An acne-prone skin’s review of AXIS-Y

These AXIS-Y Products are Perfect for Acne & Acne Marks

As someone who has acne-prone and sensitive skin, I am always on the lookout for acne skincare products that are non-drying, super gentle but still very effective in treating acne and hyperpigmentation that results from acne.

Few months back I discovered some of the Axis-Y skincare products and I have been trying them on my acne-prone skin. This is my review of three new products that I tried. I will share my experience, how to use them, what to expect from them, and more….

AXIS-Y PHA RESURFACING GLOW PEEL  ( 50 ml ) –

Major Ingredients, Fragrance & Essential Oils?

Overall formulation of the Axis-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel is simple and loaded with only good ingredients. The formulation is free from any kind of alcohol, essential oils and added or natural fragrances.

It mainly contains Gluconolactone in 10%, a PHA (Polyhydroxy Acid). This is a chemical exfoliant and works exactly like AHA, that is, it exfoliates skin from the surface, removes dead skin, reduces texture and dullness of the skin but without any irritation and dryness. This is a gentle ingredient.

This Axis-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel also contains some natural chemical exfoliants like –

• Papaya Fruit Extract – Papaya contains Papain, an enzyme that melts away dead skin cells, while also hydrating the skin.
• Apple Fruit Extract – Rich in Malic Acid, a gentle AHA to exfoliate skin.
• Grape Fruit Extract – Rich in Tartaric Acid, a gentle exfoliant and also contains plentiful antioxidants, so overall helps in brightening the skin.

The Axis-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel consists of another great antioxidant, the Prunus Fruit Extract, which helps in brightening skin just like vitamin C products.

Finally, it also contains Centella Asiatica and Cucumber Fruit Extracts to soothe the skin.

Texture & Absorption –

The Axis-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel has a runny gel like consistency, but please note that this consistency can alter with the change in temperature, like during the summer-monsoon, it had a more runny gel like homogeneous texture, but as the temperature dropped, during the winter, this runny texture became little more viscous but little heterogeneous, that is, sometimes it came out more fluid while other times, it had more solid texture; but with this said, the performance of the product is not compromised, it is still good to use.

Now absorption doesn’t really matter with this product & you will find out why in the next paragraph!

How to Use the Axis-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel –

In case you are wondering that this PHA product is to be used like any other concentrated PHA product on the market, then you are wrong! I mean, very over confidently, I did use it initially like a leave in exfoliating toner for the first 2 usages and was disappointed because I did not notice any difference after using it. Then while reading the description on the product, I did learn that this is a wash off kind of product!

So no matter your skin type, you have to use it like a wash off mask.

After you have cleansed and pat dried your face, apply a decent thick layer evenly all over the face, except around the eyes and on the mouth. Keep it for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with plain water and follow up with your usual toner, essence, serum and moisturizer.

This is a gentle product, can be used often but if you have sensitive skin, very dry skin or if you are a beginner to skincare, start with weekly 2 times usage at NIGHT only.

Once your skin is used to the product, you can stretch the usage to maybe weekly 3 to 5 times, as per your skin tolerance, but use it at NIGHT only and do use a sunscreen in the day Time!

NOTE – Avoid the Axis-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel with other exfoliating acids like Salicylic Acid (BHA), All AHAs like Glycolic acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Chemical Peels, Scrubs, Peeing Gels, Pure Vitamin C serums (L-ascorbic acid), Clay Mask ( Oily skin can use the clay mask though ) and Retinols.

Skin Suitability –

This exfoliant is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, dry, combination, oily skin, normal & even acne skin.

Just avoid this exfoliant when you have dehydrated, damaged or irritated red skin.

Skin Benefit & my experience –

I have used it during the late summer-monsoon and even during this winter time; I must say that I loved it for many reasons!

Firstly, it didn’t dry out or irritate my skin even though when I used it up to 3 times a week on my dry sensitive acne skin, as otherwise for my skin, usually I find myself sticking to weekly exfoliation only because of the risk of barrier damage.

Secondly, whenever I used it at night, next morning my skin glows, looks smoother and feels softer.

Lastly, it slowly and gradually lightens the acne marks, both PIH & PIE kinds. Now depending on the stubbornness of your acne marks, the result time can vary, but expect to see a noticeable difference in a month or so.

As for the Purging, I really didn’t notice it with this product, as it’s a gentle product plus it is also wash off kind. I feel if you have very sensitive skin and you are also a beginner to skincare, only then you might experience the purging, but again the chances are very low!

Overall, I see this exfoliant as one of the best skincare discoveries of 2023.

AXIS-Y VITA FROST CHILLING ESSENCE ( 50 ml ) –

Major Ingredients, Fragrance & Essential Oils?

The Axis-Y Vita Frost Chilling Essence doesn’t contain alcohol, essential oil and added or natural fragrance.

One of the main ingredients is Tocopherol, a vitamin E. It has a good antioxidant effect on skin, therefore protects skin from free radical damage, adds hydration to skin and also soothes skin.

The other main ingredients are cucumber, Artemisia and culver root for intensive calming effect on skin.

