Skin Protect Ocean Respect with Eau Thermale Avène's 2017 Summer Skin Care Range

Hello everyone! The month of May is quite an exhausting one in terms of events with new launches and shop opening happening almost every day and Fashion Week is just less than two weeks away. However, despite being too hectic, there are events organized by certain brands that I wouldn't miss for the world; a case in point are all events organised by Pharma.MT.

In fact, on Thursday evening, I was invited to the launch of some new summer skin care innovations from Eau Thermale Avène which took place at Villa Arrigo, one of the best venues on the islands. Even though the weather sometimes suggests otherwise, summer is most definitely around the corner thus it is time to really start piling up on the SPF products.

Eau Thermale Avène already have a full range of sun care products which I use on a daily basis but of course, with the brand being partnered with the European Skin Cancer Foundation (ESCF), the researchers at Avène are always on top of their game and are coming up with new products every so often to make sure the most sensitive of skins are protected. This year, Eau Thermale Avène are also launching a new campaign titled Skin Protect Ocean Respect which aims at better conservation of the environment, the oceans and marine life through improved biodegradable formulas and eliminating the use of substances classified as toxic for marine organisms. More information about this campaign can be accessed at eau-thermale-avene.com.

Dr. Marco Ambonati introduced the new products during last Thursday's event, namely SunsiMed and some new High Protection (SPF 50+) sun creams for sensitive skin.

The biggest innovation for Eau Thermale Avène this year, is SunsiMed which is actually a product that is marketed as a Class I medical device as it aids in the prevention of some of the most common skin cancers - Actinic Kertosis, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Basal Cell Carcinoma.

The Pierre Fabre Institute, which is where all Eau Thermale Avène products are researched and developed, has designed SunsiMed specifically for skins that are hypersensitive to the sun. SunsiMed provides very high protection against UVA and UVB rays and thus prevents the formation of certain types of skin cancer and photo-aging. SunsiMed also features a patented photo-stable formula that offers a very broad spectrum of coverage and features Eau Thermale Avène's dry-touch texture, is fragrance free and is water resistant. Like all other Eau Thermale Avène products, SunsiMed features sterile packaging with precise dosage thanks to their specially designed pump. It is important that you follow your dermatologist's instructions when using this product.

Eau Thermale Avène sun care range also caters for oily and acne prone skin with their Clenance Solaire SPF 50+ which also has a Dry Touch texture and regulates sebum production thus keeping the skin looking mattified. Moreover, there is also a range for children, again with SPF 50+. Lastly, there is a new After-Sun Repair Lotion and the classic Thermal Spring Water Spray for when you need to refresh your skin.

Eau Thermale Avène products are sold in pharmacies.

Event | Avène Eau Thermale Launch

Sundays call for light reading and today I wanted to introduce you to Avène Eau Thermale. I was cordially invited to the exclusive launch event which took place at Villa Arrigo in Naxxar last week.

We were briefed on the product range by one of the brand managers for Malta over some prosecco just before the event officially commenced by an address delivered by Her Excellency the French Ambassador for Malta. Her introduction was followed by another two presentation during which we got to learn about the Avène Hydrotherapy Center and the dermatological services it offers, as well as the full product range offered by Avène Eau Thermale.

photo courtesy of the Avene Eau Thermale Facebook page

It all started in 1736 with the discovery of the thermal spring, the same one where the Avène Hydrotherapy Center stands today, and nowadays, the brand has established itself as one of the leaders as far as treatment for sensitive skin is concerned.

All Avène products are manufactured at the site itself under strict, sterile conditions, thus making them optimal to care for the needs of sensitive skin. Avène Eau Thermale or Thermal Spring Water, which is the product the launch mostly focused on, is suitable for a lot of uses in both dermatological treatments and daily skin care. A few examples are to ease sensations of discomfort and soothe redness on the skin as well as after hair and makeup removal and after shaving. It is also fit to use on babies when they get diaper rash and it provides some much needed moisture after exercising and while travelling.

The comprehensive Avène Eau Thermale range tackles all stages of skin - from the younger ones to the more mature ones and there is also a sun care range, all of which have the needs of sensitive skin at heart.

Have you ever tried Avène? What are your thoughts on it?

Avène is distributed in Malta by PharmaMT.

Event | Declaré & Juvena Beauty Seminars | Part 1 ~ Declaré

This week, precisely on Tuesday and Wednesday, I had the pleasure of attending two beauty seminars showcasing Swiss skin care brands Declaré and Juvena respectively. I was really looking forward to both seminars and the event description on the official invites got me even more excited!

