Skincare for the acne-prone can be nightmarish. Like, proper scary! You want to be moisturised without either the oil-slick finish on the day, or, the boils that arise from it 2 days later. I know this because I'm a sufferer - always have been, sadly. So, whilst make-up can be a saviour for covering my scar covered, blemish ridden mush, it only adds to the problem long-term if I'm not focusing on the actual issue itself.
When Helloskin asked if I wanted to give their site a whirl, my first thought was whether there'll be anything remotely suitable for my skin so, upon pasting their link in to the browser, I held my breath... for no reason at all, because Helloskin specialise in, check this, skin care products for psoriasis, eczema, acne & other dry skin conditions. Bingo!
I was given free reign to chose 3 items from their site to review so made a point of using their search filters specifically to tackle my acne. A very simple process revealing a great selection of products.
Here's what I thought of my choices...
La-Roche-Posay
EFFACLAR PURIFYING GEL: A luxuriously silky face wash starts the process well. It builds a whopping lather and has a texture more like serum than soap. Don't get it in your mouth, it tastes vile (!) but wow, does my skin feel clean and supple afterwards!
EFFACLAR CLARIFYING TONER: The toner is very thin, a slightly cloudy coloured water that gets soaked in to cotton wool a little too easily. I find the application better when using like aftershave - squeeze a little in to your palm, slap your hands together and pat your face. You can feel the pores tightening the second it hits your skin. I love this feeling - you know it's really doing it's job.
EFFACLAR DUO [+] ANTI-BLEMISH CREAM: The anti-blemish cream is the third step. The texture is less of a cream, more like a primer. Applying a thin layer to my face after the first two steps, my skin is ready for any make-up application within 10 minutes.
Overall: After almost 2 weeks of use, my skin truly is more balanced. Sebum production appears to be reduced and there are no dry areas despite using toner on a regular basis (something that does usually happen with me). I actually received a compliment the other day - of sorts. I was asked if I was using new foundation as my skin was glowing... as I've made no change to my usual make-up I'm definitely putting it down to this! This 3-step system will be for keeps in my skincare regime.
Bioré
Recommended for weekly use to unclog pores and prevent blackheads, simply wet your face after washing and apply the strip to your nose with dry hands. These strips take around 10 minutes to dry and stiffen. From the edges, carefully lift the strip up, gently unclogging those pesky pores in the process.
Overall: We've all used nose strips before and, let's be honest, we relish in the gross aftermath! On first application however, I have to say that the results from these strips weren't as vomit inducing as I'd have hoped. With little to see on the strip I was surprised I had no clogg-age to remove - until I looked in the mirror. The adhesive had stuck to my nose, requiring a good scrub to remove. Perhaps I removed it too quickly? On second application, it did work a little better but definitely still some residue left on the skin. Good results but not great when compared to others I've tried. All this being said, my skin was definitely feeling smoother and squeaky clean!
Hollywood
Designed to help clear spots and the associated redness overnight, this contains a combination of salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide in a bid to to clear pores, preventing the formation of acne-causing bacteria. The gel is said to have a visible impact on spots in as little as one hour, reducing redness and clearing blemishes without scarring. Unlike some acne treatments, it contains no benzoyl peroxide. It is also free of artificial colours, fragrances, and parabens, which can irritate sensitive skin.
Overall: True to it's claims, this gel really reduces that angry redness of acne. I applied this in the evening on one particularly painful spot that was starting to break through the skin. By the next morning the redness had gone! However, a truly bulging yellow-head had dramatically appeared instead! Resisting the temptation to burst it's bad-ass, I covered over with concealer for work and then reapplied this gel later in the evening. By the following morning the head had somehow vanished and I had nothing but a skin-coloured pimple left over. This stuff is literally MAGIC!! An additional pointer to bear in mind - it goes a long way so use sparingly and you'll get the maximum out of your purchase.
Have you ever used Helloskin to specifically find products suited for your problem skin? If so, let me know what you opted for - I'm always open to recommendations! If not, then now is the time to delve in deep because they have kindly offered you guys a 10% discount code, just for taking the time to read my blog. How kind!!
To redeem your 10% discount visit Helloskin and use the code: HELLOJO
0 comments:
Post a Comment
I love hearing from you guys. Whether you agree, disagree or just have something to add - just fire away!