We review the ESK Evidence Skincare anti-acne and hyperpigmentation skincare regime.
I am not a seasoned skincare blogger so bear with me. Gwyneth Paltrow will not be getting on the dog and bone begging me to join the Goop family any time soon.
I am a paltry, desperate acne sufferer. 23-years-old and up until recently I had a face like a KFC employee at the zenith of adolescence. I’ve had ugly, problematic skin since I was a teenager. A smashing combination of hormonal acne and a propensity to obsessively pick at my face has left me looking like Danny Trejo in his autumn years.
I’ve since, somewhat, managed to control my acne. I still experience aggro hormonal breakouts on my jawline but it’s manageable. The real kicker is that through years and years of incessant picking, I left my skin looking as battered as an Egon Schiele painting.
A few months ago ESK Evidence Skincare emailed me about their hyperpigmentation-fighting product, Enlighten. A product that uses a (relatively new) tyrosinase-inhibitor, 4-n-Butylresorcinol (4nB), to lighten skin and reduce future melanin deposits.
As ESK explains, “4nB has been proven to be the most effective depigmenting agent when compared to industry alternatives such as hydroquinone, arbutin, azelaic acid, and kojic acid, and produce faster results in as little 6 weeks.”
ESK Skincare was started by Dr. Ginni Mansberg, a General Practitioner who has cut her teeth working as TV presenter on Channel 7’s Sunrise as their resident GP. ESK Skincare was developed after scouring the skincare market and discerning a lack of evidence-based, time-effective skincare products.
“More frustratingly, what I found mostly were companies using marketing pseudo-science targeting the insecurities of their audienc,” says Dr. Ginni.
In 2012, Dr. Ginni and her husband Daniel Rubinstein worked alongside doctors, dermatologists and scientists, in developing a range of skincare with the intention of creating products that were evidence-based, effective and easy to use.
Full transparency; I was until quite recently, a skincare sceptic. I have tried every routine under the sun. All the fucking hyper-aestheticised Drunk Elephant, Glossier-core products that seduced me into believing that if I kept up a laborious routine month-after-month I’d eventually look like a dewy, genetically-gifted Zoë Kravitz.
So in my innate scepticism, and circumstantial skintness, I emailed ESK back and asked if they could send through some samples. I was sent the Hydroxy Cleanser, Ultimate A+ Serum, B Calm Serum, and Enlighten Serum. Let’s do a little product breakdown below.
Vitamin C Serum
RRP: $45
Created with normal and oily skin in mind. The soap-free, lightly foaming cleanser does exactly what cleanser is supposed to do. I use it every morning and evening. The Alpha and Beta Hydroxy help cleanse and gently exfoliate the skin.
MiU Organics Body Lotion
RRP $59
A Vitamin A (Retinal – 0.1%), B3 (Niacinamide – 4%) and AHA (Glycolic Acid – 2%) based night cream. Recommended for repairing and rejuvenating oilier skin, and mild to moderate acne management.
B CALMPLEX
RRP $33
Used to manage the skin’s natural oil production and improve acne and rosacea-symptoms. It also has improves skin’s barrier function which assists in reducing hyperpigmentation and acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.
NEOSTRATA ENLIGHTEN
RRP $95
For management of hyperpigmentation and age spots. Enlighten is a tyrosinase inhibitor (4-n-butylresorcinol – 0.1%) and antioxidant (Niacinamide – 5%) based cream that aims to lighten and brighten skin appearance and provide a more even skin tone. I started this product before introducing the rest of the ESK products into my regime, I think it is one of the most important additions to my regime thus far.
Here’s a little explanation of why it’s so effective, straight from the horses mouth. Maybe copy and pasting is a faux pas but I’m not going to spin a shitty lie that implies I know what I’m talking about: “4nB has been proven to be the most effective depigmenting agent when compared to industry alternatives such as hydroquinone, arbutin, azelaic acid, and kojic acid, and produce faster results in as little 6 weeks with less skin irritation.”
After six weeks of using the products, my skin has improved tenfold. My acne has subsided dramatically and the overall appearance of my skin has improved profoundly.
Before adopting this regime, my skin had a kind of splodgy, sunken, ashy quality to it. I looked dead-eyed and ghoulish. It was so painfully hideous that at times I bailed on social occasions because I couldn’t bear being seen looking like a battered saveloy.
In the weeks since my skin is smoother and my scars have started to fade. I have reluctantly and shamefully included a photo of my skin before the treatment, and how it looks now.
Obviously, there is still a helluva lot of residual scarring. When you’ve been recklessly destroying your skin for the better half of a decade, you can’t expect to look like an unblemished orb in six mere weeks.
I also have the proclivity to binge drink, order double Filet-O-Fish meals and fall asleep with my makeup on. Which doesn’t help the cause.
With that in mind, I will confidently say that the texture of my skin has never been better. I can now liberally apply foundation without the undesirable cottage-cheese effect. As someone who genetically has fucked up skin and was on the verge of ruining my life with Oratane treatment — it’s nice to finally use a product that cuts through all the influencer bollocks.
For more information about ESK Skincare and their products, head to their website.
