PRODUCT REVIEW: AFFORDABLE YET HIGHLY EFFECTIVE COSMECEUTICAL SKINCARE FROM SKINSTITUT YOU MUST TRY

My skin has always been trouble some. Even today where I should be focusing on anti-ageing, warding off lines and wrinkles and reducing pigmentation, on top, I am forever battling hormonal breakouts. That can often be a tough cookie, as often anti-ageing products are simply too intense and rich for my combination skin.

BUDGET FRIENDLY ACNE FIGHTING PRODUCTS FROM BIORE // PRODUCT REVIEW

I have all days suffered with a skin prone to breakouts, even today where I am so old I should be more focused on anti-ageing, my skin still has periods of being more temperamental than a teenager's skin. So when a batch of the newest anti-blemish products from Bioré landed on my desk, I couldn't wait to try them...

Let's start with the Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub, which is a face scrub formulated for combination, acne prone skin. The scrub has been formulated with natural baking soda, and also contains salicylic acid to gently and effectively exfoliate the skin and remove all the dead skin cells that are clogging up the pores, including excess sebum. At the same time, it is helping treat existing acne and prevent future breakouts at the same time. The scrub has small scrubbing particles, and doesn't feel coarse on the skin, but actually rather gentle, but after each use, it leaves my skin feeling soft and sooth, and without it feeling dry or irritated, and I can definitely both see and feel it is leaving my skin clearer and more refined too. It has a slight cooling feeling on the skin, which I quite like and find rather refreshing in the mornings. As it is so gentle, it can be used twice daily if needed, otherwise 2 or three times per week.


Then there's the Bioré Charcoal Acne Scrub, which is formulated for oily, acne prone skin. Along with the natural charcoal powder it also contains salicylic acid, and it promises to help exfoliate away any acne-causing dirt , clear away dead skin cells and absorb excess oil, to help give the skin a deep cleanse and help eliminate breakouts, all while being gentle on the skin, and not strip it from essential moisture or over dry it. It can also be used twice daily, or alternatively 2 or 3 times weekly as needed. The scrubbing particles in this seems slightly smaller than in the Baking Soda Acne Scrub, but regardless, after each use, my skin feels super clean deep down every pore. I keep both of these scrubs in the shower, and use them a few times a week.

Finally, there’s the Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser, which is a daily charcoal acne cleanser. It also contains Salicylic Acid deep to help clear up and penetrates pores to absorb oil and help stop breakouts from developing. I am sure the cleanser can be used to remove makeup with, but personally I prefer to use it as a second cleanse when I feel my skin needs a deep clean. I’ve also enjoyed using it with either my Clairsonic or my Foreo.

Common for the products is that I feel they can be a little drying on the skin, so if you have drier skin, or even sensitive skin, I don’t think they’d be for you. However, I do find that they are quite efficient for my combination skin, helping to make my skin feel less greasy, but clearly cleaning out deep down every pore, and as the salicylic acid also helps give the skin a gentle exfoliation and therefore also helps unclog the pores, while it is treating existing pimples too, I have found that I’ve experienced less breakouts, since using these products on a regular basis.

These products are also very well priced, so definitely worth trying out, if you like me struggle with breakouts.


Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub - RRP: $9.99 / 127g
Bioré Charcoal Acne Scrub - RRP: $9.99 / 127g
Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser - RRP: $10.99 / 200ml

Available from Chemist Warehouse and Priceline


* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.

Also note, this post may contain affiliate links, which means you pay no extra, but I get a small commission fee if you click through and buy something. And if so, thank you much for your supporting the running costs of my blog. xx


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PRODUCT REVIEW: TREATING BLEMISH PRONE SKIN BIORE WITH ACNE SCRUB, PORE MINIMISER AND PORE STRIPS

I have all days suffered with a skin prone to breakouts, even today where I am so old I should be more focused on anti-ageing, my skin still has periods of being more temperamental than a teenager's skin. So when a batch of the newest anti-blemish products from Bioré landed on my desk, I couldn't wait to try them... 

Let's start with the Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub, which is a face scrub formulated for combination, acne prone skin. The scrub has been formulated with natural baking soda, and also contains salicylic acid to gently and effectively exfoliate the skin and remove all the dead skin cells that are clogging up the pores, including excess sebum. At the same time, it is helping treat existing acne and prevent future breakouts at the same time. The scrub has small scrubbing particles, and doesn't feel coarse on the skin, but actually rather gentle, but after each use, it leaves my skin feeling soft and sooth, and without it feeling dry or irritated, and I can definitely both see and feel it is leaving my skin clearer and more refined too. It has a slight cooling feeling on the skin, which I quite like and find rather refreshing in the mornings. As it is so gentle, it can be used twice daily if needed, otherwise 2 or three times per week. 

