Are These Cult Skincare Pads Really as Good as a Professional Facial?
While so many skincare products on the market promise to replicate that post-facial feel, I’ll be honest. I have only found a handful of products in my 18+ years as a beauty editor that truly make my skin look and feel post-facial worthy.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve discovered plenty of skincare gems along the way and apply them with pride. But to say something gives my skin the facial-factor is high praise indeed, and I use this term very rarely.
So when I heard about Cosmetic Consult’s overnight skincare pads, Miracle Skin Transformation (£39.99 /$53 from Cosmetic Consult), I was interested in trying them out. Because, while the brand doesn’t re-claim the facial in so many words (although it does mention ‘in-clinic results’), these pads have a cult following and I’ve read countless reviews from users saying the product is as good as, even after the first use.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The brand is owned by skincare expert and podcaster Ashley Stobart, who we’re big fans of over here at LTG. Just one episode of her podcast, ‘Nip, Tuck, Not Giving A…’ will give you an insight into her no-nonsense approach to everything beauty (and this honesty is why we even asked her to be part of our judging panel for the Live That Glow Independent Beauty Awards).
But the fact that I’m already and Ashley fan then put even more pressure on her product. I ended up nervous to try the pads because what if I didn’t love them?
So where would these pads fit into my already packed skincare routine? And did they make any difference to my skin? Keep scrolling to read my honest review…
The product details
Miracle Skin Transformation is the first launch for Cosmetic Consult and the idea for the product was born through Ashley’s love of skincare and eventual career as a skin specialist when she ran a successful bespoke facial clinic.
The box consists of four sachets, each containing one pad to be used weekly (you can build up to three times a week if your skin can tolerate it).
Image – Courtesy of writer
Ingredients include vigna acontifolia (a natural alternative to retinol which stimulates collagen production and improves skin texture), retinyl palmitate (which enhances cell turnover and reduces fine lines and wrinkles), salicylic acid and will bark extract (which work together to minimise pores and reduce inflammation), seven seen extract (for hydration, repair and calm) and salix alba (which soothes, reduces redness, shrinks the appearance of pores and gently exfoliates.)
The idea is that you use the pad on a cleansed face, neck, chest and back of hands to rejuvenate and refresh your skin overnight. After just one application, the pad promises to make the skin look younger and healthier. The website describes it as an ‘overnight boost.’
First impressions
The box makes an impression as soon as you see it. It’s huge, especially for something containing only four sachets and I really hoped this wasn’t a decoy.
Each sachet is presented neatly in a row and after taking out my first one, I was pleased at how easy it was to open (is there anything more annoying than trying to tear something like this open and it not actually tearing?).
Image – Courtesy of writer
When I pulled out the pad my first impression was that it was bigger than I expected – all the images I had seen of the pad were clearly of it folded up. I unfolded it and it transformed into a palm-sized wipe, which boded well for covering all areas, and quickly too.
Don’t let the word ‘wipe’ fool you though. This was anything but. For a start it is absolutely saturated in product – I didn’t want to waste any on the palm of my hands – and, unlike with a wipe, I knew from the feel of it that if nothing else, it was going to hydrate my skin.
My results
My 41-year-old skin is oily and prone to hormonal acne breakouts. I double cleanse in the evening and then treat it to my favourite Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Acid Night Treatment, followed by their firming night cream.
While I’m happy with my routine, the relentless ageing process means I am always in hot pursuit of firmer, tighter skin so I would love it to look more even and healthier overall. I was therefore pretty excited to actually try the product on my skin.
These pads sail around my skin with ease and feel super luxurious, so that’s the first win.
For me and my non-sensitive skin, there is zero sting too – phew – just a cooling, refreshing, moisturising feel. My skin felt instantly hydrated and it looked glossy and fresh. What I really liked was how much liquid comes in just one pad – you don’t feel like you’re frantically trying to run it around your skin in case you run out of moisture, it’s all a pretty relaxing, pampering experience.
Around 10 to 15 minutes later my skin began to feel more tacky, less wet, so I then went in with my night cream (I skipped my usual night treatment as I didn’t want to overload my skin with acids) and went to bed that night with my skin feeling comfortable and nicely plump. Just how I like it.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The next morning I woke up to even plumper, glowier skin. It felt tight but not dry-tight. Firm-tight. Again, just how I like it.
Because I was already such a fan of Ashley’s, I’m genuinely a bit worried that no one is going to believe me when I say the next bit. My results were very much like the ones I experience after having a professional facial. Yup, my skin looked amazing. Like the best version of itself.
