early review :: Vivant Mandelic Acid 15% - pore tightening!
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Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:56 pm

Hey, Molly!

I know, it really is strange that he would prescribe me all those things. My nose and cheeks are now seemingly permanently red, but maybe, hopefully, it'll go back to normal with time. Crying or Very sad

As for using something gentle, yes, I am now using Mir cleanser, and that is all. It's unbelievably gentle .. I never realized how harsh the other cleansers I've used were until I tried this. Even the ones that read 'gentle' seem harsh compared to Mir, LOL! I also ordered the moisturizer and skin refresher from her line, but I haven't really used them yet as I'm trying to let my skin 'normalize' and calm down before bombarding it with new products, though gentle they may be.

It's really amazing how my skin is doing with JUST cleanser .. I used to use so much stuff and now it's down to just good old gentle cleansing. I always thought I needed something to control my breakouts, but honestly, looking back, I'm sure a lot of my breakouts were due more to irritation from my products. So far, my skin feels a lot calmer and the redness has gone down by about 25% I would say, breakouts remain the same, but hey, everything takes time, right? Smile

free skin care · Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:48 pm

It all sounds very sensible bebeblondie. A lot of acne sufferers here say finding a gentle cleanser without harsh detergents is the first step, though I expect you've read that already. I also find if my skin's irritated the best thing is nothing at all.

I think you should sue that doctor Bad Grin

free skin care · Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:49 pm

Actually retinoids plus topical antibiotic/benzyol peroxide is considered to be pretty standard treatment for acne even for teenagers. However, allowing a patient to continue this treatment with clear signs of irritation would definetly be inappropriate. It also would not have been appropriate for your doctor to add mandelic to the above combination. Ouch!!!

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:14 am

I'm very interested in purchasing this from Diana Yvonne, but had a few questions. So one just uses a few drops all over the face?

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:38 am

Ha! Nope. Atleast one dropper full for the full face. It won't fill up more than 1/2 so don't be alarmed. This is the amount I use and currently, I drip the drops from the dropper onto my face and rub it in so it doesn't get wasted or go anywhere I don't want (like my eyes).

Hope that helps! I

the mandelic and, for me, the scale has tipped back to Vivant. The GOW is great, too, but something about the smell is putting me off a bit though I still will use it!

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:44 am

Ariesextreme,
I think that the 1/2 ounce size is still on sale at Dianayvonne.
priscilla

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:46 am

Ariesxtreme, I have noticed that most of the users in this thread in their twenties have found it too strong though (whether that's just the alcohol in the Vivant or the MA itself I'm not sure) so it would be best to get a sample first if you're going for the Vivant.

edit: or indeed the half ounce which is rather reasonable with a discount.

I don't use as much as the Acid Queen - a full dropper Shock

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:47 am

scalawaggirl wrote:

Hope that helps! I

the mandelic and, for me, the scale has tipped back to Vivant. The GOW is great, too, but something about the smell is putting me off a bit though I still will use it!

Just curious.... Is it just the smell of the GOW that is tipping the scale back to Vivant or are there other reasons as well? Thanks.

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:59 am

Hi, Kathleen. It's really just the smell. I'm not normally bothered by that but for some reason, it strikes me as weird. Not a biggie, though. Smile

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:59 am

Shoot,

I went crazy and bought two 1/2 oz since they had that sale Laughing

.

I'm hoping my skin should be able to take it. My skin isn't that sensitive and usually can take most things.

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:02 am

scalawaggirl wrote:

Hi, Kathleen. It's really just the smell. I'm not normally bothered by that but for some reason, it strikes me as weird. Not a biggie, though. Smile

Scalawag it was me that asked, not Kathleen! Thanks for your answer though. I find the smell a little odd but doubt that my skin could tolerate the Vivant. I am still trying to see if I can get it to tolerate the 10%! Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:05 am

TheresaL wrote:

Just curious.... Is it just the smell of the GOW that is tipping the scale back to Vivant or are there other reasons as well? Thanks.

It's the smell...sorry, but it's awful to me. I don't remember if I wrote it in this thread, but I think it smells like Aristocrat vodka. It's too bad because I think it works just as well as the Vivant, and it's cheaper.

I asked if essential oil would mess with its effectiveness. If it doesn't, I will definitely try it.

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:06 am

scalawaagirl,

So you use one drop for the whole face?
Now I'm a little worried. The ones from Diana Yvonne are 15% MA, hope it's not too strong for me.

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:01 pm

TheresaL wrote:

Scalawag it was me that asked, not Kathleen! Thanks for your answer though. I find the smell a little odd but doubt that my skin could tolerate the Vivant. I am still trying to see if I can get it to tolerate the 10%! Rolling Eyes

Doh! Sorry about that! I think you're right, the Vivant would be overkill for your skin. I hope the 10% works for you since I know you have a tough time negotiating the actives.

Quote:

So you use one drop for the whole face?
Now I'm a little worried. The ones from Diana Yvonne are 15% MA, hope it's not too strong for me.

Not one drop, one dropper full. It only fills up halfway, though, so it's not as much as it might sound. Also, you could try to use it 1x/day (only ever should, anyway) but stagger it to every other day. That should help. The 15% is strong but since you don't get irritated, it might not bother you. A little stinging when you first apply is not unusual but it should dissipate quickly and not cause a bunch of flaking later on.

