3 SKINCARE PRODUCTS I'M TESTING: FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

01/09/2010

First, to describe my skin, for relational purposes here, I have dry, sensitive skin which is unfortunately acne-prone as well. It's horrendously frustrating because products intended for acne not only dry me out, but also make my skin extremely puffy and swollen. On the flipside, moisturizing products break me out. BUMMER!

And believe me, when it comes to acne products, I've (almost) tried it all, from name-brand to generic to prescription to home remedies, all with the same irritating results, described above. GRR!

So, this month I'm trying to limit the actual "ACNE" products I use, and go for a simple (for me this mean less than 20 products? Half kidding, here!) all-around combination that I've been using for about two weeks now, and will continue until the end of the month (unless, of course, I get impatient, fail to get the results I crave, and stumble upon another POSSIBLE HOLY GRAIL product that I *MUST* try, OMG!).

But, I digress. It's a fun hobby.

Now, here are the 3 products, with my first impressions. Not quite fair yet to jump into a review, as unlike my favorite pink lipstick or ultra black mascara, I need more than a few days to assess the results!


NUMBER ONE:


Clinique 3 Step Skin Care System.
Now, for reference, I'm using #2, which is the Dry/Combo skin system. If you need help determining which system would work best for your skin, check out the consultation quiz at the Clinique website, or check with one of the nice individuals at the counter (who I hope are more helpful than the gal who "helped" me at my local mall!")

This system is pretty simple, as you've probably heard. You have a cleanser, a toner, and a moisturizer. I went with travel sizes, which supplies enough for about a month, which ran me about $20 from QVC, but unfortunately this size is discontinued. Again, the website/store may have something comparable... I was just hesitant to splurge on the full size without knowing how this problem skin of mine would react!

The cleanser comes in a few varieties, ranging from extra mild to "regular". It's fairly creamy, easy to apply, and hasn't dried out my skin, which is fabulous thus far. The toner, applied as any other with a cotton ball/pad, does well to remove extra traces of makeup, I've noticed, but tightens my skin a bit more than I like, especially in winter. The moisturizer, which is actually really annoying to apply from this teeny bottle of mine (although, I hear there's a larger bottle with an actual PUMP! My favorite feature of just about any packaging!), but it's been AMAZING in actually soothing the dry patches that developed after my experimentation, AGAIN, with a popular acne-trio (which did nothing, actually, but give me dry patches, unfortunately).

On the downside, what I've been told is the PURGING face of the skincare system has been so pronounced that after two weeks, I'm wondering if I'm beyond that phase and am simply reacting badly to some aspect of the product. I've never actually experienced the purging sensation from any skincare systems before, although I've read about it from other reviews quite frequently. So, we'll see. I may only give this one another week or two, as really, my skin looks pretty terrible. If it pays off in the end, it's worth it, so we'll see.



NUMBER TWO:


DDF Ultra-Lite Peel
I believe this one runs about $40; however, it seems to be discontinued (although whether this is permanent, I'm not positive). I got this one at 50% off at TJ Maxx.

Basically, it's a leave-on peel, supposedly gentle enough for sensitive skin, that can be used underneath your typical nighttime regimen. The bottle claims that the product exfoliates, smooths fine lines, and brightens the overall complexion. Main ingredients are Glycolic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid.

Not quite a lot to say yet about this product, beyond the f act that my skin feels noticeably smoother in the mornings after use of the peel. I started this (and product number 3) approximately two weeks after beginning the Clinique trio, and haven't noticed any additional breakouts since adding this product to the mix. It's too early to tell anything further than that.


NUMBER THREE:


Philosophy's On a Clear Day Blemish Serum for Adult Acne

Alas, this feels like a cheat, given my initial goal to rely solely on the Clinique trio, but at some point the alleged "purging" got so bad that yes, I did fudge things a little and add this acne serum into the mix. This one is about $30 (but was 50% off at Marshalls. These places I shop tend to be so hit and miss, but usually similar deals can be found online if you browse enough).

I like the dropper/serum combination, and the product seems to be heavily concentrated, which means it will hopefully last a nice looooong time. (I much prefer the serum to acne creams, which just give me flashbacks to all the smelly, goopy white creams that were part of nearly every 3-step system for a while. *GAG*). The product does not have an unpleasant scent, and so far I haven't noticed any drying.. although I am careful only to apply it to problem areas, and to stay FAR from the eye area. I'm using this only once a day, and have actually noticed that after a week's use, some of the breakouts from my initial plan had healed considerably.

If the Clinique pulls through for me, I'll probably discontinue use of the Philosophy serum, but we'll see. I may stop by the Clinique counter and chat with one of the counter gals to see whether she'd recommend combining aspects of the traditional 3-step with the acne line, but like I said, I'll probably hold off at least another week or so there.

SO, that's it for now. If you've used/loved/hated any of these products, comment below, and if you have a skincare regiment you can't live without, tell me about it too!

Thanks for reading!