In general, I don’t give in to the hype around celebrity beauty brands. When Lili Reinhart launched Personal Day skincare last year, however, I was immediately interested in trying it out. As someone with sensitive, acne-prone skin, most products on the market are ineffective at best and damaging at worst. But her tight curation of acne-safe formulas sounded right up my alley.
Lili Reinhart started Personal Day because she, like the rest of us, couldn’t find a skincare line that was a) safe for her acne-prone skin, and b) actually successful at getting rid of breakouts. Every product is developed and tested with a triple board-certified dermatologist, each formula free of acne-triggering ingredients and containing at least four actives. These aren’t Band-Aid solutions, either. In addition to treating your current acne, they actually help improve your skin in the long term.
As an added bonus, Personal Day has a mission that we can definitely get behind. In line with Lili Reinhart’s personal advocacy, Personal Day recognizes the link between acne and mental health, which is why they prioritize sharing resources and community building.
After many months of yapping about the brand to every facialist and acne girlie I meet, I figured it’s about time to share my Personal Day skincare review—covering every single product—with The Everygirls too.
Personal Day Skincare Key Ingredients
Personal Day holds exclusive rights to mevalonic acid, the ultimate multi-tasker, in acne care products. Not only does it increase natural proteins like squalene and retinol, but it also repairs skin, strengthens the skin barrier, and boosts cell turnover. Other major ingredients in their arsenal include azelaic acid and zinc hyaluronate. The first is an anti-microbial anti-inflammatory that helps with cell renewal and fading hyperpigmentation, while the second increases hydration, strengthens the skin barrier, stops bacteria from growing, and minimizes oil.
Who is Personal Day for?
Personal Day was born out of a need for effective, acne-safe skincare. If you have sensitive skin that’s prone to blemishes and haven’t found the right products yet, it’s absolutely worth giving Personal Day a try. I also love that you don’t have to choose from multiple cleansers or moisturizers—if you also get overwhelmed by all the options on the market, you’ll appreciate their simple assortment. In addition to being available on the Personal Day website, you can also find their products, ranging between $18 and $39, at Ulta Beauty.
“After using Personal Day for a year, I can’t tell you that my skin is perfect. It’s never going to be. The difference is that hormonal acne pops up less now, and I actually have the right products to address it.”
Personal Day Skincare Review: My Experience
After using Personal Day for a year, I can’t tell you that my skin is perfect. It’s never going to be. The difference is that hormonal acne pops up less now, and I actually have the right products to address it. My pores aren’t nearly as clogged, and my skin heals faster and better than it did before. Here is my experience with every single product:
At first, I didn’t love that the Personal Day cleanser is made with rice powder because the output can be harder to control than a liquid or cream. Once I got the hang of it, however, I was able to appreciate that it’s actually the ideal physical exfoliant for my sensitive skin. This stuff also lasts forever—every time I think the bottle is empty, I give it another shake and just enough comes out. My only complaint is that double cleansing with it makes my skin feel tight.
I don’t have a lot of holy grails, but this is one of them. To me, it’s the Goldilocks of moisturizers—not so light that it doesn’t work, but also not so heavy that you feel your pores clogging. It has all kinds of good ingredients and sometimes, I even use the Personal Day moisturizer on my hands.
I initially had my reservations about this lip balm. The price point is a little high for my budget, but if you have yet to find a product that actually heals your lips instead of just treating the symptoms, I think it’s worth it. I love that my lips don’t go through “withdrawal,” becoming dry and cracked when I haven’t applied it in a while.
In the past, traditional pore strips have wreaked havoc on my skin, but these don’t. The performance can be hit or miss, but I love that they stay wet and melt blackheads instead of hardening and ripping them out. The included extractor tool is my favorite part because it’s so satisfying to use and makes me feel like my own personal esthetician.
This is the first hypochlorous acid spray I’ve used that’s made a noticeable difference. I spritz it on after waking up, working out, and picking at my face (oops), and it seems to actually soothe and heal my skin barrier. Whenever I have hormonal acne, I’ll do extra applications throughout the day to limit irritation.
Personal Day says that this version of hypochlorous acid is more effective for spot treatments. I’m positive they’re right—and I still use the gel after major skin picking seshes—but the lazy girl in me can’t resist the ease of their spray.
I’m not as consistent about using this peel as I’d like to be—instead of applying it once or twice a week, I probably apply it every three or four weeks. That said, I do think it’s great at clearing out pores and calming acne, and of course, the tingling is satisfying.
One thing about me is that I’m obsessed with pimple patches. I’ve tried many different brands, and while these are definitely effective, they didn’t stick out to me enough to pay for shipping (the patches don’t qualify for free shipping alone). The patches are thin, which helps make them less visible, but it also makes them more difficult to take off the sheet. This leads to very noticeable scrunching on the edges, ultimately making them more apparent.
I always look forward to using this mask—it feels so good and is one of my favorite Personal Day products. Whenever my skin barrier feels compromised, I slather it on for 15-20 minutes and my face instantly feels softer and more hydrated. Every single time I use the Even Keel Resurfacing Peel, I follow up with this.
My skin doesn’t respond well to consistent use of salicylic acid, but there’s something about Personal Day’s formula that’s much less drying than others. While you can put it on your entire face, I only use it as a spot treatment when hormonal acne pops up.
This is new to my arsenal, so I don’t have a full review yet. But so far, it’s much more gentle on my skin than actual retinol. I also haven’t gone through a purge period like I typically do with retinol, which is a game changer when you already have acne consistently.
Quincy Bulin, Contributing Writer
Quincy is a multi-hyphenate freelancer based in Austin, Texas, balancing her time between journalism, marketing, and ghostwriting. In addition to The Everygirl, she’s written for publications such as Southern Living, Apartment Therapy, and Parents.
Products included in graphics linked within article. Feature graphic images credited to: Quincy Bulin.
