My Thoughts Corner

I’ve been meaning to talk about two of my most loved products for quite some time, which have been a complete game changer for my skincare, and these are the apple cider vinegar and the La Roche Posay Pigmentclar Serum Intensive.

I’ve heard almost everyone swearing by the benefits of apple cidervinegar and to be honest I was never sold. I practically believed that nothing could clear my skin from dark spots, acne scars and pimples but expensive products. Clearly a bottle of smelly organic apple cider vinegar wasn’t as classy as my fancy branded ones! Then after converting to coconut oil as a makeup remover, I decided to give the apple cider vinegar a go. I don’t want to sound commercial but it does something in a way that any other lotion/cream failed to do. It’s antiseptic and antibacterial and helps to improve the overall complexion by balancing and restoring the skin’s natural pH. I have noticed my skin tone has evened out significantly, my dark spots and acne scars are lightened and a decrease in the severity of my monthly breakouts. I use organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar with “the mother” mixed with orange blossom water, which helps reducing the smell intensity, with a ratio of 1:3.

I don’t have major skin issue, Thank God; however, I have to deal with hyperpigmentation and acne scars and this is where La Roche PosayPigmentclar Serum comes into the picture. It’s an intensive dark sport correcting serum that tackles uneven skin tone, dark spots and pigmentation. It has a lightweight texture that offers enough moisture without the feel of heaviness. Highly concentrated in PhE-Resorcinol, Ginkgo, Ferulic Acid and LHA, this serum reduces considerably the pigmentation and dark spots. Certainly, it’s not one of those products that will provide results after a short period. I have seen though tremendous change after continuous use. My skin is brighter, even toned and my pigmentation is lightened and I can say that this serum helps also maintain my current radiant complexion.

The La Roche Posay Pigmentclar Serum and the apple cider vinegar made it to the top of my skincare regimen. They have done wonders to my skin which most expensive products failed to therefore I will forever be a loyal customer and a promoter.

It’s always a joy for me to walk into Lush Shops. I mainly find myself hooked by their exfoliators and masks for the fact that they’re perishables and made from fresh ingredients ONLY. During this time of year, I couldn’t stop myself from picking, once again the Let The GoodTimes Roll Cleanser, previously reviewed here, which became a season staple for me, and the Cup O’ Coffee Face and Body Mask.

For the past couple of years I tried few DIY coffee scrubs which quickly became regular on my weekly beauty menu. I was though intrigued by the Lush naming of this mask and the texture that is grainy, not too rough though nor too runny.  The obvious main ingredient being coffee energizes and exfoliate tired skin while the kaolin clay deep cleans the pores, conjointly with the Agave syrup which is key in holding this mask together.

I tend to apply this mask in the shower only as it tends to be messy in the sink. However, the exfoliation of the Cup O’ Coffee mask is absolutely glorious. The caffeine in fact stimulates the blood circulation which appears in the form of a radiant and brighter skin.

I don’t drink coffee nonetheless I love the smell. Yet the Cup O’ Coffee smell doesn’t remind me exactly of freshly brewed coffee but more of a flavored one with vanilla and cocoa which I can only describe as delightful.

I’m very happy I got to try the Cup O’Coffee Face And Body Mask. If it wasn’t for the shelf life of Lush products, I would stuff my bathroom with it. It assuredly delivers softer, plumper, and polished skin leaving you with a chic feeling.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Hi Everyone,

Today I will take you through my summer morning skin care routine and if you are new to my blog, I have normal to dry skin and I live in very hot and humid Dubai. In my choice of products here I mainly focused on hydrating and protecting my skin as it gets unbelievably dehydrated and tend to look dull due to high temperatures and continuous running AC everywhere. Saying that, lightweight products are definitely my picks.

It is a very simple and minimal regimen featuring some nice products I have been lovin’ lately. I first start by splashing cold water on my face and brushing my teeth of course and I will then grab my Garnier Smoothing Cream Cleanser. This is a gentle and creamy cleanser that helps restore the softness of the skin without drying it out. It contains Jojoba and Macadamia Oils and I really enjoy it however I won’t be repurchasing it as it has paraben.  Right after, and it’s probably my favorite part, which is toning. For that, I spritz my DIY toner or facial mist, whatever you wanna call it, which consists of ½ cup Organic Witch Hazel, ½ cup rose water and lavender essential oil (you can add any essential oil of your choice). I’ve got to say that I’m so in love with this toner, it’s so refreshing and the smell is just stunning; it’s exactly what you need to start your day.

