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’m an organizing freak and I loooove a good declutter … Every now and then I go around the house downsizing all categories and my makeup drawers ain’t any exception.  Though, in this process, there are some bits I find myself torn if I should keep or not; afraid that one day I might need them but in reality, if there is no added value then there is no point keeping it… To give an end to my misery, I usually give my maybe pile a last try and settle on which ones are worth holding on to and those to be tossed/given away. 

E.L.F Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum | I have listed this one back in 2016 in my “Disappointing Products”, yet I kept it to give it a proper go as a “tinted primer” and I haven’t. I certainly couldn’t wear it on its own as I love a good coverage, but this time, I went on with my concealer on top of my flaws and to my surprise this little bottle wowed me; it’s insanely lightweight and it makes my skin look so radiant and even. With an SPF 25, this foundation would make a great choice for summer days and the no makeup looks. For the time being, this bottle is going nowhere and will definitely retain it. 

Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette | Regular readers would know by now that I’m a huge fan of Makeup Revolution as it stands and when I spotted this palette I had to have it. It is certainly a different palette than the MR’s typical ones in terms of design, shadow size pan and versatility. Though I do like the great finish/color diversity, the pigmentation of some shades didn’t do a whole lot for me making them quite hard to work with. I have been trying this one on and off but, despite all the hype it was around it, I couldn’t make myself love it as much as the Iconic Pro 1, Pro 2 or the recently reviewed Neutrals Vs New-trals palette. Therefore, I’m passing this along to someone who could make a better use out of it.

Catrice High Glow Mineral Highlighting Powder | It is the only baked highlighter I own. I was very excited to have it but not so much after I tried it. It is a silvery champagne shade that’s supposed to provide a glamorous glow, but that was too obvious on my skin tone. The texture as well is quiet dry for my liking and has a lot of kick off leaving a chaos of stubborn glitter on my face. Unfortunately, this is a pass. 

Too Faced Rock N Roll Palette | I first got this palette for the packaging. I loved the color theme of the eyeshadows but never thought that’s what I would go for one day. And I did. And I loved it! To make the whole story short it’s a “glam meets pretty”. However, two things not to forget with this palette; wet your brush for an intense metallic/foiled effect and DO YOUR EYES FIRST. The shadows easily last for a good 8-9 hours. This is another one that’s for now going nowhere. It is a KEEP. 

Maybelline Colossal Go Extreme! Leather Black Volume Mascara | It is usually difficult for me to fall in love with a mascara and once I do I stick to it. Maybelline makes some of my favorite ones and when I got my hand on the Colossal Go Extreme I assumed it’s at the same level of quality. But No. I normally look for volume and length, as I’m blessed with none, and this one claims to offer extra volume and that’s not at all what I got… I’m also not a big of the wand shape as I like it to get to the tiniest of my lashes which is not the case here. I couldn’t see any added value. Currently, I have few other mascaras that I love way more than this one. 

At last, I’m keeping 2 products out of 5. It surely makes me feel good despite that’s not a huge number looking at my entire makeup collection. This is it for today. Stay tuned as there is more to come!

It’s been quite a while since my last “Disappointing Products’ blog post. And since lot of you (including myself) seem to enjoy this kind of posts, here I come with a new list of products that let ME down. This isn’t to slander the brand in any of the ways, I simply I didn’t get along with these products, which could be a star product for you.

Let me start with the Clinique EvenBetter Dark Spot Corrector for which I really had high hopes. To be frank, I have had experiences with Clinique products and I was nothing but impressed. This, clinically proven serum, is comparable to a leading prescription in fading the dark spot and acne scars. It is made of a more stable form of Vitamin C for brightening effects along with mulberry extract and other exfoliating agents for better product penetration. I have used up 2 or 3 bottles of it already and let me tell you this is so bloody expensive! Nevertheless, I haven’t seen any improvement in my pigmentation or in my acne scars. I’ve got to say that it’s just an average skin lightening product despite its great ingredients.

I don’t use a lot of Max Factor products, though one of my favorite primer is the Face Finity All Day Primer, reviewed here, and that was one good reason to make me curious and try the MaxFactor all-day flawless 3-in-1 foundation. It’s has a matte finish, which I’m all right with, but it tends every single time to make my skin look extremely parched and the foundation clogs each one of my pores and sits in my dry areas. Another con on this foundation is the formula that’s very difficult to spread which made this product a total no go for me.

I love Essence brand and I love how affordable their products are however I hate the feeling of sticky glossy lipstick on my lips and that’s exactly what you get with the Essence LiquidLipsticks. The formula is certainly not of a liquid lipstick but more of a tick gloss that’s quite difficult to apply which results to a patchy finish.

