Josh Rosebrook Active Enzyme Exfoliator

Josh Rosebrook Review
I thought since I have used so many products over the the past year I would do a mini review of a few of them, and first up is Josh Rosebrook Active Enzyme Exfoliator.

What is it? It's described as a "professional resurfacing treatment" which basically means an exfoliator. It can be used as a cleanser (second or morning cleanse personally) however I used this as a treatment mask.

Why use it? We exfoliate our skin to reveal a brighter complexion, exfolating can help with acne, breakouts, dull and uneven skin tone and hyper pigmentation and the likes.


Whats special about it?
This is a dual exfoliator, meaning it has gritty bits (walnut shells) in to manually exfoliate the skin like a good old fashioned face scrub, but it also has enzymes in that 'eat away the dead skin'. Josh's line is also organic and cruelty free. It's also a mask or cleanser or both and I love a dual product, but this ones a dual dual product. It also has anti-inflamatory and antioxidant benefits.

How much and where from?
It's not a cheap line however due to the quality of the ingredients and the fact it's Organic you should expect to pay a little more for products that are small batch and so lovingly prepared. It's $60 or £69.95 in the UK for 1.5oz it seems the UK are hit massively with the cost there. Personally I would purchase direct and do a big order to make it worthwhile but remember customs tax in the UK is a sting and you wil get charged.
USA here
UK here 


Who is it for and how often?
The website claims it's for all skin types, personally I don't think it's suitable for super reactive skin, sensitive skin or if your using a strong prescription retinol. This is a super active mask/cleanser hybrid so give it the respect it deserves and go easy and slow.  I can't find a 'how often' on the website, but I guess it's skin dependant, if you already use acids, exfoliators etc maybe cut back on one and replace it, start off once a week. You know your skin better than anyone. I only used it as a treatment mask as I find it too expensive to use as just a cleanser. It has a sticky feel and is near impossible to spread on dry skin, I apply it on freshly washed, warm and damp skin and you can make a little go a long way. Then left it for an hour, it doesn't dry hard like a clay and it removes really easily too, as I was trying to avoid the 'manual exfoliation' I just splashed my face with luke warm water and it doesn't leave any residue nor did it sting my eyes as I splashed.

Final thoughts... (ooh it's like Jerry Springer)
This is one of the few products I class as a Holy Grail (HG) item, it gives me the kind of results I was expecting from Sunday Riley Good Genes, that instant wow factor. I really don't like a 'manual' exfoliator, I gave those up years ago. So although Josh advises you to apply in circular motions then leave on for 10 minutes to an hour, I don't do the "circular motions" bit. I pat on then leave it for an hour, but I worked my way up to that. My skin is super damaged at the moment from product overload so I can't use it at the moment, and it's empty anyway.

 The results from this are instant, instant glow, instant brightening. I am using a basic routine at the moment to let my skin adjust to a retinol and I have made a pact with myself to only purchase HG items and necessities in the future, this is one of them. I was stunned the first time I used this, and with ongoing use that didn't change (as it can do with those instant gratification items, you know the ones we declare instant love for them three weeks later our face fell off). This is something I would use once a week on Spa Sunday, with a clay and a hydrating mask (triple masking). It smells like liquorice and expensive chocolate YUM! I found this to be the perfect exfoliating and brightening mask. When I was using this consistently with a certain set of products I was super happy with my skin, I noticed a difference in acne and congestion and I felt that I just looked so much healthier.

Ingredients

All skin types

*Honey, *Vegetable Glycerin, Water, *Soy Lecithin, *Avocado Oil, *Jojoba Oil, *Sunflower Oil, *Evening Primrose Oil, *Neem, *Echinacea, *Hawthorn Berry, *Alfalfa, *Ashwagandha, *Goji Berry, *Beetroot, *Bilberry, *Black Cohosh, *Rosemary, *Fennel, *Dandelion, *Calendula, *Fo ti Root, *Turmeric, *Sage, *Stevia, *Chamomile,  *Rose Hips, *Licorice, *Chickweed, *Horse Chestnut, *Eyebright, *St. John’s Wort, *Coriander, *Burdock, *Elderberry, *Yucca, *Thyme, *Lavender, *Olive leaf, *Raspberry leaf, *Red Clover, *Papaya Enzyme, Walnut shells, *Guar Gum, * Gum Arabic, †Lemon Essential Oil, †Cypress Essential Oil, †Fennel Essential Oil, †Bergamot Essential Oil, †Lime Essential Oil.

*CERTIFIED ORGANIC

†ORGANIC

No Animal Testing

Made in the USA

10/10 claire rating!

Josh kindly sent me this sample size free in with my order direct.

Dr Sam Bunting - SORT MY SHIT SKIN OUT in three easy steps!

Skincare Club

After reading Dr Sam Buntings blog post when acne and wrinkles co exist  I was intrigued. I have spent the past several years trying to stick to a skincare regime and failing badly.

Why I hear you ask... well I have been trying to do everything at once targetting all my skin concerns with a variety or super expensive serums and potions, not only that but trying to find the correct formulas for my skin and brands, ingredients to use or avoid meant lots of costly errors and far too much choice. I found myself staring into my stash every day wondering which to use which of course meant I used nothing consistently therefore robbing myself of any of the results.  I would fire through all my skincare at an alarming rate never really knowing what my skin did or did not like, getting to the end of a £150 serum only to wonder if I had actually seen any benefits.

