Review | La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Non-Perfumed and Tinted Dry Touch Gel-Creams

Is it just me or the weather really doesn't seem to transition completely into summer mode? We're in May but we are still getting the odd rainy day now and then, yet nonetheless, temperatures are going up a notch and the UV index is already getting quite high. This brings me to an important question...are you making sure your skin is adequately protected against the sun?

Apart from our hands, our face is the area that has the highest exposure to the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays, which is why the products in La Roche Posay's Anthelios range have the highest possible protection against the sun's rays.

I have introduced you to Anthelios XL dry touch gel-creams before and now I have the pleasure of introducing a new addition to the range - the Tinted Dry Touch Gel-Cream. I also have the Non-Perfumed version to share with you which is especially suited for sensitive skin types. Moreover, the products now come in a new type of package featuring a very convenient pump! I admit I much prefer this type of packaging over the older ones as it is less messy to take out the product and it enables you to get the right amount of product out. Each product is supplied in a box with an information leaflet inside.

Let's have a look at Anthelios XL Tinted Dry Touch Gel-Cream first. So, like I already said, this is a new product on the market and apart from the 50+ SPF, it features Mexoplex® (a patented photostable filtering system that protects the sensitive skin of our faces against UVA and UVB rays). It contains hypoallergenic perfume and is thus still indicated for sensitive ad sun intolerant skin types. Anthelios XL Tinted Dry Touch Gel-Cream contains no parabens and is non-comedogenic.

What makes this product different from other face sunscreens on the market? First of all, the tint which comes from universal micro-pigments that adapt to every skin tone for a natural look. Secondly, the formula is immediately absorbed for an ultra-dry finish, keeping oily skin at bay. In fact, the product never feels greasy and the complexion looks fresh and luminous.

Next we have the Anthelios XL Non Perfumed Dry Touch Gel-Cream which also features the Mexoplex® technology and SPF 50+ and is also indicated for sensitive and sun intolerant skins. Again, the formula features no parabens and is non-comedogenic and is very water resistant. I am a big fan of this dry touch formula as even though the product is white, it is fast absorbed and leaves no residues on the skin whatsoever and again, it is non-greasy. This one in fact, also receives my boyfriend's seal of approval because of the non-greasy formula and it helps keep his super oily skin in check (this is a big step as my boyfriend hates putting any sort of cream on his skin but he agreed to testing Anthelios XL Non Perfumed Dry Touch Gel-Cream and he liked it!).

Anthelios is by far my favourite sun protection range especially when it comes to taking care of my face. Moreover, the tubes are travel friendly as they come in a 50ml format so you can take them with you on holiday!

Anthelios XL Dry Touch Gel-Creams are available from leading pharmacies. Find out your nearest stockists by liking the La Roche Posay Facebook page.

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Review | MAC Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation NC15

Following my makeup session at MAC last March, I was given the new Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation to try out. The excitement of finally having a MAC foundation shade match took the better of me and the day after I had my makeover, I started test running the said foundation.

Let's have a look at the packaging first - like all other MAC products, the foundation comes in it's own black box and it is presented in a sleek, frosted glass jar with a pipette dropper. The MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation, as the name implies, has a light weight texture, offering light coverage that can be built up yet still maintain a natural finish that doesn't look like you're wearing makeup.

A 3/4 full pipette is all I need to cover my whole face. My preferred method of application is pipetting the foundation on a makeup artist palette and picking it up with my foundation brush to work it into my skin.  I have to say I am a really big fan of the pipette dropper as it gives me total control as to how much product I use.

I find that this foundation really gives my skin a light, dewy finish and is bang on trend with the fresh skin look that is currently what everyone is after lately. One small word of warning though - make sure your face is thoroughly moisturised before applying this foundation as it can cling to dry skin patches.

I am in the shade NC15 which is an absolutely perfect match to my very pale skin tone and I am very pleased that the foundation does not oxidise and remains intact throughout the day. I would describe the shade NC15 as a light ivory with yellow undertones. If like me, you prefer light coverage foundations, I do suggest you give MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation a try, plus with SPF 30, you can skip applying sunblock if you like!

Myself wearing MAC Studio Waterweight SPF30 Foundation in NC15

MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation can be bought from MAC in Tower Road Sliema, or from the MAC counter at Debenhams at The Point.

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Monthly Favourites | March & April

Since I was too caught up between things and didn't manage to publish last month's favourites post, I am combining them with April's favourites as most of the products are essentially the same. So without further ado, let's get right into it!

