Pure•ly Mei Botanical Skincare is a tightly curated, sophisticated line consisting of two gorgeous hero-status plant-based products, Renew Cherry Blossom Oil-to-Milk Cleanser and Everlasting Bakuchiol and White Lupin Facial Oil Serum.  Founded by licensed esthetician and trained formulator Sarah Duran, Purely Mei is a line that is designed to bring skin back into balance and harmony by supporting the skin barrier and providing noncomedogenic nourishment.  As I told Sarah after using the products for several weeks, these are not your average oils!  Purely Mei delivers considerable benefits to even the fussiest skin types.  As someone dealing with inflammation, acne, and aging simultaneously, I feel qualified to say that both Renew and Everlasting are exceptional formulations.  Together, these complementary products represent a beautifully streamlined yet complete routine, but each product is also a singular marvel as well.  I was lucky enough to get to try both gems, and I am delighted to have the chance to tell you about my outstanding experience with each.

Renew Cherry Blossom Oil-to-Milk Cleanser is an award-winning cleanser that is perfect for anyone whose skin and/or spirit needs a little pampering.  This rich, luxurious oil cleanser is a sensory delight to use with a lovely scent that hints of its natural lavender, geranium, and orange oils.  Renew is very gentle and hydrating, but it gives a thorough clean, washing clean without leaving an oily film behind or stripping or drying out the skin. Prior to using Renew, I was skeptical of cleansers that did not contain a surfactant, but this formulation has shown me that it is not necessary for a just-right clean.  As a skilled esthetician, Sarah Duran formulated this oil cleanser very carefully, and she has a wonderful blog post in which she debunks several misconceptions about oil cleansers. The formulation is very balanced and delivers benefits for all skin types, but especially for anyone dealing with sensitivity, a compromised barrier, or acne.  The oils in Renew are noncomedogenic and high in linoleic acid, which boosts the skin barrier and helps to prevent acne, making this a perfect cleanser for fussy or “problematic” skin.  As someone with both sensitive and acne-prone skin, I’ve found Renew to be a very calming staple in my routine.  As a bonus, its star active, Cherry Blossom, is both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, reducing both the oxidative and inflammatory damage that can accelerate aging and exacerbate other skin complaints.  Additionally, Cherry Blossom helps to suppress advanced glycation end products (AGE) production and AGE-induced fibroblast apoptosis!  Renew is balanced and nourishing and leaves skin hydrated yet truly clean all in one gentle cleanse.  Renew Cherry Blossom Oil-to-Milk Cleanser  is a beautiful cleanser—a joy to use and truly calming for the complexion.

Renew Cherry Blossom Oil-to-Milk Cleanser Ingredients: *Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Polyglyceryl-4-oleate, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, *Perilla Frutescens Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil & Prunus Serrulata (Cherry Blossom) Flower Extract, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, *Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed (C02) Extract, *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf (C02) Extract, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, *Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, *Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Peel oil.  *Organic

Everlasting Bakuchiol and White Lupin Facial Oil Serum is truly an oil that does it all:  hydrates, heals, nourishes, regenerates, and strengthens the skin.  Everlasting is another award-winning gem from Purely Mei, and a single use will quickly show why this showstopper has already started garnering awards, most recently from the Beauty Shortlist Awards.  This silky oil serum provides just the right amount of hydration to skin and rather than remaining on the skin’s surface like some heavier oils do, Everlasting absorbs into the skin where the sumptuous oil serum can work its real magic. With its blend of vanilla-infused Jojoba, Moringa, Pomegranate, Borage, Rose Hip, and Helichrysum Oils, Everlasting smells divine and fortifies the skin with anxtioxidants and 3, 6, 9, omega-rich, nourishing oils.  Bakuchiol and White Lupin Seed Extract are two anti-aging superstars in the serum; Bakuchiol has demonstrated similar anti-aging and anti-acne activity to retinol without the irritation and potential for photosensitivity, and White Lupin Seed Extract promotes high-quality collagen production that results in smoother, firmer skin!

The visible benefits of Everlasting are obvious:  smoother, more supple, calm skin, with a healthy glow.  Best of all, Everlasting is a product that is suitable for all skin types and capable of tackling a variety of skin challenges.  I know firsthand just how healing Everlasting is.  It takes an incredibly special serum to appropriately treat and visibly benefit my skin when it is at its most problematic (e.g., dry in some spots, oily in others, irritated, and acne-prone, all while showing advanced signs of aging), and Everlasting is one of a very select number of products that I can trust to not only do no harm but also to bring my skin into better balance, to soothe, hydrate, and heal my irritation and blemishes.  True to the spirit of Purely Mei, Everlasting restores my skin to calm even when it’s been at its most difficult.  It takes a special hero product to earn your deepest trust for the times when your skin is misbehaving, and Everlasting has quickly become such a go-to hero for me.

Everlasting Bakuchiol and White Lupin Facial Oil Serum Ingredients: *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, *Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Seed Oil, *Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, *Rosa Mosqueta (Rose) Hip Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and Lupinus Seed Extract, *Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed C02 Extract, Bakuchiol, *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Berries C02 Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Bean Extract, Tocopherol (Non GMO), Bisabolol, *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf C02 Extract, *Helichrysum Splendidum Oil.  *Organic

Filled with potent actives, Purely Mei is a line thoughtfully formulated by expert licensed esthetician Sarah Duran.  Purely Mei embraces a pro-aging philosophy, and its products are designed to nurture the skin and empower the user to look and feel their best at any age.  Although the line eschews gimmicky and unrealistic anti-aging marketing, both Renew and Everlasting are beautifully suited for mature skin as well as skin that craves healing, whether from irritation, acne, or both. Indeed, I think it would be accurate to call the products anti-inflammaging, as both Renew and Everlasting contain several actives that tame that inflammatory cascade that can exacerbate skin conditions and accelerate the aging process beyond what it might otherwise be.  Above all, Purely Mei is designed to support the skin barrier and restore calm and balance to the skin while providing the user with an elegant and relaxing experience, and the line succeeds beautifully in doing all this!  For anyone who is ready for a streamlined yet indulgent routine that will yield numerous complexion benefits, I highly recommend trying both Purely Mei products. This is a line worth discovering, cherishing, and sharing!

The post My Review of Pure•ly Mei Botanical Skincare appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

A new launch from Okoko Cosmétiques is always a cause to rejoice.  Recently, I had the delightful opportunity to indulge in two new Okoko treasures, Diamant Bleu Clarifying Cream with Niacinamide and Blue Tansy as well as Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition Next-Level, Age Defying Face Oil with Retinol Fusion. Let’s take these beauties one by one.

Okoko Cosmétiques Diamant Bleu: Clarifying Cream with Niacinamide and Blue Tansy

How can I put into words the pleasure of using Diamant Bleu?  A much-requested item from the Okoko line, this cream is utterly luxurious with a sumptuous buttery texture, the gorgeous color of the sky on a clear and bright day, and a natural fragrance (with key notes of sweet Blue Tansy) so delicious that applying it will lift your spirits and allow for a moment of truly regal indulgence even during an otherwise harried day.

