SK:N Vitamin Rich Cleanser for Oily Skin (review)

Hey My Lovelies,
You all know I have been on the hunt for very good skin as my skin is not where I want it to be at the moment. Anyways, the SK:N Vitamin Rich Cleanser is an old favourite of mine and I have no idea why i stopped using it. I bought it first sometime in 2011 when I still lived in Manchester after watching Patricia from PatriciaBright (aka BritPopprincess) on Youtube recommend it because it contains Glycolic Acid. After it ran out, I just moved on to other skin care products and i found it was not readily available in many stores. Fast forward in 2013, I really wanted to try it out and I checked in all the Boots stores around me but it was nowhere to be seen. I was desperate and cross so much so that I had to start ringing the Boots store until I was told I could only get it on Bond Street. Lucky for me, it's quite close to my office so i sauntered in there during my lunch break and this baby landed into my hands. End of my Tantrums...:-)

Packaging

Although the packaging is nothing fancy, I like how clean and simple it looks. I am beginning to think I like the combination of white and blue; I have no idea why but I recently noticed most of skin care products on my bathroom cabinet are white and blue. It has an outer cap which gives way to the inner cap that allows the product come through. I secretly wish it had a pump as it would have been easier to dispense as opposed to fiddling with the top cap but it’s not too bad.

Formulation

It does not have my usual "all natural genetic makeup" which i prefer  in skin care products but I love the active ingredients which are included that help in its efficacy. Topping the list is its Glycolic Acid(2%) content which aids in exfoliating the skin and encouraging cell renewal. If you have hyper pigmentation, you will find that , glycolic acid which is an AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) is a natural derivative from Sugar Cane, can aid in fading these dark marks with time. (Read: with time as it takes dedication, patience and time; it’s definitely not a quick fix). It also contains Vitamins A,C and E hence the name Vitamin Rich which are all essential vitamins for the skin as Vitamin A contains retinol which also encourages skin cells renewal, Vitamin C which  helps brighten the skin and is a powerful anti-oxidant and Vitamin E which improves the appearance of the skin. It also contains Primrose Oil which is useful for maintaining vitality of the skin. It is essential to the wear sunscreen, even in the winter, when using products that contain either Vitamin C or Glycolic Acid as they make the skin more sensitive to sunlight which will further darken any pigmentation you may have

Application

I use this every day; in the morning and night and I think it is one of the easiest cleansers I have used in a while. I do my double cleansing with my wipes or Bioderma. I wet my face a little, take some of the cleanser and massage my face gently in circular motions. I use my Boots No 7 Cleanser brush (review here) to cleanse and massage my face and rinse off before proceeding with the rest of my skin care routine.

Results

The first thing I noticed is how soft my face feels after using it. I have used many cleansers including gel-like ones and sometimes they strip my skin off all the oil which is not particularly good as it also messes with the PH of your skin which is crucial to prevent bacterial growth/acne/all baddies. I have not experienced any stripping with this cleanser and my skin’s oil balance is perfect immediately after using it. There is no associated faux drying and my face does not feel tight at all and I really like that. If anything, it really makes it feel soft. In terms of clearing my hyper pigmentation, I have seen a marked difference in the first month of using it which is down to its content of Glycolic Acid . As with many products, I have not really seen much difference after using it for more than two months (i guess it's the law of diminishing returns setting in) probably because my skin has gotten used to this cleanser which is why i think it’s time to rotate or switch.

Cost

I got this with a deal in Boots which was offering 3 for 2 on all SK:N skin care products so I didn't actually pay the full price for it kinda. I think normally it costs £11 and it comes in this 200 ml container which has lasted me for just under 3 months so it is totally worth it. I think it should even last longer; it’s just that sometimes I dispense a little more than I need. I would suggest you wait till Boots have a deal on them to purchase it if you are not desperate as it always works out cheaper and you can also stock up on other SK:N products.

Cons

My major annoyance is that it is not readily available in many Boots. I had to go all the way to the one in Oxford/Bond Street in London to get it. So, you can either buy it online or in a really large Boots. I remember the Boots in Manchester Market Street actually had it so if you live in Manchester, you can pop down there. It is also available at the SK:N clinics which are in some parts of the UK so it is worth checking out their website. I also wish it had a pump so I can dispense this easily but that's not really a major con though!!

Verdict

Again, this is one of my favourite cleansers because it feels really good on my skin and I have not experienced any adverse effects. I will definitely give it a rest for now while I explore other cleansers which may be effective as well. I will definitely go back in a few months. If you have oily skin prone to Acne, this is one cleanser you may want to try as it has been very beneficial to my skin. I hope you have enjoyed this post and I will see you in my next post...x