Dermatologically Tested Sandpaper (L'Oréal ReFinish Micro-Dermabrasion Kit)

Member Name: Teena2003

Product:	L'Oréal ReFinish Micro-Dermabrasion Kit
Date:	18/07/05 (2009 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: exfoliates

Disadvantages: can be rough on skin, made me break out in spots

I decided that I needed to do more for my skin and my general appearance. I came across the Re-Finish Micro-Dermabrasion Kit by L’Oreal in my local Boots. After much mmmh-ing and ahh-ing I decided to buy it. If I picked the wrong product it would turn out to be a costly mistake, at £14.49 it certainly doesn’t come cheap.

What you get for your money is a snazzy silver cardboard box with two tubes of ‘stuff’. Considering the size of the box, the tubes are rather small and dainty. Together with a fold out instruction sheet you are set to go.

Before you start your new beauty regime, make sure you read the back of the box (preferably before you buy to make sure that the product is the right one for you) and the enclosed leaflet so you know what you need to do and in what order. It is not recommended for people with sensitive skin, and there are good reasons for it. The exfoliator part is most probably too abrasive.

The Micro-Dermabrasion Kit is a two-step process.

*** Step 1: Remove Top Layer Of Skin ***

Just follow the instruction but make sure you adhere to them. There is a reason they included them.

You are asked to make sure that your skin is clean and free of all make-up. Then wet you skin before starting the process. Leave your skin dry and the process will feel like sandpaper on skin.

The actual ReFinish Exfoliator is used first and is supplied in the larger 60ml silver tube. It comes with a handy flip-top. You will notice that the paste in the tube is pretty grainy. That’s due to the ‘Aluminium oxide micro-crystal’ it contains.

Squeeze some of the exfoliator from the tube onto your finger and make sure you cover the areas indicated in the instruction: chin, cheeks, nose and forehead.

Using both hands rub with massaging circular motions all over your face, starting from the bottom of you chin to the forehead. To finish off the treatment use both hands and swiping motions to the edge of your face. While you are exfoliating be careful that you don’t come too close to the sensitive mouth, nostril and eye areas. All this should take no more than a couple of minutes. In fact, the instructions tell you not to exfoliate more than two minutes altogether.

Once you’re finished make sure you remove all traces of the exfoliator by cleaning your face with plenty of warm water. Dry off your face carefully with a towel, no need to rub, your face will be dry in seconds.

You are now ready for the next step.

*** Step 2: Put Some Moisture Back ***

It’s important to put some moisture back into your skin. After all, you just managed to scrape the top layer off (or at least it will feel like you did).

The second tube that comes with this kit is the specially formulated ‘Post-Treatment Optimising Moisturiser’. I must say, I was a little disappointed. The tube is rather small, only 40ml of moisturiser to the 60ml of exfoliator is provided. I wonder if it is enough product to actually last the promised 30 applications.

As with the exfoliator, dab the moisturiser on your face, again, same areas as before, and start working the cream into your skin until fully absorbed.

If your skin is normal with a tendency towards a little dry, that might only take seconds.

All in all the process does not take much more than a few minutes and before you know it your skin will be clean, smooth and soft with a healthy glow. Well, that’s the idea anyway.
So, does it really work? Does it visibly reduce fine lines? Does it even the skin tone, refine skin texture and make it soft? Well, sort of …

I’m a lazy cow in the mornings and the ReFinish programme fit in with my life style. The reason? You’re only supposed to do it twice a week maximum. And that suited me fine.

I used to do it in the mornings, last thing in the shower before getting ready for another day. It worked for me as my hair was wet and out of my face, my face got a quick drenching with water before I rubbed the exfoliator onto my face. As it only takes a little over a minute to finish the first step of the programme I was not wasting time. Rinsing off the exfoliator didn’t take long but I noticed that the bottom of the bathtub started to resemble a beach. You may not see the micro-crystals but you can certainly feel them under your feet.

I used the product for about two months. My skin looked fresh and smooth after using the product (maybe even a little rosy-red) and when applying my foundation it certainly felt smoother. But it also felt a little tight, sometimes too tight. And the longer I used the product, the more I noticed that my skin was getting dry. I sometimes felt the need to add extra moisturiser before applying my foundation make-up. First I thought I was my skin because I always had kind of dry skin, sometimes sensitive, most of the time it was just dry.

Another thing I noticed is that I was more prone to spots. I never really had problems with spots (although I do get the odd one or two occasionally). Suddenly my chin seemed spottier than ever before. The longer I used the product the more I noticed that I had spots. And it was not something I wanted or needed. After all, I’m not exactly a teenager anymore.

And then there’s the promise of reduced fine lines. Well, the only fine lines my face has are around my eyes, exactly in one of the areas you are not supposed to use the product. I tried and applied as close to the eye as possible without actually getting into the ‘restricted zone’ but I can’t say that the lines softened at all.

I never found out if I could get the promised 30 applications out of it. It didn’t make much of a difference with regards to any fine lines and wrinkles, but it did make my skin feel a lot more sensitive and I am still suffering from very dry patches on my forehead, something I never had problems with before.

In the end I had to stop because my skin got red and irritated after using the exfoliator and applying the moisturiser gave me a burning sensation. Of course my skin looked nice and rosy read – but in the end it was more due to the irritation than the actual positive effect this should have had on my skin.
I never trusted all these high-flying promises the skin care companies make and I can’t say that the L’Oreal Dermabrasion kit convinced me that it .

If you have normal skin type, try it out but don’t expect miracles. If your skin is a little on the dry side, I wouldn’t recommend it. It dried out my skin more than I liked and even after I stopped using it, my skin is still a lot drier than it was before. At least the outbreak of spots has settled and it’s back to normal.

As for my star rating: I would give it 3 stars if you have normal skin but wouldn’t give it more than 1 star if your skin is dry as it can do more damage than good. So altogether it’s only 2 stars.

© Teena2003/Minnitee

Summary: if it sounds too good to be true...