FINDING a skincare routine that targets all your cosmetic problems — like banishing spots, reducing the appearance of fine lines or shrinking pores — is pretty tricky.
That’s where a Skin + Me subscription comes in. It’s a subscription that can be personalised to your needs (as well as your future wants) to help you love the skin you’re in.
After seeing it peppering my Instagram feed for the last few months, I decided to do a Skin + Me review and see if the subscription is worth it, or if it’s another influencer fad (spoiler alert: I was not disappointed).
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- Skin + Me, skincare subscription for £24.99pm – buy here
Pros:
- Takes the hassle out of shopping for skincare
- Delivered to your door
- ‘Daily Doser’ reduces waste
- Fully recyclable packaging
- Personalised to suit your skin’s needs
- Travel-friendly
- Looks great
Cons:
- Unsuitable for delicate areas of skin (e.g. around the eyes or lips)
- Pricier than your average skincare
- Ingredients can cause a little discomfort
Skin + Me review: Quick summary
Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last year or so, then you may have seen ads or influencer posts raving about Skin + Me, with some Instagram users claiming they “can’t believe the difference” it’s made to their skin.
The personalised skincare brand makes skincare simple, cutting your routine down to just a handful of essential products, one being your prescribed ‘Daily Doser’ from the brand.
As a confessed hater of over-complicated skincare routines, I tend to just give up, leaving my make-up on overnight and omitting toners, cleansers, exfoliators, acid-laden products and all that saturated nonsense altogether.
Skin + Me promised simplicity and easy-to-use, fuss-free skincare that was designed just for me. No more wasting hard-earned pennies on skincare that is too powerful or useless to my needs.
Once signing up, you submit a selfie of your face from the left-hand side, centre, and right-hand side, and it gets analysed by one of the brand’s in-house dermatologists (or ‘prescribers’, as Skin + Me calls them).
Then, within a matter of days, you’ll receive a ‘Daily Doser’ of tailored skincare, supposedly perfect for your skin’s needs.
When I signed up, I answered questions about my current skin type, my lifestyle, and the changes I wished to see in my skin.
I selected a wish to see a reduction in spots (my top priority as I am plagued with blackheads in problem areas such as my hairline and across my nose and chin), shrinkage of pores (I suffer from enlarged pores that attract dirt on either side of my nostrils) and a reduction in fine lines (because, why not? I’m not getting any younger).
It only took a few minutes and it felt really thorough, as if I was actually speaking to a dermatologist who was focusing on my personal needs and wishes.
Once submitted, I received my prescribed skincare within two days, accompanied by instructions to cleanse twice a day: once in the morning, followed by an SPF moisturiser (more on that to come) and again in the evening, followed by a specified amount of prescribed product and more moisturiser.
Within three months, I noticed a staggering difference in my skin, and I wasn’t the only one: my family and friends started to notice the effects on my skin after just two months, commenting that my skin was glowing and clearer.
I’m still using the product now, and have been really impressed by the reduction in blackheads and whiteheads around my problem areas, as well as the sheer simplicity of the routine.
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Skin + Me review: Unboxing and first impressions
Within two days of filling out Skin + Me’s personalised online quiz — which was super easy to use while being very thorough — my selfies had been analysed by a dermatologist and my prescribed, personalised skincare routine arrived.
The Skin + Me package is letterbox-friendly, and a gorgeous, sunny yellow colour, really putting a spring into my step when it dropped onto my doormat.
Packaging was minimal as well as recyclable, which earns brownie points from me. There was no plastic and certainly no fuss.
Inside was a finger-sized tube: my ‘Daily Doser’, which was made out of recyclable aluminium. The tube detailed the ingredients in my bespoke product, and it even had my name engraved on it, which was a super nice touch.
Once I popped the lid, I saw markers inside, indicating how many nights of the product I had left. To dispense, you simply twist until it clicks, the marker moves up a notch, and voila — that’s your prescribed daily dose of skincare.
I was a little apprehensive to give it a try at first, given my ingredients were a combination of Tretinoin, Niacinamide, and Azelaic Acid — all of which sound terrifying — but thankfully it was super simple, and made me feel reassured once I reread my designated cleansing instructions. The brand even recommended cleansers and SPF moisturisers to use alongside.
Ingredients
It’s not a lie that Skin + Me’s ingredients sound terrifying. In my personalised routine, I’ve been prescribed varying percentages of Tretinoin, Niacinamide, and Azelaic Acid.
Tretinoin (usually known as synthetic Vitamin A), which I was prescribed, is commonly used to treat both acne and sun damage — while it can’t magically wipe away your deeper wrinkles, it certainly improves the appearance of fine lines and dark spots.
Niacinamide, a form of Vitamin B3, reduces inflammation and eases redness, naturally reducing pores over time. This is ideal for those suffering from the side effects of rosacea, eczema, and acne as it also moisturises while soothing.
Lastly, in my prescription, I had Azelaic Acid. It has naturally antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that cleanse pores from bacteria, preventing future outbreaks, and it’s ideal for those with acne, keeping skin cleansed and spots at bay.
As mentioned, your ingredients are entirely unique to you, and could depend entirely on the severity of skin conditions like acne, rosacea, or eczema. However, from researching the properties of each ingredient, Skin + Me have logically utilised science to fulfil your needs, making it work for you.
