My skin saviour: Avène CLEANANCE K

I rarely feel compelled to write rave reviews on skincare products,
though today I must give credit where credit is due.

It's rare to come across a skincare product that meets all criteria for an A+ rate; one that is comparable to high-end skin treatments but without the hefty price tag, with top-notch ingredients that actually WORK. For me, the Avène Cleanance K lotion is one of them.

Note: I want to stress that this is my personal experience with the product. Not everyone is going to get the miracle results that I did, so please keep an open mind while reading this review; unless you share the same skin problems that I used to have, in which case you might find it pretty helpful ;)

So, what was my skin like?

In short- oily and prone to blemishes by nature, and yet dehydrated, with awful dry patches that any foundation would accentuate them even more, making my face look just nasty. I tried every trick in the book to get rid of those dry patches, including rich moisturisers and hydrating masks, strong face scrubs and exfoliating pads- nothing seemed to work...

That all changed when I started watching DermTV, the Youtube channel by dr Schultz who is a famous dermatologist from New York (thank you Dimitra for the suggestion!). He always goes on and on about how beneficial glycolic acid can be on nearly every skin type, and rightfully so.

Here's a little wiki info on glycolic acid: it belongs to the α-hydroxy acids family (AHAs), and it's a chemical exfoliator which "loosens" the glue that holds the dead skin cells clinged the surface of the skin. It thus improves the appearance and texture of the skin, while it can also reduce wrinkles, acne scarring and hyperpigmentation. It was first used during in-office treatments by dermatologists, though now one can find over-the-counter skincare products that contain glycolic acid (with a lower percentage that should make the product safe to use at home).

Some new entries: skincare, accessories, and a concert ticket ;)

Hola, beautiful people!

Ahhh, I'm in such a bloody good mood these last few days, so much so that the excitement is killing me! Why, you might ask? Well, you'll see what I'm talking about at the end of this post. But before that, here's my most recent haul ;)

Starting with the skincare bits; are you ready for a bold statement?
Here goes:

I think I've finally found my HG skin saviour.

I'm dead serious, the Avene Cleanance K cream made my skin look practically flawless! Expect to see a whole 'nother post dedicated to this bad boy- I'll give you a little teaser info: it's a gentle chemical exfoliating treatment. I love it to bits!

I was also in need of a new everyday face wash with exfoliating micro-granules, so I opted for the Garnier Pure Active Daily Energising face scrub. This stuff has a fantastic fresh/zingy smell that wakes me up every morning! And then there's a couple of essentials from the Body Shop, namely the Vitamin E cream cleanser + Vitamin E eye cream,

both of which are repurchases. Hey, old habits die hard!

This is a Zara necklace which I bought yesterday, and I really need your help:
is it a keeper, or not?

See, I'm currently loving the "chiffon shirt, skinny jeans and a statement necklace" look, and Zara is the only place with eye-catching necklaces that don't cost the world. Yet, I'm not so sure about this purchase... I'm loving the looks of it, but how many times will I get to wear this mofo? What do you guys think?

Kiehl's: some product reviews and an extra announcement...

For today's post, I thought of putting together some short reviews on the samples I got from Kiehl's two months ago ;)

Starting from my least favourite product and going up to my favourite...



Yerba Mate Tea lotion: please don't get me wrong, it's a lovely moisturiser for oily skin- it didn't break me out and it provided just as much moisture without my skin feeling greasy or tight. However, I can't find it on Kiehl's website so it might be discontinued, hence it's getting the first place of this countdown :(

Over-Night Biological Peel: I remember Lisa Eldridge mentioned in her skincare video that she loathes face exfoliants with scrubbing beads and that she herself uses an over-night exofiant with lactic acid from Dermalogica. This Biological Peel by Kiehl's is on the same line. It's meant to be used before bedtime and you're supposed to sleep with this on your face- but I guarantee you won't feel any itching or tugging or any kind of discomfort. This 5ml sachet lasted me for 10 generous applications and when I was through with it, my skin was a lot calmer and even in tone- plus I noticed a significant difference on my pores' size!

Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped body butter: omg, that's pure lush... I can't think of a better way to describe it! Its texture is really whipped, you can see the air bubbles in the jar! It applies so rich and silky on the skin- and its scent, oh goodness... Just addicting! The 226 g jar may be pretty expensive for a body moisturiser, though the "you get what you pay for" quote couldn't be more appropriate: this body butter feels expensive and smells expensive. In a good way, obviously ;)

Now for a special announcement:

I've been informed that Kiehl's is going to host a Christmas party at Hondos Center Kolonaki where all proceeds from sales will be going to charity! Yes, all proceeds; in this case, Kiehl's will be donating the raised sales' fund to the "Eliza" Society for the prevention of cruelty to children. AND the sales assistants of this event will be no other than hip personas like Giorgos Karamichos, Dimitris Skarmoutsos, Eleni Psychouli and my fave- Alex Kavvadias!!! AND if this wasn't enough, there's even going to be a choco-fountain!!! *drools and searches kitchen cupboard for leftover chocolate*

          Click to enlarge for more info!

I'm so gutted I won't be able to make it as I'm taking an early Christmas vacation (hehe), I'm depending on your feedback from this event! And if you do get to see Alex Kavvadias, please take some extra pictures for my behalf ;)

So, who's planning on going to Kiehl's Christmas party?
Are there any products from Kiehl's you'd recommend? Do share!

CBSG5861

Tea tree oil to combat acne!

Hola, chicas!
Sorry for being MIA during past week :(

I'm back with a product rave,
this time about the Body Shop's Tea tree oil!

But first, some trivia about tea tree oil:

It is is an essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia.

Tea tree oil contains a substantial element called terpinen-4-ol, which is thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial activity.

