Review: A few Products from the La Roche Posay Toleriane and Effaclar Skincare Range

For Christmas last year, one of the lovely gifts I got was a Boots voucher (always a winner with me).  I love getting vouchers because it gives me an excuse to buy expensive things that I wouldn't usually buy... like fancy cleanser and toner, what a treat!  

I've been using this cleanser and toner from La Roche Posay for about a week now... I'm definitely still making my mind up about the Toleriane cleanser - although I don't have particularly sensitive skin, I much prefer using a lotion cleanser in the evening as opposed to a wash-off one, as I find wash off cleansers can really strip my skin and leave it feeling quite dry and tight.  This one works reasonably well removing makeup (I use it to remove skin makeup, and use an eye makeup remover for my eyes and eyebrows), although it's not proved itself the best in terms of speed and efficiency... or perhaps I just have ridiculous expectations since Micellar waters graced our bathroom cabinets.  To be honest I tend not to wear heavy foundation, but I can imagine for those who do this cleanser just wouldn't cut the mustard.  It's almost a little too gentle, and I can't imagine it ever removing my 5am-just-got-in-from-the-club face (yeah, that one).  The lotion itself isn't as thick as the No7 cleanser I mentioned in my last post but it's not quite as runny as a cleansing milk - it's difficult to describe, but it's almost like trying to remove your makeup and cleanse your face with a light moisturiser.  All in all, it's a good product, but it's certainly not an all-purpose cleanser, and within that price range I think there's probably better products around.  Maybe for more sensitive skin types this could be a holy grail, but for me, although it does leave my skin feeling soft, hydrated, and clean, its basic functionality as a makeup remover is a little too flaky for my taste.  Perhaps my opinion will change once I get used to the formula, but for now I just don't have the patience to be cleansing my skin 3 times in a row every night. 

The Effaclar Astringent Lotion, however, is a whole other kettle of fish - and it's only £8.25 in Boots at the moment.  I bloody love this!  I use this after cleansing, putting a little on a cotton pad and then sweeping over my face avoiding my eye area.  The product contains salicylic acid (for more on that, read my post on salicylic acid facials), which makes your face tingle for a few seconds as you apply it - this also gives it quite a strong smell, which I actually really like as I think it smells very clean and refreshing, kind of like when you give the bathroom a really good scrub.  I feel like using this really helps to balance out some of the oil in my skin so I don't wake up super shiny, and also really helps calm down any breakouts that might be trying to surface.  I've really noticed it helping a lot with any spots I've had, with redness and swelling noticeably reduced overnight, and I feel like it helps close and even shrink my pores after cleansing.  I couldn't ask for more to be honest!  The Effaclar range is also specifically designed for 'imperfection-prone skin', and is definitely a range that I've found really suits my skin type, which is oily/combination and spot prone.  I think next time I will definitely get a cleanser from the Effaclar range, too, instead of the Toleriane range.  

Finally, I thought I'd just briefly mention the Effaclar Mat Moisturiser (also currently on offer for £10.87 at Boots).  I previously really liked the Effaclar Duo moisturiser, however - laugh at me if you will - the bottle was too long to fit in my makeup bag which bothered me far too much to carry on purchasing it.  This one is a bit shorter and a bit wider, and has that matte packaging which feels so luxurious.  This is perfect, again, for oily skin types like mine.  It sinks in really quickly, feels very light on your face, but also is almost completely mattifying, it's insane!  The one thing I would say is that you don't get so much for your money... this bottle will only last me between 6-8 weeks, so I think it works out quite an expensive moisturiser.  Also, I'm not sure how I feel about wearing this under makeup.  I really like a dewy skin look, and find that using this can sometimes dull my face a little when I put makeup over the top.  But for days when I don't bother, it's a lifesaver.  If you've got oily/combination/spot and shine prone skin, this is definitely worth a try!  

Ruby x 

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My Experience With Using a Salycylic Acid Facial Peel

A couple of months ago, if someone had recommended me to put acid on my face to help manage acne and scarring, I probably would've thought they were almost definitely a psychopath and have promptly ran away.  However... the more I started to read about 'facial peels', the more curious I became, until one day I found myself on Amazon, ordering a '20% Facial Salycylic Acid Peel Kit'.  Next thing I knew, it was going on my face, week after week.  So I thought I'd write about my experience so far and include some photos for your viewing pleasure!

