Dawn Siler

You know what they say…. All that sparkles is not gold. And all that’s natural isn’t soothing.

Ok, I made up that last part, but you get the point. Acure Seriously Soothing skincare range claims to be formulated with skin sensitivity in mind, but half the products are more irritating than soothing. Blame it on fragrant oils. 🙁

But not all the range is bad. You can find a few gems here – if you know where to look. That’s where I come in.

Here’s the complete guide to Acure Seriously Soothing skincare range. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Best Products From The Acure Seriously Soothing Range

Best Cleanser: Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream ($9.99)

Who said you need to double cleanse? Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream uses a mix of natural oils and gentle surfactants to remove every last trace of dirt and makeup from your face. The surfactants gently allow water to mix with oil and dirt, so they can be rinsed down the drain while the oils melt away even the most stubborn of waterproof mascaras. The best part? It leaves your dry skin silky soft and smooth. Goodbye tightness!

Available at: Acure and Ulta

Related: Do You Really Need To Double Cleanse?

Best Moisturiser For Dry And Sensitive Skin: Acure Seriously Soothing Day Cream ($17.99)

Acure Seriously Soothing Day Cream is a godsend for dry and sensitive skin in need of some serious TLC. For starters, it has a huge dollop of Aloe Vera mixed with a few drops of chamomile to relieve symptoms of irritations, including itching and redness. Plus, it features a mix of natural oils and butter – think sunflower oil, Argan oil, and cocoa butter – to create a protective layer on your skin that both moisturises it and protects it from environmental aggressors. The best part? It doesn’t feel heavy on your skin.

Available at: Acure and Yes Style

Related: The Complete Guide To Aloe Vera In Skincare: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It

The OK Products From The Acure Seriously Soothing Range

Acure Seriously Soothing Micellar Water Towelettes ($6.99)

Acure Seriously Soothing Micellar Water Towelettes is more soothing than cleansing. Like a proper micellar water, its cleansing powers are so gentle, it can only remove dirt and non-waterproof makeup products. Handy in a pinch, but if you’re wearing a full face of makeup every day, these won’t cut it. But hey, what they lack in the cleansing department, they more than make up in the soothing area. These towelettes are loaded to the brim with every soothing agent you can think of, from aloe to chamomile and even oats. Just don’t rub to take your makeup off! No matter how soothing these wipes are, that’ll still irritate your skin.

Available at: Acure

Related: How To Choose The Best Cleanser For Your Skin Type

Acure Seriously Soothing SPF 30 Day Cream ($18.99)

Acure Seriously Soothing SPF Day Cream is non-greasy mineral sunscreen for normal to oily skin types. Zinc oxide provides broad spectrum protection from all UV rays without irritating skin (but it can leave an ashy cast behind on darker skin tones). Argan oil, coconut oil, and shea butter deeply moisturise skin, while bisabolol and niacinamide soothe irritations. The catch? It has a couple drops of blue tansy. I’m not a fan. Blue tansy can irritate sensitive skin, so if you have a problem with it, stay away. At least it’s the only irritant here (you can’t say the same for other products in this range *sighs*) and the bisabolol & co kinda conteract it.

Available at: Acure and Ulta

Related: 3 Reasons Mineral Sunscreen Is Better For Sensitive Skin

Acure Seriously Soothing Solid Serum 3 in 1 ($15.99)

Acure Seriously Soothing Serum 3 in 1 is a multi-tasker: it acts as a makeup remover, facial moisturiser, and dry spot treatment. Does it deliver? Sort of. Its natural oils can definitely take off even stubborn makeup effortlessly. But the addition of natural waxes (they’re what gives the balm its solid shape) makes the texture a bit of a mixed bag. It’s not hydrating enough for very dry skin but too thick for use on the face.

