La Mer - Is it worth the hype?

I've been MIA for far too long but I'm back at it again and excited to blog a lot more frequently!! 

I thought I'd start with a blog about skincare since I've been obsessed with skincare ever since I was a little girl. Back then it was simply because of the fascination for the cucumbery or rosy smell of my mothers creams, lotions and potions which inspired images in my head of being all grown up, sophisticated and elegant.
Fast forward to my teenage years I was struggeling with acne and oily skin which (still fueled by my obsession for skincare, beauty and perfect skin) lead me to really research different products and with the help of my dermatologist figure out what works and what doesn't for my skin type and also develop a routine of always cleansing, toning and moisturizing every morning and every night.

Leaving my teenage years behind my skin type changed to pretty normal a bit on the drier and sensitive side with the occasional hormonal breakout.

As you can imagine I tried a lot of products over the years. Some cheaper ones like nivea and some really high end ones. Since there's so many great products out there it can be really overwhelming to decide what to buy and I always think hones reviews from my favorite beauty bloggers or platforms like makeupalley are so so helpful in deciding weather you should splurge on a certain item.
But sometimes there's a lot of hype around certain products and in my opinion it's not always worth it.



La mer is a extremly well known beauty brand hyped and talked about by a lot of celebrities and in loads of magazines and blogs. But there's a hefty pricetag attached to that brands name so I bought a couple of products and really tested them over a longer period of time to report back and share my opinion on weather you should guiltily spend that money or not.

The Moisturizing Soft Cream







































I never actually tried the classic la mer moisturizer but I opted for the la mer soft cream, which is a lighter version of the cult product. It's infused with the same Miracle Broth of the original one so it's supposed to renew and energize your skin.







































I think it's a really good moisturizer and I would happily buy it again if there weren't so many equally great and less expensive moisturizers out there with basically the same effect (I don't know about long term effects but the immediate ones are comparable to say Embryolisse which you can get for a fraction of the price…)

The Face and Body Gradual Tan







































This self tan is a gradual self tanning lotion and moisturizer in one. This stuff is basically what gets me through february.  My skin hasn't seen the sun in months and I'm super pale so this stuff is great since it gives a very natural tan, you can use it on your body or face and it doesn't smell like fake tan which is always a bonus. It's expensive but gives a nice not orange shade of color so I would definitely recommend it.

The SPF 18 Fluid Tint







































I love tinted moisturizers or BB creams so I had to try the la mer one. It has really little color pay off it's more like a slight colored veil over your face. I use it to just run errands or in combination with a concealer for a more polished look. For my drier skin it's not moisturizing enough during winter and I always have to use a serum or moisturizer underneath it, which kind of defeats the purpose. If you have combination or oily skin I think it would be a good option if you're looking for a really natural looking tinted moisturizer. The ingredients are certainly a plus. I use the shade light 02 but since the coverage is really natural I think I could get away with 01 or 03 as well. (I think this one is discontinued but there is a new Version out called The Reparative Skin Tint SPF 30)

The Broad Spectrum SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid







































One really outstanding product is the spf from la mer. I have freckles so I've always been diligent with my spf. What I hate is how most spf somehow leave your skin feeling coated and waxy. On the beach that's one thing because you're sweaty and salty anyway but on a day to day basis I've always had difficulties finding a high spf which feels non tacky and natural. This one is super thin and weightless and great for underneath your makeup so I would definitely recommend giving this one a try if you're having the same issues. (As you can see on the picture I've used quite a lot already….)

The Treatment Fluid Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15







































My shade in this foundation is 01 Crème and to be honest I don't reach for this one that often (not that it's bad, I just have better ones laying around I guess…) It's really moisturizing and I think even for drier skin this would be too much in humid/hot weather and I personally like dewy skin but in a way I can control and certainly not all over. My shade is the lightest shade and it's quite dark so extremely pale girls could struggle finding a shade that fits…

So all in all la mer has some great products that are worth investing and others which aren't really worth it in my opinion. You should check out some reviews on your desired product before investing!
Some products I'd still really like to try are the new The Renewal Oil, The Intensive Revitaizing Mask and their Lip Balm!

Best and worst lip balms for dry winter skin

So I thought I'd do a quick round up of lip balms that I'm currently using.

I was looking through all my handbags and beauty cases to gather them together and I'm sure I forgot a couple because my bags are like a black hole that swallow lip balms and then somehow spit them out again usually when I've long forgotten about them... 

Does that happen to you too??

Anyway I'll review the ones I found

Starting with the most popular and beauty staple of a lot of models and actresses: Homeoplasmine

I bought it in a french pharmacy after reading rave reviews from all the models and industry experts on intothegloss.com (if you don't know that site yet definitely CHECK IT OUT!). It's a fatty cream for all kinds of skin irritation (you can also use it on babies and it's apparently popular as a nipple cream) 

It protects your lips acting as a shield which is great for cold weather but I feel like it seals in moisture but you'd have to get the moisture from a less fatty lip balm before and then seal it with homeoplasmine if you're starting out with chapped or really dry lips.

