Kiwi GP, Dr Rosy Fenwicke, takes multi-tasking to the next level with her world-first skin care system. Her idea is to make your skin care routine part of your fitness routine, which apparently has many benefits to your face.

You can read about Dr Rosy, and the science behind her products at your own leisure.  I’m here to review, based on samples I got from Kirk’s recently.

Step 1 of the system is a cleanser, which you apply before you work out. It’s a fine, gentle facial scrub that’s also easy to rinse off.

Step 2 of the system is a clay-based moisturiser that you apply after the scrub and before you work up a sweat.  This a thick cream that takes a bit of time to work into the skin properly. After you’ve finished your work out, you rinse your face, shower with Step 3′s body wash (which i didn’t try), and then apply Step 4 – a facial cream with SPF20 to take you through the rest of your day. Step 4 leaves a glittery effect on the skin, and not particularly good under make-up.

As someone who doesn’t work out that often, this product was never gonna be great for me. But I do have some irks about these products which would put me off if I was a gym-bunny.

Firstly, if I were exercising outside, I’d want an SPF moisturiser, but Step 2 doesn’t have an SPF rating. So it’s only good for inside the gym, not for jogging and so on.

Secondly, the system adds a lot of fuss to your exercise routine. You have to scrub and rinse your face pre-workout, then massage the clay stuff into your face (and this step does take some time), and then rinse off again. Which means you probably have to shower at the gym which isn’t something all of us like to do. As well as having to carry all these products around with you.

Dr Fenwicke has come up with an interesting point about skin, moisture and sweat though. And if the routine actually works it may be worth the effort. I only had 3-day samples to go on. She also offers some good advice not to wipe off sweat with a towel during a workout, but rather massage the moisture back into the skin.

“Sweat is made up of minerals and 99 percent water so you are not wiping off toxins as some people think, just losing minerals and moisture.”