Color Wow Haircare Review + Event

Back in July, I was very lucky to be invited to experience Color Wow in the John Frieda Salon in highbrow Mayfair. I have actually never been to this particular John Frieda Salon so I was very delighted to attend. Color Wow is a fairly new brand to me although I was lucky to try out the One Minute Transformation sometime last year. 



The brand is mainly targeted at people who have their hair color treated although their products can be enjoyed by anyone else without color treated hair. I popped over to the John Frieda Salon which was lovely and I instantly felt at home with the salon ambience. The Color Wow products were beautifully displayed across the shelves which added to the beauty of the salon. I was given a quick tour  and also told about the products particularly the Color Wow Cocktails which I’d heard many good things about. 






There were other bloggers at the event so we all had a chance to do a quick catch up while snacking on some delicious canapés and sipping some cocktails. I had my braids in so I didn’t have any treatment done but I saw so many beautiful transformations which I was very impressed with. I knew I definitely wanted to give these products a try when I took my braids out and that’s exactly what I did. 



I stayed for a short while, took some photos and had to dash home because I was coming from work. I was very kindly gifted a wide range of the products to try out and it’s been more than a month already so I thought I might share my experience with you.

Brief Overview of Color Wow

Color Wow was developed with an aim to help people maintain their color treated hair and ensure that there is minimal to no breakage. I know from experience that once you apply color, heat or any chemicals to the hair, they make the hair  prone to changes in the structure of the hair particles and break bonds such that your hair is more susceptible to damage and breakage. Color treated hair always looks gorgeous but maintenance can be quite a pain which is where Color Wow comes in. Their products are designed to counter fading and vanquishing roots. Their cleansers and conditioners do not contain sulfates, pearlising agents, or colour distorting agents so you have have a fresh clean start without stripping out your colour. 




The good thing is your hair does not have to be colour treated to enjoy these benefits as I currently don’t have any colour but have enjoyed using them. I was gifted the following products: Color Wow Coconut Cocktail*, Color Wow Speed Dry Spray*, Color Wow Color Security Shampoo* and Color Wow Root Cover Up. I was already previously gifted the One Minute Transformation* from last year but I thought to include it in this review as I never got a chance to do so last year. Right let’s get into the review:

Color Wow One Minute Transformation*// Link //£16.50

To be honest, I didn't get to use this product last year as much as I should but it's been a favourite this year.  For my Afro, it helps maintain its curls and prevents frizz but I don't often wear my hair curly. I prefer to wear it straight so that's why I prefer using this product on my extensions instead. It is designed to transform your hair within one minute as the name suggests and it does this by smoothing the texture and reducing frizz.. I realise that this is best used on my hair extensions to smooth and tame it down when it goes all poofy and frizzy. I only apply a small amount on my actual hair mixed with some hair oil to prevent it from turning curly. I have really come to enjoy how well this product tames my extensions and prevents any fly-away hairs even when the wind is blowing. Its effects last through the day which is very important for me as I am usually on my feet for a good part of the day.  If you have naturally straight hair or you just love straightening your hair, this is an amazing product for keeping it tame all day. If you have an Afro or curly hair and you want the curls to pop or be better defined, you’d actually love this product as it also helps your hair retain moisture.

Color Wow Speed Dry Spray* //Link // £16.50

Although my Afro may look thick and full, it has quite a light texture and it takes me very little time time to get it blow dried. I know many people with Afros have very thick texture so blow drying takes ages and others with thicker hair have the same hassle. This is where this Speed Dry Spray comes in. I know it does sound gimmicky but it actually works and I am sure of this because I have used it several times on my hair extensions while blow drying them. They usually take ages to get blow dried but after spritzing them with some of this Speed  Dry Spray, the time it takes is significantly shorter. I’d say almost half the normal time which is amazing news to me because I hate to spend ages blow drying my hair extensions and besides heat is never the best for the hair. I have tried it on my natural hair but I didn’t really notice much difference because like I mentioned my hair takes a real short time to get fully blow dried. I was really surprised by this product and I know people who have a thick mane would love this. It does spray almost like water but not quite the same texture. It is non-sticky or greasy which I love and I have really been impressed with it. Also, who does not love an elegant transparent bottle so you can see how much you have left? I love it.

