A Line with Appeal

I am excited to share my experience in this Blissoma review.  In my tireless internet searches for “healing skincare for acne-prone skin,” I kept coming across Blissoma Holistic Skincare and Apothecary.  I was familiar with the Blissoma name and knew this natural line was a favorite of many beauty lovers, green and otherwise.  Then I discovered that the beauty blogger I trust more than any other, Mercy Hopkins, of Green by Mercy had written not just one, but several articles raving about Blissoma (for instance, she raves about a Blissoma serum, nearly all of the Blissoma moisturizers, and shares delight over her latest haul of Blissoma favorites).  I asked her if the line was as good as she made it sound, and she told me, “Blissoma is one brand that I love because they have such an extensive collection of products and are excellent at formulating for specific skin types and skin concerns. Their products are pretty great across the board; I really haven’t tried one product of theirs that I didn’t like!”  This is high praise, and it piqued my interest.

I read about the company and its products, and I quickly found myself both schooled and charmed by Blissoma founder, herbal chemist, Julie Longyear via her blog, which is packed with useful insights about skincare and infused with scientific knowledge, all without ever feeling stuffy.  Ms. Longyear writes in a down-to-earth style even while citing scientific literature and conveying a keen understanding of chemistry (for one of the countless great examples, see this enlightening article she wrote explaining the importance of pH in skincare).  Perhaps the most revelatory reading of all for yours was a three-part series entitled Consult the Herbal Chemist: Acne Rescue (see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) in which Ms. Longyear outlined a smarter, kinder way to treat (and heal!) acne than I had ever seen before.  She provided an explanation for and specific recommendations on four steps:

1. Eating a healthy diet of organic foods
2. Getting adequate sleep and relaxation
3. Using a gentle, natural cleansing routine each day to exfoliate, balance sebum, kill acne bacteria, and maintain proper pH
4. Moisturizing and spot treating with something soothing and anti-inflammatory

Each step jolted me with clear truth and merit.  Why hadn’t I thought of this stuff?  Ms. Longyear discussed the tendency to overtreat acne, pointing out that in attempts to kill acne bacteria or “zap” a pimple, many of us (ahem, guilty) turn to harsh actives that may dry a blemish only to also dry out, irritate, and inflame all the skin surrounding it, making a bad situation even worse.  In Ms. Longyear’s own words, “Acne is an inflamed situation—the pimple itself is swollen, aggravated, and painful. What it needs more than anything is soothing.”  I touched my flaking, painful face and nodded in agreement.  As a person with a whole variety of uncomfortable skin issues (acne, sensitivity, dehydration, signs of aging), I needed a line able to address a range of different troubles, all with an overarching emphasis on healing, regeneration, and taming inflammation.  Imagine my delight and relief when I discovered that Blissoma Skincare is intentionally formulated to create healing, regenerative results for specific skin concerns.

 

Choosing the Right Blissoma Product(s) for You

Ms. Longyear designs each of their skincare recipes with a specific skin problem in mind and tries to understand the root causes of that particular problem to create a true and targeted skincare solution.  Each ingredient–from herbs to oils, to juices, to vitamins and minerals—is chosen for its benefits to the specific problem, and ingredients are utilized and combined in levels proven effective by science.  Blissoma simplifies selection by allowing consumers to shop by Skin Type, yet many of Blissoma recipes’ benefits are multifunctional and extend beyond just one skin type.  If it sounds like making a choice is difficult, it is, simply because it’s hard to narrow down so many good options!   Not to worry, though, because Blissoma has a licensed esthetician on staff who offers free email consultations for personalized skin regimen advice!   If you have particular concerns, you can get expert guidance tailored to your needs before you spend a penny!

