little white truths

This is the last product from my Mario Badescu Anti-ageing Kit that I have left to review. 

I've saved it until last because I've used it the least frequently of all the products in the kit: it's quite astringent and I can only use it on my dry, sensitive skin twice a week - otherwise I reckon it would irritate my face and turn it into a red, flaky mess.

That aside, this is a decent product that cleans well and there's definitely room for something like it in my collection. Sometimes my skin feels so dirty and looks so dull that only harsher products will get the job done, and this does.

This cleanser isn't for the faint-hearted so if you have very dry or sensitive skin, it mightn't be for you and I'd recommend testing it before making a purchase.

It's a clear gel that smells astringent - almost like detergent - and to be honest, it feels a little like detergent on the skin. I realise that makes the product sound remarkably unappealing, but I like this cleanser even though my skin tends towards dryness and sensitivity, so the smell and feel of it obviously don't bother me that much.

My skin broke out last month and it's only just started to settle down now, and I reckon this product had something to do with that. What it's great for is getting rid of dead skin cells on the surface and giving your face a squeaky fresh feeling that many other cleansers don't deliver.

On that, I personally wouldn't use this too often because it would strip my skin red raw, but I can get away with a couple of uses each week and my skin looks better for it. So do go gently with this product (at least to start with) because I used it for three days in a row once and my skin didn't like it.

I imagine the product would be good for teenagers suffering from bad acne, and older lasses dealing with hormonal blemishes. In my experience it does a lot towards banishing break-outs, even if you don't use it every day.

I think it would also suit people who don't like facial scrubs and prefer foaming cleansers that have an exfoliating effect. I wouldn't call the product more gentle than my face scrubs - quite the opposite, in some cases - but it manages to exfoliate and resurface the skin without the use of harsh grains, which can be a plus for many.

On the product claims: I do think this is great for dull, congested skin; it's definitely lathering, exfoliating and deep cleaning; it does leave skin radiant and smooth; and it does break down build-up on the skin's surface. It doesn't however have any impact on minor discolouration in my experience, but otherwise I think it generally does what it says it will do.