The Product That Instantly Brightened My Skin

Anything that promises to brighten my skin while minimizing pigmentation and fine lines instantly lands at the top of my beauty-product bucket list. (Ok, I don’t exactly have fine lines yet, but there’s nothing wrong with taking preventative measures.) Enter the Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Petal Peel, a 2-step process unlike anything I’ve ever encountered.

Truth be told, the only time I’ve ever had a peel was in a dermatologist’s office, so needless to say I was more than a little trepidatious. This peel is formulated with activated fruit enzymes instead of a cocktail of chemicals, so it must be safe, right? Still, it’s hard not to be sketched out about a product that promises to peel the top layer of your skin off.

I applied the first layer, an aloe-based gel that does all the peeling–I didn’t smell or feel anything. Once it dried, I applied the second layer, a thick vitamin C-packed cream that moisturizes the skin. It smelled like a rose garden, which made me feel better because my skin was starting to burn. It felt like I had needles in my face, and I still had 9 minutes to go (10 in total). Suddenly, I was rethinking my “try everything” attitude.

A few minutes passed, and I was tempted to wash it off because of the burning. It wasn’t unbearable, but I was afraid it was damaging my skin—after all, I had to go to work the next day (preferably not a shade of bright red). I made it to the 8-minute mark and then aggressively washed it off, mostly because I was anxious to see what it had done to my face. To my surprise, my skin was glowing! It wasn’t blotchy or red, my pores looked tighter, and my skin was completely mattified (this is huge because I have oily skin). The next morning my face was still oil free and looked great.

A couple of days later, I saw the glow starting to fade from my complexion. I busted out the Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Petal Peel again and voilá, it was back. The directions say to use it once or twice a week, and I plan on listening. Finally, proof that a pair of new shoes isn’t the only thing that makes you glow!