Peeeel, don't rip! (Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Pore Strips)

Member Name: carly_pussycat

Product:	Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Pore Strips
Date:	14/01/08 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Does work a bit, looks amusing

Disadvantages: Doesn't get every single one, other things may be more effective

I've never had a huge problem with blackheads, but I think like most people I have a little scattering on my nose...so when I saw these pore strips pretty cheap on strawberrynet.com I ordered them along with a few other things to see if they would work for me.


ELIZABETH ARDEN VISIBLE DIFFERENCE PORE-FIX C

These pore strips come in a relatively smart looking white box with silver edging, with a picture of the front of three women using the different strips (nose, forehead, chin). Inside there is an assortment of 10 strips - more for the nose and less for the others, but seeing as I don't have trouble in other areas I just used all the strips on my nose and found that worked ok.

I tried the nose strip first, following the instructions:

1) Thoroughly cleanse face
2) Wet strip with water
3) Apply wet strip to face
4) Let dry for 10-15 mins
5) Gently peel off strip

The strip itself comes in a little sachet but it is easy to open because there is a special nick in the top (not a major issue but I find it annoying to go searching for scissors when I'm ready to use something like this). The main thing that I would say when using these strips is to make sure that in between wetting the smooth side of the strip and applying it to your face it's easier if you dry your hands a bit first, otherwise the strip wants to stick to your wet fingers more than it does to your face. Also, after applied it is easier to get the whole thing adhered to your face if you then moisten your finger and pat it down in the areas that are sticking up.

Once you've done that your work is pretty much over so you just sit back and wait for the strip to go crusty and dry (and slightly tight feeling but bad). As they estimate, it does take between 10-15 mins depending on how much water was on the strip. Once it is dry it is easy and painless to peel off. You need to do this slowly for it to have any effect. If you rip it off as you would like when you do waxing, the blackheads will just break off ineffectively so don't try this!

I found that these strips were mildly effective on my nose. I didn't really have loads of blackheads but it did get some and not others. My boyfriend, on the other hand, has a lot! He tried these strips and it did actually make a noticeable difference, because although it didn't get every single one it got so many that it was worthwhile. I think that it would be an effective weapon against blackheads for people who do suffer from them but find other things don't work (or they don't use them often enough).

I found these were more effective when I also steamed my face after cleansing but I still probably wouldn't buy them again myself though, because I have started using Biore's Warming Blackhead Fighting Cream Cleanser - which is effective in every single way (cleansing, removing makeup, blackheads at bay!)

If you're interested in these strips they retail at around £5, so 50p a strip.

Summary: These strips do what they say they will, but so will other products whilst cleansing your whole face