TheMadReviewer
Member Since: November 27, 2019Reviews
Vertese Omega Oils 3-6-9
The blend of oils in these is fantastic. They contain vitamin E as well as the Omega blend, which is flaxseed, Sunflower, Pumpkin, wheat germ, evening primrose, rosemary and rice bran (whew!) They're not too big, and easy to swallow, and I've not... +
The blend of oils in these is fantastic. They contain vitamin E as well as the Omega blend, which is flaxseed, Sunflower, Pumpkin, wheat germ, evening primrose, rosemary and rice bran (whew!)
They're not too big, and easy to swallow, and I've not had any problems with them bursting or breaking, as some soft gels do. They're also vegetarian, and it's not as easy as it should be to find a good all-in-one veggie Omega, most are made with fish. These are also a good dose, so you only have to take one a day - unlike some vitamin manufacturers who will sell you a bottle of pills that you have to take 3-6 of a day.
They are a bit expensive compared to other Omega complexes, but not compared to other vegetarian formulas.
I first found them on Amazon, but you can also get them in Boots.
I would note, however, that these Vertese omega capsules contain wheat germ oil - some people with celiac disease have a problem with wheat germ oil, and if you're allergic to wheat, it's a definite no. So that's something to bear in mind before buying - if you're okay with wheat germ oil, I would highly recommend these pills :)
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Mehron Barrier Spray
I bought this with high hopes, but unfortunately, it really doesn't work (at least for me). The main two ingredients are alcohol and water, which is about what you'd expect for a fixing or setting spray. The Amazon page suggested that this spray... +
I bought this with high hopes, but unfortunately, it really doesn't work (at least for me). The main two ingredients are alcohol and water, which is about what you'd expect for a fixing or setting spray.
The Amazon page suggested that this spray would both set makeup, so that it lasted longer, and also prevent sweating. Notably, the bottle doesn't say that it prevents sweating, it just includes the claim that it 'allows makeup to stay on longer'.
I found that it did not prevent sweating in any way, and it didn't make my makeup last any longer. The biggest problem though - even more so than it not doing what it said it would - is that, after a few hours, make up set using this spray would begin to develop a really unpleasant and noticeable texture, kind of melting and falling apart and developing into little flat clumps on the skin. The only fix is to completely remove all makeup and start again. You can't try to fix it by applying other makeup over the top to smooth it out, as the spray causes all makeup applied over it to do the same thing.
I partly wonder whether this spray is only designed to be used over Mehron stage makeup, though nothing on the bottle or in the online description suggests as such.
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Avène Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water
have both the largest and the smallest bottles of this spray - one lives with my daily skincare products, and the other in my bag for travelling. The great thing about this spray is that it has so, so many uses. And once you have it, you keep... +
have both the largest and the smallest bottles of this spray - one lives with my daily skincare products, and the other in my bag for travelling.
The great thing about this spray is that it has so, so many uses. And once you have it, you keep finding more!
Before I tout all the ways I love and use it for skincare, it's worth remembering that this is essentially water in a can. I wouldn't recommend drinking it, but if you happen to camp, or go to festivals, or on long trips, having a mini in your bag is just a really, really good idea, and even the littlest one should last a weekend of heavy use. Think hygiene, sunburn, overheating and bug bites.
If you don't intend to use it for skincare, and you don't care about the 'mineral' aspect, some of the rest of this review might not be too relevant to you, BUT one thing every user should know is that after you've sprayed it on, you should wait a few moments and then
PAT OR TAP THE EXCESS WATER IN /OFF.
This is because allowing the excess water spray to sit on your face for too long, will mean that it can start to evaporate off your skin, and this will take some of your important skin moisture and goodies with it.
On the bottle it says to wait a few minutes before removing the excess water, but it's going to depend on where you're using it, in terms of whether it's windy, sunny, has air-con etc. Use your own sense of judgement on this, and don't spray too much on at one time, as it's more to evaporate off. Use a little, pat it in, then repeat if necessary :)
Now, on to beauty and skincare!
... My personal favourite way to use this spray is after cleansing and toning, and before applying hyaluronic acid or skin creams. Lightly spray all over your face, wait a few moments, then PAT OR TAP IN / OFF.
After the water spray has been absorbed and any excess removed, I apply a hyaluronic acid to my face - using the spray first just gives the skin some extra water for that HA to hold on to. Similarly, using a water spray in the same way, but before applying a moisturiser in the morning or evening, just means there's a little more moisture for your creams to 'lock in'.
I use Avene water spray for a variety of other stuff too - it's just a very handy thing to have around, especially if you're 'into' skin care and makeup, and it can help to avoid a lot of the 'getting up and going to a sink/basin' that can so slow down a morning or evening routine. For example...
- Use with cotton wool to wipe makeup residue from brush handles, tweezers, mirrors, small brushes, hands etc (great when you're applying a lot of skin creams and face makeup and want to wipe down your hands between steps)
- Spray onto cotton wool or a face cloth to remove masks, cleanser residue, oil based cleaners and so forth
- Spray on to brushes if you're using an eye shadow 'wet' for richer colour
- Use to calm skin if you've used a product it doesn't like
- As a quick fix if you've overdone the powder and your face is looking 'cakey'
- On cotton buds to tidy up lipstick
And of course, it's cooling and refreshing. I have quite sensitive skin, so it's great if I'm a little red or puffy. It's absolutely NOT IRRITATING.