First off, the seminars took place at Fort St. Angelo in Vittoriosa - a majestic fort that stood the test of time as it's beginnings date back to the 1200's I believe. So, on the first day, we were presented with Declaré - a brand committed to bringing out the beauty of sensitive skin, and it is the brand I shall be talking about in this post. I will then talk about Juvena in a separate post.

The view from Fort St. Angelo with Valletta in the distance

Swiss international trainer Ms. Elke Praemassing presented both brands to us in a very passionate manner - she walked us through all the products and the brands' philosophy in extreme detail so without further ado, let's get right into discovering Declaré!

Ms. Elke Praemassing delivering the presentation (left)

Ms. Elke Praemassing, Maria from All Things Lady and myself 

As I stated earlier, Declaré is specifically targeted towards the needs of sensitive skin; and no matter what stage in life we are in, there is a product range for every age group as well as a range for men and a comprehensive sun protection line. Upon learning that Declaré is aimed towards sensitive skins, my interest sparked so I was really keen to get to know more about it.

Declaré was founded in 1978 and it is consequently the oldest brand on the market with each and every product in the range aimed at treating the needs of sensitive skin. The name Declaré comes from the verb to declare as the brand makes sure to declare all the ingredients found in each product so as to make it easier for the consumer to understand what it is they are putting on their skin. Being a brand with Swiss origins, of course, as one would expect, every product undergoes strict QC tests to ultimately yield the highest level of quality possible. One point that is interesting to note is that all claims have to be thoroughly tested by a panel of individuals with sensitive skin and only if all of them respond to the new products without any reactions, are the final products launched on the market.

The basis of all products by Declaré is the src-complex which stands for sensitivity reducing complex and is unique to Declaré. The src-complex aims to improve the skin's barrier and in doing so, it reduces irritation and actively protects skin cells. As I already said, Declaré has various lines to cater for different degrees of skin sensitivity but the main focus of the seminar was on the Pro Youthing range. We got the chance to try out the majority of the products during the presentation so we could feel their luxurious textures. Declaré products are from allergen-causing fragrances and parabens.

The Declaré Pro Youthing range is meant as an anti-aging prevention line and the scientists behind it have been awarded a Nobel prize for the research they did for this same line and as soon as it was launched, it received a SPA Award in 2013, specifically for the Youth Supreme Concentrate. Declaré market their Pro Youthing range as the dawn of a new skin care era as it is a line revolving around the promotion of healthy skin aging on a molecular level. Thereby, it is committed to protecting the cellular dividing process through preserving the cells when undergoing such a process. More information on the Declaré brand and products can be found on their website.

What made this event unique? First of all, the setting was a stunner in it's own right, then came the food - freshly baked goods for breakfast (I help myself to a fragrant croissant and orange juice), salmon and cream cheese sandwich as a light snack, and then came lunch - a feast of flavours with molecular cuisine from Caviar & Bull. The latter is one of my favourite fine dining spots on the island and they really did a great job at preparing some molecular cocktails and healthy dishes - I opted for some cheeses, a slice of multi-seed bread, some cold pasta salad and a fruit and walnut salad. The molecular foods really tied in well with the molecular skin care theme!

For the last part of the event, we were given a demonstration with the skin analysis machine and the beauticians in attendance were shown how a Declaré cabin treatment is carried out. Unfortunately I couldn't stay till the end of the event but I did manage to get my skin analysed and I am happy to know my skin is aging well :)

I have already started testing out the products given to me and look forward to share my thoughts on them with you all!

Have you ever tried Declaré? What do you think of the brand? Leave your comments in the comments section below!

More pictures from the event can be found on my Facebook page.

Review | La Roche Posay Ultrafine Scrub for Sensitive Skin

A good scrub, be it a body or face scrub is a must for me - I just love the clean skin feeling I get after using one; not to mention the fact that besides eliminating dead skin cells to help the skin look more revived, a scrub boosts circulation too!

However, if like me you are 'blessed' with oily/sensitive skin, you know the struggle is real when it comes to choosing a face scrub that doesn't have harsh granules that flare up the skin and cause it to stimulate sebum production even more. Thankfully, my prayers have been answered by French skin care brand La Roche Posay and their Ultrafine Scrub for sensitive skin.

It comes in this transparent blue 50ml tube which is ideal for travelling and you can barely see the exfoliating particles; in fact, even when you squeeze out the product, it feels really nice and not grainy at all.

I use the scrub twice weekly and till now, I didn't break out or have any allergies to the product. The fact that the product contains no soap, no parabens, no colorants and no alcohol, further diminishes the possibility of developing allergies and drying out the skin.

