I'm finally back from my month-long absence.
Studying, exams, personal dramas and indulging in comfort food were certainly part of the equation.
I'm so glad to be liberated from my studies (for a while); definitely looking forward to engaging in more of my favourite leisure activities like cooking, hanging out with dear loved ones and SHOPPING.

On the topic of shopping, I am guilty of spending way too much this month.
As usual, I couldn't resist the pre-Christmas sales. I had to get my hands on those limited edition, released-around-Christmas beauty gifts and pressies for the special people in my life.

One unrelated purchase was a relatively new skincare product, Indeed Laboratories (Indeed Labs) Pepta-bright, purchased from Priceline (now available!) at an introductory price.
Now, I've heard of Indeed Labs' Hydraluron (earlier released product) but I wasn't interested in it much as hydration wasn't a main skincare concern of mine.


Pepta-bright is an "ultra-concentrated cream-serum" that helps to
1. Even skin tone
2. Reduce and lighten hyperpigmentation
3. prevent, treat and diminish dark spots
4. Restore luminosity and radiance to the skin
5. Prevent photoaging
6. Stimulate cell turnover
7. Maintain skin's hydration

Points 1. 2. and 3. is what I'm currently looking for in a skincare product. I'm still relatively young (early twenties), so I didn't want to use anything too harsh on my skin. After reading Caroline Hirons' review and others from younger bloggers like myself, I gave it a shot.

So yesterday, straight after cleansing, I applied the serum all over my face, minus the eye area, then topped it off with my current moisturiser. The smell was unpleasant but I didn't really mind. I went to bed and woke up four hours later to cram in a bit of studying before my exams.
Before I even observed my face after waking up, I could feel some inflammation happening under the nose area and a bit on my cheeks. The area under nose and my left cheek were covered in clusters of papules (no whiteheads) that left my skin irritated and dry. This was my first time having such an adverse reaction to a skincare product. I am actually a frequent user of relatively harsh products e.g. contains salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, so I wasn't expecting a reaction like this.

Fast forward to the next day (that's today!) and my skin has well improved after I continued with my regular skin routine and skipped Pepta-bright altogether. Papules have shrunk and hardly noticeable (some gone) but my skin around the nose and cheeks area is still dry.
There are a few factors to consider why this didn't work for me, but I won't be trying the serum again. Better safe than sorry!

Lesson learned: a product that works for another might not (unfortunately) work for you! I'm a bit letdown by the "results" but don't let that stop you from trying this product out if you're interested.

There is a lack of reviews reporting on adverse reactions, so here's my one!
If you have sensitive or "young" skin, I'll be cautious.
Product is made in Canada if you're wondering.
You can pick up Indeed Laboratories  Pepta-bright from Priceline for $27.99 during the promotional period.

I hope you found this review helpful.
Have a beautiful day everyone!

Update: After consulting with Priceline's customer service, I was told to return the product for a full refund. The product was deemed "faulty" and was to be returned to the company (or so I was told).