Yes, you read that title right. Changed my LIFE. First things first, I've been waiting for La Roche-Posay to launch in South Africa since I've discovered that the only products my skin can handle is French skincare. My skin is literally the most pedantic thing - touch it wrong and I'll break out or get rosacea (I'm not over exaggerating).
Lets have a little history lesson:
When I turned 19, all hell broke lose on my face. I completely missed the high school teenager acne, and only got in in my 2nd year of university. I tried every product on the face of this planet, cleansing twice, exfoliating, salicylic acid, cosmetological treatments, cleansing brushes and it just kept getting worse. No one knew what the problem was since I was a shining beacon of health when it came to eating healthy and exercising. It got to a point when I'd wake up in the morning in pain from the grade 3/4 cystic acne, and would find any excuse not to show my face, not to take photos or even leave the house. (I'm still hesitant about showing people pictures)
When I turned 21, and there had been no natural improvement in the painful monstrosity happening on my face, I'd finally had enough. I went to a dermatologist and got a 6 month course of antibiotics and a prescription gel called Epiduo which is a hybrid of 2,5% benzyl peroxide and 0,1% adapalene.
My face cleared completely within 4 months MIRACULOUSLY, probably since I have never in my 21 prior years have taken a course of antibiotics... ever. Literally a shining beacon of health I tell you (well up to my mom and dad). The only thing I have left now is some slightly uneven skin tone and brown pigmentation which has almost disappeared with this.
Now here's the important things I've learned from my dermatologist :
- Apply the least amount of facial skincare products that you possibly can. Preferably a 2 step ritual only - cleanse and moisturize. DONE.
- MOISTURISE. MOISTURISE. MOISTURISE. Especially if you live in a mountainous area, like Johannesburg where the air is very dry.
Enter La Roche-Posay:
For those who have used Epiduo, you know how dry and irritated it can make your face feel during the 1st month. For those of you who have combination skin like me, know how hard it is to find a moisturizer that doesn't clog pores in your T-zone but also doesn't make the rest of your face feel like the Sahara desert.
I have used too many expensive moisturisers that were suited for intolerant skin, but almost all of them have left me with what looked like an allergic reaction or rosacea. My skin either felt too tight, or covered in something too rich, or just plain itchy.
With skin as sensitive as mine, and completely intolerant of absolutely anything, I have finally found the HOLY GRAIL OF MOISTURISERS. The La Roche-Posay Toleriane range is formulated specifically with Thermal Water (with lots of yummy vitamins like Magnesium and Selenium that balance the pH of your skin) and the formula has been stripped down to the bare essentials so that it does not irritate or aggravate the skin.
My current skincare routine consists of the following (AM & PM):
- Cleanse with Avene Gentle Cleansing Foam
- Spray with Avene Thermal Water as a toner to neutralize my skin's pH after tap water
- Apply La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra cream
My skin is literally so radiant, no blocked pores, well moisturised on both my T-zone and my dry cheeks, and I could not have been happier with the results. I'm a point where I think I will use this cream for the rest of my life. It is the only moisturiser to not irritate or aggravate my poor skin after what its been through.
I hope you find this useful if you've ever been through the same adult acne woes.
