Free Samples in 2020 โ Which Ones Iโll Be Purchasing!
JulietH21
Being a beauty-obsessed shopper in 2020 is hard.
But free samples make it easier!
With brands adding in more samples of their products than ever, shoppers can try snippets before purchasing the entire product. This psychologically-brilliant tactic is working for beauty brands, landing them more sales than ever.
I think the reason free samples work so well is because:
ยท Try before you buy, (the obvious)
ยท Shoppers can purchase the full-size with confidence, resulting in fewer returns for the company
ยท The risk-averse shoppers feel taken care of
ยท Something about a gift triggers the human response of reciprocity (wanting to do something for them, like purchase more, once they have given you a gift)
Itโs truly a win-win.
For context - My skin is oily, acne-prone, and also fighting anti-aging. A glorious trio.
Here are some of my recent freebies from 2020 so far (going from left to right):
ยทThe Curology Cleanser -
o Very gentle
o Lightweight
o Made for all skin-types
o Produced by leading dermatologists
o You can purchase with a $40 bottle of customized formula for your skin-concerns, $40 covering a 2-month supply. The cleanser and moisturizer are the same for everyone, very gentle and neutral.
Curology - The Cleanser
SUNDAY RILEY Face Oil
Customized beauty brand
Oily and acne-prone skincare routine
Oily skin
Acne-prone skin
SUNDAY RILEY
Face Wash
Face Oil
Face Mask
Jun. 22, 2020
Product Mentioned
EIGHT SAINTS MORNING ROUTINE ๐ฆ
EIGHT SAINTS - Bright Side This would not be a product I opt for in the future, just due to personal preference. If you are looking for an extremely gentle cleanser this just may be your HOLY GRAIL. For me it worked well enough and that is really it
EIGHT SAINTS - Zen Out Of Ten After using the bright side cleanser as mentioned earlier I was happy to follow up with this. My skin felt very clean after, but this is not a daily use product as it is a mechanical exfoliator. This product exfoliates nicely leaving you with a glow after just one use.
EIGHT SAINTS - Pep Rally Gel Radiance Serum I did feel hydrated after application, and liked the results. The only draw back ( which is definitely personal) It took longer than I would have wished for it to absorb in.
EIGHT SAINTS - Seeking C I loved the way this absorbed right into my skin, and did not leave me feeling dry like some vitamin c products have in the past
EIGHT SAINTS - Soulmate This brightening treatment smooths evenly over your skin, and works nicely as a primer under makeup. I do live products that have multi use and that is definitely influencing my decision on a five star rating over four
EIGHT SAINTS - Day Dreamer โhydration heroโ is how eight saint describes this product and I do have to agree. This delivered nice moisture through out the day and at no point on this humid hot summer day did it make my skin feel oily or suffocated.
As I stated in my previous post this is also the recommended steps from Eight Saints for day time use. I have noticed my skin and complexion look smoother and brighter. As a whole I enjoyed these products more than the night time routine. I plan on following both Eight Saints regiments for the next few weeks to really give these products a chance. I look forward to giving you guys an update down the line ๐
RachelBrunette
My face smells like a candy shop โ sticky
Wow am I deeply disappointed in this cheap sampler kit! I recently got into skincare, and like most things new to me I did a ton of research but needed to go out and try something to see the knowledge put into action. A social media ad recommended this Discovery Kit and I was hype: 10 dollars for a high-end (in price anyway) skincare routine. Clean, vegan, and aesthetic. Nice!
For starters, I knew that I was going to have a tale to tell when the sample sizes were significantly smaller than the picture. Yes, they photoshopped the kit to look larger. Hey โ not a big deal, they said each sample was less than an ounce so whoโs complaining? Not me! Sadly this was the first of many wools pulled over my proverbial eyes.
Okay, letโs get serious: this whole brand is way overpriced and not that impressive. My skin didnโt look or feel better after a couple of weeks, not nearly enough for me to want to buy into their $600 (yes that much) routine. I couldnโt even find a single product I liked enough to use the included coupon for. Iโm not going to this brand again. Itโs the epitome of branding and buzz words slapped onto a lousy product.