Diamant Bleu is a sensory delight to use.  Sometimes “skincare as self-care” can feel like a marketing gimmick, but not in this case!  It is no exaggeration to say that applying Diamant Bleu offers a precious and enjoyable moment of calm in the storms of life.  I have never smelled any product with a fragrance this delicious, and based on its uplifting effects on me, I would say it is the best aromatherapeutic I have ever tried.  All this praise is simply about the joys of applying Diamant Bleu, but there is so much more to this blue beauty than just delivering an indulgent experience.  As with all Okoko Cosmétiques treasures, every precious ingredient in the formulation is truly performance-driven and based on exhaustive R&D by Okoko founder and Chief Formulator, Oyéta Kokoroko. The gorgeous blue color, for instance, is not just for show; it comes from the combination of natural actives Blue Tansy and Blue Spirulina extract, two incredible plant-based ingredients and potent antioxidants that also deliver skin-calming and detoxifying properties.

If you have a history of complexion woes like I do, then when you imagine a “clarifying cream” you may have visions of harsh dermatological prescriptions that leave skin angry and flaking, but this could not be further from the beautiful reality of Diamant Bleu’s skin-calming results.  I have lovingly nicknamed Diamant Bleu “my blue heaven” because of how dreamy it is in both its performance and use.  The texture is like perfect, freshly-churned butter, delivering an immediate wave of calming hydration.  Before you worry that such a rich, buttery cream might be too indulgent for persnickety, acne-prone skin, let me assure you that Diamant Bleu is formulated precisely for the very concerns of rebellious skin. The importance of hydration plays in optimal healing is often neglected in traditional clarifying formulations, but this is Okoko Cosmétiques, and  Oyéta never delivers less than perfection.  Not only does Diamant Bleu not break me out, it soothes and diminishes inflammation of any sort—whether that is acne, acne marks, or redness and irritation.  Anyone with acne-prone skin can tell you that the marks acne leaves behind are often more stubborn and frustrating than the acne itself was.  Here Diamant Bleu also excels beautifully, with encapsulated Niacinamide proven to rapidly diminish the look of post-acne spots and scarring.

The results of Diamant Bleu will surpass even the highest expectations. My complexion is so much calmer and clearer after regular use of this blue beauty.  This transformative cream is both elegant and high-performance, healing and gently hydrating, all without any harshness–a true feat in formulation!  Diamant Bleu is exceptional and has quickly become my favorite moisturizer of all time.  Of all the moisturizers I have ever tried, none have been as pleasurable and had such an incredible array of benefits as the truly heavenly Diamant Bleu.

Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition Next-Level, Age Defying Face Oil with Retinol Fusion

Les 16 Précieux was already the best anti-aging face oil I had found, but with the new Prestige Edition, you get an entire anti-aging skincare routine all in a single product!  The R&D that went into this treasure is beyond impressive.  As in the White Label version of Les 16 Précieux , Bakuchiol is a key ingredient in the Prestige Edition, but here its effects are further boosted with two evidence-based anti-aging superstars, Encapsulated Retinol and Vitamin C.  The combination of Bakuchiol and Retinol is notable, as the two ingredients work synergistically together, such that their anti-aging and skin-clearing benefits are more than the sum of their individual parts.  Moreover, the Retinol in Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition is encapsulated to improve its delivery and stability.  All this is further amplified by collagen-boosting  vitamin C in an oil-soluble form, L-ascorbyl Palmitate, that helps to brighten and smooth the complexion.

Other incredible ingredients in this luxury cocktail that is Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition include powerhouse antioxidants Astaxanthin, skin-smoothing Ceramides, Fermented Willow Bark to help keep skin clear and bright, White Lupin extract for firming sagging skin, and CoQ10 to help protect skin from environmental stress, and Seabuckthorn and Rosehip Oils to help reduce the appearance of scars.  These are just some of the highlights in this truly divine oil serum!  With all the precious actives featured in Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition, it is noteworthy that the formulation also includes Acai Goji Dehydrasome, an advanced natural ingredient that is not only highly antioxidant and hydrating, but also boosts the delivery and absorption of all the formulation’s beneficial ingredients, of which there are many.

Despite all the potent actives and their enhanced delivery, Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition is incredibly gentle in its power, never causing even the slightest hint of a reaction even on my sensitive skin.  This rich oil is luxurious, hydrating, anti-aging and yet still a perfect choice for those of us dealing with aging and acne simultaneously, as it addresses both concerns and is non-comedogenic.  Les 16 Précieux Prestige Edition is by far the most advanced and effective oil treatment serum I have ever used.  Once again, Okoko Cosmétiques has surpassed my high expectations and delivered a product that truly elevates the entire category of facial oils.

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I’m thrilled to share my Chebula Active Immunity Serum review.  A hotly-anticipated new release from True Botanicals, the star active Chebula is one of the most bioactive and potent full-spectrum cascading and anti-inflammatory antioxidants ever to grace a skincare product!  The fact that it is a cascading antioxidant means that after it’s done fighting a free radical, it takes a new form that fights yet another free radical and then another and then another, all the while protecting and calming the skin.  Chebula  contains Chebulinic and Chebulagic acids that are able to penetrate the upper levels of the skin where they intercept oxidative stress before it can trigger inflammation and inflammaging. As such a potent anti-inflammatory, Chebula helps directly address the root of practically all skin concerns from aging to acne: inflammation.  The result is a product that is truly a multi-tasker. Most skincare takes weeks to show any benefits, but Chebula Active Immunity Serum seems to reduce my redness and nip my stubborn acne in the bud overnight!

With continued use, Chebula Active Immunity Serum offers even more benefits, correcting 5 signs of aging:

1. It heals roughness and dryness: Chebula boosts aquaporin 9 and aquaporin 3 to help water flow properly through the lower levels of your skin, strengthening barrier function and helping your skin retain moisture
2. It brightens & plumps dull skin: Glycation happens as we age–it’s when amino acids in your skin combine with sugar and create a flat, dull and sunken appearance of the skin. Chebula is a potent glycation inhibitor: it breaks that chain from happening to give way to brighter, plumper skin.
3. It smooths fine lines and wrinkles: Chebula boosts collagen and reduces collagen degradation which is known to help with fine lines and wrinkles.
4. It evens skin tone: Chebula is proven to inhibit and break up uneven distribution of melanin, reducing hyperpigmentation and helping even skin tone.
5. It improves skin elasticity & firmness: One of the root causes of skin sagging is the breakdown of filaggrin beneath the skin’s surface. Filaggrin binds proteins together, almost acting like glue to maintain a strong surface structure and firmness. Chebula boosts filaggrin to improve overall firmness, elasticity and skin health.

Since I started using the Chebula Active Immunity Serum, my skin is brighter, more even, smoother, and clearer!  This is a formulation that delivers visible results!  I love knowing that the serum strengthens my skin’s immunity to the inflammatory forces in order to fight multiple signs of aging. This is not only a great anti-aging product, but also a brilliant tool for preventing signs of aging, because it actually intercepts the things that cause aging (and other skin complaints) before they happen!  I highly recommend this innovative, highly effective formulation from True Botanicals. If you are curious to try it for yourself, they offer a convenient mini size so you can try it before committing to a full size.

Shop Now: Chebula Active Immunity Serum

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With the launch of Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly, the Skin Herbalists is a line to watch.  Created by one of the foremost skincare formulators in the world, The Skin Herbalists’ founder and formulator Jacine Greenwood combines the unique wisdom of both an expert aesthetician and a certified cosmetic chemist.  Jacine is the force of nature behind the hugely successful, highly effective, and much-loved line Roccoco Botanicals.  A true creative visionary at heart, Jacine is not one to rest on her laurels and was inspired to create The Skin Herbalists to make her special blend of natural plant-based miracles available for home use. The Skin Herbalists line is 100% natural skincare that proves how effective gentle plant-based skin care can be.

