it day and night for the past month or so.

It comes in the sleekest of tubes and holds 10ml of product. Although this may seem like a small amount of product, all you really need is the tiniest bit of product to apply around the eye contour, thus I am sure the product will last for quite some time.

The gel-balm is off-white in colour and doesn't take much effort to be absorbed into the skin without a trace. Like I said, I have been using the product twice daily ever since I got it and I have noticed a significant difference in the way my eye area looks - I don't need to use as much concealer as I used to as it reduces signs of fatigue and has brightened my under eye area too! All this thanks to the principle of active phytocosmetics which is employed in all Lierac products. This simply translates to using plant extracts as active ingredients in cosmetic products. In fact, apart from double hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C, Dioptifatigue also contains Butcher's broom and pure caffeine extracts to exert its actions.

At €19.45 for a product that delivers and will last, I highly recommend Lierac Dioptfatigue to anyone who has similar skin concerns as me. Lierac products are available in select pharmacies throughout Malta and Gozo. 

Monthly Favourites | August

Last month I skipped the favourites post because there were really no new products to show you but this month has definitely made up for it for I have quite a lot of new things to share with you!

For starters, I have two new summer favourites courtesy of Lierac Paris and Kiko Cosmetics. Let me start with the Kiko Summer Wipes first. These wipes are meant to dissolve salt from the skin after swimming so that you can refresh yourself and they have proven to be God-send when we went to the beach in the afternoon and stayed there late for a bar-be-que as well on days by the pool to refresh my skin. They are quite handy in that regard and I like the tight closure the packet comes with as that way the wipes don't dry up.

Next is the Lierac Paris Sunific Solaire 2 Iridescent Milk Mist with SPF15. This came at the right time when I already had a tan and just want to preserve it and still protect my skin. It goes on as a light white mist that just melts into the skin as an iridescent sheen with a very nice scent.

Next up are some skin care products starting with this Micellar Water Gel Makeup Remover and Ultrafine Scrub from La Roche Posay. Both products have intrigued me from the first time and they have now become part of my skin care routine. After trying other varieties of the Yves Rocher Exfoliating Shower Gel, I decided to give this summer limited edition version a try. It is in Apple Star Anise and I immediately took a fancy to the fresh, invogorating smell. It does a good job at gently exfoliating the skin, is gentle enough for everyday use and perfect when you're in a hurry!

Also shown in the photo is the Kiko Cosmetics XL Travel Pochette. I got it in my most recent order and it is practically the only one use now! It holds all my toiletries and makeup in just one place and feels very nice and sturdy.

Next, I have some nail product favourites. I have bought this Kiko Cosmetics glass nail file and I also picked up another one while visiting Dubrovnik and they do a better job at preventing the nails from splitting than any other nail file! I have also been liking the Essence Nail Caring Oil for my cuticles which despite being very cheap, it works just as well as the more expensive ones I have.

Moving on to makeup, I have some new MAC favourites, namely Prep+Prime Fix+ Refreshing Mist, Lipstiks in Velvet Teddy and Hot Gossip and Powder Blush in Dame. I could finally see what all the hype about Fix+ is because it is such a versatile product and essentially, you don't need any other primer or fixer after you try this!

The lipsticks are both new shades to me and come in my favourite finishes from MAC, Matte and Cremesheen. They glide smoothly with amazing pigmentation and last very long. Lastly, the blush is a very lovely colour that suits every complexion giving you a nice, healthy glow. It is quite sheer but buildable and stays on all day.

Next is another Kiko Cosmetics (I promise it's the last one in this post!) - the CC Cream Cushion System in the shade 30 Warm Beige. I got two shades of this, one for summer and one for winter. 30 Warm Beige, is the darker colour and it turned out to be a good match for my tanned skin. This CC Cream has quite an unusual packaging as opposed to similar products from other brands. The product itself is very light and blends really well into the skin covering all imperfections and just giving you an overall uniform complexion.

Of course sometime, we still need help in some areas and for my under-eyes, this Max Factor CC Colour Corrector in yellow does the trick! I shall be reviewing this in a separate post so I am not going to go into any details about it other than saying I love it!!

If on the other hand I needed something more for other areas of my face, my new favourite product for those instances, is the Makeup Revolution Ultra Base Contour Palette. This has everything I need in one place and even has a darker concealer that is perfect for me to use when I am more tanned!

I have also been liking the Makeup Revolution Ultra Contour Palette which has everything if you're still into contouring as well as good highlighters to try your hand at strobing.

