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This $14 Cream Cured My Over-Exfoliated Skin in 3 Days

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weleda skin food
  • Value: 20/20
  • Functionality: 19/20
  • Ease of Use: 20/20
  • Aesthetics: 18/20
  • Results: 19/20
  • TOTAL: 96/100

You’d be angry too if I dragged a microdermabrasion tool over you and then mistakenly slathered on lactic acid before bed. So it’s no wonder my skin freaked out after I did just that to it two weeks ago. I’m fully aware that it was a rookie mistake, but hey, even beauty editors have slip-ups sometimes.

As you can imagine, my poor skin was unhappy. Like, really unhappy. But it wasn’t until morning that I saw the damage I had done. Painful red bumps and ultra-dry patches cropped up on my upper lip, chin, nose and even my usually resilient cheeks. In an effort to calm the burning, I reached for my richest cream, Weleda Skin Food, which is best known for using on hands. But I was desperate. I layered it on as thick as possible and followed with a coating of Mara Algae + Moringa Universal Face Oil to seal in the hydration. Oh, and I didn’t even think about going near makeup that day, because it would have just accentuated the dryness. (Not cute.)

Cut to me sticking to this exact routine morning and night for the next three days. That means I wasn’t adhering to my normal skincare routine, which is full of acids and serums promising a brighter, more youthful complexion. Thankfully, giving my face a break from abrasive ingredients was just what it needed. Each night I went to bed looking like a baby seal with a generous amount of oil- and beeswax-laden Skin Food slathered on my face, and every morning I woke up a little less irritated than the last. Surprisingly, it took only 72 hours to heal completely.

While I’m happy I had the wherewithal to skip acids for a few days, I know not everyone has the same beauty knowledge. So from one over-exfoliated face to the next, if you have dry, irritated, bumpy skin, I’m telling you that this stuff just might save your face and prevent a pricey trip to the dermatologist. Skin Food’s consistency is reminiscent of glue (it’s that thick), but there’s a reason celebs like Julia Roberts and Victoria Beckham are never without it: It works. Even better, it’s certified natural by NATRUE and free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colorants and mineral oils, so it’s completely fine to use on your face and it fits in seamlessly with my other clean products.

My skin is back to its happy, glowy self, but I’ve continued to use Skin Food every few nights as a sleep mask. And I honestly don’t think I’ll ever stop.


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Brianna Lapolla formerly held the role of Senior Commerce Editor at PureWow covering all things shopping across beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. Now, she's putting her 12 years of...