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.

PR Samples

Best Of 2012: Skin Care

Time to reveal which were my top skin care products in 2012! Those of you following me for a while know that I have had some issues with my skin up to August of last year; for those of you who are new here, I basically started getting a whole lot of zits on my face and I thought it was all due to starting my job etc... turned out I was using too much products to try and eliminate the spots and I ended up making matters worse. That is until I only used La Roche Posay products.

So here are the winners in the Skin Care Category! La Roche Posay Effaclar Foaming Cleansing Gel...honestly, the best cleanser I have ever used that is specifically targeted for my skin type. It doesn't dry out my skin whilst doing an excellent job at cleansing away excess sebum; paired with La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat Moisturizer, they really do care for my skin and it has now become less oily and I am getting spots much less frequently and they tend do disappear quicker.  The moisturizer has a very nice skin mattifying effect and is also an excellent make-up base!

Roberts Rose Water has been my choice of toner this year as with its gentle action, it cares for my sensitive skin yet it refreshes my skin effectively with a light rose fragrance.  Nivea Visage Young Mild Exfoliating Scrub continues to be a winner with me as it is mild enough to use everyday to keep my skin peachy smooth!

As for make-up removal, besides the above products, I like to use Nivea Refreshing Cleansing Lotion and Lycia Make-Up Remover Wipes to remove eye make-up effectively without irritating my eyes. The wipes need no introduction and I am very fond of the cleansing lotion simply because unlike other make-up removers, it doesn't leave an oily residue.

Lastly, a little shout-out to this Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash that I have been using while in Paris because of it's compact size.  While the smell is definitely not pleasant, I like the fact that the product is of 98.8% natural origin and it didn't break me out or leave my skin overly dry. Since this was a freebie with Glamour magazine, I cannot get it in Malta so I will enjoy it while it lasts!

And those, dear readers, have been my favourite skin care products in 2012!













Part 1: Nails

Products marked with * were either gifted to me or else sent by respective companies' PR for review purposes.

Review: Nivea Visage Young control shine! Mattifying Gel Cream

I am nearing the end of my facial care products reviews and for today, I am going to review Nivea Visage Young control shine! Mattifying Gel Cream. This is my go-to moisturizer and it is the second bottle. The first one lasted for a long time and I am content with that, so let me start the review, as usual with what the packaging of the product looks like.

Basically, this moisturizer comes in a 75ml format in the same 'frosty-glass effect' tube as the facial scrub with abstract flowers motifs in blue and white. It also comes supplied in a carton box with the same print as that on the tube. A product explanation are found at the back of the tube, whilst the ingredients are only printed on the box together with the same product explanation.

Now, for the product itself. The texture is quite creamy, but it gets absorbed really rapidly by the skin so just a little will go a long way. The cream has a light blue colour without any particular smell. It is oil free and contains Ocean Minerals.

For me, this moisturizer works wonders! Firstly, since it is rapidly absorbed, it hydrates my skin quickly. Secondly, it does mattify my skin and keeps it looking like that for long; and thirdly, since this moisturizer contains a UVA/UVB filter, it saves me from having to apply sunscreen as well.

I use this twice daily after cleansing to refresh and hydrate my skin for long periods of time. I find it is an excellent make up base due to its rapid absorption and my make up stays put all day.

Like all my other Nivea products, this moisturizer is non-comedogenic and its skin compatibility is dermatologically approved.

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Full Skin Cleansing Routine

Hello my beauties :)

Today, I'm gonna blog about my skin care routine and the products I use throughout.

1. I always make sure my hands are squeaky clean and after I wash them thoroughly with soap and warm water, I apply a sanitizing gel. This will eliminate commensal skin bacteria and therefore, prevents transfer of these bacteria onto the face.

2. Dilate 2 or 3 cotton discs in warm water and apply eye-make up remover to each one of them.

3. Pull the brow of one eye upwards (gently), apply the disc to the eyelid and leave for 5 seconds. Sweep in an outward motion and repeat until all the makeup is removed.

4. Run under the lower lashes with disc edge to remove any mascara and eye pencil smudges. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other eye with another cotton disc. If mascara is still coming out, apply some more make up remover to a cotton bud and run it over the lashes.

5. To remove lipstick, apply some makeup remover to another cotton disc, hold lips taut from one side and sweep outwards in the opposite direction (if your holding your lips from the left side sweep to the right and vice versa).

6. For cleansing the face, apply a 20 Euro-cent coin-sized dollop of cleanser to one of your palms. Wet the other palm and work the cleanser into a lather. Start by applying it over the neck in upward, circular movements and move on to the centre of the face and continue with outwards circular movements. Pay special attention to the nostril area. Rinse off with warm water and repeat when removing full make up.

7. Apply toner all over the face, omitting the eye area.

8. Apply 20 Euro-cent coin-sized dollop of FACIAL scrub (body scrubs have coarser granules which will be too harsh for the skin on the face) onto your palms and massage on your face using circular motions outwards and upwards from the jaw-line. Leave on for 3 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

9. Apply a thin layer of face mask (for peel-offs apply a thicker layer) all over the face omitting the eye and lip areas. Leave on for 15 - 30 minutes or as long as it is stated on the package. Rinse off with warm water. Steps 8 and 9 should ideally be done twice a week.

10. Apply another application of toner paying special attention to the hair-lines so as to make sure all traces of the mask are removed.

11. Leave the skin to dry.

12. Apply some eye gel or eye cream by gently dabbing with the ring finger around the orbitals.

13. Apply a slick of lip balm.

14. Apply a layer of moisturizer and work in the skin until fully absorbed. In the morning apply sunscreen prior to applying the moisturizer. When I am not going to apply foundation, I use a tinted moisturizer as a make-up base.

- Skin Truth Face Eye Contour Gel

- Nivea Visage Extra Gentle Eye Make-up Remover

- Nivea Visage Refreshing Facial Wash Gel

- Nivea Visage Refreshing Toner

- Nivea Visage Young smooth it! mild exfoliating facial scrub

- Nivea Visage Young control shine! mattifying gel cream

- Nivea Visage Young be beautiful! tinted moisturizer

- Nivea Lip Care Caregloss & Shine

- A range of Montagne Jeunesse face masks and tonics. I always try out different ones suited for my skin.