Review | La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Anti-Aging Serum & Hyaluronic Acid Cream

It's no secret that La Roche Posay is my favourite skincare brand for a number of reasons - widely available, affordable prices and products that actually work for my skin type!

I have been sharing some snaps on Instagram and Facebook of two new products from La Roche Posay, belonging to the latest range, Hyalu B5, which addresses anti-ageing for sensitive skin. The products are a Hyaluronic Acid Cream and serum, with the serum being already available locally while the cream will be launched at a later date this year.

The Hyalu B5 range features two key ingredients, essential in anti-ageing care - Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin B5 which aim at re-plumping the skin, whilst keeping it super hydrated. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is already present in our skin and it has a high affinity for water, thus, using products which contain HA, increases water levels in our skin, making it look plumper and ensuring adequate hydration levels.

HA levels in our skin deplete over time and by the age of 50, it is estimated that we would have lost 50% of the skin's original HA levels. This decrease in HA leads to impairment of the skin's self-repairing mechanisms, of which HA is at the very core.

In fact, the LRP Hyalu B5 range is indicated for correction of wrinkles, loss of volume and elasticity, tired and dull skin as well as post-procedure recovery, even on sensitive skin. It is known that sensitive skin types age faster and take longer to recover due to micro-inflammatory stress within the skin that breaks down the collagen fibres and HA.

The formulas contain two different molecules of HA, one lighter than the other - High Molecular Weight HA and Low Molecular Weight HA. The High Molecular Weight HA is responsible for forming an invisible moisture barrier at the skin's surface, which holds water and consequently fills in fine lines and wrinkles. On the other hand, the Low Molecular Weight HA is able to seep deeper into the top skin layers to stimulate and re-activate the skin's repair mechanisms for a plumper look. These two different HA molecules work in synergy with the Vitamin B5 to replenish the skin's moisture barrier.

Hyalu B5 Anti-Wrinkle Care Hyaluronic Acid Cream - Price TBA

First up, Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Cream which is meant to be used as a moisturiser. The cream is available in a 40ml format which is more than enough because you need a minute amount and you can also take it abroad with you.

It has a light consistency with a rapidly-absorbing formula which doesn't feel heavy. In fact, I use it morning and night after cleansing my skin and never had issues with my makeup not lasting during the day or my skin feeling tacky at any time. 

Hyalu B5 Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Serum - €34.20

Now, my favourite out of the two! I love serums so I was delighted to try this one out. It has a gel-like consistency and you can either use it with the pipette or without. I personally prefer the pipette as it is more hygienic and easier to control the amount of product that you use. The jar contains 30ml of product, so again, it will last you for a long time.

The verdict

And now for the final verdict - do these products pass the test? Yes, they do! The very fine lines around my eyes have diminished in the last couple of months that I have introduced these two products in my skin care routine. Also, both formulas are nice to work with, hence they both get my seal of approval!

La Roche Posay products can be purchased from all pharmacies.

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Oily Skin Be Gone! | La Roche Posay Effaclar Micellar Water Ultra & Effaclar MAT Sebo-Controlling Moisturiser

We all know what a nightmare oily skin can be in summer, at least people with such a skin type can definitely relate. No matter how frequently you wash and moisturize your face, somehow you end up with shiny skin - and not in a good way. Over the years, I have mastered taking care of my sensitive/oily skin and today I am here to share with you a couple of products that help my skin be the best it can be.

La Roche Posay's Effaclar range is probably the very first skin care range every teenager with oily skin has used. This comes as no surprise when Effaclar products are the number 1 skin care products for oily, acne-prone skins in 8 major European countries. For instance, I have been using Effaclar products for as long as I can remember, together with other LRP products.

