Skincare Shake Up February ’16

Welcome to the Skincare Shake Up February ’16 edition! This month has a mixture of new products and old favourites. Full details after the jump…

Skincare Shake Up February '16

Skincare Shake Up February ’16

Let’s start with a cleanser that is still sitting pride of place in my bathroom from last month: the Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil. I am still loving this just as much as I was last month, you can read my original thoughts on it HERE. If you’re looking for a really efficient highstreet cleansing oil then this would be top of my list. I’ve been using it for 2 months (although not every day) and I’ve barely made a dent in it as you barely need any – even when you wear as much mascara as me! You can buy it HERE.

Skincare Shake Up February '16

The lovely folks at Eloquence sent me their range to try out this month so there are 5 products from them in this round up. Firstly, let’s talk about the packaging. I LOVE the chartreuse and silver, it’s eye-catching without looking cheap or naff. The products’ star ingredient is Sacha Inchi Oil, which comes from Peru and contains tons of omega oils, antioxidants as well as vitamin A and E. They all smell quite strong – it’s a pleasant citrusy scent- but it’s something to be aware of. They do not contain any artificial fragrances which is great for people like me who need to be careful about potentially irritating ingredients. The products are labelled with numbers to signpost your skincare routine so I’ll go through them in order. [EDIT: it looks like their site has been taken down… I’ll update if it reappears!]

I’ve been using the Eloquence Purifying Facial Cleanser* as my second cleanse. The product is great – it’s somewhere between a substantial cream and a gel and feels lovely and nourishing on the skin. It contains cucumber and coconut extracts as well as the Sacha Inchi oil I mentioned above, and didn’t irritate my eyes or aggravate my rosacea. However, one thing that struck me is that it is a tiny bottle (20ml). When I unpacked the products, I assumed the biggest bottle was the cleanser as I’m used to much bigger sizes for cleansing products. I had to use about 3 pumps to feel like my face was properly covered and cleansed so I’m not sure this will last a terribly long time. It is worth bearing in mind that this product is only £7.99 (HERE) so although it’s small, it’s also not overpriced.

Eloquence Firm & Tone Serum* – I really liked this serum: it sunk in very quickly and left my skin feeling very smooth and looking illuminated, due to the slightly pearlescent finish to the cream. It applies very well underneath foundation and has been helping to perk up my dull, winter-y skin this month. It contains glycerin and coconut oil (to help with dryness and dull skin) and hyaluronic acid (for plumping and smoothing). This is £19.99 HERE, but I’ve only been using one pump at a time so, although this is the same size as the cleanser, it will last longer.

Eloquence Firming and Moisturising Eye Gel* – This clear gel is designed to reduce the appearance of dark circles and depuff the eye area making you look less tired. I definitely need all the help I can get in that department! I did notice that my eye area looked lighter and smoother which meant my concealer applied better. I didn’t notice a change in the actual fine lines or tightness of the skin around my eyes but I was happy with the difference in the texture of the skin. I imagine this would be lovely to use on drier skin types under the eyes as it’s very soothing. I was a bit worried that the oil and its strong scent would irritate my eyes but they were fine. It’s quite a runny gel so be careful on first application – I squeezed a bit too hard and it went EVERYWHERE. This is £19.99 for 15ml HERE.

Eloquence Protect and Repair 24 Hour Cream* – This was the product that really caught my eye when I opened the package as I tend to gravitate towards creams that aim to calm and repair skin. I have a few creams like this in my arsenal but am always on the hunt for more. This was a really soothing cream with a thick consistency, but lightweight enough to apply and sink in quickly, without making my skin feel smothered. I have been using this in the evenings (I take my make up off in the early evening so need a skincare stage in-between that and my night time routine where I would use the other products above). However, it does contains UVA and UVB protection which I didn’t realise until I read the blurb on the back, so it would be a great day time moisturiser as well. This is £14.99 HERE.

The last product from this range is the Eloquence Nourishing Treatment Oil* which I was excited to try as the Sacha Inchi Oil is the jewel in the crown of this range so this is their key product. It is a really lightweight oil that is quick to absorb – meaning no gunky pillowcases! – and smells divine. It can be used on the face, on the ends of the hair, on your cuticles, and you could probably use it on knees, elbows, heels etc. I do love a multitasker. It’s £29.99 HERE but is a huge bottle (50ml) and will last for ages.

Skincare Shake Up February '16

Bioderma… oh Bioderma *sigh*. I’ve been using Bioderma for years, back in the day when I had to stock up every time I went to France. I have tried other micellar waters and they just aren’t as good. Soz. Although the bottle with the pink lid (Sensibio H2O) is the most famous and most popular, but I use this one with the green lid (Bioderma Sébium H2O Purifying Cleansing Micelle Solution) as I have oily skin. I use this in the morning to give my skin a quick cleanse before my skin care (as I don’t wash my face in the shower – ever – as my skin is too sensitive). You can buy it HERE and these bottles last for ages so I think even the UK prices are worth it.

Skincare Shake Up February '16

Last but definitely not least is a product I’ve mentioned a lot on here: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5. This stuff is a must-have for me. I always reach straight for it when my skin starts to play up as it soothes, takes the heat out of my rosy cheeks, helps with pesky dry patches and doesn’t feel heavy and clogging to the skin. Last month I was in Amsterdam and it was FREEZING. My skin was feeling very tight and rough by the end of the weekend, so I was slathering this on every morning and it sorted me out super quickly. NB – it’s a thick cream so I only apply it on a morning if I’m not going out somewhere as I find it a bit greasy to have under make up. You can buy this wonder product HERE.

Did you enjoy my Skincare Shake Up February ’16? What skincare bits and bobs have you been loving this month?

Lex

*Products with a star were provided as PR samples. Some links are affiliate. For more information please see my disclaimer page.

Skincare Shake Up February '16

Follow:
Share:

2 Comments

  1. Natalie
    8th March 2016 / 10:11 pm

    Hi Lex
    I have just started following your blog, loving the possibility that something might improve my rosacea! Do you have a post the goes through your most trusted products? My skin is dry rather than oily tho, would you suggest a Micellar water as a first cleanse? Thanks in advance
    Natalie

    • Lex
      Author
      23rd March 2016 / 4:09 pm

      Hi Natalie, thank you for your comment and for reading! I felt the same way when I discovered people talking about rosacea online, I didn’t know anyone else who’d even heard of it, so it really helped to know I wasn’t alone.
      I have this post HERE which talks about the skincare I always go back to and what I would recommend (although some of those are aimed more at oily skin, but the brands will do versions of the same products for dry skin as well).
      I would definitely still recommend micellar waters for dry skin, they’re a brilliant first cleanse to get rid of make up. If you have dry skin I would look at balm and cream cleansers (avoid anything foaming). Hope this helps!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Talonted Lex, the go-to online destination for anyone seeking guidance and inspiration on managing rosacea.

From rosacea skincare tips and sensitive skin makeup tutorials to lifestyle adjustments for rosacea relief. Whether you’re looking for the best rosacea treatments, gentle skincare routines, or just a supportive community that understands your skin concerns, Talonted Lex is your ultimate guide.