Vichy Normaderm Triple Action Anti-Acne Hydrating Lotion

So I took the 7-Day Challenge with Vichy's Triple Action Anti-Acne Hydrating Lotion and I was not impressed. The first thing I noticed about this product, is that it gobbs up as soon as I try to put on my face primer. Also, it made it difficult to apply my foundation smoothly as it sits on top of the skin and doesn't completely absorb.
I didn't notice any difference in my skin either. It didn't help clear up any of my existing acne and I blemishes still appeared while and after using his product.nTherefore, I have nothing really positive to say. I still prefer their mattifying moisturizer to any other though!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mat

Purchase: $25 @ London Drugs  Take an Extra 20% off until March 2nd!

Mattifying Effect: 8 out of 10

Moisturizing: 8 out of 10

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mat Fortifying and soothing 24Hr hydrating anti-shine effect (what a mouth full) is a great anti-matifying moisturizer. This product comes in a 50mL bottle (as apposed to Vichy's Normaderm Mat Hydrant 30mL for $30) so you get a little more bang for your buck. I wore this without any makeup on for a day and even went to hula hooping class (that's right, I teach hula hooping classes!) and only had slickness around my nose area. Usually my skin gets pretty oily pretty fast, mind you, it is winter so it is a bit dryer. This product does not have any SPF in it though and so I would suggest this for winter use and the Normaderm mat for summer use. It also gives your skin that little extra moisturizer for the cold winter months so my suggestion is to buy BOTH of these great moisturizers to keep oil-free all year long. This moisturizer is very versatile so I would definitely say that it would benefit all skin types. As always, I would suggest getting a sample from your nearest LD before purchasing to make sure your skin likes it as much as mine.
This is also a Gel moisturizer which works wonders for Oily skin. It can effectively hydrate skin without using any thick cream or oil. Moreover, Gel can also provide the most effective matte effect for those who want smoother skin tone without dullness or dryness. Gel also absorbs in to your skin faster than a creme.

Vichy DermaBlend Concealer

Colour Selection: 5 out of 10
Coverage: 7 out of 10
Blend-ability 6 out of 10
Purchase: $24 @ London Drugs

I don't love this stuff. I use number 15 which has a bit of a yellow undertone to it so I thought it would be good for my under-eye area. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I find that it cakes in the corner of my eye and doesn't blend properly. Also, it settles in the lines in my eyes and accentuates them. Furthermore, there are only a few colours available and they are all fairly dark. The 15 was the closest to my skin tone but did not match correctly. This cover up is also pretty expensive so I would not purchase it again.
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Facial Cleansers and Toners

ROC Hydra+ 3 en 1 (Face & Eyes) Cleansing Moisturizing Tonifying Care

Purchase: London Drugs
Packaging: 3 out of 10
Eye Makeup remover Quality: 6 out of 10
Face cleaning/tonifying Quality: 8 out of 10
Moisturizing Quality: 8.5 out of 10

I love this toner! I often like to use it after a day of work (when I have some make up on) and am then going out again so I need to re-apply. It gets most of the makeup off really well (except for eye makeup) and leaves my skin moisturized and ready for re-application! Also, it is a great toner for those of us with oily skin. Toner actually strips the skin of its natural oils and so those of us with oily skin then produce MORE oil to replace the oil that it has been stripped of, therefore, our skin can become even more oily then before. And for those of you with dry skin, the skin can become even dryer and tighter and can feel uncomfortable/flake after using toner too often. Therefore, Hydra + is a perfect solution! Toning AND moisturizer in one! I love to use this after I wash my face with a facial cleanser/scrub in order to get all the left over film off. Unfortunately, the packaging sucks. The lid to mine broke up after only a few uses but luckily the product has not dried out and it's been at least 5 months! Also it's fairly priced (under $20) and it lasts forever!! (PS. I do not suggest keeping products with broken lids though because it lets in bad bacterias and nobody wants that on their faces!)


Vichy Normaderm Daily Exfoliating Scrub

Purchase: $20 at London Drugs (Currently 25% off)
Cleaning power: 8 out of 10
Gentility: 9 out of 10

This is my go to facial scrub! I use it every time I have a shower and it is very gentle on my face and I love it! You only need a very small amount and it lasts forever! It is very gentle and has tiny micro beads that exfoliate your skin. As you all know, it is VERY important to exfoliate at LEAST once a week and this stuff is so gentle you can even use it daily! I don't suggest using it daily for those of you with sensitive skin because too much exfoliation can make the skin sensitive to everyday irritants like pollution and sun. However, I do suggest using it every second day or so to keep the skin clear of black/white heads and to help the skin rid itself of any leftover dead skin cells that might begin to clog pores.


