ELEANOR DOUGLAS-MEYERS
I love skincare. What I don’t love is needing what feels like a chemistry degree to figure out which product goes where, what can be mixed with what and whether the seven serums currently staring at me from my bathroom shelf are actually doing anything.
So when I was recently given the opportunity to try a selection of products from proudly South African skincare brand SKIN functional, I was immediately interested.
And because you can now pick up SKIN functional at the Woolies Beauty department in Walmer Park, it felt like the perfect excuse for a Woolies Wednesday beauty edition.
I received four products: the Salicylic Cleansing Complex, 4% Liposome Ceramide NP Impaired Barrier & Dry Skin Repair, 5% Black Ginseng + ATP Complex Daily Moisturiser and Chemical Sunscreen SPF50.
In other words: cleanse, moisturise, repair and, most importantly, SPF.
Refreshingly simple.
The other thing worth mentioning is that you can buy several of these products in mini sizes, which is ideal if you want to try them before committing to the full-size versions, need something for travelling or simply enjoy tiny skincare products more than is probably reasonable.
First up: the cleanser
The Salicylic Cleansing Complex is probably the product that initially caught my attention because salicylic acid and my skin have become fairly good friends over the years.
Designed particularly with oily and combination skin in mind, it’s a gel cleanser aimed at cleansing while helping with congestion and blemishes.
The thing I appreciate is that this doesn’t feel like one of those products that needs an entire skincare ritual built around it. It’s a cleanser. Wet face, cleanse, rinse, move on with your life.
It’s currently listed at R160 at Woolworths, which also puts it firmly in the category of skincare you can actually repurchase without having to rethink the monthly budget. (Woolworths)
And if you’re not ready to buy the full size, the mini option makes it easier to test the formula first or pop it into your toiletry bag for a weekend away.
Then things get moisturising
I received two different moisturising products, and this is where I initially wondered why I needed both.
The 5% Black Ginseng + ATP Complex Daily Moisturiser is the everyday option. SKIN functional recommends it for combination, oily, dry and sensitive skin and positions it as a daily moisturiser for hydration and healthier-looking skin. (SKIN functional)
This one makes sense as the easy morning-and-evening staple.
Woolworths currently lists the full-size Black Ginseng Daily Moisturiser at R295. (Woolworths)
Then there’s the 4% Liposome Ceramide NP Impaired Barrier & Dry Skin Repair.
This is the one I reach for when my skin needs a little more love. It’s a richer product formulated for dry and dehydrated skin and to support an impaired skin barrier. The brand says the Ceramide NP formulation is intended to strengthen the barrier and reduce moisture loss. (SKIN functional)
In normal-person language? When my face is feeling dry, tight or like I’ve perhaps been a little too enthusiastic with my skincare, this is the comforting one.
The mini sizes are particularly useful here because moisturisers can be surprisingly personal. What feels beautifully nourishing to one person can feel too rich or not rich enough to someone else, so being able to try a smaller size first is a welcome option.
And then SPF, because apparently we’re adults now
Younger me did not appreciate sunscreen nearly enough.
Current me understands that I can buy every brightening, hydrating and anti-ageing product on the shelf, but skipping SPF while living under the South African sun would be a rather spectacular way of working against myself.
The Chemical Sunscreen SPF50 offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection and is designed to be lightweight without leaving a grey or white cast. SKIN functional recommends applying it every morning and reapplying during the day as needed. (SKIN functional)
That’s exactly what I want from a daily SPF: high protection without feeling like I’ve applied beach sunscreen underneath my makeup.
The mini version is also handy for keeping in a handbag, gym bag or travel case, because sunscreen is much easier to remember when it’s actually with you.
So, is SKIN functional worth adding to the Woolies trolley?
What I’ve enjoyed most about trying the range is actually how uncomplicated it feels.
SKIN functional talks a lot about stripping away skincare jargon, and after using the products I understand the appeal. The packaging quite literally tells you what you’re holding and what it’s meant to do.
There isn’t a fantasy ingredient harvested during a full moon or a 14-step ritual involved.
And there’s something else I particularly like: it’s South African.
You can find SKIN functional at the Woolies Beauty department in Walmer Park, making it easy to browse the range in person. The availability of mini sizes is another bonus, particularly if you’re curious about the products but don’t want to immediately commit to full-size bottles and tubes.
For me, the four products also make sense together without insisting that you need all four.
Cleanse. Give your skin moisture. Reach for the barrier repair when it needs extra help. Wear your SPF.
Simple.
And sometimes, particularly when it comes to skincare, simple is exactly what I want.
Disclosure: The SKIN functional products featured in this article were gifted to me to try. This article reflects my own experience and opinions.
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