Because tea tree oil can kill bacteria, applying it topically to acne lesions has been thought to kill Propionibacterium acnes, the skin-dwelling bacteria that is involved in causing acne. Source

Now, tea tree oil shouldn't be used as is, and this is really important. Undiluted tea tree oil can cause serious skin irritations! The best recommended solution is 5-15% tea tree oil diluted in water, grapeseed oil or even alcohol.

The Body Shop's Tea Tree oil is not 100% undiluted oil; it's a ready-to-use solution of 15% pure tea tree oil mixed with water and alcohol.

So, did this product work for me?
Yes!

Since I've used it, I've noticed major improvement in my skin's appearance. I'll explain myself:

• If applied after picking an acne spot (yes, you shouldn't pick your zits but let's face it, sometimes you can't go out the door with a white pimple on your forehead, ewww!!!), this product helps to disinfect the spot and keep the infectious bacteria from spreading around my face.
• It definititely helps to dry out pimples, thus aiding in their faster healing.
• You know how some acne treatments sit uncomfortably on your face, "tightening" the skin on the areas you've applied it and making it dry and flaky? It won't happen with this product, as it contains tea tree oil- but it doesn't feel greasy either. It's quite pleasant to use, if you can tolerate its strong tea tree smell.

The best way to use it is to soak a cotton bud with this solution and apply it on spots after your night skincare routine.

I'm still unsure about the alcohol factor (does it help to dry out spots? does it makes skin more sensitive? I can't make up my mind about it...)- nevertheless I find this product a keeper, since all other products I've tried which are aimed to treat acne made my skin much more worse than it was at the first place...
I'm referring to Garnier's anti-spot roll-on, Korres cinammon&thyme gel, even homemade remedies with lemon... The list is endless!

So, do you have any holy-grail products for treating acne?
Let me know, as I'm always looking for the next best thing out there ;)

CBSG5861

January favourites!

Hi lovelies,
this is a post on past month's most used and loved make-up products!

I always enjoy reading this kind of posts-
so if you have done a similar post on January's favourites,
please share your link below so I can read it ;)

   Onto the products:

TBS Brow/Liner Kit: an excellent product with 2 powders that can work beautifully for brows, as well as for lining the eyes or as crease colours. I'm sure it will last me for years, too! Honestly, I couldn't fault this product; but if I really wanted to be picky, I'd say that the "made in Thailand" tag puts me off a little, as well as the fact that there's only one shade group available in my country (I've seen 3 shades on the UK site).

TBS Brow/Lash Comb: a handy little tool that distributes brow powders more evenly. Love it ;)

TBS Brow/Lash Gel: I simply love this product, it has become a staple in my everyday make-up routine! Brow powders are fine but they can make brows too flat-looking; a little brow gel on top gives them some texture and holds the hair in place.

Eyelash curlers: they're from a brand called Elegant Touch, apparently it's the UK company with the Paris Hilton eyelashes... I got them because they were dirt cheap, something like 4-5 euros. They do the trick though, so no complaints ;)

Manhattan Mousse blush: I love the simplicity behind this type of product; you simply take some with your fingers and spread it on your cheeks- no brush, no fuss. This one gives a "warmer" look than my beloved lip/cheek stain from the Body Shop, which sometimes can look too cool-toned.
TBS Brush on Bronze: I simply can't get over how much I love this product, every single time I use it. Its shimmer particles are so tiny that make it a dependable bronzer/highlighter for daytime, even on faces with visible pores like myself! Be warned though, it falls under the orange-toned bronzing powders...

TBS Tea Tree oil: another brilliant little product by the Body Shop that has helped my acne spots; more about this product on an upcoming post ;)
TBS Concealer Pencil: I have used and loved this concealer for more than a year and I've never given it some blog love! It provides great coverage and is so handy to throw in my handbag for touch-ups during the day. I only use it on acne scars though, it can look too thick if applied under the eyes.

What products have you been loving during January?

CBSG5861

Current Skincare

Hi lovelies,

During past month I've switched my skincare routine because I can't stop feeling some kind of bitterness towards some products I previously used-

I'm looking at you, Korres Materia Herba moisturizer:
you've been a great match but I don't fell like scooping out 35 euros just for your sake >:(

So these are the products I'm currently testing out:

Korres 3 in 1 Cleansing Water: love this, wrote about it in my previous post.
The Body Shop Nutriganics face wash & toner: hmm, both average- not harsh but they seem to do nothing on my skin. Won't repurchase those...
Apivita Aloe mask: what can I say, I'm amazed by Apivita's little sachets- I've yet to find one that doesn't live up to my standards!
Apivita Aqua Vita eye cream: a nice moisturiser for under the eyes, although I'll definitely buy a different product once I'm through with this one.
The Body Shop Tea Tree oil & blemish gel: I'll probably write another post about these two treatments when I've tested them long enough to see if they work... or not.
The Body Shop Aloe day cream: I like this moisturiser a lot, much like the whole Aloe range by the Body Shop- all products are high in aloe juice (it always comes first in the ingredients list) and they contain the least amount of preservatives (so they have a shorter shelf life). Mild formulas, excellent for my combination and sensitive skin. Thumbs up for aloe! 
Apivita face scrub with Lavender and Olive: another favourite, this is probably one of the best face scrubs I've tried so far! It contains crushed olive stones, salicylic acid and menthol- hence the cooling effect when you wash it off ;)

So, any of you tried these products? What's your skincare routine?

P.S.: Today was a marvellous day which called for celebration: we had snowflakes in Athens, yay!!! During past week, the weather was awfully hot for December standards; so at last, winter is officially here and I'm over the moon about it! If you read my blog long enough, you'll probably know I'm more into chilly days than the hot and humid summer season. Too bad there was no wine and biscuits in the cupboard for a proper little fiest :(

CBSG5861