Oh dear god, not another new “favourite” skin care brand…….

Introducing Avene – not a brand I had heard much of, serial lagger-behinder that I am, but since the introduction of a relatively comprehensive range in Victoria Centre Boots (Nottingham) I picked up their Gentle Toner (thinking nothing of it – it was decently priced and saved me walking into the shop too far) – but when I got it home for “first contact”, a new love affair was instantly kindled.

My interest piqued, I went on to the Avene website for more info on the brand, and came across their Skin Diagnosis tool - a series of questions which ask you to describe your skin type – one of the more detailed questionnaires I’ve come across on website like this.

Shock of shocks, my results came out to be both “very dry” and “sensitive” (not in itself ground breaking information….), and the website then very helpfully took me to a new page where several products were listed that would be specifically suited to my skin type. Again, not necessarily that innovative, but I found myself being impressed with their detail – there were products across all stages of a typical skin-care routine, along with suggestions of complementary products such as night creams etc.  Something I particularly liked, was the lack of hard sell – and the product recommendations could then be saved on the website by setting up (what I presume to be a secure) account, so the info could be modified/retrieved at your leisure.

The bit that really made my day however, was that just over a week later, a little parcel of samples landed on my door mat, completely unannounced. I guess this happens to everyone so I am probably not special (sad face) but I FELT special, just for that brief moment in time. Those little details are what makes me loyal to a brand – and the fact that these products work wonderfully just put the icing on the cake. Avene, I am your new Number One fan…! 

These samples were tiny teeny versions of a couple of the products that had been recommended to me, namely:

Hydrance Optimale Rich Hydrating cream (SPF 20) – sample size 5ml (for me, two applications!)

Thick, gooey, smells a bit “sun cream-y”, but OH MY GOD MY SKIN LOVES THIS STUFF – new replacement favourite for my much-loved Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre/Baume Riche combo, or No7 Beautiful Skin (dry to very dry).

Gentle Milk Cleanser – sample size 25ml

Does the job, leaves skin feeling nourished, but can be a bit residue-y unless you also use a toner. But, seeing as I had already started to use the Gentle Toner in my previous cleansing routine….. Hakuna Matata. I prefered to use this as a hot-cloth cleanser, just so I could feel it working. Takes off foundation nicely, but struggles a little with gel or liquid eyeliner so I always use a bit of Clinique “Lids, Lashes and Lips” on that bad boy first. I got five decent cleanses out of the sample.

For those of you that don’t suffer with very dry skin, you will probably not be that amazed – but to poor old flaky-scaly-itchy me, the deal clincher here is that I DON’T HAVE TO PUT ON EXTRA LAYERS OF MOISTURISER. For the first time in my life, I can put on one layer, and wander out of the bathroom happy-go-lucky, even whistling a little tune, while I wait the obligatory ten minutes for it to soak in properly so I can put my face on. If you’d told me that was even possible a week ago, I would have slapped you down for crazy talkin’.

Boots, I’ll be seeing you again very shortly. I NEED TO BUY EVERY SINGLE PRODUCT.

Jen

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She's back - and raving about Embryolisse skin care

Firstly, an apology is in order. I have been missing in action for some time now, but hopefully you don’t mind too much – house move went well, our first Christmas in our new gaff was perfect and, more importantly, I have found my make-up mojo again.

I must admit, I have a confession to make – over the past few months, I have not really been bothered about buying make-up. SHOCK! HORROR!!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I have dug my hand into my pocket in Boots just as many time as I would do normally, but it has mostly been for re-purchases of tried and tested favourites, rather than buying the latest new and radical thing. I have not really had the time (nor the inclination, frankly) to get excited about stuff like that when there have been curtains and cushions to buy and flat-pack furniture to put together. Inorite, ROCK AND ROLL!

Anyway, that is all behind me now – a momentary blip in history which I am not ashamed of, but am now feeling ready to move on to shiny pretty things!

Before we do so though, please let me draw your attention briefly to a serious subject – something that has plagued me daily for many, many years. I’m talking about dry skin.

Not just dehydrated skin – although that’s something I do also suffer with, I know full well that it’s because I don’t eat properly or drink enough water (although over the past couple of years I have been infinitely better at remembering to drink!) so frankly that’s my own damn fault. I mean the itchy, sensitive, flaky, scaly horror that comes from all manner of things – a gift from my mother I suppose (stupid genes!), but aggravated by the environment, air-conditioning, hormones, you name it.

Believe me, I’ve tried every lotion and potion going. But now, finally, I think I’ve nailed it, and I am as happy as Larry. So let me share with you firstly the Holy Trinity of skin care, in the form of a trio of products by Embryolisse.

Left: Baume Riche; Middle: Lait-Creme Fluide; Right: Lait-Creme Concentre

The big bottle in the middle is Lait Crème Fluide, and it’s a lighter, daily use version of their Lait Crème Concentre (to the right of this picture in the battered tube, sorry!). The Fluide is my go-to moisturiser after washing my face in the evening, taking make-up off with wipes, just splashing my face with cold water, anything. If my skin feels as though it needs it (particularly after facewash, which can be moisture-stripping) I then top up with a thin layer of the Lait Crème Concentre.

The silver tube on the right is Baume Riche, which is the daddy of all moisturising balms. I don’t use this every day – although you definitely could – but rather use it sparingly on certain areas of my face than need a little bit of TLC for whatever reason. I typically use it at night on the sides of my nose, around my mouth, and above my eyebrows which is where the flakiness generally tends to occur most often. This is now my favourite alternative for my beloved Origins High Elevation Dry Skin Relief (which I still love, but only really buy when there’s a special offer on in Boots – it’s HELLA PRICEY).

The Lait Crème Concentre is also a fabulous make-up primer, just let it settle in a bit before beginning to apply your base products. Admittedly it hasn’t managed to tear me away completely from my Clarins Beauty Flash Balm in that respect, but for travelling it’s a great multi-tasker, which doesn’t take up much space in the suitcase (leaving more space for extra lippies!).

So that’s what shove on my face whenever it needs moisture. In terms of cleansing products, I only have one that I use, really. It has never let me down, and although I get lured away occasionally by promises made by other products, is the only one that I go back to again and again and again.

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser for Dry/Sensitive Skin

If you’ve got dry skin, be sure to get the one with the shea butter in. There are other versions for oilier skins which I have bought by mistake in the past – and a mistake I will never make again (it was like putting foamy meths on my face).

The pathetic little sponge you see to the right of the pic is actually the main reason my skin looks half decent. It looks innocuous enough, but trust me – once you start using an exfoliating sponge in your skincare routine you will never go back to any other way! This is what I tend to use in the evenings, once I have taken off my make-up with a baby wipe (nothing fancy), I then lather up the Clarins face wash onto my face, and use the exfoliating sponge (this one is a Botanics one I believe) to work it in nicely, before rinsing off with warm water. Then moisturise as normal. That’s it!

I tend to find that I only need to wash my face once, sounds a bit minging but in the mornings I just give my face a once-over with a hot flannel, leaving it on there a few moments to open up the pores, rub over the face gently, then splash with cold water to close the pores back up again and encourage blood to the face for that natural rosy glow, then a little bit of moisturiser and I feel awake and ready to face the world! (Once my make-up is on, of course!).

Are you a dry skin sufferer? Want to share any horror stories that might make me feel a bit better about the times I actually FELT BITS OF SKIN FALLING OFF MY FACE?

Jen

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NB I bought my Embryolisse products through Love Makeup, but you can also get them through the Guru Makeup Emporium website.