Skinceuticals Skincare Products

*Links marked with asterisks are affiliate links, these help Ree with running costs of the blog

The gym is challenging. It’s ok for boys – they take a bottle of fairy liquid to wash with, scrub some into their hair, and think they’re back to their Aidan Turner-like state for that 10am meeting. It’s more complicated for girls. We have serums, SPF, eye cream, specific shampoos, a brush that does our fringe just right. And if you don’t have these things, you get told you look tired. Who knew one stick of kohl could do so much? It’s no wonder that usually I give up and subject myself to a Jillian Michaels DVD at home. However, for days when the gym or swimming pool is calling, it’s good to have a micro kit ready to go, to get you in and out fast without compromising on your painstaking regime. I’ve incorporated some Skinceuticals products into mine.

Skinceuticals Phloretin CF Gel

Skinceuticals have come to the rescue with a little gem for this. Owned by L’Oreal and specialising in antioxidant treatments, they are good at smart thinking in terms of formulas and have answered a few travel prayers with a new product. Most of my serums are in annoyingly delicate glass bottles that are not the easiest to juggle when out of the house, but Skinceuticals have launched a version of their antioxidant serum Phloretin CF as a gel (£150) in an airtight pump. It’s made of tin so can take a few knocks and bumps without being heavy, plus it contains a much-lauded gel version of their serum. It’s packed with a great balance of L-asorbic and ferulic acid to bring a whack of vitamin C and antioxidants to your face which, as I’m sure any Really Ree reader knows, is the best start for your skin every morning. This is combined with an SPF for environmental protection. Just as light to absorb as the bottled version, it really is worth a try if you’re a gym go-er or frequent traveller and don’t want to downgrade your skincare.

If you don’t have a spare £150 rolling around your lounge like tumbleweed, then one other discovery for travel is Muji’s tiny flip top serum bottles. An absolute essential for weekends and trips. I have a tonne of them with tiny labels on that I top up intermittently and chuck in various overnight bags. Why compromise just because you’re going away?

Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Gel

Another handy suggestion for the gym from Skinceuticals is Phyto Corrective Gel (£50), a refreshing, cooling gel serum (although we’re back in a pipette bottle here) that contains hyaluronic acid, cucumber, thyme and mulberry; all refreshing, moisturising and help minimise discolouration. It’s also oil free and non-comedogenic, so great for my acne-prone combination skin and post work out cooling. It’s a light, clear gel, and feels great to use, yet there is one major pitfall. The serum contains linalool (a common irritant) and has fragrance around half way down the ingredient list. It’s disappointing to find these in a serum specifically targeted at sensitive, irritated skin when it could potentially make it worse.

Skinceuticals Mineral Matte UV Defense

Skinceuticals are cracking at UV products, and their Mineral Matte UV Defence SPF 30 (£39) is a great product, especially for oily skins (although in the height of summer its few who aren’t oily). It’s a mineral filter broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen with oil-absorbing powders to keep sebum at bay. It comes in a nifty little tube, and emerges in a fairly adaptable medium skin tone mousse (only one shade sadly for darker skin tones). The tint is subtle – just enough to give you a bit of colour. If the tint is too dense then it discourages you to apply enough SPF. It is very matte – you can really feel the oil-absorbing silica element which absorbs fifteen times its weight in oil and results in a powdery finish. If you’re an outdoor exerciser it’s a great option – I’ve been using it during my rather sad running attempts where I usually become distracted by a café after 200 metres – and once again it’s non-comedogenic for acne sufferers. Apparently the product has been tested in extreme humidity (the firm is based in Dallas) so it won’t let you down this summer either – this is a winner for oily skin since the oil absorption is top notch.

Amy Vickery

x