Review | La Roche Posay Ultrafine Scrub for Sensitive Skin

A good scrub, be it a body or face scrub is a must for me - I just love the clean skin feeling I get after using one; not to mention the fact that besides eliminating dead skin cells to help the skin look more revived, a scrub boosts circulation too!

However, if like me you are 'blessed' with oily/sensitive skin, you know the struggle is real when it comes to choosing a face scrub that doesn't have harsh granules that flare up the skin and cause it to stimulate sebum production even more. Thankfully, my prayers have been answered by French skin care brand La Roche Posay and their Ultrafine Scrub for sensitive skin.

It comes in this transparent blue 50ml tube which is ideal for travelling and you can barely see the exfoliating particles; in fact, even when you squeeze out the product, it feels really nice and not grainy at all.

I use the scrub twice weekly and till now, I didn't break out or have any allergies to the product. The fact that the product contains no soap, no parabens, no colorants and no alcohol, further diminishes the possibility of developing allergies and drying out the skin.

If like me you have sensitive, stop whatever it is you're doing and go buy this scrub from your nearest authorised pharmacy like NOW! Follow La Roche Posay on Facebook to stay in the know about new products, special offers and competitions!

Check out my other review for the La Roche Posay Make-up Remover Micellar Water Cleansing Gel for Sensitive Skin for another skin care gem!

PR Sample

Monthly Favourites: January 2012

And January is out, so that means that it is time for me to show you the products I have been loving most.  The majority are lip products as I have been experimenting with bold and bright lips alike but I also have some other products so let me get started!

My most favourite product, even though I didn't use it a lot so as not to waste it, is without any doubt my Givenchy Rouge Interdit in Illicit Raspberry. I love everything about this lipstick: the packaging (oh so luxurious), the shade, how long it stays, etc...

Next, up are two new purchases from e.l.f. cosmetics, namely Sociable lipstick from their essential range and the Studio Glitter Gloss in Ruby Raspberry.  I have been enjoying wearing both together because the shades complement each other so well and although I am not a fan of the lipstick packaging, I really love the shade as well as the smell of the lipgloss!

The last lip products, I have, I think you have seen them a million times over over but I just can't seem to put them down! They are Max Factor lipstick in Midnight Plum, M&S lipgloss in Dark Pink, Maybelline Water Shine Lipstick in Beige Glace, e.l.f. Studio Matte Lip Color in Natural and Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm.  I have also rediscovered this Caboodles twist-up lipgloss of which I really like the chocolatey-honey smell!

As far as make-up products and tools go, I have another four new purchases from e.l.f. that I have been liking this month, namely, Studio Translucent Matifying Powder, Contour Brush, Mechanical Eyelash Curler and Cream Eyeliner in Black.

I have also been liking these Joico Shampoo & Conditioner which have greatly improved the moisture levels in my hair without weighing it down.  With regards body products, I have been using this Body Shop Cocoa Butter scrub and this White Peach & Almond Hand Cream from M&S religiously to combat dry skin hand and hands respectively.   I have also been treating my skin to a deep cleanse once a week with this Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser.

So that's it for my monthly favourites ladies! What products were you enjoying during the first month of the year? 

Review: The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub and Body Butter

Hey y'all! Today I'm going to review two products that I have been using almost everyday since I got them (credit goes to my bro)... The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub and Body Butter!  I have been lusting over the limited edition holiday collections by The Body Shop ever since they were released here in Malta and being a sucker for anything vanilla, I just couldn't let these pass me by could I? So when my brother asked me what I wanted, I told him these would be perfect and he got me the large ones!! :D

Here's what they look like packaging-wise:

So they are the same as other scrubs and body butters from The Body Shop but I actually like the motifs on the caps and neutral colours of the tubs.

Body Scrub

You get 200ml (198g) of 'exfoliating scrub scented with a hint of spice and extract of vanilla & also with Community Trade cocoa butter'.  From this sentence, you know that what is inside smells a.m.a.z.i.n.g!!! Plus the fact that it contains Community Trade cocoa butter, means you can spoil yourself and be guilt-free as some of the proceeds go to help people who are in need :)

The texture of this scrub is somewhere like yoghurt: not too thick, not to runny and the granules do not feel harsh at all against the skin, yet they polish it to perfection to reveal silky smooth skin that smells delicious!

The smell of this lingers for quite a long time on its own and to prolong it, I always team it with the matching body butter that I am going to write about later on this post.  However, to me it seems that the scrub has a stronger scent than the body butter.

So far this is my favourite body scrub from The Body Shop only because it smells of vanilla as it performs in the same way as the other ones I have tried from them.  This scrub retails for €12 but considering that you get an awesome amount and that some of the proceeds go towards Community Trade, I think it is well worth the money.