Stubborn as I am, I wanted to pick things out for myself.  Rather than restricting myself to just one skin type, I browsed the skin types that even partly applied and selected the individual products in each category that addressed my specific concerns.  Since I deal with acne, I chose two products designed for Oily/Acneic/Irritated Skin, Smooth A+ Correcting Serum and Refine Clay Renewal Treatment mask.  With my sensitivity and inflammation in mind, I chose two products from Blissoma’s collection for Ultra-Sensitive/Irritated/Dry Skin, Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex, and Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask.  Finally, to address hormonal acne and Dry/Mature/Imbalanced skin, I selected Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum.  The Refine Clay Renewal Treatment and Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum were kindly provided as samples for my review, and I happily and eagerly purchased the remainder myself.

My order placed, I was eager to entrust my complicated, problematic skin to Ms. Longyear and her formulations.  How did the products work out for my challenging skin?  Check out my full five-product Blissoma review below.

 

Blissoma Review: Products for Oily/Acneic/Irritated Skin

Blissoma products for oily/acneic/irritated skin are carefully formulated to fight bacteria and calm skin simultaneously.  This novel approach will come as such a relief to anyone like myself who has suffered through the acne treatments that either made no difference or left skin parched, painful, flaking, and barrier-compromised.  But Ms. Longyear’s uniquely brilliant approach to treating acne results in products far more helpful than acne treatment-as-usual.

♥ Smooth A+ Correcting Serum

This gentle, healing, corrective serum has been Blissoma’s best-selling skincare product for 8 years, and for good reason; Smooth A+ is gentle, healing, and delivers turnaround skin-calming results to red, troubled, acneic skin.  This serum calms and heals acne and inflammation, all while being microbiome-friendly and supporting a healthy balance of hydration for all skin types.

Smooth A+ Correcting Serum combines 13 whole-herb extracts that provide protection and support to acneic and inflamed skin, all in a super lightweight formula hydrating enough to serve as a moisturizer for oilier skin or a hydrating serum for drier skin.  Among its many actives, Smooth A+ Correcting Serum has a strong dual emphasis on fighting bacteria and taming inflammation.  Rather than relying on harsher antibacterial actives like Tea Tree Oil, Blissoma opted to highlight Roses and Rose Essential Oil, which deliver anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects suitable for all acenic skin types, including mature and/or dry; as an added benefit, the emphasis of Rose in the recipe makes applying Smooth A+ Correcting Serum an aromatherapeutic and sensory delight.   Smooth A+ features 20 actives including anti- antibacterial and anti-inflammatory Coriander, healing Goldenrod, antibacterial Fennel, and astringent Yarrow, all of which combine to gently decongest skin and clear pores while minimizing inflammation.  The serum also features Licorice and Heather Flowers that combine to brighten the complexion and reduce the hyperpigmentation that so frequently comes with acne, with additional beneficial compounds like skin-calming Glycyrrhizin from the Licorice, anti-inflammatory flavonoid Quercetin from the Heather Flowers, and skin-healing Oleuropein from cold-extracted Olive Leaf.

The A in the serum’s name refers to its vitamin A.  Smooth A+ Correcting Serum is a rich source of vitamin A in the form of Beta Carotene, derived from freshly juiced Carrot and Carrot CO2.  With acne, vitamin A is a tried and true remedy that helps to slough off dead skin cells and to reduce sebum, reducing clogged pores.  Beta Carotene is a retinol precursor, but unlike retinol, this form of Vitamin A is not prone to causing irritation, nor does it have toxicity or sun damage issues.  Beta Carotene offers antioxidant photoprotection and also inhibits the breakdown of collagen, making it a great active for preventing signs of aging besides keeping pores clear.

Vitamin A is not the only star ingredient because Niacinamide/Vitamin B3—included at a generous 4%–is perhaps the most dynamic of all the actives in Smooth A+ Correcting Serum.  A 1995 study demonstrated that 4% Niacinamide outperformed the potent antibiotic Clindamycin in treating acne.  Besides taming acne, Niacinamide delivers a wide-ranging assortment of other benefits: building collagen, evening discoloration, maintaining hydration, reducing inflammation, and helping to maintain optimal barrier function (through its role in the production of ceramides and fatty acids in the outer layer of skin).  With so many advantages for skin, perhaps not surprisingly, Niacinamide is proven to benefit Rosacea by reducing inflammation.

