Superduper Spot Removers: Darphin Blemish Gel + Avene TriAcneal Review

These two are quite honestly my miracle spot treatments. My skin is seriously spot-prone and unfortunately it’s all hormonal. So whilst there’s nothing I can do to stop my spots popping up, there are things I can do to make sure they’re not around for long.

Darphin Skin Mat Blemish Clearing Gel* is a clear fast-drying gel that contains salicylic acid and essential oils. The gel is designed to purify the skin, dry and clear blemishes and helps prevent new breakouts. I’ve found that it dramatically reduces swelling if an angry spot appears and in turn makes it a lot less painful.

It also tends to reduce the length of time a spot is visible on the skin. Typically spots take about 5-7 days to disappear but when I use this they’re on their way out within 3-4 days.

Used together with the Avene TriAcneal it’s like a super duperspot remover. The TriAcneal tingles when you apply it, and again it’s great at reducing spot size and appearance. It’s designed to smooth scars too, but I honestly haven’t noticed any scar reduction in the last 6 months or so.

I can 100% say that my skin is the best it’s looked in the last two years and it’s mainly down to these two wonders. The only issue people may find with them is that they’re each around the £22-23 mark. I realise that they’re not the cheapest but you seriously need the tiniest amount of both of them so they’ll last ages!

Darphin Skin Mat Blemish Clearing Gel is available to buy from the Darphin website, priced at £22/15ml, although it’s currently on sale on the Feel Unique website. Avene TriAcneal usually retails at £23/30ml from Boots, however it’s also on sale right now on the Escentual website.

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Review: Salcura Antiac Acne Treatment

Any product that claims to help spots immediately has my attention. As I’ve mentioned previously, my spots are hormonal so no matter what products I use those pesky pimples will still pop up and camp out. I’d never heard of Salcura Antiac* before so when I first got it I had no idea what to expect.

I can’t even begin to describe how amazing this makes my skin feel. It’s almost like my skin is breathing. It’s so cooling and refreshing and feels like it’s really working. Obviously it couldn’t do much to stop new breakouts on my hormonal skin, but it did a very good job drying out spots when they did appear – especially if I’d picked them (I just can’t help myself…).

Pros

The spray is great as it’s obviously more hygienic than dipping your fingers into a germy pot. And the product is very nutrient rich and free from chemicals and steroids, so it’s nice to know that you’re treating spots without harsh chemicals that may have an adverse reaction on your skin. It’s also good to know that it’s suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

 

Cons

This stuff stings like a mother trucker if you get it in your eyes. It also doesn’t feel so great if you get it in/around your mouth and lips (I obviously don’t have a good aim). The directions are a bit too lengthy for my liking too. Spray face, massage face, spray on cotton pad, wipe, spray face again, massage again, follow with moisturiser. I don’t have the time to do this twice a day. However if acne is a big issue for you then I suppose an extra few minutes in front of the mirror wouldn’t hurt.

Bottom line

The ‘cons’ are mainly to do with user issues and laziness so I can fault the product itself. It definitely does what it says on the tin and is gentle and effective at the same time. Win, win. I would probably buy it again, but I have a few things I want to try first.

Salcura Antiac Spray can be purchased from the Salcura Skincare website and in selected Boots, available in three sizes prices start at £9.99 for 50ml.

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Review: Purely Natural Skin Acne Treatment - Acne Cleanser & Mask

Before I start this review I just want to make it clear that I don’t have acne. I used to have it when I was a teenager but now I have oily, blemish-prone skin. I do however have hormonal problems that cause breakouts from time to time that seem almost resistant to any products I put on them.

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been using the Purely Natural Skin Acne Treatment* religiously. The treatment consists of a cleanser and mask, to be used daily and weekly respectively.

The products are exactly what they say on the tin – natural. A gentleman called Dean who suffered with severe acne for several years founded Purely Natural Skin. With a few lifestyle changes and the help of the Acne Cleanser he was able to get rid of his acne problems.

The Cleanser
  

The cleanser arrived in a solid ball and smelled exactly like lemon curd. The ground almonds and essential oils make it very crumbly, like a loose biscuit mixture. I’m also guessing that they’re what give it a relatively short shelf life.

I really love this cleanser. It makes my face feel fresh and clean, which is strange for me as I always need something quite scrubby to really get that fresh feeling after cleansing.

I usually break off a piece of the cleanser, mix it with a few drops of water into a paste and smooth it over my face and neck. The cleanser emulsifies when you add water, and turns into a milky, almondy paste.

My only real issue with this cleanser is that due to the tub and it’s crumbly form it’s not the ideal shower companion. I found myself having to break a piece off before getting into the shower, which can be a little annoying. I also found it difficult to fit into my skincare regime at night, as it’s not the greatest cleanser to use to remove makeup.

The Mask
  

The mask is my favourite mask, ever. When it first arrived and I opened the tub to be greeted by a powder, I did find it a bit strange. And admittedly, the first time I used it I wasn’t really pleased that I pretty much had to make the mask. However, the results are amazing and worth a couple of minutes of DIY.

I use a small plastic Tupperware bowl and the end of a makeup brush to mix the powder with some water to make the mask. The first couple of times it was difficult to work out the best water:powder ratio, but you quickly get the hang of it.

The mixture starts to dry when applied to the face, and as it’s drying it also starts to shrink. The shrinking feeling makes the mask very tight – no eating or drinking while it’s on, it’s like a vice! It also feels like it’s ‘sucking’ your face, for want of a better word haha.

I rub the dried mask off after about 20 minutes, splash my face with water and remove the residue with a damp muslin cloth.

The mask leaves my face feeling fresh and my pores feel very much unclogged. It’s great if you’ve got oily skin, as it feels as though the mask absorbs the oil. It makes my spots a lot less angry and if I use it at night, they significantly reduce in size when I wake up.

The first ingredient is oats (avena sativa) which gives the mask an unfortunate porridge scent, but it’s a small price to pay when you see the results.

Bottom line: The cleanser is great and it’s firmly in my skincare regime. The mask is a definite must-have and I’ll be buying another one when this runs out. For the quality of the product, the price is fantastic. I’m not a huge fan of the packaging (I’m a sucker for something pretty!) but it’s a minor gripe.

The Acne treatment is available from the Purely Natural Skin website, priced at £13.95. 
The treatment now includes a muslin cloth too.

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*This treatment was provided free of charge for review. As always, whether negative or positive, my review is completely honest. 
I have not been compensated for writing this.