If like me you have sensitive, stop whatever it is you're doing and go buy this scrub from your nearest authorised pharmacy like NOW! Follow La Roche Posay on Facebook to stay in the know about new products, special offers and competitions!

Check out my other review for the La Roche Posay Make-up Remover Micellar Water Cleansing Gel for Sensitive Skin for another skin care gem!

PR Sample

Review | La Roche Posay Make-up Remover Micellar Water Gel for Sensitive Skin

I'm sure everyone has heard of micellar water and how it is apparently the only product French women used to cleanse their skin. I for one, have resorted to cleansing my skin with micellar water and I am also experimenting with cleansing oils recently and I can say that my skin has benefited quite a lot from me doing the switch (which was admittedly fueled by the Francophile in me). 

So micellar water is not exactly new to me but a micellar water gel??? That is definitely something new! Add to that the fact that is a La Roche Posay product, which in itself is a French skin care brand and one that I still use and trust to date and how could I refuse to give this innovative product a go?

First things first, the product comes in a simple 195ml pump bottle that can be re-closed, making it easier to take with you when travelling. I always like pump dispensers for you control the amount of product and you can get to the last drop. Since the bottle is transparent, it makes it easier to see how much product is left. I am also a fan of the little bubbles in the gel and the blue bottle looks good in my bathroom too :)

The gel is meant as a makeup remover and the company advises to apply the product to your wet face and not to rinse it. What I usually do is I apply the product onto two cotton discs and work my way over my face to dissolve the makeup and making sure that my face is entirely clean. With just two discs, it is usually enough for me to fully cleanse my face. Alternatively, you can use a wrung out muslin cloth to gently take off all the makeup and product after applying it in circular motion onto your skin.

The product is very effective at removing even waterproof makeup and has proven to be a total gem after coming in from a night out and the last thing I want to do is spend a good 10 minutes removing my makeup etc.

The texture is very pleasant and refreshing which is most welcome on hot summer days and it  is somewhere in between a gel and water - I'd say it's sort of a runny gel if you know what I mean. Like all other micellar waters I have used, my skin feels a little taut after using this product but I never experience burning or anything and it is nothing a good moisturiser can't fix. 

Have you ever tried micellar water? And this micellar water gel? Does it intrigue you?

La Roche Posay products can be found at authorised pharmacies. For information on stockists and where to sample the products, like the La Roche Posay Facebook page.

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Review | Vichy Purete Thermale 3 in 1 One Step Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Good afternoon lovelies, today I have the one product to end all excuses for taking off makeup at the end of the day! Enter Vichy Purete Thermale 3 in 1 One Step Cleanser for Sensitive Skin.

I have been testing out this cleanser for the past couple of days and I can vouch that it really does what it says...it cleanses the skin, tones it and removes makeup. It is also effective against waterproof makeup.

It is basically a paraben-free, white cleansing milk that comes in a 100ml tube. The texture is a little runny and you only need the size of a 1 euro coin to fully cleanse your face. I like to start cleansing my makeup away with it first then proceed to using makeup remover if need be and after I rinse everything off, I just need to moisturize my skin and I'm done! One thing worth mentioning is that my skin and eyes don't burn while using this cleanser and my skin feels super soft and clean!

I would definitely urge anyone with sensitive skin to go pick this cleanser up and give it a go! You can find Vichy Purete Thermale 3 in 1 Cleanser from leading pharmacies, a list of which can be obtained from the Vichy Facebook page.

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Review | Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief

Today I have a little skin care gem to share with you all - Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief. I was introduced to this product when I was invited to the Yves Rocher Botanical Spa a few months back and after trying out the samples that were given to me, I decided to buy the full-sized product.

Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief comes in a 50ml glass jar and in very clean packaging which I like. The only downside to the packaging is that I find the mouth of the jar to be a little small and since I have long nails, I always get the product under them and I don't really like that.

The cream has a rich consistency which makes it the perfect treat for the skin in winter and even more so, the product is claimed to help reinforce the skin against cold weather. Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief is part of the Active Sensitive skin care range which is targeted towards the needs of sensitive skin and contains Botanical Sophorine and Anta Bean extract which help the skin become more tolerant. I personally cannot detect any smell to the product.

It is recommended to apply the cream morning or evening after perfectly cleansing the skin and personally, I like to use this as my night cream. My skin looks even toned by morning and all signs of redness just disappear. Despite the cream consistency, my skin doesn't get oilier and I like that the product does what it says effectively. I have not experienced any adverse reactions when using this product. 

Yves Rocher Active Sensitive Derma-Care Treatment Redness Relief can be bought from any of the three Yves Rocher shops in Malta for €16.50. Check out their Facebook page for store locations and weekly offers!