Skin Saviours of the Here and Now

Hello my loves!  Tonight's post is devoted to three skin care products I've been reaching for every single day over the past 6 weeks or so.  My face has really been wreaking havoc on my confidence recently, with dry skin left right and centre and breakouts galore.  It's been especially bad since I've had a cold - blowing my nose 24/7 has caused all the skin in that general area to literally flake off.  I know.  But such are the joys of life, and thank god there are products to ease the pain.  

Pixi was a brand I had heard so much about, and so when I got a couple of their products for my birthday I was over the moon and couldn't wait to try.  I'm absolutely in love with their Glow Mud Cleanser, and use it everyday as part of my oh-so-glamorous 'in-shower skincare routine'.  I think it's a really nice product to use in the morning particularly, because it leaves your face feeling ultra clean, and ever so slightly tingly, owing to that darling Glycolic Acid which I have only recently discovered to work wonders on my skin.  Other pros; Pixi are a cruelty free brand, the packaging is so so cute, and you're guaranteed a glowy complexion with this product.  Major con, however, is price - this comes in at £18, so is worth using sparingly!

And, post cleanse, where would I be without Avene's Tolerance Extreme.  Interestingly enough, this has received some pretty bad ratings online, owing to a recent change in product ingredients.  I believe it is actually intended for super sensitive skin, and whilst I don't have particularly sensitive skin, I wanted something ultra moisturising to get me through the last leg of winter.  This cream is rich, has a neutral scent, and applies thickly but sinks in rapidly, trust me.  Again, price point isn't great if you use a lot of moisturiser like me, however you do get more bang for your buck than with many other brands - £13.50 for 50ml, as opposed to the more common 30ml size.

And finally, my new favourite thing is the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Serum, again containing Glycolic Acid and Aloe Vera - my two best friends, apparently.  This stuff is fantastic for visibly brightening and tightening the skin, minimising the appearance of large pores, and making you smell like a freshly sliced orange.  How delicious.  Another mid-range highstreet product at £14.95, but I'm stingy and I'd still repurchase this.  

The next skincare product I'm desperate to try is Liquid Gold by Alpha H... has anyone else tried this?  Hope you're all well and happy,

Ruby x

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January Favourites

Wow, it feels like I haven't done a favourites post in so long... which is in fact, pretty accurate - my last one was in May last year.  Oops.  So we've plenty to catch up on.

The first honourable mention must be YSL's Mon Paris, which is a classic, romantic, and suitably Parisian smelling fragrance.  Think fruity, floral and sweet but with a deeper chypre base - somewhere between Giorgio Armani's Si and Coco Mademoiselle.  Lovely.

For my birthday in October my housemates (aren't they just the best?!) got me an Instax Mini 8 Camera in Yellow, which I have been loving.  There's nothing quite so satisfying as the clunk when you hit the shutter, the little squeal as your picture emerges, and anxiously watching the image develop over a two minute interval.  You can get them in all sorts of colours and there's plenty of funky cases to boot - like this oh-so-70s divine floral one.

  

I've definitely had to up my haircare game this January.  Whereas I'm usually fairly lazy, having just had another load of bleach inflicted on my ends as well as the colder temperatures, I'm lathering on all the nourishment I can.  I've recently rediscovered Lee Stafford's products, and I have to say, one of the major USPs of his products for me is their amazing smell.  I'm talking sweet, nutty, white-sand tropical island kind of smell.  Just what the doctor ordered in January, no?

I  like to whack a load of this Repair Oil onto my damp ends, and again once my hair has dried, to help seal the ends and give a glossier finish.  Paired with Ojon's Leave-in Glossing Cream, which I again use a generous dollop of on wet, brushed through hair, this combination has just about been saving my hair throughout the month.

