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If you aren't familiar with Korres as a brand, they describe themselves as a modern Greek apothecary, utilizing natural ingredients and herbs to create skincare, color, and body products that are both effective and environmentally friendly. I'd previously heard of their Greek Yoghurt line (and had enjoyed the Sleeping Facial) as well as their ever popular lip butters, however I'd never actually tried one of their full-sized products. I'd been curious for some time about getting a little better acquainted with the brand, but I wasn't sure exactly where to start. Then while I was perusing the Sephora website during their double points week not too long ago, I came across this peel and immediately knew that was the place to begin.
The Wild Rose Vitamin C Petal Peel is a two-step system that promotes cell turnover, soothes stressed skin, minimizes the appearance of imperfections like fine lines and sun spots, and gives you a little boost of radiance. While many skin treatments use a variety of harsh chemicals to get similar results, this peel is full of powerful natural ingredients that are effective but gentle. The whole process takes less than ten minutes and only needs to be done once or twice a week for ongoing results, so even those of us with the craziest of schedules have no excuse to work that little extra bit of pampering into our routines.
The first step in the system is an aloe-based gel. It contains a 10% concentration of glycolic, lactic, and natural fruit acids to start dissolving the impurities from your skin and to open up your pores to allow for better penetration of the ingredients in step two. All you need is a very light layer all over your face, avoiding the eye area. It has a really fresh, fruity sort of smell and will leave your skin feeling tingly. Once applied, let the Activating Peel Gel sit for about 30 seconds before moving on to the next step.
Step two is the Brightening & Revealing Peel Mask, a sumptuous, buttery cream that you massage in a thick layer all over your skin. This mask smells absolutely incredible and feels ultra luxurious. While it is a "rose" mask, the floral scent is balanced by the sweetness from all the fruit acids and is honestly to die for. This mask also has a 10% concentration of Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Pomegranate enzymes to gently exfoliate and resurface the skin. To balance the intensity of the peel, this mask also contains Rose Hips Oil, which is naturally high in Vitamin C, aloe, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients help to soothe and plump the skin, sealing in hydration and offering protection against environmental agents.
While this was a bit of an impulse purchase for me, I'm really happy that I decided to give this duo a try. I don't often see visible results after using a facial mask, but after even one use I could tell that my skin was glowing and plump. It also felt refined and baby soft. Honestly I was kind of amazed at how good my skin looked and felt. I'm excited to see whether or not I see even greater long-term changes in my skin with regular use, especially in terms of clearing up some bumpiness and congestion in my T-Zone. Because AHAs promote cell turnover and dissolve away the dead skin and excess sebum that clogs your pores, they should work wonders on stubborn whiteheads and blackheads. That being said, this type of peel will also make your skin more sensitive to sun exposure, so it's really important to wear SPF every day while you're incorporating it in your skincare routine.
I will also offer one additional tidbit of advice to anyone who is interested in trying this product out. If you have sensitive skin, a facial peel can be a bit intense. A little bit of tingling is normal, but if it starts to burn intensely don't leave it on your face for the full ten minutes. I will also say that although you are supposed to apply this to clean skin, applying it IMMEDIATELY after washing when your pores are opened will intensify the experience, so those who know they have sensitive skin may want to wait 10 or 15 minutes after they wash their face before they apply this mask. The first time I used this I think that was my issue because I found it to be very itchy and uncomfortable on my skin. However, the second time around I just prepped my skin by wiping it down with a little micellar water and I had absolutely no problem.
Long story short I think this is a really beautiful product and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in experimenting with at home peels or other chemical exfoliant treatments. I actually find myself looking forward to the weekly ritual, which is exactly what you want with your skincare. If you can find products that you love using it really makes sticking to a skincare regimen way easier and more enjoyable. If you guys have any other recommendations of products from Korres to try I'd love to hear more about them. Drop me a comment and let me know!
Have you ever tried a facial peel before?
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