The Skin Herbalists Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly

The Skin Herbalists’ first launch is a gorgeous cleanser, Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly.  Starting out with a cleanser was doubtless the explicit intention.  A true expert in all things skin, founder Jacine views cleanser as the foundational, most vital step in any skincare regimen. Why is having the right cleanser so crucial?  Cleansers contain surfactants, and if not chosen very carefully, surfactants can have deleterious effects on the skin, such that a poorly-formulated cleanser can deplete vital lipids, impair the barrier, and generate inflammation.  Moreover, when an overly-stripping cleanser damages the barrier, it can remain in the skin, further exacerbating dryness and inflammation. Without an optimal cleanser, skin is compromised from the very first step, and all the other products that follow are working at a disadvantage and likely to yield mixed results. Choosing the right cleanser is the crucial first step toward setting the skin up for success, which explains why The Skin Herbalists’ first launch falls into this category.  The Skin Herbalists have created a cleanser that avoids all the common cleanser pitfalls.  With Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly, The Skin Herbalists deliver a beautiful, balanced, and gentle formulation that does not strip skin lipids, nor remain in the skin.  Instead of causing inflammation, Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly actually reduces inflammation  and alleviates redness.  This gem leaves skin clean yet soft and hydrated.

The Skin Herbalists Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly is that special cleanser that fully and effortlessly cleanses makeup and debris in one gentle step all without stripping or irritating even the fussiest of skin.  With a rich, buttery texture and gorgeous pink glow, Rhubarb Jelly Cleanser offers a gorgeous and delightful sensory experience that serves as a perfect first step and will elevate the entire skincare ritual.  Even more impressive than the joy of using it, though, is the beautiful effects it has on the skin. Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly leaves skin gently hydrated without any greasy residue, so you get a satisfying cleanse without that parched feeling that some cleansers can cause. Infused with nutrient-dense Raspberry Seed Oil, Kiwi Seed Oil, and Passionfruit Seed Oil, the cleanser provides skin with a generous dose of Omega 3.    The star ingredient, Rhubarb Extract, increases the amount of ceramides and hyaluronic acid in the skin, softening and plumping lines and wrinkles. With its skin-plumping ingredients, Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly also reinforces the skin barrier and prevents moisture loss.   A specially-chosen concentrated, plant-derived essential fatty acid, Ethyl Linoleate, effectively targets pigmentation while delivering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection, leaving skin bright and calm.  Meanwhile, Kakadu Plum Extract delivers antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it ideal for calming signs of acne or other inflammatory skin issues.  The result is a truly balanced, gentle cleanser that is effective and beneficial for any skin type.

When asked what would constitute the perfect cleanser, Jacine replied, “The perfect cleanser is gentle and doesn’t dry your skin out, yet effortlessly removes makeup, deep cleans pores and doesn’t contain comedogenic ingredients.”   With this brilliant definition in mind, The Skin Herbalists Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly is about as close to perfection as a formulation can possibly get.  Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly is versatile in the way it effectively serves many skin types and concerns, gentle in the way it reinforces the barrier and boosts hydration rather than depleting them, and effortlessly effective in the way it removes makeup and cleans the pores.  Using The Skin Herbalists Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly regularly for just over a week, I am already seeing skin that is calmer, brighter, and better hydrated with noticeably less inflammation.   If you ask me, Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly truly is the perfect versatile cleanser, and I cannot wait to see what other marvels The Skin Herbalists have in store. I highly recommend giving this beauty from the Skin Herbalists a try to see just how high-performance a cleanser can be. Prepare to be impressed!

The post The Skin Herbalists Rhubarb Cleansing Jelly appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Janet Schriever, Code of Harmony Skincare founder, approaches her passion for clean, multi-benefit cannabidiol (CBD) skincare with impressive commitment and energy.  Her products synergistically combine hemp with a luscious array of soothing plant-based cosmeceuticals.  Code of Harmony Skincare formulations are loaded with active ingredients yet designed to nurture even sensitive skin, with a strong emphasis on soothing the symptoms of irritable and problem skin and promoting youthful vitality.  In addition to doing tons of research on ingredients and formulation, Ms. Schriever has taken classes at UCLA and the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, and recently enrolled in a 40-hour-a-week esthetician school as well!  Somehow, she also finds the energy to singlehandedly manage Code of Harmony Skincare, an indie beauty line that she has singlehandedly crafted start to finish.  If Ms. Schriever is particularly committed to Code of Harmony and its customers (with whom she genuinely enjoys connecting), perhaps it is because she knows the potential her products hold as well as the huge weight that is lifted when a person finally finds a fix for troubled skin.  For decades, Ms. Schriever herself struggled with and tirelessly sought a topical solution to help calm her rosacea, which led her to discover the soothing benefits of CBD.  Knowing she was onto something, Ms. Schriever built Code of Harmony Skincare—the original beauty-focused CBD line–out of a genuine love for the skin benefits.  Looking at her clear and glowing complexion now, I am eager to incorporate Code of Harmony products into my regular routine.  Indeed, it’s hard to believe Ms. Schriever’s skin was ever troubled; today at 50, she exudes radiance and easily looks 15 years younger.  Lucky for me, once I started using her high-performance products, a bit of that youthful luminosity seemed to rub off on me.  (You can read my reviews of Code of Harmony Skincare here and here!)

Code of Harmony Skincare Founder Janet Schriever

Are there any misconceptions about CBD that you would like to clear up right off the bat? 

 Janet Schriever (JS): CBD won’t get you high.  My products won’t cause you to fail a drug test or smell like weed.  Also, people sometimes assume that Code of Harmony Skincare is hippie-dippy or that it’s simple and homemade because CBD is the star ingredient, but in reality, my formulas are very complex.  For example, the delivery system I use, Safflower Oleosomes, work in a time-released fashion and gradually releases the active ingredients.  When it comes to beneficial ingredients, I use a lot of them; every ingredient in my products has been chosen because of its skin benefits.  There are no ingredients there just for sensorial effect or fragrance because I want everything to serve the skin rather than just serving the formulation.

 How did you get started in skincare?

JS:  I looked at the skincare I was using and noticed all the fillers and things that really didn’t need to be there—about 98% of the formulations were fillers and ingredients that weren’t helping skin.  I wanted formulations with ingredients there to truly benefit skin. I originally started making products by myself with every soothing and anti-aging ingredient I could find.  I had no intention of selling anything.  I hate to say I was going for something gentle because the products are actually very efficacious, but I didn’t want them to worsen skin problems or cause irritation.  I spent a ton of time doing trial and error and conducting research.    My research led to discoveries like the fact that chamomile, despite being soothing, can cause a reaction in a number of people, myself included; I went a little deeper in my research and found that the calming component in chamomile, bisabolol, gives the same benefit without the risk of reaction [hence, the reason Code of Harmony uses bisabolol extracted from chamomile rather than the full-spectrum plant].  I would love to put all the botanicals on the label, but for people with sensitized skin, often highly-purified extracts deliver more optimal benefits without irritation.

What has your journey been as a formulator?

JS:  I’m 80% self-taught.  I took some classes at UCLA and some workshops here and there for some formal training, but most of what I know I’ve learned through research.  At first, I was reading a ton, but I wasn’t discerning enough about the source.  Eventually, I stopped reading blogs and informal publications and started reading clinical trials.  I also used my own experience, looking to other products and ingredients that have worked well and are proven effective.