Another lip products that I will include in this post is the Sleek Power Plump Lip Pencils. In fairness to these products, the color and pigmentation are stunning, the application is also just like a dream. However, these pencils are designed with a light tingle to plump up the lips which was quite interesting when I first read it but once the tingling started, the intensity unbearable. It was supposed to end after a minute or so but it was present for almost an hour which was very uncomfortable for me to the level I felt my lips literally burning.

This is it for today. Stay tuned and until next time :)

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.

As I’m constantly trying out different products, though I don’t think I’m using as many as most of other bloggers, my skin care routine keep on changing. Hence, I decided to go for a “New in” series to highlight all of my newest products.

In this first post, I want to spotlight two products that I’m totally hooked on and I wonder why it took me too long to discover them. Anyway, today I’ll be talking about the Bioderma Hydrabio Serum and Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot.

I got the Bioderma Hydrabio Serum in a subscription box last year and since then it’s been in my skin care drawer and don’t ask me why. I’ve tried a lot of moisturizers and serums throughout the years to find an end to one of my main skin concerns; dehydration and nothing seemed to be efficient the way the Bioderma one did. It is a fresh smelling gel that’s weightless and absorbs beautifully with no shine or greasiness. It works great on providing pure hydration leaving the skin plumped and supple. I’ve noticed a remarkable difference in my skin since the first week of use and believe I’m not exaggerating here. Another additional bonus of this serum is its clean and hygienic packaging. The Bioderma Hydrabio Serum assuredly got a permanent spot in my skin care shelf. I just love the results; my skin never felt the same in such a long time.

My second addition to my skin care is The Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot, which I got last month as a remedy for my second main concern; scars and hyper pigmentation, to find out that it actually targets appearing or existing blemishes.  Thank god, I experience those only in that time of the month and I still can’t stand it. Vichy promises results after 48 hours from application. You might be saying Ok whatever but this little one, despite its pricey tag, works as claimed and the best of all, the blemish doesn’t leave a scar. I call it a skin care gem!! It comes in a form of odorless gel housed in a hygienic small plastic tube with a metal applicator to apply it directly on the blemish. The zit does not fade away immediately however it looks less inflamed and by the end of the second day, the pimple retracts and I’ve even test it out on a bump that was growing under the skin and I was impressed how it never emerged on top. I usually use it at night as like most of the spot treatments it dries out forming a film on the pimple. Considering the results I’m alright with that. I’m really happy to have this overnight pimple magical treatment stashed in my skin care.

Both products are very efficient and provide great results to the skin. They are certainly a must-try!!

Thank you for stopping by!

Hi Everyone,

Today I will take you through my summer morning skin care routine and if you are new to my blog, I have normal to dry skin and I live in very hot and humid Dubai. In my choice of products here I mainly focused on hydrating and protecting my skin as it gets unbelievably dehydrated and tend to look dull due to high temperatures and continuous running AC everywhere. Saying that, lightweight products are definitely my picks.

It is a very simple and minimal regimen featuring some nice products I have been lovin’ lately. I first start by splashing cold water on my face and brushing my teeth of course and I will then grab my Garnier Smoothing Cream Cleanser. This is a gentle and creamy cleanser that helps restore the softness of the skin without drying it out. It contains Jojoba and Macadamia Oils and I really enjoy it however I won’t be repurchasing it as it has paraben.  Right after, and it’s probably my favorite part, which is toning. For that, I spritz my DIY toner or facial mist, whatever you wanna call it, which consists of ½ cup Organic Witch Hazel, ½ cup rose water and lavender essential oil (you can add any essential oil of your choice). I’ve got to say that I’m so in love with this toner, it’s so refreshing and the smell is just stunning; it’s exactly what you need to start your day.

Next, is a step I’ve been re-applying lately and I’m really lovin’ it. It is the serum and I’m using the organic Argan Oil for that. I don’t think I need to talk any further about how amazing this oil is; it helps keep my skin incredibly hydrated and supple throughout the whole day. The last step is moisturizing and I start by applying the Clinique Superdefense SPF 20 age defense eye cream, which is my favorite because it’s so lightweight and has SPF 20 which is really rare finding in eye creams and coming to my face and neck I applied for the past couple of months the Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream, which I reviewed here but for the past week or ten day I’ve been enjoying the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light. I’m really liking this one because it’s so lightweight with a typical scent of the french skin care products, as I believe is based on water and sinks immediately into the skin providing the necessary hydration you need for the day. Another reason why I love this moisturizer is because it reminds me a lot of my adorable auntie Latifa in Paris as she used to have exactly the same scent and I just wonder if she wasn’t using the same cream???  

