Review – DCL’s C Scape High Potency Night Booster 30

In my previous review for the DCL Detoxifying Clay Mask (Read full review here!), I had mentioned that the mask was a free gift (GWP – gift with purchase) that was given to me as part of the promotions running on Cult Beauty for the launch of DCL brand on their website. The product that I was actually purchasing is this – DCL C Scape High Potency Night Booster 30. Now that I’ve had it for around 3 months, I think I’m ready to tell you guys about my experience with this product.

As usual, ingredients for the product are listed below:

Ingredients

Isohexadecane, Ascorbic Acid, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Squalane, Ubiquinone, Isomalt, Hydrated Silica, Limonene, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Phenoxyethanol, BHT

How does the DCL C Scape High Potency Night Booster 30 fare?

DCL’s C Scape High Potency Night Booster claims to be a collagen-boosting dynamo formulated with a 30% concentration of L-ascorbic acid, plus a ground breaking Vitamin C complex that are gently released into skin both immediately and over time for maximum efficacy and absorption. Advanced technology strengthens skin’s other structural components to improve elasticity and help fend off lines and wrinkles. Intense hydrators deeply moisturise, as antioxidants valiantly safeguard skin from environmental assailants. Meanwhile, focused brighteners even out skin tone creating a healthier, more radiant and beautifully uniform complexion. TLDR; it’s a dedicated Vitamin C serum with a 30% concentration.

I bought this product solely based on Caroline Hirons’ recommendation. If you have read some of my previous posts, maybe you would know that one of my problems that I hoped to correct for  my skin is the PIH marks that were left over after my hormonal acne subside each month. I’ve found that those marks on my face do not really respond to my constant use of acids or retinol. Only by diligently using Vitamin C serums do I see a slight improvement. Therefore, I’m constantly on the lookout for great Vitamin C products that would help me.

First of all, this product is an anhydrous formulae (meaning that it does not contain any water) which greatly aids in the stability of the Vitamin C and prevent it from oxidising so fast. My main beef with quite a lot of Vitamin C serums is that they oxidise so quickly! Although you could prolong their shelf life by placing them in the fridge, sometimes you just want your products kept where you can grab them easily. Therefore the fact that this product is kept stable by eliminating water (which is the main cause of oxidisation for Vitamin C products) wins quite a lot of points with me.

The moment this product reached me, I slather it on my face that very night. The product itself is a white gritty cream (very unlike most watery type of Vitamin C serums) and I felt a strong tingling sensation when I applied it. Because the texture of this product is so thick and gritty, I find that I could only layer a moisturiser over it and call it a night. If you want to layer a lot of subsequent products over it, you will have “rolling” and this product will just flake away. The next morning, I was blown away by how bright and clear my skin looks! I thought that I had found the perfect Vitamin C serum!

Unfortunately, after trying this product on and off for 3 months, I find that it’s just not suitable for my skin for a very simple reason. This product makes my skin break out! Although I was blown away by its results the first night, subsequent uses saw my cheeks and forehead break out in tiny little bumps. I knew my skin well enough to recognise that it’s a sign that this product does not agree with my skin. I tried again on and off over the next 3 months without much success. It’s always the same pattern. I would see great brightening effects the first night and yet with subsequent uses, I would always find my skin breaking out in places where I normally don’t. You know, I wanted to like it so much, or even love it because it’s quite expensive and my mama didn’t raise no quitter! However, as with all skincare, your mileage will vary (YMWV) and not all skincare will work for your specific skin type. You just need to experiment to find out what your skin likes or dislikes. Therefore, I’m not going to bash this product because I could totally see it working for someone else. Sadly, that person is not me!

Where can you find it?

I bought this product from Cult Beauty Online. It retails at £108.00 (30ml sized).

Thank you for reading!

 

Unboxing Caroline Hirons x Cult Beauty Box (Dec 17)

This is the season of mindless consumption and I gave in to my inner hedonist and did all kinds of damage to my credit card. I know that I’ll be groaning when I get my credit card bills next month but hey, at least I’ll be groaning with (hopefully) gloriously radiant skin!