And finally, to brighten up my reluctantly wintry looking skin, I've returned to an old favourite by Kiko - their Beam of Light Highlighter in 01 Cream.  Kiko is a brand I so rarely tend to buy from, but I believe I picked this up when I popped into one of their stores in a mall in Spain - as you do.  Anyway, it's just glorious.  Think pearlescent, shimmery, sandy gold colours; again, beaches and tropical islands (anywhere but England!).  This is highly pigmented and gives a gorgeous highlight but can be layered according to desired effect.

I like to dust along cheekbones, brow bones, cupid's bow, you name it.  Just call me shimmerball.

Ruby x

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New in: Formula 10.0.6

Getting together a good, solid skincare routine that uses products I love and that work for me is something I still haven't achieved, despite having been an avid shopper who also has skin for around 21 years.  I know.  On the upside, however - if you haven't already been able to tell - it does mean that I'm constantly trying new products from new brands.  Today I want to talk about a brand called Formula 10.0.6 which I picked up a couple of bits from late last year. 

Finding a good moisturiser is 100% where I have floundered over the years.  I'm a big big fan of the La Roche Posay skincare, especially their moisturisers (see this post and this post), however I find a 40ml bottle of LRP Effaclar Duo+ only lasts me around 3-4 weeks.  And at £15.50 a pop, even though I love it, that is more than my phone bill and therefore ridiculous to be spending every month.  

Interestingly enough however, Formula 10.0.6's 'Seriously Shine Free' moisturiser has a very similar visual effect to LRP's Effaclar Duo+, mattifying the skin perfectly.  It has a clean, fresh smell, slightly woody which is unusual for a moisturiser but actually quite pleasant.  Containing aloe vera and bamboo extract, it's gentle on the face and gives back moisture without a hint of shine or grease owing to its oil-free formula.  I do sometimes find myself having to put on multiple layers in order to feel that I have properly rehydrated my skin (especially after an involuntarily scorching hot shower; ours is rather erratic at the moment).  But considering it comes in at £8.99 for 75ml (I know!), a few extra layers here and there don't trouble me in the slightest.  This is an all-round great value moisturiser for oily, combination and acne-prone skin.

 

 

 The second thing I picked up was the 'Rescue Me! Blemish Care'.  This is a 25ml (also incredibly generous) product designed to clear and help prevent breakouts and blemishes.  Very similar to Soap and Glory's Dr Spot, I use this as a topical treatment for spotty areas after cleansing and toning in the evening.  Containing castor oil and salicylic acid, I find this does a pretty good job at drying out and reducing the swelling of spots (sorry if TMI).  Plus, again, it's only £6.99 for a bottle that will last me probably at least the whole of 2017 if not longer! 

So, Formula 10.0.6, upon first impressions, I'm pretty impressed.  This is a nice, more affordable skincare brand for anyone with oily, blemish-prone skin who is looking for a bit more value for money. 

Has anyone else tried anything from Formula 10.0.6?

Ruby x

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Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate - Review

Recently I've been branching out from my usual choice of moisturiser (La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo), and trying some different types of product and brands on my skin.  I find particularly between seasons that my skin can become a bit of a challenge to manage - I'll be dry in the afternoon, oily in the evening, and suffering breakouts the rest of the time.  For a long time I would shy away from using moisturisers, thinking it would exacerbate my oily areas, but I now really enjoy using either a lightweight moisturiser or a serum like this one to keep my skin hydrated without clogging my pores or looking overly shiny.    

This is not the kind of product I would ever have decided to try of my own accord as it is completely out of my price range at a whopping £59 for 30ml.  I came across it totally by chance - I lie, it was through some clever PR work - as it came as part of a 'free gift' with the purchase of two other Lancome products (or some similarly tempting proposal).  My original 'free gift' bottle was a sample sized 5ml, which I took on holiday with me to Greece and could not get enough of.  Upon returning, I trawled Depop for a couple of days until I saw someone was selling a bottle of the stuff for a fraction of the price as it was an unwanted gift.  Needless to say, I snapped it up - parting with just £20 in the end. 