The serum’s soothing hydration feels amazing on contact when applied to irritated and/or dehydrated skin.  Unlike so many acne treatments, Smooth A+ Correcting Serum does not sting or burn even when applied to sensitive or compromised skin, and rather than irritating, the serum calms and soothes.  The serum has a refreshing, lightly floral fragrance that comes from including Bergamot, Frankincense, and Rose Otto Essential Oils, which contribute therapeutic benefits in addition to enhancing the sensory experience.

The result is a product that tames acne with none of the downsides or irritating side effects of traditional acne treatments.  With regular use of Smooth A+ Correcting Serum, my skin not only became clearer, but also calmer, less irritated, and more even in tone. As someone whose skin simultaneously suffers from sensitivity, inflammation, and dehydration, this serum has been a remarkable find for me—finally, something that treats blemishes while calming my skin rather than ravaging my face!  Smooth A+ Correcting Serum delivers both clearer and calmer skin simultaneously; this is a true game-changer for sensitive and/or dehydrated acne-prone skin.

Smooth A Correcting Serum – $34.00
from: Blissoma Holistic Skincare

• Ingredients: Infusion of Coriandrum sativum* (coriander), Achillea millefolium* (yarrow), Solidago virgaurea* (goldenrod), Foeniculum vulgare* (fennel), Rosa damascena* (roses), and Taraxacum officinale* (dandelion), Aloe barbadensis (aloe) Juice*, Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Glucoside, Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel), Niacinamide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Daucus carota (carrot) Juice*, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) Oil*, Extracts of Olea Europaea* (olive leaf), Gluconolactone, Lonicera japonica* (honeysuckle), Glycyrrhiza glabra* (licorice), and Calluna vulgaris* (heather flowers), Essential Oils of Citrus bergamia (bergamot) FCF, Boswellia carterii (frankincense), and Rosa damascena (rose otto), CO2 Extracts of Daucus carota (helio-carrot) and Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile), Populus Tremuloides (aspen) Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Grain Alcohol* Essential oils in this product contain: citronellol**, geraniol**, linalool**, limonene**
  *from Certified Organic Agriculture
  **natural components of essential oils

Bottom Line:  Smooth A+ Correcting Serum is a gentle, lightly hydrating serum/lotion that delivers potent anti-bacterial, skin-clearing action while promoting skin health and balance.

 

♥ Refine Clay Renewal Treatment

I have a weak spot for pre-mixed masks, so I was thrilled to try this one, which targets oily/acenic skin, congestion, discoloration, and dullness. Refine Clay Renewal Treatment is a creamy clay mask that exfoliates, detoxifies, and improves skin texture and tone.  Three things you should know about Refine: first, it is not drying like the majority of masks with clay bases, second, it offers benefits for just about any skin type, and third, it has a lovely texture that is creamy with just the very slightest hint of gentle grit; imagine a delicately textured consistency that is gentle enough that it feels lovely on sensitive and reactive skin like mine.

Refine Clay Renewal Treatment has a base of Moroccan Rhassoul Clay, which provides the skin with high levels of hydration-boosting minerals like Magnesium, Potassium, Silica, Sodium, and tissue-repairing Zinc.  Although you may think of clays as drying, Rhassoul Clay has been shown to actually improve skin hydration and discoloration and irritation.  Next, Willow Bark and freshly-juiced Celery deliver gentle enzymatic exfoliation that leaves the skin brighter and fresher, better able to breathe, and more able to absorb and benefit from other topical actives.  Soothing Chickweed and antibacterial Fennel further decongest pores and tame and prevent blemishes.  Refine is an excellent treatment mask for acneic or troubled skin. Its formula is gentle and balanced enough that even someone like me with dehydrated skin can leave it on for extended periods and maintain comfort.  This makes Refine Clay Renewal Treatment not only that much more enjoyable and versatile to wear, but also a brilliant, non-irritating spot treatment that can be left on stubborn blemishes overnight.