Last but certainly not least, and this step comes just before applying my makeup, I apply a sunscreen, even if I’m not leaving the house and my go-to one is the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Comfort Cream. I’ve got to say that it’s NOT a lightweight one. It gets a tiny bit sticky on the face and has a thin white layer, just like most of sunscreens but for a maximum protection of SPF50+ I don’t really mind that. Not to forget my lips, I’ve been using the Avene Cold Cream Lip Balm which kinda works for me only in hot months and I can’t stand it in winter. Weird No????

This is it for my morning summer skin care routine. Hope this post was helpful and stay tuned for the evening one. Have a great day!

Since last December I officially included anti-aging products to my skin care routine. A bit late for thirty something age, but as they say, it’s never late to do good. I don’t have any wrinkles though but I definitely started to notice few fine lines around my eyes and forehead.  My policy is clear and simple: Natural alternatives to any chemical stuff. Origins answers these type of appeals. For my eveningskin care routine, I used many products from them and today I will be reviewing the Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Serum.

The Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Serum is made of 20 natural powerful plants. The Anogeissus is the main active ingredient along with crithmum, bamboo and pea. You can also check the complete ingredient list here. This serum is to reduce visible aging signs; fine lines and wrinkles mainly, to lift, firm and smooth the skin.

It has a gel like consistency that sinks easily into the skin, with a citrus smell that is quiet pleasant to me without leaving any oily or tacky residue. I’ve been using it for more than two months and my skin feels plump and soft with an addition of a radiant glow. Much better, I even noticed that my fine lines are less noticeable and my skin texture has improved particularly my sun spots.

The Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Serum has definitely took my skin to a complete new level. This serum doesn’t come cheap but I’ve got to say that it does what it claims and it did last the whole winter season for me, so I guess that it’s not too bad for an investment. I certainly recommend the Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Serum.

Have a fabulous Sunday and thanks for stopping by!!

I was convinced that nothing in the world would bring the radiance back to my skin. And of course I was wrong. After trying many things, there was this last thing that I was avoiding from the point that if nothing worked why this one would? But eventually I gave it a try and I’m SUPER GLAD I did… This last thing is nothing but essential oils.

I couldn’t imagine myself calling a product a “Can’t live without”, but today I can definitely say it loud and clear about these essential oils. Having now a proper skincare routine, which will be explained in details in a future post, I of course have no intention to disregard my magical regiment. Therefore I decided to have it as a daily serum and I totally love it. So let’s get started!

P.S: The essential oils you get might be potent and powerful; therefore be sure to test on a small area to see you skin reaction before application on the face. Another thing that is advisable is diluting the essential oils with carrier oil. You can check here for proper information about diluting essential oils. My lovely follower Liv from http://momprepares.com, suggested her Complete A-Z Guide on how to dilute essential oils, for both children and adults. (Thanks Liv :) !!).

Ingredients:

I use organic essential oils I got from Morocco. These organic ingredients should be kept in a dark glass container to extend the shelf life and potency of the serum. I’ve personaly re-used my clinique even better clinical dark spot corrector bottle. 

| My Re-used Clinique dark spot corrector bottle |

Argan Oil – Check all the benefits in my previous post here. 

Vitamin E Oil or Capsules – Provides moisture as well as antioxidant properties. Prevents and repairs free radical damage great for brown spots and scars. Speeds up cell regeneration. 

Calendula Oil – Great natural moisturiser for dry skin. It has antiseptic, anti fungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which make it a great option for treating skin infections. Helps reduce inflammation in skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. 

Lemon Oil - Good remedy for increasing the luster of dull skin. It is astringent and detoxifying in nature, and rejuvenates sagging or tired-looking skin. Its antiseptic properties help in treating pimples, Acne and various skin disorders. Lemon is also recommended for reducing excessive oil on the skin. 

Beauty Oil With Rose – Helps to delay the effects of skin aging, assists with cell regeneration, and promotes collagen and elastin levels to increase. This results in firmer, smoother, and more youthful skin with greater elasticity.  

Prickly Pear Seeds Oil/ Barbary Fig Seed Oil - Used alone or blended, it’s an extremely pure ingredient with claims to be the “ultimate” in beauty oils- the new argan oil! Rich in potent antioxidants soothe the face, help with signs of aging, and improve overall texture.

Recipe for my DIY day serum:

| Argan Oil |