little white truths

I received this peel as a GWP and I included it in one of my samples posts a while back, and I actually have two of them - and I've opened my second one already so I've definitely given it a good test run.

Long story short, I think it's a nice, gentle peel that works, but it's not my favourite so I wouldn't buy it for myself. More on that below.

Madara claims/product details:

• This active AHA peeling mask gives instant radiance with a nature’s superdose of active acids
• Fruit acids and vitamin c from quince fruit, blended with hydrating lactic acid and soothing elderflower, provide efficient exfoliation for bright, radiant and smoothed skin
• Removes dead cells to uncover smoother (and radiant) skin surface
• Exfoliates the skin to stimulate cell turnover and regeneration
• Brightens skin, diminishes the appearance of age-spots and lines
• Helps unclog pores for a deep cleansing action
• Improves the absorption and effect of other cosmetic products
• Especially beneficial for those with dull, tired skin, signs of ageing, lines, wrinkles, age-spots, lack of glow, clogged pores and acne
• Not suitable for those with fragile, hypersensitive skin
• Made in Europe, natural, vegan, cruelty free, gluten free
• To use: apply a thin and even layer on the face, neck and décolletage, avoiding the eye area; leave on for 5-10 minutes, then remove with lukewarm water
• RRP $39.95 AUD for 60ml

Verdict

This is a good product and I'm enjoying using it. While it's not the most amazingly effective peel I've used, I like that it's gentle enough that I can use it a few times a week if I want to without upsetting my skin.

It's a thin, smooth product that sits somewhere between a gel and a light cream in texture. It has a light herbal scent that's quite faint so it shouldn't bother most people.

It spreads and applies well, and you don't need much each time - so even the two 12.5ml samples I own are lasting me a good while. That means it's good value on a price-per-use basis.

I've been using mine two or three times a week for the past two months, and I tend to leave it on for more than the recommended ten minutes because my skin is used to AHAs so that doesn't feel too much for me. If you have sensitive skin, though, you may want to use it for a smaller amount of time.

When applied, this has a tingling effect that tells me it's working. It's not an uncomfortable feeling - it just feels as though it's eating away at dead skin (lovely ; )). After use my skin looks brighter and feels smoother, plus it feels firmer and gently resurfaced. It's the kind of product that does its job without causing any discomfort or irritation - or at least it hasn't for me.

Do note that I tend to use most masks in the evening because I have more time for them then, but this one's good for morning because it resurfaces and refreshes my face, making it a good product to prep my skin before makeup application or if I'm heading out for the day and want to look more awake.

Nevertheless, I still prefer Skinstitut's Enzymatic Micro Peel (reviewed here), which is a very similar product - it's just a little cheaper (and often available on special), and I think the Skinstitut is more hydrating than this one, so it suits my dry skin better while still delivering the same results.

On the claims: yes it brightens my skin and adds some radiance; yes it exfoliates and smooths my skin; yes it clears away dead skin cells; no I don't think it's done anything for age-spots or fine lines; yes I think it helps my other skincare to absorb better (because it removes the top layer of dead skin); and yes I think it's good for tired, dull skin.

Overall I think this is a good little product and I recommend it. It generally meets its claims and it's not super expensive, especially when you consider the size of the full-sized tube. While the comparable Skinstitut product works better for me, this one's still good and it's worth trying if you're interested.

Decent.