March was more geared towards skin care and consequently, I have a lot skin care of products to feature in this post. First up are two Swiss brands which were still new to me at the time I attended the respective events - Juvena and Declare. 

I was given some deluxe samples from both brands to try out and the speaker at the events, with her passionate descriptions of the products, managed to convinced me so much that I tried them as soon as I got home. I have used all of these products several times but have resorted back to using my old skin care products so that once I use them up, I can fully switch to these brands.

So, the products are Juvena Miracle Boost Essence which is literally a skin saviour for dehydrated skins - the boyfriend even loves to use it after he shaves but don't tell him I told you shhh ;) Juvena have a brush which fits inside the cap of this product so that you can pick up the product and distribute it over your face with the super soft brush for an extra pampering experience.

From Declare, I have three products, my favourite of which is the Anti-Irritation Serum which provides a nice treat to my skin after a day's work. In the morning I wake up with very little redness and my skin feels nice and looks much more radiant. Next are the Detox Night Cream and the Cleansing Milk. I intend to purchase both of these products in their full size soon because they are specifically tailored for my skin type and I could see results after just a couple of applications.

With skin care out of the way, let's have a look at the makeup products I have been using more frequently during these last two month. First up is the MAC Studio Waterweight SPF30 Foundation. I'm in NC15 and I think this is the first time ever that I have found a foundation shade that it exactly the same tone as my skin so that is definitely a plus! What makes me a big fan of this foundation is the light weight texture that doesn't feel like you have anything on your face and still covers up really well. I'm going to stop there as I will be reviewing this foundation soon though. Another light weight product I have been enjoying these past weeks is the Pupa Milano Professionals BB Cream + Primer for Combination to Oily Skin. I like this for days when my skin on its best behaviour and doesn't need a lot of coverage.

Sometimes, however, light coverage foundation doesn't cut it and I need something that offers higher coverage. For such days, I turn to Vichy Dermablend [3D Correction] which has just been launched and I have had the opportunity to try. Dermablend is hands down the best foundation for covering up all sorts of skin conditions yet still look natural and for this reason, this has been a winner with me this month when I experienced a little breakout on my chin.

The last face product I want to talk about is this Clinique Airbrush Concealer in the shade 04 Neutral Fair. It has a brush applicator which really makes it easy to apply the product and it is a great all rounder in the sense that it covers up both under eye circles and blemishes effectively. Definitely a thumbs up!

Next I have the MAC Cosmetics Studio Sculpt Lash Mascara in Sculpted Black. Now this is all you need to get those lashes separated without any clumps. You can use it alone or in combination with your favourite mascara to achieve that perfect look.

Also from MAC is my current favourite lip combination - Soar lipliner and Mehr lipstick which is a matte. The colours complement each other really well and they make up for an ultra long-lasting combination!

For my eyes, I was mostly opting for neutral looks using these three eyeshadows: MAC Fly by Twilight for some sparkle, MAC Mulch for an all over the lid colour and Essence 15 Hazel Me Not as a transitional crease colour.

The last product I want to show you is the mini Victoria's Secret Scandalous perfume. I have been using this quite a lot and always get compliments whenever I wear it. It does have an overpowering scent but I like it so much I even use it during day time sometimes. I think I'll have to get the bigger version soon!

That's all for this post! What products did you enjoy this month?

Review | Pupa Milano Professionals BB Cream + Primer Combination to Oily Skin 001 Nude

BB Creams are continuing to gain popularity and more brands are coming out with their versions. A few weeks ago, I was sent the Pupa Professionals BB Cream + Primer for Combination to Oily Skin to try.

If I had to be completely honest, I had given up on finding a good BB cream that won't make me look even more like a ghost as the Korean ones I tried in the past all had a greyish tinge that accentuated my pale complexion and their finish was somewhat cakey.

I couldn't have been more wrong about this Pupa BB cream, but let have a look at the packaging first. The Pupa Milano Professionals BB Cream + Primer Combination to Oily Skin comes in a cute pink box, the same colour as the actual product tube. The product has a rather watery consistency so do be careful how much you squeeze the tube for the product to come out, plus, a little really does go a long way.

The shade I have, 001 Nude is the lightest of the two shades available on the market and I found it to be a very good match for my skin. One word of warning though, this product does have an almost floral scent that reminds me of baby wipes (I personally don't mind it) which can react with sensitive skins and it does state on the box that the product has a low allergy risk.

