REVIEW: Rodial 'Hero' Collection Skincare

Does anyone else find skincare just utterly confusing?! I hope it isn't just me. I can tell you what skin type I have as and when it varies (sometimes I'm oily, sometimes dry and more often than not, combination). And that's probably because I'm a make-up artist. I know how to prep and prime for certain skin types, and how to ensure that your make-up will last all day accordingly. But beyond that, I'm stumped. I mean, I have blackheads, and I regularly get breakouts, but I have absolutely NO idea what causes them and how to treat them appropriately. As a result, I am forever buying new skincare to try and attempt to find the holy grail, that one product that will miraculously give me perfect skin! Alas, on my way home from Cyprus earlier in the year, I picked up this Rodial set after having heard great things about the brand.

 

This travel-size set retails at £50 (buy it here) and contains a four-step system as follows:

STEP ONE: STEMCELL SUPER-FOOD CLEANSER 50ml
A 2-in-1 cleansing cream and mask with advanced stem cell technology from the PhytoCellTec™ Alp Rose. The potent super-food complex gently cleanses and softens skin, boosting the complexion's vitality when removed with the muslin cloth (included).

 

If you have dry or dull skin, you NEED this cleanser, I'm not even exagerating! Or any skin type for that matter. Boasting coconut oil, rose hip oil, rose wax and cocoa butter, this product will leave your skin feeling softer than ever (well, before the product which follows, eek!). The cocoa butter cleanses the skin while the oils work to condition and smooth the skin, and the unique stemcell treatment prevents any environmental damage which is perfect on these cold, wintery days! 

Don't be put off if you don't have dry or dull skin - when I was using it my skin was combination/oily and it certainly still worked a treat without adding any excess oil. I used this cleanser twice a day, in the morning and at night to remove my make-up. I smothered it all over my face with my fingertips and removed it with the muslin cloth which I had soaked in warm water. My complexion was GLOWING! You know that expression 'as soft as a baby's bum'? Yup, well my face genuinely was! 

The full size (200ml) of this product is available here at a price of £32. To be honest, it's more than I would normally pay for cleanser, but the one I was using lasted approximately four weeks and since this is four times the size, you should hopefully have it for about four months at least! I'm trying to invest more in my skincare now than ever (again, in the hope of finding the answer to all my problems!) so I would DEFINITELY purchase it again. I think it's the perfect winter cleanser as I know my face certainly dries up more in the colder weather. Maybe one for the Christmas list?!

STEP TWO: SUPER ACIDS X-TREME ACID RUSH PEEL 20ml
A potent combination of pronalen™ fruit acids and prozymex enzymes effectively exfoliate and retexture skin to brighten the complexion and reduce appearance of imperfections and fine lines. Probiotic technology work simultaneously to help protect skin from external aggressions by boosting hydration.

 

Okay girls, I know I said you need the cleanser, but if you have some money to treat yourself, forget the cleanser for now and go straight to this mask because you will NOT regret it! This is probably the closest I have come to finding that holy grail of skincare products. Now,I'm not saying I had perfect skin afterwards, but my goodness, it made such a difference! It's literally like an acid peel in a bottle (well, what I imagine an acid peel to be like)! With azelaic and glycolic acids, I can assure you that this will leave your skin feeling better than ever.

I used this twice a week and it lasted me a good eight weeks, maybe more, which was great for such a small tube. It undoubtedly left my skin feeling completely rejuvenated - almost as if I had stripped off the top layer of skin. That sounds awful, but I promise it was no bad thing! I could have exfoliated for a week and it still would not have felt as fresh as this did. I found myself having to refrain from constantly touching my face afterwards for fear of clogging it with bacteria, but it was just that damn SOFT! Should I not be pestered with blemishes at some stage of my life, I would happily confront the world bare-faced with such luminous, bright and revitalised skin. You know those girls that have that natural glow to their complexion? This is how this will make you look - AMAZING!

Now, the not so good part. The full sized product (50ml) is £75 and you can purchase it here. But please, consider this a luxury and treat yourself! I'm sure it is much cheaper than paying for a one-off acid peel treatment.

STEP THREE: DRAGON'S BLOOD SCULPTING GEL 9ml
An innovative gel to help define facial contours with skin that appears firmer and plumper. Dragon's blood forms a second-skin like protective shield to protect against external aggressions whilst comforting skin through increased hydration.

 

I have to admit that I didn't see a MASSIVE difference in my skin when I was using this product but that's not to say that it didn't do anything. It's an anti-aging product containing Rodial's unique dragon's blood complex and is therefore more of a preventative measure. Unfortunately this is the smallest product you get in the set, and as a result it only lasted me a week (I actually thought the pump had stopped working!), so I replaced the step in my routine with Nip+Fab's Dragon's Blood Fix Serum. Although both of these products are primarily dragon's blood, they boast different ingredients otherwise and whilst I'm not sure that the Nip+Fab one has as many anti-aging properties, I feel like they actually did the same job to my skin. 

I used these every morning and night after the cleanser (and mask when appropriate) and my skin did feel plumper. I'm still using this in my current daily routine but I'm unsure whether I will continue to do so, I mean, is it a neccessity? Should I keep going so as to prevent fine lines and sagging? If you have the answer to that question then please do let me know!

This product is another expensive one as it retails here at £79 for 50ml. To be honest, I think I would opt for the cheaper option as it is only £19.95 for the same amount. It's difficult to say which will be better for my aging skin in the future but Kylie Jenner is a huge fan of Nip+Fab and to be honest, if it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me! Saying that, if you can spare the extra dollars then I would by all means recommend the original. For me, it purely comes down to your budget, and I would prefer to put the money into the previous mask. 

STEP FOUR: BEE VENOM MOISTURISER 15ml
An advanced formula to revitalise and renew for naturally younger-looking more radiant skin. Bee venom works in synergy with a complex of plant stem cells, cyclopeptide-5 and juvinity™ to help improve skin tone and elasticity with long-lasting hydration. 

 

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet. I have no doubt that this product would be a positive addition to some people's skincare routine and I will explain why, but unfortunately for me it was just too heavy on my skin. I find that my skin is better suited to a lotion rather than a cream, as they tend to block my pores and cause my skin to produce more oil and break out. However, I wouldn't rule out trying it out again now in the winter as my skin has changed quite a lot as the days have gotten colder.

But why should you try it? Again, more as a preventative than anything else. Not only will it give long-lasting hydration, it contains bee venom which plumps and smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and other ingredients which promote even skin tone, and increase skin elasticity and firmness. This is the most expensive product in the collection at £150 for 50ml (buy it here) but I have no doubt that if it works for you, it will be a great investment!

So all in all, I am seriously impressed with my first Rodial skincare products. I will certainly be re-purchasing the cleanser and when I decide to treat myself, the acid peel mask. I would highly recommend buying one of these sets where I feel like you can essentially 'try before you buy' (at full price!) because they are at the higher end of the market, and it's important that you love them before splurging. 

If you've tried any of the other products and think I would love them then please be sure to let me know!

Friday’s Giirl

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