Hey Guys!
Clear Skin Days sent me some of their products as pr (Not sponsored at all) – and as I thought the products were pretty good, I would share them with you guys – swatch, review and dive into the Pros and Cons as well as any possible Dupes!
They are Vegan, Cruelty Free and Fragrance Free
The Brand is Available on Holland and Barrett: HERE
Please see the Transcript Below in order to get all the Info!
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Transcript:
In the Video – I Swatch + Review Products I received from the New Indie Skincare Brand: Clear Skin Days! I discuss potential Dupes, Good Points, Bad Points and which products I’d recommend overall!
The Brand is Based in the UK and is Vegan as well as Cruelty Free! They are available to order online through their website and on Holland and Barrett! They are quite a new brand so I’m sure they will expand their availability online in time.
Their Products are also Recyclable which is great and the brand itself seems pretty affordable! I’d put it on the same level or Just above the Ordinary.
Overall: The brand focuses on clarifying the skin i.e. Reducing Breakouts, Reducing the look of Pimples and Help prevent pimple formation in the first place. And they aim to do this without over drying the skin or stripping the skin too much of its natural moisture and oils, but rather promote skin exfoliation and clarification via Gentle use of Acids and Sebum-Regulating Ingredients.
Therefore, I would mainly recommend this brand to those with Blemish-Prone Skin. However, I would say those who break out only occasionally or get the odd pimple here or there can use one or two of these products to specifically treat or spot-check monthly or stubborn areas.
First Up is the Clarifying Cleanser (£10 for 150ml) which is an exfoliating, Gel, oil-control cleanser that can be used Daily in the AM or PM. It’s aimed at Oily, Combination Skin Types and I would agree as this could potentially drying more dry skin types due to the inclusion of Salicylic Acid. Therefore, it’s more recommended to those who produce excess sebum as this helps reduce sebum production and unclog pores thereby reducing the look of blackheads and the formation of pimples.
This product promotes skin shedding through the use of both an AHA and BHA, thereby improving the overall texture and tone of the skin overall.
The AHA Included is 2% Glycolic acid which is derived from Sugar Cane. It exfoliates the surface of the skin and resurfaces it – improving the texture and brightening the complexion.
The BHA included is 2% Salicylic Acid which helps soothe inflamed skin and exfoliate pores, thereby helping to regulate sebum production.
I think 2% Glycolic acid is a good amount as it shouldn’t sting the skin too much and could be used almost daily for normal skin-types. For sensitive skins, I would recommend a staggered use of this product just to prevent over-exfoliation and potentially drying out the skin.
[This Cleanser aims to unclog pores and help resurface the skin, improving the overall texture and tone of the skin while reducing the size of pimples and help prevent them from forming in the first place by promoting skin shedding / So overall this cleanser aims to promote a clearer complexion].
Aloe Vera is added to help prevent potential dryness caused by the Salicylic acid and prevent any irritation caused by acids.
(Always make sure to wear SPF when using AHAs)
In terms of the Scent: this is unfragranced so it just smells of dish soap. Also, you’re supposed to shake the bottle before use and massage the product onto damp skin for 20-30 seconds.
In terms of the Texture: As you can see, this has a gel-like consistency. It’s not too thick and when water is applied, this emulsifies or becomes milky, so it’s easy to wash off and also, it’s easy to rub and massage into the skin without this sticking and tugging the skin.
A good K-Beauty dupe of this is the Wishtrend AHA BHA Clarifying Gel Cleanser as it is also a Gel cleanser – that is also fragrance and essential oil free but that is more expensive than this.
Overall, I think this is a very effective and simple cleanser – it does what it says on the tin; it helps exfoliate the skin.
I do think using this daily, especially twice a day would be too much for my Sensitive Combo Skin as I would find this stripping.
However, I can see how someone with very oily skin would be loving a cleanser like this.