The kit I bought comes with a 30ml salicylic acid solution and a 50ml neutralising gel (as well as a few free cotton pads, how generous), and cost £16.79 plus postage, which I think was £2.80.  You can get many different types of facial acid and in different concentrates, but having read quite a lot online first, I knew I wanted to start with a relatively low percentage of acid.  At first glance, I thought these bottles looked tiny and wasn't sure if I'd been ripped off or not.  However, having used them both weekly now for almost 6 weeks I'd say I've used just under half of the acid and about the same, if a bit less, of the gel.  So, on second thoughts, I think there would be on average 12 weekly treatments in each set, which I believe represents great value for money.  The instructions I received with the kit recommended using the treatment weekly.  I made sure to read the instructions multiple times, as well as comparing them with ones online, and doing a patch test beforehand - it's a risky business putting acid on your skin so if you do ever choose to try this sort of treatment I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing what you are doing before you begin!!!  I feel like it is something which will work differently for everyone; this is just my experience and method. 

Beginning with clean, makeup and oil free skin (I use the Lancome Gel Eclat cleanser as I find this to be one of the best for me to make my skin feel really super clean!), I apply the acid, which is a strong smelling, clear liquid, using a cotton pad.  I put it straight onto my face, avoiding eyebrows, lips, eyes etc... you can also put vaseline on these areas to protect them from the acid.  Each week I would increase the time that I left the acid on by a minute, from one minute in the first week up to 6 in week six.  The instructions also recommend that you leave it on for 7 minutes as a maximum, as well as leaving a 2 week gap between treatments 6 and 7.  I'm not going to lie, the acid is pretty strong stuff!  You can definitely feel it doing it's thing; it's kind of a light and hot tingling sensation, a bit like if you use a deep cleansing face mask, and in a similar way, it makes your face feel quite tight.  It's quite bizarre to look in the mirror as you do it, as the acid creates a very fine crystallised layer on the surface of your skin, making it look a bit like you've been in the arctic.  I use a timer on my phone to make sure my timings are precise, and once the time is up for the acid I apply the neutralising gel, using a cotton pad again and applying in circular motions.  I leave this on for a minute, then rinse off with cold water.  After a few minutes, I apply a good moisturiser, something quite thick - either Cetaphil moisturising lotion or La Roche Posay Effaclar MAT.  Around 2-3 days later (there's no delicate way to put this), my skin gets a little more dry, and err, peels off... kind of like having sunburn... in February.  It sounds a lot more dramatic than it is, as with a good moisturiser, which I apply 2-3 times a day, it is so easy to manage.  I've found as the weekly treatments have gone on the peeling has been far less intense anyway, and it only ever tends to be around my chin, which I would say is where my acne/scarring/blackheads are worst anyway.  

Below I've put some photos from Week 1 (on the left), versus those from Week 5 (on the right). 

For me, the difference is quite subtle, and difficult to show on camera, too, but I have definitely noticed it.  Although this isn't a cure-all treatment for acne (as I've still been getting spots in between treatments), the texture of my skin has improved tenfold since using it.  My skin is usually quite oily; I find this really helps to balance it, and for first few days after using, it really does feel like you've got a new layer of baby-soft skin.  The difference hasn't been dramatic, but I have seen a reduction in the amount of spots I've been getting, and also feel that week-on-week some of my pores have slowly but surely been shrinking, as well as some of the acne scarring I have.  I think it's also helped with redness and inflammation - all in all, for 5 weeks of usage, I can't really complain.  All it seems to have done is improved my skin, which has made a big difference to my confidence.  Admittedly, I don't have the worst skin in the world at all, and I don't believe spot-free skin is the only beautiful skin, but my skin has always been (or rather, not been) a bit of a soft spot for me - pardon the pun - and so I have the attitude that if I can do something about it, why not try.  

