Category Archives: Beauty-Full/Beauté

Summer Beauty Routine: Face & Hair

  

Never Without …

For few days in the Mediterranean, I chose effective “basic” products but not irritating. Because my combination skin is more reactive in summer and quickly warms and tolerates almost nothing.

1. I recently discovered the Decléor Aroma Cleanse 3-in-1 Hydra Radiance Cleasing Mousse with Neroli essential oil. Grea! Although it rinses with water, it doesn’t dry the skin. Its melting texture with a very light fragrance are very pleasant. Gentle, it cleans my sun creams perfectly. As very little product is enough to wash your face, this minidose of 50 ml lasts quite a long time. And the most important for me, I made no reaction to the essential oil of Neroli. 

2. Mon huile d’olive bio (pas de marque précise, juste première pression à froid). Mon huile à tout faire! Je vous en ai déjà tellement parlé qu’inutile d’en rajouter. Je l’utilise pour tout et avec tout! My organic olive oil (no precise brand, just a first cold pressed oil)  does everything! I’ve already told you million times, I use it for everything and with everything!

3. I was looking for a product with a high sun protection factor (without the ugly plaster effect) that suits my irritated mixed skin. And allows me to avoid to aply a day cream. A sunblock extremely moisturizing. And the big winner is the Uriage Fluide HYSÉAC SPF50+! It is very difficult then to use other sunscreens as its texture is awesome! 

4. Among my other favorites: the Novexpert Gommage Douceur Hydro-Biotique au Magnesium (a very gentle scrub with magnesium). Once or twice a week, in the evening, I need to cleanse my skin more deeply. In general, I then apply as a night cream, the great Qiriness Le Wrap d’Eau, a moisturizing balm with a velvety fresh texture. Pure pleasure! I apply a thick layer and let it dry one hour before going to bed without rinsing it. And the next day I have a bright plump baby skin.

  

The Hydration Boost

In the summer, I am obsessed with hydration. I drink a lot of water and eat more fruits and raw vegetables. Morning and evening, or as soon as I come back home after a day in the sun, I wash my face and apply on the face, neck and décolleté the Uriage Crème d’Eau Riche (Rich Water Cream) with Uriage thermal water and shea butter. I really like both texture (almost whipped) with a matte finish and discreet flowery smell.

Recently, I started using sheet masks more often thanks to the Qiriness Wraps. Initially, it was just for my long hauls to Asia, because they are easy to use while travelling. For face, I use the Wrap Hyal-Aqua, a micro fiber mask, impregnated with serum (with Hyaluronic Acid among others). And for my eye area (that as soon as I’m tired darkens): the Wrap Hyal Eyes. For a tenfold “freshness-firmness” effect, I put both patches in the fridge before using them. Top!

 

Hair and Sun Care

Well, my hair! Now that they grow from mid-long to long, I daily struggle with the knots and therefore a lot of breakage (scary!). So this summer, I do a minimum. As a daily care: a mix of thermal water with a little bit of organic olive oil and organic shea butter. Plus: disentangling by hand with infinite patience! Ah, mes cheveux, un vrai poème! 

For the shampoo, I remain faithful to the natural Kérastase Aura Botanica range. I really like the new Bain Micellaire Riche (1) with Amazonian Brazil nut oil, for dry and very dry hair. A clean composition with 96% of natural ingredients, without silicone, sulphate and paraben. A lovely texture with a little bit of foam and strong smell of plants. My must have! 

To lighten my suitcase, I preferred taking a half-empty pot of the Garnier Fructis Smoothing Macadamia Hair Food (2) with 98% of natural ingredients. I use it both as a conditioner mask, leave-in conditioning and a detanglling daily care. To be honest, I am desappointed. During the application, it seems to work miracles, but very soon as soon as my hair dries (rinsed or not), I find them even drier than before the treatment. 

This summer, I wanted to change my darling sunscreens (La Roche Posay’s Anthelios range and Vichy Idéal Soleil). And I’ve selected two products in the Garnier Ambre Solaire range. For the face, I use the Kids Sensitive Expert + SPF 50+ (2) and for the body, the Sensitive Expert+ FPS 50+ (3). My only concern: they leave big white marks on the skin and wherever I sit (lol)! When I’m too hot, I spray the Uriage Brume d’Eau SFP30a water mist (1) whose small size is very practical.

To be contued… Next: summer body routine! Enjoy summertime!

Photos articles (hors miniatures) : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Routine beauté d’été: visage & cheveux

  

Mes inséparables

Pour quelques jours en Méditerranée, j’ai choisi des produits “simples” mais efficaces et surtout peu irritants. Car ma peau très sensible et mixte, l’été s’échauffe vite et tolère très peu de produits.

