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.

Beige Dusk Greys is a delightful Etsy-hosted shop (and, in my opinion, one of the best on the wide-ranging platform) in which Dallas maker Andrea Rogers channels her creative powers and artistic talents to create two of her favorite things: handcrafted skincare products and fine paper goods.  An artisan with many talents, Ms. Rogers makes gorgeous stationery and parcel tags, but since I am skincare-obsessed, it was her skincare formulations that caught my eye.  I was searching Etsy shops for products with prickly pear seed oil and quickly found that–in a lovely blend with camellia seed oil, borage oil, jojoba oil, and house-infused fractionated coconut oil featuring nettle, rosemary, calendula, & thyme–and so much more in the Beige Dusk Greys shop.  Note:  many Beige Dusk Greys products contain coconut oil, but it is a special form that works well even on acne-prone skin.  Ms. Rogers is highly attuned to comedogenicity, so she uses fractionated coconut oil.  I am acne-prone and was initially nervous about applying anything with coconut oil–fractionated or not–but I was able to enjoy her formulations without any problems and feel totally comfortable recommending her line to others who deal with blemishes.

Andrea Rogers of Beige Dusk Greys

Ms. Rogers was exceptionally generous and gave me the opportunity to sample a true bundle of the skincare delights Beige Dusk Greys offers.  The shop is full of tempting formulations, but to get you started, here are some highlights.

Beige Dusk Greys Green Tea Oil Cleanser

Beige Dusk Greys Green Tea Oil Cleanser ($16)–-a light cleansing oil that easily rinses off cleanly, leaving skin fresh but not stripped and providing just the slightest hint of additional moisture.  The ingredients are nourishing, healing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, with the additional benefit of gentle antibacterial properties.  This is a great cleanser that effectively removes makeup yet never overdries; it leaves skin soft and smooth without any greasiness or heavy residue.  Green Tea Oil Cleanser is high-performance in terms of functionality and well-rounded benefits from its choice actives.  A very versatile product, this would work for all skin types, including acneic or sensitive.

Ingredients: Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil, Nettle, Green Tea, Chamomile, & Ginger Infused Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Fractionated Coconut Oil), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Seed Oil), Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate, & Camellia Sinesnsis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract.

Beige Dusk Greys Honey & Rose Toner

Beige Dusk Greys Honey & Rose Toner ($12)–-a delicious, refreshing alcohol-free toner that has a naturally fragrant base of rose hydrosol with aloe juice for soothing hydration.  Along with antioxidant-rich rose, this toner also features Manuka honey extract (fantastic for hydration and healing) along with dynamic healing Royal Jelly (great for soothing nourishment, highly reparative).  The formula also includes gentle doses of lactic acid and Vitamin C to aid exfoliation and brightening; neither the is included at a level that would cause stinging or sensitivity, particularly when combined with the other soothing, moisturizing actives in the toner.  Unlike many toners that sting or burn sensitive skin, Beige Dusk Greys Honey & Rose Toner is calming and cooling.  This is a wonderful hydrator that feels soothing on contact, and it offers great benefits for dry or sensitive skin.

Ingredients: Rosa Demascena (Rose Otto) Flower Distillate, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe), Manuka Honey Extract, Butylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, Apis Mellifera (Royal Jelly) Extract, Gluconolacctone, Sodium Benzoate, PEG -7 Olivate (Olive Esters), Glycerin, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, L-ascorbic Acid, Didecoldimonium Chloride, & Rosa Damascena (Rose) Oil.

Indigo Concentrate Beauty Balm

Beige Dusk Greys Indigo Concentrate Beauty Balm ($24)—a creamy, moisturizing balm that is perfect for nearly any skin type and divine for fussy or acne-prone types.  Indigo Concentrate Beauty Balm has a light gel-oil sort of texture that sinks right in with only the lightest residue.  The lovely hue is thanks to soothing and gentle chamazulene, from both blue chamomile and blue tansy oils.  This along with beneficial actives like yarrow, indigo, and sacha inchi oil make this Balm a wonderful remedy for irritated and inflamed skin.  Indigo Concentrate Beauty Balm is a lovely product packed with beneficial, soothing ingredients that calm troubled skin.

Ingredients: Indigofera Tinctoria (Indigo) Infused Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (Fractionated Coconut Oil), Plukenetia Volubilis (Sacha Inchi) Seed Oil, Corylus Americana (Hazel) Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil, Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Seed Oil, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Infused Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (Fractionated Coconut Oil), Polyglycerol-3 Beeswax (Cera Bellina), Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Olive Oil (Olea Europaea), Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Tanacetum Annum (Blue Tansy) Essential Oil, & Chamomilla Recutita (Blue Chamomile) Flower Oil.

Now that I’ve piqued your interest with some of the lovely Beige Dusk Greys products, let’s meet the maker, Andrea Rogers!  Below is our interview.

What is the story behind how you became a formulator?

Andrea Rogers: In the spring of 2013 I started tinkering with some DIY recipes for a charcoal mask. I was having some hormonal acne breakouts and was trying anything I could to help it. I really enjoyed making the masks and started experimenting with serums and such and it kind of just grew from there. I was in grad school for 3 of those years, so it was my little hobby I guess you could say, on the side.

