Beauty review: 8-weeks in Pure Obagi and the power of vitamin C in luxury skincare AD
When you reach the grand old age of 35+ - if you’re anything like me - you’ll find that you’ve started thinking (read as: obsessing) over your face and skincare needs. At least, that’s what I seem to have been doing (read as: throwing a lot of money at) lately… But I want to know… What’s keeping you awake at night? What’s top of your priority list in the fight against ageing, if – like me - you’re trying to retain the complexion (and body) of a 22 year old? Joke…. read on…
Sun damage? tick. Wrinkles? tick. Sagging skin? tick. Ageing? tick. Anti-ageing? tick. Age spots? Frown lines? tick. Crow’s feet? tick. Dry skin? tick.
There’s no wrong answer…. But there’s also no one way of tackling these aesthetic skincare issues. Growing old gracefully may be an option for some… but me? I’m willing to fight it every inch of the way! So, when Pure Obagi contacted me and offered up the chance to review the Obagi Vitamin C Intermediate Kit, which promises to protect your skin from UV radiation throughout the day – I almost snatched their virtual hands off!
Obagi Vitamin C Kit comes in a handy travel bag - perfect for keeping your skincare goodies in one place when travelling
When I look in the mirror these days, more often than not it’s the signs of a very well-lived in face staring back at me. Signs that make me start prodding, pulling and poking at my appearance and questioning: “Is it too soon to be thinking about botox?” “Do I need fillers?” “What about that sagging skin over your left eyelid?” Can you get a non-surgical eyelid lift?” “Is it getting worse?” “How much would it cost to get said non-surgical eyelid lift…?” and so on and so on… Yep! A million little questions raised by the little annoying voice inside my head, constantly playing on my insecurities. A voice that ignites the part of me that is dead set on trying to cling on to a youthful appearance for as long as bloody-well-possible…
You might be also wondering… Have I been good to my skin? Erm? Could I have drank more water? Should I get more sleep? Ish… hell yes… and “Most certainly, Lucie - but then what about all the fun you’d have missed? Wink. Wink!”
Ok so… Yes, I do regret going to Zante and Malia in my teens [insert the name of your own 18-30s destination] and slathering my face and body with SPF 2 tanning oil, as I lay there frying for two weeks in the blistering sunshine.
Yes, I do regret not wearing sun or UV protection on a daily basis since I was old enough to own a pot of moisturiser… (note: this is something that I now try and make a conscious effort to do…) To be fair, it’s only since hitting my thirties that I’ve finally realised just how important it is to protect your delicate skin (face and body) from the sun’s harsh rays. Unfortunately, my nan and great auntie Mavis have paid the price for this too, and have both experienced sadly skin cancer. And you know what? If that’s not a wake up call for anyone to be more of a shade seekers / sun protection wearer, then I don’t know what is, kids!? If you’re worried about a funny looking mole or weird lump or rash on your skin, I urge you to get it seen to - IMMEDIATELY!
Back to Obagi - the folks who have made this P.S.A. post possible… I’d heard of the Pure Obagi brand before, but had never used myself it at home. You will often see it being used by many a professional skincare & beauty expert in salon environments - they do a medical and clinic version of most products. Trying new skincare and beauty treatments and products has always been a big interest of mine, and so I was keen to see whether adding the Obagi Vitamic C to my skincare routine would reap any results!
I chatted over Teams to Michelle from the Obagi team, who discussed my skin concerns and explained which products might help to achieve the best results. Obagi recommend using a skincare kit – rather than a collection of random products. If you visit their online store, you will find that they offer a plethora of these different skincare kits, for an array of skin concerns e.g. Acne prone skin, Ageing skin - including fine lines and wrinkles, Mature skin, Sun damage, Dull skin, Hyperpigmentation, Rosacea, Maskne challenged skin (yup! That’s now a thing!) or Rough skin.
The Obagi Nu-Derm Fx® System helps to brighten up dull-looking skin and minimise hyperpigmentation, whereas the Obagi Vitamin C Kits help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The Obagi Vitamin C kit comes in three different strengths – the Obagi Vitamin C Starter Kit (specifically designed for those with more sensitive and/or dry skin), Obagi Vitamin C Intermediate Kit (for normal skin, which is the one I reviewed) and the Obagi Vitamin C Advanced Kit (for oily skin).
Obagi-C system C-cleansing Gel with Vitamin C
The intermediate Vitamin C kit includes: 1 x Obagi-C® C-Cleansing Gel, 1 x Obagi Professional-C® Serum 15%, 1 x Obagi Hydrate® Facial Moisturiser. They had also thrown in a few samples of other Obagi products to try – which is always a nice treat!
Intermediate is perfect for those with normal skin types (not prone to dryness, oilyness or break outs), like me. Each morning and night I would use the Obagi-C® C-Cleansing Gel as a face wash (note: be careful not to get this in your eyes!), which works to remove oil and dirt from the surface of your skin and also prepares it for maximum absorption of the rest of lovely products and skincare routine.
After patting my skin dry gently with a towel, I would then dispense a pipette of the Obagi Professional-C® Serum 15% into my hand, this serum is an oil-like product, which is rich in antioxidants to protect the skin against free radical damage and environmental factors such as UV exposure. Nice eh?
The finishing touch of the Obagi Vitamin C kit routine is the Mango and Shea-infused Obagi Hydrate® Facial Moisturiser (you just need 1-2 pumps) which helps to moisturise and rejuvenate your lovely clean skin. It has a thick, creamy texture and is light-weight yet nourishing on the skin. It’ss also “non-comedogenic”, so doesn't block pores, and keeps your skin clear and nourished.
What are the benefits of using Obagi’s Vitamin C Kit?
Obagi-C® C-Cleansing Gel
- Formulated with Aloe to moisturise and soothe the skin.
- Removes makeup, oil residue, dirt and impurities for clear skin and a clean base.
- Gentle enough for even sensitive skin.
- For glowing, more radiant-looking skin.
- Hydrates and softens skin.
Professional-C® Serum 15%
- Reduces the signs of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Brightens and hydrates.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Suitable for dry, sensitive skin.
Obagi Hydrate® Facial Moisturiser
- With 2-in-1 Hydromanil Technology for proven all-day hydration, for up to 8 hours.
- Non-irritating formula, kind to all skin types.
- Rich in anti-inflammatory ingredients such as Mango Butter.
- Formulated with Glycerin for ultimate hydration.
- Fragrance free.
My skin feels illuminated after 8-weeks of using a Vitamin C serum. It’s a great base for make up too! P.s. Ignore the crazy outfit pairing (this neon Regatta jacket was quickly thrown on after I had to make a mad dash into the garden when it was raining…)
So what did I think?
After 8-weeks of trialling the Obagi Vitamin C kit and assorted products – day in, day out – I would say that the product I’ve enjoyed using the most from the kit has to be the Professional-C Serum 15%. Using a Vitamin C serum is a game-changer and a completely new addition to my usual routine. It’s definitely one that I would like to continue making part of my daily skincare. The cleansing wash is a little stingy if you get it in your eyes, but you only need the smallest amount to get a good lather! I would need to wash twice to take off all of my mascara and eyeliner.
Note: Wondering how long the Obagi Vitamin C Kit will last you? As I mentioned, I’ve now been using the products day and night for 2-months and I’ve probably got another week’s worth of product left – so it’s lasted a decent amount of time!
Who should try Obagi skincare?
Anyone that is either wanting to add Vitamin C into their daily routine or is into their more premium, luxe skincare and is looking for a product range that drives great results.