Instytutum Flawless Pads review & more

When you’re a fan of a brand, you get excited when they release a new product. And since I’m a big fan of Instytutum’s products (especially their eye cream – SO good), I was excited x2 when I got the chance to try two of their newest products these past few months: the Flawless Age Pads and their just-released Flawless Hydra Mist!

Instytutum Flawless Pads

For those who love chemical exfoliation but can’t decide which acid they love more, these were made for you! It contains glycolic, lactic, citric, and salicylic acid so you get the surface exfoliation as well as the deep cleaning in your pores.

But because of it’s potent acid combo, it will sting if your skin is on the sensitive or dry side. I personally use one pad every other week (since I already use tretinoin on a daily basis), and my skin always looks smoother and my pores a bit clearer afterwards.

If you have oilier or more resilient skin, you can definitely up your frequency, though I think “daily” as suggested by the label, might be pushing it. Overall a lovely product, especially since it contains both AHA and BHA, something you don’t find together too often.

Flawless Pads vs PTR Peptide 21 Peeling Pads

I’ve reviewed the Peptide 21 Amino Acid Exfoliating Peel Pads and they too contain salicylic acid. But instead of AHAs, PTR’s pads feature amino acids and peptides to hydrate and minimize fine lines.

Between the two peeling pads, I definitely prefer the Peter Thomas Roth for efficacy, gentleness, and just overall usage experience.

Repurchase? No
Buy at: Instytutum – $69/60 pads (30% off sale going on, check out my deals page for details!)

Instytutum Flawless Hydra Mist

Previously called the Alive Water, which is what I originally reviewed here.

Not a new release, but I love mists and I got a travel size of this when I repurchased the eye cream, so why not review it here? This mist features their famous 5-times-filtered water as base, but also includes some great skin soothing ingredients:

• Panthenol – helps protect and restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier
• Sea Heather® – an anti-inflammatory compound that soothes and protects the skin against irritations (source)
• 5 different minerals fermented in yeast – this converts the minerals into a low molecular weight glycopeptide which can then penetrate the skin. These mineral peptides generally provide antioxidant, skin healing properties, and can boost collage production.
• DERMOCEA® – a compound featuring two red algae extracts that can moisturize and plump the skin (source)
• Sea Fennel Extract – rich in minerals, vitamin a, c, and e, giving it the all the properties of these vitamins

It has the same refreshing feel of my beloved LRP Thermal Water, but dispenses a much finer mist ???????? This would work well for adding hydration between each skincare step except 1) it’s not cheap 2) it can sting when your skin is already irritated. So yes, I like it, I’m just not sure if I love it…yet.

Repurchase: Really considering it, especially with their 30% off sale going on. No because I’ve found my holy grail, the Caudalie Grape Water
Buy at: Instytutum -$30/150ml (5.28 fl. oz)

So none of these blew me away like their eye cream (yet…but let’s be real, it’s going to ridiculously hard to top that), but with the amount of similar products available out there, it’s really hard to. They’re not bad products and actually decently formulated, I just don’t think they’re worth the price.