The serum is a lightweight, silky texture and comes in a luxurious glass bottle with a pipette dispenser.  Despite actually being marketed on account of its of anti-ageing properties, the main reason I love this product is because it makes my skin look and feel so hydrated and healthy, like I've been drinking matcha smoothies and doing yoga daily for the last 5 years.  It makes the perfect base for days where I do want to wear makeup, and for days when I don't, gives me a little bit of extra confidence.  

For me, this is my new favourite luxury to see me through Autumn.  

Ruby x

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Artis Brush Dupe: Is it worth it?

So, I don't know if anyone else has been seeing the Artis brushes pop up left right and centre in the blogosphere, but I, for one, was so sick of the sight of these I thought I just had to try one.  Until I came to look at the price of those little things and choked on my tea.  Needless to say, for a student, £48 for the 'Oval 7' face brush was a little out of my budget.  

You can imagine my glee when I was browsing YouTube one morning and saw that blogger Lily Melrose had uploaded a video reviewing an Artis style brush dupe that she found on Amazon for under ten smackaroos.  Within a couple of minutes I had ordered my own dupe Artis brush for £4.89.

Presenting...  the so entitled 'VALUE MAKERS Toothbrush Curve Liquid Foundation Blending Brush-Pro Cosmetic Makeup Face Powder Blusher Brushes-Contour Cream Concealer Blusher Make Up Kit-Beauty Cosmetics Tools-Makeup Kit (style 8)' (lol)...

The brush itself is pretty small, and the handle is fairly naff quality - it feels quite flimsy (but what can you expect for such a cheap brush).  The bristles aren't too bad; they're quite soft and very densely packed.  

My first approach was to cleanse moisturise, etc.  I then mixed together my primer and foundation on the back of my hand and used the brush to gently pick up the mixture and apply it to my face.  This was a complete failure - it was instantly absorbed into the bristly abyss, with only around 10% of what I had on the back of my hand ending up on my face.

A little bewildered, I tried a second method...

 

 

Applying the foundation directly to my face, and then smoothing out with the brush in small, gentle sweeping motions. 

Half blended...

 

And the finished product....

 

 

For me, it felt very strange to go back to using a brush after having been a beauty blender convert for so long. I find using a brush to give a more matte and heavier coverage look overall, compared to the dewy, airbrush effect that using a damp beauty blender has.  Although this brush blended my base in well on the majority of my face, I found that it exacerbated dryness in certain areas prone to lack of moisture, giving me a slightly uneven and flaky finish in places.  I also found the bristles to be far too absorbent for my liking, resulting in a lot of product waste.  For all-over foundation application then, this brush gets a thumbs down from me.  I'll be sticking to my beauty blender, thanks.

 

However it's not all bad news.  I did then try using it for blending my contour out, with considerably better results.  I use a powder contour by Smashbox, and so the brush dispersed the product out nicely instead of absorbing it.  Ultimately though, I wouldn't be using this again for foundation.  It's quite good for blending out powder products, but for me, not worth the excitement.

 

Before

After

 

Has anyone tried one of the real Artis brushes?  What did you think?  

Ruby x

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Vichy Normaderm: 3-in-1 Cleanser and Anti-Blemish Moisturiser Reviews

 Vichy is a new brand for me: I've always tended to choose the likes of La Roche Posay, Lancome (if I'm feeling fancy) or on occasion Avene.  However, none of said brands have worked any particular wonders for my skin, leaving me rather ambivalent towards skincare products in general.  But my search has continued this month with a couple of bits from Vichy's Normaderm range which is designed for 'acne-prone skin'.