I have also heard of people using water sprays to set their makeup. I haven't tried this - I use a setting spray - but I can confirm that, other than non-waterproof mascara, a spritz of this over makeup won't cause the makeup to slip or budge. Just make sure you're holding the can at arms length, so you don't get too much water in one place, which can messy things up a little!
Finally... 'Minerals and Brands'
There's a lot touted about the benefits of the minerals in these sorts of mineral water sprays, but I'm not entirely convinced that they do much of anything when you apply the water topically (to your skin), so that's not my motivation in buying them. If that does happen to be what's drawing you to the product though, it's worth looking at the different mineral contents of waters online - the water La Roche Posay one uses contains much higher mineral levels than this Avene one, and I think basically tops the list for mineral content among the most readily available thermal waters, but it's always worth checking what's selling in your country. That said, the La Roche spray is also quite a bit more expensive, so for my purposes, the cheaper Avene spray is perfect
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Decleor Aroma White C+ Face Wash
purchased this from a Decleor counter after describing some of my skin issues - serious oilyness, open pores, acne scarring - to the lady and being recommended it. The first thing I would say is that this is a really inexpensive face wash. I... +
purchased this from a Decleor counter after describing some of my skin issues - serious oilyness, open pores, acne scarring - to the lady and being recommended it.
The first thing I would say is that this is a really inexpensive face wash. I thought I was spending a lot of money when I first bought it, but you really do need an amount significantly smaller than a pea to wash your entire face and neck - all in all I think it works out far cheaper than a lot of less pricey face washes.
This face wash contains an emollient - although it's slightly oily, creamy and thick coming out of the tube, when you mix it with water it turns into a sort of very soft, spreadable foam. You need to work it up a little on your face to get this effect, but that's pretty much par for the course in washing your face.
I would recommend removing eye makeup first, and perhaps face makeup too, if you wear a lot. This is a very comprehensive wash - it's going to take most stuff off - but i wouldn't use it around the eye area, as it is a strong cleanser, and it may be a little too much for such a sensitive area. I also once accidentally poked myself in the eye with this stuff on my finger, and it stung like a beast, so there's that lol.
It leaves skin feeling really clean and lovely and soft, but it's possible to overdo it and for skin to be left feeling tight (not a good thing). I tend to alternate it, using it once a day or every other day. I would only recommend this facewash to people who have oily skin - dry skin types, and drier combination skins, might not get along with it. But, for oily skin types, this really does leave skin looking and feeling fantastically clean and matt.
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La Roche-Posay Effaclar DUO Dual Action Acne Treatment
I originally bought this product because I had seen it advertised in several magazines in segments where dermatologists reccomend products. Since then I've bought several tubes! I have been suffering from severe acne my whole life, and recently... +
I originally bought this product because I had seen it advertised in several magazines in segments where dermatologists reccomend products. Since then I've bought several tubes!
I have been suffering from severe acne my whole life, and recently (at 30 years of age) I was once again put on antibiotics to clear it up. I also have quite sensitive skin and tend towards Rosacea.
Before this most recent bout of antibiotics, by far the most effective product I had found was this moisturiser.
There is also a toner, but my experience is from using just the moisturiser. I will say that it can be hard to find the right product for you in this range. Many look similar, the names are pointlessly confusing (and in French) and there are several very similar products with no advice on how to choose the right one. I am thinking particularly of the Effaclar k+, and Effaclar H, both easily muddled up with the Effaclar duo).
However, once you get the right one, it's effective! Obviously you have to use it for a while and consistently to get a good result, but I definitely noticed a real and significant difference after several weeks of use. My acne was less severe, I had fewer pimples and cysts. It didn't entirely eliminate the problem, but it certainly beats out any other similar products. It also never irritated my skin and it didn't cause Rosacea flare-ups - a lot of acne treatments contain ingredients which are harsh on skin.
It makes a decent base if you want to apply makeup on top of it.
You'll want to use a different cream for around the eyes, and if you tend towards dryness, you may want to pat on something a little heavier over the dry areas. The Effaclar H is perfect for that - it's designed for people with acne who are using acne treatments which are drying their skin.
Conversely, I would say that this product can leave you a bit shiny / oily, not immediately after application, but later in the day. There is a separate product in the same range, Effaclar MAT, a moisturiser which helps to keep your skin matte throughout the day (see what I mean about the product confusion?) That said, I didn't find this strong enough for my particular level of shine!
The only loss of stars is on price. This product isn't crazy expensive, it's mid-range. However, La Roche Posay is owned by a L'oreal, which could undoubtedly afford to price it more cheaply, and I wonder whether the price is specifically to make it feel more high quality, more expert.
Still, I would reccomend this product, especially for those with sensitive skin. If you're shopping for a teen who is struggling with acne, I think it would be good to consider this product over the cheaper, more prolific ranges aimed at teen skin, which can often cause flare-ups just by virtue of their harsh ingredients.
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