Not only that, but most of their overpriced products overlap in ingredients and even have ingredients that arenโt usually recommended together in the same product. Their name comes from the idea that only 8 skincare ingredients are effective, but using combos of those 8 makes it look like they ran out of ideas. The overlap in all of their products makes it seem like Iโm getting bamboozled into layering the same thing over and over. Like a child who has to paint a rainbow with two colors. Apparently my skin also was confused because these products did nothing to my skin and even felt icky when I used them. I tried taking products slowly out of the routine to find holy grails but everything made me feel gross in some way. Iโll admit I discarded the worst offenders before using them all the way up, they just bothered me that badly.
Steer clear of this overpriced, ineffective, and downright icky skincare.
barbarella
Shelfie vs Reality ๐ช๐คณ๐ค
Happy Presidents Day!! I was playing around trying to take my first ever shelfie and was struck by two things:
1) styling a shelfie is HARD!!! I am so impressed with the gorgeous, inspirational pictures you all take where a boring medicine cabinet seemingly effortlessly highlights all your best products. I think I have a ways to go.
2) this is soooooo not what my medicine cabinet looks like every day!! I took a step back once the cabinet was full of all my beautiful skincare and just laughed at how far it is from normal. Instead, all my goodies are hidden away in a cabinet. So I restored my shelves to their usual glory to avoid my husbands confusion about where on earth his toothbrush went and thought Iโd share our reality.
โก๏ธ swipe to see what the cabinet really looks like around here ๐คช
Are there any products in here you want me to review? Let me know!
GlowK
Jade Roller + Incredible Facial Oil โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
โจHappy #SelfcareSunday, Beauties!โจ
Recently, I discovered the benefits of using a jade roller! I know, I am late in the game but seriously Iโm obsessed. Perfect for Selfcare any day!
Jade is highly calming which makes it great for irritated or stressed skin. Using this HERBIVORE - Jade De-Puffing Face Roller feels very relaxing and rejuvenating to start my day. I love to store it in the fridge for more cooling effects. Other benefits that I particularly enjoy are; reduced puffiness and redness, and brighter and more awake-looking skin.
At night, I pair it up with serums and facial oils. A couple that I tried so far are:
โจ BakuchiolHERBIVORE - Bakuchiol Anti-Aging Serum - gentle yet effective serum (retinol alternative). I seriously wake up with softest, plumped skin. The texture is like egg-whites but it feels lightweight and doesnโt leave any tackiness. I donโt have many fine lines but I do love how my skin looks healthy and fresh in the morning. I use this every other night.
โจ HERBIVORE - Phoenix Rosehip Anti-Aging Face Oil for Dry Skin - luxurious oil that feels silky and velvety on the skin. It absorbs quickly and is perfect for my dry skin. I absolutely love this one because it makes my skin super soft and moisturized! I use this every other night (when I donโt use Bakuchiol).
โจCanโt wait to try Lapis, Emerald and Prism!!!
Do you use face rollers? If yes, what do you pair it with? โฌ๏ธโฌ๏ธโฌ๏ธ
beyondbeautyforall
Top 5 January Favorites
Hey yaโll in todayโs mini post weโre talking about my top 5 favorite products of January 2021!
First up is the Curology - The Moisturizer which comes in a set with theCurology - The Cleanser for $10. If you donโt listen to my podcast (search โBeauty Talkโ wherever you listen) then you wouldnโt know that Iโve been trying Curology for the last month (review coming on Friday).
The moisturizer has glycerin and Hylaronic acid which are super hydrating ingredients. I love the lightweight texture that still keeps me moisturized. Hands down never going back to cream moisturizer after this!!
Next is theLA ROCHE-POSAY - Anthelios Dermo-Kids Lotion SPF50 that costs $20 for 6.76 fl oz. Itโs a bit greasy, but it makes my skin soft and glowy while also keeping it healthy. Even during lockdown itโs really important to wear sunscreen every single day.
Next up is theOSEA - Sea Vitamin Boost which costs $38 for 3.4 fl oz. I was gifted this product by Cherie after I won Cherie Pick, and itโs the only good mist Iโve found. Itโs alcohol and fragrance free, has algae and seaweed extract for hydration, and pomegranate extract for brightening.
I know I donโt talk a lot about makeup, but I have two makeup picks. First is theNYX - Butter Gloss which costs $5 for .27 fl oz. My good friend @t_l_t bought it for me, and itโs non sticky, and has an early 2000s shimmer effect.
Finally is one of my holigrail products that continues to impress me, theL'ORรAL - Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara which costs $9 for .28 fl oz. This is THE MOST lengthening and clump free mascara Iโve ever used and I loveee ittt.