Their 3-in-1 Cleanser + Scrub + Mask is reasonably priced at the £11 mark for 125ml.  From what I can tell so far, this will last a good while, too.  I've been using it daily in the shower, usually in the morning.  The product is quite thick in consistency, with a light scent that reminds me slightly of the smell of a spa - like a pleasant concoction of swimming pools, candles and fresh towels.  It smooths nicely over the skin and contains miniscule exfoliating beads that really help your face to feel like it has been deeply cleansed.  I've found it has actually been helping reduce redness in my skin and inflammation, as well as helping to reduce oiliness and blemishes on my face in general. 

I like to dampen my face first, before smoothing over and rubbing gently to get a good exfoliation going, before rinsing off with warm water.  I really like this product - it leaves my face feeling completely clean and cleansed of oil and impurities, giving a slightly mattified look after use.  I haven't yet tried using it as a mask, but as a cleansing scrub, I can certainly recommend this for those with acne-prone skin like me.   

I've then been using the Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Blemish Care moisturiser, which comes in at a pricier £14.50 for 50ml.  Although this is reasonably sized, compared to some moisturisers I've bought in the past which are only a puny 30ml, I do find myself using at least one full pump, sometimes more, despite not having particularly dry skin.  That being said though, this is an incredibly lightweight and silky moisturiser.  It's very fast absorbing, and leaves my skin radiant without being overly shiny.  Again, the smell is pleasant, but mild, and I find this to have a calming effect on any redness or inflammation I might have on my face.  Although £14.50 is expensive, I must say I have been very happy with this so far, and would definitely repurchase. 

Has anyone else tried Vichy's products?  What do you find works best for acne-prone skin?

Ruby x

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Get more for your money: Two skincare saviours that will last forever

Following on from my last skincare-related post where I reviewed a few slightly pricier products from the La Roche Posay range, I thought I'd now dedicate a little time to a couple of products that are a bit cheaper, and even better, seem to go on forever and ever.

We all go through times in our lives where sometimes we just want something that does exactly what it says on the tin/bottle/box, without parting with too much money at the same time.  These products are perfect for those who are looking for a quick and easy two-step cleansing and moisturising process that leaves you feeling clean and fresh as a daisy. 

 First up is this Garnier Pure Micellar cleansing water, currently on offer for just £3.33 at Boots (usually £4.99).  First of all, I think this is an absolute steal considering this is a 500ml bottle, and it even claims up to 200 uses... that's almost 6 months of using every single day (without accounting for those lazy days when pants are too much effort let alone makeup or cleansing).  Secondly, micellar waters are such an efficient product - with a few swipes of this on a cotton pad, my makeup literally melts away.  It's a godsend for removing heavy eye makeup, and I also love that this product is non-greasy, compared with some other eye makeup removers that I've tried, like the Loreal Dermo-Expertise eye makeup remover.  It's also a dream for removing foundation, and leaves your face feeling incredibly fresh and clean.  This is also a great alternative to a lotion cleanser, which I find can be a lot more labour intensive, requiring more product to do the job and often leaving a slightly greasy residue.

 After cleansing with micellar water, this moisturising lotion from Cetaphil is your best friend.  Although this is a little more pricey, at £8.99 (however this was recently on offer for £5.99, so look out for promotions), I cannot begin to explain how long this is going to last me.  The bottle itself is 236ml, which is massive compared to the standard 30-50ml moisturisers I usually buy.  In addition, this is so hydrating that again, a little goes such a long way, especially if you don't have particularly dry skin to start off with.  I find I only need half a pump, rarely more.  Another thing I love about this is the bottle itself - it's so handy to have a pump applicator, and I find myself using it constantly for my hands too, as it's so fast absorbing.  Since using at-home salycylic acid treatments on my face (for more on that, click here to see my full post), I've found my face has been getting quite dry, especially living in windy old Brighton.  For dry or sensitive skin types, I cannot recommend this moisturiser enough.  It's fragrance free, non-comedogenic and is specially formulated to 're-hydrate damaged skin associated with common skin conditions and following dermatological treatments.'  For a functional, no-frills, great value and super-hydrating facial moisturiser, the search is over.

