My Thoughts Corner

I constantly try new products to manage my skin needs that are centered around dehydration and ageing. To tackle both I had been using quite of cocktail of several products for either concerns. Lately I came across two skin care gems that made a huge difference to my thirsty dull looking skin. Let’s take a deep look at each one of them.

La Roche Posay Redermic C Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizing Filler | No surprise that I’m obsessed with La Roche Posay.  I have been using many of their products and my skin has only been looking its best. Technically I use this product as a Vitamin C serum, despite its hydrating properties that makes it more of a moisturizer, as mentioned in their website, but not to a degree for someone with dry skin to forgo their regular one. It is a great combination of hydration and anti-aging in the form of a velvety plumping and nourishing serum. It is infused with a powerful mix of skin repairing ingredients; hyaluronic acid with a fairly concentration of 0.1%, pure Vitamin C (5%) and water binding agents to smoothens out superficial fine lines, not the deep ones, and pulls up skin for a firmer complexion which is completely essential for my dehydrated skin. Sooner than I expected, I have observed notorious improvements.  I haven’t noticed any sting with this serum, but my skin is brightened up beautifully and feels fresh and plumper and looks radiant. This stuff packs up some serious anti-aging ingredients for all of us 30+ ladies. The La Roche Posay Redermic C Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizing Filler could be a little expensive but totally worth the splurge. If you are parabens concerned like myself, rest assured there are none in any of La Roche Posay products. 

The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Youth Concentrate | It is one of The Body Shop bestsellers that imparts three plant stem cells;  Edelweiss from the Italian Alps, Criste marine and Sea Holly from the Brittany Coast, to help tackle the first signs of ageing. Let me get this straight from the beginning; it is NOT as some might believe the “fountain of youth” nor some drops. It is in fact just a moisturizing serum using the Fagus Sylvatica or Beech Bud Extract as the more predominant plant based element instead of the aforementioned ingredients as marketed.  Rich in peptides, amino acids, lipids and other great stuff, the Fagus Sylvatica is believed to be a great antioxidant and useful in smoothening fine lines. One more thing worth mentioning; though alcohol appears to have the 3^rdhighest concentration in the ingredient list, my guess is, since I didn’t find the serum particularly drying; it is there to act as a penetration enhancer, nevertheless this could warrant people with sensitive and dry skin. This serum has a lightweight fast absorbing gel texture that’s made from natural origin for 99% ingredients while it’s silicon and paraben free and has a lovely floral citrus scent that doesn’t linger too long. Despite the high price tag for an average drugstore brand, the real outcome for me with The Body Shop Youth Concentrate is how my skin feels not so much how it looks; it is “instantly smoother and replenished with moisture letting it unveil a healthy luminosity and youthful bounce”. 

As we grow signs of aging skin could be difficult to manage. There are endless anti-aging creams, serums and all sort of products available nowadays that promise a younger looking skin. In reality, what really matters is to know what our skin really needs and target the root causes of aging to help us look our best while embracing our imperfections and skin changes as we age.

Thank you for stopping by. 

I can’t deny my love for nature and facial masks. When both combined in one jar I’m totally SOLD. For ages, women were using kitchen ingredients to take care of their skin and no surprise that most current skin care products are or claim to be based on such elements too. When I spotted the Body Shop superfood masks, I was intrigued to have my hands on them but I decided to only pick the Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask for now.

First of all, can we appreciate the upscale packaging?? A glass jar, very minimalistic yet fancy… Very thoughtful!

This mask is allegedly made not only to remove dullness and unevenness but also to illuminate and revitalize the skin. It is inspired by the Chinese beauty rituals where rice and ginseng are very popular for their beauty properties, however their place in the ingredient list is lower than what you think. Instead, the clarifying abilities are largely thanks to the Kaolin, which helps soak up all impurities from the pores along with a gentle exfoliation in the form of Luffa Cylindrica Fruit. Conjointly, the sesame seed oil and rice extract help soften for a smooth complexion while the clay works its wonders.

Despite its price, this mask is a great choice when my pores and skin texture are in need of a little extra maintenance. It has a rich consistency that’s somewhat milky yet thick with fine exfoliating particles while being completely paraben, silicon and mineral oil free.

