Ad/Anzeige* Finding the right treatment when you deal with breakouts is a mission – especially if you also suffer from sensitive or sensitised skin. And… You kind of want your products to hydrate too, right? Well, guess what: the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment is here for the rescue, and I am here with a review of this baby pink K-beauty darling!
Korean beauty brand AXIS-Y has been trending for a while now, and I’ve been aware of them since their inception. I think one of their first products to go viral was the Artichoke Intensive Skin Barrier Ampoule*, one of the few products I know to use artichoke as a main ingredient (rich in antioxidants and naturally astringent). Back then I was insta intrigued, but somehow never got to try their products. Until now!
I actually received 3 AXIS-Y products in total a while back, and you will hear more about all three in the coming weeks. For today’s review, we’ll focus on their newest product: the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment, a cute little ampoule which packs a surprisingly impressive punch against breakouts. But, let’s go through this step by step and first learn a bit more about the brand AXIS-Y and what ingredient goodies are hidden inside the Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment.
AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment – Potent Ingredient Cocktail for Targeting Breakouts
At 42, I’m technically not at an age anymore where I should struggle with bona fide acne. I had, however, severe adult acne in my 20s, and so I know very well how debilitating it can be. I remember crying while putting on makeup in the mornings, because my skin hurt so badly from having these giant pimples growing on top of already existing ones. It was not just a “vanity” thing, but an actually painful experience, where even trying to take care of my skin would feel uncomfortable. So if you suffer from acne or painful breakouts – I fully get it!
Even though classical acne isn’t a problem I have anymore, I still struggle with breakouts regularly, especially around my period and whenever there is a change in weather patterns. Well, we are transitioning from summer to autumn right now, which is “prime time” for these types of breakouts. And, yep, my skin has indeed been acting up like crazy. So really, trying out this new skincare release couldn’t have come at a better time – my uncharacteristically oily, pimple-pestered autumn skin was ready for a change.
As the name suggests, the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment has been formulated specifically to target breakouts and help provide both hydration as well as soothing anti-inflammation to breakout-prone, troubled skin. One of the key ingredients in this ampoule/serum is “4-Terpineol”, an active compound derived from tea tree, great for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and even antioxidant care. I’ve always loved tea tree for sebum control and breakouts, together with centella asiatica (which this serum also contains!) it’s one of my favourite ingredients for troubled skin.
You may be able to spot tiny pink beads suspended in the gel texture of the ampoule when you look at the above image – these are ceramide capsules which melt into the formula when applied to the skin. Ceramides provide moisture and help support your skin barrier, with a strengthened, healthy skin barrier in turn being able to fight off bacteria that may cause acne and inflammation. And oh look, my all time favourite skincare ingredient niacinamide is also here to help balance out excess sebum levels, refine the appearance of pores and calm down redness.
Here is the full list of ingredients for the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment:
“Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract, Mentha Aquatica Extract, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Leaf Extract, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark/Bud Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Trehalose, Octyldodeceth-16, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Ceramide Np, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, 4-Terpineol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Rhizome/Root, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin.”
Apart from the already mentioned 4-Terpineol, the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment also contains antioxidant green tea extract, calming fig extract and water mint, a mild mint species that has been used in Europe as an astringent and antibacterial healing herb since ancient times. Apparently, it was one of the most revered herbs to Celtic druids! As for hydration, the Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment provides plenty, mainly in the form of hyaluronic acid, beta glucan, aloe vera and algae extract plus bamboo water. Now, if you are very sensitive to essential oils, be aware that the camphor and rosemary oil contained in this may be a sensitivity trigger, so double check if you are ok with natural fragrance. The ampoule is alcohol-free!
AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment – How to Use and What to Expect
If you’ve been reading here for a while you know that I’m careful about promising “miracle” results, and especially when it comes to blemishes and acne, you can’t expect overnight results. That being said, I feel that a good blemish treatment usually shows a betterment of breakouts within the span of a few days if used regularly. It won’t fully clear up skin or make blemishes disappear completely, but usually I can see a noticeable betterment, e.g. less redness, less inflammation, and even a reduction of a pimple’s size. So, that’s the sort of expectation I had for using the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment!
Now, I feel one of the important things for getting good results with this all over spot treatment is to know how to properly use it. For instance, I personally would use this product in place of your regular actives and not use any additional actives in the same routine – the AHA and BHA content doesn’t seem super high, but I did notice this tingling a bit for sure. So, just to be on the safe side if you have sensitive skin, try this ampoule first without using additional chemical peelings in your routine. I would say if you’re using a retinol and have been using it for a while, that should work fine then together with the Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment. Personally I prefer using this ampoule treatment at night, but honestly, I think this can also be used in the morning if you prefer that – but, once a day should be enough overall!
Cleanse your skin like you normally do and use a toner if you like. Then, apply a few drops of the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment. I find that a little goes a long way indeed, and usually two drops are enough to cover my entire face. You can also apply this focusing only on the areas with breakouts, though for me personally the texture refining properties of the ampoule have been so great that I use this all over. The little pink ceramide beads automatically dissolve when applied, so there is no need to rub this in strongly, just gently massage the gel into your skin like you would any other serum or ampoule.
Even though this is quite hydrating thanks to all the humectant goodness contained in the formula and those lovely ceramides, I still tend to use an additional serum after this, but if your skin is on the oilier side or you’re still young (teens, 20s and early 30s), you might not need this extra hydrating boost. Just finish your skincare routine with all your other regular products after this!
As for the texture, this is a very light and pleasant gel formula, non-sticky and easily absorbed by the skin. It has a very faint herbal scent, which I believe comes from the rosemary essential oil. Personally, I didn’t have a problem with the fragrance in this one, you know I am ok with a bit of fragrance if it’s an overall well-formulated product!
So – what effect did the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment have on my skin then, and on my blemishes in particular? The first thing I noticed when waking up the next day after using this is that my complexion looked clearer overall – the texture was noticeably more refined and smoother-looking. My usual breakout areas are on my chin and my left cheek (hey-ho side sleeper woes!), and no, the pimples forming there had not miraculously disappeared overnight. Again, I do not expect this from a blemish treatment! What did happen, however, was that the redness I always struggle with had died down quite a bit, and I could tell the breakouts were significantly less “angry.” Even better: the ampoule hadn’t aggravated my skin at all or dried it out like other blemish treatments can do sometimes.
AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment – the Bottom Line
I’ve been using the Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment for a good three weeks now, usually around 2-3 days a week, and it’s been a great addition to my hormonal breakout combatting arsenal. In fact, I’m surprised how well this works for my, ahem, middle-aged (yikes it’s hard to type that out!!!) combo skin, with that perfect balance of gentle, yet effective in treating sudden breakouts. I feel this is a great treatment for anyone struggling with breakouts, no matter what age you are, and could be especially great if more aggressive actives are too much for your skin.
So where can you buy the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment? The 15ml ampoule is available at the AXIS-Y online shop for 16$ – they ship globally to 32 countries, so chances are your country will be on the list too! As an alternative, Stylekorean* also has this treatment serum available for currently 18$.
Let me know in the comments: Have you tried any AXIS-Y products yet? What’s your go-to product when you’re dealing with breakouts, hormonal or otherwise?
Take care guys, and stay safe – don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest K-Beauty and skincare news!
*Ad/Anzeige, in collaboration with AXIS-Y – all views in this review are entirely my own! Links marked with an * are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission when you use them, and a tracking cookie is placed. This does not increase the amount you pay when you purchase via these links.
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