If you follow my blog, you know I have sensitive skin and struggle to find suitable products. I prefer brands with sample sizes to avoid wasting money on full-sized products that might not work for me. Recently, I tried the Dot and Key sample size moisturizers from Smytten and wanted to share my experience. I have used their Cica and niacinamide night gel before, and it surprisingly helped soothe my sensitive skin.
PRODUCT DETAILS
The Dot and Key 72-Hour Probiotic Gel Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid and Rice Water enhances skin elasticity and firmness while maintaining suppleness. Apply this lightweight, oil-free gel moisturizer once or twice daily after cleansing and toning for hydrated, dewy skin. It strengthens the skin barrier, balances the microbiome, and improves overall skin texture.
PRICE: 60ml – Rs495.00
RICE WATER
Rice water is an age old Asian beauty secret that is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which help keep your skin moisturised and nourished while its mild astringent quality does work well to tone and tighten the skin, reducing the appearance of pores.
Consistent use helps you achieve a brighter complexion by repairing sun damage and it also reduces the appearance of dark spots. The enzymes present in rice water have mild exfoliating properties which help smoothen your skin texture. Rice water has anti-inflammatory properties which help soothe irritated skin.
HYALURONIC ACID
Hyaluronic acid as many of you may already know helps pull water to the surface of the skin and is capable of holding water molecules many times its own size. This helps moisturise and plump your skin keeping it happy, healthy, and youthful.
CERAMIDES
Ceramides help to form a protective barrier that locks in moisture, keeping the skin soft, supple, and healthy. When the skin does not have enough ceramides or has a broken skin barrier for whatever reason, it may become dry, irritated, and dull. Ceramide creams help with skin repair and are often used with retinol to reduce skin irritation.
PROBIOTICS
Probiotics help repair and protect the skin barrier which is highly beneficial for those with sensitive skin since It helps soothe and calm angry skin. Studies do claim that probiotic bacteria do have a positive effect on treating various skin issues like acne and rosacea.
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps moisturise the skin and keep it hydrated. It also helps neutralise free radicals that accelerate aging and prevents fine lines and wrinkles. Being anti-inflammatory, vitamin E is known to help with dry skin conditions like Psoriasis and Eczema.
CITRIC ACID
Citric acid helps exfoliate the skin and leaves your skin brighter and more even-toned.
PACKAGING
The Dot and Key probiotic moisturiser comes in a cute tub packaging which we all know is unhygienic but other than that, the tub itself is sturdy and its sample size is very travel friendly too.
FRAGRANCE
Unfortunately, this product does contain artificial fragrance. The brand specifies it as an allergen-free fragrance which I am not sure exists. So those with sensitive skin should do a patch test first.
CONSISTENCY
This product has a lightweight gel texture which makes it easy to absorb without leaving any oiliness behind.
REVIEW
Skin Type – Normal Sensitive
The Dot and Key probiotic moisturiser sinks into the skin easily and moisturises for about 3-4 hours. It certainly does not moisturise for 72 hours as claimed by the brand but the effects may be slighter better for those with oily skin. I had to use another moisturiser on top to keep my skin hydrated all throughout the day. On the plus side, this does not interact with other actives.
The moisturiser has a mild and pleasant scent that fades away in a couple of minutes. I have a sensitive nose and am prone to headaches, but this product did not have any negative effects on my health or skin. But as I said before, a patch is a MUST if you have sensitive skin.
Coming to the question of breakouts and skin irritations, I am pleasantly surprised that despite containing artificial fragrance and citric acid, this moisturiser did not clog the pores or irritate my skin.
I do agree that this moisturiser does contain some impressive ingredients but I did not notice any significant changes in my skin tone or texture. It is a below-average moisturiser since many other pharma moisturisers perform far better than this one and that too, is well within the price range.
PROS
Lightweight
Gets absorbed quickly
Oil-free
Mild fragrance
Hydrates the skin
Did not cause breakouts or irritate my skin
CONS
Does not hydrate well as claimed.
Not suitable for the winter season.
RATING – 2/5
The Dot and Key probiotic moisturiser is a decent budget-friendly product that is most suited for oily skin. I would suggest getting a trial-size product first before investing in a full size product.
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