Texture & Absorption –

The texture is very unique; it has a cloudy emulsion like texture. The cloudy texture is because of the vitamin E white capsules. So when this essence is applied to the skin, these vitamin E capsules melt into the skin and during this process the texture changes from cloudy emulsion to a transparent watery toner like consistency and then the product gets completely absorbed without any sticky feeling. All you get is moist and soft skin.

Skin Suitability –

The Vita Frost Chilling Essence is suitable for all skin types, and I particularly want to recommend this product to anyone who gets redness easily or gets heated skin or if you have rosacea skin.

The Oily skin can use it like a lightweight moisturizer during summer and monsoon, and for dry skin, all year around this is going to provide a great hydrating and calming layer beneath the regular moisturizer.

How to Use the Vita Frost Chilling Essence –

The Vita Frost Chilling Essence is a fuzz free and easy to use product; it can be used daily, both morning and in night routine and can be layered with any other serums and treatments out there. In fact, I love layering this Frost essence with my exfoliating products for the skin soothing effect.

Skin Benefit & My Experience –

I have already mentioned a couple of times in the above paragraphs that Axis Y Vita Frost Chilling Essence is a fantastic skin calming product. It reduces redness by cooling down the skin and it also boosts the skin’s hydration level.

So this is why I just use it with my actives like retinol, AHAs, BHAs, Vitamin C serums to protect my skin from any potential skin irritation that sometimes can be caused by these active based concentrated serums on sensitive skin like mine.

TIP – For an intensive cooling & calming experience, keep this essence in the fridge for 20-30 mins and then apply to skin.

AXIS-Y THE SPOT DIFFRENCE BLEMISH TREATMENT ( 15 ml ) –

Major Ingredients, Fragrance & Essential Oils?

Axis-Y spot the difference blemish treatment contains lots of ingredients that focus on treating acne. The product is alcohol free and has a minor combined natural fragrance from rosemary essential oil (only EO is used), tea tree extract and camphor.

The main ingredients of this blemish treatment include –

• 4-Terpineol – a bioactive derivate of tea tree, has antibacterial property and hence helps in drying the acne. Honestly I have not really used this particular ingredient before. This is my first time and I am happy with it.
• Niacinamide 2% – Helps in soothing skin and reducing acne inflammation.
• Very Low % of Glycolic Acid ( AHA ) and Salicylic Acid ( BHA ) to remove dead skin cells from the skin surface & within pores.
• The treatment also contains many more skin soothing ingredients like extracts of Centella, tea tree, aloe, Licorice, Camphor leaves, bamboo leaves and green tea leaves.

Texture & Absorption –

Axis-Y spot the difference blemish treatment has a viscous gel like texture with tiny beads of ceramide capsules floating in it. When this treatment is applied to the skin, these soft ceramide capsules melt and get absorbed into the skin along with the basic gel texture without any kind of stickiness.

Skin Suitability –

Axis-Y spot the difference blemish treatment is suitable for all skin types that deal with acne.

How to Use the Axis-Y spot the difference blemish treatment –

Axis-Y spot the difference blemish treatment can be used daily, but stick to night time usage as it does contain AHA & BHA in it.

There are three ways of using this treatment in your skincare routine –

• At the last step, after the moisturiser, as a spot treatment only on acne / part of face where you have acne – works for all skin types.
• If you want to use it on entire face and you have dry or sensitive skin; then use it on entire face skin only after the moisturiser.
• But if you do not have sensitive or dry skin, then use this treatment as an ampoule at the serum step, all over face or just on some spots, pat it till fully absorbed and then follow up with the moisturiser.

You can use and layer this blemish treatment pretty much with everything, but if you are planning to use it all over the face then avoid it with other exfoliants like all AHAs, BHA, PHA, Retinols and pure vitamin c serums. This is especially important if you have dry or sensitive skin.

Skin Benefit & my experience –

It is more like a spot treatment for blemishes, but you can use it on your entire face if your acne flares up or there is inflammation all over your face. This product mainly helps with calming & drying acne. It also reduces the frequency of future acne if used regularly (I prefer to use it more like SOS), but I do want to mention that results can vary from person to person depending on how severe your acne flare up is. The best part is that this treatment doesn’t dry out or irritate skin.

As for the skin brightening or acne marks reduction, I really didn’t notice it with this treatment but for sure it works amazingly well in treating acne of almost any size and kind, however for severe cystic acne this treatment might not be effective.

Lastly, I wanted to mention that this blemish treatment doesn’t really cause purging as the AHA & BHA used in it are at very low percentages!

Conclusion 

Now, in case you are wondering how this blemish treatment is different from the vita frost essence, then let me help clarify this! The vita frost essence is for calming redness & irritation on skin, it will not be that effective in calming acne! To calm & dry down acne you will need the spot the difference blemish treatment and to lighten the acne marks & dullness after that acne, you will need the Axis-Y PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel.

I hope this detailed review on all 3 Axis-Y products was helpful to you in picking a right product for your skin concern. I personally find all 3 Axis-Y products useful for acne & sensitive skin in general.