Can you describe your own skin frustrations, how you discovered CBD, and the difference it made?

JS:  I struggled with rosacea for years, and it was bad off an on, but at 46, it really flared up.  I spent several years experimenting, doing DIY projects trying to find and create something to get my skin under control.  It was a long experimental process.  I started another skincare line briefly.  Then I went to a meeting with an organization called Women Grow that supports women getting into the cannabis business.  I was not particularly interested in cannabis being a business, but I was slightly curious about CBD.  At the meeting, I learned about CBD and what it could do internally in the body.  It immediately clicked for me that it could be a fantastic skincare ingredient.  At the time, CBD in skincare was primarily targeting pain relief, and there were not any beauty-focused CBD lines on the market.  I decided to try it, and it took the products I had been making to a whole new level.  My skin responded beautifully, and I soon got confirmation that others’ did as well.

What are your favorite benefits of CBD for skin?

JS: The calming, soothing benefits are pretty great.  Studies have proven we have an endocannabinoid system in our skin that responds to CBD, and when that system is toned, you can see good results. CBD is wonderful at helping to alleviate the symptoms of acne, eczema, rosacea.  It’s also a great ingredient for sensitive skin and aging.  If you react to some skincare or have trouble tolerating a lot of it, you may have better luck with a CBD product.  That said, every CBD skincare product has to prove itself on its own merit.  They are not all created equal!

Have there been any challenges related to introducing a CBD line specifically?

JS:  I spent an entire year trying to educate consumers about some of the basics about CBD. The type of CBD I use is not going to get you high or test positive on a drug test.  The CBD isolate I use in Code of Harmony Skincare is completely free of THC (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for the high), so what they test for in a drug test is completely absent.

A report by market research firm Brightfield Group notes that hemp-derived CBD is still treated as a controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency despite the fact that it will not get a person high or test positive on a drug test.  Why is a non-psychoactive substance being treated as dangerous, and what challenges does this present to Code of Harmony Skincare as a small independent business?

JS:  The US government has a patent on CBD as a neuroprotectant and antioxidant and yet maintains that CBD is not therapeutic.  It is still a Schedule I Drug according to the DEA, and the DEA treats CBD the same no matter where it’s derived.  In their eyes, hemp-derived CBD is the same as cannabis-derived CBD.  However, we have to remember who actually makes the laws—Congress, not the DEA.  The problem that this creates for me is consumer perception.  The consumer is confused about whether they can legally buy a CBD product.  Yes, it’s legal; the DEA will not come arrest you.  The Farm Bill says that hemp-derived CBD is legal as long as it is under 0.3% THC [note: Code of Harmony Skincare’s hemp-derived CBD isolate contains no THC], and luckily the stigma is lessening as people realize how safe and beneficial it is.  There’s no reason that hemp should not be 100% legal without any “grey” area or question about where it is derived.  Hemp is grown for all sorts of purposes—paper, clothes, food, medicine.

Many CBD beauty companies encounter banking difficulties due to federal regulations. Has it been difficult to obtain the financial backing you need, and how have you managed?

JS:  Code of Harmony Skincare has faced the same issues with banking that any cannabis business would.  Most banks will shut down merchant processing, and this has happened to me several times.  Larger CBD companies have resources to work this out, but I am self-funded and doing everything myself.  Customers have to buy Code of Harmony Skincare by virtual check.  A lot of customers get put off by that because it can make them start wondering if it’s an illicit purchase.  Really, it’s just a banking issue and not a legality issue, but it has certainly been a challenge for my business.  In terms of larger funding issues, there has been interest from investment companies, but unless they understand the CBD market (which most don’t), it may seem like too much risk for them.  Regulatory issues have made growth slower for me.  As a small business owner who is self-funded, it has been daunting at times.  CBD is a great ingredient, but if it were easy to incorporate CBD into products, you would see all the big corporations jumping on the trend.  Still, I think it [the trouble] will be worth it.  CBD is still new on the market, still seen as somewhat of a novelty ingredient.  I keep hoping things will get easier (business-wise) as CBD’s benefits and safety record become more common knowledge.

What is your approach to formulation?  How did you decide on the additional beneficial ingredients to include in each product along with CBD?

JS:  I’m a big proponent of natural and botanical ingredients and use a variety of them in Code of Harmony.  [Indeed, Code of Harmony ingredient lists feature an array of precious botanicals like Sea Kelp Bioferment, Tremella Mushroom Extract, Safflower Oleosomes, Goji Berry Root Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Prickly Pear Seed Oil, Guava Seed Oil, Watermelon Seed Oil, CoQ10, Pomegranate Oil, Sea Buckthorn CO2, and many more!]  I use them whenever possible, but I also use cosmeceutical extracts, vitamins, and antioxidants.  It’s not easy formulating products naturally.  What many consumers don’t understand is that full-spectrum plant extracts are strong, and there are often a lot of things in them that can irritate and inflame skin.  I love botanicals, and I choose the most efficacious ingredient that is best for the formula.  For instance, I use CBD-isolate rather than the full-spectrum hemp extract, as I use extracts like Centella Asiatica, Resveratrol, and Bisabolol to deliver the benefit without risking reaction.  Yes, they are highly purified, concentrated, and standardized plant extracts, which contain only the benefit and much less of any potential irritant. A lot of this goes against what people want to believe, but not every plant extract is good and not every synthetic is bad; a lab-created ingredient or extract may deliver equal or greater benefit and be a lot easier on the skin than something directly from a plant.

What have you learned about what it takes to launch and run a successful skincare line today?

JS:  I made a ton of mistakes and said yes to things I shouldn’t have.  The main takeaway is this, though:  if you stare down your fears, they eventually go away.  The success I have had is due to blind faith and a ton of work.  Through Instagram and events, I have met really cool people who trust and love Code of Harmony Skincare products.  I’ve really loved the aspect of connecting to my customers, and there’s been a lot of really great support and excitement.  It’s been unexpected and very cool.  That said, I am still very small and still growing.  I have much to do before I will feel secure about calling my business a success.

How would you describe your beauty and skincare philosophies?

JS:  I like a combination of natural and high-performance ingredients in my products.  The market tended to have very natural and organic products without much efficacy (they don’t offer much to skin issues).  On the other hand, traditional fully synthetic products with synthetic emulsifiers and lots of fillers are not helping the skin either.  Traditional skin care formulations can also cause irritation and are far from “clean.”  I wanted to create products with a natural emphasis that were full of every beneficial calming/soothing/nurturing ingredient I could find.  I wanted the products to be gentle in the sense that they won’t trigger irritation yet highly effective and results-driven.  Because I am not a traditional cosmetic chemist (and most of them learn in the lab and on the job), I don’t use a ton of surfactants or lab-created ingredients that are used in traditional skin care.  I came at this with the intention that every ingredient in my products should benefit and serve the skin.  I didn’t want filler ingredients in the products, so you won’t find white and fluffy creams in the line; my products are sort of a light ochre color because of the botanicals and antioxidants in them, and they have natural scents that come from the ingredients that are also helping your skin.

Janet Schriever

How is  Code of Harmony Skincare unique among CBD-skincare lines?

