Aesop Amazing Face Cleanser

I really was hoping NOT to like this product but I really like it a lot! I've been using Aesop on and off over the past few years. Mostly on because these products are great and they smell really lovely in this apothecary kind of way. (And all the products come in dark amber glass bottles. Love that touch.) And mostly off because it's expensive and I have this tugging desire for products to multi-task and these don't. Aesop products are really basic in that a moisturizer is a really moisturizer and a cleanser is a really good cleanser. They don't exfoliate and deliver anti-oxidants or diminish wrinkles or stuff like that. But I guess you can argue that overall, if you take care of your skin, you would be okay? I don't know. Maybe I'll age well if I used this.

Anyways, I just recently went back to the Aesop Mandarin facial cream as my nighttime moisturizer and since I was out of cleanser anyways, thought I'd get this one and try it out. It's kind of pricey, costing $47 for 6.8 oz which actually isn't very much. And another annoying this is that there is no pump. You literally unscrew the bottle and pour some on your hand. How old school is that?!

Anyways, this stuff rocks. It cleansed my face beautifully. My face felt clean, refreshed, no dryness, no stiffness, no cakiness or film. Just clean. really really like this one. Maybe I'll stay loyal after this bottle runs out... but we'll see about that.

Kate Somerville Eradikate

This little acne potion is amazing!
I was a little weary of the Kate Somerville products. I've used them before and liked them but always thought they were overpriced but this stuff is the bomb! When you dab it on any acne or even an emerging spot, it literally kills it the next day or at least partially kills it , like 75%. It's seriously amazing.

The strange thing is that I tried other products that tout the same thing and use the same ingredients but for some reason, they don't work as well. Only this works! You have to try if you have any breakouts!

Amarte Review

So with Grace's recommendation, I tried the Amarte line as I was just finishing up all my products.  From Left to Right - Daily Exfolipower; Daily Wonder Cleansing Foam; Aqua Veil Hydrator; Wonder Cream.  This is the order also in which I apply the products.

EXFOLIPOWER - nice, but not a wow experience.  very similar to Dermalogica's Daily Exfoliant.  It leaves a bit of a residue but overall average performance.

DAILY WONDER CLEANSING FOAM - I personally love this cleanser.  Nice foam, and really picks up the dirt.  What I love the most is it leaves a squeaky clean finish.  My skin feels prepped for the next applications.

AQUA VEIL HYDRATOR - acts as a mild serum / toner.  Texture if a combination of both as well not as liquidy as a toner and as thick as a serum.  Light application, and feels great after cleansing.  I don't think it's the best in class ... to date, La Mer's serum is creme de la creme (I just can't afford it!)

WONDER CREAM - this is the product that has received rave reviews.  my thoughts on it ... it feels really good on the skin.  doesn't leave a greasy residue as my previous moisturizers did.  Maybe because it is winter, and this season I feel is particularly dryer for some reason, I wish it had a little deeper moisturizing effect.  But overall, works well and blends nicely into the skin, and again, there is such a nice, clean finish which I really like.  My previous moisturizers were either too dry or too greasy.  This has a nice balance.

I've been using this line now for the past couple weeks, and coupled with adequate sleep (very important beauty sleeps is!), I do feel a difference in my skin tone.  It's gotten a bit brighter and I think these products have helped, to a degree.

BUT.  I need some serious exfoliation / scrubbing / skincare treatments.  Would love some recommendations.  There's so much out there ... peels, IPL, botox not sure I would go there really, but ... I need to go see an esthetician who can peel off this layer.  I'm 41, and with the exception of a few facial massages, I haven't received any serious skincare treatment.  i need to start!


HAEJUNG'S REVIEW:

I also got this set after hearing Connie's review. I thought the Aqua Veil Hydrator was OK- it leaves an almost waxy coating on your face- maybe that's how it protects it. I'm not sure if it absorbed very well but it was OK for the summer.

The Wonder Cream was also OK- it feels like a basic cream but was super pricey. I also didnt think that it would work in the winter but it was fine for the summer months.

BB Cream- They only have 2 colors and I got the darker shade. It was still a bit too light and I know that I walked around with this stuff on my face that didnt exactly match my skin color but dammit I was gonna wear it cuz I paid for it.  But then I got tired of looking "off" so I stopped wearing it. That is until I ran out of the Aqua Veil Hydrator! So basically- the AVH was creating this waxy surface on my face which did not allow for the BB Cream to glide over my face. Once I stopped using that and using my other serum, the BB Cream worked and it blended in a lot nicer. I still dont love it but now I can finish up the bottle happily.

In summary, I probably wouldnt buy this line again because it was mediocre and I'm looking for amazing.