La Roche-Posay Effalcar Duo +

You know those products that you love and use day in day out for months but they never come to your attention because you're just so used to them they become invisible? La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo has always been one of those products for me. I started using Effaclar Duo about a year ago, unlike other anti-blemish creams and gels, it isn't drying, it doesn't sting or irritate the skin. I stopped using it for a while and switched to Clinique Clinical Clearing Gel, which I love, but is super pricey for something I get through so quickly.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] Boots £15.50

I decided to switch back to Effacar Duo but was aware it has been re-branded to Effaclar Duo [+] as the formula has been altered. However, I still find it very similar to the original formula and get the same results. It's hosted in a squeeze tube with a narrow nozzle and a screw top lid; super handy for travelling. The formula is a liquid cloudy gel/cream consistency that is applied sparingly on a cleansed face to any problem areas where imperfections occur often or are present (or you can use it all over like me). I apply twice a day along with the rest of my skincare regime, you can just use this and skip moisturiser depending on your skin type but I like to use one just to add more moisture to my face. The difference with the new formula is that it contains an active ingredient which prevents and fades any scarring that many occur after breakouts and calms down any inflammation.

I used to suffer from those horrid under the skin angry pests (also known as cystic acne) and this was the only thing they would calm them down. It feels incredibly soothing when applied and doesn't burn or dry tight like most spot treatments - it's very gentle. I used to use this everyday but recently my skin has been clearing up loads so don't feel like I need it constantly; but I'd struggle without having it to hand and if I've been having late nights, been stressed or my diet hasn't been great, I like to use it as a preventative method. I really struggle to find acne treating products suitable for sensitive skin but this has been a savior and really suited my skin and tackled my problems without disturbing the rest of my face.

Clinque Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

So the newest product to grace Clinique's skincare comes in the form of it's Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel. I'd seen several adverts for this product but it never really entered my want/need list. I haven't had much good experience with these kinds of products and assumed it'd be a waste of money. On my recent trip to Clinique I was informed that this was taking place of the Clarifying Lotion step which I have never been the biggest fan of. I thought I'd give it a try and see if it helped control my breakouts.

The product is effectively a spot fighting gel that can be spot-applied to spots as a treatment or all over the face as a preventative measure to prevent breakouts from occurring. The gel is to be used after cleansing the face, I recommend you use a light moisturiser after also as it's very drying. It has a fairly strong scent of alcohol, I find I have to work quickly when applying as it dries very quickly which means I probably use more than the suggested thin layer. The product is 100% allergy tested and fragrance free meaning it is suitable for sensitive and irritable skin. It controls oil well and I've seen a vast improvement in the amount of excess oil that my face produces since using this product. It also claims to reduce the appearance of pores, I find it tightens the skin quite a lot when applied but this effect isn't long lasting.

The 30ml bottle retails for £20 which is fairly pricey for this type of treatment. I also find because of the tube of the bottle which you have to squeeze to get the product out, I've gotten through my bottle in a matter of weeks which is disappointing. However, the product does an amazing job at clearing up my skin and controlling oil better than anything I've used before. It also doesn't dry your face out and leave flakiness like other stop treatments do. Therefore on that basis I would say it is well worth the money and has quickly became a permanent addition to my skincare routine.

Origins Out of Trouble Mask

When my skin is feeling rather on the spotty side and needs a bit of extra care, I like to add another product into my skincare routine to clear it up. I've never been a believer in face masks, I always used to see them as something people use for more of a cosmetic purposes and not thought they did much good from previous use. That was before I invested in my first 'high end' one in the form of a sample first.

Origins is a brand known for their natural products, the mask contains; Zinc Oxide and Sulfur which absorbs all the build up under your skin and Camphor which is super calming for the skin. The mask does three things, gets rid of oiliness, removes of dead skin cells and eliminates excess debris on the skin. The mask removes any rough texture to the skin and tackles potential outbreaks during/before they occur. The mask is targeted to those of us with problem skin prone to acne, and because of Origin's natural products, it's perfect for those of us with super sensitive skin too.

I apply the mask to a cleansed face once a week of an evening after removing my make-up. I used a index fingers length and then apply to the skin evenly avoiding the eye and mouth area. I then leave the mask on my face for 10 minutes (or usually more as I'm very forgetful). It cools the face down instantly and smells very fresh and natural like plant extracts. When it's time to remove the product, I like to use damp cotton pads or a wet muslin cloth and gently wipe away the product. I also like to splash my face with cool water once it is all removed and pat the skin dry with a clean towel.

I fell in love with this product from the first use, it's so refreshing and doesn't dry the skin out at all. Straight away my the surface of my skin had reduced in redness and irritation and overnight my blemishes have slightly reduced in size. It's quite a miracle product for me and I absolutely swear by this and recommend it to those of you with a similar skin type to me. Although it is quite pricey at £22, the bottle lasts a good time as you only need to use it once a week and it's always worth investing in good quality products that good the job properly.