Body Butter

On to the 'sweetly scented' body butter 'with a hint of spice and extract of vanilla'... The one I have is also in the 200ml format but with regards to weight, it weighs 192g (the scrub weighs more because of the granules). I really like the thick textures of body butters from The Body Shop all year round practically! During this time of year, I like it because it feels really moisturizing whilst in the summer, I do enjoy a cool and hydrating treat after a day at the beach.  Despite it's thick texture, it is still rapidly absorbed by the skin and doesn't feel sticky at all.

Although it has the same smell as the scrub, I find it doesn't last that much when I use it on its own and I can even say that it doesn't smell as strong as the scrub does; but I still love it! I'm actually gutted that this was just limited edition (together with Cranberry Joy and Jolly Orange) :( The body butter retails for €13 but again, it will last so I say go for it while you can!

P.S. If you are in the UK, check out The Body Shop Website and get your fix of Vanilla Spice for £6 each!!

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Review: Nivea Visage Young smooth it! Mild Exfoliating Scrub

Who doesn't want smooth and peachy-soft skin? I think I have found the right product to achieve this! Ladies, please give a warm welcome to Nivea Visage Young smooth it! Mild Exfoliating Scrub! I have been through a lot of tubes of this stuff and still love it. Here's why...

As usual, what the packaging looks like...

Basically it's just a transparent tub; well not exactly transparent, more like resembling that frosted glass effect, but you can still see through it and I actually think the peach and white flower motifs along the right side of the tube are cute and add an interesting touch to the product. This comes in a 75ml format which is great as I replace the tube like every 6 months or so. The ingredients and an explanation of the product can be found on the back of the tube.

The actual product...

This scrub works for young skin that is either normal or combination so it works fine for me. It contains extra fine exfoliators to 'effectively remove dead skin cells to smooth the complexion; gently cleanses without drying out the skin; enriched with Peach Extracts, the mild formula softens the skin.'

This product's texture is creamy and leaves a little bit of oily residue which is rinsed off with just some warm water. Being creamy, it doesn't dry my skin and also, the particles in it are not that big and so they are not harsh against the sensitive and less thick skin on the face. They are a nice colour too actually, pink and orange ^.^. With regards smell, the product does give off a faint smell of peaches but it's not really strong or particular.

It is usually recommended to use a scrub as part of your facial cleansing routine twice weekly. This product does not have anything written on the tube with regards frequency of use so I use it every other day at the end of the day when I am cleaning my face before I go to bed. It never broke me out and I like how it makes my skin look and feel so smooth and soft. Furthermore, this scrub is non-comedogenic which makes sense as it is intended to remove dead skin cells and debris from the skin without clogging pores. For those of you who have never heard of the word 'non-comedogenic' or are unsure about what it means, it implies that the product does not clog pores or cause black heads (comedones = black heads). Skin compatibility of this product is dermatologically approved.

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Review: Scholl Rough Skin Remover & Scholl Cracked Heel Repair Cream

These two products were featured in My Summer Essentials which I posted a few days ago (click here). They made it in my essentials for various reasons and today I am going to review both of them here.

I use both products in both summer and winter. I am not that kind of person who in winter ignore my feet completely and expect to have them flawless by summer. I take time to do a pedicure myself once a week (click here for the whole procedure) and I also take good care of my feet by wearing comfortable shoes when I'm working and massage after a long day.

Rough Skin Remover (75ml)

First up is the Rough Skin Remover. Since I spend a lot of time on my feet, I get occasional rough skin patches on the soles of my feet. I hate them and think they are unsightly, no matter how small they are. I used to remove them with a conventional body scrub but it didn't quite remove them wholly no matter how much time I spend circling it in :S

Then, I saw this product advertised in a magazine which they give out with a local newspaper and decided to give it a go. On the tube it says:

'Scholl Rough Skin Remover is especially created to take care for the unique characteristics of the skin on the foot. It contains specialized fruit AHAs and natural pumice to effectively remove rough, hard skin, leaving feet soft and smooth.'

The product does not have a particular smell and has an average consistency with not-so-small brownish granules. It is advised to apply it to clean, dry skin in circular motions and then rinse it off. It should be applied from 2 to 3 times a week depending on severity of the condition (N.B. If you have a very thick layer of hard skin, do not cut it off, always consult with a podologist before attempting anything yourself).

It is very important that your feet be dry to achieve full benefits of the product. It feels really nice applying the cream because once the cream is absorbed in the skin, all there's left are the granules which you continue to massage and you will see the hard skin falling off!

The down-side to this product is the fact that it leaves my feet and hands quite dry after use. A bit like washing with a bar of soap.

However, I've noted a decrease in frequency of hard skin occurring on my feet so I will certainly buy this again.

It has a 12 month fit for use period.