Refine Clay Renewal Treatment provides an excellent antidote for acne, but it is so much more, with the potential to benefit all skin types.  Luxuriously creamy Reine is definitely not your typical clay mask; rather than sucking moisture from the skin, Refine Clay Renewal Treatment helps balance the skin’s moisture, infusing hydration where it’s needed, while calming sensitivity, redness, and irritation.  The skin-calming Rhassoul Clay in Refine is enhanced with vitamin-rich Nori Seaweed as well as nourishing Cranberry Seed Oil, Red Raspberry Oil, and Omega-fatty-acid-rich Hemp Oil for restorative, antioxidant goodness and rich hydration.  The mask also delivers regenerative nutrition from Organic Roses, Olive Leaf, and Echinacea, actives that improve tone and firmness.  The resulting treatment provides a true wealth of benefits, suitable for drier and more mature skin types and oily or acneic skin.  Refine Clay Renewal Treatment is a versatile detoxifying, conditioning mask that provides a little spa luxury to home treatment.  I highly recommend it for anyone dealing with blemishes, dullness, discoloration, or texture issues.

Refine Clay Renewal Treatment – $40.00
from: Blissoma Holistic Skincare

• Ingredients: Infusion of Foeniculum vulgare* (fennel), Stellaria media* (chickweed), Lavandula angustifolia* (lavender), Rosa damascena* (roses), Porphyra umbilicalis* (nori seaweed), Ruscus aculeatus* (butcher’s broom), Rhassoul Clay, Apium graveolens (celery) Juice*, Cocos nucifera (coconut) Oil*, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Zinc Oxide*, Cannabis sativa* (hemp) Oil*, Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) Seed Oil*, Rubus ideaus (red raspberry) Seed Oil*, Extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra* (licorice), Symphytum officinale* (comfrey), and Salix alba* (willow bark), Populus Tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Glucoside, Extracts of Olea europaea* (olive leaf), Echinacea purpurea*, and Calendula officinalis*, Essential Oils of Litsea cubeba, Commiphora myrrha, Pelargonium roseum (rose geranium), Citrus reticulata (mandarin), Lavandula angustifolia, Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), Coriandrum sativum (coriander), Cedrus atlantica (cedarwood), Grain Alcohol*, Rosemary Oleoresin Extract citral**, xanthan gum
  Essential oils in this product contain: limonene**, citronellol**, geraniol**, linalool***
  *from Certified Organic Agriculture
  **natural components of essential oils

Bottom Line:  Refine Clay Renewal Treatment is the creamiest clay mask I have ever used!  It feels comfortable and non-drying and offers gentle exfoliation and detoxification appropriate for any skin type.

 

Note:  For the ultimate troubled/acneic skin turnaround, I recommend combining twice daily use of Smooth A+ Correcting Serum with Refine Clay Renewal Treatment weekly for a general brightening, restorative, and exfoliating treatment, 2-3 times weekly treatments on more actively troubled (e.g., flaky and/or acenic) skin, and as often as daily as a potent anti-inflammatory blemish spot treatment.  These two beautifully balanced acne-fighting healers complement each other beautifully and offer benefits to even dry, sensitive, and/or mature acne skin types.  Blissoma’s formulations for Acneic/Irritated Skin are a refreshing change because they tame not only bacteria but also the underlying issues of inflammation and oxidation.  This three-pronged approach offers a transformative and healing solution to acne and accomplishes it with no detrimental side effects for sensitive, dry, and/or mature skin types. Smooth A+ and Refine easily stand heads and shoulders above other acne treatments I have tried, because they address acne without ravaging the surrounding skin, compromising barrier function, or resulting in dehydration.  Instead, both products gently hydrate without clogging pores, calming redness and irritation and taming acne.

