avène extremely gentle cleanser

  

 

i blogged about avene skincare a while ago (which you can read here) having received a couple of freebies after filling out their online skin diagnosis form. using the samples reminded me how much i loved everything i had tried from the brand so i went out a few days ago and repurchased the 'extremely gentle cleanser'. why i ever stopped buying it i do not know - at £8 it isn't exactly dirt cheap but it lasts for months and does wonders for my skin. after using a few cleansers that really didn't do me any favours the £8 seems a small price to pay!

the consistency of the extremely gentle cleanser is a sort of milky gel, but more creamy than a gel if that makes sense?! (probably not). i apply it using a cotton pad and tend to then use another wet cotton pad to wipe it off. the directions state that this isn't necessary and sometimes i wonder if i'm doing myself a disservice by washing it off but generally i don't feel i have properly cleansed without a splash of water!

i think this is my third or fourth bottle of this cleanser and for me it really does keep my skin clear and bright - well worth a go, particularly for those with sensitive or problem skin as it feels so gentle. i plan on making this a staple in my beauty cupboard from now on!

avene freebies!

how i've been blogging for almost five months now and haven't mentioned one of my favourite skincare brands i do not know! i was introduced to avène by my local pharmacist. for some reason before i went on holiday a couple of years ago i decided to buy a really strong and scented cleanser and ended up coming home with a sort of red bumpy rash/breakout - yuk! he told me to try the 'rich skin recovery cream' and the rash soon went away.


following this, i started trying some of their other products, namely their moisturisers and their 'extremely gentle cleanser' and have since been convincing friends and family (and pretty much anyone else who will listen) how great this brand really is. 

i then came across the avène website which not only has an informative (and quite cheesy) video on it about avène water that you can watch here, but it also has a skin diagnosis area where, if you register, you can complete a form about your skin type and they will send you samples that are selected specifically for your skin type. freebies, yay! here are the samples i received and have been using for about a week now...

 

this is the gentle gel cleanser and is similar to the extremely gentle cleanser in smell and texture - i'd say a combination between a gel and a cream, but thinner in consistency than you'd expect - but is formulated for normal to combination skin as opposed to sensitive skin. it works well at removing make up and feels really gentle and soothing. after using this for just a week my skin hasn't had any flare ups or blemishes surface. 

 

i've been using the gel cleanser combined with this light hydrating cream that is also spf 20. this moisturiser is very light and usually i prefer something heavier just because i like the feel of it but really i don't think i need it. like i said, my skin has been blemish free for about a week and doesn't look like it's going to break out any time soon so something must be working! ideally, i'd like to use this as a day cream and then the rich hydrating cream for nighttime.

although i wouldn't say avène is pricy at all, especially for what you get and how long it lasts (it ranges from about £5-23) i urge anyone who hasn't already to fill in the skin diagnosis form and at least try the samples... trust me, you'll be a convert before you know it!

l'oreal sublime bronze

i'm slowly emerging from my winter slump of unshaven legs and paler-than-pale skin so i thought it was about time i shared my favourite ever fake tan. i can't say i've tried many but i can honestly say there has been no need!

i discovered l'oreal's sublime bronze at a friend's party after i told the group that i was too scared to try fake tan in case i turned into an oompa lumpa (i'm quite short so adding orange skin to the mix is unlikely to be a great look...) one of the girls there who looked like she'd just been on holiday for two weeks told me that actually, she had the same skin tone as me (english rose/casper the ghost) and that her tan was down to sublime bronze. soon enough i had a go and haven't looked back since!

sublime bronze looks scarily dark when it comes out the tube but once it's spread out is a lot lighter. i use a tanning mitt - the cheapest i've found has been from primark - and make sure i rub it in until it's almost dry. it has a slight shimmer to it which may not appeal to all but i quite like it if i'm going out and if not, i make sure to tan in the evening. that way, the shimmer washes off after showering but leaves behind a golden glow.

i can't recommend sublime bronze enough for fake tan first timers as the finished product is well worth the usual fake tan risks! a little pricey aswell but a little goes a long way... find sublime bronze in boots for £13.47.

so here it is...

a while ago, i requested via facebook a sample of the 'big skincare mystery'. for those of you that don't know, this was a pretty massive marketing campaign backed by glamour magazine that encouraged you to try a cleanser/mask without knowing the brand that made it. i think this is a really, really good idea because, although i pretend that i'm generally not bothered by brands, this has confirmed that i definitely am.

so, for the review... the cleanser was a thinnish cream with a slight green tinge to it, but created a nice enough lather and washed off the majority of my make up. i thought it smelt a bit like cucumbers and avocados, both of which are good ingredients for skin (if they're actually in there!)

the packaging also stated that the cleanser could be used as a mask. i tried this for a few minutes (as directed) which made my cheeks feel a bit tight but made my t-zone feel quite clean and refreshed. after this i did wake up with slightly greasy skin on my nose but i like the idea of being able to use a cleanser as a face mask aswell. generally i don't use face masks out of laziness, but given the option to just put on some cleanser for a bit longer than usual i'd probably be more inclined to give it a go.

so who actually made this product, i hear you ask. well... it's made by CLEARASIL?! we have all been trialling their daily clear vitamins and extracts wash and mask which you can find at superdrug for an introductory price of £3.49 (usually £4.99). i'm quite shocked. i would never have used clearasil products before this trial because i always thought they would be too harsh but as my review shows, it just really isn't that bad! 

and the lesson we've all learnt?! sometimes you should reserve your judgments before giving something a go...