good molecules – sarah fynn

Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment Review

Good Molecules is an affordable skincare brand based in the US and available to the UK via Beautylish. I’ve been interested in the brand since last year and I have tried a few of their products. Today’s post will be an in-depth review of their Overnight Exfoliating Treatment.

The Overnight Exfoliating Treatment is a 10% AHA & BHA serum that promises to resurface and renew the skin for visibly glowing skin.

Experience

The 10% AHA and BHA is glycolic and lactic acids (AHA) and salicylic acid as the BHA. The directions are to use up to 3 times a week only. It has a natural scent.

I have had this serum for a while now, I use as directed once in a while when I need to shift texture on the skin or when it needs a little boost. I’m almost half-way down the bottle.

My skin is used to high acid content but I still feel a little sting after I use this. When I incorporate this into my routine, I don’t use any other acids or other active ingredients in order to reduce any potential irritation. I would add this to my PM routine only, use after cleansing, then perhaps use a hydrating mist afterwards and a hydrating serum. I use it for 3 days in a row only before switching back to my normal routine. I haven’t experienced any irritation with using the serum alone.

Results? This serum delivers on its promises. It leaves the skin smoother and more radiant. It helps to reduce texture on the skin. It stings but nowhere near what you would feel if you used The Ordinary’s 30% AHA BHA. This is a leave-on serum so there is no need to rinse off.

Verdict

I REALLY like this serum. At 10% it’s high but it’s also a perfect serum if you want to move up from 5% AHAs. It is important to follow the instructions and use as directed. Storytime: ok so I also have the Honeymoon Glow serum from Farmacy which is 14% AHA. For some reason, I thought it would be fun to use the Good Molecules serum for 3 days take a 1-day break and use the Honeymoon Glow serum too. What did I get? A damaged skin barrier! My skin was dry with a crepe-like appearance with texture. SMH. I had to switch back to ONLY hydrating and soothing products and it took about 2 weeks for my skin to fully heal and go back to normal lol.

This is why I recommend to only use this as the only acid in your routine if you want to try this. To be clear, when I used it as directed I had no issues and I have been using it ever since that episode with no problems. It is only when I followed this serum with another high acid serum, is when I had issues which to be honest is not surprising.

I would definitely recommend the Good Molecules Overnight Treatment. At 10% you will get the renewing and re-surfacing benefits from the AHA and BHA as promised. It also helps to reduce texture and leave the skin radiant. It goes without saying that you would use this at night and you MUST use sunscreen in the AM. Use as directed. You can follow up with hydrating products after using to add hydration to the skin. If you have sensitive skin, please patch test first. If you have normal to combination skin like myself you will really like it but still patch test if you are not sure. If you are an experience acid user and love chemical exfoliation, then girl get this. I wouldn’t call this a dupe for Farmacy Honey Glow but it’s a lower percentage but you will get smoother skin which is what HG promises as well. It’s pretty comparable in terms of results. You don’t need both serums.

Overnight Exfoliating Treatment is $6 on Beautylish

Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm Review

It’s been about 2 years since I fell in love with double cleansing and using balms as a first cleanse. I’ve been through quite a few (my top 7 will come soon) and the more I discover the deeper I fall

Good Molecules is still a fairly new brand to me, available in the UK via Beautylish, the brand have effective products at budget-friendly prices. I have tried a few of their items and I am yet to find something I strongly dislike. So with my love of cleansing balms and a good bargain in mind, I purchased the Instant Cleansing Balm when it first came out.

Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm is formulated with sea buckthorn & camellia oils as well as shea butter. It promises to instantly melt makeup and impurity and rinse away clean.

Experience

I’ve been using this for a few weeks now, every night as a first cleanse to remove makeup and the day’s grime. I always pair this with my trusty Primark makeup removing cloth. I have just over half of the balm, I think it will finish by the end of the month.

The balm is more of a solidified oil and instantly melts into an oil when massaged in my hands. I massage this over my skin and instantly begins to break down makeup. I use a fair amount and massage this all over my face giving myself a mini facial massage. I emulsify with warm water, sometimes but most times I remove with the damp makeup remover cloth. The scent of the balm reminds me of frankincense even though there is no mention of it in the ingredients. I personally don’t like the scent, it’s not unpleasant I just don’t like frankincense.

The balm does a good job removing makeup and very well at removing eye makeup and mascara. It doesn’t feel heavy on the skin, the oil is extremely lightweight and there is no oily residue left. It also rinses away easily and clean. I have experienced any irritation or clogged pores with the balm

Verdict: an excellent cleansing balm which is effective at removing makeup and budget-friendly. I personally don’t like the scent of this because it reminds me of frankincense which I also don’t like and for this reason alone I won’t repurchase. I will recommend it though because for the price its really good and if scent (something similar to frankincense) don’t bother you then definitely worth trying.

The scent is not unpleasant this is just a personal preference, it doesn’t linger but obviously, with massaging the balm all over your face you can’t really escape it lol. It comes with a spatula

It’s a very good balm and it’s effective at removing every bit of makeup. I have also used it for triple cleansing (twice with the balm and once with a face wash) and I did not experience any issues with that.

Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm is $15 on Beautylish

Good Molecules Daily Brightening Serum Review

Good Molecules have been around for a while now. The first charter about the brand was from the 2019 Beautylish Lucky boxes when they included a few products in the boxes. The brand promises low-cost skincare with highly effective products. I’ve been interested in the brand for a while and I have picked up a few of their products for testing.

Good Molecules is currently not available in the UK but you can get them via Beautylish. The Daily Brightening Serum is formulated with beta Arbutin and hyaluronic acid to gently brighten the skin and provide hydration.

Experience

I was using this every morning after toning and before my AM moisturiser and SPF. This is a very lightweight serum and layers very well with other products without pilling. I experienced no irritation from this. It comes in a lux glass bottle with a dropper (that works!) and in the standard 30ml. This serum caught my eye because I am always looking for ingredients and products that target pigmentation.

This serum has Beta Arbutin as its main ingredient. Arbutin is known for its brightening properties and its ability to inhibit excess melanin production. I have used Arbutin before but in the Alpha Arbutin form from the ordinary and I had no luck with that. I wrote off the ingredient completely but wanted to try this serum as it’s the beta form (although the alpha form is supposedly more effective). This serum also has hyaluronic acid for hydration.

I really like this serum. It’s lightweight and absorbs easily without leaving a ‘film’ on the skin and no stickiness. I find it provides some hydration and layers very well with other products. I never experienced pilling. In terms of gently brightening the skin, I began to see results in the 3rd to 4^th week of using the serum: my skin generally looked healthier and some hyperpigmented spots seemed lighter but then I run out of it a week later. I was happy with this because although the results were slow I experienced some benefits compared to using alpha Arbutin

Verdict

Good Molecules say this serum gently brightening the skin tone and it definitely does. Gently! You definitely have to stick to using it. It provides hydration and brightening and it was very easy to add to a routine. The serum can be used day and night but I preferred it for daytime use. I wish I had another bottle to start using immediately after I finished it because I would have had better results.

Will I repurchase: yes because I really like it and it works!

Good Molecules Daily Brightening Serum is $9 on Beautylish. You can also get it in the Correct Brighten & Boost set for $29 which also has 2 two products. I got the set (it works out to be the same price if you bought those two products separately). This is the first product I have finished from the brand and I am impressed (I’ve been using the vitamin C booster powder intermittently! I still have a few products to use and I will be looking out for any new products on Beautylish