So personally, I would say don’t overdo it and listen to your skin when using exfoliating products and make sure if you start to feel any sensitivity that you use up on usage and take your time.
I think this could be used as a good maintenance product just to promote some skin shedding, to keep the skin in good condition and using this twice to 3 times a week depending on your skin’s sensitivity and what other exfoliating products you’re using.
The brand state that a hydrating product should be used after this cleanser, which is where we move onto the toner!
The Clarifying Toner (£10 for 100ml)
This daily-use toner which a pH of 5.5, close the skin’s natural acid mantle to keep it balanced, helps restore hydration back into the skin after cleansing and even out the skin’s tone. It can be used both in the AM and PM but once again, listen to your skin and don’t overdo it as this contains another Exfoliating Acid: an AHA which is Lactic Acid.
Lactic acid is a gentle AHA that encourages cell turnover and is great for all skin types, including dry skins as it helps draw moisture into the skin.
Liquorice Extract is added which helps soothe the skin and both brighten the skin and pigmentation.
Amino-Acid Derivatives are also added to both hydrate the skin and regulate the skin’s oil production to prevent an over-production of sebum and thereby pimple formation.
In terms of the scent: This doesn’t have much scent once again because it’s unfragranced. And in terms of the texture – this is lightweight and watery. The product simply runs down the hand and absorbs relatively fast! It just disappears into the skin without leaving a sticky or tacky residue.
A dupe is the Versed Weekend Glow Brightening Solution – it also contains Lactic acid, is vegan and is also fragrance free. However, the Versed Toner contains Witch Hazel; which could be drying, whereas this toner specifically aims to hydrate the skin and avoid drying it out.
This can be used with a cotton pad or applied with the fingers. It’s meant to be followed up by the next product, which is the Clarifying Serum.
The Clarifying Serum (£10 for 50ml). This is a daily-use serum that can be used in the AM and PM.
This serum aims to exfoliate the skin, reduce the look of blackheads and reduce excess sebum production through both 5% Glycolic Acid and 2% Salicylic Acid.
Glycolic Acid from the Alpha Hydroxy Acid Family, an AHA; exfoliates the skin without the need to scrub the skin. Salicylic Acid from the Beta Hydroxy Acid Family, a BHA; penetrates through the lipid layers between skin cells to dissolve debris and help unclog pores. It is anti-inflammatory and helps reduce potential breakouts and the size of pimple formation.
This is aimed at Oily, Blemish-Prone Skins and I would agree as I think Dry Skins may not find this as moisturising due to the BHA.
1% Hyaluronic Acid Complex is also added to help prevent the skin-drying caused by Salicylic Acid, while also plumping up the skin. [Hyaluronic Acid is a sugar found in the skin that helps draw moisture into the skin.]
You’re meant to shake this well before applying to the skin and in terms of the texture; this serum is quite thick; it has an almost-gel-like quality to it. It’s still thinner to the cleanser, but it is slightly gloopy when applying. That being said, when spreading out and tapping it in; this does not feel sticky or tacky. It absorbs easily into the skin, and in terms of the scent, this does smell subtly of Apple Cider Vinegar which I’m guessing is due to the Glycolic Acid.
In terms of a dupe; you could use the Good Molecules Glycolic Acid Toner which Also contains Salicylic Acid. I do find this however a bit more gentle than the Good Molecules.
This is meant to be followed up by a Moisturiser to provide an occlusive finish. Which leads to the Mattifying Moisturiser. (£12 for 50ml). This daily use moisturiser aims to reduce excess oil and soothe the skin. It can be used in AM and PM by more Oily and Blemish Prone Skins.
This moisturiser is meant to help reduce the look of blemishes and prevent the formation of them through the use of Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide and Panthenol.
Niacinamide is a multifunctional ingredient that helps reduce excess oil therefore helps prevent flare ups, and also helps brighten the skin as well as reduce the look of fine lines. Interestingly, Niacinamide supposedly helps with DNA damage repair, so it could help the skin against environmental aggressors thereby reducing potential inflammation in the skin which could lead to a breakout due to a weakened skin barrier.