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:19 pm

scalawaggirl,

Is this something you apply during the day rather than on night? If so which goes first this of my vit-c serum.

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:24 pm

I use it during the day because I like the tightening/smoothing effect for my pores. It goes on first, after cleansing w/a 30 minute wait (eek, sorry to shock you, if you didn't know that) for your skin to return to normal Ph.

If you use a cleanser that is higher Ph than your skin (5.5)and especially if it has detergents, it is best to wait 15 minutes before applying actives so as not to further harm the skin barrier.

So, you'd do:

Cleanse (maybe wait 15 minutes)
Mandelic (wait 30 minutes)
Vitamin C (wait 10 minutes)
Whatever else is in your routine.

The 30 minute wait often puts people off so they apply MA at night. I don't for the reason above and also that I use Exfol-A and BHA so have enough wait times going on!

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:58 pm

scalawaggirl wrote:

The 30 minute wait often puts people off so they apply MA at night.

When I first read that, I thought you wrote, "it puts people to sleep". I usually get up early and put on the MA and then go back to sleep for a half hour. =)

free skin care · Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:54 pm

Oh, Sushi! Great idea to get a quick wink more in. I like it!

free skin care · Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:45 pm

Ladies,

I need a bit of advice so bear with me.

I bought the Vivant from dianayvonne and have been trying it just on my cheeks (i have open pores there) and side of face where i get congested to test it a bit.

I have used it once a day(at night) for three nights now and i do not see any peeling but my pores on the cheeks do look tighter. Is that good or bad Or should I brace myself for tons of peeling in a week or so? I am slathering on emu oil after i wait the 30 mins suggested (i love emu's healing effects - if not the scent)

Second question is should I use it before or after my ISC Active Serum? So far I have not been using them together.

Last question is what do you think of MaMa lotion? I have been reading mixed reviews on it and been tempted to try esp as it purports to clear up those annoying red marks from blemish battles. I am using pure mandelic primarily for the poretightening effect and hopefully helping congested pores. Do you think that MaMa is better.

Thanks!

free skin care · Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:08 am

Quote:

I have used it once a day(at night) for three nights now and i do not see any peeling but my pores on the cheeks do look tighter. Is that good or bad Or should I brace myself for tons of peeling in a week or so?

Sounds like very good news to me Smile

what could be wrong with tighter pores?
It does have a cumulative effect though and it's not necessarily a good idea to start off so quickly with any active or acid so you might see peeling soon.
I wouldn't suggest layering with ISC active. That's probably too many exfoliants all at once, but if you're feeling experimentatal and rugged... Better to alternate I'd say, MA one night, ISC A the next if you feel the need to use both. I can't see why you would need to use both as they are both the same kind of thing.
I don't know about the Mama lotion.
HTH Molly Cool

free skin care · Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:56 pm

Thanks Molly!

Yeah as u said I was alternating with Active Serum but this morning after using the mandelic for a couple of days I woke up with lots of teeny red bumps where I had applied the lotion... Crying or Very sad

so i will give it a rest and maybe try again in a few weeks...a little disappointed as it seemed to work so well for others on acne prone skin.

I have the Vivant. Does anyone know how long I can keep this before I have to toss it out?

Cheers.

free skin care · Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:05 pm

Blacklace, you should run out of the Vivant long before you need to toss it. Smile

I go through about 1 oz. in 2 months or less but I use all over my face.

As an aside, I decided to forego using ISC Active Serum in lieu of the other actives I am using (BHA, Exfol-A, etc.). I think ISC is a good line but too $$$ for me.

free skin care · Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:20 pm

Hi Blacklace
I don't know how sensitive your skin is, but if you look at Kathleen and Theresa's conversation above it might be that you've irritated your skin into getting spots by overdoing the exfoliants. You might want to start with the Vivant every other night or less at first and not alongside another exfoliant.

The Vivant MA shouldn't go off too quickly in my guesstimation because it's got a lot of alcohol in it.

free skin care · Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:12 pm

my sushi secret wrote:

TheresaL wrote:

Just curious.... Is it just the smell of the GOW that is tipping the scale back to Vivant or are there other reasons as well? Thanks.

It's the smell...sorry, but it's awful to me. I don't remember if I wrote it in this thread, but I think it smells like Aristocrat vodka. It's too bad because I think it works just as well as the Vivant, and it's cheaper.

I asked if essential oil would mess with its effectiveness. If it doesn't, I will definitely try it.

A quick note on the smell... it is made with organic grape alcohol [if the alcohol version]...this is wonderful, although potent!

Markey Smile

GoW

free skin care · Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:15 pm

my sushi secret wrote:

TheresaL wrote:

Just curious.... Is it just the smell of the GOW that is tipping the scale back to Vivant or are there other reasons as well? Thanks.

It's the smell...sorry, but it's awful to me. I don't remember if I wrote it in this thread, but I think it smells like Aristocrat vodka. It's too bad because I think it works just as well as the Vivant, and it's cheaper.

I asked if essential oil would mess with its effectiveness. If it doesn't, I will definitely try it.

A quick note on the smell... it is made with organic grape alcohol [if the alcohol version]...this is wonderful, although potent!

Markey Smile

GoW

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