Lazy Girl Approved highlights long-lasting, goof-proof, fuss-free products that can fit into the most minimalist of regimens. If you consider yourself a low-maintenance beauty lover, these product reviews are for you!
Did you know that you could be over-exfoliating or under-exfoliating? That was my main takeaway after attending an exfoliation masterclass hosted by my longtime facialist, Kathryn Sawers of Collective Skincare. If you take a closer look at your skincare routine, you might be surprised by all the sources of exfoliation there are. Scrubs provide physical exfoliation, while many of the cleansers, toners, and moisturizers that promise to "renew" skin and improve tone and texture contain acids that act as chemical exfoliants. And then there's retinol, which is (you guessed it) also an exfoliant. All of this is enough to trigger skin irritation at worst or serious consumer confusion at best. So what would a Lazy Girl to do? She'd turn to a quick, easy-to-use product like the Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel ($12 for a single tube, or $116 for the kit at Varnish) that's guaranteed to work.
What it is: A clear gel packed with chemical exfoliants to help you slough off dead skin cells. A potent combination of phytoactive AHA extracts, Lactic Acid and fermented plant enzymes promise to improve tone and texture in one treatment.
Packaging-wise: Although the mini tubes are intended to be single use, one 3 ml tube holds enough product for multiple treatments. I put the opened tube back in the mini ziplock bag when not in use.
Performance-wise: This is a fast-acting chemical peel that only requires 3-7 minutes to do its job. Depending on how dry your skin is or how long it's been since you last exfoliated, you may experience some tingling. Personally, I don't feel anything when I use it, but when I wipe away the product with a cold damp washcloth afterward, my skin is noticeably brighter and more even-toned. Kathryn likened using the Rapid Reveal Peel for 3 nights in a row to one of her glow-inducing facials. The comparison is justified after seeing how dramatic the results are. Here's a no-filter selfie from the exfoliating masterclass as proof.
Lazy girls will like it because: Listen, no product will ever replace Kathryn's facial massage techniques or the magic she can work over the course of an hour. (In fact, I have an appointment with her this weekend! EDITED TO ADD: I ended up rescheduling because of the escalating coronavirus situation and the call for social distancing.) But Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel is a good in-a-pinch substitute when I'm between facials or prepping for a special occasion. I like how it takes as little as 3 minutes if I'm sleepy and want to go to bed without spending too much time on my skincare routine (which is every night lately with how busy work is). Plus, it's just one treatment that works instantly—no fussing with various toners or scrubs or retinols with low concentrations of active ingredients and waiting weeks for results.
I did not know that retinol was an exfoliant! I keep hearing different things from different people about it - some said it's an exfoliant and others said it's not. It does cause sensitivity on my skin though so I don't usually use it in conjunction with other exfoliants (cough Drunk Elephant saying you can blend their Framboos exfoliant with their retinol and apply it together).
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I love the concept of this product. Fast and effective exfoliants are definitely my preferred method to exfoliate, and I do feel like a chemical exfoliant does a better job than a scrub. It does seem pricy though, at $12 for what's supposed to be a one time dose.
Have you tried Omorovicza Silver Skin Saviour? It's supposed to be an acne product but it's basically a chemical peel. The initial investment is higher but you can get probably at least 50 uses out of the jar. That and of course the Neostrata peel which is AMAZING (which you know about already).
On me, one tube has enough product for 3 consecutive treatments, so it works out to be $4 a treatment. I feel like $12 for one tube is worth a try! And no, I haven't tried Omorovicza Silver Skin Saviour, but I'm intrigued now that you're mentioning it!
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