Has anyone else tried either of these products?  What did you think?  

Ruby x

 

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Review: A few Products from the La Roche Posay Toleriane and Effaclar Skincare Range

For Christmas last year, one of the lovely gifts I got was a Boots voucher (always a winner with me).  I love getting vouchers because it gives me an excuse to buy expensive things that I wouldn't usually buy... like fancy cleanser and toner, what a treat!  

I've been using this cleanser and toner from La Roche Posay for about a week now... I'm definitely still making my mind up about the Toleriane cleanser - although I don't have particularly sensitive skin, I much prefer using a lotion cleanser in the evening as opposed to a wash-off one, as I find wash off cleansers can really strip my skin and leave it feeling quite dry and tight.  This one works reasonably well removing makeup (I use it to remove skin makeup, and use an eye makeup remover for my eyes and eyebrows), although it's not proved itself the best in terms of speed and efficiency... or perhaps I just have ridiculous expectations since Micellar waters graced our bathroom cabinets.  To be honest I tend not to wear heavy foundation, but I can imagine for those who do this cleanser just wouldn't cut the mustard.  It's almost a little too gentle, and I can't imagine it ever removing my 5am-just-got-in-from-the-club face (yeah, that one).  The lotion itself isn't as thick as the No7 cleanser I mentioned in my last post but it's not quite as runny as a cleansing milk - it's difficult to describe, but it's almost like trying to remove your makeup and cleanse your face with a light moisturiser.  All in all, it's a good product, but it's certainly not an all-purpose cleanser, and within that price range I think there's probably better products around.  Maybe for more sensitive skin types this could be a holy grail, but for me, although it does leave my skin feeling soft, hydrated, and clean, its basic functionality as a makeup remover is a little too flaky for my taste.  Perhaps my opinion will change once I get used to the formula, but for now I just don't have the patience to be cleansing my skin 3 times in a row every night. 

The Effaclar Astringent Lotion, however, is a whole other kettle of fish - and it's only £8.25 in Boots at the moment.  I bloody love this!  I use this after cleansing, putting a little on a cotton pad and then sweeping over my face avoiding my eye area.  The product contains salicylic acid (for more on that, read my post on salicylic acid facials), which makes your face tingle for a few seconds as you apply it - this also gives it quite a strong smell, which I actually really like as I think it smells very clean and refreshing, kind of like when you give the bathroom a really good scrub.  I feel like using this really helps to balance out some of the oil in my skin so I don't wake up super shiny, and also really helps calm down any breakouts that might be trying to surface.  I've really noticed it helping a lot with any spots I've had, with redness and swelling noticeably reduced overnight, and I feel like it helps close and even shrink my pores after cleansing.  I couldn't ask for more to be honest!  The Effaclar range is also specifically designed for 'imperfection-prone skin', and is definitely a range that I've found really suits my skin type, which is oily/combination and spot prone.  I think next time I will definitely get a cleanser from the Effaclar range, too, instead of the Toleriane range.  

Finally, I thought I'd just briefly mention the Effaclar Mat Moisturiser (also currently on offer for £10.87 at Boots).  I previously really liked the Effaclar Duo moisturiser, however - laugh at me if you will - the bottle was too long to fit in my makeup bag which bothered me far too much to carry on purchasing it.  This one is a bit shorter and a bit wider, and has that matte packaging which feels so luxurious.  This is perfect, again, for oily skin types like mine.  It sinks in really quickly, feels very light on your face, but also is almost completely mattifying, it's insane!  The one thing I would say is that you don't get so much for your money... this bottle will only last me between 6-8 weeks, so I think it works out quite an expensive moisturiser.  Also, I'm not sure how I feel about wearing this under makeup.  I really like a dewy skin look, and find that using this can sometimes dull my face a little when I put makeup over the top.  But for days when I don't bother, it's a lifesaver.  If you've got oily/combination/spot and shine prone skin, this is definitely worth a try!  

