I'm on a roll! Since I received 3 Elizavecca products (I talked about the CER 100 Curl Cream here), I decided to give them all a proper testing and then write a couple of posts about them. Like, make it a month of their reviews. :)
That's because I wanted to go back into blogging and because that would be fun.
Today I'll talk about a fun product - Sparkling Wine Peeling Pads. I'm familiar with peeling pads (mostly have an exfoliating acid on them), but I have never tried a wine peeling pad.
So without further ado, let's move to the review.
Elizavecca Piggy Hell-Pore Sparkling Wine Peeling Pad
Enriched with wine extract, this peeling pad purifies and tightens pores and exfoliates without aggravating skin. Use after cleansing to keep skin radiant and moisturized.
I'm a bit fan of Elizaveccas' packaging. It's fun and to the point. On it, we can see sebaceous filaments running from the piggy pad. Hilariously cute.
The pads come in a box that contains a big tube full of some fuchsia pink liquid (reminds me of wine) and the pink pads. I like that they made them pink instead of white as it fits better with the whole packaging.
The Packaging & Scent:
The pads were packaged in an adorable box that also held the pad container.
It depicted a piggy on a pad that is looking a tad devilishly at a sebaceous filament. For some reason my container came with a bump at the center of the bottom, so no matter how I set it down, it would stay a bit wonky. I think the bump should have been inverted and that I just got a defective packaging (as is my luck with their products). It doesn't influence the use of the product, so I decided to let it slide.
Each pad is made from two different sides. One side is embossed and the other one is smooth.
I thought that the first step was using the embossed side, but I was wrong. I mean it made sense in my head that after washing my face I'd first exfoliate and then use the gentler side for the calming effect.
The pads come covered in this colorful liquid that covers the lower part of the container. And it smells delicious. It smells very fresh and delicious. Like freshly cut grass fresh, but with a light perfumy scent. It's refreshing.
How to use:
- Cleanse your face and neck before using the pad.
- Place it on your finger with the smooth side facing down. Use the smooth side of the pad to gently wipe away any remaining keratin and sebum on the skin.
- Use the embossed pads to moisturize and focus on specific areas.
Regular use of these pads will smooth out skin texture, creating a smooth base for flawless makeup application. They also effectively exfoliate, tone and brighten all skin types, including sensitive skin.
I like that the pads feel quite sturdy. They won't dissolve in your hands or during use. You can however see when you used up a pad. The areas where you applied more pressure appear to be turning whiter.
My Experience:
I started to use the pads right away. I knew it shouldn't be a problem as I hadn't used any acid or any harsh ingredient for quite a while. If I forget about my regular use of an azealic acid cream I use (prescribed).
I washed my face, picked a pad, and went to town. I wasn't too gentle, but I didn't really press it in my skin. I think I used the right amount of pressure.
I enjoyed how the pad didn't feel too wet (so that it would be dripping all over) or too dry. It was just right.
I liked the light scent and how gentle it felt on my skin. After use my skin felt refreshed which isn't something I was expecting. I was positively surprised.
I used it several times and the results are barely there.
I mean, I'm confused about the results. This is a light AHA peeling with some wine extract infusion (about 5000 ppm to be exact). So it shouldn't do anything bad, or be too harsh on my skin. However, I was hard to judge as for the last month and a half I had quite a bit of hormonal acne. They just kept coming in and nothing really helped (not even the prescribed stuff).
But I did notice that after I used the peeling pad at night, my skin looked so much better the next morning. It was less oily (I wake up with super oily skin), and the acne started to dry out.
And thinking about it, that's exactly what this product is supposed to do. A gentle chemical exfoliator that makes the skin look better.
INCI:Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Betaine Salicylate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Wine Extract (5,000 ppm), 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract, Fragrance, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 17200.
Key Ingredients
Antioxidant: Wine Extract (5, 000 Ppm)
Exfoliant: Betaine Salicylate
Skin-identical ingredient: Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate
Soothing: Allantoin, Panthenol
PROS:
+ Cute packaging
+ Refreshing light scent
+ Sturdy pads
+ Lightly exfoliating pads
+ Has a good combination of AHA and antioxidants (the wine extract)
+ Did make my skin look better in the morning (I'm using it at night)
CONS:
- expensive (about 23€)
- wonky bottom of the pad container (a bump is in the middle preventing it from staying flat)
Overall:
I think the Elizavecca Sparkling Wine Peeling Pad is a fun product. I will keep using it and see if causes any irritation, but for now, there was absolutely none and I feel it's a gentle exfoliating product.
I am a huge fan of the packaging (it's a bit crazy that something this cute and creative could never come from a European brand), except for the bump (read the Packaging & Scent part of the review for more info). You get 30 pads so you can decide if you'd like to use it daily or maybe once or twice per week. It depends on your skin and your needs.
I like the idea of having a strong antioxidant like the wine extract in a cosmetics product. It's always a plus, especially with skin that is turning older by the day (I know, I know, still young). I also like how glowy it made my skin look and didn't leave a sticky residue after use. It actually dried up nicely.
My only concern is the price. I wish it was easier to get it here because I can see it becoming a staple in my routine.
Let me know what you think in the comments below. I'm always interested in reading your experiences.
I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.