Color Wow Security Shampoo* //Link //£16.50

I have not had the chance to fully try out this shampoo mainly because I want to give it a proper try when I have some color in my hair. I think that way I can see how well it works and if it does what it promises on the tin. Off the website, the Color Security Shampoo is clinically proven to be gentle as water on colour-treated hair which sounds incredible. It is designed to keep colours and highlights looking fresh, sparkling and bright. I am really looking forward to trying it as it smells lovely and I love the packaging. 

Color Wow Coconut Cocktail* //Link //£22

I saved the best for the last and it’s none other than the Color Wow Coconut Cocktail. I have never tried any product like this and I was more than delighted to see that it was included in my goody bag. I had seen a few Instagram Posts and media coverage on them so I was naturally curious to know how they worked. It is described as a bionic tonic which bonds a new lubricating layer to the hair's surface restoring silkiness and mobility. It smells so amazingly of coconut and reminds me of being on holiday. The good thing is that this coconut infused product deeply penetrates within the cortex of the hair improving strength and flexibility. 


First off, I am obsessed with the packaging. It totally stands out  from any other hair care products I have in my stash. It’s a slim bottle with a cap and it almost looks like it contains a secret potion rather than a hair care product. I do have to mention that it may not be the most practical packaging because if you are not careful, you may waste the product as there is no pump or dropper so you have to be careful. A good way is to prevent this is to pour it into a small bowl or into the cap so you can manage how much comes out. You actually need the littlest amount possible because a little goes a really long way due to its texture. I just massage it across my hair and leave it on for 10-15 minutes so it can get well absorbed. I rinse it off and I sometimes leave it to air dry or use gentle heat on it. My hair smells so lovely and actually feels quite healthy. I have definitely seen less breakage from using this on my hair. I and my friend love using this on our hair and it's an absolute treat for us. This is definitely my favourite from the products I received as it really does a good job on my hair. There are two other cocktails in the range including Kale Cocktail and Carb Cocktail which are designed to provide different hair benefits. It is totally worth trying if you ask me because you'd see immediate benefits to your hair and these benefits last a good while as well. 




Color Wow Root Cover Up* //Link //£28.50
This is actually one of the best sellers from the Color Wow range and has won over 34 beauty awards which is incredible. As the name suggests, it is a root cover up designed to cover up hair roots that are trying to grow out colour applied. The good thing about the Root Cover Up is that it is made up of mineral powder so it does not damage your hair. It remains undetectable and it's very easy to apply because it has a brush applicator. I have actually tested it out on my brows as a brow powder and it's amazing!! That's what I use it mainly for and it works so well (I know very naughty of me). I believe it comes in other shades to suit various hair colours (Blonde, Medium Brown, Light Brown, etc) and I have the shade Black. I am going to get my Mum to try this out and share her thoughts with me. 


Overall Thoughts
I am really pleased I got a chance to try out these lovely Color Wow products and also rediscover the One Minute Transformation. I am really itching to colour my hair now so I can fully test out the range and see how well they work with colour treated hair. It's really amazing that there is actually a brand that caters to colour treated hair. Of course, the products work well with other non-colour treated hair but I believe they  are optimised for colour treated hair. So, if you have colour treated hair which has been damaged and difficult to manage, the Color Wow range is  worth trying out. That's pretty much it!! Have you ever treated Color Wow products?
*Gifted PR Sample + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here.

Ouai Hair Care Review (UK)

If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen me posting several pictures featuring my OUAI Hair care products. I have actually spoken about the range here when I first got to try them out and this was back in March/April. OUAI Hair care was launched in the UK via the amazing MMCL who brought this US Brand over to us. It was originally exclusively sold in Selfridges for a few months and was one of the best selling hair care brands for weeks because the entire range is pretty damn amazing. At the moment, OUAI is available from other retailers including Cult Beauty, Space NK, Net-A-Porter, Harvey Nichols, etc. Jen Atkin, who is the amazing founder of this brand, knows her onions when it comes to hair care and she has not rested on her oars at all. She is constantly developing more products and listening to what her customers want. I follow her on Instagram and she once asked her followers what hair problems they would like to see addressed and many people said frizz (that's what I said too). That's exactly why I love her!. I actually met her once when she came to London to celebrate the launch of OUAI in the UK and it was an incredible event. She was so sweet and down to earth and we took some selfies together as you do!! You can read more about that event over here. 