Lastly, I have really been enjoying using the Naked Smoky palette from Urban Decay. It has everything you need to achieve the perfect smoky eye and I really like the quality of the eyeshadows! 

Event | Lierac Paris Summer Beauty Event

So, we got a thunderstorm. In August. And I hate it...I love the long summer days in sweltering heat! Call me crazy but I do! Anyway, since I am now confined inside, I wanted to share with you what went down last Monday at the Lierac Summer Event for us bloggers.

The luxury French skin care brand has been in the local market for two years now, albeit it is in it's 40th year. I have been a fan of the brand ever since I was introduced to it in their first ever launch event and I can vouch that they have amazingly good products and I have even turned my mum into a Lierac convert!

This event was one with a difference where apart from a short presentation on the products including some new lines which have just been introduced locally, we had the opportunity to have a mini facial with Lierac products, our skin analysed as well as a mini make-over and a one-on-one nutritional consultation.

The focus of Lierac is to target skin aging, pigmentation and other minor skin issues through the inclusion of natural, botanical ingredients. During the presentation, we had the opportunity to sample all of the luxurious samples. My favourite out of all were the Gommage Sensorielle and its mathcing Huile Sensorielle which are on my wishlist.

photos courtesy of Carmelo Establier

Lierac has introduced the Magnificence range this summer which is specialized anti-wrinkle care that can be used from age 40 onwards. They have also launched a makeup remover that has a treatment for eyelashes in it and a cleansing oil which emulsifies to a milky solution on contact with water. Last but most definitely not the least, they have also launched a self-tanner in the Sunfic range which also happens to be one of my favourite ranges from the brand because apart from the usual sunblock and aftersun, they also have products to prepare your skin for tanning before sun exposure to ensure an even tan.

During the event, I had a facial done as well a nutritional consultation. I really enjoyed both experiences and learnt more about healthy eating to maintain my weight and the facial was just what I needed to relax!

Me with Maja, the registered nutritionist during my one-on-one nutrition consultation.
Photo courtesy of the Lierac Malta Facebook page.

Lastly, after all the delicious nibbles and tasty infused waters, we were each given a goody bag in which I found a tan activating Iridescent Milk Mist with SPF15 which will take up permanent residence in my beach bag! I also picked up a few samples of the Mesolift Serum (my absolute favourite) to take with me wen travelling instead of carrying the full glass bottle as well as some samples for my mum.

Thank you once again to the Lierac team (Elisa, Maja, Roberta and Marika) for organizing a fun evening for us! Also, special thanks go to Carmelo for taking pictures throughout the event. Check out more of his work on his Facebook page here.

Don't forget to like the Lierac Malta Facebook page and check out the pharmacies that stock their products for the special offers they currently have. You can also book an appointment to have your skin analysed for free and don't forget to ask for your loyalty card!

Review | Lierac Paris Sunific Preparateur Tan Starter Serum

Summer: drinks get colder, water gets warmer. Hair gets lighter, skin gets darker...and, hold on... I have a product to share with you for an even deeper tan!

I was introduced to Lierac Paris Sunfic Preparateur Tan Starter Serum last month during an event which launched the Lierac Sunific Range. The range comprises a number of products aimed at promoting a healthy tan and ultimately preserving it. Apart from sun protection creams, they even offer products to help prepare the skin for sun tanning.

 

Primers are all the rage as of late - there's face primers, eye primers, lip primers and now there's even tanning primers such as the Tan Starter Serum from French luxury skin care brand Lierac. Event attendees were given a full sized sample of this Tan Starter Serum to try and after using it consistently for over four weeks, here are my thoughts on it.

The packaging, albeit simple is very convenient and I love its golden brown colour - it has beautifully tanned skin written all over it! The dispenser is actually a pump which is always ideal with this type of products and the cap closes securely over it.

 

The serum itself bears a light orange colour and it smells divinely of sweet oranges which are in effect one of the key active ingredients in the product. The concoction of red orange citroflavonoids, carrot and jasmine extracts, fruit AHA's, Monoi oil, Shea butter and a trio of tan enhancers (achiote oil, apricot kernel and vegetable glycerine) promotes a uniform tan at a cellular level.

 

 

The product is suitable for use on the face and body and is recommended in conjunction with your usual regular care products. It is advised to use a product with a good SPF factor since the serum doesn't offer such protection - it is only meant to promote and maintain a tan.

 

I have been using this serum consistently for over four weeks now and my skin tans better and even if I skip the beach for a prolonged time, the tan is still maintained. The formula is quickly and easily absorbed into the skin and I like how it leaves a shimmery glow behind.  

 

I am honestly in love with this product and it has definitely become a summer staple!

