Oh hello there pretty kitties!
Just a heads up-this is going to be a long one.
Regular readers of this blog know that I am fanatical about protecting my skin with the proper sun protection and that I treat my skin with my favorite acids-AHA's and BHA's. You would also know that I have very reactive skin and struggle with breakouts.
I have recently upped my skincare game to include Retin A (this will be a separate blog post) and a topical antibiotic to help banish the breakouts and generally improve the health of my skin. At the same time that I started this new skincare regime, I had discovered an AMAZING blog written by Caroline Hirons (carolinehirons.com) that has changed the way that I take care of my skin. All of this will be a separate blog post as there is just too much to write.
What I do want to tell you about are two products that you may be interested in trying.
The first one is from Paula's Choice (paulaschoice.com). Reasons I love Paula's Choice: good products with good, quality ingredients, very reasonably priced, fragrance free, you can try it before you buy it, and she takes on the big named companies who sell sub par products with basic ingredients at ridiculously expensive prices.
So earlier this year, Paula's Choice rolled out their Resist BHA 9 for Stubborn Imperfections.
Now usually the highest strength you can find for a BHA product is 2%. The good folks at Paula's Choice have managed a 9% formulation that is very gentle on the skin. The texture of this product is like a serum bordering on an oil. I am on my 2nd bottle of this product, however I had to stop a few month's ago as per doctor's orders, when I started using the Retin-A. According to Paula's Choice website, Resist BHA 9 is effective for: Acne Breakouts, Anti-Aging, Blackheads, Brown Spots,
Enlarged Pores, Keratosis Pilaris, Redness, Rosacea, and Wrinkles.
It:
- Reduces clogged pores-Yes
- Diminishes enlarged pores-Yes
- Reduces white bumps (milia)-Not Sure
- Minimizes flesh-colored bumps (sebaceous hyperplasia)-Yes
- Softens rough, dry, and flaky skin-Yes
- Calms redness and irritation-Yes
- Fades marks from past breakouts-Yes
- Reduces wrinkles and fine lines-Yes
- Dissolves stubborn blackheads-Nope
- Clinically proven non-irritating-Definitely non-irratating
- 100% fragrance free, no added dyes-Yes
- No animal testing
- Reduces Breakouts-Yes
Pros: A well formulated product that definitely makes a difference in the skin's appearance and helps with controlling breakouts.
Cons: Very expensive for a Paula's Choice product. $36.95 for .3 oz. That is not a lot of product.
This product confused me at first. It was touted as a spot treatment, however my blemishes, wrinkles, pores, etc are located on all different parts of my face so I was applying it all over as a full face treatment. The original pump sucked. This was being marketed as a spot treatment but the pump only pumped out a full face pump. They seem to have gotten that in order with their New Precise Control Pump so you can use it any way that benefits you.
This is definitely worth a try if you have any skin imperfections. You can purchase a sample to try it first before committing. I tried the sample first and didn't see any major changes until 1/2 way through the sample bottle.
The next product I've found, I am on the fence about.
I found Skinetica (http://www.skinetica.co.uk/) while snooping around online and decided to give it a whirl. The reviews looked good and the price was right-around $21 USD. This product ships from the UK.
According to the website, it is:
• anti-blemish skincare treatment~ for the removal of acne, spots, pimples, blemishes, blackheads and whiteheads
• a Super Toner – removes virtually all skin impurities
• a Base to Foundation – prevents make up running even in hot climates
• With visible results in 2-3 days and no side effects
• No harsh chemicals, non-toxic, non staining, non greasy and can be used under make-up
• Safe for all skin types and all areas of the body
It claims to "kill 99.99% of P.Acnes Microbes without using toxic chemicals". The technical explanation from the website is:
As Skinetica air dries after being applied
to the skin, it forms a molecular matrix, attached to the skin surface,
which consists of very sharp pointed molecules. P.Acnes microbes cells
are negatively charged, whereas the Skinetica molecules carry a positive
charge, and when in close proximity the two are electrostatically drawn
together. The Skinetica molecule being sharp like a sword, penetrates
the outer cellular wall of the microbe, thus killing it. The medical
name for this process is “lysis”.
The ingredients list is short: purified water, ethyl alcohol (only 18%),
fragrance (BOOO-we no likey fragrance in our facial products), quaternary ammonium compound.
So basically, you would use this product twice a day after you cleanse your skin, just like a toner (this product is a liquid- It is thin like water). Apply to a cotton round (I feel you lose too much product with a cotton ball) and swipe all over your face, neck, hairline, chest, back-wherever you may have a blemish.
One thing I noticed while reading the online reviews, either people loved it and described it as a miracle product or they didn't see a difference. There was very little in between. After using this for a few weeks, I did not feel it did anything for my breakouts, existing or preventive. It definitely made my skin look and feel much more soft and conditioned in the morning but blemishes were still present and did not disappear, especially within the 3 day time frame. Once Retin A came on the scene, I put this on the shelf for about a month or so. I am now back to using it and like it much better the 2nd time around. My face is much clearer than it has been in a while but I am not sure if Skinetica has anything to do with it or if it is the result of the Retin A/Antibiotic combination. Either way, I am not sure if I will be repurchasing this when the bottle runs out.
So there you have it!
Please feel free to post any questions in the comment section below and I will answer as best I can.
Until next time!
Have a safe Labor Day weekend!
Have a safe Labor Day weekend!
~Jessica~
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