Acne is not a fun game, not when you’re an awkward teenager and especially not when you are an adult who still hasn’t grown out of it. I have mentioned in previous posts that I have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome) and one side effect of this is acne. Brilliant! Acne and hair loss, PCOS really saw me coming.

I’m not the most confident in my skin thanks to the constant breakouts, flare ups, redness, scars, you name it I have it. As I get older I have been paying a lot of attention to my acne, what triggers it and what products actually work. Mario Badescu have a full acne range that I decided to try out and woo nelly am I glad I did.

I ordered three Mario Badescu products from BeautyBay.com, the Healing and Soothing Mask (€22.60), Drying Mask (€21) and the Drying Lotion (€17.10). After using them for a couple of weeks here’s how they made me fall in love with them.

Drying Mask

The Drying mask is essentially a mud mask that does exactly what it says on the tin, it dries out those pesky pimples and lumps and bumps under the skin.

It is perfect for oily spot prone skin. The texture of the mask is quite thick which means you need a minimal amount to get full coverage on you face. Apply liberally with particular focus to your problem areas. One thing to note about this product is that the smell is quite powerful and may not be to everyone’s taste, but disperses as the mask begins to dry.

Once the mask dries you better hope you don’t have to sneeze because your face is NOT moving. It advises to leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes, so if you don’t like the stiffening sensation it causes I would advise just 15 minutes with this mask.

When washing the mask off use luke warm water and a muslin cloth. Using your hands is perfectly acceptable also, but it takes a longer to remove the mask fully.

The Results

As it is a drying mask you will need to cleanse and moisturise after use as it leaves your skin feeling tight. As for acne, redness is visibly reduced and it minimalises the risk of whiteheads.

Blemishes do not disappear immediately, however the use of this mask does shorten a blemishes lifespan as it begins to work its drying properties on the area.

Remember as with most masks it will draw everything out of your skin and can lead to small breakouts after use, but that’s where the healing and soothing mask and drying lotion come into play.

*Tip: I use this before I apply my make up for a night out if I’m having a particularly bad skin day. It calms and evens out existing blemishes, allowing for easier concealing of blemishes and application of your makeup. 

 

Healing and Soothing Mask

The Healing and Soothing mask is “Formulated with a blend of Lemon Extract and Oatmeal, Healing & Soothing Mask acts as a natural anti inflammatory and is even effective on very sensitive and dry skin types which suffer from acne.” It is recommended for use in between usage of the Drying Mask.

Personally if I am having a pamper night or a particularly bad breakout week I will follow-up with the Healing and Soothing mask directly after using the Drying Mask, giving your acne an extra punch and leaving your skin visibly glowing.

The texture is noticeably thinner than the Drying Mask and has a gummy feel. Therefore you need more of this product to get full coverage, however it is very buildable. The smell is not very pungent which is an added plus and when drying it has an extremely lightweight feel.

It washes off relatively easily using your hands and luke warm water. You will need to pay particular focus to the areas you have built up, but that is expected of any face mask.

The Results

I was honestly taken aback when I looked at my skin after taking off the Healing and Soothing mask.

The results are immediately visible. My skin has never looked better and the effects carried into the next day/week. Redness was reduced around my problem areas, nose, chin and forehead, and my existing blemishes were calmed. Its moisturising abilities are also instantly evident with the majority of my dry skin eliminated. My skin was let feeling soft, supple and radiant.

I would highly recommend this product for acne sufferers, people with dry skin issues or anyone looking for the baby butt face.

A MUST HAVE!

Note: Both masks come in a 2oz/56g pot, which may seem small, but as you only need a small amount of the product to get full coverage it is worth the money and will last for a couple of months. 

 

Drying Lotion

The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is an overnight acne treatment that is perfect for those unpleasant whiteheads or large blemishes.

It is a blend of Calamine and Salicylic Acid that aids in repairing and refreshing your acne prone complexion.

The bottle is filled with a clear liquid on top and a pink substance on the bottom. Do not shake the bottle to combine the mixture (like I instinctively did) they are supposed to remain separated. Using a cotton bud dip it into the pink substance and apply liberally to any blemishes you may have. Ensure you can see the pink formula on the desired area.

This is another product that has a particularly strong almost chemical smell, which can be off-putting, but once dried is undetectable. My advice would to fan your face once you have applied the lotion if the smell becomes too much.

It doesn’t take long to dry and doesn’t transfer onto any fabrics, meaning your pillows are safe!

Note: Do not use this product on broken skin. The ingredients include Isopropyl Alcohol, Aqua (Water, Eau), Calamine, Camphor, Sulfur, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Talc, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid which will cause a burning sensation if applied to broken skin.

The Results

For me personally this product needs continued use to see the best results. Blemishes are reduced after one use, but to eliminate them for good you would need to be persistent with the Drying Lotion. This product also works brilliantly as a preventive measure. Dab it on an area where you can feel a breakout coming and it can stop it dead in its tracks. The lasting power of this product is also fantastic as you only need a small swab to tackle blemishes.

I have been using all three products for the past three weeks and would recommend them to anyone looking for an effective acne treatment. I have grown that bit more confident going bare-faced and have even received compliments on my make up free mug thanks to the combination of these products tackling my acne and working their magic. 

AJ x