That's all I have to report on using facial peels so far - I'm going to carry on using the kit I've got and complete 12 weeks, then see about perhaps moving onto a higher percentage or different type of acid if I want to continue.  Let me know what you think, and if you'd like me to do a follow up post at the end of the 12 weeks.  Lots of love,

Ruby x

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On Tuesdays, we Bathe in Seaweed

On Tuesdays, we bathe in seaweed, and on Wednesdays, we wear pink...  Today I got into a hot bath full of stinky, slimy, slippery seaweed and had a great time.  My Mum has been going to the Voya Seaweed Baths in Strandhill, Co. Sligo, for years - ever since I can remember coming to Ireland!  Personally, it was something that I had always vehemently sweared that I would hate.  How wrong I was!  This year I decided was finally the time to give it a go, plus by this point I was far too curious to resist, and had heard too much about the benefits of having a seaweed bath to say no.  It's full of minerals which have incredible healing properties, and is particularly rich in iodine which is essential for the thyroid gland and regulating the metabolism.

We were booked in for 4.45pm this evening, which was a great time to go, as it was just getting dark and stormy outside.  Once we had stepped through the doors into the reception, we were greeted with the smell of warm nutmeg, cranberries and cinammon scented candles, which filled the reception with a soft yellowy light.  You can book either a single or a double bath if you prefer, and each room has a shower which doubles as a steam room and a big traditional style tub which is filled with steaming water and a big bucketful of seaweed, towels and plenty of water to drink.  I was recommended to shower first, then steam for 5-10 minutes before getting into the bath, which gave the bath water enough time to cool to what was the perfect temperature for me.  I'm not actually a frequent bath taker - the last time I had one must've been at least a year ago...probably more!  So it was a really luxurious treat for me.

The seaweed does take a little bit of getting used to, as it is a tad smelly (you do get used to the smell really quickly though, promise) and slimy too, just like what you would expect really!  But I do honestly think you can feel the goodness sinking into your skin straight away, as well as all the bad shit - excuse my French - being drawn out.  You get 50 minutes in the room, which I found to be more than enough... the room is pretty hot and steamy by the time you've done all your steaming and bathing and everything.  Getting dressed is a bit of a nightmare, as it's quite hard to dry off, but the way your skin feels after the bath is unbelievable!  It makes your skin and hair so soft and I felt incredibly clean despite not showering off all the seaweed slime (this is apparently how you reap the most benefits - I was just following instructions!).  Once you're finished you can go and sit in the quiet area and have a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea if you fancy it.  All in all, it's an incredibly relaxing and beneficial treatment to have, and one I would really recommend giving a go if you are ever in that part of Ireland.  They've also got an amazing range of skincare products which are on sale at the baths themselves but are also stocked internationally, so look out for them!

Fingers crossed it will be back to England for us tomorrow in time for New Years, but with the weather as wild as it's been, we're slightly anxious that our flights might be delayed or even cancelled.  Which would be a nightmare as not only are we supposed to be hosting a New Years Eve party, but I also have a 3000 word essay to write as well as a January exam to revise for... and, more importantly, I don't have any clean pants left.  

Ruby x

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Quick Eat of the Week

Hello!  Wow, it's been well over a week and for that, I apologize.  On the weekend my housemates and I hosted our first house party in the name of Halloween/my 20th birthday which was also last week, a party which seemed to take me about 5 days to prepare for and a further 4 to recover from.  For some reason, Halloween this year well and truly topped me: don't get me wrong, I had a fabulous time, but I'm certainly paying for it now... 

Today's post is dedicated to the rediscovery of one of my all-time favourite quick and easy but bloody yummy breakfast/lunch/dinners.  Yes, this is the ultimate mealtime hybrid - a dish that can satisfy hunger pangs at any time of the day.  This time last year every time I went on Instagram someone else was eating eggs and avocado but the thing is it's just such a good combo.  

Basically, all you need to make this is your bread of preference (give rye bread a go, it's delicious), about half a ripe avocado, 2 eggs and some salad on the side if you so wish.  Whack the bread on the grill, mix up the eggs with a little bit of milk, salt and pepper then start scrambling over a low heat.  Once your bread is toasted, mash the avocado on top of it and add more salt, pepper, and a little bit of cayenne pepper for special interest if you're into that shit (I most certainly am).  Keep an eye on your eggs, and once they're done to your personal liking layer them on top of your avocado toast and season again with smoky paprika.  Throw some spinach and chopped tomatoes on the side with a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and bob's your uncle, fanny's your aunt - I told you it was easy.  