Then there's the Bioré Charcoal Acne Scrub, which has jumped on the bandwagon of using charcoal as an ingredient, which seems to be very popular in beauty products at the moment. It is a face scrub formulated for oily, acne prone skin. Along with the natural charcoal powder it also contains salicylic acid, and it promises to help exfoliate away any acne-causing dirt , clear away dead skin cells and absorb excess oil, to help give the skin a deep cleanse and help eliminate breakouts, all while being gentle on the skin, and not strip it from essential moisture or over dry it. It can also be used twice daily, or alternatively 2 or 3 times weekly as needed. The scrubbing particles in this seems slightly smaller than in the Baking Soda Acne Scrub, but regardless, after each use, my skin feels super clean deep down every pore.

The Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimiser is a facial exfoliator that contains natural charcoal powder along with micro crystals, and it promises to help draw out deep-down impurities, dirt and oil from the pores, to make them appear smaller, while leaving the skin feeling softer and smoother. Compared to other face exfoliators, this one has very tiny particles, so it does feel very gentle on the skin, yet it still feels like it is buffing away those dead cells clogging up the pores, as the skin is left soft afterwards, and I can clearly see that the excess oil, especially on my t-zone has been absorbed. The cleanser comes out dark grey, which is rather odd, but once you massage it into the skin with water, it does turn light grey/white. It is quite concentrated, so though it is recommended to use a full pump, I find that a little too much. It is recommended to use it 2 to three times per week, and unless you've got very oily skin, I'd stick to that, to ensure it doesn't dry out your skin. I have not really noticed that it has made any difference to the size of my pores. But that said, I quite like it as a deep clean once or twice a week, if I'm due for a face mask, or at that time of the month where my skin always feels a little greasier and tends to break out more often, as I do feel my skin is less greasy afterwards.

Finally, there's the Bioré Combo Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, which are long time favourites for both my husband and I. This box contains two types of pore strips, one type for the nose and one for the forehead. And they have been designed to unclog dirt and oil that can lead to blackheads, while helping to minimise the appearance of pores. The Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips for the face are designed to work like a magnet, and help lift out any dirt deep down the pores that can cause blackheads. The two types of strips in the box are slightly different, not only in shape, but also in the ingredients used. The Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips for the nose are shaped so they fit perfectly around the nose, and designed especially for the skin on the nose which tends to be greasier. And so they contain tea tree oil and witch hazel to remove twice the amount of dirt for fewer clogged pores and pores that will reduce in size.

The Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, on the other hand, are designed for the rest of the face, including the forehead, and help lift out the dirt in the pores that can cause blackheads and breakouts. I don't really have that many blackheads on my forehead, but have struggled with a few on my cheeks, which I've tried to use the strips.

The strips are so easy to use, you simply wet your face and apply, and leave it on for about 10 to 15 minutes before gently peeling it off. And you can immediately see their effectiveness, - a little bit gross, but also somewhat exciting that if you look at the used strip, you can actually see the dirt the strips have pulled out of your skin! Afterwards I like to wipe over my skin with a toner to close the pores. Using these on a regular basis definitely makes a difference to the amount of blackheads and breakouts on my nose, so we like to always keep a box handy, just in case.


So there you go, a selection of budget friendly products from Bioré for those who like me struggle with breakouts. Apart from the Pore Strips, favourite of the bunch would have to be the Charcoal Acne Scrub, as its super quick and easy to use a few times a week in the shower, and really makes a difference to the amount of breakouts on my skin.


Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub - RRP: $9.99 / 127g
Bioré Charcoal Acne Scrub - RRP: $9.99 / 127g
Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimiser - RRP: $10.99 / 92ml
Bioré Combo Deep Cleansing Pore Strips - RRP: $11.01 / 7+7 strips

Available from Coles, Woolworths, Variety Stores, Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and selected pharmacies 

* Some products may have been kindly provided for editorial consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy, and reviews are 100% honest and based on personal opinion and experience. Note that The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter is not a professional or expert, so please do not substitute these opinions as professional advice.


Remember that in between my blog posts you can always keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin or Instagram

Product Review: Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Scrub

With a combination skin, I need to exfoliate my skin a few times a week to avoid breakouts, and not to mention keep shine at bay, and help my makeup stay put for longer. Often face scrubs are very harsh on the skin, so I am always on the search for the perfect one. Here are my thoughts on the *Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Scrub;

 

What They Say:

"Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Scrub cleanses and gently exfoliates skin in one easy step for refreshingly clean skin".

RRP: $11.99 (125ml) – Available from Priceline and select pharmacies and supermarkets

What I Say:

The Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Scrub claims to easily remove all traces of dirt, oil and make-up from deep within pores, while gentle microbeads help wash away dead skin cells, leaving skin soft and smooth.