Now, this is important: due to the intensity of the ingredients, you must wear SPF or an SPF moisturiser every single day.
In all honesty, you should be using SPF every day anyway as it reduces the appearance of wrinkles and the risk of sun damage. However, it’s super important here as your skin is much more prone to sun damage after using Skin + Me, thanks to its powerful ingredients.
On your 12ml ‘Daily Doser’, too, there will be a best before date — be sure not to use it after that passes, as the active ingredients will be redundant.
If you’re not sure what to use, Skin + Me provides a handy guide to what to buy with every prescription.
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After one day of using Skin + Me
On my first day of using skin and me, I thoroughly cleansed my skin, apprehensive of what was to come.
After twisting the ‘Daily Doser’ until I heard a click, I was shocked at how much product I’d previously been wasting as it didn’t seem like much at all.
Still, it was perfect for full facial coverage and gave me a sense of control. I waited for 10 minutes as instructed, and it was a good time to floss and brush my teeth (or do some yoga, put the kettle on, do your Duolingo for the day, or whatever else takes your fancy).
Immediately I did notice some slight tingling in my skin, a fuzziness similar to the feeling of using acid-laden products in the past, but it wasn’t painful.
The fuzziness did increase in intensity after about 10 minutes, even after lathering up with a moisturiser — however, it didn’t leave my skin red and blotchy, just the heavy break out areas (like my chin).
It’s worth noting that, due to the intensity of the ingredients, it’s advised not to use this around your lips (which was a little annoying for me as I often get some upper-lip line spots) or around your eyes. I noticed a slight redness if I applied it to my neck, too.
Purging
Within a couple of days, I started to notice my skin purging. This basically means that your skin is rejecting dead cells as a result of an active ingredient encouraging new cell growth. In simpler terms: you’ll get spotty.
It’s frustrating, but this is totally normal and these flare-ups don’t last long.
I had a few more whiteheads than normal, and some sensitive red spots across my cheeks and nose.
Over the course of the first week, I experienced slight itchiness after applying moisturiser following the application, but it was never uncomfortable.
Your purging state could look like tiny red bumps or flakiness, all of which apparently don’t last as long as a usual breakout (hallelujah).
I resisted the urge to pop my spots, and they cleared up within days.
After one week of using Skin + Me
Just seven or eight days in, I definitely started to notice the difference in my skin: it felt softer, more supple and moisturised.
I took a break from it on day eight to give my skin a rest (as the itchiness hadn’t disappeared) but then resumed, adding a moisturising serum before I applied the product.
After giving my skin a double dose of moisturiser and serum, I noticed a dramatic reduction in the skin’s (already minimal) irritation.
I also noticed that, while my chin had flared up with one or two redder spots, I had a noticeable reduction in blackheads across my nose, one of my major problem areas.
It’s worth noting that, if you do feel as if your skin is irritated or causing you major discomfort, stop using it immediately and contact Skin + Me so it can fiddle around with the ingredients.
After one month of using Skin + Me
One month in, I received my second Daily Doser through the post so I popped my old tube in the recycling bin. The ingredients were the same, though the percentages were slightly different — they’ll likely get higher over time, then level out.
By now, my skin seemed clearer of blackheads, more moisturised, and really, really soft to the touch. I was honestly glowing.
There have been times when I’ve forgotten to take my ‘Daily Doser’, or got in late and couldn’t be bothered (no judgement, please) – which is probably why occasional red spots erupted. This likely goes to show that, if you don’t put the work in, you’re not going to get results.
Still, I incorporated a soft exfoliator once a week too which helps my skin feel free of debris and flakiness. So far, so good.
After three months of using Skin + Me
I’m now three months in and have noticed a staggering difference in my skin. Family and friends have commented on how clear my skin looks, and how minimal my once pesky blackheads are.
My fine lines are still there, but I have noticed that they seem a little smaller when compared to three months earlier. My skin also looks super clear and clean and is so soft to touch.
The size of my pores hasn’t changed much but I definitely have noticed some shrinkage around my nose, which is a relief.
As expected, I’ve had no irritation or side effects since the first month or so. Overall, my skin looks much healthier. Skin + Me predicts noticeable results in eight to 16 weeks, with a check-in at six months, so I still have time to see the inflammation decrease.
Skin + Me review: How much does it cost?
Your Skin + Me online consultation, dermatological assessment, prescription and ‘Daily Doser’ will set you back £24.99 a month.
I know what you’re thinking: it’s a little pricier than budget skincare, but how many of us can say that I have safely found a skincare product that is affordable and actually works?
Instead of having drawers full of odds and ends, this is just one product, with results after six months. It adds up, but when you think about how much a dermatological assessment and prescription is (if you go private and skip NHS waiting lists) it’s still likely to be cheaper.
Delivery is free, and you can cancel or restart your schedule at any time.
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Skin + Me review: Does it work?
After using Skin + Me for three months, I can honestly say yes: it works.
I’ve recommended it to friends with acne and red spots as I really trust it. It has made skincare simple for me, and unbelievably carefree. I don’t feel like I’ve wasted money with useless products, and I am so happy to actually see a difference in my skin’s firmness, softness, and appearance.
Enjoyed our review of Skin + Me? Check out our review of sustainable skincare range UpCircle.
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