For stockist information, kindly check out the Lierac Malta Facebook page.

PR Sample

Monthly Favourites | June

This June I was lucky enough to be introduced to some new products and consequently some of them made the cut to be featured in this month's favourites. Old favourites are also included to let's get right into it!

 

First up, some random body and hair care products courtesy of Joico, Lierac and La Roche Posay. Summer is here and for me that calls for wavy hair over poker straight hair. Thanks to Joico Power Whip mousse I can achieve beach wave style hair effortlessly and it doesn't weigh the hair down. A definite summer must-have. Lierac Sunific Tan Starter Serum and La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Dry-Touch Gel Cream are also must have product for summer. The former preps the skin for an even and deeper sun tan while the other protects the face from the sun's rays and is specifically tailored for combination skins.

 

Also from Lierac, is the Mesolift Serum which is probably my favourite product from the luxury French skin care brand. It is the perfect pick-me-up for the skin especially at the end of the day to make it look plump and nourished.

 

Earlier in June, I was invited to this unique event where I discovered another French skin care brand for the first time. I am referring to Polaar and their Ice Pure and Ice Source ranges which the hosts were generous enough to give us in a goodie bag to try out for ourselves. I couldn't resist till I use up my current skin care products and I gave the products a go for a week. My skin feels fresh after each use and the Arctic Cotton Gentle Scrub is one product to look out for. The Icy Magic eye contour roll-on is another miracle product especially for people who suffer from puffiness and dark circles around the eye area. I instantly liked this brand and when Mum asked me for a good skin care line for Dad, I suggested Polaar and off we went to buy him some goodies to pamper his skin with!

 

Moving on to makeup, I have two face products up first - The Body Shop All In One BB Cream in Shade 01 which is an old favourite and Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer which is a new discovery. Summer is all about minimal and light makeup and both of these products fit the bill nicely. The BB Cream is an all rounder...perfect for quicker application of product while the primer is very lightweight and helps makeup last longer.

 

 

I was given the primer in a goodie bag (discover more products below) as part of a collaboration to help launch the Max Factor Malta #selfeye competition on Facebook and I fell in love with it immediately! Check out the full information about the competition here and submit your entry!

More Max Factor favourite products have been the Excess Volume Mascara which is nothing like I have seen before - the volumising part gives lashes an extra boost while the dark lacquer part really makes them stand out more. On the other hand, when I fancy a more natural look, I tend to reach for the La Roche Posay Respectissime Volumising Mascara. The Max Factor Wild Eyeshadow Pencil in Shade 30 combines the texture of a gel liner and a cream eyeshadow for a truly unique product. Being pearly white, I like to use it to enhance colours and highlight the corners of my eyes.

 



The last eye products are all brown hued. Catrice Long Lasting Eye Liner Pen in 070 Puddle of Mudd is a common occurrence and I tend to favour it over black in the summer for a more natural look. The Essence eyebrow mascara and pencil have been my favourite combination for making my brows look more polished and full.

Lastly, I have this Max Factor lipstick in the shade 655 Lilac Wine which really impressed me with its pigmentation and lasting power. I highly recommend this one!

Monthly Favourites | May

With May coming to an end two days ago, here are the products I have used most during the month!

 

Starting with body care, I have three products, two of which are new discoveries. So on my last trip to The Body Shop, I bought a new version of body scrub, the Early Harvest Raspberry which has definitely gone down in my list of favourite products from the shop. It smells really good and since it is not that abrasive, it can be used on sensitive skin.

 

 

The next new product comes courtesy of ProHealth, the importers of Vichy and La Roche Posay products in Malta. They have kindly sent me the new Vichy Cellu Destock Serum Flash to review and after using it for two weeks, I can definitely see the results. I will not spend a lot of time on this product in this post, but you can read a full review tomorrow so watch out for that!

 

With all Fashion Week events and what not, I have reached for Dior L'eau Cologne Floreale for all events and it has somewhat become my signature scent. I love how it is not overpowering yet it conveys a nice floral scent that lingers on my skin for a long time.

 

Next up are some skin care products, again two of which are new discoveries thanks to ProHealth. Even when clouds are still high up in the sky, our skin needs adequate protection against UV rays and thankfully La Roche Posay also have a range specifically targeted for oily and combination skins. I have found Anthelios XL Extreme Fluid and Dry Touch Gel-Cream to be extremely good at offering the best protection and they don't make my skin greasy. Highly recommended!

 

 

Lierac Mesolift Serum has once again proven to be a skin saviour especially last week during a very hectic fashion week. It keeps my skin plump and looking fresh - I wouldn't change it for anything!