I can admit that it lives up to its claims, though the ingredients aren’t as I wished them to be; my combo skin feels silky soft, hydrated, even and bright while my oily T-zone is clear. In fact, the Body Shop Chinese Ginseng & Rice Mask always feels like a spa treatment afterwards with its typical fresh Asian scent that has a touch of orients.  It’s certainly a wonderful refreshing experience that helps slough away my dull skin. I can only be keen to try more from this range.

It’s been a long while since I posted a skincare review. That’s because I believe this category of products requires more time before getting your thoughts straight on a product unless that first use turned into a total failure.

I’m a huge fan of natural mud masks for their healing and cleansing properties, though I’ve only tried the Moroccan one so far. Nevertheless, I finally got the chance to try the dead sea one from a company called Petra.

This dead sea mud mask comes in a sturdy huge sized tub with a very generous amount of 550g of product. As for the mask itself, it is 100% natural, rich in minerals, salts and other powerful substances. It truly does wonders to the skin and let me be frank; this one exceeded by far my expectations… It is smooth & soft in texture and has a typical smell of natural mud. It is also SLS and paraben free…. I’m really in love.

The powerful blend of ingredients the mask has, not only leaves my skin baby soft but also super moist. The dead sea mud is great in absorbing the excess oils & impurities, giving the skin an instant radiance and freshness. It also helps massively in fighting off blackheads around my nose and in addition to that, it removes impurities deep within my “not-so-large” pores to shrink them and reveal a bright skin beneath.

I’ve only applied this mask on my face so far and I can’t have enough. It is worth every single penny. I can even say that it’s a pure “fountain of youth”. If you guys have difficulty maintaining a glowing complexion, I absolutely recommend grabbing the Petra Dead Sea Mud Mask.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

I’ve been meaning to talk about two of my most loved products for quite some time, which have been a complete game changer for my skincare, and these are the apple cider vinegar and the La Roche Posay Pigmentclar Serum Intensive.

I’ve heard almost everyone swearing by the benefits of apple cidervinegar and to be honest I was never sold. I practically believed that nothing could clear my skin from dark spots, acne scars and pimples but expensive products. Clearly a bottle of smelly organic apple cider vinegar wasn’t as classy as my fancy branded ones! Then after converting to coconut oil as a makeup remover, I decided to give the apple cider vinegar a go. I don’t want to sound commercial but it does something in a way that any other lotion/cream failed to do. It’s antiseptic and antibacterial and helps to improve the overall complexion by balancing and restoring the skin’s natural pH. I have noticed my skin tone has evened out significantly, my dark spots and acne scars are lightened and a decrease in the severity of my monthly breakouts. I use organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar with “the mother” mixed with orange blossom water, which helps reducing the smell intensity, with a ratio of 1:3.

I don’t have major skin issue, Thank God; however, I have to deal with hyperpigmentation and acne scars and this is where La Roche PosayPigmentclar Serum comes into the picture. It’s an intensive dark sport correcting serum that tackles uneven skin tone, dark spots and pigmentation. It has a lightweight texture that offers enough moisture without the feel of heaviness. Highly concentrated in PhE-Resorcinol, Ginkgo, Ferulic Acid and LHA, this serum reduces considerably the pigmentation and dark spots. Certainly, it’s not one of those products that will provide results after a short period. I have seen though tremendous change after continuous use. My skin is brighter, even toned and my pigmentation is lightened and I can say that this serum helps also maintain my current radiant complexion.

The La Roche Posay Pigmentclar Serum and the apple cider vinegar made it to the top of my skincare regimen. They have done wonders to my skin which most expensive products failed to therefore I will forever be a loyal customer and a promoter.

It’s always a joy for me to walk into Lush Shops. I mainly find myself hooked by their exfoliators and masks for the fact that they’re perishables and made from fresh ingredients ONLY. During this time of year, I couldn’t stop myself from picking, once again the Let The GoodTimes Roll Cleanser, previously reviewed here, which became a season staple for me, and the Cup O’ Coffee Face and Body Mask.

For the past couple of years I tried few DIY coffee scrubs which quickly became regular on my weekly beauty menu. I was though intrigued by the Lush naming of this mask and the texture that is grainy, not too rough though nor too runny.  The obvious main ingredient being coffee energizes and exfoliate tired skin while the kaolin clay deep cleans the pores, conjointly with the Agave syrup which is key in holding this mask together.

