La Roche-Posay

The great thing about french brands is they offer good value for well tested products. La Roche-Posay is no exception. I think the main thing you'll notice if you upgrade your skincare routine from supermarket brands to mid-range pharmacy brands is, other than the price, all over face treatments (as appose to spot treatments) and alcohol free toners.

Effeclar Duo [+]

One thing about french bands are the confusing names. It takes a while to get used to each name for each range for each brand. Effeclar is La Roche-Posay's answer to acne. Effecalr Duo is a full face treatment (in the UK, its a spot treatment in the US). This is something you don't really find in cheaper brands, but there is a spot treatment if you feel you need it, and I feel it really makes a difference from blemishes and larger acne to scarring. Although I don't feel this will clear moderate acne unless another cream is used along side like Benzyl Peroxide.

Serozinc

Again weird name, its a spray toner or spray onto cotton pad if you don't like being sprayed in the face. As I mentioned earlier: alcohol free, which means you can probably apply as much as you want without drying your skin. I think this complements effeclar duo, but if I could only pick one, it would be effeclar duo. 

A Few Things From: The Body Shop

I went into the Body Shop as I do quite often and picked up a couple items. Here are some quick reviews.

Tea Tree Toner

I'm I fan of toners, I think even the simplest skincare routine should include a toner. What is often overlook especially in cheaper ranges is leave on products and I think a toner offers a light weight leave on.


I like the tea tree toner from The Body Shop because although it contains alcohol, its not much, not enough to feel it when you use it. I think its a good price as it's 400ml for £5.50. This places it well between cheap alcohol filled toners and the alcohol free toners like lush's' tea tree toner.

One thing that's sets it apart from other toners is the mattifying powder it contains for which you have to shake up to use.

I don't think this product alone is going to give you clear skin, but it sure will help. If your looking for a lighter alternative to benzyl peroxide this would be a good consideration but won't be as affective.

Blackhead Remover

If you've not seen one of these before it might look like a surgical instrument buts its not that scary. Buy placing pressure around a blackhead it pushes them out like squeezing with you fingers never could. If you don't believe me then check out all the videos on youtube.

That aside, I've used blackhead removers in the past three times the price, this being £4, and there really is not difference. I like this one because it has a square handle meaning it doesn't roll around.

Its easier to push out larger blackheads but once you get a good technique your be extracting like there's no tomorrow. It works best after steaming or placing a hot cloth on your face. I like to do it after I've cleansed my face using hot water till I can feel the ends of the blackheads poking out.