JS:  I blindly jumped into this, because I loved it.  I was the first to create a CBD-enhanced “clean” beauty line.  I have put a lot of love, faith, and time into crafting my products.  Now CBD is becoming a hot ingredient, and there are a bunch of lines popping up.  Some of these other companies white-label [i.e., buying their products from a huge producer and then rebranding it to make it appear like they made it].  I would love to see other brand owners put a little more time and thought into their formulas and sourcing, so they know exactly what they’re selling, what every ingredient does, and why it is in the formula.  So even if you are not the chemist, you can be aware of what you are selling and the potential benefits and risks.  For the consumer, you still want to find thoughtfully-formulated products with good reviews.  I choose every ingredient in my products to serve the skin, and my line shows that.  I strive to keep Code of Harmony Skincare accessible rather than pricing it out of range.  I am able to keep prices reasonable because I don’t have a lot of overhead.  It’s just me, and I’m not paying myself.

Code of Harmony Skincare uses a CBD isolate rather than a full-spectrum extract.  What are the advantages of this?

JS:  I find the isolate is less allergenic than the full-spectrum.  The isolate has the terpenes taken out, so there’s no scent, and this is greatly preferred by most people.  Taking the terpenes out lessens reactivity.

What current trends or pressures in the beauty industry frustrate you and which ones excite you, and why?

JS:  The clean beauty/indie thing happening right now is awesome.  Code of Harmony uses clean formulas that are free of fillers and harsh synthetics and full of rich phytonutrients, soothing ingredients, and anti-aging actives.  I think this is a smart approach.  At the same time, though, I think people need to get a little more educated about clean beauty because things are less black-and-white than a lot of consumers believe.  There are a lot of black-and-white attitudes without much digging deeper, and a lot of people are rule-bound to a fault, saying, “I will not use chemicals on my face,” when everything is chemical, or, “I’m not going to use anything I can’t pronounce.”  Some vendors put their consumers at risk by not using preservatives in products that require them.  Then there’s the sustainability issue.  I’m all for natural ingredients, but some things will actually be more sustainable when they’re not taken from nature—such as Sandalwood Oil or Hyaluronic Acid (that used to come from only an animal source and is now created in a lab).

What do you see as the greatest success of your line so far and what are your hopes for the future?

JS:  The response and interest have been great.  My business has been very much about integrity and being transparent.  I try to give people realistic ideas about what to expect or not from each product.  The other thing to know is that the whole line has come from one person from start to finish.  I have done everything myself.  In terms of success, I am still so new!  There’s been a lot of interest from estheticians who want something new and effective.  There’s also been a great response from clients with hormonal cystic acne, rosacea, and other skin troubles; people send me dramatic Before and After pictures.  I don’t solicit these, but they send them in out of gratitude for the transformation they’ve seen in their skin.  Indie Beauty Expo (IBE) has been really invaluable in getting press exposure.  I participated in IBE’s BeautyX live deskside pitch contest, Deskside Domination and was chosen by Glamour, Allure, and Fat Mascara podcast as the winner.  This is huge for a little indie brand like me!  It proved to me that I am doing something of value.  I don’t plan on going anywhere.  I’m really passionate about this and not just jumping on CBD as a fad.

Read my reviews of Code of Harmony Skincare here and here!

The Code of Harmony Skincare Collection

The post Code of Harmony Skincare Founder Interview: Meet Janet Schriever appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Once in a great while, I am lucky enough to encounter an exceptional beauty entrepreneur who is as kind as she is talented.  Anis Lacerte of I’M FABULOUS COSMETICS is one such amazing woman.  I had lusted after her High Tech Copper Peptide Serum 10% for a few years when, much to my surprise and delight, Ms. Lacerte herself commented on one of my Instagram posts.  It was an exciting moment for me, and after a bit of social media interaction, I reached out and expressed my admiration and interest in collaborating, and Ms. Lacerete graciously agreed.

I’M FABULOUS COSMETICS REVIEW

I had the opportunity to try two incredible products from the I’M FABULOUS line, the TCA Toner and High Tech Copper Peptide Serum 10%, and I’m delighted to bring you my review.

I’M FABULOUS COSMETICS TCA Toner

First, let me tell you about the TCA (Trichloracetic Acid) Toner. TCA Toner is a highly effective oil reducer, pore minimizer, and exfoliant that works by removing the top layer of dead skin cells, revealing the fresh new skin that lies beneath.  I started using TCA Toner during a bad bout of acne and found that it was very good at bringing my skin back into balance.  The toner has a base of aloe and also includes skin nourishing Vitamin E along with acne-fighting Salicyclic Acid and skin-rejuvenating Trichloracetic Acid for a clear, bright complexion.  The blend works brilliantly, and it packs a punch; those of us with sensitive skin may most benefit from using it once a day rather than twice. I particularly recommend I’M FABULOUS TCA Toner for anyone who struggles with acne, as it leaves blemish-prone skin fresh and clean.  TCA Toner is serious skincare that is superb at tackling blemishes, large pores, and acne marks.

I’M FABULOUS COSMETICS High Tech Copper Peptide Serum 10%

Now, on to the gem known as I’M FABULOUS High Tech Copper Peptide Serum 10%.  This hydrating organic serum has the most impressive, potent concentration of Copper Tripeptide GHK-Cu that I have seen offered anywhere, coming in at a whopping 10%.  This serum is truly exceptional; although it comes in a generous bottle (50ml) it is a highly reparative and rejuvenating concentrate. High Tech Copper Peptide Serum 10% can work wonders even when used sparingly; in fact, this is such an intense product that it is best not to overdo it.  Ms. Laceree recommends using it just once a day and stopping for at least 12 months after using one full bottle of the treatment (50ml).

For absolute maximum freshness, the serum comes in two bottles, one with the GHK-Cu active copper concentrate and one of the Copper Peptide Activator Serum.  Combine the two, shake for 30 seconds, and you have a fresh, activated serum ready to use. In addition to the extraordinarily high concentration of the star active, GHK-Cu, the serum also boasts plumping hyaluronic acid as well as an array of branched-chain amino acids that are an essential part of the synthesis of collagen and elastin. Ms. Lacerte has put a great deal of research into her ingredient selection, and the results speak for themselves.

High Tech Copper Peptide Serum is an excellent choice for anyone with undesired acne marks, signs of aging, or both, as it addresses them beautifully. This is skin repair in a bottle.  The serum reverses multiple signs of skin aging as well as any skin imperfections by boosting collagen production at an impressive rate, and it also leaves skin with a clear and luminous glow that is special to such an usually high concentration of GHK-Cu. If you are looking for a smart way to repair and revitalize skin, you won’t do much better than this beautiful copper serum!  There is nothing else quite like it on the market.

If you love wonderful vegan skincare like I’M FABULOUS COSMETICS, don’t miss my revealing interview with brand founder Anis Lacerte here!

The post I’M FABULOUS COSMETICS Review appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

True Botanicals is an uncompromising, highly effective clean skincare line that combines the best natural ingredients with the latest scientific advances in formulation.  Their motto is “pure, potent, proven,” and they live up to it, backing up product efficacy with actual research that demonstrates their products outperform some of the most iconic skincare on the market!  Additionally, their results-driven formulations truly are kind to skin and to the planet.  For example, the US bans only 11 ingredients in beauty products; Europe bans 1,328.  True Botanicals holds itself to a higher, safer standard, banning over 5,000 chemicals known to hurt human or environmental health.  True Botanicals appeals to me because they prove that natural and sustainable skincare can be luxurious and effective.  Today I am going to tell you about an incredible holiday gift set, True Botanicals You Make Me Glow Face Care Kit!