I tend to apply this mask in the shower only as it tends to be messy in the sink. However, the exfoliation of the Cup O’ Coffee mask is absolutely glorious. The caffeine in fact stimulates the blood circulation which appears in the form of a radiant and brighter skin.

I don’t drink coffee nonetheless I love the smell. Yet the Cup O’ Coffee smell doesn’t remind me exactly of freshly brewed coffee but more of a flavored one with vanilla and cocoa which I can only describe as delightful.

I’m very happy I got to try the Cup O’Coffee Face And Body Mask. If it wasn’t for the shelf life of Lush products, I would stuff my bathroom with it. It assuredly delivers softer, plumper, and polished skin leaving you with a chic feeling.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Hi Everyone,

2016 went crazily fast and during this year, I tried so many products and since it is December, my favorite month, I wanted to post a roundup of my favorite products of this year, mainly makeup ones. I preferred to mention the products in accordance with my order of application. Without further ado, I will be talking about base products; namely primers and concealers.

Sunscreen is always my first step that I never missed even in winter time. For years, I’ve been using my trusty La Roche PosayAnthelios XL 50+ spf. It’s a light, paraben free and non-perfumed sunblock that prevent sunspot and age spots.

For primers, my first is technically a skin care product. In other words, it’s a tinted moisturizer, namely the La Roche PosayEffaclar Duo (+) Unifiant that I picked while in Paris. Check my haul here and here. It is one of those clever products that fall in the midst of skin care and makeup that works on unifying the skin and correcting the marks.

The l’oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream is one of those late discoveries of mine. However, when I tried it, I loved it. Though I’m not a silicon base product lover, I figured that this one works perfectly underneath my powder foundation without feeling on the top of my skin like most of silicon base primers.

My second product category is concealers and I’ve got to admit is my second favorite beauty product after bronzers. I will start with a staple one; the Mac Pro Longwear Concealer. It is long wearing with a creamy liquid consistency and offers medium to full coverage.

My second under eye concealer is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, which I believe is a great one for a drugstore. Though its thin consistency that doesn’t settle into the fine line, it gives good coverage and impressive staying power.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is again another staple with a lot of hype but it’s for a reason. It’s a lightweight concealer with a medium coverage and creamy velvety texture. The product brightens up the under-eye area without accentuating the fine lines.

Last but not least is the Mac Prep and Prime Highlighter. It is a beautiful concealer that I particularly like to use along with my Mac Pro Long Wear. It is lightweight yet creamy with a good pigmentation and doesn’t crease.

This is my first part of the base products and I will shortly be back with the second part that covers foundations and setting powders.

What’s your favorite products? Please comment below if I should try any of it.

Hi Guys,

I’ve been so eager to post this review for weeks but I was lacking the time. Today, as the title states I’m talking about the new addition to my skin care regimen; the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream. As I’ve mentioned in my summer edition skin care routine post, I’m all about hydration as my skin tend to look tired and dull in hot and humid summer days. Now let me clarify that dehydration is NOT a skin type as much as a skin condition.

I’ve been looking for a moisturizer to replace my Clinique one for ages until I popped at my local pharmacy and got this one by chance occurrence. It comes in a lovely light blue glass jar that could be a downfall for some but I personally like it.  

This moisturizer has a gel cream texture that settles into the skin immediately without greasiness. Though the cream is rich with amazing ingredients such as Vichy Thermal Spa Water and Hyaluronic acid, it remains extremely light in formula which offers up to 48 hours hydration, protection, smoothness and plumpness.

I’ve been using the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream in mornings and it definitely helped improve my complexion, leaving my skin, with no overstatement, brighter and fresh. As I mentioned in my skin care routine post, I love the old school scent this moisturizer has; it is light and takes me back to great memories with my auntie who had the exact lovely smell.

We’ve got a winner here people! The Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream is an amazing moisturizer that sticks to what it claims. I’m glad I’ve picked it up. If your skin lacks life like mine used to, give this gem a try…

Have a great day!