My Hair Type and Texture

Since April, my OUAI hair care stash has increased to my delight and I believe I have almost all the products that are available in the UK apart from the Volume Shampoo and Conditioner. So, this post is for you if you are wondering what product you want to get from the range. For starters, I think I should talk about my hair type. My natural hair is an Afro with coils and curls which I love to play with especially twisting it around my fingers and this tends to break it so I usually wear protective hair styles like extensions, braids and weaves. The texture of my hair is dry and prone to breakage so I love hair products that tend to repair and treat my hair while retaining moisture. I already mentioned I wear hair extensions which have the same texture as my hair when blown out so I also use my hair care both on my Afro and extensions. I feel like any hair care product that works well on extensions is an absolute winner because extensions don't get their own nutrients as they don't grow from our scalps. Hair care products that make extensions look as healthy  as they are growing from the scalp are the real MVPs. Right let's get into the review.

Brief Overview of OUAI Hair Care

I am sure if you have heard about OUAI hair care  (which is pronounced as "Way") you would already know that it was created by Jen Atkin. She is a seasoned celebrity hairstylist  who has done amazing work with many celebrities but many know her for the way she slays Kim Kardashian West's hair (and I think the other Kardashians as well). Her signature hair style is creating effortless lived in waves for both the every day and glam woman/girl. She created OUAI with an aim to capture this modern effortless vibe so anyone can try to recreate it for themselves. If you are wondering about the name OUAI and its meaning well I have got you covered. The word OUAI is culled from the word Ouais which means Yeah or Yes in a casual way in French (the sexiest language on this planet). I really like the name as I feel it just captures the essence of the brand and everything behind its development. They  don't test on animals and many of the products are free from Parabens and Sulfate which I am very impressed about. You can check out the entire range on the OUAI haircare website here.

OUAI Hair Care Collections

The products are split into three collections- Daily Care, Styling and Treatment.  There are also four ranges to the shampoo and conditioner line including Smooth, Volume, Repair and Clean. I love that the shampoo and conditioner are targeted to suit different types of hair conditions. One of my favourite things about this brand is that everything is so simplified and relatable. I already mentioned that I have majority of the products stocked here in the UK so I will split them into their ranges as I talk about them below.

                                                        Daily Care

As the name suggests, this collection consists of products which are used daily such as shampoos and conditioners. I don't wash my hair everyday but if I did, the OUAI shampoos and conditioners will be at the top of my list because they do the job. Each time I use them, my hair feels really clean and fresh and it makes me want to use them everyday. Within this collection, there are a total of 5 ranges however we only have 4 of these ranges in the UK. The entire ranges include Smooth, Repair, Clean, Volume and Curls (currently not available in the UK). I will definitely love to try the Curls range because my hair has curls and coils. 

OUAI Smooth Shampoo (£22)* and Conditioner (£20)* //Link

First off, it has a very soft place in my heart because it was the first OUAI product I tried. The Smooth Shampoo is described as a hydrating cleanser infused with the OUAI Smart Technology complex that helps calm frizz, cleanses strands and replenishes moisture. I totally agree with this description as it really keeps my natural hair soft with minimal frizz, I think it's the softness it confers to my hair that makes me reach for it often. For my extensions, I use this more often because it really gives it some life and bounce which many shampoos fail to do. The Smooth conditioner is equally amazing and I think it has more fragrance than the shampoo. Seriously, they both smell so beautiful that I always leave the conditioner longer on my hair than I need to. If you tend to suffer from frizz and you are after products that keeps your smooth without weighing it down, I will highly recommend checking these out.

OUAI Clean Shampoo*(£22) and Conditioner*(£20)// Link
I received this duo at the OUAI UK Launch event and I was so curious to try it because I'd heard good things about this particular range. I am sure everyone wants clean hair so the name is very appropriate. The Clean shampoo is described as a gentle detoxifying cleanser infused with the OUAI Smart technology that hits refresh on overworked hair leaving strands soft and clean. I think this is one I'd recommend if you wash your hair everyday because it does the job but without weighing or stripping your hair out. I have enjoyed using this as a Sunday shampoo and it smells so gorgeous and the same goes for the conditioner. They both smell incredible and leaves my hair very soft. Surprisingly, I have used these duo more than the rest of the range because it is perfect for when my hair is on its best behaviour.


