So what’s the deal with the QuickX Instant Facial Serum?
The Philippine beauty scene has been stepping up in the past few years, and I’m delighted to see it. One of the things that I’m really happy with is the access to more skincare products with ‘actives’ — more on this later. While there are still ‘rejuvenating sets’ here and there, I’m glad that there’s more conversation about ingredients and their safety for the skin. Of course, access is another thing.
One of the products with ‘actives’ that’s easy for people to get right now is the QuickFX Instant Facial Serum. It claims to give you just what its name says — an instant facial. But does it really do that? Let’s talk more about it in this review.
First, what are actives?
You’ve seen me mention this word a couple of times now. Actives are basically the active ingredients in products. These are said to be proven by laboratories to be effective in changing the way the skin looks, feels, etc.
There are many types of ‘actives’. There are those that moisturize, exfoliate, firm up, and more. One classification of actives is acids.
Okay, so what are acids?
Acids are broken down into three categories: AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), and PHAs (poly hydroxy acids). These acids are potent but, of course, you need to use only the prescribed amount that’s safe for the skin. They’re great at exfoliating your skin or getting rid of the dead skin cells. They also help in reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.
It’s important to take note of these things because this serum claims to have these in its formula: 5% glycolic acid (AHA*), 2% lactic acid (AHA), and .5% salicylic acid (BHA**).
*AHAs or alphayhydroxy acids are great for exfoliating and brightening the skin.
**BHAs are also great exfoliators and are awesome for acne-prone skin.
Now, let’s get to the actual review.
Packaging, scent, texture
The serum comes in a minimalist pump bottle, as is expected from the brand whose aesthetic is minimalist. The serum itself has a liquidy texture, like thick water. It doesn’t have a fragrance but it doesn’t smell unpleasant to me.
Application
I usually like following how products are advised to be used. They’re recommended so you can reap the products’ optimal results. For the QuickFX Instant Facial Serum, however, I decided to go my way.
The instructions say you have to use four to five pumps-worth of the product and use it every day. It could work but I don’t want to overwork my skin. (Did you know that your skin actually sheds dead skin cells in a span of 30 days or so? Acids and retinoids are great at speeding up this process though!)
I did try using five pumps the first time I used it; I felt a bit of stinging but that’s to be expected from acid exfoliators. Much to my surprise, I woke up with glowing skin the next morning.
But as a general rule, you need to only use acid exfoliants like this one twice a week. If your skin’s quite resilient, though, I guess you can use it daily without encountering any problems.
I like erring on the side of caution, so after the initial trial, I started using just three pumps-worth twice a week before upping the frequency to three times a week.
Results and final thoughts
I’ve been using this serum for a couple of months now and I’ve not noticed a drastic change in how my skin looks. Whenever I put more than three pumps, the glowing effect when I wake up is there. But I’m in it for the long haul, and right now I don’t see a great improvement in my dark spots, fine lines, and skin’s overall texture. (An aside: I wonder how well this will work as an acid deodorant.)
It still helps with declogging my pores, though, which is a plus. I’d recommend this for people who are just starting out with acids. It’s a good gateway product because of the ingredients as well as the accessibility and price point. (Just a note that if you have sensitive skin, doing a patch test is a must even though the concentration of acids in this product is low.)
QuickFX Instant Facial Serum ingredients
If you want a better look at what’s inside this serum, here is its full ingredients list.
Water, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycine Max (Soybean) Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate
The QuickFX Instant Facial Serum retails for P399.20.