If there was one skincare line I get asked about on a regular basis, it is probably Banish.
And for a good reason!
The products are formulated with natural ingredients, but still very effective for heavy-duty tasks such as fading acne scars.
Powerful ingredients and formulas can give great results fast but also carry higher chances of irritation.
Thus, it is important to incorporate the products in the right way for the best results!
Otherwise, you may conclude prematurely that products “don't work for you” and give up on something that can truly help your skin. Especially if you are dealing with acne scars!
I decided to test some of their products myself and narrowed them down to 3 that I found to be most helpful in treating acne scars naturally, at home.
The Banish Oil – Vitamin C serum
This is my fave product I have tried from Banish!
Banish Oil is made with the most potent form of Vitamin C: L-ascorbic acid. Most potent means it has the potential to give you the quickest and most dramatic results. This is especially true if you are dealing with red acne scars (post-inflammatory erythema) and/or atrophic scarring.
Atrophic scars are indented scars, and you can find a visual overview HERE. They usually need some kind of treatment to be reduced and don't go away on their own.
Ascorbic acid is helpful for treating atrophic acne scars as it triggers collagen synthesis.
On the other hand, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH, brownish marks acne leaves behind) can go away on its own with time.
Here are a few problems with L-ascorbic acid:
- It is the most irritating form of vitamin C (goes hand in hand with effectiveness)
- It is unstable (oxidizes when exposed to light and heat)
Many acne sufferers need something that will be effective enough, but how to go about the potential downsides?
It is important to pick a well formulated vitamin C serum that:
- Comes in a DARK bottle (which doesn't let the light through)
- Comes in either a dropper bottle or airtight bottle, which minimizes the contact of air and the product
- Contains antioxidants that protect the vitamin C from oxidizing too quickly
- Is as freshly made as possible
What I like about Banish is that when you order the products, they are freshly made and shipped to you within a few days (for the US and Canada).
The products are not stored in a warehouse for months or dyed with red/orange color to mask the fact that vitamin C has long ago oxidized (rendering it ineffective and irritating)!
The Banish Oil is clear, indicating fresh (non-oxidized) vitamin C, and with a light consistency that absorbs well.
If a large part of it oxidizes, you will see that it has turned yellowish. I have kept mine in the fridge and has stayed fresh all until used up!
The base of the product is glycerin, not oil, making it feel like a hydrating serum, so it's great for dry skin types, too.
Plus, there are some key extra antioxidants, including vitamin E (sebum's main antioxidant) and ferulic acid.
In fact, vitamin E, vitamin C and ferulic acid are the most powerful antioxidant combo that reinforces each other!
Tips on using the Banish Oil – Vitamin C serum
1. Make sure you don't have lots of active, inflamed acne (wait until the skin calms down if you do. I highly recommend checking out my Skin Rebalancing Protocol to learn how to treat adult acne)
2. Don't use many other products, especially active ingredients, if you have sensitive skin
3. Introduce just one active at a time and give it enough time to see how it works for you!
If you see that you respond well to the product, you can use it even 2x per day, and it works great under an SPF or as a makeup primer. Vitamin C protects against oxidative damage, so it can actually make your SPF work better for you!
I cannot tolerate stronger products like this one on a daily basis, so I used it 2-3x per week with good results. However, after about 2 months, I could increase to nearly daily use (I used it before my SPF for extra protection against oxidative damage!) and it was totally fine.
Banisher 2.0 micro-needling tool
One of the most effective treatments for acne scars, especially atrophic acne scars (boxcar or rolling scars) is a good micro-needling device.
Skin needling, also called collagen induction therapy, is a technique of using a device studded with tiny needles that create hundreds of little micro-punctures in the skin.
These tiny punctures initiate a complex cascade of growth factors that results in increased collagen production in the treated area.
Results generally start to come after about six weeks, but the full effects take at least three months to occur. As the deposition of new collagen slowly takes place, the skin texture will continue to improve over a year or more.
The optimal scars to treat with skin needling are rolling acne scars and superficial boxcar scars.
Micro-needling also carries the lowest risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation when compared to laser resurfacing, chemical peels, or dermabrasion treatment for acne scars (source).
Banisher 2.0 is to be used as a micro-needling “pen”, so it is even easier to use since you don't need to know all that jazz about which directions to roll in.
I have tried various derma-rolling devices in the past and had good results with them (I used needles of 0.5mm).
However, I find that Banisher is easier to use if you have an area that you want to target specifically, which is usually the case with acne scars.
In other words, you can treat that scar area effectively and not disturb the rest of the skin as much, and Banisher is great for this.
There is virtually no downtime after the treatment, you are ready to continue with your life as normal the next day. Still, don't go into the strong sun, even when you wear an SPF!
The new Banisher 2.0 characteristics:
- Improves the appearance of acne scars, dark marks, fine lines, and wrinkles by naturally promoting skin renewal
- It has 24k Gold plated titanium bristles
- It is antibacterial, lasts longer than Banisher 1.o and has finer and sharper bristles that create less irritation
- Presses down with even pressure. I find this device to be very easy to use, more so than expected!
I was honestly a bit afraid to use this tool at first! But don't be, you can't hurt yourself. Just press down gently, the needles are just as long as they need to be to do what they need without you hurting yourself.
It is just important that you target areas of your skin that are FREE of acne and the acne wounds are healed (they aren't raw). Then just press 4-5 times on one area gently and give it 2 weeks before repeating the procedure.
Don't forget to sanitize your Banisher before and after each use!
When you order Banisher 2.0 and other Banish products, you will also receive a booklet with exact instructions on how to use each.
Banish pumpkin enzyme mask
Banish exfoliating mask is formulated with natural pumpkin enzymes and glycolic acid that exfoliate and help improve scarring.
Glycolic acid acts by thinning the stratum corneum (uppermost layer of the epidermis) and dispersing basal layer melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for localized hyperpigmentation.
The mask should be applied on a clean face and left for 15-20 minutes, then rinsed off with lukewarm water. After that, you can finish your evening routine.
I really enjoyed this mask! It does tingle, but nothing too bad, and my face wasn't red or irritated when I rinsed it off, which tends to happen to my skin when using exfoliating masks.
Use 1x per week, maybe 2x if you have pretty resilient skin (men tend to do so more than women!).
So, where do you start?
If you can, I would get the first two products, so Banish Oil and Banisher 2.0, which can definitely make a big difference on their own!
If you have pretty resilient skin, you can start with all 3 products right away, just be sure to introduce them slowly.
Any questions? Let me know in the comments!
If you decide to go for any of the Banish products, use code HEALTHYSKINGLOWS (affiliate), it will give you 5$ off orders 50$ or more.
P.S. Some of the above links are affiliate links. Thank you for your support!
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Hi! When would you use the oil and the banisher 2.0 in relations to your skin care routine?
I used the oil in the evenings at first (after cleansing, before moisturizing products), and then also before my SPF. For the Banisher, use it every 2 weeks or so to start with to see how you do. This gives the skin enough time to recover in between sessions:) You would use banisher on cleansed skin, and finish your pm routine after you are done:)