OUAI Repair Shampoo*(£22) and Conditioner*(£20) //Link 
Ladies and gents, can I introduce you to my absolute favourite daily care range from OUAI? I absolutely adore the OUAI Repair range because it has saved my hair more than a few occasions. This range is one of the few  I have tried that is excellent both for my hair and my hair extensions and delivers consistent beautiful results. The Repair shampoo is designed to replenish moisture and fortifies breakage prone strands. I knew from the description alone that I'd fall in love with it and I absolutely did. My Afro adores this range and I think it adores my Afro as well because it always transforms it. The shampoo workson my my curls and refreshes them while helping them retain moisture which is one thing that's difficult with my curls. I also always leave the conditioner slightly longer than I should because the results are always worth it. I don't have to stress myself detangling my hair afterwards because it is already soft. The overall hair texture feels very fortified with less breakage and I'd highly recommend it. I had an old set of extensions and this range completely revived it and that's one of the many reasons why it will always remain my favourite collection within the brand.


                                                                    Styling
I feel like Daily Care for the hair helps it grow and be healthy but styling with the right products really transforms the hair. I totally love all the OUAI stlying products because they are simple yet effective and I still cannot get over how gorgeous they smell. They are quite a few products within the range depending on what kind of hair you have or the style you are after. It is very difficult not t find at least one product that will work for your hair type. There are some products within the styling range that I use everyday especially the one that help my style last all day as I work long hours.


OUAI Soft Mousse*//Link //£22
To be honest, I have always hated mousse and I know I am not alone on this. All the mousses (very, very few) I have ever tried have been scrunchy, crusty and very dry. They always left my hair like it was baked in an oven and getting rid of the crustiness was  a hassle and for many years I never tried mousse. That all changed when the lovely OUAI Soft Mousse arrived at my doorstep. At first, I was sceptical and said surely this will be the same but I decided to give it a try since the other products had been amazing. That one try has turned out to be many tries and I am still using it. The OUAI Soft Mousse is everything I have ever wanted from a mousse and even more. It is described as an ultra flexible formula designed to creating weightless, moveable hold and root lift without the crunch. I use this mainly on my hair extensions which have a similar texture to my hair blown out and it really keeps them frizz free. It's almost like magic and I love to use it in the morning and watch the beautiful transformation. I love how it does not feel tacky at all nor crunchy and that's the winning formula for this product. One thing I do have to say is that you need to give it a really good shake otherwise it won't form a proper mousse foam (it may turn into liquid instead). Also, a little goes a long way so always dispense smaller than you'd use for other mousses as it actually expands once dispenses pretty rapidly. I absolutely love it. If you have shyed away from mousses for ages due to its crunchiness, the OUAI Soft Mousse is definitely one to try.


OUAI Soft Hair Spray*// £22 // Link
I only use hair sprays when I have just installed my hair extensions and when I use gel on my Afro. It's not something I use often because many sprays I have tried in the past give a hold but a very crunchy one. As I was already impressed with other OUAI hair care products, I knew this would not let me down and indeed it has not. The first thing that attracted me to this soft hair spray was the beautiful fragrance. I honestly cannot wait for Jen Atkin to release her fragrance range because all her hair products already smell incredible. The OUAI Soft Hair Spray is described as a hair spray that provides a lightweight flexible hold with no stiffness or stickiness (just as I like it). I always use it when I am done styling my hair and it keeps my hair slayed all day and even the humidity cannot destroy my hard work. I always use it as my finishing touch and I can still catch a whiff of its incredible fragrance during the course of the day.


OUAI Dry Shampoo* //£20 //Link 
I love to wash my hair especially ever since I've been blessed to have many amazing brands to try. However, there are a few times that I opt for the Dry Shampoo because it is a quick way to absorb any greasiness from the previous days and a way to refresh my hair. That's where the OUAI Dry Shampoo comes in and it has really changed the game of Dry Shampoos for me. The one thing many dry shampoo users dread is the infamous white residue that is usually left in the hair after using dry shampoos. Only very few dry shampoos manage not to leave this annoying white residue and OUAI Dry Shampoo is in this league. I have tried a few other dry shampoos which I didn't get on well, not just because of the white residue, but mainly because I didn't see any difference in my hair. The OUAI Dry Shampoo is designed to instantly absorb excess oils and grease from the hair thanks to its infused volcanic minerals. It is also enriched with various intoxicating and exotic scents (similar across the entire range) such as Italian Lemon, Magnolia, Rose Oil, Blackberry, Musk, Patchouli, to mention a few. These scents make me reach for it more often than I need to. More importantly, it really helps refresh my hair and keep it grease free from all the other product build up before I get to wash it.



