I recently took a much needed vaca with my my sister-in-law. We did what girls do when left to their own devices: ate, drank, and stayed up way too late rearranging furniture. It was heaven. When I got back, however, my skin looked like hell: parched, puffy, and dull. For the next few days I followed my usual post-revelry regimen of laying off the sugar, hitting the gym, and soaking in the steam room. I also tried the PreVious Intense Cleansing Program from Clinica Ivo Pitanguy. Come again, you say?  Clinica Ivo Pitanguy is the clinic of famed Rio de Janeiro plastic surgeon Dr. Ivo Pitanguy. I had never heard of him either. His new three-step night ritual claims to remove pollutants, leaving skin more radiant and toned. Here’s the process:

Step 1: Cleaning Formula – Rich with almond oil and aloe vera extract, this luxurious cleanser seemed to suck impurities right out of my skin without leaving it taut. (Note: Oil-based cleansers actually attract oil, making them incredibly gentle AND effective.)

Step 2: Detoxifying Formula – A soothing and calming solution that also whisked away makeup and waterproof mascara with ease. It smells fresh and doesn’t sting despite deep-cleaning.

Step 3: Toning Formula – This orange blossom and chamomile toner gently restores pH balance, preparing skin for moisturizer. I don’t go ga-ga for toners, but this one feels nice.

After using the program for three nights in a row, my skin felt soft, looked healthy and glowy, and wasn’t the least bit disturbed by my introducing three new products so quickly. I don’t make product recommends lightly, especially when they cost $105, but this was exactly what the doctor ordered. And, since the set is generously sized at 7.5 fl. oz., I’ll be able to give myself many a detoxifying facial at home.

Filed Under: cleanser, facial, Previous, toner