There’s no more disappointing feeling than finally getting that product that everyone has been talking about only to discover it’s not good. Whether it doesn’t work for your skin, gives you a weird reaction or doesn’t really seem to do anything at all, the crushing feeling is always the same. Not to mention the FOMO feeling when everyone else seems to love it. Here are the skincare products that have left me the most disappointed. SPOILER: most of these are really popular; please don’t be offended if you love them.
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
I’m getting this one out of the way first because this is probably the most controversial. I really wanted to love this, I was excited. I read the ingredients list thoroughly and the claims on the label were true, it really was like nutrition for your skin.
When I first got this I tried to test it properly, every day for a month. It was the first time in years I’d used something other than the Emma Hardie cleansing balm as my go-to. By the end of the month I had the worst skin of my life, redness and red rashy bumps in places and my skin was peeling in others.
My first impressions were that it was amazing, felt moisturising and nourishing. Sadly that lovely nourished feeling didn’t last.
The Ordinary
I don’t know what to say. The subheading isn’t a mistake. We’re not talking about a product here, I’m talking about the brand overall. After trying five or six products, six months later I can’t say I’m reaching for any of it. The only product that wasn’t a total disappointment was the HA serum but even then that was only so-so, a nice product to travel with maybe if you were worried about products smashing in your toiletry bag. Better than Sarah Chapman or even Hydraluron? Never.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
This is by far one of the most famous products in the skincare world and I see why people like this. It has a nice lightweight, easily absorbed texture but I have never seen so many irritants in one bottle. The overwhelming lavender scent as you open the bottle is more than enough to put me off. And who wants to put coriander on their face?
As for the eye version? The thought of putting those ingredients anywhere near my eyeballs is honestly petrifying.
Well, I won’t be buying that cleansing gel anytime soon 😀
I was so disappointed! So many people love it..
Love your honesty! I ordered a few things from the Ordinary and the only one I’m still using is the squalane oil – love that stuff! I broke out something awful from everything else, but squalane is my new go to night oil. If you haven’t tried it yet and you’re looking for something to replace the Kiehl’s, give it a go!
I don’t think I could pretend to love something I didn’t like!
Actually, same! And I’m not breakout prone at all usually. I bought the niacinamide + zinc serum for over summer and to deal with the odd hormonal pore clogging etc (my skin usually responds really well to zinc anything) and it gave me a breakout after only two uses.I’m back in love my Pai Rosehip oil at the moment and I’ll probably be bringing my Clinique Smart Oil out soon as my winter switch up but I’ll definitely give it a go next time I’m looking for a new one!