Panthenol is added which is Vitamin B5 – it helps soothe inflamed skin and speed up wound-healing which may help with blemish recovery.
Salicylic Acid is included which helps unclog pores, thus reducing the formation of blackheads and pimples. However due to the drying nature of Salicylic Acid, especially to those whose skin under-produces sebum, I wouldn’t recommend this to dry skins as this may not feel emollient enough.
So you’re meant to shake this product well to mix up the ingredients before applying, and like it says on the bottle – this is a mattifying moisturiser, so it doesn’t have a dewy finish, but more of a mattifying one – but It doesn’t mean that this is painfully drying.
You’re meant to shake this well before applying and as you can see, this has a gel-like quality to it and does not feel sticky or tacky. It definitely feels hydrating and slightly moisturising.
A Good dupe for this is the First Aid Beauty Oil Control Moisturiser as that too contains Niacinamide to help with excess oil control, and also Talc to provide the skin with a matte finish and absorb excess oil. You can check that product out in my First Aid Beauty Brand Review Video, link below.
I think this is a good moisturiser for people with oilier skin types and blemish prone skins who do not like to wear moisturisers and find them too thick or greasy. And what sets this apart from gel cream or watery creams is that this actually contains ingredients to help fight pimples and help blemish-prone skin to calm down while being gently exfoliated. And also; most watery lightweight gel creams don’t provide a matte finish, so this can be worn by oily skins without the fear of looking too shiny after moisturising – so this could be suitable for those in hot and humid weathers.
So adding to this basic routine, there are 2 Additional Products that help Spot-Treat Blemishes and can be applied to problem areas.
First up are the Blemish Control Drops! (£8.50 for 10ml) which are aimed at Normal, Combo, Oily and Spot-Prone Skin. This can be applied daily in the AM and PM to treat individual blemishes or can be added to your moisturiser and applied to help keep overall sebum production in check. This contains both Zinc, Salicylic acid and Niacinamide to help calm down the skin and prevent breakouts.
1% Zinc is a trace mineral that is anti-inflammatory and helps reduce inflammation, and 2% Salicylic Acid is included which helps reduce blackhead formation and breakouts.
2% Niacinamide is added which is part of the Vitamin B3 molecule and helps reduce excess oil – improve hydration, brighten the skin and reduce the look of fine lines as well as help with skin discolouration.
To apply, you cover the tip of the bottle with your fingertip, dispense a drop or two onto your finger and then dab onto the affected area. Or you can mix this into your moisturiser and apply if the skin is feeling slightly more congested than normal.
The closest dupe I could think of was the B-Bomb from Geek and Gorgeous which I have reviewed, link below – as it also contains Zinc and Niacinamide, but not Salicylic Acid.
In terms of the Scent; this kind of reminds me of gripe water and in terms of the texture; this is an extremely lightweight, watery product that would simply run down the hand if I applied it onto the hand. It takes seconds to absorb and is very easy to dab onto blemishes.
I’ve been using this to also help brighten PIH due to the inclusion of Niacinamide and have found this easy and non-irritating to use.
Next up is the Blemish Repair Paste (£10 for 30ml) which should be used in the PM and is Suitable for all Skin Types as I don’t find it too drying.
This paste is meant to improve both the tone and texture of the skin by using Zinc – a Trace Mineral known to help soothe blemishes, 2% Salicylic Acid which is an anti-inflammatory and helps reduce excess oil production (therefore reducing breakouts and blackheads), as well as 0.5% Bakuchiol which should help improve the texture and the tone of the skin. I have an in-depth review of the Inkey List’s Bakuchiol if you want to know more about the ingredient Bakuchiol itself and whether it’s effective or not – the link will be down below.
Kaolin Clay is included which helps draw out sebum in the skin which helps absorb excess oil.
