If you are a big fan of French Pharmacy skincare products, as am I, then there is no doubt that LA ROCHE-POSAY has long been fixed on your radar. I am a huge fan of their products, and have two to recommend if you need an effective duo to reduce inflammation, redness and skin irritation. LA ROCHE-POSAY Rosaliac Skin Perfecting Anti-Redness Moisturizer and Cicaplast Soothing Multi-Purpose Balm are both fragrance-free, ultra soothing products that heal red, irritated skin, and they are great post-peel choices.
LA ROCHE-POSAY Rosaliac Skin Perfecting Anti-Redness Moisturizer ($38.99 for 1.35 oz. from Target, Apothica, Overstock and Beauty Encounter): This lightweight, fast absorbing, lotion immediately soothes, calms and nourishes irritated, red skin, and it does so quickly and seemingly effortlessly. Red and inflamed skin quickly gives way to calm, nourished, hydrated and luminous skin. The light green tint, that leaves behind no pigmentation, helps to neutralize redness, while the thermal water soothes irritated skin. I used this following a recent at-home peel, and my skin was immediately calmed, and the redness dissipated very quickly.
According to LA ROCHE-POSAY,
Rosaliac moisturizer helps neutralize visible redness on a daily basis to harmonize skin complexion. L'eau thermale de La Roche-Posay Neutralizes redness at the source Restores comfort and luminosity.
Features:
Xanthine, a patent-pending ingredient, helps soothe skin.
Vitamins CG and B3 strengthen the moisture barrier of delicate and reactive skin.
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water: rich in Selenium, a powerful, natural antioxidant, provides instant skin soothing.
Moisturizes and optically neutralizes redness.
Helps soothe and restore skin comfort.
With green tint to re-balance skin tone.
Lightweight texture. Excellent make-up base.
For delicate and reactive skin with fragile blood vessels
LA ROCHE-POSAY Cicaplast Soothing Multi-Purpose Balm ($14.99 for 1.35 oz. from La Roche-Posay, Target, Skin Care RX and Beauty Expert): This multi-purpose balm was formulated to address the needs of dry and very skin, but it is fantastic on any chapped, irritated and inflamed skin as well. It is a very thick and rich balm, that is quite concentrated, and can therefore be used quite sparingly. It can be used anywhere on the face, body, hands and lips, but one should avoid the eye area. It functions as one superb hand cream, foot cream and lip balm when your skin is dry, and I leave mine on my nightstand for that very reason.
According to LA ROCHE-POSAY,
Multi-purpose soothing balm for dry skin irritations that’s suitable for adults, children, and babies. With Panthenol, Shea Butter and Glycerin, Cicaplast Baume B5 helps nurturing and soothing dry, visibly irritated areas on the skin. Rich, nourishing texture with a matte finish that’s non-oily and non-sticky.
Features:
Use to nourish and sooth dry areas and signs of irritation caused by dryness
Apply twice daily to cleansed, dry skin
Can be applied to body, face, and lips
Generous layers can be applied to overly dry areas
Cicaplast Baume B5 is a multi-purpose balm to soothe and calm dry, irritated skin with:
Panthenol to soothe dry, rough skin.
Shea Butter & Glycerin to nourish skin and help visibly reduce the signs of irritations caused by dryness.
[Madecassoside] + [Copper - Zinc - Maganese] that helps to visibly reduce the appearance of dry, irritated skin.
October was a very good month for finishing up a lot of full-sized products. Truthfully I'm not quite sure how I managed to finish up so many products this month. I was aware that I was getting close on many of the things featured here, but was caught off guard when I hit the last pump on the two My serums and the Dr. Brandt Glow Overnight Resurfacing Serum. Because those three are housed in air-free opaque pump containers I really never knew what was left in the bottles until they simply stopped dispensing product!
The HYD For Men Shave Cream (reviewed here) is a wonderful creamy and moisturizing shave cream that is just lovely to use. While it belonged to my husband, I did dip into it on more than one occasion because I liked it so much!
