I put off buying this for a long time, but eventually my longing got the better of me and I took the plunge. One thing that put me off, I admit, was the cost. It’s a lot of money for something that might not work, and after many disappointing experiences with over the counter spots treatments to medically prescribed acne treatment, I have grown quite tired of relegating another product to the bin.My initial experience was not positive: the consistency of the product I received wasn’t right. It kept separating, and simply wouldn’t dry on the skin no matter what I tried. Here, I cannot fault Cult Beauty’s customer service who replaced the jar for me very quickly, as well as Plenaire’s own very responsive customer service, who spoke to me about my experience for feedback and provided advice on using the product. I also have to add the packaging is stunning, from the glass jar to the design of the box. It feels very luxe and something you’d want to display on your bathroom shelf. The replacement jar is working out much better, no separation and the consistency is thicker. I still wouldn’t call it quite a paste, despite the name. It’s got something of a wet chalky quality, and smells wonderful, delicate and floral. Plenaire’s advice, which I’ve followed, is to apply the paste to a spot with a cotton bud, dab the excess with a tissue, then to apply a second layer of paste and dab again. This is wonderful advice, as the cotton and blotting helps absorb some of the moisture from the paste making sure it dries quicker on the skin. I was also advised not to view it as a drying paste but more as an ointment, but it should stay in place overnight. Unfortunately, this just doesn’t happen for me, and most of the time it has rubbed away, which makes me feel concerned for the cleanliness of my pillows! Saying that, it is very effective, especially on spots that are just emerging. They are often gone overnight or much reduced, so by day 3 they are no more. I get a mix of red bumps, whiteheads and the odd flare of cystic acne. I can’t say how it will treat the latter, but for the others it’s working. It’s not drying out my skin or just burning off my spots. I have very sensitive skin on the dry side, so it’s great to find a spot treatment aimed at being suitable for my skin type that isn’t aggressive but very effective. I’m also a picker, and it been good to help stop that by creating a barrier, which is worth considering if you’re like myself. Overall I’m really pleased, it’s a lovely product and it’s a nice ritual to add to my routine, and well worth the investment. That jar is going to last for a year at the very least with nightly use, though with how well it’s working I doubt I’ll need it every night!