Vichy Normaderm Skin Care Routine for Oily, Acne Prone Skin feat. Normaderm 3-in-1 Scrub + Cleanser + Mask

In Malta, most skin types fall into the oily skin category and consequently, there are a lot of individuals who have had to deal with acne at one point or another in their life. I guess I was one of the lucky few who never got acne despite my oily skin but I still get the odd inflamed pimple(s) every now and then which is when I switch up my skin care routine specifically to tackle them.

My latest discovery in the quest for clear skin, comes in the form of a 3-in-1 Scrub + Cleanser + Mask courtesy of the lovely people at Vichy who have kindly sent over the product along with some samples of the Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel and Corrective Anti Acne Treatment. I have used the products for the past month as I usually like to do with skin care products before I can share my opinions about them. 

The Vichy Normaderm range is specially formulated for treating frequent acne breakouts, blackheads, enlarged pores, pimples and excess shine. The three products in this post are only a small part of an extensive range of products within the Normaderm range.

I'm going to start with the Normaderm 3-in-1 Scrub + Cleanser + Mask which has recently been re-formulated. The product comes in a 125ml tube and as name implies can be used as a scrub, cleanser and mask. In each case, it ensures a deep clean to unclog pores, minimize their appearance and mattify the skin for up to 3 days. If you have very oily skin, the mattifying effect may last less. To use as a cleanser/scrub, all I do is just lather some of the cleanser onto damp skin and rinse it off with plenty of water. To use as a mask, I apply a thick layer and leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing off thoroughly with warm water. I usually apply the product as a mask once a week and seeing it only takes 5 minutes, it's perfect for busy lifestyles. It is recommended to use this product once or twice a week whereas for the rest of the week, the use of a gentle cleanser is advised.

I usually prefer gel cleansers so I found Normaderm 3-in-1 Scrub + Cleanser + Mask to be a little too rich for me to use as a cleanser. As a mask, however, this works brilliant! I can still reap the benefits of the product as a scrub while rinsing it off. The product contains 25% Kaolin clay, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Zinc, pumice and 5% Mineralizing Thermal Water to make the formula an effective one. I notice that after using this product, my skin stays matte for longer and skin looks much brighter and smoother.

I have also tried the Deep Cleansing Gel and Corrective Anti Acne Treatment to get rid of my pimples and I am happy to say that the routine works well. The spots were gone in less than a week after using this routine. I really like the Deep Cleaning Gel for it cleanses my skin thoroughly without drying it while the Corrective Anti Acne Treatment ensured that no pimple marks are left on my skin! Oh and one last thing, the Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel is excellent for taking off Vichy Dermablend and Dermablend 3D Correct foundations so it doubles up as a makeup remover as well!

Picture courtesy of Vichy Facebook page

Vichy Normaderm can be found in all pharmacies around Malta & Gozo.

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Review | Vichy Dermablend [3D Correction] Foundation

Vichy's Dermablend line has already established as the makeup line of choice with people who want to cover up acne and certain skin conditions yet still be able to achieve that perfect, natural look. Recently, the same Dermablend range has expanded a little more with the launch of a revolutionary foundation.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend the launch of the new Dermablend foundation, the [3D Correction]. After witnessing with my own eyes, what this foundation is capable of doing, I really couldn't wait to try it out myself. I had already tried the Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation but this new whipped cream texture of Dermablend 3D really got me curious to try it.

Vichy Dermablend 3D comes in a black box that matches the 30ml tube the product is supplied in. I really like the matte, satin finish of the tube for it really conveys the smooth application of the product. (As a side note, Vichy is changing the Dermablend range packaging to black so all the products will now be supplied in black tubes instead of white).

The Dermablend [3D Correction] foundation comes out of the tapered end of the tube and I have to admit I really like this way of dispensing the product as you have complete control over how much product comes out. 

The whipped cream texture of this foundation is what makes it so revolutionary and unique - it aims to level and cover indented scars and acne bumps in 1 layer. Now, personally I do get the occasional hormonal breakout but I don't get anything serious and I have no scars and bumps but I still wanted to see how it will cover up these occasional breakouts.

Having always used fluid foundations, I have to admit I found it a little difficult to work with this whipped cream texture at first. Taking out just a little bit of foundation on a palette and building coverage as I go is what I found to work best for me. Also, a flat foundation brush is your best bet when working with this foundation. Denser brushes don't really work well with this foundation as it will otherwise cake on. One layer of foundation is enough for me and I was positively surprised at how natural it looks - you can barely tell I am wearing makeup! It dries to an ultra matte finish which is what I look for in a foundation.

left: no makeup; right: wearing Vichy Dermablend [3D Correction] foundation

Another definite plus to this foundation is the staying power. On my oily skin, it lasted for more than 9 hours (it is supposed to last a total of 16 hours but I didn't wear it that long), thus it is perfect for workdays as it will see you flawlessly throughout the day. Vichy claim that Dermablend [3D Correction] treats acne and gives a more uniform complexion with each use but I cannot really attest to that as my breakouts go down within a couple of days.