Do let me know if you try this out, or if you have any other ways to add variety and pizazz to your avocado/egg dishes... I'm addicted!!

Ruby x

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What I got this week in Aldi for UNDER TEN POUNDS!

Hello!  First of all, you'll have to forgive my oh-so-basic photography for this post...there's only so many ways you can jazz up what is essentially poor student food on a poor student table in a poor student house.  I hope you appreciate my use of our house plant to try and detract from the poorly plastered walls and the mouldy window sill (too much information? - I thought so). 

This week I wanted to talk about something particularly close to my heart - food.  Since moving out, it's been a constant battle for me between wanting to continue to spend all of my money on shoes, nail polish and handbags but also wanting to eat fresh, delicious and nutritious things.  It wasn't until I became a student that I realised the actual cost of these aforementioned things - damn expensive.  Therefore, the moment I discovered Aldi, my whole gloomy (daily diet of super-noodles) outlook changed completely.  

I am proud to present then, my shopping for this week from Aldi... I didn't do a massive shop, but stocked up on a few bits and pieces I needed for the week.

1) 6 pack of salad tomatoes - 59p

2) Unsweetened soya milk - 59p  (so much cheaper than Alpro, tastes just as good)

3) Boil in the bag rice, 4 sachets (approx. 8 servings) - 59p (so quick and easy even I can do it)

4) Fat free natural yoghurt 500ml - 45p (no sugar, no rubbish, just plain old cheap and cheerful yog. - perfecto for breakfast)

5) Lemon and ginger teabags - 89p (thought I'd treat myself to these this week, in a conscious effort to cut down the amount of caffeinated bevvies I've been drinking) 

6) Box of cosmetic tissues - 69p (I like to always keep a box of tissues in my room for cleaning makeup brushes, blowing my nose, you get my drift... and these ones are cheaper and better quality than Poundland's!)

7) Large flat mushrooms - 75p (I love using mushrooms to bulk out stir fries, stews or simply for roasting in the oven on their own) 

8) Leeks - 79p (bargainous)

9) Exotic Forest Berry and Nut mix - 59p (a mix of almonds, brazils, goji berries and sunflower seeds.  There are a few other varieties - I chop them up and mix them with oats for porridge or muesli with pizazz)

10) Smooth Orange Juice -  59p

11) Spinach, 450g - £1.39 (my only item over the £1 mark but I love that green leafy shit too much to say no - and I want to be strong like Popeye too, of course)

12) Large avocado -  89p (another favourite of mine, also green)

13) 3 pack of bananas - 39p 

14) Best of British apples selection pack (4 apples) - 69p 

And that, my dear friends, all made a grand total of £9.88.  Now, if that's not savvy shopping, I don't know what is - nothing honestly gives me more satisfaction than doing a good, healthy and wholesome food shop which doesn't almost give me a heart attack when it comes to paying the total sum.  Now that I'm back at uni I will probably start doing more posts like this, on ways to eat well without spending too many pennies.  Let me know if you enjoyed this post and if you'd like to see more similar things including recipe ideas or more weekly shops/bargains of the week by leaving a comment below.  Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin' to keep up!

Ruby x

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My Favourite Non-Prescription Potion for Problem Skin

Introducing (insert drum-roll here)... Dr Spot!  Today I wanted to just write a mini-post, aimed at anyone who does suffer with any type of acne.  I, for one, struggle with managing my rebellious skin which likes to break out without warning, reason or permission, and have tried many a product over the years, including topical lotions etc. on prescription.  

This product is one that has stayed loyal to me ever since I first purchased it.  It's a kind of clear gel that contains salicylic and and lactic acids that (according to the website) 'fights spots by gently peeling away pore-clogging dead skin cells and reducing intra-follicular inflammation', as well as witch hazel for optimizing the skin's pH balance and Vitamins A, C, E and B3.  I tend to use the product after cleansing in the evening, applying a thin layer where I'm prone to getting breakouts or where I already have them.  In particular, this product is great for helping clear up spots that are already there - I find it really helps with reducing swelling, redness and general discomfort and all while you're asleep!

