As may of you may know, the second part of 2015 was a particularly tough time for our little family. You just never in a million years imagine that your little baby can be that sick when you heart the doctors say the word 'life threatening'! Gulp. It's that sort of thing that you never think can happen to you, only the neighbour, so when it does, your world naturally comes crashing down. And my body's response to intense stress was to make the skin break out!
Now, skin breakouts are not new to me. I've struggled with my skin since I was a teenager, and still to this day where I'm now so old that anti-ageing products are a must, my skin plays up. Over the years I've tried more or less all products under the sun, but haven't really had major success with any. The most successful one has been using a gentle cleanser with my Clairsonic twice a day. Except, this time, it just wasn't quite enough, so when I was offered to trial the Medik8 Beta Moisturise Skin Balancing Mattifying Moisturiser and the Beta Gel, I happily accepted...
The Medik8 Beta Moisturise Skin Balancing Mattifying Moisturiser is a very light, non-greasy daily moisturiser with active ingredients to provide continuous hydration and anti-inflammatory properties whilst controlling shine and oil production, for a clearer and more blemish free skin.
Some of the key ingredients in the moisturiser are;
- Prebiotics/Probiotics - Prebiotics stimulate the growth of probiotic organisms. These can help balance the skin's bacteria levels and decrease blemish-causing bacteria and hence help prevent future breakouts.
- Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, - Helps to reduce sebum production, retains essential moisture, reduces redness and irritation and exhibits anti-inflammatory action, as well as assists with exfoliation and prevents pore blockages.
- Beta-Glucan - Assists in skin renewal, supports the skin's natural defence mechanisms
- Ethyl Linolete - Sebum regulator, anti-inflammatory
- Cinnamon Extract - Helps regulate sebum production and maintain bacteria proliferation. It also helps reduce acne lesions and promote a blemish-free complexion
The moisturiser is of course also free from parabens and is also fragrance free so it is also suitable for sensitive skin types.
The moisturiser is so light and absorbs instantly into the skin, leaving it feeling fresh and moisturised, and you can immediately both see and feel its mattifying effect, which on my skin lasts all day. This also means that it is perfect for using under makeup, as it simply makes my skin stay put all day, even without the use of a primer. And when use as a night cream, I also don't wake in the morning with the feeling that my skin is greasy, which is such a lovely change too. But of course, what's better is that the moisturiser works behind the scenes to help control the oil production in the skin and reduce both existing breakouts and prevent future ones.
Don't let the tiny tube of the Medk8 Beta Gel Blemish Gel fool you. It may be small, but it is jam-packed with blemish fighting active ingredients that promises quick results.
Some of the key ingredient in the Beta Gel are;
- Dioic Acid - helps reduce sebum production
- Azelaic Acid which is a deeply penetrating anti-inflammatory and has Comedolytic properties
- Salicylic Acid which helps clear blocked pores and prevents congested skin
- Niacinamide (vitamin E), which exhibits anti-inflammatory action to help reduce irritation and the appearance of redness.
The Beta Gel not only helps heal existing breakouts and prevent the formation of future blemishes thanks to the salicylic acid which clears blocked pores and removes dead surface skin. And , it also helps calm the redness and irritation that often come with blemishes too.
The Beta Gel promises to work fast, and believe me when I say that it does! When I apply it before going to bed at night, I can already see a significant difference the next morning. Blemishes are simply not only smaller in size, my skin also seems far less red and irritated. But it is not only the actual blemish that reduces and vanishes a lot quicker than normal, those annoying dark marks you always get after breakouts, also seem to be significantly smaller too.
I love that the gel can be used on both individual blemishes and on larger problem areas, and the clear gel absorbs super quick into the skin without leaving it feeling sticky or tacky. And I really like that I can also use it on top of my makeup during the day if needed, and no one would ever know! And unlike most (if not all) other blemish products I've previously used, this Beta Gel does not dry out the skin! At all!
As I've been using the Beta Moisturiser and the Beta Gel together, it is obviously difficult to distinguish some individual benefits, but that said, they obviously work perfectly together, and combined, they have in no time helped get my skin back to a more normal state, and consequently I wouldn't hesitate purchasing either product again.
The moisturiser is at $75 for a 50ml tube, I find, quite reasonably priced for such a high quality product, while I do feel that the Beta Gel is a tad pricey at $79.50 for a small 15ml tube. You obviously only use the tiniest bit to cover a blemish, but still! That said, it has made my blemishes fade a lot quicker than with any other blemish gel, and for that reason, I will without a doubt purchase it again when I run out!
Medik8 Beta Moisturise Skin Balancing Mattifying Moisturiser, RRP: $75/50ml
Medik8 Beta Gel Blemish Gel, RRP: $79.50/15ml
* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