1. Récemment découverte, l’Aroma Cleanse Crème mousse hydra-éclat 3 en 1 à l’huile essentielle de Néroli de Decléor : une merveille! Bien qu’elle se rince à l’eau, elle ne dessèche pas la peau. Sa texture fondante et son parfum très léger, sont très agréables. En douceur, elle nettoie parfaitement mes crèmes solaires. Comme très peu de produit suffit pour se laver le visage, cette minidose de 50 ml dure assez longtemps. Et détail important, je n’ai fait aucune réaction à l’huile essentielle de Néroli

2. Mon huile d’olive bio (pas de marque précise, juste première pression à froid). Mon huile à tout faire! Je vous en ai déjà tellement parlé qu’inutile d’en rajouter. Je l’utilise pour tout et avec tout! 

3. Je recherchais un produit avec un fort indice de protection solaire sans effet plâtre qui convienne à ma peau mixte irritée. Et qui me permette d’éviter d’avoir à mettre une crème de jour, donc en plus hydratant. Et le grand gagnant est le Fluide HYSÉAC SPF50+ ! Il est très difficile ensuite d’utiliser un solaire de base, tant sa texture est top!

4. Autre grand favori : le Novexpert Gommage Douceur Hydro-Biotique au Magnésium. Une à deux fois dans la semaine, le soir, j’ai besoin de nettoyer ma peau plus en profondeur. En général, j’applique ensuite en guise de crème de nuit, le Wrap d’eau de Qiriness qui est un baume hydratant, à la texture fraîche est veloutée. Pur plaisir! Je l’applique en couche épaisse et le laisse sécher et pénétrer une bonne heure avant d’aller me coucher. Et le lendemain j’ai une peau de bébé, rebondie, souple et lumineuse. 

  

Le boost d’hydratation

L’été, je suis obsédée par l’hydratation. Je bois beaucoup d’eau et mange plus de fruits. Matin et soir, ou dès que je rentre me rincer après une journée au soleil, je me tartine visage, cou et décolleté avec la Crème d’Eau Riche, contenant de l’Eau Thermale d’Uriage, ainsi que du beurre de Karité. Je suis conquise tant par sa texture un peu fouettée, avec un fini mat que par son odeur très discrète et fleurie.

Je me suis mise aux sheet masks, grâce aux Wraps de Qiriness. Au départ, c’était juste pour mes vols aller-retour lointains, car très pratiques en voyage. Sur le visage, je pose le Wrap Hyal-Aqua qui est un masque en micro fibres, imprégné de sérum comprenant entre autres de l’Acide Hyaluronique. Et pour mon contour des yeux qui dès que je suis fatiguée, s’assombrit : le Wrap Hyal Yeux. Pour un effet décuplé “fraîcheur-fermeté”, je mets les deux patchs au frais avant de les utiliser. Top!

 

Soins cheveux et solaires

Ah, mes cheveux, un vrai poème! Maintenant qu’ils passent de mi-longs à longs, je lutte quotidiennement avec les noeuds et donc beaucoup de casse. (flippant!) Alors cet été, j’en fais un minimum. Un spary d’eau thermal avec un peu d’huile d’olive et beurre de karité bio, en guise de soins quotidien. Et démêlage à la main, avec une infinie patience!

Pour le shampoing, je reste fidèle à la gamme naturelle Aura Botanica de Kérastase, avec le nouveau Bain Micellaire Riche (1),  à l’huile de noix du Brésil d’Amazonie, pour cheveux secs et très secs. J’aime tout, la compo clean : 96% d’ingrédients d’origine naturelle (sans silicone, sulfate et parabène), la texture (ça mousse un peu) et l’odeur de plantes. Mon must have! 

Pour alléger ma valise, j’ai préféré prendre un pot à moitié vide à finir (2) : le Fructis Smoothing Macadamia Hair Food de Garnier, à 98% d’origine naturelle que j’utilise à la fois en masque après-shampoing, leave-in conditionner et en démélant. Je suis très mitigée : pendant l’application, j’ai l’impression qu’il fait des miracles, mais très vite dès que mes cheveux sèchent (rincés ou non), je les trouvent encore plus secs qu’avant ce soin.

Pour changer de mes solaires de référence (la gamme Anthelios de La Roche Posay ou Idéal Soleil de Vichy), j’en ai sélectionné deux dans la gamme Ambre Solaire de Garnier. Pour le visage, j’ai choisi le Kids Sensitive Expert+ FPS 50+ (2) et pour le corps, le Sensitive Expert+ FPS 50+ (3). Ma seule réserve : ils laissent de grosses traces blanches sur la peau et partout où je m’assoie (lol)! Lorsque j’ai trop chaud, je vaporise la Brume d’Eau SFP30 d’Uriage (1) dont le petit format est hyper pratique.

