This Skincare Brand Actually Banished Our Acne Scars
A while ago, we came across a seriously impressive Instagram page called @banishacnescars by a brand called Banish. A quick scroll down the page shows some VERY impressive results using their products and some serious skin positivity and good vibes.
We were so impressed by the before and after pics on the brand’s page, we decided that before we told you guys about the brand, we had to test them on our own acne scars. Fortunately, we had plenty of post-inflammatory pigmentation to test them out on. Remember a real scar is classified as a change in the texture of the skin, whereas the red or brown marks left behind by old pimples is post-inflammatory pigmentation (we HAD both).
We tried the Banish Starter Kit, $195, which comes with what they describe as “six holy-grail skincare tools to prevent and combat your skin’s main concerns, naturally!” These include a micro-needle stamp, a vitamin C oil, mist and cream, a pumpkin enzyme mask and a charcoal mask. You can buy all of these products individually as well. What we really like about this brand is the fact that everything is made with plant-based ingredients; no silicones, dyes, fragrances or parabens, and every product they send is made up the day it’s sent to you to ensure the vitamin C is fresh and potent. It’s vegan, too!
The Banish Products:
The Banish Oil – Vitamin C Serum, $49
What it is: An oil made with the most potent form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), which is stabilized with antioxidant-rich vitamin E and ferulic acid.
What it does: Evens out skin tone and improves skin texture for smoother, firmer skin.
What we thought: As far as face oils go, we really liked this. We used it most evenings at the end of our skincare routine, or by itself immediately after a session using the Banisher 2.0. The texture is smooth and has a non-greasy feeling – it took a while to absorb, but it wasn’t heavy or uncomfortable.
The results: Every morning after we used this, our skin looked brighter and redness was reduced. That’s not to say our scars magically disappeared overnight, but our skin looked healthy and glowy.
The Banisher 2.0, $69
What it is: A microneedle stamp made with 24k gold-plated titanium bristles. The stamp can be used once weekly and should be used in the evening on cleansed skin, before other skincare products. It comes with a handy cleaning case that’s useful for travel and also helps to protect the bristles.
What it does: By piercing the skin with tiny needles (avoid pimples) it causes minor damage to the skin’s surface, which results in a rush of collagen to this area. This rush of collagen helps heal the skin, thereby improving the appearance of acne scars and fine lines.
What we thought: This was super easy to use, and because it comes in a stamp form, it means that you can avoid any pimples and just target where you have scars. The process is pretty painless, but it can feel a little tender on the forehead.
The results: We used this nearly every week, although there were some weeks when we had a few breakouts, so we decided to give it a miss. Since we started using The Banisher 2.0, along with the other products, we have definitely seen an improvement in the texture of our skin, while the post acne marks have faded significantly.
Vitamin C Beauty Elixir, $19
What it is: A facial mist packed with vitamin C to brighten the skin, tea tree oil to calm, and aloe vera to soothe and protect.
What it does: Refreshes the skin and boosts the complexion.
What we thought: We actually really enjoyed using this mist. We can’t say that we feel this is an essential product – especially if you plan on splurging on any of the others – but we did use this every day, especially in the mornings. We like to use it after we’ve toned and before we apply our next skincare steps, or to refresh during the day.
Vitamin C Creme, $39
What it is: A lightweight, organic moisturizer made with 20% vitamin C that works for all skin types.
What it does: Hydrates, protects and brightens the skin without leaving a heavy or greasy residue.
What we thought: We were surprised with how much we liked this lightweight creme. We tend to stick to gel moisturizers (creams can be clogging/ oil-inducing) to avoid our skin getting even more oily than it usually is, but we found that this did a great job of keeping us more matte than usual through the day while also keeping us hydrated through the night. A little goes a long way, so you only need to use a very small amount. It looked great under makeup, which is another huge plus.
The results: We were so pleased that not only did this not make us greasy during the day, but it didn’t encourage any breakouts (other than the usual hormonal chin pimples). Our skin definitely looked more even in tone and post-inflammatory pigmentation reduced while using this.
Pumpkin Enzyme Masque, $39
What it is: An exfoliating mask made with real pumpkin (it smells like pumpkins) that’s packed with skin-sloughing enzymes and pore-exfoliating AHAs and glycolic acid to improve skin clarity. It also contains lemon, orange, ginger root, and bilberry fruit extract to nourish and increase skin firmness.
What it does: AHAs clean deep into pores to decongest, while pumpkin enzymes and glycolic efficiently wipe out dead surface skin cells to brighten the skin and improve dullness.
What we thought: This potent pumpkin mask definitely does what it says! The glycolic acid and enzymes give a tingling sensation on application that goes away as it’s worn, but don’t worry, this is normal. We left our mask on for around 15 minutes (they say 10) and had no irritation, although the skin is slightly red when the mask comes off. Over the following days, we noticed a difference in the clarity of our skin.
The results: This was a great addition to our skincare routine! We like to use it twice a week as a replacement for all other exfoliators, and we recommend avoiding using AHA-based toners on the same day as using this. Be sure to follow the next morning with an SPF 30 or higher. This left our skin feeling extra smooth post mask, and over the months, are acne marks faded considerably.
Activated Charcoal Clay Masque, $29
What it is: An activated charcoal mask that extracts impurities and toxins in the skin while Italian green clay gently exfoliates and absorbs oil. It can be used before the Pumpkin Enzyme Mask.
What it does: Detoxes and purifies pores of dirt and oil, and helps control blemishes and oil production.
What we thought: We have to be honest with you guys; we liked this mask, but we think it’s very pricey, and so if we were going to splurge on this collection, this wouldn’t be our first choice. While we agree that it does what it says, we do feel that the price is a bit steep for the quantity of product.
Final Thoughts on the Banish Collection:
We really enjoyed using these products, and we definitely saw a change in the texture and clarity of our skin and a substantial improvement in post-inflammatory pigmentation over the months that we used the Banish Starter Kit. However, the collection is expensive, so if we had to choose three products to continue using, we believe the most impressive results can be achieved with the Banisher 2.0, The Banish Oil, and the Pumpkin Enzyme Mask.
We also recommend checking out the Banish Instagram page, as the before and after images say a lot for the results this skincare brand can yield. That said, remember patience is everything when it comes to treating acne scarring, so it may be anywhere between two to six months before you see dramatic results, or perhaps even longer.
And finally, we wanted to share a message about self-love: your skin does not define you, and you are beautiful no matter what!
What do you guys think about these products, would you try them?
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