As True Botanicals has been on my wishlist for a few years, I was thrilled to have the chance to try a PR sample of a special holiday gift set, the True Botanicals You Make Me Glow Face Care Kit.  This set offers a lit-from-within glow with True Botanicals iconic Clear Nourishing Cleanser (4 fl oz), Clear Pure Radiance Oil (1 fl oz), Radiance Facial Roller, and a reusable True Botanicals Essentials Bag perfect to use as environmentally-friendly gift wrapping.  The set I tested is focused on giving clear, bright skin, but the “You Make Me Glow” set is also available featuring the Renew line for those who want to focus on anti-aging.  Having enjoyed the Kit for a couple of weeks, I have already seen improvements in my skin in terms of more even tone, less inflammation, and fewer blemishes.  I credit the Clear Nourishing Cleanser and Clear Pure Radiance Oil used with the Radiance Facial Roller for these visible benefits!

How to Use True Botanicals You Make Me Glow Face Care Kit

Here is how I have used the “You Make Me Glow” Face Care Kit to such great effects.  First, I cleanse my face with Clear Nourishing Cleanser.  Next, I apply about 7 drops of Clear Pure Radiance Oil to my skin while it was still moist.  I use the Radiance Facial Roller in short, gentle strokes starting at the center of the jawline and moving up and out towards the hairline. The smaller roller offers gentle precision, and I use it to roll up and out under the eyes and over my temples.  Finally, I roll above my eyebrows up and out on my forehead toward the hairline. I repeat each of the strokes 3-5 5imes until one side of my face was complete and then move to the other side, repeating these steps.

The Clear products themselves are great and truly encourage clear skin while also leaving skin pleasantly hydrated and supporting the skin barrier. Clear Nourishing Cleanser is a creamy, non-foaming cleanser that strikes the perfect balance between sloughing away dead skin and providing healing hydration.  Almost every acne-fighting cleanser I have ever used has been somewhat harsh or drying, but not True Botanicals Clear Nourishing Cleanser!  The base ingredient is not water as you would commonly see, but instead nutrient- and polyphenol-rich green and white tea!  The tea is not only highly antioxidant, but also very restorative.  It is complemented by nature’s salicylic acid, black willow bark, which exfoliates and smoothes skin without irritation. Another star ingredient of many is helichrysum, a soothing antibacterial and antifungal botanical renowned for its wound-healing and scar-minimizing benefits.  Rather than drying out the skin (which can exacerbate breakouts and worsen scarring), Clear Nourishing Cleanser is hydrating and offers truly the perfect balancing cleanse!

Clear Pure Radiance Oil is a plumping moisturizer that simultaneously prevents pesky breakouts and helps minimize signs of aging. It serves these dual purposes beautifully with healing , antibacterial helichrysum, sebum-balancing oils of hemp, pumpkin, and grape seed, and the potent anti-aging ingredients algae and astaxanthin.  Packed with skin-loving essential fatty acids, Clear Pure Radiance leaves skin plump and hydrated, restores the skin barrier, and does all this while also balancing oil production and preventing blemishes.

Clear Nourishing Cleanser and Pure Radiance Oil are especially amazing when used with the Radiance Facial Roller included in the True Botanicals You Make Me Glow Face Care Kit.  Radiance Facial Roller boosts circulation and product penetration, reduces puffiness, eases tension, and helps promote elasticity!  This Face Care Kit would make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves skincare or deserves some quality self-care!

The post True Botanicals “You Make Me Glow” Kit Review appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

With the publication of How to Decode Your Cosmetics Labels, green beauty visionary Oyéta Kokoroko has written a vital book that will empower consumers, beginning formulators, and retailers to make informed and educated choices about product selection within the beauty sphere.  Trying to assess the quality of a beauty product before you purchase it can be mystifying and intimidating; most of us would benefit from an insider’s guidance. From ingredient lists that read like an organic chemistry textbook to a broad array of marketing claims (e.g., natural, green, clean, non-toxic, free of X, clinically tested, clinical grade, etc.), cosmetics labels make it difficult to determine whether a given product is worthwhile and/or suitable for our particular needs. We struggle to discern what really matters, what claims are exaggerated, and where should we pay the most attention. Enter Oyéta Kokoroko, and her fabulous new eBook How to Decode Your Cosmetics Labels. This eBook provides all the guidance and education consumers need to read, understand, and evaluate confusing cosmetics labels. Author Oyéta lets readers in on an important secret about assessing cosmetics–one that she has learned through years of formulating skincare: the quality of a product is directly related to the quality of its ingredients and some ingredients are more important than others. Thus, decoding cosmetics labels is an imperative step in the assessment and selection process. As the book points out, the claims may lie, but the ingredients do not, and knowing where to focus our attention is the first step. 

What makes understanding ingredient labels a bit tricky for most of us is that the cosmetic industry uses its own standard language to list ingredients, called International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), that is anything but intuitive. INCI names are almost like another language. Fortunately, How to Decode Your Cosmetics Labels truly walks us through the process of decoding labels, giving us step-by-step instructions and even practice exercises (with answers in the Appendices so you can check your work). Readers will also gain the knowledge necessary to be able to understand the different parts of formulations by categorizing ingredients based on their purpose. Living up to its name, the book teaches how to decode cosmetics labels and provides access to several insider tools and resources (e.g., some brilliant decoding software and more) that will make demystifying labels easy and virtually effortless. With the tools provided here, readers can translate the names of INCI ingredients into plain English in no time at all. How to Decode Your Cosmetics Labels makes technical information about ingredients and formulation understandable and accessible even to those of us who do not have a strong background in formulation or cosmetic chemistry.

In this book, Oyéta generously shares her insider knowledge and perspective from years in the industry. What is more, she educates in a truly balanced, non-biased way, showing a level of discretion and evenhandedness that is hard to find in beauty.  How to Decode Your Cosmetics Labels is fullydevoted to educating and empowering consumers without even a hint of a hidden agenda. First, Oyéta does not promote or even mention her own line or products in any way.  This sort of restraint is rare in books written by founders! Additionally, although written by a green beauty luminary, the book does not at all malign or vilify mainstream cosmetics.  In fact, the book compares natural and conventional cosmetics in a radically evenhanded way, offering insights about the relative advantages and disadvantages of each. For instance, the book points out that although mainstream cosmetics use more lab-made ingredients, this is not necessarily a negative, as some of these synthetic ingredients are identical to their natural counterparts and may even be more sustainable. The book also presents that while natural formulas are typically more eco-conscious than conventional, they are also likely to degrade faster than their conventional counterparts due to a shorter shelf life. How to Decode Your Cosmetics Labels has an entire chapter filled with evenhanded nuggets such as these, and the entire book is written with this sort of integrity. Anyone seeking truth amid all the distortion in the beauty industry will find this book refreshing and informative.

An invaluable reference, How to Decode Your Cosmetics Labels will enable readers to see through the wild, unrealistic promises and greenwashing tactics that plague the cosmetics industry to make truly informed choices and selections.  The eBook will also make product selection easier for specific skin types, as it contains a particularly useful Ingredients Directory that lists common active ingredients—in both plain English and INCI– organized by the user’s desired skin goal. Whether the issue is dehydrated skin, dark spots, or something else, the Ingredients Directory will provides a list of special actives tailored to the user’s specific concerns.  These lists will help readers identify solid, targeted formulations that suit their needs.  Although readers will get a lot out of their first pass through this book, How to Decode Your Cosmetics Ingredients is also a wonderful reference to keep on hand to come back to for anyone who wants to better understand the heart of cosmetic products, their ingredients.  In conclusion, Oyéta’s eBook is an important and generous contribution to the beauty canon and an essential read for the beauty consumer seeking honest and transparent information to empower his/her choices.  

