NOVEMBER EMPTIES: EltaMD, C20, Benton + More

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Hi Girls,

I thought I would try an ’empties’ post for the first time! I’ve done a mini-review of each item, let me know what you think!

C20 Original Pure Vitamin C Serum
I purchased this because I was on the lookout for an affordable and effective Vitamin C serum. This one is fairly popular in the Asian skincare crowd and is frequently available from WishTrend* with free shipping, so I thought I’d give it ago. This serum boasts 20% L-Ascorbic Acid, a very effective but very unstable form of Vitamin C. 20% is quite a lot of Vitamin C, and L-AA is very effective but can also be irritating to some at such high concentrations. I bought it to lighten some of my post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation, and it has so far has done a good job. Some people might find this serum problematic because it contains quite a bit of denatured alcohol, which some people may find overly drying and irritating on their skin, coupled with the high percentage of Vitamin C. Other than this, my only issue is that L-AA can be very unstable oxidises very quickly – keeping this serum in a cool, dark place is a must to get the most out of it.
Availability: In addition to WishTrend*
Repurchase? Already have.

Benton High Content Snail Bee Essence
This essence contains a whole lot of ingredients meant to heal, brighten and soothe skin. I’ve happily used it for a while with no problems at all. I am not entirely sure of the brightening claims, but I found it really helpful when I had lots of active acne. I wouldn’t describe it as a spot treatment, but I found that it overall helped acne to heal faster than it normally would. However, I am not really experiencing much active acne anymore so I’m not sure if I will continue to keep this in my routine after I finish my current bottle.
Availability: RoseRoseShop
Repurchase? Maybe.

EltaMD PM Therapy
This is my Holy Grail evening moisturiser. It contains niacinamide, an ingredient with numerous benefits to the skin, such as improve skin barrier function and lighten PIH. It’s very hydrating and contains a slew of other beneficial ingredients to the skin such as linoleic acid and hyaluronic acid. This is easily the most expensive item in my skincare routine.
Availability: eBay
Repurchase? Yes!

Differin 0.1%
This is an Rx product designed to help with acne. It contains adapalene, a third generation retinoid. Retinoids are ONLY available by prescription. In addition to acne management, long term use of retinoids helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and PIH. If your derm/GP prescribes this to you, you absolutely MUST follow their directions and be consistent with your use of this product. It’s not a ‘magic acne’ cream that will make pimples disappear overnight; it takes a while for it to work and most people will temporarily experience an increase in their acne as their skin adjusts to the retinoid. Most people give up at this stage but it’s so important to stick with it and wait it out. The results will be worth it.
Availability: Only by prescription from your dermatologist or GP.

Have you tried/heard of any of these products? Let me know!

Lexie xx

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  1. I have the benton essence and i use it along with the aloe toner. I wouldn't call them magic but my skin is very sensitive so i can't just use anything on my face and be okay lol. I find that when using them together my skin has become clearer and more hydrated without any negative reactions ��

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