OUAI Texturizing Hair Spray* //£22 //Link
This was actually one of the first hair sprays I tried from OUAI and it's still one of my favourites. According to Jen Atkin, the texturizing hair spray will be the resulting product if the Soft Hair Spray and the Dry Shampoo had a baby and I absolutely agree. OUAI Haircare describes it as the key to creating bed-head texture (Jen's signature style to create) in an instant. I always opt for it whenever I have waves in my hair because it just adds volume, lift and a bounce to these waves. The best thing about the waves I create with this product is that they look so effortless and even seem to get better as the days go by. On the first day, it looks amazing as expected but on Day 2 and 3 the waves look incredible especially after a quick spritz. I always spray by lifting the waves ever so lightly, spray ad scrunch up and I am good to go. Before I got the Soft Hair Spray, I just used to spray the texturizing spray (even when I didn't have waves in my hair) because I just could not resist its gorgeous scent. I still can't get over the scent. If you are after a multi tasking product that adds volume, lift, texture, creates beautiful waves and smells beautiful, look no further because you'd love this product.


OUAI Wave Spray* // £22 //Link
Now this is one product that will help you transform your hair to beach waves or bed tousled waves with the littlest effort. I have to admit that I have not used it as much as I thought I would but that's only because I have just been reaching for the texturizing spray instead. I have watched Jen use this on YouTube more than a few times and I can see why it is one of her favourite products. Most times, wave sprays are made from traditional salt however the OUAI Wave Spray is formulated with rice protein which helps the hair. I would have preferred if it sprayed with a very even mist but I'd say the mist is still good compared to a few others I have tried. I tend to spray my waves section by section rather than my whole head so I can get the full benefits. It always coats my waves with an ultra fine mist that leaves them with a lovely bounce. It is not sticky at all which is one thing I like about OUAI Hair care products!! I need to use it more than I currently am because it is a lovely product.


OUAI Finishing Creme* ///£20 //Link 
I thought I need to end the styling section with my new BFF- the Finishing Creme. Again, I have always shied away from finishing cremes because they tend to weigh my hair down or turn my Afro curly after I have straightened it. All I wanted was a finishing creme that tamed frizz, transformed my hair and kept it in place for the long day ahead. I was more than delighted when I gave the OUAI Finishing Creme a try and it ticked all the boxes for me. It still ever so slightly turns my Afro slightly curly because it contains aqua (water) but nowhere near as curly frizzy as others I have tried. As expected from OUAI, it smells just like jasmine and roses mixed together. I use a really small amount and work it more towards the mid length to the ends of my hair. I then use whatever is left on the top part of my hair and it works so well for me this way. This is one product I have used almost everyday and I keep using mainly because it is undetectable. No white film or residue to be seen and I am very obsessed with it.


                                                     Treatment
When it comes to treatment, I always reserve it for Sundays when I have enough time to pamper my hair. I love hair treatments because you can pop them on, wear a shower cap and do some chores while your hair gets some loving. Within the OUAI Hair Care products, I believe there are only two products within this range. They include the Hair Treatment Masque and the Hair Oil. I think the Hair Oil can also be classified under Hair Styling as it is a versatile product but I have just left it under treatment for this review.


OUAI Hair Oil //Link //£24
This is the one product that I had my eyes on and I knew I had to get my hands on. I am a huge fan of oils especially light weight ones because they help nourish my Afro and also helps retain moisture. Moisture and Hair oil is very important for my hair texture because it also supports hair growth for me and makes it look really healthy. I have a small collection of oils that I alternate but the OUAI Hair Oil is one of my favourites. My favourite thing I love about this hair oil, apart from its beautiful scent, is its lightweight nature. It applies so smoothly without any greasy feeling and yet it still provides all the benefits of a good oil. It is infused with Ylang-Ylang, Gardenia, White Musk and Violet (need I say more about its absolutely gorgeous scent?). I use this mainly after I have washed my Afro and leave it to dry and on my hair extensions I use it to seal in other products I have used. It adds such a beautiful natural shine to my hair as well and it is also one of my favourite products from the range. The only con is the size versus the price. It contains 50 ml for £24 and my Afro loves a lot of oil so it's not the best value for money for me but I think I may still repurchase it because I am in love with it.


