The Skincare Products I Wish I Didn't Need But Really Do

This post contains PR samples

Listen, beauty blogging is a lot more glamorous when we're talking about lip glosses and sparkly eyeshadows, but sometimes you have to talk about the not-so-pretty stuff too, ya know? I wanted to talk about some products (one in particular) that have helped me combat breakouts on my back and chest, because I know some of you may be suffering from the same problem. 

No one wants to walk into Sephora and say, "Excuse me, could you help me find a product to help with my bacne?" but at the same time, it sucks to not feel comfortable wearing certain things, especially in the warmer months, because you're embarrassed. Believe me, I get it. I went to a wedding a few weekends ago and right before I stepped out of the car, I decided to check my makeup in the mirror and realized I probably needed to extend my concealer onto the spots that managed to pop up on my chest in the day or two prior (proof below). Sigh. 

Even in a fuzzy, front-facing camera quality photo, you can still see some of the spots near my collarbone.

Murad sent me a few of their acne-combating body care products recently, and when I opened the box, I literally said, "Yes! An acne body spray!" Yes, I'm sad. I know. Although I'm not much into using face wipes these days, the Clarifying Wipes ($18) for blemish-prone skin are fantastic post-workout or after a day at the pool or beach. I love how clean they make my skin feel, and I like using them to quickly freshen up my face and body after something sweat-inducing when you can't jump in the shower right away. These are great to keep stashed in your pool/beach/gym bag. Since they're meant to be clarifying, they're fantastic at removing sweat and oil, two things that love collecting in pores and causing unsightly breakouts. 

The Acne Body Wash ($40) with 1.0% salicylic acid has a slightly menthol scent, a cooling effect once applied to the skin and a sugar scrub-like texture. I reserve this for use on my "problem areas," like my chest and back, and use my regular body wash for everywhere else. It makes my skin feel refreshed and soothed.

My favorite product of the bunch, hands down, is the Clarifying Body Spray ($40) with 0.5% salicylic acid. I spray it across my chest and back once I've dried off after my shower, and I give it a minute or two to dry before getting dressed. It's a light mist that is completely clear, so it feels like nothing on the skin and doesn't get on clothing. I sometimes use it at night before bed, too, and I haven't noticed it drying out my skin whatsoever. Similarly to the body wash, the menthol provides a cooling effect that is really refreshing. The spray bottle even works when held upside down, making it easy to reach more difficult areas like my back. 

With consistent use of the Acne Body Wash and Clarifying Body Spray, I noticed the skin on my chest and back cleared up completely after about two weeks, and it's stayed breakout-free ever since. In my mind, I've attributed more of this to the body spray than to the body wash, simply because the spray is a leave-on treatment that continues to work throughout the day. While I like the wipes and the body wash, my must-have is the body spray. It's definitely a product I plan on purchasing once I run out.

Bloglovin'. Twitter. Instagram. Facebook.

Disclosure: The products in this post were sent to me for consideration for a review. I am not affiliated with the company, nor am I getting paid for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are based solely on my own experience with the products.

Posted in: Makeup-2