ELLA K BEAUTY REVIEW

SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 Refining Night Cream Review

This water and silicone-based retinol cream spreads easily and dries to a matte finish.  In addition to retinol, the formula also contains shea butter, ceramides and anti-irritants to help reduce dryness and irritation often associated with retinol use.  It’s best to limit the use of this product to once or twice a week until skin adjusts.  The cream works well to minimize the superficial signs of aging and it helps to reduce blemishes and acne scarring.  Use of sunscreen is recommended with this product. 

SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque Review

This thick masque combines natural kaolin and bentonite clays to draw out impurities from the skin.  The masque also contains fruit acids, but they are not as effective as glycolic or salicylic acid at exfoliating the skin.  Aloe, chamomile and zinc oxide are added to the formula to help reduce the risk of irritation.  The masque removes dirt and excess oils from the skin and leaves it feeling refreshed and clean.  This product would be suitable for most skin types.

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel Review

This oil-free gel provides light hydration without a greasy residue.  The gel would work well for someone with oily or acne-prone skin, but those with drier complexions will need an additional moisturizer.  This product is quite expensive considering that the formula only contains water, sodium hyaluronate, vitamin B5 and a preservative.  The gel is fragrance-free.

SkinCeuticals Serum 20 AOX Review

This water-based serum combines ferulic acid with high levels of vitamin C (20% L-ascorbic acid) to fight premature aging.  The serum tingles slightly upon application and the high vitamin C content could be problematic for sensitive skin (this line offers serums with lower concentrations of vitamin C that would be more suitable for sensitive skin types).  The serum has a strange but tolerable scent.  After using this product for several months I saw no visible improvement to my skin, but to be fair, this product claims to prevent rather than correct existing skin damage.