Vichy Normaderm Gentle Cleansing Gel Cream For Clear Skin

Purchase: $20 at London Drugs (Currently 25% off)
Active Ingredients: Zincadone A + Sebo-Desolving Microdrops
Claim: Face and Eye Area are perfectly cleansed, the epidermis is mattified without over drying
Cleaning power: 6 out of 10
Gentility: 8 out of 10
Moisturizing effect: 9 out of 10
Mattifying effect: 6 out of 10

What is nice about this product is that it is gentle enough to use around your eye area which most cleansers aren't. However, I only use this product like a toner (put some of it on a cotton pad and smooth over face after cleansing). I find it is not strong enough to be used as just a cleanser. The directions say to massage the gel into your face with your fingers and then remove with a cotton pad which I find to be too messy. It also claims that it has a mattifying effect which I haven't really noticed after each use though it make work for some. Like the ROC formula, my skin feels moisturized without tightness or irritation after each use which is important for oily skin. I don't love this product and don't believe I'll be buying it again after I finish the bottle. The bottle has been lasting a very long time though which is nice since it costs less then $20 and is often on sale.


Spectro Jel Cleanser for Blemish-Prone Skin 500mL

Purchase: $9.99-13.99 at London Drugs
Claims: a gentle, non-irritating cleanser formulated to the natural pH of skin, specifically for sensitive and problem prone skin. Recommended by dermatologists. Removes dirt, oil and make-up. Moisturizes and conditions skin. Washes away surface skin bacteria and dead skin cells.

I use this cleanser morning and night! I love it! It is very gentle on my skin and won't cause over drying and is safe to use both night and morning. I usually follow this up with a cleanser to really clear my skin of makeup residue. It's cheap and comes in a huge bottle that lasts forever! A definite must-have for sensitive skin! I would also suggest using this in your morning routine if you use something else at night time (something with medical ingredients like salicylic acid). It is very gentle and I rarely break out using this stuff both morning and night!


Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

Purchase: $7.99 at London Drugs
Moisturizing: 5 out of 10
Cleaning Factor: 9 out of 10
Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid

I used to use this facial wash when I was a teenager and had no acne issues. As I got older, (around 19) I began having issues with acne and so eventually I started using this cleanser again. I loved using this cleanser both day and night but looking back I think it was too harsh to be used at both times. My suggested use for this product is nightly to help get rid of make up and with the power of Salicylic Acid, help rid your skin of pimples. Now that I am on medication for my acne I find that I do not need to use this cleanser at night but for those of you that battle with monthly break outs or re-occurring acne I would definitely suggest using this at night and Spectro jel in the morning. I have found that for those of us with sensitive skin, using too many products containing active ingredients will cause our skin to become irritated and actually break out more than it would otherwise.

Over the years....

Over the years I have spent so much time and money on buying beauty products that I thought I should start sharing my favorite and least favorite products with the public.

I am 25 years old with fair skin. I tan easily and have sensitive-acne prone skin. My complexion is fairly oily and I break out mostly around my T-zone and mouth.

Now that you know my skin type, you can more easily decide if my product reviews are right for you.

Today's Product Reviews:


Vichy Normaderm Pro Mat Hydrant ultra-matifiant SPF 15 30mL

Purchase: $30 London Drugs (on sale now for 25% off)
How long used: 3 days
Moisturizing Effect: 7 out of 10
Mattifying Effect: 10 out of 10
Staying Power: All Day
Frequency of use: Every Morning
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Ensulizole 1.8%


So far this is my favorite matifying lotion! My skin seems to stay oil-free all day even with foundation/cover up on! I will keep everyone posted but so far this is my #1 matifying moisturizer! PLUS it even has SPF 15 which is a MUST HAVE EVERY DAY to keep your skin healthy, and melanoma free! Also!! London Drugs often has sales on Vichy products! Currently they have Vichy for 25% off! So make sure to check your local LD for great deals on all Vichy products.
Update May 8th: I love this stuff!I just went for a walk in the sun on a hot day and my skin is still shine free! Amazing! Something I forgot to mention before though, is that the moisturizer does not get rid of the stubborn flakes I have on my nose :( For this, I suggest a stronger moisturizer that I will talk about later on in the week!


M.A.C. Cosmetics Paint Pot

Purchase: $20 at maccosmetics.ca
Staying Power: 9 out of 10 (Must use eye-makeup remover to get this product off and often takes a few tries. I suggest soaking your cotton pad in the eye makeup remover and holding it on the eye for a minute or so before gently patting the makeup away)
Colour intensity: 10 out of 10 (I only used black, however)
Consistency: medium-thick

I use the black paint pot as an eyeliner. I use a thin brow brush as an eyeliner brush as I find the teeny-tiny paint brushes (normally used as eyeshadow brushes) to be too flimsy. I LOVE this as eye liner! However, this stuff dries out easily/quickly so make sure to close the lid TIGHTLY after every use. The consistency is very thick so it is easy to work with (not too thin/watery). I would definitely suggest this as an Eyeliner, however, I have never bought a coloured one and used it as an eyeshadow.