At RRP of £8 then, I think this product is well worth a go if you do suffer with spots and want something to help clear them up pronto.  It's always worth looking out for when Soap and Glory is on offer in Boots, too, as a perfect excuse to try something new... an excuse I have used too many a time!  If anyone has used this product before or does decide to try it, let me know your thoughts below!  I'd love to know how you get on.  If you liked this post, don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin' to keep up with this blog!  

Ruby x  

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Pink Glitter Shoes, Mud Masks And Being Washed By A Turkish Man

Bonjour and hello!  It's been a little while since I last blogged - the spontaneity of summer has certainly interfered with what I pictured to be the seamless birth of this (so far rather disjointed) blog.   The above certainly marks the beginning of what is for me, the final chapter of summer before I go back to Uni.  I'm feeling rather sheepish confessing that I am on holiday again, this time just outside Dalaman in the beautiful country of Turkey.  Via the miracles of watsapp and online banking, Josh and I somehow managed to book a last minute two week getaway with one of our favourite couples, Jason and Fleur, while I was away in Spain.  And now here we are!

While we were here, I was very keen to try out a traditional Turkish Bath experience, having always been curious about the mysterious but famous treatment.  The Turkish Bath, according to Wikipedia, is a method of 'cleansing and relaxing' - and from my experience, that could not be more true.  The day before yesterday, the four of us had a 'Classic Package' at BCSpa in Dalyan, this included a traditional Turkish Bath, 20 minute back massage and a mud facial, all for 80 Turkish lira which is around £18 or so... bargainous.  We didn't really know exactly what to expect, as many things we'd read had been either slightly dodgy translations or just a bit misleading... 'While this is all happening, there are some big, muscular bath attendants waiting to rub you down.'  But we weren't put off!

We got to the spa about 45 minutes before our treatment, and were given locker keys and shown to the changing rooms where there was a variety of 'spa shoes' to choose from.  Putting thoughts of fungal infections and verrucas to the backs of our minds, Fleur and I opted for the pink plastic glitter wedges... obviously.  We were then told to take 10-15 minutes each in the sauna and steam room, in order to help prepare our skin for the main event.  Following this, we were called into the 'Hamam', and told to lie down on our backs at the four edges of a big marble slab in the middle of the room.  At this point, I did feel slightly like we might all be sacrificed there and then, but I closed my eyes and tried to relax as the four bath attendants assumed their places to begin the treatment.  

First hot fragrant water is poured all over your body and head in small bucket fulls.  This is followed by the scrub: they use some kind of loofah (I'm not 100% sure what it was to be honest) to gently exfoliate your skin.  Now, I had my eyes closed pretty much the whole time but Josh said he had a little look at this stage in the treatment and saw clods of black dirt and dead skin coming off all our bodies, a totally delicious detail that puts my non-existent exfoliation routine to shame.  After that, you are rinsed again with the water, then the soaping begins.  Huge pillowcases full of foam are swept over you.  I literally felt like I was floating on a cloud by this point - the bubbles all expand and are then massaged into your skin again.  This is rinsed off, and we were then wrapped in a towel and brought to the poolside to wait for our massages and facial.  

I won't bore you with the details of the other treatments (they were great), but the bath experience was fantastic!  We were all amazed when we came out and sat down at how good our skin felt, and we all looked so clean and soft, like we had been born again.  After doing a little too much sunbathing in Spain, my legs had started to resemble those of a lizard, but after the treatment my scaly skin was nowhere to be seen, and you can't put a price on that.  There was something so luxurious about being washed and exfoliated so thoroughly by somebody else - a bizarre, but undoubtedly fabulous experience.  

We ended our treatment by re-toxifying ourselves with a drink from the bar upstairs and sat by the outdoor pool to drink it in the shade, nervous of burning our fresh baby-soft skin.  In the evening, we went for huge steaks at a nearby restaurant before heading back to our apartment in Dalaman.  It is safe to say I slept so well that night, and for anyone who might be considering a Turkish Bath, just do it!  We all loved it.

Ruby x