The La Roche-Posay Solution Micellaire Physiologique (reviewed here) is a nice cleansing water, but I would prefer it to be completely fragrance free. I still prefer the Koh Gen Do Spa Cleansing Water-- I have yet to find anything that compares to this lovely product!
DermOrganic Daily Hydrating Conditioner with Argan Oil (reviewed here): This is a wonderfully moisturizing conditioner that works wonders on my naturally curly hair. I will definitely be purchasing a replacement bottle.
Michael O'Rourke Rock Your Hair Leave-In Conditioner Weightless Detangler (reviewed here): Don't let the whimsical packaging fool you- this is a highly effective Leave-In Conditioner. I will definitely be purchasing a replacement bottle!
Painted Earth Blueberry Cranberry Oxygen Scrub (reviewed here): This is a very very nice face scrub, and I liked it so much on my face that I tried it on my body (and what a treat that was!).
Dr. Hauschka SPF 30 Sunscreen Cream for Children and Sensitive Skin: This is a nice sunscreen, but it had become quite old (and no doubt had expired) so after one last spin I emptied the last little bit into the garbage and recycled the tube.
Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge Eau de Parfum sample: I am actually quite fond of this scent. It is far too sharp when I first apply it, but once it settles in it is quite lovely.
Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel (reviewed here): This is a highly effective non-foaming cleanser that is gentle while being highly effective. It removes dead skin cells effortlessly and leaves skin so silky smooth. It is unquestionably one of my Holy Grail cleansers!
Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion (reviewed here): Another hit by Mario Badescu!! This is a gentle alcohol-free toner that has become my very favorite toner. On the rare occasions that I am too tired to wash my face- I saturate a cotton ball with this toner and it removes every trace of makeup (not made for eye makeup removal) and leaves my skin feeling wonderful!
Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream (reviewed here): This is an excellent moisturizing eye cream that is light, quick absorbing, and highly effective!
Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 17: This is very moisturizing oil free moisturizer that is great for combination or oily skin types.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Extra Strength Formula (overview here): This two-step at home peel is amazing. I only have a few packets left, and find this system so effective that I plan to buy the biggest box that they make during Sephora's upcoming F&F or VIB sale!
The Organic Pharmacy Collagen Boost Mask (reviewed here): I think at this point that it has become fairly obvious that I am thoroughly obsessed with everything that I have tried from The Organic Pharmacy, and their Collagen Boost Mask is just as amazing as you might imagine! It tightens, lifts and brightens the skin- giving your face an instant radiance and glow. I love this mask, and often use it as a serum!
Radical Skincare Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads: Radical Skincare is utterly amazing (stay tuned- I will be reviewing many products from the line soon). Their Age-Defying Exfoliating pads are highly effective, and brilliantly conceived. One side of the round disk has a rougher texture (but not too rough) to encourage the exfoliation of dead skin cells, and the other side is smooth to whisk away those dead cells and even out the surface of the skin. This is an amazing product.
Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream: Nice, but I didn't find it particularly unique.
Armani Maestro Eraser Concealer sample packet: I love this concealer and have a full-size tube. One of these days I will get around to reviewing it. It spreads easily and doesn't cake up or settle into fine lines. The texture is very nice and smooth.
Kiss My Face Cucumber Green Tea Deodorant: Gentle, lovely, effective, and not filled with potentially harmful chemicals. I have replaced this several times, and will continue to buy it!
TATCHA Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (reviewed here): Absolutely divine! This is an amazing cleansing oil. It is so effective at removing every trace of makeup, and it so thoroughly cleanses the skin that you really don't need to double cleanse. I love TATCHA products!
My Dynamic Lifting Serum (reviewed here): This is a lovely gel-based lifting serum that absorbs quickly and has a definite lifting and firming effect on the skin. A lovely product from an amazing line!