This lip balm, Vaselina Neutra Perfumada, I got at a drugstore in spain. Nostly because I like the mintyvanilla smell and the gold/pink/red packaging. 

It's good for summer and ok for drier wi ter lips bit nothing too special.

This La Roche Posay Anthelios XL 50 + Stick is a lip balm I only use when being in the mountains skiing. I like it for the SPF 50 but it's a regular lip balm and nothing special.

Dermophil Balsam Stick is not only for lips but for all kinds of skin irritations including sunburns (that's what it says, I never actually used it ob sunburns before). It looks like a glue stick, so it's not that handy but a good night stand staple. The smell is medicinal and slightly weird and I prefer it for night time use, not going out obviously but for an overnight treatment because you have to watch out on how much you use, as it can give a slightly balmy beige or white look to your lips. Except from that it is a reaaly really great treatment for dry lips and I would definitely recommend it. 

Those Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms I bought because they deliver a hint of color while still being somewhat moisturizing. One is called DrRescue medicated lip balm but I don't think it's better then the regular one. I prefer these over plain vaseline and like the regular one for the slightly nude effect it delivers.

This MAC Tinted Lip Condotioner in Petting Pink with SPF 15 is a good everyday lip balm. I use it in winter and summer, it has an SPF, is moisturizing and gives a slight pinkish tint to the lips. There are other colors available and I'd definitely recommend this one.

Bought it at BOOTS in London because it looks berry red and smells good but while giving your lips a smooth feeling, it doesn't really do much and doesn't have a lasting impact. I wouldn't buy it again.

Carmex. Quite popular in switzerland, you can buy this in every pharmacy here.

This one is cherry flavoured bit there's a weird after taste. I once was studying at the library and some guy commented that it smells like a shisha smoking lounge in there. I found out later that it was because of that lip balm. Give it to your niece or baby cousin, it's too strongly scented for a grown up if you ask me...

This one is a personalited one I got from my grandmother. It's from an irish perfumery called The Burren Perfumer and it's their Honey and Beeswax Organic Lip Balm. It has a lot of good and moisturizing ingredients in it but it's one of those slippery shiny ones that I always seem to eat (not on purpose!!). Smells like Aveda or Aesop products which I like but I'm not really using it often.

This Bobby Brown EXTRA Soothing Balm is reeeally good. I love the heavy glass packaging and the minty slightly medicinal smell. The consistency is thick which I really like because I feel like it sticks better and stays on longer. I bought it at an airport after reading good reviews on it on makeupalley, because I always get extremly dry lips on airplanes. My lips felt smooth and plump even after a six hour flight. It's more on the expensive side but I wouöd definitely repurchase! 

Cheap buy. This is the Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Lip Therapy. I think the content is the same than the stuff in the big Vaseline containers, just more conveniently packaged. I actually never use this. There are a lot of people who swear on Vaseline but I was never one of them. 

Bioderma Atoderm Lèvres Stick hydratant. I like the pleasant smell. The conditioning effect is good. Great Lip balm for normal (not really dry) lips or for summer.

I first bought the Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm because of it's yummy smell. But I fell in love with it after I realized that this stuff can even heal my most parched chapped and dry lips. If you use it before bed you wake up with smooth and healed skin. The scent is divine. The packaging cute and vintagey. What's not to love. And it's the only lip balm I ever finished!! After that I wanted to try the Minted Rose scent. I thought it was going to be the same product with a different scent but it feels nothing alike (i think). It's more slippery and not as soothing. Some might like the tingly mint effect/taste but I was a little disappointed after loving the strawberry one that much. Still ok though.

This is a staple at our household. My mum's been buying it for as long as I remember. It reminds me a little of Homeoplasmine but this Bepanthen Salve acts less like a barrier and is more healing. Seriously worth a try even though it sadly doesn't look or smell fancy.

My next Lip Balm purchase will be the Creme de la Mer Lip Balm. I only heard great things about it (it's insanely expensive though...) 

What's your favorite Lip Treatment during the cold winter months?

Favorite Fall Lip Colors

I like my makeup to be fairly decent and minimal during the day but with my summer tan fading and the bad weather here in switzerland comes the dull skin and washed out complexion. 

Nothing perks skin up like a little color on the lips, even if it's just a slight wash of berry or a little hint of mauve. 

Here's a roundup of my current favorite everyday colors. Nothing too exiting since I like to play it safe during the day but nontheless nice everyday pick me up staples. 

My most used one right now is this MAC Lipgloss in the color oversexed. Love the name. It tingles slightly and smells like peppermint.

To stay with glosses, CHANEL Glossimer in Nr. 87, great for a night out because it really plumps up your lips. (Always a plus in my book!)

