February 2014 Favourites


Some people hate this time of the month and complain that their bloglovin feed is full of favourites posts and videos.. I am not sure why... because I absolutely loooove writing my 'favourites posts' and I also look forward to reading what other bloggers and vloggers have been loving. I discovered many incredible products last month and I can't wait to tell you more about them.

La Roche Posay Serozinc* (£8.10, full review here)

My skin loves this product and I can't believe how amazing it is at soothing irritation and redness. Some people use it as a toner, but I prefer to use it after toning my skin and before a serum and moisturiser. It can also be used on razor burn, eczema and nappy rash. I can't recommend it enough.


I was kindly sent the T-Zone Control Range by Skin Doctors* to try out in January and I have been using it for the past 4-5 weeks and I am pleasantly surprised with the way the three products worked with my skin type. The T-zone line is aimed at blemish prone and oily skin and those who struggle with adult acne. I have normal/combination skin, with my t-zone being super oily and problematic and lots of hormonal breakouts on my jaw line.

I have been using the T-Zone Control Cleanser*(£14.95)  twice a day and it is a lovely product. It is paraben and sls free, leaves my skin clean and soft and helps to reduce oil production. You need the tiniest amount, as it lathers up nicely and it is very, very gentle on the skin. It has an almost silky texture and smells lovely!

In the mornings, I have been using the T-Zone Cotrol No More Oil Cream* (£29.95) to keep my t-zone shine free all day. It is a light formula and sinks into the skin immediately, leaving it matte, but hydrated at the same time.

At night time, I was using the T-Zone Control No More Pores Cream* (£23.95)- a rich, thick night cream, with Salicylic Acid to help clear pores and remove  excess oil and  Glycolic & Lactic Acids to  gently exfoliate and clarify to reduce pore size. Despite it's rich texture, it sinks into the skin really quickly and I noticed a tingling sensation after applying it on any fresh blemishes. 

I must admit, I am seriously impressed with this range, as it really helped to reduce oil production and the size of my pores, making it look clearer and preventing my makeup from slipping off my face during the day. Most of my blemishes are hormonal and on my jawline os there is no change there, but I noticed a big improvement in the tone and texture of my skin in my T-zone area.


La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+* (£15.50, currently on sale for £10.33)

I wasn't massively impressed by the original Effaclar Duo, although it did help my skin and I repurchased it a couple of times. The new Effaclar Duo+ on the other hand... Oh my... It is incredible and used with the 3 products I mentioned before, an exfoliating toner and Serozinc, it transformed my skin from a spotty mess into a smooth, even complexion.   Effaclar Duo+ was designed to eliminate acne marks from the moment they start to form. It contains anti-inflammatory Niacinamide to soothe the skin, while LHA and Salicylic Acid gently exfoliate.

If you have problems with annoying little spots that are hiding under the surface and make your skin feel a bit rough and look bumpy, acne scars and hormonal breakouts etc- this baby will sort them out! No, it won't stop you from getting big hormonal volcanos, but... it will make them disappear quicker and prevent scarring and brown pigmentation marks. It's a life saver- all thanks to the new added ingredient called Procerad - a patented Ceramide that rebuilds the skin’s surface.

I have been using it after cleansing and toning (twice a day), following by one of the T-Zone moisturisers. 


My spot treatment of choice was the Tea Tree Oil  (£7.00) by The Body Shop. It is affordable and effective. I always have a bottle in my stash  in case of an emergency, but... I am a little bit confused about the ingredient list. I was convinced that it is 100% tea tree oil, as it is called TTO, but the list contains about 20 ingredients. It works wonders and I really like using it, but I will go for a 100% natural option the next time (it is cheaper and safer) to see if it as good as this one.

The reason why I have been using it so much is because I lost a brand new bottle of my Origins Super Spot Remover - I binned it by accident... (*cries*) and didn't want to pay another £14.00 for a new one. 


To soothe my under eye area, I have been reaching for the DHC Revitalizing Moisture Strips* (£6.95 for 6 packs of 2). They are easy to apply soft gel strips and you simply peel them off the backing and place under your eyes. They feel very soothing and contain nourishing ingredients to help minimise the appearance of puffiness and dark circles and brighten your under eye area. You can use them for 30 minutes or even leave them on overnight for better results! Perfect for tired eyes and busy mums and... totally fuss free!


My two favourite bases for February are the Bourjois CC Cream* (full review here) and Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer (full review here). The first one is perfect for lazy days, when I only need a little bit of coverage to reduce the appearance of redness and dark spots. It is flying off the shelves of Boots, because it is simply amazing and perfect for Spring/Summer. When I need full coverage or want my makeup to look flawless, I go for the heavy duty Sensual Skin Enhancer. It creates the most beautiful base, without looking cakey or clogging pores. It is worth every penny in my opinion and it will probably take me about 2-3 years to use up this tiny pot (as foundation, concealer and tinted moisturiser), as you only need the tiniest dot if this super pigmented product to cover your full face. AMAZING!


My winning lip combo last month was the Benefit Lollitint* (review here) for long lasting colour, followed by a thin layer of Lanolips in shade Rhubarb to nourish and protect. It has been in my stash for over a year, but I rediscovered it recently and I love how soothing it feels on my chapped lips.

To go with the pink lips, I have been using my stunning Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta. You can read a full post dedicated to it here. It is incredible and absolutely gorgeous!

Another lip product I loved in February is the Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant Perfect Shine Lipstick* in shade Pink Orchid. The formula is dreamy and smells gorgeous and the colour is the perfect pink for Spring. You can read more about it and the full Clarins Opalescence collection here.


I also have to mention the new Real Techniques retractable brushes as well. They are perfect for keeping in my handbag and their quality is outstanding. The silicone liner brush is fantastic too and very affordable. Find my full review here.


The last product I want to mention is the incredible Benefit Gimme Brow*. It is the best brow product I have ever tried and I want to give one tube to everyone who has 'brow problems' :) I am guilty of making my brows too bold and this baby helped me achieve a more natural look. I reviewed it a couple of days ago here.


Have you tried any of the products mentioned in this post? Do any of them appeal to you?


*products marked with an asterisk are pr samples


  
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