Review: Acure Brightening Vitamin C & Ferulic Acid Serum
I am a long time user of Vitamin C Oils. This was my very first Vitamin C Serum and it was so good to me!
I began feeling like the oils were not soaking into my skin and it really was not ideal for layering SPF or adding makeup. Kelsey reminded me that she has an entire list of Vitamin C Recommendations! So I went shopping.
The Acure got me super excited when I saw Pineapple on the ingredient list :-) See my thoughts below.
For a full list of Aesthetician Approved Vitamin C, shop our shelf.
I don’t wash my face twice day
Hi my name is Kelsey, I am a licensed esthetician, and I don’t wash my face twice a day
If I wash my face twice a daily I get very dry and can’t maintain a healthy moisture barrier.
Instead I use the Bioderma Micellar water on a reusable bottom round to sweep of any cellular debris or oily that I produced in the night and then go in with my morning skincare
Bioderma - Hydrabio H2O Micellar Water - Face Cleanser and Makeup Remover - Micellar Cleansing Water for Dehydrated Sensitive Skin $15
Micellar Water is a gentle, soap free, way to remove dirt and oil from the skin without harsh detergent.
There are so many types of Miceller Water by Bioderma, you will be able to find one to target your own skin concerns.
I use the dehydrated skin version. The best part? Sensitive eye friendly!
Bioderma - Hydrabio H2O Micellar Water - Micellar Cleansing Water for Dehydrated Skin $15
Bioderma - Sensibio - H2O Micellar Water - Micellar Cleansing Water for Sensitive Skin $15
Bioderma - Sébium H2O Micellar Water - Micellar Cleanser Water for Combination to Oily Skin $15
4 Skincare Products Staples in Kelsey’s Collection
These products I consistently repurchase, some tried and true beauties in my collection.
The best makeup remover, I use this every night to remove my sunscreen, makeup and eye makeup without burning my eyes
This is also a Beauty Guide Awards 2021 Winner for Best Makeup Remover. Check out more on this product here.
Another Beauty Guide Award 2021 Winner. This cleanser gently dissolves dirt and excess oil, helps calm and control my acne without stripping or irritating my sensitive skin. A true gem. To read more about this amazing cleanser check out this dedicated blog post to it.
This is a serum I can use morning or night. The anti inflammatory benefits of topical CBD are amazing and especially for my sensitive and easily irritated skin
Bliss Tinted Sunscreen | SPF 30 $18
This is a tinted, mineral sunscreen I wear everyday. Another Beauty Guide Award Winner and a product that received it’s own dedicated blog post. This is a great daily sunscreen to protect your face year around.
The OG PreCleanse
If you are someone who wears makeup and sunscreen daily (which you are all wearing sunscreen daily!!) it is really important to have a first step cleanser that is able to break those products down. By removing those products on the skin first, your cleanser is able to work more efficiently.
Dermalogica created the PreCleanse in 2006 and it changed the skincare industry.
Dermalogica Precleanse - Makeup Remover Face Wash $45
From the Dermalogica website:
Deep-cleansing oil melts make-up and impurities from skin.
Achieve ultra clean and healthy-looking skin with the Double Cleanse regimen that begins with PreCleanse.
Thoroughly melt away layers of excess sebum (oil), sunscreen, waterproof make-up, environmental pollutants and residual products that build up on skin throughout the day.
Ideal even for oily skin conditions.
The first thing you will notice about this oil is the smell, there are some awesome plant extracts in this product giving it a spa like smell. The blend is a combination of rosemary, lavender, and citrus fruits.
The second thing you will notice is how easily this breaks down face, lip and eye makeup without the need for rough tugging or rubbing.
Kelseys favorite thing about the product is that it does not burn her sensitive eyes. Kelsey has tried A LOT of makeup removing cleansing oils and is typically left with stinging water eyes for the rest of the night. This never occurs on Kelsey with PreCleanse which is why she remains loyal.
This PreCleanse even won the Beauty Guides 2021 Awards for Best Makeup Remover. (Check out all our award winners here).
How to use ….
This product is used on dry skin applied with dry hands.
You massage the oil onto the face and over the eyes and lips. The oil will begin to break these things down.
Next you wet your hands with water and massage your dampen hands over the face. The water will emulsify the oils turning into a milky consistency.
Rinse with water and follow up with your favorite cleanse.
Sensitive & Acne Prone? We’ve got your cleanser
Both Lauren and Kelsey use this cleanser and have been loyal users of it for over a year.
When you are sensitive and acne prone it can be really hard finding the right cleanser. A lot of acne cleansers are either too drying or too harsh for a sensitive skin type. This can lead to inflammation and irritation of the skin, triggering more acne.
The Solution? Aveda’ Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser. This gentle foam will remove dirt and oil, treat acne, AND not strip the skin. A dream come true.
From Avedas Website:
outer peace™ foaming cleanser
Cleans deep, but gently, into pores—dissolving oil, makeup and other impurities.
• ideal for acne-prone skin
• infused with powerful plant extracts—including tamanu, amla, boswellia and saw palmetto.
Lauren and Kelsey love this cleanser so much we made it our Beauty Guide Award Winner for Best Cleanser!
Feeling cleanser curious? Check out our cleanser episode for more information and tricks on picking the right cleanser.
If you are struggling with Maskne check out our episode with tips and tricks from Kelsey (who struggles with it herself)
New to Retinol? Start Here
You’ve heard all the great benefits that retinol can provide (and if not you can listen to our Retinol episode here) and you are ready to start your journey into the world of anti aging skincare. However there is a lot of skincare out there and it can get a little confusing.
Well never fear, The Beauty Guides are here to help.
