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If you spend time lurking on a particular sector of Instagram—namely, beauty editors and enthusiasts—you’ve likely become well acquainted with certain products that have an almost cult-like following. You know, the ones a certain breed of “cool girl” credits for her flawless skin when it’s probably genetics. Even before becoming a beauty editor, I would take it upon myself to try all of these “must-haves,” and like some kind of beauty investigator, I’d check each one off my master list, determined to be well-versed in the classics. But thanks to my sensitive skin and chronic acne, I found that most of them did absolutely nothing for me personally—or worse, they actually made me break out like crazy.
Yet I’m still sucked in by the allure of each new product, hoping that it will make me look just like the actress or influencer whose top shelf it was spotted on, or that it will suddenly clear up my skin at the recommendation of an editor who has never actually dealt with acne beyond the stray pimple. So it was with low expectations that I got my hands on Renée Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel after seeing it praised again and again on Instagram.
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I’d be lying if I didn’t say the first thing that appealed to me about the mask is that it looks (and smells) just like berry jam, and the idea of smearing jam all over my face was too good to pass up. The second thing that convinced me to take the plunge was the peel’s plethora of fans, from Vogue editors to pop stars like Demi Lovato.
The peel contains five acids to exfoliate—mandelic, lactic, salicylic, tartaric, and malic—as well as three different berries to provide antioxidants and soothe your skin. It’s a professional-grade peel (meaning it’s definitely not an everyday thing) and has a mix of BHAs and AHAs to work on two levels to clear pores and smooth your skin’s surface. The laundry list of concerns the brand says it addresses include: clearing blemishes and clogged pores, fading post-breakout marks, lifting discoloration, stimulating cellular renewal, andsmoothing out the texture of your skin.
I’ve been consistently using the mask for about a month (once a week), and I have to say, I’m really impressed. After one use I wasn’t convinced, but after four weeks (two of which were spent traveling to extremely different climates), I’m a believer. Not only does it not aggravate my skin, but I’ve seen a major improvement. While it hasn’t helped with my larger inflamed breakouts, I’ve seen a significant reduction of clogged pores and whiteheads on my cheeks over time. I like to follow it with Rouleau’s Rapid Response Detox Mask to further fight breakouts while my pores are open from the peel. It has also helped keep flakes at bay, which is something I always struggle with this time of year, and makes my skin feel smooth as hell.
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And then there’s the glow. As someone who has a pretty negative relationship with my skin, I don’t toss around words like radiant often, but the day or two after I use this mask, my skin can only be described as such. I look well-rested for once in my life, my skin texture feels much more uniform, and my makeup goes on smoother. The best part is that despite all the different types of acids, it’s not harsh on my sensitive skin. There’s a slight tingle when the mask is on, but as soon as I rinse it off after about seven minutes, there’s no stinging or redness.
Not only can I thank this mask for bringing my skin back to life, it has also restored my faith that sometimes things are worth the hype. You might just need to give them time.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.
