little white truths

I've spent the last couple of months using the products in this kit and I've reviewed them all now so I'm ready to do a quick round-up post so you can get an idea of what I thought of each item and also the set as a whole.

Unfortunately it wasn't a kit that worked for me and I wouldn't buy anything in here, but I'm glad to say that I've given the brand a good go and I've discovered that it's just not the right fit for me. I'm not sure why that it is - plenty of people swear by Perricone MD - but I guess that no brand will ever work for everyone and that's just how the cookie crumbles.

Let's have a look.

Perricone MD claims/product details:

• The must-have skincare collection for millennials
• A quartet of complexion wonders to pre-empt the ageing process
• Preserve your youthful complexion and combat the first signs of ageing with this pre-emptive skincare suite
• Targets enlarged pores, fine lines, dullness, loss of elasticity and discolouration to promote your best skin yet
• RRP $101 AUD

The set includes:

• Exfoliating Pore Refiner (59ml)
• Skin Perfecting Serum (15ml)
• Oil-free Hydrating Cream (30ml)
• Brightening Eye Cream (7.5ml)

Below I'll give you mini reviews of each item in the set and I'll also include links to my full reviews if you're interested in those.

Perricone MD Pre:Empt Series, Exfoliating Pore Refining Toner (RRP $88 AUD for 118ml)

Full review here. This product is fine however I personally wouldn't recommend it because I reckon it's overpriced for what it is.

It's a standard toner that you apply to a cotton pad and run over your face, and I learned to apply a few drops of water to the pad because that made no difference in terms of efficacy but it did make the product last longer (a good thing, considering how expensive it is).

I liked that it had an exfoliating, resurfacing effect so my face looked brighter and felt smoother after use, but it didn't have enough grunt for me personally. Indeed, similar products from Alpha-H and The Ordinary did more for me than this did, and they also cost a fraction of the price.

Overall I reckon it was fine but plenty of better, cheaper, chemical toners/exfoliants are available on the market so I wouldn't buy this one.

Perricone MD Pre:Empt Series, Skin Perfecting Serum (RRP $132 AUD for 29ml)

Full review here. This serum was ok but considering the price, I was expecting more from it.

The main thing I noticed was that it always turned my face red after use. My skin didn't feel uncomfortable and I wasn't feeling that familiar tingling that indicates the presence of active ingredients, but my face obviously didn't like something it contained.

It also dried my skin out so my fine lines looked more pronounced, which of course isn't a good thing. I therefore had to use an oil over it (rather than a moisturiser) to combat the dryness, but my skin was drier than usual while I was using it so I'm glad to have finished it.

Overall this just didn't work for me, and while it did make my skin look a little brighter and feel a little smoother after use, that wasn't enough to balance the adverse effects I experienced while using it.

Perricone MD Pre:Empt Series, Oil-Free Hydrating Cream (RRP $110 AUD for 59ml)

Full review here. This cream was nice and I enjoyed using it, but I don't think it's worth the price-tag (are we sensing a theme here?!).

It was lightweight and felt more like a hybrid gel/cream in texture. I used mine in the mornings and I liked how refreshing and cooling it felt on the skin: it was a pleasure to apply. Having said this, it formed a tacky film over my face - rather than sinking in and delivering nourishment - so I wasn't surprised to see glycerin as the third-listed ingredient.

Indeed, I don't think it's right for those who need deep nourishment. This is why I never used it at night: it just didn't do enough for my parched face.

It also didn't meet any of its claims in my experience (eg it didn't target dryness, fine lines or uneven skin texture), so it's not one I would recommend.

Perricone MD Pre:Empt Series, Brightening Eye Cream (RRP $94 AUD for 14ml)

Full review here. This eye cream was ok but it didn't suit my personal needs so it's not one I would buy.

What I noticed about this product was that a little went a long way, and while that sounds like a good thing in theory (because it will last you longer), in practice all that confirmed for me was that it wasn't sinking in properly and hydrating my skin. Indeed, my eyes always felt dry underneath the product so it wasn't good for my dry, 37yo skin.

Also, while I do think it was a little brightening and also had a slight firming effect, considering that they've put light-reflecting pearls and glycerin in the formula to achieve those things, I wouldn't get too excited about what it's doing for you long-term. You could find a budget eye cream that contains those ingredients and save your hard-earned money.

Again, overpriced and not for me.

In sum

Obviously this kit didn't work for me and while I can't speak to Perricone MD's other products, I can say that I found these to be overpriced and not formulated well for my dry skin.

Do note, though, that I've seen plenty of people swear by Perricone MD skincare - so it could just be that this particular range of products didn't gel with my skin and of course it's worth doing your own research and sampling anything that catches your eye.

Do I think the kit was worth the money? No. But at least I've established that this isn't my brand without committing to any full-sized products, so that's worth something.

Hope all's well with you, and speak soon x