When our head of beauty started suffering from a bad case of flaky scalp, Kérastase’s treatment helped to solve the problem when nothing else could
As a beauty journalist, I often get asked if I have a product I recommend above all other. Make-up I always struggle to pin-point buys that blow all others out if the water, but for haircare, I have a definite shortlist of winners. Taking first place is Kérastase Symbiose Micro-Peeling Cellulair.
Usually £35.50 full price, you can bag a bottle for £25.30 thanks to Amazon’s Spring Deal Days sale. I would happily pay full price for it, but I’ll definitely be stocking up since £10 is the most I’ve seen it reduced by.
When I first brought it home, I didn’t really feel an urgency to test it. It isn’t a shampoo, which I use every other day, nor is it a mask, which I also slather my ends in regularly. Because of this, I left it forgotten for a few weeks until one morning, after waking up to a particularly dry and itchy scalp, I remembered reading how it promises to combat these exact concerns. With nothing to lose but a some flakes of skin (hopefully), I gave it a test.
Thank goodness I did because for two months now, it’s been an absolute staple in my weekly hair wash routine. So what is it and how does it work such wonders on a sensitive scalp, you ask?
The Micro-Exfoliating Cellular Treatment offers a deep yet gentle cleanse to help keep flakes at bay. Acting as a pre-shampoo treatment, it uses salicylic acid and natural exfoliants to lift away dead skin and product buildup, creating the perfect foundation for a healthier scalp. Unlike harsher scrubs, this formula is designed to purify without irritation, making it a great option for those dealing with sensitivity alongside dandruff (like me).
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The gel-like texture is easy to lather up, and the added plant-based exfoliants give it just enough grit to make a difference without being too abrasive. When used once or twice a week, it helps to rebalance the scalp and create the ideal environment for stronger, fresher-feeling hair.
I don’t suffer from a full head of dandruff, rather mine is located to the hairline sections of my scalp where I had money-piece fringe sections highlighted a year or so ago. I wasn’t allergic to the bleach my hair colourist used, but, for some reason, it did trigger a persistent case of dry and itchy skin, which tends to get worse when oil and product builds up on my scalp.
I’ve tried everything for medicated shampoos to tonics and serums, but nothing offered me more than a day or two of relief before the flakes came back. However, after only two uses of this Micro-Exfoliating Cellular Treatment, so after two weeks, I noticed a huge change in my scalp and my hair.
First of all, I can now go three days without having to wash my hair – a miracle for my fine, greasy hair. I think using a pre-shampoo like this one has really helped keep my scalp clean of build-up. Secondly, I don’t get any flakes around my hairline anymore. That’s right, nothing. I will sometimes feel the area get a little itchy, but I use this as a sign to give my hair a proper wash in the shower with my Kérastase treatment and a good cleansing shampoo.
If you’re looking to give your scalp a good cleanse, clear flakes, reduce itching or just pay your scalp some TLC, I can’t recommend it enough. But, if you’re shopping around, the next best product I’ve found that does reduce product build-up and itching is The INKEY List’s Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, £12. It isn’t a lather-y pre-wash like Kérastase but it does use similar key ingredients.