Skincare review - Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix exfoliating facial pads

I've been flirting with glycolic acid for a while now. Saucy. I started with Alpha H's famous Liquid Gold - maybe my expectations were too high, but I just didn't love it. Used 2-3 times a week as a treatment at night, I'd wake up with my skin feeling greasy and grubby. I then moved on to First Aid Beauty's Facial Radiance Pads which I did like a whole lot more. At around £18, they're not overpriced, and I found them pretty effective. I was all ready to repurchase when I was in Boots one day and spotted Nip + Fab's Glycolic Fix exfoliating facial pads on offer. So here we are.

Used at the toner stage, they're gentle enough to use twice a day, but I just use them in the evenings - meaning that a tub of 60 lasts two months. Each pad is saturated with enough product to treat the entire face and jawline, the pads stay moist right to the end of the tub, and they are lovely and refreshing with a light, pleasant fragrance. The glycolic acid gently exfoliates, with a little assistance from the pads' bumpy texture, and hyaluronic acid replenishes moisture. Since using, I've noticed a slight improvement in skin texture - and my oily, spot-prone, easily aggravated skin hasn't broken out.

I've just purchased another tub of these, and might try upping the ante to using them twice a day to see if they show any faster improvements, but for under a tenner (as they're always on offer) I'm pretty impressed.

Nip + Fab's Glycolic Fix exfoliating facial pads cost £12.99 for 60 pads, but they're almost always on offer somewhere - currently Boots has them at a third off, and Superdrug has them at half price.

Ax

Skincare review - Lancôme Galateis Douceur

It's an oldie, but a goodie.

I've always avoided cleansing lotions and milks like the plague, knowing many of them (though not this one) contain shea butter - a nightmare for my oily, spot-prone skin - and preferring the safety of balms and clay based cleansers. But after spending a small fortune on Lancôme's Génifique and Visionnaire serums a few months back, I was given a rather generous free gift set including mascara, lipstick, perfume, miniature serums, and this wondrous little cleanser.

I put off using it for months, terrified it might break me out, but finally cracked it open in November, and boy am I glad I did.

It's a thin lotion, which smooths across the skin easily (meaning you really don't need much), gives enough slip to massage in, and then is easily removed with a damp flannel. It removes light make up easily, but heavy eye make up or sunscreen would need a separate make up remover. Resultantly, I tend to use it as a second cleanse after an oily balm has taken care of my make up.

The good
I find it to be super gentle, so good for sensitive skin and not an issue around the eyes, and I've had no new break outs when using it - even less occasional spots than when I've been using Ren Clearcalm which was always my safest cleanser.

The bad
It does contain mineral oil (find out more from Caroline Hirons here), but while I know it's not *good* for my skin, it hasn't clogged it up in the slightest, and I'd say it's as clear as it's been in recent months.

It won't be for everyone, but for me - especially given my aversion to milky lotions - it was an unexpected success. At £23 for 200ml / £35.50 for 400ml (though often on offer), it's not the cheapest, but nor is it particularly expensive, and it's a small price to pay for the soft, clear skin I'm currently sporting.

Have you tried it? What did you think?

Ax