I was given the opportunity to test out the Banish Starter Kit by Banish skincare about a month ago and will be sharing my thoughts with you today. Since this brand is focused on acne and acne scarring, it was important that I took my time to truly test out the products and give an honest review, so here we go!
Banish is a natural, cruelty-free skincare brand that focuses on easy to use at-home products for acne & acne scars. Their products are intended to deliver amazing results for a fraction of the cost of expensive procedures. All of these products are free from parabens, sulfates, dyes, fragrance, silcones, and mineral oil. They are also vegan and cruelty free.
The founder, Daisy Jing has suffered from acne since the third grade, and has created this powerful movement that normalizes real skin. Her movement is about skin positivity and letting people know that being “perfect” is not realistic. I was so excited to try this brand, and very much related to Daisy’s story because I also suffered from acne at a young age.
Banish kindly sent me the Banish Starter Kit which comes with 6 full sized skin care products that combat concerns like hyperpigmentation, breakouts, and acne scars. The Banish Starter Kit is their best-selling kit and number 1 recommendation when starting your Banish journey! The Banish Starter Kit is great for all skin types.
The following products were kindly gifted by Banish Skincare – thank you, Banish!
What Does The Banish Starter Kit Do?
- Reduces the look of old or new acne scars and dark marks
- Improves the look of uneven skin tone and texture
- Promotes firmness of skin
- Reduces appearance of fine lines
What You’ll Get:
- All Clear Mint Cleanser
- Banish Oil ( vitamin c serum )
- Vitamin C Beauty Elixir
- Banisher 2.0
- Pumpkin Enzyme Masque
- Fighter Gel
- Vitamin C Creme
- Storage Bag
All Clear Mint Cleanser
This is a mild foaming gel cleanser that contains ingredients like chamomile leaf extract proven to reduce inflammation and redness, and vitamin B5 to prevent dry skin. I have oily skin, so I can appreciate the fact that this cleanser doesn’t dry out my skin which as you know can cause increased oil production. Instead, this has left my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. This is a great second cleanse to use after applying an oil based cleanser or cleansing balm.
Banish Oil
Acne scars are the most difficult to remove from the skin. Even if you don’t pick at your skin, you can still experience some acne scarring. My scars are from hormonal acne, and the most recent scars are from “maskne”. The older the scar is, the more difficult it is to remove them. Since adding this oil into my routine, I can say that the scarring on my chin looks less apparent. I still have a ways to go, but I am confident that if I keep using these products, my skin will improve.
This is a Vitamin C serum that is formulated with the most potent form of Vitamin C: L-ascorbic acid. This type of Vitamin C is proven to improve skin tone and texture. The Banish Oil is a glycerin based serum that hydrates dry skin. I find that this is actually thicker than most serums that I have used, but it quickly absorbs into the skin. I love using this in my nighttime routine, but if I used it during the day I always follow up with sunscreen.
Vitamin C Beauty Elixir – facial mist
The Vitamin C Elixir is my jam right now! I wake up with a brighter complexion and hydrated skin. This facial mist helps reduce redness while providing a burst of hydration to the skin. I love using this in my nighttime routine after cleansing and moisturizing. It’s great for all skin types and also helps reduce the appearance of pores.
Related:
Key Ingredients
- Vitamin C – Antioxidant that promotes collagen, and fades the look of dark marks.
- Organic bilberry extract – potent antioxidant to fight against redness.
- Tea Tree Oil – to reduce frequency of breakouts on acne prone skin.
- Aloe Vera – Soothing and calming to reduce redness.
Banisher 2.0
The Banisher 2.0 looked scary and intriguing at the same time. This is an at home microneedling tool that helps reduce the appearance of acne scars, dark marks, fine lines and wrinkles. The Banisher 2.0 should be used once per week in your nighttime routine on clean skin. For the best results use the banisher with the Banish Oil, vitamin c creme or vitamin c beauty elixir after. I like to use this with the Banish Oil to treat my older acne scars. This should not be used on active pimples.
Pumpkin Enzyme Masque
The pumpkin enzyme mask exfoliates the skin revealing a healthy glowing complexion. When using this mask you may feel a tingling sensation, but it only last for about a minute. It is recommended that it is only used 1-2 days before or after using the Banisher 2.0. It does contain Glycolic Acid which can be quite strong on the skin. My experience with glycolic acid has not been the best. I use this mask once per week because of this. It smells exactly like pumpkin puree!
Fighter Gel
Now onto my favorite product, the fighter gel. This is a water based gel that can be used on the face and body to relieve redness, new breakouts, flaky skin, and eczema. I love using this when I feel a pimple forming under my skin, it helps to ease the pain and inflammation. You can apply a small amount after serums but before creams in both your morning and night routines.
Vitamin C Creme
The Vitamin C Creme works to firm the skin, even skin tone, and reduce the appearance of dark marks. I am always skeptical about which moisturizers I use in my morning routine, because they are often too heavy and can leave my skin feeling greasy throughout the day. This did not do that at all, in fact I found that it absorbs quickly into the skin and works well with makeup and sunscreen. This Vitamin C cream is concentrated with 20% Vitamin C to reverse dark spots and skin damage.
I hope you enjoyed this review and hopefully you are interested in testing out the Banish Starter Kit. These products have really helped prevent maskne during these uncertain times. You can purchase of all these products separately or in the kit. Banish has different kits for different needs, so I highly recommend checking out their website.
What products have you been loving lately for acne and acne scarring?
I know I have been absent from this space, and that is because I am simply lacking motivation and creativity. If you have any tips for getting back into the swing of things leave them down below.
xx,
Brianna