Student, 24, reveals she was left with bruises across her face after using a £20 blackhead removal vacuum endorsed by Katie Price
A student revealed how she was left with bruises across her face after using a blackhead remover vacuum.
Safia Hartwell, 24, from Norwich, Norfolk says she purchased Bellavia's blackhead remover vacuum device for £20 after seeing Katie Price endorse it on Instagram, but said it was 'horrible looking in the mirror' after using the product.
The 24-year-old claims that she copied the videos she saw online but after using it on its lowest suction for just three minutes, large painful bruises emerged all over her face.
Safia contacted Bellavia explaining that she was 'absolutely devastated' by the ordeal, which had left her praying there would be no permanent damage to her face, but says they haven't responded.
Mailonline contacted the brand for comment.
Safia Hartwell, 24, from Norwich, purchased Bellavia's blackhead remover vacuum device for £20 after seeing Katie Price endorse it on Instagram, but said it was 'horrible looking in the mirror' after using it. Pictured, Safia before using the product
The student was terrified when dark burns similar to bruises appeared all over her face after using the device
The Bellavia electric skin cleanser is touted as a celebrity favourite on social media, where it is endorsed by many stars, including Katie Price
Now her bruises have finally healed, the student is speaking out to encourage others to do their research before racing to buy celebrity-endorsed products.
Katie Price's representative said that plenty of other celebrities endorsed the product and the star could not be held accountable for 'user error'. Safia said: 'I saw the product on Katie Price's Instagram and thought I'd give it a go.
'I brushed it over my face as that’s what I saw in the advertising videos online. I had it on the lowest suction and wasn't using it for long at all - just enough to go across my skin and vacuum the blackheads.
'The bruises came out instantly - I just thought it was redness from the product and that it would go down in five minutes.
The 24-year-old said she was afraid the burns would remain on her face indefinitely. Thankfully, they healed
A closer look at Safia's burns. She said she looked like had been badly 'beaten up' and could not leave her house for days
'Then within 20 minutes I realised that it had bruised all my face - it looked like I'd been beaten up really badly.
'I was so shocked, I just couldn't believe it - it was horrible looking in the mirror seeing that.'
Rather than achieving the 'perfect skin' promised by Bellavia's blackhead remover, Safia was left terrified that the product may have caused her permanent damage.
Safia said: 'I was seriously horrified and worried about the state of my face - I thought "omg what has happened, that can't be normal".
'My mum said it looked like I had loads of burns all over my face and was so shocked. She was like "what have you done?"
'Nothing like this has happened before - I go to my dermatologists quite a lot for botox, fillers and skin treatments, but this is the first thing I've really used at home.
Safia before the burns. The student said the burns appeared within three minutes of using the product
Safia was encouraged to buy the remover (pictured) after coming across it on Katie Price's Instagram page
'It bruised the skin all around my face and was so painful the first few days as it was tender and swollen.'
After posting on Facebook Safia discovered that many women, including some of her friends, had suffered comparable experiences with similar products.
Safia said: 'My friends have been so shocked and asking if I'm okay.
'Some girls said the same had happened to them - I don't know whether it's to do with skin types, but it's literally awful.
'I thought it looked like love bites all over my face, but other girls have said theirs looked the same - I think it's quite common with it.
'I was going to contact the doctor, did some research into it and others have said that it will go away in a few days.
Safia before. The young woman said she had 'a lot of Botox, fillers and skin treatments; but that none had left her skin as badly hurt a the Bellavia blackhead remover
'If someone used that before they had something really important the next day, like a wedding or a prom, could you imagine how bad that would be?'
Safia claims that she contacted Bellavia explaining what had happened, but hasn't received a response.
She was forced to cancel outings with friends for an entire week until her face healed. Safia said: 'I've been using a lot of makeup to try and even remotely cover it. 'I thought I can't go out like this as it was really bad - it ruined all my plans.
Safia felt compelled to warn other women of her ordeal, and told them to 'think twice before using these kind of products'
Other Bellavia customers said they had had the same experience and one even said the remover had been a 'waste of money'
'It's been so hot I've been wanting to go to the beach without having to worry.
'It was just horrible - I thought everyone was going to look at me and think "what is wrong with her face?"
'I will definitely not be buying any more products from Bellavia.'
Safia posted her experience on social media to encourage others to think twice about purchasing blackhead remover vacuums, and has a couple of takeaway messages.
Safia said: 'It's made me more wary about buying products online, especially when celebrities are endorsing them.
'Don't be fooled and believe everything, because celebrities were raving about it so much and then it's done that to my face.
'Before you buy products, do some more research into them and leave it to the professionals - I'd hate for someone to have something really important the next day and have to go through that.'
Safia without the marks. She explained it was the first time she had experienced this kind of reaction to a beauty product
Bellavia were contacted for comment but failed to respond.
Katie Price's representative confirmed that she had endorsed the product on her Instagram but pointed out that many other celebrities had too. Katie's spokesperson said:
'Katie’s fans mean the absolute world to her and she would never knowingly mislead nor promote goods that are not met by trading standards.
'Katie herself tries and tests all products she posts on her Instagram. Katie cannot be held accountable for user error nor is it fair to draw conclusion that Katie is an ambassador for the brand.'
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