JUNE & JULY, TRIALS, AND PLANNED PURCHASES
ROUTINE
AM
Biologique Recherche Lait U
Vichy Thermal Water (patted dry)
Granions de Selenium
GOW Vitamin C 23%
Frezyderm Velvet Face SPF50 (tinted version)
PM
DHC Cleansing Oil
LRP Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser
Vichy Thermal Water (patted dry)
Granion de Manganese (on P50 nights, I use this after P50)
Mo-We-Fr Medik8 R-Retinoate and Verso Super Eye Serum
Tu-Th-Sa Biologique Recherche P50
Su If I can be arsed I use up masks/sheetmasks/etc. but realistically, I usually just skip straight to moisturiser
LRP Toleriane Ultra Nuit
Also: not technically skincare but after applying the granion I apply Kruidvat Super Lash Serum to my eyelashes nightly.
Also (II): when it’s over 27 degrees my oil production really ramps up, I tend to use P50 AM and PM on nose and chin, followed by a quick clay mask (the same Vichy one Enid has) after cleansing. I don’t have BHA in my skincare wardrobe anymore, otherwise I’d use that (without the clay mask) but I didn’t have time to get the BHA before going on holiday and this routine actually works just as good.
EMPTIES:
LRP Toleriane Ultra Nuit - now a long time staple had a backup and have RP more
Edenens Cleansing Oil - have RP old standby DHC cleansing oil as it worked out cheaper
Uriage Thermal Water - tried it, didn’t love it as much as the Vichy Thermal Water
Chantecaille Perfecting Eyebrow gel (with hair growth peptides) - this was a bit rubbish as an eyebrow gel but great for growing them. Am looking into a solitary hair growth serum instead at the moment, is it rapidbrow that people on here were using, I think Enid was using it successfully but someone else with sperm brows had limited results?
Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser - still like this cleanser but haven’t RP yet. May do so again in winter.
Biologique Recherche Creme Masque Vernix (sample) - I was a bit bored with my minimal but effective routine in June so started shopping my sample stash. This is a bit mumbo jumbo skincare as it’s selling itself as one of the few products available that uses amniotic fluid to stimulate the production of that waxy protective layer newborns are born with (vernix). Further inspection revealed the other ingredients are all great barrier restore ingredients (ceramides, lipids, etc.). Does it give you newborn skin, yes but temporarily. It’s a mask but can be used as a night cream, addictive as it was I was tempted to purchase a full size for occasional use, especially in winter but it’s a hefty price tag. I don’t need it but if I’m ever in need of it I know where to get some.
Biologique Recherche P50 - have RP, obvs.
A313 Pommade (2 tubes) - been using this on my body (as suggested by my dermatologist), initially mixed 1:1 with LRP Cicaplast but I found that too heavy so now it’s about 1:2 with Kiehl’s Creme de Corps body lotion. I’ve been really impressed with it, it’s an excellent exfoliator, it’s worked better than anything else for my KP. It’s also helped with elasticity, I physically felt my skin pulling as suddenly there wasn’t as much give. It’s a bit too sun to judge for stretch marks (main reason I’m using it) but going by results so far I’m expecting just by the skin around it improving at the very least the stretch marks will be less noticeable even if they themselves don’t improve much. It’s a lot more gentle than I expected but then again my body skin isn’t as sensitive. It does heat up briefly after being applied but it’s not bothersome. Have RP 6 tubes.
PRODUCTS ON TRIAL:
Granions de Selenium and Manganese (I also have Cuivre, but yet to use). Officially these are homeopathic ampoules that you drink, diluted in a glass of water. They were suggested to me at Joelle Ciocco when I wasn’t all that interested in their products (they contain a lot of irritants for me). You have to get them OTC in the French pharmacies but they’re available online as well and quite affordable (less than 10 euros each for 30 ampoules), they’re just a high dose of the element in purified water, applied like a serum. The Selenium is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The Manganese and Copper are trace minerals and whilst they have some support behind them as more than just anti-inflammatory agents I’m not crediting them with more than that.
The science behind it is iffy, but I was a touch bored with my routine and when away on holiday almost without actives (bar the P50) and my skin was being a bit annoyed by the heat preceding that already and this all seemed harmless enough. I can definitely vouch for the anti-inflammatory effect, my skin calmed down a lot and it’s very noticeable (my face usually remains a bit red after cleansing for about 30 mins, this takes it down instantly). My skin does appear to be a lot calmer overall and the concept of the ampoules works well in a skincare setting as the actives are suitably high and well preserved for single use and it’s not that different from Serozinc which is just one giant ampoule in a spray can. Incidentally for those with active acne the Zinc and Sulfur granions, known anti acne ingredients, are recced for breakout prone skin.
GOW Vitamin C 23%
Have to say, not that happy with this. Formula is fine (though I’ll switch back to Vichy or Skinceuticals in the winter as I do find the high concentration a touch drying) but the packaging is shit. Had several malfunctions before it finally gave up and broke down completely. To their credit after failing to reply to an email, the live chat on VH was very helpful and sent me a new one within approx. a week (it arrived when on holiday). The new one isn’t that much better though, it works but it squirts out at a ridiculous pressure which usually means I lose about half of it to the mirror 
Biologique Recherche Lait U
They gave me this as a sample when I RP P50, I really enjoyed it, it’s like a nicer version of the LRP Toleriane Dermo cleanser but lighter and without the heaviness but it doesn’t feel strippy either. It’s pricier than LRP but it’s not ludicrously expensive either and you use less of it. Enjoying it so far.
PLANNED PURCHASES:
Just the eyebrow growth serum, would love to hear about Rapidbrow as mentioned above as this has the same peptides as the Chantecaille which did work well for me.
If the heat does continue reaching the high temps again, I may contemplate getting a travel size BHA from Paula’s Choice in.
SPECIAL MENTION:
Kruidvat Super Lash Serum (sorry only available in the Benelux, I think) I mentioned starting this in my last empties. I’m not supposed to be seeing any results yet for another month but at six weeks in my lashes already were noticeably Bambi. They’re also a lot thicker, I’ve stopped using tight liner as it’s just a bit much altogether. Bit scared what they’ll be like at the visible results date.
Also loving the new Dior pump n volume mascara, though it can be a bit Bambi on acid with the above lash results. I need a light hand and then it’s pretty damn perfect, this is the first mascara that I’ve used on its own in a long time (the only other being the Chantecaille Faux Cils mascara), it doesn’t smudge on me, even in 38 degree heat so it’s been very impressive. Thanks, Fools, for egging me on to get it.