Two years back, I was introduced to Rene Furterer products by a friend at a time I completely lost hope in repairing my hair. In addition to some DIY hair treatments, the Forticea Stimulating shampoo with essential oils and the Triphasic VHT Regenerating Treatment for Hair Loss were my savers and since then, I completely trust this brand. My hair regained its strength and volume, but it got extremely frizzy and dry. Once again I made my way to my trusty Rene Furterer to pick their Karite intense nourishing oil, subject of today’s post.

Rene Furtherer offers exceptional and personalized treatments made of 100% natural active ingredients based on essential oils and plant extracts and developed by Laboratoires Pierre Fabre.

The intense nourishing oil is the first step of the Karite line that aims treating very dry and damaged hair and/or scalp using the key ingredients shea butter and shea oil. It is a pre-shampoo treatment that’s supposed to soak for 5 to 10 min but I usually let it sit for at least 2 hours.

It is a lightweight oil with a wonderful floral scent that washes clean without any greasy residue or smell. It is though deep conditioning and my hair feels healthier with an exceptional softness and shine from the first time.

I’m very impressed by the Karite intense nourishing oil; it is very effective in the struggle with dry hair and in sustaining healthy hair which makes it certainly worth every penny.

Hope that was helpful .. Stay Tuned!!

Hi Guys,

After I ran out of my Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins, which I really loved, I was looking for a new moisturizer; as I like to try new products from time to time and that’s when I decided to go for L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Cream which I got as a gift from my husband for my birthday along with a lot of other goodies.

The Pivoine Sublime range is formulated with peony extract for an intense hydration and an even skin tone. Suitable for all skin types, the perfecting cream aims a fresh and perfect looking skin through refining the pore, fine lines and complexion.

The packaging is so beautiful and classy; a pretty red pink pot which would certainly be a cute on the top of any vanity. The ingredients of this cream are the best part being all naturally derived with no parabens just like all L’Occitane products but that’s not all. The smell is simply divine; I would describe it as freshly cut flowers; peonies of course.  

I chose to use the L’Occitane Perfecting Cream as a night cream for 5 to 6 weeks now and I’m in love with the texture that lies between a gel and a cream making it a perfect treat for hot summer nights. In fact it is so refreshing and leaves the skin so supple and velvety with an immediate radiance boost. However, it could easily be used as a day moisturizer or a primer.

Though I’ve been applying this cream only in evenings, I’ve noticed a difference in my skin. It is definitely smoother, radiant and fresh. However I won’t say it’s a must have product but it’s a lovely delicacy for pampering the skin once in a while.

Until next time.

HIIII GUUUUUUUUUUUUUYS,

It’s been a while or actually a long time since my last post and believe it or not I so miss this corner. Few months back I was in the quest for a new moisturizer after I ran out of my Clinique one. I needed something light and pocket friendly for my morning routine as the weather started to get hot and humid and that’s when I randomly picked the Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream.

We’ve all heard and read about the benefits of Vitamin E and its key roles for the skin and I won’t focus any further into this. That being said, the Vitamin E Moisture cream is one of TBS bestsellers worldwide. It’s a very lightweight cream that absorbs quickly and easily without being greasy. Just a little bit is enough to balance the moisture of the face and neck, letting the skin feel plumper, softer and hydrated.

The smell of the cream is a lovely light perfume-y scent that fades away sooner after application. TBS claims that it’s an all skin type cream which I agree however I would clarify that it’s actually depending on the weather. In other terms; those with normal to dry skin can enjoy it all year round, the very dry skin people can have in hot summer months and those with oily skin could give it a try only in colder months.

The Vitamin E Moisture Cream keeps my face so hydrated that I never felt the urge to reapply it in middle of the day. The cream is housed in a 50ml tub, which might not be convenient for those being particular in dipping their hands in this packaging form.  

When I just got it I did a little research about this product and I noticed that when it was first launched, the cream contained parabens which was a con for many people. BIG THANKS TO THE BODY SHOP who considered that fact and formulated a paraben free version and you can’t imagine my happiness for this fact.

TBS Vitamin E Moisture Cream is a great basic moisturizer which I honestly can’t call it a holy grail but it’s nice to have it as a backup especially when travelling.

Thank you for taking time to read this post which I hope was helpful for many of you!