 

Blissoma Review: Products for Ultra Sensitive/Irritated/Dry/All Ages

Besides outstanding formulations for troubled/acneic skin, Ms. Longyear and the Blissoma team have also devoted a great deal of time, attention, and research to the treatment of sensitive skin.  Their approach is different.  As Ms. Longyear has written on her blog, “Filler ingredients (commonly found in mass-market cosmetics, shunned by Blissoma) are not “neutral” for many people.  Many will likely cause skin irritation for many customers, prompting inflammation, acne, and other problems the item was purchased to fix. Silicones often cause breakouts as they form a film over pores. Petroleum fillers and synthetic emulsifiers can confuse and clog skin, damaging its protective barrier and microbiome.” Besides utilizing only the safest and most beneficial ingredients in products, Blissoma offers consumers a free Sensitive Skin Reset Plan that details triggers of skin sensitivity, educates on the worst common synthetic chemical offenders, and provides suggestions on healing irritation and sensitivity.  If you are perplexed and frustrated with skin reactivity, the Sensitive Skin Reset Plan will help set you on a better path, with answers.  Meanwhile, feel free to peruse Blissoma’s product line of healing botanical recipes curated for sensitive skin.  I tried two of the products in the Ultra-Sensitive line and found rapid and soothing relief with both.

♥ Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex

Carefully formulated with a range of nature’s most calming botanicals, Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex is gentle enough to provide comfort on contact to even the most sensitive, irritated skin.  Plantain, long used as a soothing remedy for reactive skin, joins emollient and healing Marshmallow with its lubricating mucilage, protective and regenerative Self-Heal, and inflammation-taming, resilience-boosting Calendula hydrosol. Nettle and Butcher’s Broom are excellent sources of minerals, why are an often-overlooked key to skin hydration and also help to speed healing.  Butcher’s Broom also provides an antioxidant flavonoid Rutin, and Heather Flowers provide the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic flavonoid Quercetin.  This is blended with Shea Butter for a creamy lotion consistency that is neither too light nor too thick, and topped off with healing oils of Baobab, Tamanu, Camellia, Pumpkin, and Perilla that further combat irritation and inflammation with a mix of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, plant sterols, and vitamins A, C, D, E, and Zinc.  Though Pure Sensitive Skin Complex is free of fragrance, these oils lend it a pleasant, subtle botanical scent that is refreshingly pure, like the product itself.  Warning: sniffing Pure at length may leave you tempted to taste the recipe.  Finally, Ms. Longyear carefully designed Pure’s recipe using the feedback of countless clients suffering from allergies, sensitivities, irritation, dryness, and reactivity; as a result, Pure is free from potentially irritating ingredients like gluten, grain alcohol, petrochemicals, parabens, essential oils, phenoxyethanol, and even common botanical allergens

With trial and error, I have discovered that sensitive skincare tends to fall into one of two disappointing camps:  it is either inert (accomplishing nothing for skin) or else it’s too harsh for compromised skin (burning and/or stinging painfully on application, leaving a sensitive face even more reactive).  With Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex, Blissoma has avoided both common pitfalls.  They have created an incredible product that will not sting sensitive skin and yet delivers true healing and hydrating benefits!  As someone with sensitivity and skin inflammation due to lupus, I have found Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex to be gentle, actually comforting my irritated skin on contact.  More than just gentle, as I indicated before, Pure is also healing and anti-inflammatory, this is a true skin calmer for anyone dealing with allergies, sensitivities, irritation, or dryness and reactivity.

Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex hydrates deeply in a light and absorbable formula, leaving skin supple and nourished with an array of botanicals that reduce reactivity and redness while improving texture and tone.  The result is skin infused with healing, non-comedogenic hydration.  Painful skin becomes healthier, soothed, more resilient, and more comfortable. For any of us looking to remedy fussy skin, this is a little miracle in a bottle.  Pure has changed my skin for the better; using it regularly, my skin has become dramatically calmer, more even and less red, with improved smoothness and hydration.  Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex is my Holy Grail sensitive-skin moisturizer in a wide field of disappointments!

Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex – $30.00
from: Blissoma Holistic Skincare

• Ingredients: Infusion of Plantago major* (plantain), Althea officinalis* (marshmallow), Prunella vulgaris* (self heal), Urtica Dioica* (nettle), Calluna vulgaris* (heather flowers), Ruscus aculeatus* (butcher’s broom), and Trifolium pratense* (red clover), Calendula officinalis* hydrosol, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) Butter*, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Stearate and Cetearyl Alcohol and Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Camellia sinensis (tea) Oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) Oil*, Adansonia digitata (baobab) Oil*, Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Cetearyl Wheatstraw Glycosides, Perilla frutescens Oil*, Calophyllum tacamahaca (tamanu) Oil*, Gluconolactone, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Xanthan Gum
  *from Certified Organic Agriculture

Bottom Line:  Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex offers soothing relief for even the most sensitive skin–healing and hydrating without any stinging or burning on compromised skin!

 

♥ Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask

Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask is Blissoma’s richest, thickest recipe yet and has quickly become my favorite skin-soothing and hydrating mask ever.  One of the first things that caught my eye about Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask was its inclusion of both Maitake and Reishi Mushrooms, along with Oatmilk, all of which supply skin with ample Beta-glucan, dynamic immune-stimulating Polysaccharides shown to lessen the appearance of redness and inflammation, to significantly reduce wrinkle depth, and to infuse skin with hydration.  Beta-glucans are uniquely hydrating because they can penetrate more deeply than most ingredients, and as they travel through multiple layers of skin, they bring moisture to places most other ingredients simply cannot reach.  Besides Beta-glucans, the two medicinal mushrooms in the recipe are also rich in Vitamin D and Kojic Acid, leaving skin bright and luminous.

Next in Lavish Loving Recovery’s rich and hydrating formula, Cupuacu butter is an extremely rich source of Phytosterols (the substances that give structure to plant’s cell membranes the way cholesterol does in animal cells), which further hydrate skin, protect it from and minimizes irritation, and also help seal in moisture, while also providing over 10 antioxidant compounds.  Add to this rich hydration Omegas 3, 5, 6 that lend anti-inflammatory, skin repairing, moisturizing, and anti-aging effects while improving skin elasticity and comfort.  Next, Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask also features the topical nutrition of an array of beneficial vitamins: regenerative A, antioxidant E, brightening and collagen-boosting C, glow-enhancing F, and healing Zinc.  Organic oils of Pumpkin Seed, Apricot Kernel, and Perilla add to the formula’s richness and help further tame inflammation while imparting a pleasant natural scent.  Finally, Soy Lecithin provides Phospholipids, an ingredient that easily penetrates cell membranes, enhancing the nutrient absorption of the recipe’s many other incredible actives by carrying them further into the skin.  This translates to maximum benefits in skin-plumping hydration, wrinkle-smoothing regeneration, and inflammation quenching.

Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask provides the best hydration, soothing, and comfort of any mask I have ever used.  The texture is thick and creamy, and yet by some miracle, it does not break me out.  My dehydrated, acne-prone skin loves Lavish!  No matter how irritated my skin is, I relief the moment I apply this mask, and after wearing it, I see a much calmer, smoother, more nourished complexion.  I have found I love enjoying Lavish in several ways:  as a comforting and deeply hydrating mask treatment, as a nourishing and calming leave-on moisturizer that rebuilds the lipid barrier, as a deep conditioning hair mask, and as the most magnificent hand cream you can imagine.  Last but not least, I have mixed generous amounts of Lavish with all of my non-Blissoma clay masks—Lavish delivers the ultimate hydrating boost that transforms an otherwise overdrying clay mask into a lush balanced and creamy skin treatment.  (Seriously, Lavish improves everything it touches, including other products!)  Of all the ways I use Lavish, it’s hard to choose a favorite, but I cannot deny that it is phenomenal as an overnight leave-on moisturizer.  Whether I wear it for 20 minutes or 8 hours, treating my skin with Lavish calms areas of redness and leaves my skin plump and hydrated.  Whenever my skin reacts another product and/or become inflamed or dehydrated, Lavish is my go-to treatment.  It quickly soothes my complexion, deeply infusing my skin with calming actives and hydration, all without clogging my acne-prone pores!  I am so happy that I can use this.  Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask delivers dreamy comfort.  Lavish is the perfect mask for anyone with dry, mature, and/or sensitive skin, and a perfect antidote for harsh colder weather approaching.  This mask is nurturing and would make a wonderful gift!

Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask – $42.00
from: Blissoma Holistic Skincare

•  Ingredients: Avena Sativa (oat) Kernal Milk*, Infusion of Passiflora incarnata* (passionflower), Astragalus membranaceus* (astragalus), Plantago major* (plantain), Prunella vulgaris* (self heal), Hypericum perforatum* (st. john’s wort), and Porphyra umbilicalis* (nori seaweed), Glycerin (vegetable origin), Theobroma grandiflorum* (cupuacu) seed butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate and Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel Oil*, Extracts of Grifola frondosa* (maitake mushroom), and Ganoderma lucidum* (reishi mushroom), Aqua (and) Glycerin (and) Sodium Levulinate (and) Sodium Anisate, Perilla frutescens Oil*, Soy Lecithin*, Aspen Bark Extract, Sorbitan Stearate, Adansonia digitata (baobab) Oil*, Punica granatum (pomegranate) Seed Oil*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum, Gluconolactone
  *from Certified Organic Agriculture

Bottom Line:  Lavish Loving-Recovery Beta-glucan Mask is thick, rich calming care that is a joy to use as a mask and/or as the ultimate overnight moisturizer.

 

Blissoma Review: Products for Dry/Mature/Imbalanced Skin

♥ Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum

Blissoma’s products are multifunctional problem solvers and Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum is a perfect example of this.  This lovely oil serum is deeply hydrating for dryness, nourishing to aging skin, balancing for hormonal fluctuations (including those that contribute to hormonal acne) and is wonderful for many skin types.  Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum is blended entirely cold and raw, preserving all the nutrients in its ingredients.  Over 10 unrefined seed oils offer essential fatty acids (Omegas 3, 5, 6, and 9), vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and Zinc, Xanthones (beneficial phytonutrients with potent anti-inflammatory activity), and Phytosterols (plant compounds shown to have anti-aging benefits through their effects on collagen).  Grapeseed Oil is a rich source of Proanthocyanidins, highly potent antioxidant polyphenols that are 20 times more powerful than vitamin C; Proanthocyanidins are an excellent anti-aging and skin-repairing compound, as they are anti-inflammatory, reduce skin irritation, have UV protective effects, and help remedy loss of collagen and elastin.

Red Raspberry, Cranberry, and Pomegranate Oils in the formula provide yet more antioxidants that further protect skin from free radical damage, which is one of the biggest causes of aging.  Restore’s Cranberry and Grapeseed Oils are abundant in vitamin E, which promotes skin healing and minimizes scar tissue.  Next, the Rosehip Oil in the recipe offers broad-spectrum Vitamin A in the forms of trans-retinoic acid and beta-carotene, which combine to help regulate sebum, soften scars, and boost skin regeneration.  Hemp Oil, rich in chlorophyll, lends Restore its slightly emerald hue, and Tamanu Oil helps reduce skin irritations and blemishes. Additionally, Restore’s organic Evening Primrose and Pomegranate oils are rich in omegas including GLA, which is beneficial for hormonally-impacted skin of all ages.  Finally, Pomegranate Oil also offers the additional benefits of phytoestrogens that help leave skin elastic and plump.  This dynamic serum delivers an impressive array of healing, protective, and anti-aging results.

Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum offers excellent, deep hydration and skin-plumping with a soft, nongreasy feel that is at once rich and yet fully absorbed after a few minutes.  Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum is rich enough it can be a complete moisturizer on its own, or it can be mixed into other moisturizers to make them more regenerative and hydrating.  In one smartly-crafted recipe, Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum successfully remedied several most stubborn skin challenges: irritation, extreme dryness, signs of aging, and hormonal shifts, and it left me with calmer, softer, and glowier skin.  Due to the remarkably balanced blend of actives in the recipe, this healing, regenerative serum is decadent and rich, so it feels like wonderful refreshment when applied to sensitive/mature/dehydrated skin, and yet it does not contribute to breakouts.  The fact that, despite being highly-acne prone, I was able to enjoy the sumptuous, repairing hydration of the serum without experiencing any blemishes –or even any congestion–is undeniable evidence that this multitasking formula is acne-safe.  When combined with Smooth A Correcting Serum and Refine Clay Renewal Treatment, Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum actually seems to help balance my skin and minimize hormonally-influenced blemishes.

Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum – $48.00
from: Blissoma Holistic Skincare

• Ingredients: Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (grapeseed) Oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) Oil*, Rubus ideaus (red raspberry) Seed Oil*, Rosa rubiginosa (rosehip) Oil*, Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) Seed Oil*, Calophyllum tacamahaca (tamanu) Oil*, Cannabis sativa (hemp) Oil*, Punica granatum (pomegranate) Seed Oil*, Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn berry) CO2 Extract*, Calendula Officinalis CO2 Extract, Essential oils of Cedrus atlantica (atlas cedarwood), Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa), Citrus aurantium (neroli), Helichrysum italicum (helichrysum)*, Rosemary Oleoresin Extract, Tocopherol (vitamin E)
  Essential oils in this product contain: geraniol**, linalool**, limonene**, farnesol**
  *from Certified Organic Agriculture
  **natural components of essential oils

Bottom Line:  Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum is an exceptionally nourishing oil that delivers antioxidant-rich hydration and helps to minimize signs of aging.

 

Conclusion

Blissoma Holistic Skincare and Apothecary is one of the best skincare lines I have ever used.   Using time-tested botanicals validated by science, Blissoma offers a diverse array of standout problem-solving products with unique and naturally potent recipes that provide tailored topical nutrition, all at an outstanding value with price points half what other comparable lines charge.  Whatever your skin type or trouble, Blissoma likely has a solution. Better yet, unlike so many skincare products, Blissoma provides solutions without unwanted side effects.  The quality is excellent, and the price points are refreshingly accessible.  Plus, Blissoma has a staff esthetician that will offer you a free personalized skin consultation (just email esthetician@blissoma.com), and they offer Samples and Trial Sizes of their products so you can try them out before committing to full-sized versions!

As someone with a varied array of skin complaints (e.g., acne, signs of aging, dehydration, sensitivity, and inflammation), I highly recommend all five of the products I enjoyed. Blissoma’s Smooth A Correcting Serum and Refine Clay Renewal Treatment are excellent for oily, acneic, dull or irritated skin; both products tame inflammation and gently eliminate acne bacteria while also providing balancing noncomedogenic hydration and brightening skin tone.  For ultra-sensitive, reactive, or irritated skin of all ages, Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex provides healing hydration, redness reduction, and instant soothing relief on contact (rather than stinging or burning), and Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-glucan Mask delivers regenerative nourishment and deep, plumping hydration. Happily, both are acne-safe.  Finally, for mature, imbalanced, or dry types, Restore Deep Healing Oil Serum offers healing, restorative moisture with wrinkle-minimizing benefits and the huge feat it actually helps to minimize hormonal breakouts; Restore is effective as a standalone moisturizer and can also seal in hydration from another moisturizer.  I benefitted greatly from these multifunctional products.  My complicated skin transformed with Blissoma SOLUTIONS, and I now feel comfortable in my skin and confident without concealer for the first time in a long while. Highly recommended!  

 

Next…

Find even more about why I love shopping with and supporting Blissoma in my next post.

Follow either link below to check out the Blissoma site!

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