One product that I keep going to from the range, is Effaclar MAT Sebo-Controlling Moisturiser. Being a beauty blogger, I get sent different products to try so I tend to switch up my skin care products from time to time, however, Effaclar MAT is the moisturiser I always tend to gravitate towards every so often, more specifically during summer. I find the light texture to be just what my skin needs to feel hydrated all day long without having my face turning into an oil rig the second I step outside in the heat. In fact, I like to use this moisturiser as a makeup base too instead of the usual primer and it works really well! Apart from being anti-shine, Effaclar MAT has a sebo-regulating action and helps diminish pore size. Luckily, enlarged pores is not a concern of mine but excess sebum production is and I find that Effaclar MAT is really effective at keeping it at bay!

Using harsh cleansers that strip skin dry can have a reverse effect on oily skin - to compensate for the 'moisture' loss, your skin will produce even more oil to maintain adequate levels that it is used to. The solution? I found that for me, the best way to have clean skin without stripping it of moisture is to use a foaming cleanser only when I need to and use micellar water instead on all other days.

La Roche Posay has some great micellar waters including a micellar water gel that is perfect for sensitive skin. At the moment I am loving the Effaclar Micellar Water Ultra which also doubles up as a makeup remover. I just soak a cotton disk with the micellar water, wipe my skin with it and it's clean in no time! My skin doesn't feel taut after using La Roche Posay Micellar Water Ultra but it sure does look and feel clean!

La Roche Posay products are found in all pharmacies across Malta and Gozo. You might also want to try Effaclar Sebo-Controlling Mask to further help you keep oily skin at bay.

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Keeping our skin protected in the sun... and after with La Roche Posay

The temperatures are soaring again next weekend here in Malta for the second heatwave in as many weeks in a row. We all know the drill by now; keep hydrated, wear light, protective clothing, avoid the sun in its peak hours, etc but of course, few of us can resist our beautiful beaches and taking a dip in the crystal clear waters, and this is where La Roche Posay comes in.

One of my favourite sun protection products, Anthelios XL Non-Perfumed Dry Touch Gel Cream SPF50+ has been re-formulated and I happy to see they have maintained the dry touch formula still. I love using this product on my face mostly as it is specifically targeted towards protecting oily skin as well as sun intolerant and the most sensitive of skin types.

It is anti-shine, thanks to the Airlicium Technology which absorbs up to 100x its weight in water and controls all sources of sebum and sweat for up to 9 hours, which is why my boyfriend loves it so much and asks for it specifically when we are the beach. Also, the pump dispenser is ace for controlling the amount of product you want on a relatively small area of the body. Although the product is meant more for use on the face, I also like to use it on the rest of my body because the formula is water resistant and is absorbed almost immediately and leaves no white streaks!

My absolute favourite innovation from La Roche Posay this year, is Posthelios Anti-oxydant Hydra Gel - an after sun gel that is 76% La Roche Posay thermal water!

Of course, this is meant to be used after a shower or bath to instantly soothe your skin following exposure to the sun. It still contains Aloe Vera which is well known for its soothing properties but being it is mostly thermal water, this after sun is winner as it doesn't leave your skin feeling sticky! I like to put mine in the fridge for an extra cooling treat ;) An after sun gel or lotion is essential for cooling down the skin and to prevent any nasty peeling so do not forget to treat your skin to it :) Moreover, Posthelios is rich in anti-oxidants for effective free-radical neutralisation and thus, further protecting your skin. La Roche Posay's Posthelios comes in a conveniently sized 200ml tube.

A yellow warning for high temperatures has been issued ahead of this weekend's sky high temperatures so do be careful when out in the sun, and stay protected with La Roche Posay!

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Review | La Roche Posay Effaclar Sebo-Controlling Mask

La Roche Posay have released some exciting new products to further expand their Effaclar skin care range. I'm sure many of you are acquainted with this range as most of us have used it as teenagers and others, me included still use the products today.

One of the products which sparked my curiosity ever since I saw it advertised on the La Roche Posay Facbeook page is the Effaclar Sebo-Controlling Mask for I am always struggling with balancing my oily skin in a bid to keep it shine free for longer throughout the day.

Without hesitation, I bought a tube of the mask from the first pharmacy I saw it at last week and tried it that same day after cleansing my face. I also managed to convince the boyfriend (read nagged until he had to agree) to try it since he has super oily skin which is very prone to black-heads. So far we have used the mask twice in a week.