Available at: Acure and Target

Acure Seriously Soothing Eye Serum Stick ($17.99)

Acure Seriously Soothing Eye Serum Stick has blue tansy, too. That’s the only thing I don’t dig about this serum. If you have sensitive skin, it can be irritating. Anyone else will find this serum very hydrating. Hyaluronic Acid plumps up those crow’s feet so they look smaller (for a while), bearberry extract lightens dark circles, while the cooling applicator relives puffiness. You can carry it everywhere with you, too.

Related: The Complete Guide To Treating Dark Circles

Available at: Acure and Target

The Products From The Acure Seriously Soothing Range I Don’t Recommend

Acure Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Night Oil ($12.99)

Blue Tansy doesn’t just give Acure Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Night Oil its name. It gives its blue colour, too. Cool, huh? Not so fast. Blue Tansy is also the reason this oil made it into the Worst List. Like most fragrant oils, it’s irritating, too. Not something I’d recommend to sensitive skin… It’s a shame because the bulk of this formula is made up of nourishing oils, like sweet almond and jojoba, that deeply moisturize skin and make it soft and smooth… *sighs*

Acure Seriously Soothing Cloud Cream ($18.99)

At first sight, Acure Seriously Soothing Cloud Cream has a lot going for it. It’s loaded with natural oils, like avocado and evening primrose, to create a protective barrier that keeps moisture in and germs, irritants, and pollutants out. It has a few sprinkles of chamomile and calendula to soothe any irritations. Its silky texture glides smoothly on the skin and doesn’t leave a greasy, oily residue behind. So, what’s the problem? It has a few citrusy and lavender oils that can irritate sensitive skin. Boo hoo!

Related: 7 Irritating Natural Ingredients You Didn’t Know About

Acure Seriously Soothing Biocellulose Mask ($5.99)

Acure Seriously Soothing Biocellulose Mask is by far the worst product from the range. Forget about the name, there’s nothing soothing here. It’s loaded to the brim with citrus and geranium oils that are super irritating for sensitive skin! Avoid like the plague!

Acure Seriously Soothing Under Eye Hydrogels ($4.99)

Acure has a habit of pairing soothing agents with irritants, hasn’t it? Acure Seriously Soothing Under Eye Hydrogels is another example. It has plenty of glycerin to hydrate skin and chamomile to soothe irritations… and then they go and ruin the formula with a big dollop of blue tansy and citrusy extracts. Super irritating! I wouldn’t use this stuff on my resistant oily t-zone, let alone my sensitive under-eye area!

Acure Seriously Soothing Serum Stick ($18.99)

Don’t let the name fool you. Acure Seriously Soothing Serum Stick may be called a serum, but feels more like a balm. One that leaves a greasy residue behind. But that’s not the only reason I’m not a fan of this moisturiser/serum. It’s moisturising enough for dry skin, but there’s nothing soothing about it. If anything, its fragrant oils can irritate skin.

Have you tried Acure Seriously Soothing skincare range? Share your fave picks in the comments below.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

Bad news: once your skin is saggy, you can’t unsag it. Not with skincare anyway. There’s a reason Kris Jenner opts for facelifts, ya know?

Good news: you can slow down the sagging process and keep your skin tight for as long as possible. Would you like that, gorgeous?

But first…

Why Does Your Skin Sag?

Think of your skin as a mattress. Collagen is the frame that holds the whole thing together. Elastin is the springs that make it bounce back into place. Fats are the stuffing that gives it its volume. As every part becomes weaker, the mattress starts to sag.

The same happens to your skin. When you’re young, your skin makes all the collagen & co it needs to stay firm and elastic. But as you get older, it starts to slack on the job. Here’s what I mean:

• Collagen: It’s the protein that keeps skin firm. As soon as you turn 21, you start losing 1% collagen a year. At first, the loss is so tiny, you barely notice it. 10 years later, you wonder when did your skin become so slack. By the way, things only get worse with menopause. You lose 30% collagen in the first 5 years!
• Elastin: It’s the protein that makes your skin elastic. Once elastin breaks down, it’s very hard for your body to make more of it. Prevention is key here.
• Fats: Remember the baby fat you couldn’t wait to shed? It filled up your cheeks and under-eye area, making it look smoother and plumper. As fatsdeplete with age, your face loses volume. Cue hollowed cheeks and eyes. (By the way, how unfair is it this happens only on the face?!)