My Skin Recovery Formula(reviewed here): This is an amazing lightweight skin-brightening serum that targets damaged skin to even out skin-tone, restore radiance, promote firmness, and diminishes the appearance of acne scarring, age or sunspots, and wrinkles. This is a wonderfully hardworking serum filled with all sorts of healthy ingredients! A+
I received a request to reveal my entire skincare stash, but that would make for one mighty overwhelming post to contemplate. Therefore, I decided the only sane way to tackle this task was to break it into types of products. As a result of this choice, logic dictated that I do so in the order that I would use the products- thus I began with my cleansers.
I tend to rotate cleansers based upon the needs of my skin at any given moment. The exception is when I am testing out new products because one has to use them for an uninterrupted and sustained period of time in order to determine their efficacy.
1) Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (review forthcoming). Best cleansing oil that I have tried!
2) *Relogy Dual Action Treatment Foam (reviewed here). Very effective and gentle!
3) *Coral Actives Retinol Exfoliating Cleanser (reviewed here). You had me at Retinol! Wonderful!
According to La Roche-Posay their Solution Micellaire Physiologique is "for gentle cleansing without water. 3-in-1: cleanse, tone, remove makeup."
Breakthrough Technology: "Micelles - micro-encapsulate dirt on skin's surface and lift it up without rubbing, thereby maintaining skin's physiological balance. Optimal safety on sensitive skin with Poloxamer, a cleansing ingredient so mild it is used in contact lens solutions. Effective to remove impurities while respecting skin's natural balance."
Their claim is that this cleansing water "cleanses, tones and calms the skin, while respecting its physiological balance" and it presumably means that it cleanses and neither strips, nor disturbs the acid mantle of the skin. It is extremely gentle and soothing, and my skin feels soft and smooth when I use it.
I love French pharmacy brands because they make me nostalgic for the time that I lived in Paris with family. I would rummage through their pharmacies like I was on a treasure hunt-- which is precisely what it was. My dad grew up in Paris before coming to the the US and we still have family there- so my attachment to France, and Paris specifically is deeply rooted in my own history, and living there profoundly informed who I am today. I am still thrilled when I see French pharmacy brands in US pharmacies, though the mystique certainly is lacking when they are no longer in situ- any way you add it up it's not quite the same seeing these brands at CVS compared to finding them in Paris. But I digress. Solution Micellaire Physiologique is recommended for: All skin types including sensitive skin, redness-prone skin, dry skin
and dehydrated skin.
Benefits include: A gentle, mildly scented texture that wipes off with a cotton pad. With antioxidant La Roche-Posay thermal spring water to strengthen skin's natural defenses.
Physiological pH, Soap-free, Alcohol-free, Paraben-free, Safe for sensitive skin.
Key ingredients include:
1) Micelles - micro-encapsulate dirt on skin's surface and lift it up without rubbing, thereby maintaining skin's physiological balance.
2) Poloxamer - a mild cleanser use in contact lens solutions to cleanse even sensitive skin.
3) La Roche-Posay thermal spring water - antioxidant, strengthens skin's natural defenses.
Solution Micellaire Physiologique is an Allure Best of Beauty Favorite two years in a row:
Here's what I like about this particular cleansing water: It is a gentle soapless cleanser that I can use on my entire face on those nights when I am too tired to go through my whole nighttime routine. It effectively removes dirt, makeup and oil without any need to scrub. No rinsing is required, though more often than not I do rinse afterward. It leaves my skin soft and supple, and is so gentle that it doesn't even bother my sensitive eyes as so many makeup removers do. That said, it does contain fragrance and I am not fond of placing fragranced products near (or inadvertently in) my eyes. While I really do like Solution Micellaire Physiologique, the pronounced clean scent causes me to favor my Koh Gen Do Cleansing Water.
It is paraben and alcohol free.
Overall assessment: I like this cleanser a lot, but still objectively prefer my Koh Gen Do cleansing water because it doesn't have a fragrant smell. That said, I will more than likely replace this when I finish the bottle. I find using this product a bit of a nostalgic experience that transports me to Paris, and anything that makes me think of Paris makes me think of my beloved dad who gave me my love of Paris, French culture, art, film, and literature. However, it was my Parisian cousin who I credit for introducing me to French pharmacies when I was a teenager.
