As I near my 30s, I’m starting to get more and more conscious about my skin. Skin concerns that may be signs of aging (or stress) — crows feet, sagging, wrinkles, dark spots, and dark under eyes to name a few, continue to bug me every time I look in the mirror. Even though it’s not something that other people necessarily notice, I tend to be more self-aware of my “flaws”. As the problem solver that I am, I usually find a way to address these rather than embracing the fact that I am getting old. After all, there are ways to help slow signs of aging!

The Avon ANEW Skin Reset Plumping Shots are one of the things that I believe somehow worked since I started using it in May 2021. Although they’re called “shots”, it’s not something you need to inject or digest. These “shots” or serums are stored in ampoules and are recommended to be applied on the face (and neck) daily for seven days straight every month. It comes with an Avon-exclusive patented Protinol Technology which increases production of collagen III — the secret to baby skin.

According to the guide included in its box, this one-week treatment is “formulated with the latest exclusive technology discovery from Avon, which helps to intensely hydrate, plump, tighten and firm skin.” At first, I thought that it’s too good to be true since it promises to work within just 7 days, but I saw a lot of positive reviews online which were encouraging enough to convince me to take a leap of faith and try it myself!

HOW TO USE IT?

1. Wash your face and pat dry.
2. Gently flick the cap to make sure that none of the serum spills once you open the ampoule.
3. Snap off the top.
4. Pour the serum on your hands and apply the product on your face, neck, and chest (if there’s still enough).
5. Let it dry a bit and seal it in with your night time moisturizer.

HOW DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

Like regular serums, it feels a bit sticky at first but it eventually dries up after a few minutes. It’s light on the skin so it won’t feel icky even if you top it off with a night cream. I would recommend to use this at night because the Skin Reset Plumping Shots give off an oily look even after drying and it’s not advisable to put makeup on top of it as that would defeat the purpose of the serum.

According to representatives from Avon, “The best application of Protinol is at night to achieve maximum results, just because during the day skin is exposed to external aggressors like: UV light, pollution, and humidity which could slow down results and collagen production. However, if you’re just staying at home, Protinol can be used in the morning as you won’t be exposed to the external aggressors listed above.”

My skin feels tighter and plumper in the morning every time I use a Skin Reset Plumping Shot. It’s plump but it doesn’t give off the just-woke-up puffy feeling (which I hate).

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS?

When I started in May, I’d be honest that I didn’t see a lot of effects back then. It does a good job in keeping my skin feeling softer, smoother, and tighter when I wake up vs non-serum days when it looks puffy or swollen. However, life was less stressful back then as I just left my previous job so my skin was somehow at its best state.

The reason why I’m writing this blog now is because factors have drastically changed in the past month. This July, I have experienced sleepless nights and anxiety-induced stress, which may have triggered sudden pimples, skin roughness, and more wrinkles around my eyes (probably due to tired eyes or rubbing, I’m not so sure, I’m not an expert on this) so there are more things to “fix”. Here’s a photo of my face from Day 1 of ANEW and a photo from Day 7:

No shame, my skin wasn’t really at its best state pre-ANEW. I may have made the mistake of taking photos from two different locations with different lightings but I used the same camera with #nofilter. Anyway, despite this, what I want to point out is the look of my skin, which would remain the same no matter what light or angle you look at. I started with bumpy skin, dry patches around my eyes, pimple marks, and just an overall tired appearance. Take a look at my forehead, undereyes, and nose from Day 1 vs Day 7. That’s a huge leap for me.

I didn’t use new products during my ANEW week, same as before, I only stick to the same facial wash, toner, and day cream. Only added ANEW Skin Reset Plumping Shots topped with ANEW Retroactive Youth Extending Cream at night to get that result. I’m happy with the result from my second try and I’d love to continue using it to see if it can get better over time.

With its price of Php 1,299 and quick effects, I’d say it’s worth it! That’s all I have to say for now. Hoping to see more positive effects in the next few months. I’ll try to keep you updated via Instagram at @hello_ces!

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