Related: 8 Science-Backed Ways To Rebuild Lost Collagen

What Makes Skin Sag Faster?

Sagging is a natural process. But the rate at which it happens ain’t always natural. There are a number of things that speed up the process.

Here are the worst culprits:

• Gravity: It pulls everything down.
• Pollution: It generates free radicals that speed up the aging process.
• Smoking: It speeds up collagen and elastin depletion.
• Too much sugar: It causes glycation, a fancy way to say that it corrupts your collagen and makes your skin sag faster.
• UV rays: They destroy collagen, elastin, and everything else they find in their way.
• Weight loss: If you’re always losing and gaining weight, you’ll weaken the “springs” that keep your skin firm and elastic.

Related: How To Protect Your Skin From Pollution

How Do You Prevent Saggy Skin?

You can’t do anything about gravity or the natural aging process. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Here’s what you can do to prevent saggy skin for as long as possible:

1. Wear Sunscreen

Sunscreen is NON-negotiable. UV rays are the number one cause of saggy skin (and all other signs of premature aging). Every time you go out without sunscreen, you’re aging your skin.

Even in winter. Even if it’s rainy. Even if it’s snowing. UV rays are sneaky. They get through the darkest clouds and get reflected on snow. Just because you can’t see the sun, doesn’t mean it’s not harming your skin.

FYI, UVA rays penetrate through glass, too. Don’t think you’re safe in your car or near those big office windows. Wear your sunscreen, ladies.

Best Picks:

Related: 6 Sunscreen Myths You Need To Stop Believing Right Now

2. Use A Vitamin C Serum

Did you know that Vitamin C is essential for collagen production? The more your skin has, the more collagen your skin pumps out.

While it’s at it, Vitamin C fights off free radicals, too. They’re nasty molecules generated by UV rays, pollution, smoking… all the usual culprits.

Free radicals give you wrinkles and dark spots, make your skin sag faster, and even play a role in the development of cancer and other awful diseases.

The more free radicals are roaming your body, the faster you age. Vitamin C helps you neutralise them before they can wreak their havoc on your skin… especially when used with other antioxidants.

Make sure your Vitamin C Serum contains as many antioxidants as possible. At the very least, it must contain Vitamin E and ferulic acid. Studies show this combo makes Vitamin C work better and boosts sun protection, too!

Best Picks:

Related: The Complete Guide To Vitamin C In Skincare: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It

3. Add A Retinoid To Your Skincare Routine

Retinoid is a catch-all term for every member of the Vitamin A family, including:

• Hydroxypinacolone retinoate (Granactive Retinoid)
• Retinaldehyde
• Retinol
• Tretinoin

Retinoids slow down premature aging in 3 ways:

• They fight off free radicals before they give you wrinkles and saggy skin
• They boost the production of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm
• They speed up cellular turnover, the skin’s natural exfoliating process to make skin smoother and more even-toned

Tretinoin is the most effective – and the most irritating. So irritating, it’s available by prescription only.

Retinol works more slowly, but it’s less irritating. Still, it’s a good idea to start with a low concentration (0.01%) and work your way up to 1%. I show you how to do it in this article.

Retinaldehyde is somewhere in the middle. It’s more effective than retinol, yet gentler on the skin. The catch? It costs more.

I don’t recommend other retinoids for saggy skin prevention. These 3 have the most research to back up their claims.

Best Picks:

Related: What Type Of Retinoid Is Best For You?

