First Impressions: 4.5.6 Skin - Custom Skincare for Melanin-Rich Skin
Everyone’s skin is different so why do we always use standard skincare products, and expect to achieve the same results? We all know that different skin types (dry, combination, oily) play a role in the ingredients we reach out for when skincare shopping but there is more to this than we think. Melanin-rich skin deserves skincare that has been formulated with black and brown skin tones in mind. This isn’t common in the current skincare industry but 4.5.6 Skin are here to change that.
4.5.6 Skin are a skincare brand who provide customised skincare products for black and brown skin tones whilst still catering to your individual skin concerns. Formulated at the French Cosmetic Valley by a team of research scientists, formulation experts and dermatologists, the skincare range offers fresh and made-to-order products packed with effective ingredients personalised to your skin phototype, skin type and concerns.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to be gifted a set from 4.5.6 Skin and I will be sharing my first impressions on the products I’ve tried out below. I opted for The 3-Step Glow Set for Phototype 4 combination skin with acne, dark spots and dull skin as my 3 main skin concerns. For fragrance preference, I went for mild. (The fragrances used are also 100% non-allergenic).
Before I get into the individual product details, I wanted to mention how much I love the packaging! Very simple in design but the glass packaging is fully recyclable and offers better protection for the formulas in comparison to plastic. As the products are made-to-order, the ingredients are fresh and more effective. Lastly, I love the labels - personalised with your name and also a best before date - very important nudge to make sure you’re not using expired ingredients on your skin.
A gentle cleansing oil that can be used day or night, or both! I usually opt for a water-based cleanser in the mornings so I started off using this in my nighttime routine only. Having tried it with a bare face, a little bit of makeup and with a full face of makeup, I can say this cleanser does a great job of removing all signs of makeup and impurities on the skin. It’s recommended to use 5 pumps of this cleanser however 2-3 was sufficient for me on a bare face and 5-6 with a full face of makeup. The cleanser feels luxurious and the mild fragrance really helps me zone out and give myself a mini self-care spa moment every evening! I really enjoy massaging this into my skin and the consistency isn’t too thick either - just enough to make sure it grips on and removes any makeup or dirt. The formula doesn’t feel sticky and is very easy to rinse off.
After use, my skin feels like a fresh canvas! Skin is noticeably brighter and smoother and I feel confident that my skin is free from impurities. Skin texture was never a huge concern for me but after using this I’ve realised how the texture of my skin is much smoother than it used to be, especially near my nose and cheeks. The best part of this is that my skin doesn’t feel dry afterwards and I find that many “effective” cleansers I’ve used in the past also make my skin dry and tight. In the last few months, I’ve also been suffering from breakouts around my cheeks/chin area and since using this, I’ve had no new breakouts.
4.5.6 Skin refer to this product as “A vitamin shot for the skin” and I completely agree. I use this in replace of a face serum after cleansing my skin both day and night. 1-2 pumps of this is all I need as it’s a light-weight water-based formula that spreads well. The lotion is instantly absorbed and leaves a subtle healthy glow to the skin. Just like the cleanser, I feel so confident when applying this to my skin and my skin feels healthier since using this.
The hyaluronic acid in the product gives you a slightly sticky feeling when you first apply it (which was caveated on site, thanks for the transparency 4.5.6 Skin) and I was unsure if I would be able to layer additional products on top without them pilling. However, the stickiness goes as soon as the product is absorbed into your skin and I could layer on a moisturiser on top without any issues. Not only does this keep my skin well-hydrated, but the colour of this tonic also reminds me of drinking cosmos on a rooftop bar in the summertime so it definitely gets 5 stars from me!
I was really excited to use this mask as it’s claimed to be the founder’s favourite product from the range and I also love a good face mask on pamper days. I’ve started using this once a week but will begin using it 2-3 times a week as recommended. Upon first glance at the product, I was a bit sceptical of how grainy the mask seemed and was conscious of it being potentially too harsh for my skin however the product doesn’t contain microbeads and the grains are made from rose clay.
The mask is really easy to apply and surprisingly not as thick as I was expecting it to be. The texture doesn’t feel as grainy as it looks either which I liked. On application, the mask feels cool on the skin however I did start to feel a tingly feeling shortly after. This concerned me as I didn’t want my skin to feel irritated however once I rinsed my face after the recommended 3 minute wait time, the tingly feeling stopped and my skin didn’t feel irritated at all. While rinsing the mask, I could feel very small grains in the mask which I used to gently exfoliate the skin in circular motions. My skin was left feeling very smooth and refreshed and ready to absorb some skincare products!
I really think 4.5.6 Skin has changed the way I see skincare products and their effectiveness and I hope customised skincare becomes the norm in the upcoming years. I’m looking forward to using these products over the next few months and will be doing a full review on how these products help me with my skin concerns so stay tuned for that.
Kavita K xo
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***My views on these products are from my own personal experiences. Please remember that everyone reacts differently to different products – products that work for me may not work well for you. Be sure to do some research before making purchases, especially if you do have allergies to certain ingredients.***