 It just left me feeling confused and a lot of the time with damaged over-exfoliated skin from the latest acid serum or a new breakout from a product that caused me to block up or even a purge from a product that was potentialy working but the purge created the "is this a fucking breakout or a purge fear" then I would stop, put ALL my skincare away, write myself a new routine and profess to stick to it dilligently, SHOUT about it on Instagram (again *eye roll*) only to find 3 weeks later everything was back out on my vanity again and I yet again had a face ful of fucking spots!  *sob* I am beyond help as I sobbed into my Zelens Power C and Sunday Riley Luna wondering which was the fucking culprit this time!
Dont get me wrong, the good skincare people of Insta have told me, cajooled me, wiped away my virtual tears as I'm verging on the next huge emotional breakdown while I scream "WHAT THE EFFING HELL AM I ACTUALLY DOING".... Then I would say all my products are shit and buy even more stuff I do not need for a skintype I do not have.

Stressfull and I have had enough....About time I hear you all cry. Yes, it is, It's totally about time for a change. But this change requires will power, a strict very basic regime, and products I don't have I almost said..... I have what I need, not what I want, but I have enough to make a start.

Cue Dr Sam and her amazing blog post titled "What to do when acne and wrinkles so-exist" I literally cried with relief when I read this. I have read this post a few times before, however I did not have the strength, self restraint or will-power to follow it through and as the latest parcel arrived with whatever skincare I had ordered from Cult Beauty I forgot that post even existed. The easy to follow post slipped from my mind as I applied my third mask for dry skin *eye roll* then wondering why the fuck my skin was so shite.

Now, I read this last night in bed, after my latest breakout I decided enough was enough, the newness of being an Instagram skincare account has worn off, I have tried and tested lots of new things and the shininess has worn off now. Now I just want clear, younger skin. There is only one way to do it; one issue at a time in easy to follow steps with basic product recommends and lots of support.

So, I have my Isotrex gel prescribed (again another *eye roll*) I have cleared away my skincare (yes again) and I have out the kind of skincare that Caroline Hirons would shoot me for, but, my friends it's only until my skin becomes used to the retinod. I have Cetaphil for now which I will later change to Zelens 3t and Elemis Marine Collagen.

 As i am using a strong retinod I must have a really good skincare support system. My plans are to use the basics on retinol nights, with maybe something with ceramides on the non retinol nights and Zelens D somewhere in there. Vit C can wait till part 2. This is all about retinoid support, hydration, care and being gentle and kind.

 Planned Purchases

• Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator  Here
•   Jordan Samuels trio: Plie Cleanser, hydrate serum and etoile essential oil free amazingness Here
•  Jane Scrivener OO (over oil moisturiser)  Here 

The last two will be for part 2 of the programme. When I involve antioxidants (etoile) and microneedling.

Dr Sam's List of Needs 
A combination of the following will make a big difference in any acne-sufferer’s skin:
1) A BHA wash (containing 1-2% salicylic acid)
2) A topical anti-inflammatory-2.5% benzoyl peroxide (despite historical associations with the nasty, bleaching products of ones’ teens) works well, and there’s no need to use a higher percentage. Seek out those with a moisturising base, like dimethicone, which will help minimise irritancy.
3) A non-comedogenic moisturiser-to preserve barrier function and to help improve tolerability of the acne ‘actives’ in the early stages of treatment.
4) A non-comedogenic sun protection product (minimum SPF 30)-with broad-spectrum cover, which you’ll need as you must use a retinoid (unless getting pregnant).
5) A retinoid-like Differin or Retin-A. In very mild cases, a more gentle Vitamin A-derivative might be sufficient, like retinaldehyde. But you probably need a prescription product if your spot and comedone count is greater than 10-15 lesions. If pregnancy is an issue, azelaic acid is a safe alternative (and will incidentally help tackle your pigmentation). The acne may well get worse before it gets better-do not stop! Retinoids do tend to push out micro-comedones which weren’t previously visible, a process of cutaneous catharsis, if you ask me. It had to come out at some point, so best to get it over and done with. Always use at night, as the molecule is not stable when UV-exposed.

I am hoping its something other skincare accounts are wanting to join in with, we can support each other, make recommedations, just hold each others hands along the way because god knows... it's going to be hard at times.

I'll be using the hashtag #drsambuntingsway and #skincareclub feel free to join in and tag me @just_claire_page Instagram handle.

I will of course document my journey with pictures and an account of what changes my skin goes through.

So here goes...... (right after I just apply this mask).



Thanks for reading my inane rambles
Skincare Secrets


Dr Sams infamous and slightly sexy finger waggle!

Resources -
Dr Sam Bunting has an interesting Instagram page where she scolds us weekly, for beauty no-no's. Sghe is simply stunning and her I could listen to her beautiful accent all day! The scolds are so interesting and I have learnt so much so far. Well worth following.
Some of the info I have gleamed from Here 
She has a well maintained blog full to the brim with anything you wnat to know about skin and skin issues. She is a world renouned super busy Dermatologist that you can if you wish book to see.

The images are from google.