Thatโs it for this post please cheer for this post if you liked it, comment your favorite product from this month, and follow me to join the family and for similar content.
-Mae
herecomesthesunnygrl
My curology experience
There have been many mixed reviews on curology. From what I have seen, many people claim curology made their skin worse when it actually was just in the purging phase. When you start a new skincare product, your skin may purge or break out more than usual. This is the product pushing everything from below the skin surface to the top to get rid of it. So, from what I have seen, I really do think many have not understood purging and gave up on curology right away. However, some people did in fact have bad reactions/ experiences. Everyoneโs skin is different, but I wanted to share my story! The pictures above are my before and what my skin looks like now!
My experience:
I did purge when I first started my medication. The formula I started with was 4% Azeliac acid, 1% clindamycin, and 4% niacinimide. This formula worked well at first, but my skin wasnโt clearing up as fast as I wanted it to, so I asked for a change in formula. My formula I use now is 8% azeliac acid, 1% clindamycin, and .025% zinc pyrithione. I love the formula I have now works very well for my skin and I am loving my results so far! I have been on curology for about 7 months and I plan on cutting back once my skin starts to clear. As of now, my routine is to use curology every night except for Wednesdayโs and Sundays (days I use paulas choice liquid exfolaint).
My overall review:
The curology team is very kind and accommodating to their patients. This is a very convenient way to get a prescription and have a dermatologist to talk to. I have been seeing great results from my medicine and I look forward to finally having clear skin! I do know that curology isnโt for everyone and not everyone will have the same great experience as me. However, I do encourage anyone who wants to try it to do so! You can cancel at any time and you wonโt know if it works for you until your try! I recommend anyone to try it out!
Curology - Curology formula
Curology - The Cleanser
Curology - The Moisturizer
_mhw25_
Wednesday Wellness ๐๐พ
This past week has been rather hard and long for me. I ultimately decided to get back on track with my wellness plan. My main wellness goal for 2021, is to indulge in myself more. I definitely am a firm believe in โas within, so withoutโ.
I started my day with:
#Four Sigmatic - Mushroom Elixir Mix with Chaga[products]#[FiveStars]
I have been getting back into adaptogen and herbal medicine. What we put into our bodies is just as important as what goes on the outside. Adaptogens are apart of ancient medicinal traditions traced all over the world. I also drink Tulsi โHoly Basilโ Tea. If you need a pick me up or emotional boost I highly recommend!
SUNDAY RILEY - U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil is my treatment of choice I used during the day. Do not be afraid to use salicylic acid during the day. I applied plenty of sunscreen afterwards as well! This is a GODSEND for clearing up acne and acne scarring. Itโs by far the best acne treatment Iโve tried and its mostly due to the immediate results I get. This is a dry oil, so it should be used before a heavy moisturizer or sunscreen.
THE BODY SHOP - Spa of the World Thai Makrut Lime Firming Oil is a staple in my night time routine. When I want to relax and really unwind I use a body roller with this oil. It smells like a fresh key lime pie and itโs so hydrating. This is great for firming, especially when paired with a body tool.
What do you do for wellness?
D.Bennett
๐ธ๐ชAcne products that are out of this world!