4. Avoid Eating Too Much Sugar

I know, I know… I have a sweet tooth, too. There ain’t no way I’m gonna give up on cake, ya all. I just eat it only on my cheat day. Here’s why:

Too much sugar causes all kinds of havoc on your skin:

• Wrinkles: Ever wondered why people affected by diabetes look older? Glycation. That’s a fancy way of saying that sugar hardens and cross-links collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep your skin firm and elastic. When they’re damaged, skin sags and wrinkles appear.
• Pimples: High levels of insulin trigger the skin to produce way more sebum that it needs. Hello, pimples!
• Inflammation: Too much sugar causes inflammation, which leads to wrinkles, dark spots and irritations.

Again, I’m not saying to cut sugar out of your diet completely. If you can do it, kudos to you. For most people (myself included), deprivation only leads to sugar binging a few weeks later. Ahem…

There’s a better way. The Low Glycemic Diet is a simple diet with only one rule: eat more foods low in sugar and fewer foods high in sugar.

By the way, don’t let the word diet put you off. The Low Glycemic Diet is more of a way of eating than a diet. It doesn’t ban any foods. It just encourages you to eat more of the foods that nourish your body and less of those that make you age faster.

If you want to know how to get started on the Low Glycemic Diet, check out my guide here.

Related: I Went On The Low Glycemic Diet And It Transformed My Skin

The Bottom Line

You can’t prevent saggy skin completely, but you can slow down the aging process considerably. How? Wear sunscreen, cut back on sugar, and add vitamin C and retinol to your skincare routine. And be patient! It takes months of consistent use to see results. Don’t quit!

How do you prevent saggy skin? Share your tips in the comments below.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

I have a confession to make: I’m too lazy to make face masks a regular part of my skincare routine. But I still have one or two lying around for when my skin needs a little pick-me-up.

You know what I’m talking about. Maybe the freezing winter temperatures have robbed it of its glow and moisture. Or I want to look my best for a friend’s wedding the next day.

Lately, I’ve been using Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask to perk up my skin and give it that healthy, radiant glow. Does it deliver?

Key Ingredients In Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

Aloe Vera To Soothe Skin

I’m sure you know Aloe Vera has soothing properties. It’s one of the most common remedies for sunburns because it relieves itchiness, calms down irritation and reduces redness.

But did you know it’s also very hydrating? It works as a humectant: it draws moisture from the air into the skin, keeping it hydrated for longer.

The extra moisture makes your skin very happy: it plumps up, so fine lines and wrinkles look smaller; it gets softer to the touch; and it imparts a dewy glow.

Related: 9 Soothing Ingredients For Sensitive & Irritated Skin

Kaolin To Absorb Excess Oil

Kaolin is a type of clay – one of the mildest ones.

Its job is to absorb excess oil from the skin. The reasoning is simple: soak up all the excess and you won’t have any stuck in your pores to give you blackheads and pimples.

The catch? Kaolin is bad news for dry skin. True, it doesn’t absorb as much excess oil as bentonite (another type of clay), but your skin hardly produces any oil at all. You don’t want to remove the little you have.

P.S. Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask also has Silt, sediments that contain a small amount of clay. It’s for oily skin only.

Related: The Best Ingredients For Oily Skin

Sweet Almond Oil To Moisturize Skin

Remember when I told you Aloe Vera draws moisture into your skin? Sweet almond oil helps to keep it in.

This oil creates a barrier on the skin that seals everything in. Because you wouldn’t get that healthy glow and softer texture if moisture evaporated out into thin air, right?

FYI, sweet almond oil is a popular oil for massages. The reason? It’s so lightweight, it sinks into the skin quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind.

Related: The Complete Guide To Facial Oils In Skincare

Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask has a herbal, pleasant scent and a creamy but thin texture that spreads easily on the skin, drying down quickly.

I noticed a slight tingling sensation when I had it on. It’s not uncomfortable but it’s a red flat for sensitive skin. Even Liz Earle claims it’s not suitable for this skin type.

The instructions say to leave it on the skin for about 2 minutes and then to gently wipe it away with the muslin cloth soaked in hot water.

