TREAT, don’t pop, your pimples!

If you’ve been following me for a while, you will know I’ve had a really long, emotionally exhausting relationship with acne and I’m always sharing products that have helped me in treating and controlling my adult acne.

The product I want to share with you today is the Ex-Acne Serum by Pulp Cosmetics India. Being a beauty blogger and a skincare enthusiast, I used to try different products all the time, but as I’ve grown older I have come to realise how important it is to understand the ingredients in skincare and whether or not my skin will benefit from them. So if I try any new products for my skin now, it is only if I feel that they will help treat, soothe and heal my skin and that’s exactly what drew me to the Pulp Ex-Acne Serum. You can see my first impressions on my Instagram 💗

It has been 4 weeks since I started using this product and I feel this is a good time to share my thoughts and review with you guys. Let’s start with my 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 – Highly Acne prone (adult/ hormonal acne), Sensitive, Dry and Dehydrated skin

Here’s what Pulp has to say about the Ex-Acne Acne Treatment Superfood Serum – ‘ It’s time you call it quits with acne, here’s your daily all-over acne serum that helps heal blemishes. Call your acne to tell them it’s over!’

That doesn’t tell you anything about the product, does it?! 🤣  So let’s have a look at the Ingredients before we go further into the review:

Aqua, 1,2 Propanediol, Azelaic Acid, Glucono Delta Lactone, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Myristoyl Hexapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Alpha Arbutin, Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) Extract, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Extract, Capryloyl, Glycine and Sarcosine, Xanthan Gum.

A deeper dive into the ingredients of the Pulp Ex-Acne Treatment Superfood Serum 

First on the list there’s Azelaic acid at 5%

 

• Great for acne.
• Has Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties
• Also has anti-oxidant properties and is Anti comedonal
• Helps to even skin tone, eliminates excess melanin and helps reduce PIH
• Good for those that suffer from Rosacea and also people with super sensitive skin and eczema
• Safe to use during and after pregnancy
• Works well paired with other actives like Salicylic, Niacinamide and also vitamin C

Second on the list is Glucono Delta Lactone at 5%

 

• A PHA (poly hydroxy acid) that combats signs of ageing, improves skin texture and also hydrates the skin.
• It is one of the gentlest exfoliants, so very well tolerated by sensitive skin.

Next comes Niacinamide or Vitamin B3 at 4%

 

• This is the powerhouse of ingredients for brightening, anti-ageing & hydration.
• It minimises & tightens large pores, diminishes signs of ageing like fine lines & wrinkles, evens out skin texture and strengthens the skin barrier.

Then we have 2% Salicylic acid

 

• A bha that will penetrate deep into the pores and help to unclog them.
• It loosens dead skin cells and reduce formation of comedones.
• It has anti-inflammatory properties, so again this will help dial down redness & inflammation.

It also has Alpha Arbutin (0.1%) to help with brightening and help fade pigmentation caused by acne. How effective this ingredient will be at that  percentage? I’m not sure, but it’s definitely a goodie.

The last two ingredients I want to highlight are Gotu Kola extract aka Centella Asiatica (0.1%) which – promotes collagen production and enhances skin elasticity. It’s rich in amino acids so it helps to hydrate and soothe irritated skin. And then there’s Cinnamon bark extract (0.1%) that’s an antimicrobial, has anti-bacterial properties, is power packed with antioxidants and is also anti-inflammatory.

Ingredients that fight and treat acne:

Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Azelaic Acid

 

Skin Soothing Ingredients:

Gotu Kola(Centella Asiatica) Extract, Azelaic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8

 

Antioxidant Ingredients:

Gotu Kola(Centella Asiatica) Extract, Alpha Arbutin, Cinnamon Bark Extract

 

Exfoliating Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid, Glucono Delta Lactone

 

Antibacterial and Antimicrobial:

Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum) Extract

 

Skin Brightening Ingredients:

Niacinamide and Alpha Arbutin

Packaging

 

 

The Ex-Acne serum comes in a silvery white rectangle shaped glass bottle with a black dropper. You need to push down and twist the dropper cap to open the bottle every time and I think that’s quite a clever and unique way to ensure the product doesn’t –  a) leak in transit or while travelling and b) is child proof!