Ruby x 

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Empties #1 - Products I've used up this month

If I actually manage to use up a product in its entireity, it means I'm on to a winner.  The amount of half-used, once worn, 4-times-sniffed stuff I've pawned off on my sisters, my mum, my housemates (etc.) over the years would probably fill a couple of wheelbarrows; it's quite ridiculous.  However, this month I've actually managed to gather together enough bits and pieces that have sadly reached their end of their life to write a post on it!  

This must've been the third or fourth bottle of No 7's Beautiful Skin cleansing lotion that I've managed to use up.  I'm in love with the stuff!  It usually lasts me around 6-8 months too, so for £9.50 I don't really think you can go wrong with this product.  It's really hydrating and leaves your skin silky-soft, but is equally great for removing makeup.  I tend to use this on my face, and a micellar water or eye-makeup remover for my eyes, brows and lips.  I was forever getting the No7 money off vouchers from Boots, and not really knowing what to spend them on, until I found this product... next time you find yourself staring confusedly at the No7 counters, voucher in hand, pick this up and give it a go!

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a bit of a lip balm addict.  My favourites are definitely the EOS ones - they're so dinky, come in loads of different flavours and are organic, darling.  Word of warning: as much as I love stores like Urban Outfitters and Topshop, don't buy them from there!  They're so much cheaper online (check out this 5 pack for £12.99), instead of being £7 a pop, plus, with Amazon Prime you can get them in a day anyway and order them from your bed - bliss.

I've loved using this Mac Prep+Prime 'Skin Enhancer' as a primer for what feels like forever!  It must've lasted me around 9 months or so, which I think is pretty great considering I wear makeup most days.  A little also goes a long way with this product, and I find the slight pink tint in this product really helps balance out any yellowy undertones in my skin and gives me a nice luminous base to apply my foundation onto.

I've found this Rimmel London Double Duty base coat to be a great, affordable nail product which does exactly what it says on the bottle.  It's got a very light pink tint, and dries with a rock hard, high shine finish.  Between colours I like to keep my nails topped up with this to help keep them strong... it's the perfect budget base coat, hence, I've used it all!

The Lancome Hydra Zen Nuit night cream is a product it's taken me quite a while to use up, as I don't tend to get particularly dry skin and prefer day creams to night anyway.  However, I really can't fault the hydrating power of this little pot.  It's a slightly heavier, but very silky cream, which sinks straight into your skin.  Whenever I use this I wake up feeling fresh as a daisy.  

Equally, I've loved using Clinique's Moisture Surge eye gel on mornings when I'm not feeling so fresh.   Not gonna lie, I think this shit is expensive and I don't actually remember purchasing it which probably means I got it as a free gift with something - I don't think I ever would've spent £35 on an eye gel, even in the days where I didn't have food to buy and bills to pay.  But, in spite of this, if you're going to splash out on an eye gel, this one is the bomb.  It visibly brightens your eyes, and is so refreshing, especially on hangover mornings.  This little baby has been the keystone of my morning routine for the past year or so, and I will miss it, dearly.

Thanks for reading, as always!  If you likey, don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin' via the link below.

Ruby x

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My Experience With Using a Salycylic Acid Facial Peel

A couple of months ago, if someone had recommended me to put acid on my face to help manage acne and scarring, I probably would've thought they were almost definitely a psychopath and have promptly ran away.  However... the more I started to read about 'facial peels', the more curious I became, until one day I found myself on Amazon, ordering a '20% Facial Salycylic Acid Peel Kit'.  Next thing I knew, it was going on my face, week after week.  So I thought I'd write about my experience so far and include some photos for your viewing pleasure!