FYI, the muslin cloth (which comes with the 50ml pump starter kit) is the same one you get with the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, which provides a gentle exfoliating action without irritating skin.

Once removed, I noticed my skin was brighter and felt clean and soft to the touch. The mask also helped absorb excess oil on my oily t-zone. As a pick-me-up for dull oily skin, it works well.

Dry skin? I don’t recommend anything with clays for you. They can be too drying for your skin type.

Available at:£7.50-£18.00 at Feel Unique and John Lewis

SHOP THE POST

Ingredients: Aqua (water), Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, Kaolin, Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, Cetearyl alcohol, Silt, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, Panthenol, Cetearyl ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 stearate, Cinnamomum camphora (camphor) bark oil, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (fragrance), Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Methylparaben, Limonene, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Linalool, Lactic acid, Hexyl cinnamal, Citric acid, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, Propylparaben, Citronellol, Butylphenyl methylpropional. 

Have you tried Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.

It’s no secret I prefer chemical exfoliants. They’re gentler on the skin and they go the extra mile. Salicylic acid, for example, unclogs pores – something no scrub can do.

But what if your skin can’t tolerate acids or you just love a good scrub? Then, using a gentle physical exfoliant – like Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator – makes sense:

Key Ingredients In Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

Jojoba Esters To Exfoliate Skin

What the heck are esters now?!

In plain English, good old jojoba oil is hydrogenated to create a hard wax-like texture. You can use it as is, or warm it up and drop it from a height to create small, rounded spheres that are perfect for exfoliation.

Unlike apricot shells and other similar natural particles, jojoba beads have smooth edges that don’t scratch or tear the skin. This makes them suitable for most skin types – especially sensitive.

Once you massage them on your skin, they gently remove the dead cells that have accumulated on the surface of your skin, leaving it softer and brighter.

If you have dry or normal skin and don’t want to use acids, this is a good alternative to consider. Bonus points: jojoba beads are biodegradable and kind to the planet, too.

Related: 4 Reasons Why I Prefer Chemical Exfoliation

Cocoa Seed Butter To Moisturise Skin

Let’s face it: exfoliation is always a bit traumatic for skin. You’re forcing it to let go of dead skin cells it wasn’t ready to say goodbye to yet.

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator makes the process gentler with cocoa seed butter. Super moisturising, this butter creates a protective barrier on the skin, keeping soft and smooth for hours.

Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator has a lovely herbal scent and a white, thick creamy texture loaded with jojoba beads. The beads are very fine and small, – so small that when you first pump the product out you can’t see them at all.

They only become visible when you start spreading the cream on your skin. Yet, they work very well, removing the dead skin cells on the surface without drying out skin. On the contrary, my skin felt so soft afterwards. And the glow!

This exfoliant is fairly gentle, but I not so gentle that you can use it everyday. At least I can’t. The first time I used it, it left my skin soft and bright, but the next day I applied it again and, this time, my skin felt really tight and dry.

This doesn’t mean that the product is bad, but simply that over-exfoliation (no matter what product you use) is bad for skin. Just like any other exfoliant, you should use it only twice or three times a week, depending on your skin type.

I find that twice a week works best for my combination skin, leaving it in great condition without experiencing any problems whatsoever. If you have sensitive skin though, this exfoliant isn’t suitable for you.

Available at: £7.00-£16.50 at Feel Unique and John Lewis

Ingredients: Aqua (water), Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, Jojoba esters, Cetearyl alcohol, Cetyl esters, Glycerin, Cera alba (beeswax), Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan stearate, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Benzoic acid, Dehydroacetic acid, Limonene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium hydroxide. 

Take The Guesswork Out Of Skincare Shopping

Get access to the “Pro Skincare Library” for exclusive skincare routine “cheat sheets” and tricks to help you navigate the beauty aisles jungle like a pro and immediately know what to pick off the shelves to achieve the gorgeous skin of your dreams – even when you’re drowning in an endless sea of skincare products.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get access to the skin library.