โฃHi lovely! Be sure to follow my Instagram for more content! @skincare_by_reba ๐
๐ธ Letโs talk ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ! ๐ชโฃโฃ
โฃโฃโฃโฃโฃ
What are these products? Here we have SUNDAY RILEY - U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil& SUNDAY RILEY - Saturn Sulfur Spot Treatment Mask
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UFO oil is a โfast-acting, quick-drying, medicated oil that clears acne and blackhead-causing buildup and debris from congested pores for smoother, blemish-free skin.โ Saturn is โa medicated spot treatment mask that clears up acne while preventing new blemishes from forming.โโฃโฃ
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๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ: Maskne has met its match with this combo ๐ UFO is a dry treatment oil, so it absorbs and dries beautifully. I typically use this in the morning as my first step after cleansing/essence. If my skin is feeling congested and I didnโt use UFO in the AM, Iโll use it followed by A+ at night and wake up to significantly improved skin! I incorporated this into my routine in September, and have found that the powerful ingredients have helped cure existing maskne and also keep future breakouts at bay.โฃโฃ
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Saturn used to be sold in a bigger tube as an all-over mask, but has been re-marketed as a spot treatment. Because the 10% sulfur can be drying, itโs recommended to wash it off after drying. I found using it as a spot treatment as my last evening step & leaving it on overnight is super effective without being too drying.โฃโฃ
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๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐: After the sticker shock of A+, these may seem more reasonable! UFO oil is $40/.5oz and $80/1.18oz. My .5oz bottle has lasted me quite a while considering how frequently I used it when I first received it. I was using it on average 5 days/week, plus using up to an entire dropper full at a time for DIY masks - and it still has lasted nearly 4 months. I bought the 1.18oz bottle to use next, because it is reimbursable through my FSA!โฃโฃ
Saturn is $20/.5oz tube and I feel it will last me forever. Both are sold in the All About Acne Kit which is an amazing deal!โฃโฃ
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๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ง๐ข๐ท๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ค๐ต๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ข๐ต ๐ฎ๐ข๐ด๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฆ?โฃโฃ
reeeebekah
More Reviews
Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil
{What does it claim to do?} It is a lightweight treatment oil that replenishes your skins barrier and hydrated without clogging pores.
{Texture/Consistency?} In my opinion it is a medium weight oil (meaning I donโt think itโs super light but it isnโt heavy) it is very runny and slick!
{My thoughts?} I used this way more over the summer and I loved it! I purchased in the spring to help my skins barrier rebuild and I found my skin only could handle it every other night or it would be too heavy for it. It didnโt break me out but made my skin very oily. Or I used it to completely replace my moisturizer. It helped hydrate my skin & help with redness day to day. I probably wouldnโt repurchase because itโs $74 for 1 oz, though it lasted me almost a year using every other night! I feel like there are cheaper moisturizers or oils that work well or better for my personal skin! I know that Labeautyologist on Twitter & Instagram loves this oil & recommends it to people with dry skin or hormonal breakouts! So itโs a well known/recommended product and might work better for you! ๐
dermalogica - Phyto Replenish Oil
dermalogica-Phyto Replenish Oil
the glow can be achieved
So I received this toner as a Christmas gift and Iโve had my eye on it for a while now. Iโve been using it the past week and I can already say Iโm in love.
Firstly, I love a good chemical toner my skin works well with them no irritation or redness. Same goes for this REN toner I never had any skin issues when using this product. My skin type of dry and Iโm sensitive at certain times so I was happy this toner wasnโt to harsh for my skin type.
Over the past week Iโve found my pores have shrunken and my skin texture has improved. I currently have some hormonal/stress breakouts on my chin and this toner has helped minimise the breakouts redness and has helped reduce the time the breakouts are active for. Lastly, Iโve definitely noticed a natural glow shining through after using this toner. It has definitely helped even my skin tone out and brightened everything up!
This toner key ingredient is lactic acid which my skin love!! I find lactic acid is my secret weapon for treating breakouts and maintain my skins health. This AHA gently removes dead skin cells, helping to exfoliating and brighten the skin. Fun fact this toner also includes Azelaic acid (you known that Paulas choice booster ingredient that everyone is talking about!!) This ingredient is anti-inflammatory and helps prevent/treat acne.
Rating: 10/10 Iโd definitely recommend this toner for anyone who is looking for radiant skin and needs some extra help acne wise!! REN CLEAN SKINCARE - Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner
Side note: who doesnโt love a cruelty free brand which have a strong focus on sustainability and recycling. REN skincare packaging is recyclable!!
REN CLEAN SKINCARE-Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner
โฃโฃGrateful to be chosen by @stylekorean_global to review ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ซ๐ฑโ๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐นโฃ
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Cosrx AC line contains BHAs & essential oils. Because iโm on tretinoin, I tested out the line ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ & max of 3 times a week. So this review is based on the limited usage of these products โบ๏ธโฃโฃ
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โฃโฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ซ- salicylic acid face wash that helps unclog pores & treat lesions. This may be a lil drying for dry skin but works perfectly fine for me. Itโs not as stripping as other SA cleansers I have. Does the job.