OUAI Treatment Masque* // Link //£25
Now I saved one of the best products for the last because it is one product that you should get if you wanted to invest in any OUAI product. I had one sample before but never got to try until much later this year and I don't know what I did before it. It is designed to help maintain the hair's health and rehabilitate stressed hair. I have to say it absolutely does this. Inside the pack, you get about 8 sachets which I love because I can travel with one sachet. At first I thought, there is no way one sachet will be enough for my Afro but I was so wrong as it really is. I just work it from bottom to to,  pop on a shower cap and leave it on anywhere from 15-30 minutes (recommended time is 5-10 minutes but I prefer to leave it longer). When I rinse it off, my hair is super, super soft, smells amazing and feels so much healthier. I always look forward to treating my hair with this Hair Masque and I actually think it is amazing value for money. Each sachet contains 9ml of product which is enough for one use so the entire packet will last for two months. I absolutely love it and I think it will suit all hair types. It is enriched with amino acids, keratin, hibiscus, jasmine among others. It is definitely one I highly recommend.


Where to Buy
I am so delighted that OUAI Haircare products can be purchased in the UK although it is a US based brand and a massive thanks to MMCL for facilitating it for us. If you live in the US, you can purchase directly from the OUAI website. If you live in the UK, you can purchase the range from Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Cult Beauty, etc. The good thing is some of them are actual shops that you can pop into to get a feel and test of it before purchasing.



Overall Thoughts
If I were to choose my favourites, it will definitely be the Hair Oil, Hair Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, Soft Hair Spray and Texturising Spray. I know it is a ridiculous long list but these are the products I have enjoyed and used the most. I will highly recommend them to anyone and I have introduced this brand to many friends just by word of mouth. My view of many products which I thought will not work on Afro hair has completely changed and the OUAI Hair Care is one of the products that have helped with this. A massive thanks to MMCL for gifting me so many OUAI products that I can easily open a hair salon!! I hope you have enjoyed this post. Have you tried any OUAI Hair Care products?
*Gifted PR Samples + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here

La Roche Posay Toleriane Review

I am pretty sure I have featured the La Roche Posay Toleriane range more than a few times on this blog but I thought it deserved its own review. I am not new to the Toleriane range as I got a chance to try out the Toleriane Ultra Fluide last year and I loved it for its soothing properties. Earlier this year, La Roche Posay launched the Ultra Nuit Overnight Skincare and I was so delighted to try it out. I am already a huge fan of La Roche Posay products particularly the Effaclar Range but the Toleriane range is definitely my next favourite.


Brief Overview of La Roche Posay Toleriane Range
The Toleriane range is one of the best selling ranges from La Roche Posay mainly because it can be used by various skin types. The range contains high tolerance products formulated with the least amount of ingredients to limit the risk of allergies. One of the properties of this range -which totally endears it to my heart- is its promise to deliver instant and lasting comfort. The products within the range are all fragrance-, preservative-, parabens-, lanolin- and alcohol-free with an aim to sooth damaged and irritated skin. If you have the type of skin that is intolerant to fragrance, alcohol, preservatives and other funny ingredients, this is one range that's worth trying. Also, if you have recently suffered from irritation, sun damage, allergies or any bad reaction to the skin and you are after a range that won't interfere but will soothe your skin, this is one range to look out for. I personally use this range after I have used AHAs, Retinol based treatments or Acne treatments which sometimes may irritate the skin while caryying out their work. The Toleriane range makes the whole process bearable without interfering with the efficacy of the above treatments.