So overall, the repair paste is meant to reduce the size of blemishes and is meant to be used overnight to help prevent blemishes forming as well as reduce redness and help with Skin recovery.
As you can see from the texture, this almost looks like a moisturiser. It’s thin, It spreads easily along the skin. It doesn’t have a powdery, scratchy feeling from the clay either. It feels quite wet and almost hydrating. And in terms of the scent, I do get a faint smell of the clay but this really doesn’t smell strongly of anything.
You’re meant to apply a thin layer onto the affected area, let the paste dry up and then apply other skincare products on top – personally I use this on top of the rest of my skincare simply to avoid any tampering of the paste over the blemish.
This can be applied onto small and large areas as it spreads very thinly and doesn’t immediately dry up.
I’ve personally been using this as a spot treatment on specific blemishes. I was worried that it would transfer onto my pillow but luckily, unlike the Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment from the Inkey List, this hasn’t! Even though this contains Kaolin, I haven’t found it drying on the skin but I’m not sure if Dry skins would feel the same way; either way I wouldn’t use this every day just to avoid any potential drying up – but this has definitely been helpful in reducing the size of my blemishes and helping with recovery as of course a paste will stop me from picking at or touching the pimple.
I would say a dupe of this is the Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment from the inkey list – My in-depth review is on the blog where I discuss my experience in more detail but the succinic treatment does contains Salicylic acid like this paste, however as I said – I find that the blue colour transfers onto my pillow.
So there you have it! Those are the products!
Overall I have been enjoying a few of the products from the brand; My favourites are the Paste, the Serum and the Drops however I would like to use the moisturiser some more!
And in terms of who I would recommend this brand to: I would recommend it to those living in hot and humid weathers, those who have blemish prone skins and in particular those who have oily skins. I think Dry skins could get away with using the Drops and the toner specifically but the Serum could be fine.
I really like that this line hasn’t dried out my skin but that is because I don’t use all products at once and space them out, space out my usage per week and also spot treat so as not to dry out areas that do not require salicylic acid.
The Percentages as well are low so I can recommend these products to more sensitive skins as these haven’t seemed to sting or irritate my sensitive skin unlike other higher percentage acids.
Obviously, you don’t need to get the whole line and I would recommend picking and choosing and spot treating areas. This is good for both those who break out frequently and for those who get the odd pimple or break out around that time of the month.
Comment down below which products you would like me to write an in-depth review for, and let me know if you’ve heard or the brand or if you’re interested in them now!
And that’s it for the video!
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Note: The Products are available at the Website: HERE
NOTE: Clear Skin Days are Offering my Lovely Subscribers 15% off for 1 Month! MY_SKIN_CARE_REGIME_15
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Products Filmed:
Clarifying Cleanser: HERE
Clarifying Toner: HERE – Also Available at Sephora: HERE
Clarifying Serum: HERE
Mattifying Moisturiser: HERE
Blemish Repair Paste: HERE
Blemish Control Drops: HERE
Other Products from Clear Skin Days Include:
Spot Eraser Stick: https://myshlf.us/p-241733
Mattifying Booster Powder: HERE – Also Available at Sephora: HERE
Dual Overnight Correcting Solution (Exfoliating Solution): HERE
Brightening Peel Pads (Exfoliating Pads): HERE
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DUPES MENTIONED:
By Wishtrend – Acid-duo 2% Mild Gel Cleanser: HERE – Also Available on Wishtrend: HERE
Good Molecules Glycolic Exfoliating Toner: HERE
My Review: HERE
Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner: HERE
My Review: HERE
Geek and Gorgeous B-Bomb: HERE – My Review: HERE
The Inkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment: HERE – My Review: HERE
Versed Weekend Glow Brightening Solution: HERE
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Videos Mentioned:
First Aid Beauty Brand Overview + Swatches:
Other Skincare Brand Overviews:
Avene:
Typology:
Curel:
Indeed Labs:
Bubble:
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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