I have mentioned these products a few times since buying and using them, but have put off doing a post for reasons
explained here in a small rant. While I might initially mention a new products, a good review needs a few weeks or months of usage!
Alpha H is an australian company which specialises in anti-againg and acne Glycolic based treatments. I started this blog because I was downhearted by my skin and Alpha H was recommended to me personally by the wonderful
Beauty Mouth.
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Pacman and Ghouls! I might give you a link at the end ;) |
Glycolic acid is a bit like little pacmen (you know, those little yellow crescent computer animals that munch their way though a maze of stars and fruit while being chased by rainbow coloured ghouls.... Man, I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall for that product pitch!). Anyway the teeny tiny pacmen zoom all over your skin and munch up the dead cells and debris- preventing it from falling into and clogging pores. This action also promotes new, healthy skin to grow by jump starting the natural renewal process. Glycolic acid is a natural substance and is usually found in fruit (fruit acid). Therefore it's just using what nature gave us ;o) (I think I have just reasoned that nature gave us Pacman... moving on....)
Liquid Gold
Liquid Gold (LG) comes in a fairly basic even bland, bottle. It's not going to win any awards for how it looks, and to be honest if I saw it on a shelf in Boots I'd probably walk past it. However, stay with me! It is a clear liquid which you apply to cotton wool and sweep over cleansed skin every other night. You can then apply a night serum or moisturiser over the top (which will dilute the treatment a little) OR (as I tend to do) leave it neat on the skin for a more intense treatment. It is designed to resurface and firm the skin, plus fight acne.
It smells ever so slightly of licorice (which is one of the ingredients) and I like the smell. (Incidentally licorice root jump starts the immune system, has antiseptic properties and has long been used for cleaning teeth). I have been using LG alternative nights, normally after a good deep cleanse with my
clarisonic (which removes deep set dirt and helps the skin to absorb products such as serums and moisturiser).
Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum
The big daddy product is Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum (INRS) and it is as magical as it looks. See the little beads inside the tube? They burst upon pump application. The packaging looks pretty, the product looks like gold, and the result on my skin? (Dad joke coming up)
Alpha
H...AH-mazing!
This product smells more of fruits (and possibly essential oils?) than Liquid Gold. A couple of pumps of this gel do my whole face and neck area but, as with LG, don't apply to the delicate skin of the lips or eye area. I accidentally got some on my lip once and it stung a little until I washed it with water. This product is aimed at mature and sun-damaged skin, but that doesn't stop us with 'early signs of aging' using it. It also contains vitamins A, B3 and E which your skin will soak up overnight.
How has LG and INRS changed my skin?
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Before it was like this. Sorry folks, it makes me feel sick just looking at it. |
Night 1: Skin smoother and softer.
Night 7: Skin 'glowing' more, tone less patchy. Grey dullness gone, red spot scars vanishing.
Several months on: Pores are less congested, less visible and my whitehead / cystic spots have dramatically reduced. Even those stubborn little white congested pores on my chin have subsided. Of course I get the odd breakout but that is becoming more hormonal and diet linked.
Sadly due to years of acne and picking (DONT!!) my face does have scars. HOWEVER, these seem to be lessening. I am amazed. I thought I was stuck like this for life. They are not gone all together but I have found the INRS more effective (and less greasy) that Bio Oil (another product I've tried for scars).
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After using Alpha H. This is the left side of the picture above. |
Also weird effect I didn't expect- my skin is less oily in the day now, and my foundation is a lot easier to apply. Of course this is a result of several parts of my daily routine, but my softer, even, less pigmented skin is a factor. (For spot tips see
this post).
The biggest impartial indicator to its success is the number of unprovoked comments I have had from friends, family and strangers.
LG or INRS?
I have both because of various deals and a long quest for nice healthy skin- like I should have had in my teens and early twenties. For me, my skin is far from perfect so I found INRS a huge help. If your skin is largely spot and scar free then I would go for LG to help even the pigment and remove dead skin cells. If your skin is suffering or has suffered like mine then I'd recommend INRS.
I aim to use both to repair my skin, then only use LG to maintain it. I tend to rotate these on a three day routine with a night serum / moisturiser on the third day.
Downside?
As the dead layer of skin is (rightly) removed, this can make it temporarily susceptible to sun damage- make sure you use a day cream or foundation which contains an SPF suitable to the climate you are in. (I have been using
Origins Brighter by Nature SPF 35 recently, with Chanel Mat Lumiere SPF 15)
Some people might suffer a bit of a tightening or tingling sensation- espessially if you have sensitive skin, eczema or other per-existing conditions. I have had no reactions (red skin, tight skin, itching, pain etc) apart from the brief lip incident.
The big downside for me is that these babies seem to retail between £30 and £50 (online only). Skincare is definitely an investment for me- an investment of time and money. Unfortunately I have not found a cheaper alternative....
yet. There is no need to use religiously every other night, but I think you would get 6-12 months out of each bottle.
I have purchased mine from
Beauty Bay who seem to have various discounts at certain times of the year and international shipping. I have also seen the products on
QVC so have put both current prices below for you to compare.
LIQUID GOLD (Left)
LIQUID GOLD INTENSIVE NIGHT (Right)
So there are my thoughts on Alpha H Liquid Gold. A big thumbs up in my view! I can't wait to try the
eye complex next as it is supposed to be good.
In other news.... I have
REN's Glycolic Renewal Mask so I will be seeing how it compares in performance and price. I also have some new cashmere mits (thanks to
Lauren) which I wore today as I went up snow covered mountains with a friends dog. I 'almost' felt like I was in Switzerland. Almost! Finally don't forget my
12 24
Christmas giveaways, 8 of which are up and open. Some special things to come!
Have you tried any Alpha H or Glycolic treatments? Do you have any recommendations? How do you treat your skin to combat dull, red, blotchy, spots and scars? Is skincare an investment for you? Any thoughts, questions, Pacman scores?
Disclaimer: Items were bought by me. Review is my own honest thoughts!