Packaging
One of the things I was curious about was how the products will maintain their stability since they are preservative-free. I am sure everyone knows this but preservatives are usually added to beauty products to preserve their shelf life. If preservatives are not added to a product (let's assume they are self-preserving), then their life span/shelf life is pretty short (it could range from 1-3 months or maybe more). So, I was curious to know how La Roche Posay have managed to cross this hurdle seeing that the expiry dates were more than two years. The answer lies in the innovative packaging. I am not sure about the design of the other Toleriane products packaging but the Ultra Fluide and Ultra Nuit have a unique one. They both come in slim bottles which cannot be opened as they are securely fitted to prevent the entry of germs and any cross contamination. The lid also cannot be screwed on and off rather it can be twisted left or right to lock/unlock it and pressed down to dispense the product. I love that the nozzle is also very tiny to prevent any unwarranted entry and to prevent wastage. Most importantly, the product in itself is stored stored in an air tight bag inside the bottle which gets smaller as you use up the product. The technology behind this is an ultra-hermetic one. Each of the bottles contains 40 ml of product which is a decent amount. I think this packaging is incredible and that's exactly how La Roche Posay have managed to keep this product preservative free so intolerant skins can use it. It's very impressive I have to say!!




Toleriane Ultra Fluide* //Link //£17.50
I always reach for this during summer because it has a lovely hydrating and soothing effect on my skin. La Roche Posay describes the Toleriane Ultra Fluide as an intense soothing fluid that is designed for ultra-sensitive or allergic skin. It is also suitable for combination to oily skin and I guess that's why I have gotten so well with it particularly during summer. It's a lightweight formula that provides adequate hydration while getting easily absorbed without a greasy feeling. The best part for me about the Toleriane Ultra Fluide is that it can also be used for the eye as an eye cream. For a good while I never tried it as an eye cream but I once ran out of my favourite eye cream and was in a fix so I decided to give it a try. That try turned out to be many tries and right now, it is my current eye cream. It works as well as many of my eye creams because it is a hydrating formula that just soothes the under eye area. I have now been taking this with me on short trips because it can be used both for my face and my eyes and multi functional products are winners in my book. You can find the ingredient list here but the two ingredients that stand out are Neurosensine (a strong soothing agent that targets skin irritation) and the La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water (naturally soothing, refreshing and anti-irritation). I am a huge fan of the Toleriane Ultra Fluide and I will be repurchasing once I run out (and Escentual bring back their 1/3rd off French Skincare brands).




Toleriane Ultra Nuit Overnight Care* //Link //£17.50
As already mentioned, this was launched earlier this year and I was really pleased to try this product particularly after enjoying the Toleriane Ultra Fluide. La Roche Posay describes the Toleriane Ultra Nuit as an intense soothing care for the eyes and face designed to soothe the feeling of irritation due to dryness when you wake up. I don't really suffer from dryness when I wake up because I always give my skin a good treat every night. However, there are some few nights that I use mainly my Acne treatment products which can cause dryness and in the mornings I experience dryness. So, I was interested in putting this to the test to see how it worked to combat this dryness. Just like the Ultra Fluide, the Toleriane Ultra Nuit has a smooth texture but it feels silkier. It also feels more hydrating and moisturising as well which is expected from a night cream and I love it for that. It is made from minimal ingredients and it is also free from parabens, lanolin, fragrance, alcohol and colourants. This is absolutely perfect for anyone who has sensitive skin. I personally use it immediately after I have used my usual chemical exfoliants such as glycolic acid, retinol and even salicylic acid. It just has a way of soothing my skin and preventing any sensitivity from these products. Sometimes, I have just used it alone on my skin when I was breaking out and although it does not have any acne blasting powers, it still helps my skin. It is enriched with Niacinamide, Vitamin A, Carnosine, etc which help the skin repair itself among other skin benefits.



Cons
I think the only the con I can think of right now is that you can't easily see how much product is left in the Ultra Nuit compared to the Ultra Fluide.  For this reason, I do prefer the Ultra Fluide packaging because it is a transparent bottle so you can see when you are getting to the end of the bottle. I know it is not a big issue. However, I usually hold it up against any light source which makes it easier to see. That's my little tip.


Overall Thoughts
I am very pleased I got a chance to try this range as I would never have tried it because I don't have sensitive skin. I always go for the Effaclar range which is amazing for blemish prone skin. However, I forget that my skin could sometimes get quite irritated from the acne itself and other treatments and using soothing and calming products are essential. I am very impressed with the range and will definitely recommend it. That's it from me and I hope you had an amazing weekend. See you in my next post. Have you tried the La Roche Posay Toleriane Range?
*Gifted PR Sample + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here.