I am incredibly excited about the whole Swisse skincare line. Not only the products are extremely affordable (especially when I buy them at the right time, which means, during 50% off sale at Chemist Warehouse or Priceline - I have a lot of patience when it comes to waiting for a good sale), the ingredient lists are delightful to read, because I can (almost) understand every word without googling.
Here's my best Swisse experience so far - the Cranberry Antioxidant Facial Oil. I was expecting to break out to it before I opened the bottle (that's how low my expectation was). After all, it is oil. One hundred percent oil. I haven't used any oil on my face for the last decade. But it was 50% off - I picked it up and couldn't bring myself to put it back onto the shelf.
Claims
1. Soothes the skin and reduces redness.
2. Increases hydration and assists in repairing the skin's barrier properties
3. Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
4. Helps protect the skin from sun damage
5. Evens out skin tone and brightens complexion.
Ingredients
- Grape seed oil
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate (derived from coconut)
- Cranberry seed oil
- Raspberry seed oil
- Pomegranate seed oil
- Vitamin E
- Tomato seed oil
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (fatty acids derived from coconut oil and glycerin)
- Sunflower seed oil
- Grapefruit peel oil
- Orange peel oil
- Litsea cubeba fruit oil*
- Cymbopogon martini oil*
- Pelargonium graveolens flower oil*
*had to google
This oil certainly looks like it contains a high level of antioxidants and vitamin E (which itself is an antioxidant). Grape, cranberry, raspberry and tomato seed oils (if processed and stored correctly) are known to contain a high level of antioxidants. Pomegranate seed oil contains not only antioxidants, but also a blend of fatty acids to prevent moisture loss.
Antioxidants explained
See my blog on antioxidants here.
My experience
This oil is lightweight and kinda runny. If I tilt the dropper to one side the oil actually drips down without having to squeeze the rubber.
It smells clean and fresh, feels like a "dry" oil and quite quickly absorbed.
It would have been nice if it was a replacement for serum - sadly for me, it's not. I still need to layer my serum underneath for the level of hydration I want.
I use 3 drops of oil every evening after using my serum. In line with my mum's opinion that I am a rebel, I am not following the instructions on the box which says "massage into clean dry skin". I found the oil absorbs better on very moist skin, so I apply oil immediately after serum, followed by moisturiser.
After 5 weeks...
I am overjoyed that I did not break out to my first facial oil in years. For most parts my skin is smooth with a subtle glow. Not much difference to skin tone as yet, but skin tone generally takes longer to improve. My skin does not feel tight and dehydrated like it sometimes would at the beginning of winter. Overall I am happy with this (especially when taken into account the price AND the 50% off!) and I can see myself re-purchasing this again in the future.