Sk:n Facial Exfoliating Cleanser (for Oily skin)

A friend of mine bought this exfoliator and had good things to say about it, she picked me up a couple of samples and from trying them I thought it seemed to suit my skin quite well, at the same time Boots had a 33% off sale on all Sk:n products so I bit the bullet and purchased a full size.

This cleanser is supposed to exfoliate the skin using Glycolic and Salicylic acid so although it doesn't feel grainy or like it is sloughing off dead skin in the way a lot of exfoliators do the chemicals in it should be doing the same job.

I am still in two minds about this product, although it does feel like it's doing something to my skin and seems to leave it feeling smoother and softer I often find that the day after I use it I get quite a few spots and break out rather badly.  While many products can cause you're skin to break out as they clear it up I am not so sure this one should be doing that. 

The cleanser shouldn't be used every day, in fact it's recommended to only use it 2 or 3 times a week due to the fairly harsh chemicals, which means I feel like I can't get into a good routine with it and carry on through any initial breakouts which appear, whatever face cleanser I use on the days in between seems to improve my skin and then this one breaks it out again.

It could be that my skin is just being particularly troublesome at the moment but the effect that the Sk:n cleanser has been having on my face means I am far more likely to reach for something else in the evenings when cleansing my face.

It wasn't a cheap product so I think I'll retire it for now and go back to it once my skin is in a more settled mood in the hope that the breakouts are coincidence and I can get along with this product.

No7 Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Exfoliator

I bought this product during a 3 for 2 promotion for No7 without having read or heard much about it, it seemed to get reasonable reviews on the Boots site, I was after a new exfoliator and I'd heard a lot of good things about various microdermabrasion products so I decided to give it a go.  It's normally £11 for 75ml but I bought mine while there was a 3 for 2 on and then repurchased with a £5 off voucher so it's easy enough to get at a very reasonable price.

I've never tried any of the No7 skin care range before and I have to say I wasn't expecting too much from it but I was very pleasantly surprised.  It leaves my skin feeling wonderfully smooth and really well cleansed and it seems to be helping to keep breakouts to a minimum too.  The only downside is that I want to use it more than the recommended twice a week!

It's a very simple to use product, you simply massage it into your skin for a minute or two and then rinse off.  While it's on the skin you can feel it working in that it has a very fine grainy texture and does feel like it's exfoliating your face as you massage it in, however it doesn't feel harsh or full of big lumps like a lot of exfoliators can.  I get mild tingling occasionally when using it but nothing severe.

The best recommendation that I can give this product is that despite the fact I bought it without having high hopes it has become a bathroom staple for me over the last few months and I reach for it over several other, pricier, microdermabrasion products I have in my bathroom cabinet and I've repurchased a second tube before the first runs out.

If you're after an exfoliator that is both gentle and effective and you don't have a massive budget then I would definitely to give this No7 one a try.