How to use Acid Gold on blemish prone skin
HEY! Saoirse here, aka the gal who runs BYBI’s social media. A bit about my skin - it’s breakout prone, dehydrated, combination and tbh, a bit dull at the best of times. Lockdown in particular has wreaked ABSOLUTE havoc on it. I don’t know whether it’s the stress, a change in lifestyle, a slightly more indulgent diet (I won’t attach any shame to my eating habits though🙅) or just my good old friend hormones, but there hasn’t been a day where I don’t have a few spots & some texture on the go- not to mention scarring and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. That being said, whilst I obviously long to have the poreless complexion of a Hadid sister, my skin is my skin, and though there might not be a magic acne cure, there are some things I like to do to minimise breakouts and keep my skin barrier in check.
I LOVE face masks and I LOVE chemical exfoliation so you can imagine my joy when Acid Gold, our brand new exfoliating AHA face mask launched. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like lactic, glycolic & malic, citric & tartaric are great at getting rid of dry, dead skin cells, which is what gives your face that slightly bumpy, gritty feel. By sloughing these away, Acid Gold leaves the skin feeling soft & super smooth. As well as AHAs, Acid Gold also contains enzymes like pumpkin & papaya to help reduce bacteria within the skin, helping prevent breakouts & blemishes making it ideal for skin types like mine. However, one thing I’ve learnt with my temperamental, blemished mug, is that though I might love dousing my face with active ingredients, you don’t wanna overdo it. Some AHA products can be REALLY stripping, and when you damage your skin barrier, you actually leave yourself open to even more breakouts. One of the things I love most about Acid Gold is that it’s loaded with omegas and vitamins A, C & E, sea buckthorn oil and hero hydrator glycerin, which helps to lock in moisture and protect my beloved skin barrier.
Carrying on my ‘blemish-busting-acid-loving-but-skin-barrier-protecting’ theme, here’s my full evening routine featuring Acid Gold.
First up, properly clean your skin with an oil cleanser like Swipe Clean for AT LEAST a minute. Swipe Clean literally removes all traces of makeup and dirt but doesn’t leave an oily residue. It’s suitable for all skin types, yes, even oily skin.
Apply a thin layer of Acid Gold onto the face and leave for 10-15 mins depending on skin sensitivity. I like to use it once a week but you can use it up 2-3 times depending on how your skin is feeling. Wash off with warm water and admire the glow.
Next up, skin barrier time. After exfoliating, it’s important to load the skin with restorative ingredients like ceramides to keep the skin barrier in tip top condition so after using Acid Gold I’ll reach for a nutrient rich cream like Night Nutrition. I don’t use this every single night, but it’s GREAT after acids and instantly soothes and plumps my skin.
As my final step, I apply my fave Booster of all time - Strawberry Booster. Whilst it works wonders on super dry skin, I personally think it’s great for most skin types. It absorbs really quickly and doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy AT ALL. It’s full to the brim with Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids that deliver a potent hit of moisture whilst also strengthening and softening the skin’s surface.
The result? Sure, I might still wake up with a spot or two, but my skin feels noticeably smoother, softer and brighter.
Get 20% off when you pair Acid Gold with any other product from the Golden Hour Collection, including Swipe Clean and Night Nutrition.
Offer ends 23:59 Tuesday 26th May.