The post How to Decode Your Cosmetics Labels by Oyéta Kokoroko: A Review appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Five Elements Skincare is a standout handcrafted, all-natural line of skin-loving botanical products from New Zealand that powerfully restore and enhance skin’s wellbeing and vitality, all without any questionable ingredients, common irritants, or harmful additives.  When Five Elements founder Karen Mackay reached out to me and offered me the chance to try a few of her botanical treasures, I jumped at the chance.  Be sure to check out my interview with Ms. Macay!  The products themselves are elegant, with clean formulations that rely on time-tested botanicals, rather than faddish ingredients, to deliver a multitude of skin benefits.  After trying a few of the products and being highly impressed at how well they hydrated, soothed and helped to heal my mature skin, it came as little surprise to me to discover that Five Elements Founder and Formulator Ms. Mackay has a postgraduate degree in Botany.

Five Elements Skincare Founder, Karen Mackay

In addition to my fondness for the products, I also love the values and integrity that this line embodies.  Quality is ensured with careful thought and attention at every step of production; they even grow their own botanicals using biodynamic principles on their herb farm in Marlborough, New Zealand.  Additionally, Five Elements Skincare routinely donates 10% of profits to New Zealand Conservation Efforts, and they frequently designate periods of time during which they donate 15% of all profits to conservation charities.  Packaging is PBA,  plastic-free and recyclable.  Their prices are amazingly accessible, and to top it off, they are also offering a special discount to my readers through the end of September (jump to the end if you can’t wait)!

The full Five Elements Skincare line consists of a lovely assortment of facial, body, and hair products.  I have thoroughly enjoyed four of Ms. Mckay’s creations:

• Five Elements Skin Tonic Balm
• Five Elements Natural Sunscreen SPF 30
• Five Elements Elemental Renewal Serum
• Five Elements Comfrey Balm

From the moment I started using Five Elements Skincare, it was clear that the products had been lovingly and thoughtfully created by someone with a keen and nuanced understanding of the healing powers of plants.  Though each the product in the Five Elements range serves a specific, distinctive purpose, the entire line is infused with impressive anti-inflammatory and restorative properties.  Moreover, I would be remiss if I did not mention that Five Elements Skincare offers some of the best value in all green beauty:  pure ingredients, high-performance formulations, all at refreshingly accessible pricing.

Five Elements Skincare is a line that was born out of pure compassion; as you can read my founder interview below my reviews, Ms. Mackay was inspired to create her initial formulation out of a desire to bring comfort and healing to a student she was teaching who was suffering from painful and debilitating eczema.  She had no intention of launching a business.  However, the culmination of her formulation efforts, a balm that she named Five Elements Skin Tonic in honor of the five healing botanicals it contained, led to such a complete transformation in the student’s condition that others soon clamored for it, continually compelling her to make more to share.  Today, Five Elements Skin Tonic is a beloved hero product to those who have experienced its benefits.  Below, I will tell you about my experience with each Five Elements treasure I have tried, starting with Skin Tonic.

The Irritation Remedy: Five Elements Skin Tonic Balm

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to enjoy Five Elements Skin Tonic Balm, which contains the Five Elements plant extracts—a lovely blend of anti-inflammatory Ginkgo, healing Plantago, antiseptic Rosemary, antioxidant Olive, and brightening Rumex–in cold-pressed, extra virgin Olive Oil with Grape Seed Oil and Beeswax.  (The Liquid version contains the Five Elements extracts in an Olive Oil and Grapeseed Oil base.)  All the botanicals have been locally grown in New Zealand, and both the Balm and Liquid are entirely natural and clean without any harsh or harmful additives.  Personally, I cherish the Balm, especially whenever my skin is dry and irritated, which is a fairly regular occurrence for me both because of my skin’s tendencies and also because I occasionally overdo it with harsher actives.  Five Elements Skin Tonic Balm is a nourishing, hydrating, creamy remedy for inflamed skin.  Those of us with problem skin, particularly due to irritation, redness, or dryness, will rejoice at the immediate comfort and rapid healing Skin Tonic helps to provide.  The Balm is a brilliant moisturizer and soothing treatment in one.  Though it may be a little rich for highly acne-prone skin, those with normal to dry skin will love it.  I reserve it for when my skin is dry and not in particularly acne-prone phase and find it a welcome addition to my arsenal.  Remarkably, this soothing botanical gem, made with home-grown plants and lots of care, can be yours for just $17.73!  I wasn’t kidding when I said this was a fantastic value.  Five Elements Skin Tonic Balm is a mighty, healing formulation, especially wonderful for dry, dehydrated, and/or sensitive skin, and an extraordinary find for less than $20!

Ingredients: Elemental Phytoextracts (Ginkgo, Rosemary, Rumex, Plantago, and Extra Virgin Olive oil) in cold-pressed Extra-Virgin Olive Olil and Grape Seed Oil with Beeswax.

The Cleanest Natural SPF I’ve Encountered: Five Elements Natural Sunscreen SPF 30

As someone with photosensitive lupus, I am understandably picky about my sunscreen, and Five Elements Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 is an absolute winner.  I love this blend for so many reasons.  First, Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 contains my favorite ingredient for balanced UVB/UVA protection, zinc oxide, and the formula is one of few that includes as generous an amount of zinc oxide (20%) as I like to see to ensure excellent protection.  Despite the high percentage of zinc oxide, Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 does not leave a white caste and blends like a dream!  The blendability is incredible, as is its creaminess.  The formulation is ultra-pure, with just five natural ingredients (e.g., zinc oxide, shea butter in cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive and grapeseed oil base with a touch of beeswax).  Simple ingredients give way to a surprisingly elegant formulation; as someone who has tested a lot of mineral sunscreens, it’s quite impressive to experience one that is so hydrating and blendable, all without skimping on the protection.

Five Elements Natural Sunscreen is truly nourishing with an amazing texture that is luxurious and hydrating while being ultra-smooth and blendable.   In short, this is a true winner!  You get a lovely helping of protective zinc oxide in an elegant formula with a lovely creamy consistency, excellent dispersion of zinc, all with no white cast.  Plus, Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 can easily double as a lovely moisturizer, as it delivers excellent nourishment and hydration with the purest of ingredients.  This is a very complete, high-performance product despite a minimal-ingredient formula.  I love applying and wearing it and am confident in the SPF protection.  If you want to experience a feat of formulation, look no further!  Plus, the price is incredibly accessible at just $17.52.  Amazing!

Ingredients: Zinc Oxide in cold-pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Grape Seed Oil with Beeswax.