 

The only thing I don’t like about this packaging is the poor quality of the dropper. It’s flimsy, for some reason it doesn’t hold enough product and when it does, it leaks.

 

 

Packaging of the Pulp Ex-Acne Serum

 

The outer cardboard packaging is quite simple and minimalistic. White box with all the details printed in black text. You get 30ml (1 fl oz) of product and it’s priced at 999/-

 

Texture and Smell

 

I’ve used a LOT of salicylic acid serums in the past, but this is the first time I have used one with such a thin and watery consistency and that’s a big plus in hot, humid Mumbai weather 🙂

 

 

There’s no scent to this product and it sinks into the skin almost immediately. I think people with all skin types will like the texture and feel of the Pulp Ex-Acne Serum, especially since you can easily layer other products on top without waiting too long.

 

How To Use the Pulp Ex-Acne Serum

 

Since this is a ‘treatment’, it will be the first product you use after cleansing.

 

I usually take about 5-6 drops of the serum and pat it into my skin. If you are using this only to target a specific section of the face, or particular blemish, use a drop or two and use on the spots.

 

It is recommended you avoid the eye area as this has a few acids in it.

 

You can use the Ex-Acne Serum up to twice a day. If you’re using it in your morning (AM) routine, then follow up with a moisturiser and an SPF. If you’re using it in your nigh time (PM) routine, you can simply layer a moisturiser and/or oil over the top. If you have never used an acne treatment before or if your skin is super  sensitive, then start slow and use this serum only once a day.

 

My Thoughts on the Pulp Ex-Acne Serum

 

 

I would like to point out that Pulp is perhaps the first brand in India that focuses on superfoods as ingredients in their skincare. They are also a vegan and cruelty-free brand, plus this serum is free of alcohol, fragrance and essential oils – so a big thumbs up from me 🙂

 

I’ll talk about the ‘trial period’ first. When I started using this serum, my acne was somewhat under control. I was still getting a breakout or two every other day, but overall my skin was behaving. I used it once a day in my morning (AM) routine.

 

The first week of using this product, I was amazed by how well my skin reacted to it. My active (cystic) breakouts hurt a lot less and were less inflamed and red than usual. My skin looked clearer, I could feel the texture was improving and the bumps under the skin were diminishing.

 

However, after week 2 – I saw no further improvements in my skin. In week 3, I introduced the Pulp Day After Binge  Serum into my routine and it caused my acne to flare up in full force (but that rant and review is for another day!). However, I kept using the Ex-Acne serum as usual.

 

This is what I’ve realised after using the Pulp Ex-Acne Serum for 4 weeks – it works well when my skin aka ACNE is under control. However, it doesn’t do much for days when I’m breaking out and my skin is flaring up.

 

Do I Recommend the PULP Ex-Acne Serum and Will I Repurchase? 

 

If you have mild acne or get an odd pimple during your periods, or if you’re someone who has oily skin and is prone to blackheads/whiteheads – this might be a good choice for you.

 

If you are someone who is dealing with moderate to severe acne (like me) – this might NOT be a good product choice for you when it comes to TREATING acne, or for that matter even preventing it.

 

While I was researching on this brand, I found it a bit odd that the website doesn’t have any information about the brand  or explain anything about their skincare, for example no details of the percentages of ingredients in the formula, no mention of their manufacturing units or labs. Neither could I find a single detailed review on their serums. To top that, I came across a thread on reddit where a consumer talks about a not-so-pleasant experience while asking the brand about their products and manufacturing unit.

 

I know that acne treatment takes time and a lot of patience. There’s always going to be good skin days and bad. Having said that, I will continue using the Pulp Ex-Acne Serum since I have to get through this bottle, but I highly doubt that I will be repurchasing this product.

 

I would recommend you try The Ordinary Salicylic Acid Serum instead, or go for things like clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide to first treat the acne and then later when you skin is under control, try the Ex-Acne Serum as a preventative skincare product.

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** Disclaimer – This post is Not Sponsored. All thoughts, opinions and experiences stated are genuine and honest. As always, I only recommend what I absolutely Love and I think you will benefit from too!  ❤️