I finally bought the Dec 17 edition of the famed Cult Beauty x Caroline Hirons box. Actually the product which kinda sealed the deal on my resolve to purchase is the May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon Balm. I’ve heard all kinds of miraculous results from people who are die-hard devotees and I’m hoping that I’ll get to experience them myself too.

The Dec 17 edition of the Cult Beauty x Caroline Hirons box includes the following products:

  1. Omorovicza’s Moor Cream Cleanser (150ml – full size)
  2. Oskia’s Renaissance Mask (50ml – full size)
  3. DCL’s Multi-Action Penta Peel (50 pads – full size)
  4. NIOD’s Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate (15ml – full size)
  5. Leahlani’s Champagne Serum (30ml – full size)
  6. May Lindstrom’s The Blue Cocoon Beauty Balm (50ml – full size)

I’ve not started using any of the products yet but I’ll definitely do full reviews on the products once I’ve gotten around to trying them.

This edition of the Cult Beauty Box retails at £220. You can purchase it here.

Review – DCL Detoxifying Clay Mask

A little tube of goodness for your pores!

I first got to know about the brand Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories (DCL) when I was watching one of Caroline Hirons skincare videos in which she talked about one of their newly released Vitamin C serum (which was the C Scape High Potency Night Booster 30) and gave a rave review on how it really tackled her pigmentation problems. At that time however, this brand was not only very difficult to purchase from Singapore, it was also quite expensive. One fine day while I was just browsing Cult Beauty Online to check out some of the new products which they’ve just brought in, I saw that DCL was one of those brands. I grabbed the chance to purchase the C Scape serum immediately (you know how much I love my Vitamin C serums!) and Cult Beauty actually gave me a full-sized version of the DCL’s Detoxifying Clay Mask as part of their promotions!

Ingredients

Aqua, Pentylene Glycol, Kaolin, Bentonite, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides (C10-18 Triglycerides), Sorbitan Stearate, Colloidal Sulfur, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Charcoal Powder, Tocopherol, Phytic Acid, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA

How does the DCL Detoxifying Clay Mask fare?

DCL’s Detoxifying Clay Mask is a detoxifying deep cleaning volcanic mask that intensely treats breakouts, loosens blackheads and puts over-abundant oil in check with natural clays, while comforting the irritation that can often arise in blemish-prone skin with advanced soothing ingredients. It helps to gently yet thoroughly exfoliates to unclog pores and refine texture, leaving your skin smooth, soft and radiant. TLDR; it’s a clarifying clay mask.

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I know I look slightly crazed in this photo but I just wanna show you guys how creamy the texture of this mask is!

I usually use it once a week during my Sunday facials or about 3 times a week during the period when I’m experiencing hormonal acne. True to its claims, it helps to soothe blemishes and gently brings clogged pores to a head without ever drying out my skin. When I rinse off the mask after 15 minutes, I can see that my face is much brighter, clearer and blemishes look calmer. Unlike some clay masks that I’ve tried before, I love the fact that I do not need to rush to slap a moisturiser on (cause my face feels so dry that it’s cracking) after using this mask.  I can also use it as a spot treatment and it would literally shrink the red throbbing pimple overnight to a small flat reddish-brown dot. It’s pretty amazing that way!

I really really like this mask. However, I find myself hesitant to heartily recommend everybody to rush out to purchase this mask because it’s so expensive. Honestly, when I received this product from Cult Beauty, I thought that they had given me a sample size. I remember feeling pretty indignant because I recalled that they were supposed to be giving me a full-sized product. When I went online to check how much product the full-sized version should contain, I was surprised to find out that it was really 50 ml! This finding made me pause a bit because most masks that I’ve tried before contains at least 75ml to 100ml of product. Therefore although I really like this mask, I do not think that a repurchase is in order simply because I do not think that it’s value-for-money. Nonetheless, it’s a fantastic product and you can try it if you have deep pockets and do not mind shelling top dollar for skincare.

Where can you find it?

You can purchase it from Cult Beauty, Space NK or their official website.

It retails at £45.00 (50ml sized) or US$50 (50ml sized).

Thank you for reading!