 

Obviously, Fashion Week calls for tip top makeup and the following were my favourite products for creating a flawless base, ready for pictures and looking good in general! Left to right, NYX HD Foundation HDF02 Soft Beige, Catrice Prime and Fine Mattifying Powder Waterproof, Catrice Camouflage Cream 010 Ivory, Inglot Under the Makeup Base.

 

 



More makeup, this time its all about eye products. For some reason, I was obsessed with blue eye makeup last month and consequently, these are the products I reached for the most, top to bottom, Pupa Milano Vamp! Mascara 300 Deep Night, Catrice Long Lasting Eyeliner Pen 080 I Like Blue Mondays, Rimmel London Soft Kohl Eye Pencil 021 Denim Blue and Wjcon Eyeshadow Stick 10 Sapphire.

 

 

As for the normal black mascara and eye pencil days, nothing beats the combination of Catrice Glamour Doll Volume and Curl Mascara and Pupa Milano Made To Last Eyes 100 Black.

 

 

Event | LIERAC Paris Official Launch

Last Wednesday night saw me getting ready for another event in my diary: the French luxury skin care brand Lierac Paris official launch by PharmaMT at the lavish setting that is Villa Arrigo in Naxxar.


Villa Arrigo. Photo thanks to Marija from Pocalocca

Back in June, I was lucky enough to be invited to an informative introductory presentation about the brand at the PharmaMT premises in Gzira and after using some Lierac products and being satisfied with them, I was over the moon when I found out I was one of the 5 lucky bloggers invited to attend the official launch! You can check out my review for the Gommage Douceur here and for Tonique Éclat here. 

 

The event consisted of a brief introduction to the brand and their products followed by a reception. All throughout the evening, there was also a mini station set-up for a personalised skin analysis for anyone who wanted to try it.

 

Here is a brief introduction to the brand and what it has to offer, as delivered by the brand's representative Jean Claude who flew in specifically for the occasion.

 

 

Jean Claude introducing Lierac

Lierac was founded in 1975 in Paris by cosmetic doctor Dr.Cariel and he combined his skin care expertise with botanical active ingredients to pioneer a skin care line based solely on the concept of Active Phytotherapy. The products are all backed by scientific studies and they are all manufactured in the suburbs of Paris so you know you are truly getting a genuine product.

The first ever product to be developed is the Phytolastil anti-stretch mark cream and being a very successful product, it is still produced in the same formula to date. Nowadays, through ongoing scientific research, Lierac has developed into a full skin care range aimed towards women of all ages from 20 years onwards. The even have a range specifically targeted for men, Lierac Homme but it is not yet available on the local market.

The different ranges are all colour coded to reflect what they are intended for and products range from anti-wrinkle treatments to illuminating skin creams and they also have a general skin cleansing products suitable for different skin types and conditions. To top it off they even have the Sunific range which is aimed at promoting a healthy tan as well as protecting the skin during sun exposure and after.

 

Some of the Lierac product ranges
Image courtesy of Lierac website

The emphasis was constantly on the importance to hydrate the skin and help the regeneration of collagen, elastin and fibroblasts (cells that give rise to connective tissue), all three of which are important for the skin to look and maintain a youthful, plump appearance.

Lierac display at the event

I really enjoyed the presentation and being a scientist myself, I am always interested when science is the centre of a cosmetics brand, plus Lierac products, all contain naturally derived ingredients so you really get what you pay for! Besides, this is the first ever brand of such calibre to be available in selected pharmacies for easier reach.

The products that interest me the most are the Gommage Sensoriel. Huile Sensorielle, Phytolastil amongst others.

all product images from Lierac website

We were accompanied to the event by our boyfriends who found support in each other and joked about setting up a blog themselves dealing with all they have to endure for sharing their lives with beauty bloggers...men!

 

Us ladies, doing what we do best...looking pretty :)
L to R: Marija from All Things Lady
Marija from Pocalocca (credits to her for this picture)
Martina from All Things Fabulous
Myself
Elle from Beauty She Wrote

Jessica from Beauty Is Our Passion was also in attendance.

Before we left, we were each handed a very generous goodie bag with 1 full sized product and 4 generous samples, along with an information booklet about all the products in the range. They even gave us a beautiful pink Dhalia which is gracing my desk :)

Flowers, goodie bag and contents

 

Lastly, a big Thank You goes to the staff at PharmaMT for the impeccable organisation of a chic event which complemented the 'simply so French' brand beautifully!

 

For more information about stockists and Lierac products, you check out their Facebook page and website.