The scrub also promises to rinse completely clean, with no pore-clogging residue for refreshingly clean skin. The scrub is both soap and oil-free, alcohol-free, non-comedogenic as well as it has been dermatologist tested.

And this scrub really is gentle. The exfoliating beads are very small, and it doesn't seem like there are a lot of them in the cream, so when you are using it, you can barely feel that the skin is being exfoliated. But in saying that, after use, any makeup, oil, dirt and grime and not least, dead skin cells have clearly been removed from the skin, as my skin is left feeling clean, soft, smooth and glowing. And without any redness or irritations in sight.

In spite of being soap-free, it still foams up into a nice and soft lather when I massage it into my wet face with my fingers. And because it is so gentle, it also means that it is perfect for everyday use, and also very suitable for those with very sensitive skin.

Fresh Foaming Scrub has a lovely and gentle scent, which is still very faint, and far from overwhelming. As soon as the scrub has been washed off the face again, this scent completely disappears. Yet, while I really like the scent, I am sure that those with a very sensitive skin would prefer if it had also been perfume free.

All in all, I think this is a great scrub, and I love using it in the morning in the shower for an effective yet gentle clean, and I love the fact that it is so gentle that I can use it every day. At just $11.99 for a large 125ml tube, it is a great price too.

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you tried any of the products in the Neutrogena Fresh range? What is your preferred scrub?

Product Review: Dr. LeWinn’s Facial Polishing Gel

With combination skin that easily gets congested, especially during the hot and humid Australian summer, and as my skin is ageing and cell turnover is slowing, using an exfoliating cleanser makes an immense difference to my skin, and well, and well, a good exfoliant makes the world of difference. So I was very excited when I was asked to trial the *Dr. LeWinn’s Facial Polishing Gel. Here are my thoughts;

What They Say:
For normal/dry skin use once a week. For combination/oily skin use three to four time a week. Gently exfoliates the skin without the use of abrasive exfoliates commonly contained in other scrubs. With natural jojoba beads, the gel gently melts away flaky skin. Dr LeWinn's Facial Polishing Gel actually polishes the skin and removes the oil layer from the skin surface.

RRP: $39.95 (150g) – Available from Priceline and select chemists.

What I Say:

The Facial Polishing Gel comes in a handy tube, with a flip lid, and it is designed to stand on its lid, which makes it easy to use every single bit of scrub in the tube. It has a frosted white colour, which also makes it easy to see how much is left of the yellow scrub. The tube comes in a matte white box with grey sides, and full instructions as well as ingredients of the contents of the Polishing Gel.

The Polishing Gel, which has a pretty pale yellow colour, has a pleasant and gentle floral-vanilla scent, which however is so subtle, and once rinsed off the face, this scent more or less completely disappears.

Some of the key ingredients in the scrub are jojoba esters (wax beads), which has the purpose of exfoliating and moisturising the skin. It also contains algae extract which has toning and firming benefits, as well as Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, which is soothing and moisturising. Another key ingredient is Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, with its calming and soothing benefits, and finally Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract with Toning, Firming & Stimulating effect.

According to the on both the tube and on the box, it is recommended to use once a week for normal to dry skin, or three to four times for combination to oily skin. In other words, this scrub is suitable for all skin types, and is certainly gentle enough to use on dry and sensitive skin as well. In the middle of a hot Australian summer, I have been using it a few times a week on my combination skin. On the pack it says it can be used once a week for dry skin and several times a week for oily combo skin (that's me!) so it's good for virtually all skin types.

The actual scrub has a very soft texture of a thin cream and has it has little wax beads through it, which are not too gritty to damage your face but rather very gentle are perfect in removing all of the dead skin cells on your face.
The scrub is very concentrated, so you only need a little. It is easy to rub into your damp skin, and afterwards, it is also very easy to wash off again with water.

The jojoba beads are so gentle and give my skin an overall even feel and smooth texture to it without even really feeling like I've exfoliated. That's because they are so fine it almost feels like it is not exfoliating at all while you are doing the 'scrub', but the feel and look of the skin afterwards tells another story.

After use, my skin feels beautiful in texture and smooth to the touch. It is soft and feels moisturised (although I still feel the need to moisturise afterwards), unlike other exfoliators that seem to dry out the skin. My skin is simply left looking glowing and radiant. I really love a scrub with chemical ‘scrubbers’ such as glycolic acid, but nothing beats using a scrub with physical scrubbing beads from time to time!

After having used the Polishing Gel a few times a week for a few weeks, my skin seems softer, more glowing, and breakouts seems to have reduced. So all in all, this is a fantastic scrub, which has great impact on the health of my skin, so I will definitely look into purchasing this again.

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

Have you ever tried any of the products from Dr. LeWinn’s? What is your preferred exfoliating scrub?