Vichy Dermablend [3D Correction] is available in 4 shades:

Vichy Dermablend [3D Corrrection] Foundation swatches - first swatch: 15 Opal; third swatch: 35 Sand
Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation swatches - second swatch: 25 Nude; last swatch: 45 Gold
{top in natural light; bottom with flash}

Vichy Dermablend [3D Correction] is oil-free, non comedogenic, dermatologically and ophtalmologically tested and it is non-acnegenic. It is also suitable for sensitive skin and contains no parabens and has an SPF of 25.

Due to the thicker nature of this foundation, I prefer to use it when my skin really needs help to look its absolute best but since the finished look is still very natural, I wouldn't mind using it everyday. I would especially recommend the Dermablend [3D Correction] for people with oily skin types.

Here is a little swatch comparison between both formulas of the Dermablend Foundations in shade 15 Opal:

Vichy Dermablend [3D Correction] foundation swatch (left) vs Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation (right)
{left photo in natural light; right photo with flash}

The Fluid Corrective Foundation looks a little lighter in the pictures but in reality, both shades are identical when applied on the face.

I have said it multiple times before and I will say it again now, Vichy Dermablend foundations are hands down the best on the market and best of all, they retail for only 18 euros each. The full Vichy Dermablend range can be found at various pharmacies around Malta and Gozo. Like their Facebook page to stay updated with upcoming products and competitions!

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Monthly Favourites | April

Excuse me for being late with the usual end-of-month posts ladies but lately there has been quite a lot on my plate. I will not be publishing an empties post this time because I didn't finish any products so I will start by sharing my favourite products for April. Also, stay tuned for a Fashion Week related post later on ;)

Overall, I have been using mostly the same products as past months so I will not bore you with those and I will show you just the new products that I have been reaching for repeatedly.

Starting with skin care, I have a new favourite toner from Skin Food which is sold at Wangbii in Sliema. It is their lettuce and cucumber watery toner ad it feels really cool fresh on the skin - perfect for the hotter days. It cleanses away all traces of makeup and leaves my skin thoroughly hydrated. My new favourite cleanser then comes courtesy of Vichy and it's their Purete Thermale 3 in 1 Cleanser for Sensitive Skin. It cleanses my skin thoroughly and even removes makeup without drying out the skin.

To keep within the face theme, I have been trying out two new foundations this month, namely the Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation 16H in the shade 15 Opal which is a high coverage foundation and the Catrice 12h Matt Mousse Makeup in the shade 010 Soft Ivory which is more of a light-medium coverage foundation. Both of these foundations perform exceptionally well and depending on how my skin looks on a particular day, I reach for the one with the coverage I want. They both last very well and neither of them has a cakey feel.

Lastly, I have some lip products. I have been meaning to try Essence Lipliners for quite some time and when I was last in OVS, I decided to get two shades. My favourite so far has been the shade 05 Soft Berry which I like layering under lipstick as much as I like wearing it alone as my main lip colour. I have also been loving Essence Nude Lipstick in 03 Come Naturally and this Primark Matte Long Lasting Lipstick in Whisper.

Review | Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation 16Hr in 15 Opal

What if a foundation could change your life? Sounds impossible to believe yet at one point or another, I am positive we have all wished for a single product that covers all imperfections and evens out our skin tone whatever the problem.

When our skin looks good, we feel good and we feel more confident and this is exactly the concept behind Vichy's new corrective foundation Dermablend, which promises 16 hours wear without that cakey feeling you get with full coverage foundations.

The packaging is very simple and I like the hygienic tube which enables me to control how much product I use without having to dip my fingers or anything in the product. A little word of caution - a little goes a long way with this foundation so I suggest you start with a small amount and build it up if necessary.

My shade is 15 Opal, which is the lightest out of the four available. Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation is especially indicated for uneven skin texture, dark under eye circles and diffused redness - all three of which I have in different degrees.

Left: Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation 16Hr 15 Opal
Right: Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation 16Hr 35 Sand
{photo taken in natural light}

Left: Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation 16Hr 15 Opal
Right: Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation 16Hr 35 Sand
{photo taken with flash}

I always like it when skin care brands come up with their own range of makeup as I know my skin will fully benefit. In fact this foundation is 100% suited for sensitive skin, it is non comedogenic, hypoallergenic and fragrance and paraben-free.

I have worn this foundation last Saturday for a total of 10 hours and it still looked good at the end of the day and I really like the matte finish and full coverage minus the mask effect you usually get with such foundations. It also has SPF35 so it is perfect for daytime use. I really like the flawless look this gives my skin and applying it really simple - prepare the foundation on the back of your hands, apply with your preferred method and blend for a smooth, flawless finish!

Overall, I would definitely give this foundation a thumbs up and look forward for the rest of the Vichy Dermablend range to be launched locally. For more information and to stay updated, check out the Vichy Facebook page.

Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation 16Hr is available at authorised pharmacies for €17.90 for 30ml of product.

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