A suivre dans un prochain article, routine corps! Bonnes vacances!

Photos articles (hors miniatures) : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Well-Being Weekend in Val Thorens

On The Road Again

The Lake of Annecy

My first time skiing into spring! As always, we arrive by Geneva and the beautiful Lake Annecy under a lovely light. The weather is hot that I wonder if there will be enough snow to ski. 

When we arrive in Val Thorens, I am reassured! The ski resort has benefited from exceptional snow this year: 10 meters of cumulatived snow (photo below). And it’s always a great pleasure to come back to Val Tho!

Pashmina Le Refuge

View of the Slopes

I am back to the Pashmina Le Refuge hotel, still so comfortable and pleasant! The balcony of my (Triple XL / 45 sqm) room offers a spectacular 180 degree view of snow-capped peaks and slopes.

Euphoric feeling of total plenitude! On one of the bedside tables, I discovered the notebook of the My Serenity anti-stress and well-being program. During this long weekend, I will relearn to listen to my inner me.

  

Heathy Breakfast

At The Base Camp Restaurant

Some doctors consider breakfast to be our most important meal of the day, others not. In short as always, there are several contradictory opinions! To be honest, I only take breakfast when I’m really hungry.

And I don’t take it when the night before, I ate too much at the restaurant. In addition to My Serenity program, the Base Camp restaurant offers a breakfast buffet with a wellness corner and a plant milk bar. Awesome!

Pashmina Spa By L’Occitane 

Before and After Skiing

The first day: early morning I go to the spa to swim and gently wake up my numb muscles, before joining the small team for an intense day of skiing (including Alpin ski and ski touring)!

The second day: after a morning of skiing, I spend the afternoon at the spa with two friends. I start with a back massage with l’Occitane cosmetics I like a lot. Then hammam and outdoor jacuzzi with direct views of the slopes!

  

Ski Touring

My First Time On Ski Touring

First we ski to Chez Pepe Nicolas restaurant, where we have lunch (photo editing below: 2). Still as good! Then we put the climbing skin (in synthetic fibers) under our super light skis. Strange feeling on the trail at the beginning.

We are all very excited about this first ski touring experience with Caroline Vincent. This instructor has the originality to add a Qigong session while ski touring.

The climb to Lake Lou is gradual without real difficulty. It is a question of well stick one’s breath with the effort and to remain constant, pure cardio. Moreover, as often I found the descent much more difficult to manage (perhaps because of muscle fatigue). We went back to the car exhausted!

Although close to the ski resort, the landscape is spectacular and gives the impression of being at the end of the world (photos above and below). I also took the opportunity to test my new Osprey backpack (1): very comfortable and practical, despite the fact that it is a little big for a half day trip. And my first neon pink Hydro Flask thermos that matches to my ski jacket (sooooooooo girly!).  

  

Skiing at 2600 Meters

The following day, part of the small band skied solo, another preferred to stay in the station, while with Henriette, a Dutch blogger friend (with the same glorious level of eternal ski beginners, lol), we have preferred to take a ski lesson with an ESF instructor

After he checked our ski level, we take the chairlift which stops because of the big wind. Honestly, it’s pretty scary when you are (yes yourself) in the chairlift, to reach a blue slope at 2600 meters. Once arrived: strong gusts of wind and very poor visibility. Wow! No choice, we have to ski on the icy snow to get down to the resort. 

Thankfully the weather is very fast changing in the mountains. A little further down, the snow is powdery. And all my stress left! Once more, we take the chairlift. But this time the descent is much more pleasant! The wind has stopped blowing and I’m really having fun!

The Hype

The Apen Art

It’s not the good restaurants that are lacking in Val Thorens! This time my favourite goes to the Alpen Art that I’ve just discovered! A tea room and restaurant super welcoming, with an urban decor, works of young artists and a very friendly and professional team.

The food is great, I recommend the scallops and the homemade cake collection is to die for! Especially the chocolate cake (lol)! What else? Happiness! 

  

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Val Thorens Tourist Office, Pashmina Le Refuge, Spa By l’Occitane au Pashmina, Alpen Art, ESF Val Thorens

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to the Val Thorens Tourist Office for this lovely invitation. Many thanks to the team of Pashmina Le refuge, Alpen Art and ESF Val Thorens too. As always, these are my opinons (it gets boring to have to specify it, lol!).