The kit I bought comes with a 30ml salicylic acid solution and a 50ml neutralising gel (as well as a few free cotton pads, how generous), and cost £16.79 plus postage, which I think was £2.80.  You can get many different types of facial acid and in different concentrates, but having read quite a lot online first, I knew I wanted to start with a relatively low percentage of acid.  At first glance, I thought these bottles looked tiny and wasn't sure if I'd been ripped off or not.  However, having used them both weekly now for almost 6 weeks I'd say I've used just under half of the acid and about the same, if a bit less, of the gel.  So, on second thoughts, I think there would be on average 12 weekly treatments in each set, which I believe represents great value for money.  The instructions I received with the kit recommended using the treatment weekly.  I made sure to read the instructions multiple times, as well as comparing them with ones online, and doing a patch test beforehand - it's a risky business putting acid on your skin so if you do ever choose to try this sort of treatment I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing what you are doing before you begin!!!  I feel like it is something which will work differently for everyone; this is just my experience and method. 

Beginning with clean, makeup and oil free skin (I use the Lancome Gel Eclat cleanser as I find this to be one of the best for me to make my skin feel really super clean!), I apply the acid, which is a strong smelling, clear liquid, using a cotton pad.  I put it straight onto my face, avoiding eyebrows, lips, eyes etc... you can also put vaseline on these areas to protect them from the acid.  Each week I would increase the time that I left the acid on by a minute, from one minute in the first week up to 6 in week six.  The instructions also recommend that you leave it on for 7 minutes as a maximum, as well as leaving a 2 week gap between treatments 6 and 7.  I'm not going to lie, the acid is pretty strong stuff!  You can definitely feel it doing it's thing; it's kind of a light and hot tingling sensation, a bit like if you use a deep cleansing face mask, and in a similar way, it makes your face feel quite tight.  It's quite bizarre to look in the mirror as you do it, as the acid creates a very fine crystallised layer on the surface of your skin, making it look a bit like you've been in the arctic.  I use a timer on my phone to make sure my timings are precise, and once the time is up for the acid I apply the neutralising gel, using a cotton pad again and applying in circular motions.  I leave this on for a minute, then rinse off with cold water.  After a few minutes, I apply a good moisturiser, something quite thick - either Cetaphil moisturising lotion or La Roche Posay Effaclar MAT.  Around 2-3 days later (there's no delicate way to put this), my skin gets a little more dry, and err, peels off... kind of like having sunburn... in February.  It sounds a lot more dramatic than it is, as with a good moisturiser, which I apply 2-3 times a day, it is so easy to manage.  I've found as the weekly treatments have gone on the peeling has been far less intense anyway, and it only ever tends to be around my chin, which I would say is where my acne/scarring/blackheads are worst anyway.  

Below I've put some photos from Week 1 (on the left), versus those from Week 5 (on the right). 

For me, the difference is quite subtle, and difficult to show on camera, too, but I have definitely noticed it.  Although this isn't a cure-all treatment for acne (as I've still been getting spots in between treatments), the texture of my skin has improved tenfold since using it.  My skin is usually quite oily; I find this really helps to balance it, and for first few days after using, it really does feel like you've got a new layer of baby-soft skin.  The difference hasn't been dramatic, but I have seen a reduction in the amount of spots I've been getting, and also feel that week-on-week some of my pores have slowly but surely been shrinking, as well as some of the acne scarring I have.  I think it's also helped with redness and inflammation - all in all, for 5 weeks of usage, I can't really complain.  All it seems to have done is improved my skin, which has made a big difference to my confidence.  Admittedly, I don't have the worst skin in the world at all, and I don't believe spot-free skin is the only beautiful skin, but my skin has always been (or rather, not been) a bit of a soft spot for me - pardon the pun - and so I have the attitude that if I can do something about it, why not try.  

That's all I have to report on using facial peels so far - I'm going to carry on using the kit I've got and complete 12 weeks, then see about perhaps moving onto a higher percentage or different type of acid if I want to continue.  Let me know what you think, and if you'd like me to do a follow up post at the end of the 12 weeks.  Lots of love,

Ruby x

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