And another Chanel, Rouge Coco Shine in Evasion!

Rouge Dior Nude in Charnelle, leans warmer, a favorite all year around!

Estee Lauder Pure Color in Crystal Baby, a cooler light pink color...

Dior Addict Lip Glow, nice and moisturizing. It adapts to the individual skin tone. On my lips it develops to a glossy medium pink. 

Catrice in Ginger & Fred has tiny gold sparkles but in a nice way... 

Clinique Chubby Stick in Graped Up, really pigmented for a chubby stick!

Chanel Rouge Coco in Ruban Rose, I had this one for ages but I still love it for healthy looking lips!

Have a good monday! 

Acqua di Parma Rosa Nobile Review

Close to the beautiful Place des Vosges which you should definitely visit if you're around the le Marais area is the first and only Acqua di Parma Boutique in Paris. It's small but beautiful and has all the nice stuff including some limited edition versions of the perfumes.


I really like most of the Acqua di Parma scents because of their elegant feel but a lot of them are really citrusy and some even a little masculine so I was really excited to hear that they launched Acqua di Parma Rosa Nobile.

It's a soft and really feminine scent. You know how some perfumes are best to wear in the evening because they feel deep and sexy or some scents who smell like a tropical island vacation  which are the ones you particularly enjoy in summer? Well this one is a scent who just smells really pretty and clean.

It's the kind of perfume you'd enjoy wearing on a nice spring day as well as on a stroll through the park in autumn. The rose isn't a dusty "grandma" one (don't get me wrong, I sometimes like the classy old lady scents as well!!) but it's a fresh and clean interpretation of a rose. It reminds me of a freshly cut big pink rose and I'm not just saying that because of the way they're presenting it. There's a certain sweetness to it without it being overly sugary or sirupy sweet, which I personally don't really like.


So as you probably already guessed, I really really like it and will probably be wearing it whenever I want to feel clean, put together and pretty!!

Oh and I asked, it's in the permanent collection!

French Pharmacy

If you're interested in beauty and skincare you probably already know that french pharmacies are known for their good quality skincare (Even Gwyneth Paltrow raves about it on her website goop.com and Lisa Eldridge has a whole video on french beauty buys!).

And if you're really really into skincare and been to paris you might know City Pharma. 

It's a pharmacy in Saint Germain (near Café de Fleur, which you should check out anyway!). All the beauty editors, models and skin care fanatics go there, because they have a wide range of all the good beauty products and lines like NUXE, La roche Posay, Bioderma etc. Due to the increasing popularity it's crowded in there and you should probably leave your boyfriend or husband at home or at the hotel if you end up going there. It's skincare heaven and much cheaper then the other pharmacies around (and of course than the prices for said products in your homecountry, IF they exist there). In Switzerland the pharmacies stock a lot of french brands but they're much more expensive and we don't get all the products, so there are a few things I always like to stock up on when in Paris!

Here's what I bought this time!

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré is what all the great makeup artists use. It has won many awards and alot of models swear by it (as seen on intothegloss.com/amodelrecommends.com). I have personally never used it before but had to give in all the hype. So far I really like it, it's moisturizing but not in a greasy way and I can see it becoming a staple product in the colder months. The Lait-Crème Fluide has the exact same ingredients as the Concentré version but is much bigger and cheaper so I'm looking forward to try that and hope it works just as well!

Effaclar Duo from La Roche Posay is another product with rave reviews. I've bought it a couple of times and really like it for occasions when my skin is breaking out. It's important to use an spf though because of the acidic ingredients. It came with a generous 50ml sample of the new effaclar cleanser. Haven't tried that one yet...

Everybodys all time favorite make up remover and another celebrity staple is Bioderma Créaline H2O Solution Micellaire. I bought it numerous times and love it soo much because it removes every last bit of makeup without leaving any residue. And I know you can get it in the UK and US but I've never seen it in Switzerland. 

The Bioderma Atoderm Mains handcream and the Atoderm Lèvres lip balm came in a pack of two so I thought I'd give them a try and so far I think the lip balm is a great option for everyday. The handcream is ok but I wouldn't buy it again because it has that powdery feeling to it that some hand creams have.

La Roche Posay Zerozinc is a great thermal mist infused with zinc and I really feel like it calms my skin down. Apart from that I just like the refreshing feeling when I spray it on in the mornings. Wakes me up a little... :)

Last but not least Uriage Huile Nettoyante Apaisante. It's for body and face but I only use it on my face because I like my showergels to smell nice (and this cleanser doesn't smell at all). Can't really say much about it yet, because with cleanser I think you need some time to see results but so far so good. 

And they were really generous and gave me a nice amount of samples. 

That's just what I bought to stock up and try out. There are a lot more great products that I really like to use, a lot of them from NUXE. I just wanted to overview my haul and share my opinion. What are your favorite french beauty buys? I'd looove to know!!