La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat, Daily Moisturizer

**************************PRO TIP**************************** I took the advice of another reviewer and cut off the bottom of the tube to see if I could get any more out, and sure enough, there was a treasure trove of extra moisturizer at the top near the opening that will last you another week at the minimum. When you reach the end of your bottle, definitely cut it open, because this stuff is expensive. I was able to carefully wrap the tube up and store it in a plastic baggie with all the air squeezed out. In total, this tiny bottle lasted from the beginning of August until mid-October for me. ******************************************************** Review: Previously, I've never in my 23 years of life ever been able to have clear skin (other than before puberty). I've always had acne. I always took great care of my face (washed twice a day, avoided touching it), but nothing ever worked. All of the other things on the market (even the supposed #1 dermatologist recommended) never did anything for me; none of the dermatological-prescribed creams, pills, or face washes could ever touch me. I have combination skin: oily/greasy city in some places, and dry as the Sahara in others. If you have it too, you have my sincere condolences, because I think that up to this point in my review, we have had the same experience. Until this brand. Unlike other moisturizers, it's not heavy. It doesn't feel like it's cake. It's light and my skin breathes. It moisturizes the dry spots and doesn't irritate or inflame the acne-prone oily spots. I live in Texas - AKA sweaty city - and I swear, this stuff still doesn't feel like it's heavy on my face, even when it's 105 out. I've never moisturized before because of my acne and my stupid combination skin, but after buying this, I can see that it's possible. You get what you pay for with this stuff. Now, price-wise, it is a little much. And the bottle is laughably small. But like other reviewers mentioned, a little bit really goes a long way. I do a tiny pea-sized dab for each cheek (which you can push to cover your nose and chin/upper lip) and another for my forehead and that's worked well for me. It spreads very, very easily. The smell doesn't bother me; other reviews mentioned a chemical smell, but I wouldn't really put it like that. It just smells like cream. I wish I'd had this stuff at 14. Maybe my life would've been different. Do yourself a favor and buy this. You will not be sorry. **edit** I wanted to come and edit this review to specifically mention the importance of using this moisturizer in combination with the face wash. The face wash I bought along with this is La Rochay Effaclar Purifying Gel. I am always so instinctively skeptical and wary about using anything that claims to "moisturize" my face, so after about 2 months I stopped applying this moisturizer after every wash and started only doing it a few times a week - bad, bad, BAD idea. My face in turn began producing oils to compensate for the drying effects of my face wash. After all, the face wash is more on the acidic side. After trial and error, I'm here to tell you that yes, you need to use this stuff every time you wash your face. It doesn't make me break out whatsoever unless I skip one of these two products. Do not skip this important step! Face wash alone is not enough to keep your face clear (if you have combo skin like me).