The highest concentration ingredient in the Drying Lotion is isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol. This ingredient will definitely dry out a blemish, but it can also dry out your skin. Since this is a spot treatment, we think the alcohol in the formula is okay if you need to get rid of a zit ASAP. But it’s not something you want to be using on a regular basis. Like most cleansers, the formula contains surfactants as key ingredients. A surfactant molecule contains one end that is hydrophilic (attracted to water) and one end that is lipophilic (attracted to oil). This allows surfactants to attract and suspend oils, dirt, and other impurities that have accumulated on the skin and wash them away. Just as the name suggests, vitamin C is the key ingredient in Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum. In fact, the formula includes three forms of vitamin C — ascorbic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid — for enhanced stability. Others who tried Mario Badescu Drying Lotion didn’t notice any change whatsoever. For example, one review says, “I used this product after I wash my face and use my toner before going to bed, sadly it did not make any changes for me, I tried using it for a week.” Our Verdict

Whatever you do, don’t shake the bottle. It’s tempting—it’s the first thing most people do when they see it—but Drying Lotion is meant to work as a bi-phase solution. Overall, we think that some Mario Badescu skin care products are better than others, and we would recommend avoiding the products that include parabens and fragrance. ProsAs for the fragrance used in Mario Badescu products, we already mentioned that fragrance has the potential to cause skin sensitivity. In addition, the use of synthetic fragrance ingredients can be a problem because the brand can use a proprietary blend of chemicals to create the fragrance, and they do not have to disclose which chemicals they use on the label. They are allowed to list this blend as “Fragrance (Parfum)” on the ingredient list. Bottom Line: An alcohol-free, mild resurfacing toner that uses glycolic acid to promote mild exfoliation, but keep in mind the formula includes parabens and fragrance. Papain works on the surface of the skin to dissolve keratin, a protein found within skin that acts as a glue to keep skin cells together. By dissolving keratin, the papain enzyme helps to exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells, leaving skin looking brighter with a more even tone. Exfoliating the skin also helps to prevent acne since the buildup of dead skin cells can clog pores. Mario Badescu is a mid-priced brand; the products are slightly more than your average drugstore product, yet they are far more affordable than luxury brands like Drunk Elephant and SK-II . Vitamin C also helps fade dark spots, evens out skin tone, and increases radiance. As if that wasn’t enough, research suggests that when vitamin C is applied to the skin, it significantly reverses aging-related structural changes by influencing collagen and elastin synthesis.

These brightening ingredients are formulated into a base of kaolin, a type of natural clay that helps to absorb excess oil and unclog pores. It also helps to gently exfoliate your skin as you wash the mask off.

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The one thing we don’t love about this formula is the inclusion of fragrance ingredients. While fragrance certainly creates a pleasant sensorial experience, these fragrance ingredients have the potential to cause skin irritation. One thing you’ll notice about Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is that there’s a separation of pink sediment at the bottom and clear liquid on top, which may tempt you to shake the bottle. But no matter how tempted you are, don’t shake the bottle! Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is formulated to work overnight on whiteheads and other type of acne. According to the manufacturer, it dries up acne overnight without drying the skin, which is a common side effect of many acne washes and treatments.

Bottom Line: A refreshing gel cleanser that uses surfactants and papaya fruit extract to clean and exfoliate the skin.And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it can. Vitamin C also helps to promote a brighter complexion with fewer dark spots and a more even skin tone by inhibiting melanin synthesis. The name of this product includes “enzyme” because of the papaya fruit extract in the formula. Papaya is rich in an enzyme called papain.