Let's have a word about texture first before moving on to the actual results. Basically, the mask comes in a tube packaging with the signature La Roche Posay colours and it has a very creamy texture. It has a greyish white colour which pertains to the kaolin clay content of the product. The mask is formulated with the finest ingredients known to unclog pores and rid the skin of invisible impurities to reveal a healthy, glowing complexion which stays matte for longer.

La Roche Posay recommend the application of a thin layer of the mask once or twice a week (make sure you avoid the eye and lip areas), leave it on for 5 minutes and then rinse off with warm water before applying the rest of your skin care products. 

During the 5 minutes you have the mask on, you will feel it dry and maybe your skin will feel a little tighter; or course, that's due to the clay drying up. It does rinse off easily though so application and removal are both like a walk in the park! Neither me nor my boyfriend have experienced itching or burning sensations when using this mask.

For me, just one application a week was enough to keep sebum production at bay for longer. My boyfriend, on the other hand needs to stick to applying the mask twice weekly but since it only takes 5 minutes, he doesn't complain.

Bottom line, I highly recommend this mask to anyone who wants to keep their skin look fresh and matte for longer as well as anyone with a very busy lifestyle and of course has an oily skin type.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Sebo-Controlling Mask retails for €13.50 for 100ml of product and is available in pharmacies.

Review | La Roche-Posay Respectissime Soft Eye Pencil in Black

Recently, I have introduced you to an innovation from La Roche-Posay's dermo-cosmetic line and today I am bringing you another product from the range, the La Roche-Posay Respectissime Eye Pencil.

I had high expectations for this pencil as the Respectissime Mascara is still one of my favourites to date after having reviewed it a few years back so of course, with LRP always being consistent with their formulas I couldn't expect anything less!

The packaging is very basic with the product name and description being elegantly printed in white over the black colour of the pencil and the product comes sealed the first time round for your own protection.

It has a very soft texture and thus, the colour glides on easily though it is not the most pigmented black eye pencil I have used. Having said that, the staying power matches that of some of the best eye pencils I own.

The Respectissime Eye Makeup Range is targeted towards those with sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers thus you are guaranteed that no irritations will occur to the sensitive eye area. Respectissime Eye Makeup is available in pharmacies.

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Review | La Roche Posay Toleriane Teint Mineral Compact Powder SPF 25 Complexion Corrector 11 Light Beige

La Roche Posay, one of the leading French skin care brands world wide, has always held a prominent spot in my skin care regime, ever since I was a teenager. Nowadays, the brand has also ventured into dermo-cosmetics to compliment their very successful skin care products in an all round caring experience for your complexion.

I have had the opportunity to try the Respectissime mascara in the past and I still regard it as one of my favourite mascaras. This time round, I have the pleasure of reviewing the re-formulated and re-pacakaged Toleriane Teint Mineral Compact Powder SPF 25 Complexion Corrector in the shade 11 Light Beige.

The La Roche Posay Toleriane skin care range is specifically designed to cater for the needs of even the most sensitive of skins and the same can be said for the makeup line bearing the same name. In fact, Toleriane Teint Mineral Compact Powder SPF 25 Complexion Corrector is engineered to correct the imperfections on normal, combination and intolerant skin types through its finely milled mineral powder texture, while at the same time offering matte coverage similar to a foundation, minus blocking pores.

The sophisticated looking case houses the compact mineral powder on the top compartment as well as a good sized mirror and an ultra smooth sponge in the bottom compartment, making the compact perfect for on-the-go touch-ups. The sponge is specifically designed for use on sensitive skin.

The formula is preservative-free, non-comedogenic and provides and SPF25 which if you ask me, is a very good factor. Moreover, the new formula is enriched with pearlite, enabling a long-lasting matte finish.

As for my personal experience, I have to start by saying that the new packaging looks much more classy and chic than the first one so that's definitely a plus! I have noticed that my skin stays matte for longer throughout the day when I'm wearing this product and the small breakout I had on my chin healed without a trace over a few days. Long story short, La Roche Posay Toleriane Teint Mineral Compact Powder SPF 25 Complexion Corrector has officially been added to my list of holy grail makeup products!