Next, is a step I’ve been re-applying lately and I’m really lovin’ it. It is the serum and I’m using the organic Argan Oil for that. I don’t think I need to talk any further about how amazing this oil is; it helps keep my skin incredibly hydrated and supple throughout the whole day. The last step is moisturizing and I start by applying the Clinique Superdefense SPF 20 age defense eye cream, which is my favorite because it’s so lightweight and has SPF 20 which is really rare finding in eye creams and coming to my face and neck I applied for the past couple of months the Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream, which I reviewed here but for the past week or ten day I’ve been enjoying the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light. I’m really liking this one because it’s so lightweight with a typical scent of the french skin care products, as I believe is based on water and sinks immediately into the skin providing the necessary hydration you need for the day. Another reason why I love this moisturizer is because it reminds me a lot of my adorable auntie Latifa in Paris as she used to have exactly the same scent and I just wonder if she wasn’t using the same cream???  

Last but certainly not least, and this step comes just before applying my makeup, I apply a sunscreen, even if I’m not leaving the house and my go-to one is the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Comfort Cream. I’ve got to say that it’s NOT a lightweight one. It gets a tiny bit sticky on the face and has a thin white layer, just like most of sunscreens but for a maximum protection of SPF50+ I don’t really mind that. Not to forget my lips, I’ve been using the Avene Cold Cream Lip Balm which kinda works for me only in hot months and I can’t stand it in winter. Weird No????

This is it for my morning summer skin care routine. Hope this post was helpful and stay tuned for the evening one. Have a great day!

Keep on reading if you're curious to know what my skin care routine looks like but I'm keeping the descriptions really brief.

The morning: 

For normal days, the tea tree & witch hazel foaming facial wash (check the review here) does the job.

For lazy days: The Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser gives a fresh cooling feeling. I'm just finishing the bottle I have and will not re-purchase it. Click here for my review. 

To soften the skin and prepare it for an optimal absorption of what lies ahead I use the Clinique clarifying lotion as a toner which provides a cold, clean and fresh feeling... 

Best part of my morning routine is the serum. It's my secret weapon for a great skin and I can't stress out enough its importance... For this I choose to use only argan oil to get the most of its benefits. 

For hydrating and protecting the eye area I gently pat the Clinique superdense SPF20 age defense eye cream and I finally moisturise my face and neck with Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion +. This is such an effective and nourishing moisturiser, it is also light and non greasy that I highly recommend however I would rather find a morning moisturiser that has an SPF.

The evening:

Once my day is over,  and as I wear a fair amount of makeup, I prefer to cleanse twice. I first start with the  Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (reviewed earlier) for face and the Garnier Express 2 in 1 Eye makeup remover. Second I use the the tea tree & witch hazel foaming facial wash with my clarisonic mia 2 to deep cleanse and unclog my pores. 

Every second day I love to exfoliate my skin to remove all impurities to revitalize the overall tone and texture of the skin, I skip the clarisonic on these days, and for this I simply switch between one of my on-hand exfoliaters:  

Hollywood Style Papaya Scrub.

My next step is my same toner, then comes my second best part in this routine; my DIY Essential Oils Serum. I choose to apply it first to ensure that it infiltrates into my skin as any product applied before would just be a barrier. 

As for my treatment, I apply the Clinique even better clinical dark spot corrector over my entire face including my eyes to lighten the dark spots and circles and yes it is doing a great job I have to admit. I follow by gently tapping the eye area using the Clinique all about eyes  which I got as a sample... I'm kinda loving it but I keep on thinking if I should consider another one. Finally my moisturiser remains the same as for morning.

And to pamper my skin, I tend to apply masks once to twice a week. My favorite ones for the time being are:

DIY Masks: Incredible for pulling out all blackheads and clogged pores. Find the recipes here.

Clinique Moisture Surge: It's a great product, very moisturising and still light. 

Either it's morning or evening, I always  allow each product 1 to 2 minutes to sink into the skin. 

Thank you for reading and I hope it has been informative! And always remember, that my routine is only an example, not a template!