Cracked Heel Repair Cream (60ml)

The Cracked Heel Repair Cream, I use as a foot cream at the end of my pedicure/bath. As I said, I spend a lot of time standing on my feet and I do wear high heels, thus my heels are prone to crack slightly.

After using this cream for three consecutive days, I immediately notice smoother heels with no cracks and thus I still use this product everyday to maintain them.

It has a rich consistency which is however easily absorbed in the skin and has no particular scent. The product also has a 12 month expiry period.

My Summer Essentials

Hello my beauties :)

Today I'm going to share my summer essentials with you. They cover every area of the body so rest assured you won't miss anything :P. Although, it is not included in the picture below, sunblock is the most obvious product that one looks for the most in summer so be sure to have a good one at hand, not some left overs from last year or the year before that or before that... you get the drift.

From left to right, clockwise:

Hair: - Angel Professional Water Element Nourishing Cream (take a look at the review here)

- Senscience brilliant defense protective spray with UV filter

Body: - Olive Oil Organic body scrub

- Impulse Temptation deodorant

- Veet cold waxing strips for face/bikini line (pink box) and legs (blue box)

- Scholl Rough Skin Remover

- School Cracked Heel Repair Cream

Face: - e.l.f. Professional Shine Erasers

- e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shines SPF 15 in Goddess, Malt Shake and Iced Latte

- Rimmel Lasting Finish Loose Powder Foundation in Ivory 001 (I only use this when I really really need it)

- e.l.f. studio Warm Bronzer

- e.l.f. Earth & Water Mascara duos in Black and Brown

- e.l.f. Waterproof eyeliner pens in Black and Coffee

Nails: - Nail polishes for French Manicure

- An array (vast hehe) of brightly coloured nail polishes

I hope you enjoyed my summer faves. Until the next post,

Stay beautiful :)

Lara xoxo

Full Skin Cleansing Routine

Hello my beauties :)

Today, I'm gonna blog about my skin care routine and the products I use throughout.

1. I always make sure my hands are squeaky clean and after I wash them thoroughly with soap and warm water, I apply a sanitizing gel. This will eliminate commensal skin bacteria and therefore, prevents transfer of these bacteria onto the face.

2. Dilate 2 or 3 cotton discs in warm water and apply eye-make up remover to each one of them.

3. Pull the brow of one eye upwards (gently), apply the disc to the eyelid and leave for 5 seconds. Sweep in an outward motion and repeat until all the makeup is removed.

4. Run under the lower lashes with disc edge to remove any mascara and eye pencil smudges. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other eye with another cotton disc. If mascara is still coming out, apply some more make up remover to a cotton bud and run it over the lashes.

5. To remove lipstick, apply some makeup remover to another cotton disc, hold lips taut from one side and sweep outwards in the opposite direction (if your holding your lips from the left side sweep to the right and vice versa).

6. For cleansing the face, apply a 20 Euro-cent coin-sized dollop of cleanser to one of your palms. Wet the other palm and work the cleanser into a lather. Start by applying it over the neck in upward, circular movements and move on to the centre of the face and continue with outwards circular movements. Pay special attention to the nostril area. Rinse off with warm water and repeat when removing full make up.

7. Apply toner all over the face, omitting the eye area.

8. Apply 20 Euro-cent coin-sized dollop of FACIAL scrub (body scrubs have coarser granules which will be too harsh for the skin on the face) onto your palms and massage on your face using circular motions outwards and upwards from the jaw-line. Leave on for 3 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

9. Apply a thin layer of face mask (for peel-offs apply a thicker layer) all over the face omitting the eye and lip areas. Leave on for 15 - 30 minutes or as long as it is stated on the package. Rinse off with warm water. Steps 8 and 9 should ideally be done twice a week.

10. Apply another application of toner paying special attention to the hair-lines so as to make sure all traces of the mask are removed.

11. Leave the skin to dry.

12. Apply some eye gel or eye cream by gently dabbing with the ring finger around the orbitals.

13. Apply a slick of lip balm.

14. Apply a layer of moisturizer and work in the skin until fully absorbed. In the morning apply sunscreen prior to applying the moisturizer. When I am not going to apply foundation, I use a tinted moisturizer as a make-up base.

- Skin Truth Face Eye Contour Gel

- Nivea Visage Extra Gentle Eye Make-up Remover

- Nivea Visage Refreshing Facial Wash Gel

- Nivea Visage Refreshing Toner

- Nivea Visage Young smooth it! mild exfoliating facial scrub

- Nivea Visage Young control shine! mattifying gel cream

- Nivea Visage Young be beautiful! tinted moisturizer

- Nivea Lip Care Caregloss & Shine

- A range of Montagne Jeunesse face masks and tonics. I always try out different ones suited for my skin.