La Roche Posay products are available from pharmacies across Malta & Gozo. Follow their Facebook page to keep updated with their Dermoadvisor calendar and take part in the fabulous competitions they launch from time to time!

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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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Monthly Favourites | August

Last month I skipped the favourites post because there were really no new products to show you but this month has definitely made up for it for I have quite a lot of new things to share with you!

For starters, I have two new summer favourites courtesy of Lierac Paris and Kiko Cosmetics. Let me start with the Kiko Summer Wipes first. These wipes are meant to dissolve salt from the skin after swimming so that you can refresh yourself and they have proven to be God-send when we went to the beach in the afternoon and stayed there late for a bar-be-que as well on days by the pool to refresh my skin. They are quite handy in that regard and I like the tight closure the packet comes with as that way the wipes don't dry up.

Next is the Lierac Paris Sunific Solaire 2 Iridescent Milk Mist with SPF15. This came at the right time when I already had a tan and just want to preserve it and still protect my skin. It goes on as a light white mist that just melts into the skin as an iridescent sheen with a very nice scent.

Next up are some skin care products starting with this Micellar Water Gel Makeup Remover and Ultrafine Scrub from La Roche Posay. Both products have intrigued me from the first time and they have now become part of my skin care routine. After trying other varieties of the Yves Rocher Exfoliating Shower Gel, I decided to give this summer limited edition version a try. It is in Apple Star Anise and I immediately took a fancy to the fresh, invogorating smell. It does a good job at gently exfoliating the skin, is gentle enough for everyday use and perfect when you're in a hurry!

Also shown in the photo is the Kiko Cosmetics XL Travel Pochette. I got it in my most recent order and it is practically the only one use now! It holds all my toiletries and makeup in just one place and feels very nice and sturdy.

Next, I have some nail product favourites. I have bought this Kiko Cosmetics glass nail file and I also picked up another one while visiting Dubrovnik and they do a better job at preventing the nails from splitting than any other nail file! I have also been liking the Essence Nail Caring Oil for my cuticles which despite being very cheap, it works just as well as the more expensive ones I have.

Moving on to makeup, I have some new MAC favourites, namely Prep+Prime Fix+ Refreshing Mist, Lipstiks in Velvet Teddy and Hot Gossip and Powder Blush in Dame. I could finally see what all the hype about Fix+ is because it is such a versatile product and essentially, you don't need any other primer or fixer after you try this!

The lipsticks are both new shades to me and come in my favourite finishes from MAC, Matte and Cremesheen. They glide smoothly with amazing pigmentation and last very long. Lastly, the blush is a very lovely colour that suits every complexion giving you a nice, healthy glow. It is quite sheer but buildable and stays on all day.

Next is another Kiko Cosmetics (I promise it's the last one in this post!) - the CC Cream Cushion System in the shade 30 Warm Beige. I got two shades of this, one for summer and one for winter. 30 Warm Beige, is the darker colour and it turned out to be a good match for my tanned skin. This CC Cream has quite an unusual packaging as opposed to similar products from other brands. The product itself is very light and blends really well into the skin covering all imperfections and just giving you an overall uniform complexion.

Of course sometime, we still need help in some areas and for my under-eyes, this Max Factor CC Colour Corrector in yellow does the trick! I shall be reviewing this in a separate post so I am not going to go into any details about it other than saying I love it!!

If on the other hand I needed something more for other areas of my face, my new favourite product for those instances, is the Makeup Revolution Ultra Base Contour Palette. This has everything I need in one place and even has a darker concealer that is perfect for me to use when I am more tanned!

I have also been liking the Makeup Revolution Ultra Contour Palette which has everything if you're still into contouring as well as good highlighters to try your hand at strobing.

Lastly, I have really been enjoying using the Naked Smoky palette from Urban Decay. It has everything you need to achieve the perfect smoky eye and I really like the quality of the eyeshadows!