La Roche-Posay Toleraine Ultra Fluide Review

La Roche-Posay (LRP) recently launched a new addition to their Toleriane skincare line which is designed to provide intense soothing care for ultra-sensitive or allergic combination/oily skin types. They sent me the new Toleriane Ultra Fluide for testing and review.

Packaged in a hermetically sealed pump bottle, Toleriane Ultra Fluide is designed to provide combination/oily skin types with 3 main actions: immediate relief of skin irritation, lasting relief of "irritation, reactivity and heated sensations" after 4 weeks of use, and a "high tolerance" for users. The formula contains Neurosensine a "strong soothing agent", LRP's thermal spring water which is included in all their products and is preservative/paraben/fragrance/alcohol/colorant and lanolin free.

I've been using Ultra Fluide for the last 3 weeks in conjunction with my regular skincare which includes Differin gel at night, and moisturizer with SPF 30 during the day. Although I do not have sensitive skin, I do suffer from seasonal allergies which, irritatingly enough, now persist until the snow falls. The skin on my face and around my eyes can frequently get itchy and red and I'm also prone to dryness, peeling and irritation around my mouth and nose due to the dry air the fall brings. I used the Ultra Fluide after I washed my face and after any topical medications (Differin). I did find that having a thin layer of this lotion helped ease the peeling, stinging and redness around my mouth (in part caused by the dryness and the Differin). It provided an extra layer of protection and moisture that that thinner skin needed without feeling heavy or being greasy. 

I also tested it after I used a depilatory cream on my upper lip. Hair removal products such as Neet or Olay irritate my skin leaving it pink and stinging. Using the Ultra Fluid after helped soothe my upper lip skin as well.

Overall I think this is an effective product for irritated skin. It works well layered with other products and is light enough that you won't notice an extra product on your skin. The packaging also ensures it stays free of contamination without adding any extra unwanted preservatives.

La Roche-Posay Toleraine Ultra Fluide retails for approximately $34.00 CA (40 ml) and can be found at retailers such as London Drugs and Shoppers Drug Mart. 

Grade: A

J

La Roche-Posay Ceralip Lip Repair Cream Review

Living in a very dry climate and having full lips means applying loads of lip balm on a continuous basis. La Roche-Posay recently sent their new Ceralip Lip Repair Cream to Beautysquared for review.

Ceralip comes in a 15 ml slanted applicator tube and retails for approximately $15.00 CA . It has a very smooth, silky and non-greasy texture which is reminiscent of Smashbox Photofinish Primer. It is very lightweight and never feels sticky or waxy and has a natural matte finish.

This product is fragrance and paraben free and La Roche-Posay indicates it's suitable for sensitive and skin post-medical treatment. I do not suffer from either conditions, but I do have chronically dry lips. I found the texture of this product nice and lightweight and I appreciate that it is not sickly sweet smelling or tasting like so many other lip balms.

It does a satisfactory job of keeping my lips moist, though I did find it tended to wear off faster than my standby Chapstick. Although it definitely feels more natural and less cloying on my lips than a waxy balm like Chapstick, I found I needed to apply it more frequently than I would a waxier balm. One way in which this product would excel would be to use it as a primer under lipstick, because it's not waxy or greasy, it won't dilute lip colour or alter it's texture.

Overall this lip balm is good. It's definitely on the pricier end for a lip balm, but perhaps for people with sensitive skin who react to cheaper brands, the higher cost would be worth it. I have a small criticism to make of the packaging. The opening that the product comes out of has a slightly rough edge on the tube I received and therefore makes the balm a little scratchy to apply. I could have just received a defective tube but it is a small detail that I noted.

Grade: B

J