Cleansers -Origins - Checks and Balances
EloquenceSmith 7/8/2012 1:28:00 PM
This is by far the best cleanser I have ever used. It's so rare that a products does exactly what it claims on its packaging. I use this twice daily and it leaves my skin wonderfully clean, free of sunblock (from daytime use) with no residue. For me, the clearest evidence that this is a great cleanser lies in the fact that after cleansing in the evening, I can comfortably wait for 25 minutes prior to applying Retin A. I have very dry skin, and this product seems to cleanse without leaving me with that overtly tight, pulled skin feeling I've experienced with so many other cleansers. I purchased my first bottle in January this year, and with twice daily usage it lasted until June. Value!!!! You only need a small amount as a dab creates enough froth to thoroughly cleanse. I'm on my second bottle now and I could not be happier.
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Treatments -Obagi - Clear
EloquenceSmith 2/26/2012 11:10:00 AM
First of all, this is review for Obagi Clear FX, not Obagi Clear. Obagi Clear FX contains 7% Arbutin (confirmed by Obagi.com), instead of the 4% hydroquinone in the conventional Clear. To avoid confusion, I'll use the term Clear FX to describe this product and Clear HQ when pertaining to Clear with hydroquinone. Arbutin is not a prescription product; it's derived from the leaves of bearberry and cranberry, and to all intense purposes, is a naturally derived form of hydroquinone. In terms of it's molecular structure, it IS hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached. This additional molecule does make it a significantly different brightener. It is not as potent, nor is it reported to have some of side-effects that [can] accompany hydroquinone use. From my research, Arbutin cannot be called a lightener, only a skin brightener. OK-so that's the science over. So, having used the whole Obagi system (minus the Tretinoin) I experienced incredibly clear, even toned and smooth skin for 5 months . However, five and half months into the treatment, my skin became incredibly inflamed and began darkening due to hydroquinone. This was INCREDIBLY distressing I have to say. Having struggled ALL my adult life with uneven skin and hyper-pigmentation, I really thought I'd found THE answer to my skin issues. Undeterred, my dermatologist suggested that I take a break from Clear HQ, and use Clear FX instead. Buoyed by his assurances that Clear FX would help, I purchased this. I did a patch test, waited for 24 hrs and experienced no irritation. Essentially, Clear FX fits straight into your evening and daytime Obagi routine. To avoid further irritation, I chose not to layer this with Exoferm. I also chose to use this product for 6 weeks minimum; as I know from experience that it takes a while for my skin to adjust to a new product. Upon usage, I felt fairly quickly that this product was not suitable for my skin. My face felt incredibly dry and irritated within 3 hours of first use. Nonetheless, I persisted, adding a gentle moisturiser to counter-act this. The dryness eventually subsided after 7 days, but my face felt constantly irritated with this product. After 6 weeks of religious usage, there was no improvement in the tone or evenness of my skin. In fact, I'd be more inclined to say that due to the irritation, this product worsened by condition. I'd given it a good attempt, but it was clearly not suitable or fit for purpose [in my case]. If you're looking for a product to even out your skin tone; are not allergic to hydroquinone; nor concerned by the risks in its usage, I would say use Clear HQ. Don't waste your money on this product! If you're using Clear HQ and want to use an alternative brightener to give your skin a break from hydroquinone, I would advise you to stay clear this product. Since using this, I did some research on Arbutin, and discovered that one of the main concerns with its usage is.............. irritation. No s***! 7% Arbutin is actually a high percentage for a facial cosmetic product, which may be Obagi's justification for the hefty price. In any case, high percentage or not, this product does not work fro me.
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Cleansers -La Roche Posay - Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser
EloquenceSmith 2/7/2012 3:53:00 PM
I had no intention of buying this product, But I was persuaded to purchase it by a sales assistant in Boots the chemist. My normal (dirt cheap) Boots cleanser for sensitive skin wasn't available at the time. So I bought into the sales pitch that this was a fantastic product that she used herself. (Really????, I mean really...how often do I hear that). Wow! Do I regret buying into that nonsense? After my first use, I could instantly tell that this cleanser really wasn't cleaning my face. It had trouble removing my moisturiser and sunblock. Additionally, it left a thin film behind on my skin that I mistakenly mis-took for a moisturising effect; which I really didn't like. After I wash my face, I really just want it to feel clean. If I want a moisturiser, I'll use one thank you very much. A closer look at the ingredients revealed that this contains Ethylhexyl Palmitate (a derivative of palm oil) and Propylene Glycol ( a petroleum derivative) Nonetheless, I persevered, buoyed by the sales pitch that this was a great product for dry and sensitive skin. And also because it cost over £20. Three days into continuous use, my face started to show real signs of irritation. Muted redness and darker areas on my forehead and cheeks, and some tiny bumps. I should add, I NEVER break out. I promptly put this in the back of my bathroom cabinet, never to be used again. I may use it to shine my bathroom tiles. At over £20 it is a tremendously disappointing purchase. In good conscience, I would not recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin. I wouldn't recommend it full-stop, as it fails miserably as a cleanser.
5 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No