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๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ซ- propolis & aloe based gel moisturizer, i love its texture! I like its combination of powerhouse calming and hydrating ingredientsโ green tea, niacinamide, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, zinc pca, centella complex. This feels very soothing & really does calm my skin. Also has tea tree which is a great anti microbial, was previously one of my favorites ingredients but apparently, it has fragrant compounds so it isnโt safe for long term use. The formulation also has Mint extract. Tea tree, mint, propolis are huge potential irritants. But overall, I still really enjoy this product. โฃโฃ
~this is more like a humectant only, has to be sealed in with an occlusive
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๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐๐ก- as usual it works great! Cosrx is my most trusted brand for pimple patches. They work wonders on cystic acnes-look nowhere else!
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๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ- could have been a great niacinamide serum w/ ceramide and peptide. The addition of tea tree & propolis being on top of the ingredients is my only apprehension. This is very hydrating but I would not use it everyday.
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๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐- i find this formulation a great anti-inflammatory. Itโs a green tea based toner w/ BHA (Betaine salicylate) & PHA plus tea tree & centella. This is free of alcohol. But works really well in breaking down sebum.
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๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ- this was okay, did not do much for me. I will opt for the pimple patches. โฃ
COSRX- AC Collection Calming Foam Cleanser
unboxing this oil for acne!
I have normal to dry skin but my nose can get excessively oily and my fore head because of my skin trying to overproduce oils to make up for the dryness. so when I heard of an oil for acne prone skin I almost laughedโ my face produces a lot of that already. I let the lady at Sephora convince me into sampling this after she let me smell its amazing forest-like scent! it smells like Cederwood oil in sandalwood and I am so so in love with it! so this oil claims to target acne prone skin and actually clarify it and make it clear. it has 1.5% salicylic acid which is meant to clear your skin and prevent acne and blackheads. it sinks very lightly into your skin and it does feel oily but itโs not heavy so I donโt mind it. it has a lot of amazing ingredientsโ Black cumin, Teatree oil, licorice, milk thistle, and cucumber seed! I am just blown away by the quality of this product. A lot of acne products can dry out skin, which is pretty bad for my skin type but this product leaves my skin feeling nourished yet it doesnโt make my skin feel โthickโโ like the way your skin feels when youโre wearing foundation, or how it would feel if you put coconut oil on it. this bottle cost about $40 and I use about half a dropper on my skin, so I think that it should last me a good amount of time. I definitely think this is an incredible investment for anyone who is looking to clear acne regardless of the type of skinโ this product caters to both Oily skin through its salicylic acid (which removes excess sebum) and dry skin through cucumber extract (which nourishes skin). it has some amazing ingredients and I. am. obsessed.
SUNDAY RILEY - U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil
SUNDAY RILEY-U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil
Calming Balm ๐ฟ
This Ren Evercalm Balm is sooo good! It has a very thick consistency & you only need a very small amount to get enough all over your skin. Itโs supposed to reduce redness & is targeted towards sensitive skin. Iโve been using it about 3 weeks now I love it. My only complaint is that I hate having to dig my fingers in there to get some product out but the next morning my skin always feels soft and thereโs barely any inflammation and redness! ๐ค๐
REN CLEAN SKINCARE - Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm
REN CLEAN SKINCARE-Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm
My Fav Facial Oil For Acne!
Herbivore Lapis Balancing Facial Oil ($72/1.7oz)
What it is:
A hydrating face oil to balance skin while improving visible redness and blemishes.
For: Normal, Oily, and Combination Skin Types.
Skincare Concerns: Acne, blemishes, Redness and Pores.
My Experience: I present to you, the love of my life and the BEST skincare product for oily acne-prone skin. Lapis has been a game changer for my skin; it has balanced it out so beautifully, my pores are almost invisible, my acne has completely disappeared, and my redness is so minimal, that I cannot thank Herbivore enough for creating such magical oil. I have been using this oil for about 2 years and I have repurchased it in several occasions. With ingredients like blue tansy, kukui nut oil, jojoba oil, squalane, vitamin E, jasmine sambac oil, and Moroccan rose oil, Lapis is my all time favorite product! It is! Five drops is enough to give me all those miracle results and it is so lightweight that I even forget it is a facial oil. And the smell is so heavenly and pleasantly intoxicating, I would not mind bathing in this if I could. It works amazingly well with other products and I can even use it as moisturizer or mix it with one for extreme hydration. Please Herbivore, you can never stop making this product because it is magic in a bottle, and I need it in my life, forever! 1000% recommend it to anyone with redness and blemishes.
Cherie Rating: 5/5
HERBIVORE-Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil For Oily & Acne-Prone Skin
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