Pupa Milano Professionals BB Cream + Primer Combination to Oily Skin claims to:

• moisturise, smooth and protect
• mattify the skin with an anti-shine effect
• minimize pores and imperfections
• even out and enhance the complexion
• increase makeup hold
• protects against UV rays with SPF20

I have been using this product every day for the past two, almost three weeks and so far I haven't had any breakouts and have been enjoying the benefits of sun protection and smooth, even, moisturised skin with just one product. This has proved to be indispensable on those mornings when I am in a rush to go to work and run errands. I have only used the product alone not under makeup and I like that it stays matte for a very long time, even at work where my skin tends to get oilier as time goes by. The only claim from the above that I cannot attest to, is the pore minimisation as for someone having oily skin, I really don't have enlarged pores (I thank God for that mind you).

The light, natural finish of this BB cream is perfect for days when my skin is behaving and I don't need a lot of coverage and I also like that is enhances my skin's radiance. I would give this product a good 9/10, with the only downside to it being the fragrance with respect to skin sensitivity.

yours truly wearing Pupa Milano Professionals BB Cream + Primer for Combination to Oily Skin 001 Nude

Pupa Milano Professionals BB Cream + Primer Combination to Oily Skin retails for €15.95 for 50ml of product and can be bought from authorised retailers. Contact Pupa Milano in Malta on Facebook to find your nearest stockist.

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Introducing SkinCeuticals New Products for 2016

SkinCeuticals, the authoritative brand in anti-oxidant skin care, has just recently launched its new products for 2016 and a few weeks ago, I was invited to attend the launch event where special guest speaker Ms. Jennifer Bedran, SkinCeuticals’ Skin Education Expert, introduced the said new products.

Product samples
(photos taken by me)

Ms. Jennifer Bedran

SkinCeuticals is not new to this blog and if you have been following for some time, you would know that the brand combines powerful state-of-the-art medical procedures with premium products, to make sure patients achieve optimal skin health and anti-aging benefits from all treatments. During the event we were introduced to three new products and an innovative 'lunch-break' rejuvenating Gel Peel treatment, of which we had a live demonstration by Ms. Bedran herself.

Let's have a look at the new anti-aging innovations from SkinCeuticals, starting with Metacell Renewal B3. Metacell Renewal B3 utilizes a patent-pending aqueous emulsion to deliver a high concentration of vitamin B3 to address early signs of photo-aging (aging due to sunlight). While signs of sun damage appear at different intensities according to skin biology, lifestyle, sun protection behaviour, and skincare regimen, they have a multiplicative effect, creating a prematurely-aged appearance. This comprehensive daily emulsion visibly improves these early signs of photo-aging by increasing cell turnover to resurface skin, help re-clarify and even out the skin tone, and improve the appearance of wrinkles and surface elasticity.

Next is Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2. Aging skin is significantly more susceptible to lipid depletion: the loss of natural compounds in skin’s surface, present in the form of ceramides, natural cholesterol, and fatty acids. This lipid loss compromises the skin’s natural protective barrier, resulting in visible signs of accelerated aging, as skin loses its ability to effectively self-repair.

Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is an anti-aging cream formulated with a maximized concentration of lipids. This unique anti-aging lipid correction cream contains the first 2:4:2 cholesterol-dominant ratio to help restore skin's external barrier while potently nourishing aging skin for improvement in signs of accelerated aging, such as dry and rough skin, laxity and loss of fullness.

Lastly for new products, we have Phloretin CF Gel. Phloretin CF Gel is a new, powerful serum-in-a-gel antioxidant featuring a patented combination of 2% Phloretin, 10% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic Acid), and 0.5% Ferulic Acid to neutralize free radicals induced by environmental stressors such as UVA/UVB and pollution which may lead to visible signs of accelerated skin aging. Phloretin CF Gel diminishes hyperpigmentation, accelerates cell-renewal and retexturizes skin. Its comforting gel base makes it ideal for normal to combination skin and non-serum users. I have a few samples of the Phloretin CF anti-oxidant concentrate myself and my skin loves it whenever I treat it to the product so expect excellent results with its new counterpart as well.

Following the new products presentation, we assisted to a live demonstration of a new rejuvenating gel peeling which is being dubbed as the 'lunch break' peeling as it literally does not take more than 30 minutes to complete. The skin is instantly brightened following this treatment and the best part of it all is that contrary to other peeling treatments, there is no redness on the skin whatsoever!

Ms. Jennifer Bedran applying the 'lunch-break' peel on her model for the night
(photos taken by me)

The new SkinCeuticals products and the Gel Peel are now available exclusively from Persona in Ta’ Xbiex, where expert staff await you to help you  tailor your own personalized skincare regimen.

All photos courtesy of Persona Med-Aesthetic Clinic unless otherwise stated.