My fine lines had been filled out, my skin seemed overall more even, and it also felt smoother than it had for a very long time. I couldn’t believe how baby soft it was and, once I’d cleansed as normal and done my usual morning skincare regime, my foundation simply glided around my face like a skate on ice. This feeling was particularly noticeable.
I genuinely couldn’t believe the change in my skin after just one application – the appearance of my pores had massively reduced, my oil to matte ratio felt more balanced and my overall skin texture, frankly, looked like it had a filter on it. “Seriously impressive,” I thought. “When can I apply the next one?”
Without wanting to burst my (or your) bubble, that’s the sting right there. The packaging says you can use the pads up to three times a week as long as your skin tolerates it, but the brand’s general advice on the website alludes to once weekly.
My skin is pretty resilient these days as I use quite a few acids daily so ideally, I’d choose the first option if it means my skin would carry on looking and feeling like it did that first morning. But of course, there are only four pads in a box, so if I were to use them that frequently, my box would be finished in a little over a week.
So, for those who truly love this product and whose skin laps it up (*raises hand*), the desire to go for more than one application a week is sort of scuppered by the amount you get in the box.
I wish there were at least 8-12 pads in a box so that us addicts (which I now consider myself to be) could pick and choose how often we apply them over the course of a month. Then that would at least give us some breathing space financially (we’ll come on to the price later) and have great looking skin in the process.
Overall though, ‘Miracle Transformation’ feels like a fitting name for these clever pads. The look of my skin the morning after, and for the rest of that day actually, is indeed pretty miraculous and it does feel like my skin is given a big boost while I sleep.
Overall value for money
The box of four sachets costs £39.99/$53 or you can subscribe to a delivery either every two weeks, or every month, for a little less each time – £34.99/$47.
For me personally, it’s sadly unrealistic to spend this kind of money monthly (and to be honest, I would rather choose the two-weekly option anyway, which would work out to be even more expensive.)
The pads give amazing results, there’s no denying it and I am pretty obsessed, plus they work straight away which helps when there are only four in a box. But I wouldn’t be being honest if I claimed the price was sustainable for those on a budget. And that is coming from someone who really, really loves them and wants to recommend them to everyone.
What I would advise, if you’re not financially able to spend this regularly, is to save them. Save them for the run up to attending a wedding, save them for an important work event when you want to look your best – save them for any special occasion.
Alternatively, cut them in half if you’re going to be using them regularly to get twice the use from them. The pads themselves are generous enough to do this with, you’d just need to work out a way to keep the second half fresh until you used it.
Finally, you could also go for a similar product which contains more in the box. Dr Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Perfectly Dosed Retinol Universal 0.2% give similar (although not quite as impressive) results for slightly less.
One pack contains 8 pads and costs £45, which works out cheaper (8 of the Cosmetic Consult pads would cost £69.92).
What other users are saying
One user, Amie Forster on the Cosmetic Consult site agrees with me that 4 sachets seemed a bit stingy but said, “but OMG how wrong I was after the first use my skin was smoother/glowing and fresher. I couldn’t wait a week for the next so have been using them every 4/5 days and my skin looks so good that I’m now going makeup free with just a moisturiser.”
I’m not quite there yet with going makeup free (will I ever be?!) but I know that this was one of Ashley’s aims for the product so it’s great to hear it’s working.
Alicia M also pointed out the huge box. “The branding is stunning but the box is so unnecessarily big – you don’t need to justify the price with oversized packaging. The results of this impeccable treatment will speak for themselves.” They are indeed amazing results, whether you carry on with it or not just depends on your budget.
Not everyone is a fan though, a user called Beverley Wright gave this product three stars and wrote, “skin felt dry after use.” I didn’t feel any inkling of dryness after use – sure, I have oily skin, but that doesn’t mean I don’t experience dryness with certain products. However, if you find them drying, or if they make your skin uncomfortable, as with any product I would stop using them.
The takeaway
These skin pads delivered just what I was looking for in just one application. My skin had noticeably improved, and I felt confident in both my skin and my makeup. Imagine what would happen if I used them regularly.
Unfortunately, that’s all I can do – imagine – because the amount I would like to use them is beyond my personal budget. I guess booking in for regular facials would work out to be more expensive, but I feel like a glowy, glassy carrot has been dangled thanks to the easier ‘at-home’ element and I’m sulking because I can’t have more.
If you can commit financially to the monthly subscription though and you’re happy with just doing one application per week, run to order them, don’t walk. I highly recommend them and my results – all, er, four of them – have been insanely good.
Get Glowing!