The Antioxidant Nourisher with Striking Anti-Aging Benefits: Five Elements Elemental Renewal Serum

Elemental Renewal Serum features Five Elements’ signature, biodynamically-grown five-plant healing Elemental Phytoextracts, included in the formula at a whopping 50%.  This formula is one of few oil serums I have tried that visibly improves the look of skin, no doubt it owes much to the generous proportion of carefully-chosen Elemental Phytoextracts with microcirculation-boosting and collagen-enhancing Ginkgo, soothing and toning Plantago, antimicrobial and oil-balancing Rosemary, nourishing and anti-inflammatory Olive, and tyrosinase-inhibiting Rumex.  The Five Elements are very well-rounded and complementary, and when you enjoy them at such high potency, skin reaps the rewards.  The base oils are nourishing, skin-loving Organic Rosehip, Avocado, and Jojoba Oils, so there is much here to admire.  Delivering vital minerals and vitamins A, D, and E as well as the special Five Elements healing phytoextracts, Elemental Renewal helps minimize scars, pigmentation, and acne, and it also nourishes and plumps skin while stimulating collagen production for healthy, vibrant skin.  It’s easily absorbed and makes a beautiful daily serum to leave skin soft and renewed.  I also enjoy incorporating a few drops of it into my dry masks to elevate their formulas and boost the healing and hydration.  Either way, Elemental Renewal Serum is a treasure, and it gets even better when you realize you can purchase this botanical beauty for just $26.61.

Ingredients: Contains 50% Elemental Phytoextracts (Ginkgo, Rosemary, Rumex, Plantago, and Extra Virgin Olive oil), Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Rosehip Oil, Organic Avocado Oil.  Organic Frankincense, Geranium, and Palmarosa essential oils.

Sore-Muscle Soothing: Five Elements Comfrey Balm

This blend is another winner: ultra-soothing and truly effective at relieving my muscle pain and occasional joint pain.  Better yet, Five Elements Comfrey Balm is highly effective without the overwhelming stinging, freezing, or burning of so many topical pain relief products!  It provides relief without that discomfort.  The key ingredients include the Five Elements Organic Elemental Phytoextracts plus Organic Comfrey, Therapeutic-Grade Cumin, Frankincense, and Eucalyptus in a creamy and nourishing organic base.  This is a lovely, clean formula that beautifully showcases the magic of botanicals for pain relief.  This pain relief is available for just $16.12.

Ingredients: Organic Comfrey, Organic Elemental Phyto-extracts, Therapeutic Grade Cumin, Frankincense, Eucalyptus, extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil and Organic Grapeseed Oil, Organic Beeswax.

Special Offer, Courtesy of Five Elements Skincare:  Go to their site and use the code SEPTEMBER18 at checkout for FREE Shipping (yes, internationally) for any order over $100NZ (equivalent to around $65US).

Offer expires September 30, 2018.

I’m always eager to expand my horizons! Have you tried this or any other New Zealand skin care brands?  What’s on your global skincare wishlist?

The post Five Elements Skincare: New Zealand-Grown, Botanist-Created Beauty appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Béni: Carefully Curated Clean Beauty You Can Trust

The hunt for the perfect beauty product can be dizzying.  Sometimes there are so many choices that it’s hard to know where to begin.  There are so many brands—with new ones popping up all the time—that it’s hard to evaluate them; this becomes especially true when you consider that in addition to just wanting effective formulations, many of us also care deeply about the way brands conduct business.  Are the ingredients safe?  Sustainable?  Ethical?  Is the line cruelty-free?   Finally, does a given product really suit our needs?  Reviews may be limited or nonexistent, and even if they exist, satisfaction may differ by age group, skin type, and all sorts of other factors that often go unmentioned.  No wonder so many of us end up regretting a sizeable portion of beauty purchases!  This is why I’m so glad I discovered a new way to shop for clean beauty:  Béni.

Béni: Curated Clean & Indie Beauty, Personalized

Béni Offers Tons of Clean + Indie Beauty Product Choices with a Personal Touch

Allow me to introduce you to someone who has set out to improve and personalize this whole process, Naomi Saito.  Ms. Saito noticed negative changes in her skin with each stressful change in her life, such as moving to the United States, becoming pregnant, having a baby, and traveling for work.  She soon learned that almost 1,000 toxic chemicals and harsh preservatives–banned in places like Canada, Japan, and the E.U.–remain on the U.S. market.  Ms. Saito realized the U.S. beauty industry needed a more transparent approach to its ingredients. She wanted a wealth of clean beauty products at her fingertips without having to browse hundreds of different sites, and she wanted to be able to get product recommendations without having to be annoyed by random salespeople (who typically knew less about the products than she did).  So last year, she left her comfortable career in accounting to start Béni, an Indie Beauty Matchmaker Platform and Community like nothing else we have seen to date.  Called “the future of clean beauty” by the San Francisco Chronicle, “Béni” takes its name from a traditional Geisha’s lipstick, a very precious and a luxurious shade of red derived from camellia flower; this lovingly-chosen name reflects Ms. Saito’s passion to create circles and connections with the beauty community.  As she has said, she created Béni because, “I want to celebrate individual beauty, foster community, and improve people’s lives.”

Naomi Saito, Founder

Béni is a one-stop shop community that connects consumers directly with 40 (and growing) incredible indie beauty brands that have been fully vetted for cruelty-free practices and clean formulations.  Béni’s clean beauty brands have targeted solutions for specialized skin concerns. Consumers fill out a questionnaire about skin type, concerns, and lifestyle factors; brands can see skin types and concerns to give targeted recommendations, but this information is private from other community users.  As soon as you sign up for a Béni account, which is totally free, you can get personalized recommendations and product education straight from the sources that know each product best—the makers themselves!  You can even ask for suggestions targeting very precise concerns. For instance, I asked the community for recommendations on a hydrating toner for aging, dehydrated skin, and quickly I received seven specific, personalized product recommendations directly from indie brands themselves with an explanation of how each product fit the bill.  I had the opportunity to follow up with any product questions, and ultimately, I settled on a toner from Lena & Lina San Francisco, an indie brand that has really impressed me. Lena & Lina San Francisco uses cutting-edge Asian technology and replaces lost ceramides with natural human-type ceramide for highly effective skin rejuvenation!  (I will have more to say on this line soon!)

Ask Brands for Personalized Recommendations & Get Expert Advice Just for You

One of the many things I love about Béni is its flexibility.  You can browse through all the products offered by each of 40 of the already-vetted clean beauty brands on the site, and if you know what you want, you can purchase it directly.  If you want some direction, you can ask for product recommendations specific to your unique concerns, starting dialogues with any number of the brands themselves.  Also, you can find other users’ requests and recommendations and shop for anything that piques your interest, as well as like, comment, and follow other users.  In coming months, Béni will be introducing a location feature that will bring people to local stores that carry the brands (wherever applicable) so that consumers can easily sample the products and talk in-person before making a purchase.

Béni is a wonderful way to discover curated clean beauty with the option of customized recommendations when you want them.  This is the best of indie beauty with a personal touch and a real sense of community.  If that isn’t already incentive enough to sign up for your free account, Béni is offering limited-time specials and free shipping on all purchases!  I am really enjoying my experience on the site and highly encourage you to sign up for an account on this lovely, one-of-a-kind community today!  This is not a sponsored post; I am genuinely excited about Béni and think it’s a great place to make discoveries and purchase new and old favorites.

Ask Béni to Find Your Perfect Match

For more on Béni, please see the Press below!

SFgate: https://blog.sfgate.com/storystudio/2017/02/01/hello-beni-the-future-of-clean-beauty-has-arrived/

GCI: http://www.gcimagazine.com/marketstrends/channels/onlinetv/Beni-Wants-to-Transform-the-Way-People-Find-Beauty-Products-474082123.html

Follow @hellobenibeauty & #hellobenibeauty and see the latest news!

Media Kit: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ZODSPGZlKvLAh4p_6Hc__sigDb_T5X-o

The Best of Clean Beauty, Personalized

The post Béni: The Best of Clean Beauty, Personalized appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.