The Peel That Feels Expensive

Around here, we’re branding obsessives - Versed has a visual language all its own on which ingeniously carries over into its packaging: it’s details like this that we notice in the oversaturated health and wellness space. So we were tickled when we picked up Versed Skin’s The Shortcut Overnight Facial Peel in its (dare we say) Millennial Pink box and squeeze tube. Of course not all great products have great branding and great branding can hide crummy products, so that’s why we’re here to do the discerning for you (you’re welcome). A

fter cooing at the box for a good five minutes, we took it out, washed our face, and put it to work. The cream went on effortlessly: we were in awe of its super luxe consistency as the scentless peel seemed to slip and glide over itself as we smoothed it on our face. It got bonus points for also absorbing quickly without leaving our skin feeling heavy or greasy. This leave-on exfoliator works overnight while you’re sleeping to resurface and renew your complexion, so you’re basically multitasking (that’s a W in our book). That’s right - you’re not scrubbing your face with your fingertips and washing it down the drain. But no worries - it actually feels like a moisturizer, so it won’t get all over your clothes and sheets. Lactic and glycolic acid work together to break down dead skin cells, while vitamin A, one of the most powerful anti-aging ingredients, exfoliates, brightens, and hydrates. Skin-conditioning allantoin, rosehip, and vitamin E all work together to keep skin calm which is probably why, to our delight, it didn’t sting or burn during or after application, nor did leave us red, irritated, and flaky the next morning - just dewy and like, well, a fresh batch of dough. That’s because it’s also pH-balanced, non-drying, and non-irritating.

Without any sensory stimulation from the product, we were worried it wasn’t working. But this product whispers rather than screams: after a week of using it, we noticed it encouraged our face to gently slough its old dead skin.

Yes, it’s pricey, but in this instance it really is worth it. 

Versed Skin’s The Shortcut Overnight Facial Peel, $19.99

Price point: Mid

Details: Non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free