I'm new to blogging and this is my first ever post. I ordered a few items from Makeup Artists Choice or MUAC as they're known and wanted to give my review of the products.
A couple of the items I have ordered before and just re-ordered because I love them so much.
First up is a 30% TCA (trichloracetic acid) chemical peel. It is meant for you to dilute down to lower percentages. This is my first time ordering this specific percentage. I have ordered 12.5%, 15%, and 18% before over the last couple years. Since I have used the 18% without any problems I tried the 20% with 2 layers to get frosting on my cheeks, and just one layer over the rest of my face. Winter is the time to do this, and it worked wonderfully. I had moderate to severe acne with hyperpigmentation on my cheeks, which has reduced drastically.
I'm waiting until I have a few days off work in December around Christmas to do another peel at the 25% level. I have photos of before this peel, I will take post photos and then photo document the process of the peel in December to post. I think this next one will be the last to completely get rid of the remaining hyperpigmentation. From then on I will just use a lactic acid peel to keep my acne under control.
The kit is pictured below:
- Price: 1/2oz kit $35.75USD
- Rating: 5/5
- Includes: 1/2oz 30% TCA, 1oz Green Tea/Pomegranate Cleansing Gel, 2oz Post Peel Neutralizer, 1 pair of gloves, 1 eye dropper to measure your ratios all in a black satin-y bag
- Instructions: The instructions are conveniently (and waste concientious!) on their website and are very easy to follow
Next up is the Green Tea/Pomegranate Cleansing Gel. This stuff is amazing! I love it! I can't say enough how great this cleanser is, and I've tried a lot of them.
My old standard go to was always Cetaphil. I had to get the one for oily skin because I have very oily skin, and it also worked great at taking my makeup off. When I was a teen I tried the Clean and Clear, Neutrogena, Biore, Spectro, Aveeno, you name it I tried it. In those days my acne was very severe, I was on every medication orally and topically, went to a dermatologist who eventually put me on Accutane which cleared it up. I then was left with so much scarring I had dermabrasion. Ever since the Accutane my skin was always pretty clear except around that time of the month.
In my more recent adult years (I'm 28) it has been getting a bit worse. The only products I found worked for me was Cetaphil for oily skin as a cleanser, Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Treatment Gel (the salicylic acid works wonders) and Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (perfect for oily skin). The only problem was the Cetaphil left my skin feeling very stripped, it's still a great product I just love MUAC's more. The Green Tea cleanser leaves your skin feeling clean but not stripped, and very soft. You get a sample size of this cleanser with I believe all TCA peels you order except sample sizes, I just use that one in the shower and refill it or throw it in an overnight bag if I'm staying elsewhere. I get the 8oz bottle with pump, and use 2 pumps to wash my face even with makeup on. This lasts me about 4 months.
Green Tea Cleanser pictured below:
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- Price: $14.95USD
- Rating: 5/5
- Includes: 8oz bottle with pump
Next up is the 100% Pure Virgin Oil Argan Oil. I bought this to try as a moisturizer as I read it's supposed to be good for acne, as well as to put on the ends of your hair. To be honest I'm not too sure about this product. I used it after my peel I did about 4 weeks ago and it did really well as a moisturizer.
Where I'm on the fence is if it broke me out or not, it is 100% pure so it shouldn't. I had just done the peel and that doesn't clear up all blemishes plus I had my time of the month during this trial so any number of things could have broken me out. It doesn't smell, feels really nice on the skin, and you only need a little, it does absorb nicely. I would say use it before bed, not before work putting your makeup on as it is still an oil and doesn't absorb completely.
I have not tried it in my hair yet, I think I'm going to be picking up Coconut Oil to put in the ends of my hair as it's only about $10 at the grocery store for a huge tub of the good solid stuff. I will say you do get a lot for the price and the dropper is very convenient for getting just a little on your fingertips. I will be trying this again in the new year once my skin is completely clear so I can make a more informed decision on how my skin reacts and I'll repost then.
Argan Oil Pictured Below:
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- Price: $10.00USD
- Rating: 3/5 - Pending further results
- Includes: 1oz Argan Oil with dropper attached in cap - Let me just say this picture does not do this bottle justice, you get quite a lot of product for 1oz and only using a couple drops for your whole face a little goes a lonnnng way
Lastly is the sample that I received in this order. MUAC always send you a sample based on the question you answer when placing your order. What is your skin type, eye colour and whether you're fair/medium/dark skin toned. It's always a nice surprising treat.
I received the Sugar Butter Body Scrub sample size. I'm glad they sent me this as I will be ordering it again. It smells AMAZING! It smells like sweet lemons, if that makes sense. It reminds me of those sugared candies that were in the shapes on lemon and lime slices when I was a kid. I'm not sure what the exfoliating part is in it, the site says it has natual sugar cane, so that could be it. It's not harsh, but just enough to slough off those dead skin cells. And after you're out of the shower or bath your skin feels so soft. Not to mention you smell great! I got .25oz and it's a pretty big little jar, it was enough for two showers and I was pretty sad to see it's now empty. The jar they sell on the website is 8oz, so at 2 showers per .25oz that's 64 showers out of one jar, enough to last about 2-4 months depending if you shower more than once a day or one every other day.
Sugar Butter Body Scrub Pictured Below:
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- Price: $13.95USD
- Rating: 5/5
- Included: 8oz jar - I have not ordered the full size yet but I'm assuming that's all that comes with it
Customer Service: They're customer service was excellent. I called as I did not receive instructions for the 30%TCA and I had with all my lower percentages but those were over a year ago. They told me someone would contact me back within 24 hours. I expressed that I was planning on doing the peel that night and they had someone call me back within 30 mins. They informed me where the instructions were on the site and were very pleasant saying they hope the peel goes well and for me to post feedback with results on their reviews section.
Shipping: I ordered this to be shipped to Ontario Canada. Even with customs I received the items within 1 week of ordering and at a very reasonable price. I chose the cheapest method, it stated a lot longer than 1 week, I believe up to 20 business days.
Future Order: I'm planning on placing an order soon for Christmas of the Sugar Butter Full Sized Trio, 1oz 30% TCA peel kit, and the Body Cream - 70% Organic Shea Butter.
