Hey Guys!
Today's post is a product review or first impression for the La Roche-Posay Effaclar skincare line I discovered at CVS the other day. Although my blog centers mainly around fashion, I will from time to time include posts on beauty products, since I do feel fashion and beauty do go hand to hand and are of interest to many of us women. Notice during fashion week all those makeup trends that evolve?!
For two months, I was taking Biotin 5,000 and didn't notice much of a change in my hair, most likely since I wasn't drinking a ton of water, which supposedly triggers it to work. I did, however, notice that I was breaking out a lot on my face. I did some additional research and learned that many others were experiencing the same side effects with acne when taking such large doses of Biotin. I admit, it wasn't too smart of me to start taking Biotin in such high doses. Usually, when you begin taking a new supplement or product, you should gradually work your way up to the most tolerable dosage or usage that's safe for your body. Well, being the person that I am, wanting results asap, I went straight to the 5,000 instead of starting with 1,000. Keep in mind that my multi had a dosage of Biotin already, so I was actually taking in more than 5,000. As a result, my skin got mad at me and started breaking out. Not only on my face (the cheek area), but also on my chest and back. I stopped taking the 5,000 Biotin after I discovered the correlation and stuck with what's in my new multi, 1,000. Looking for a way to rid my face of all this acne, I tried a ton of organic based products and all seemed to be too light for the issue at hand. I decided to visit a CVS and really browse for a cleanser I felt would work. This particular CVS I went to carries higher end skincare products, also sold at ULTA, which included the La Roche-Posay line. I spoke with a lady who specialized in the higher end products and she suggested this one, so I purchased the two, the purifying foaming gel and the dual action acne treatment. They're quite expensive, totaling near $65 bucks! After using the gel for two days, I woke up yesterday with what appeared to be a burned and swollen face. I had red patches all over my face and the center, near my nose and mouth, appeared much darker than the rest of my face. It also dried it out intensely. It claims to have been tested on sensitive skin, like mine, and is soap and paraben free.
I of course returned the gel, but continue to use the duo treatment, a little goes a long way with this product. I've seen a difference in the redness and severity of the whiteheads, which this is specifically designed for, as well as blackheads. The type of acne I'm prone to is not cystic, it's more of whiteheads, which of course looks horrible under makeup, since you can see all the little bumps which are so hard to get rid of.
I've read quite a few reviews on both products and a lot of people in various age groups recommend both products and claim to have seen a huge difference in the clarity of their skin. Almost all mentioned that it dries out and can initially irritate the skin. The gel has a pH balance of 5.5, which is supposed to help with oily skin by reducing the amount of oil production, which is why it'll dry it out. I will keep you all posted on how it works and if I suggest it. I took a photo before starting it and I intend on taking another within another week or so. If it causes a significant change, I'll most likely record a video review, so I can reach more people and help those who may suffer from acne. In the meantime, I don't suggest using the gel if you have sensitive skin.
Disclaimer: This post has not been sponsored and the items photographed and discussed were purchased with my own money.
XO,