 How would you describe your beauty and skincare philosophies?

 Andrea Rogers: I think beauty and skincare is so individual that there isn’t a formula or solution that fits all. Because of that, I think that finding and curating a regime that works for you and makes you feel beautiful is important.

What are your biggest goals as a formulator/maker/founder?

 Andrea Rogers: My goals are to make an effective beautiful product. I’m an art person, so pretty things really inspire and move me. I don’t see why beauty products can’t do the same. In some ways, I view my products as functional accessories.

What are your favorite ingredients to work with, and why?

Andrea Rogers: Gosh, that a hard one. I love any beneficial botanicals I can infuse. I love playing with exotic oils, and really anything smelly, like essential oils.

What is your process for creating a new product?

 Andrea Rogers: Usually I come up with a concept, then find the necessary supporting ingredients and began with a basic recipe, and tweak it until it fits my liking. Sometimes though, I will find an ingredient that I love and build a recipe around that ingredient.

Are you self-taught?  Either way, how did you begin and what have you learned along the way?

 Andrea Rogers: I am self-taught. Really there’s so many excellent resources online. And I also have some books for reference. Practice is also an excellent way to learn. Once you know your materials well, it’s easier to predict what will happen. I have notebooks of notes I have taken along the way and that really helps.

What is your approach to preservation?

 Andrea Rogers: Preservation is obviously a must. I don’t use parabens and try and stay away from formaldehyde donors. I have a selection of preservatives that I use and I choose from there the most suitable for the product. I realize this is a touchy subject for some.

If you had to pick a favorite product or two from you line of which you are most proud, what would it (they) be, and why?

Andrea Rogers: Probably the watermelon & moringa face oil. It’s just so versatile and feels and smells so good.

How would you describe the experience you want people to have with your products?

Andrea Rogers:  I want people to experience the product as a beautiful object that helps make them feel beautiful.

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

Andrea Rogers: The greatest success is when I have repeat customers that really love the products. I hope that I can continue to grow this business into something bigger and have fun along the way.

You first started experimenting with formulation when you were experiencing some hormonal acne breakouts a few years ago.  What did you ultimately find effective in treating this issue that impacts so many of us?

Andrea Rogers: Honestly, I learned not to over-dry my face.  When the issue is hormonal, topical products can only do so much. Typical acne products dried my skin out, and removing all the oil wasn’t conducive for balance or healing.  I have oily skin, but I’ve learned to embrace it rather than fighting it.

You started formulating during grad school days.  What were you studying?

Andrea Rogers: I was studying studio art. I’m a print maker. I just graduated in May 2016 from a 3-year program.  My Etsy shop had gained some momentum by that point, and now it has taken over most of my time. I spend close to 40 hours/week devoted to running the Etsy shop and formulating. It’s an issue of time management and finding time for studio art.

Can you describe how you moved from making your own skincare to starting your own line?

Andrea Rogers: It was primarily just a hobby at first—skincare and soap.  I had more soap than I could ever use, but there was something so rewarding and soothing about making it. Friends and family loved what I made. They started buying my products, and after a while I expanded to Etsy.  The whole transition happened over a few years.  I wasn’t trying to make money, really; I just wanted to support my addiction to formulating and playing with stuff.  I’ve always been a maker.  I love it; it gives me meaning.

What is your background in art, and how do you think that influences the way you formulate and the overall aesthetic of Beige Dusk Greys?

Andrea Rogers: Being a print maker, you’re very process-oriented, and theres a lot of problem solving involved. Formulation is also very process-driven.  They’re both very aesthetic as well.

You are self-taught as a formulator.  Many consumers want to better educate themselves. When it comes to learning about and understanding individual ingredients, what are your favorite resources that you recommend (whether books, databases, etc.)?

Andrea Rogers: There are a lot of forums online that I’ve found extremely valuable. Also, DIY websites are useful to get a base recipe for something. There’s a supplier database as well, UL Prospector, where I can find out about ingredients.  I spend a lot of time online researching; I’m a thirsty person for information.

In terms of the iterations until a product is satisfactory, it depends. Sometimes I can get it in a few tries. Other products I still haven’t released because I haven’t hit the sweet spot yet after many trials. I spend a good amount of time with products before I try to sell them.

Is Beige Dusk Greys a full-time operation for you?  How have you seen your business grow over the last few years, and do you ever find it difficult to keep up with consumer demand?

Andrea Rogers:  First, it was just a little here and there. When people started responding well to my products, I got more invested, and sales have slowly but steadily grown since then. I’ve learned a lot and grown along with the business.

If someone has your Green Tea Oil Cleanser, Green Cleanse Face Balm, and Nopal Cleansing Exfoliator, how would you advise using each of them in terms of order, frequency, etc?

Andrea Rogers: For me, I like Face Balm at night for removing makeup. Green Tea Oil Cleanser and Nopal Cleansing Exfoliator are lighter and rinse off quickly, so they might be preferable for a time crunch or the morning.

I’m a huge fan of the Nopal Cleansing Exfoliator.  I’ve used so many exfoliators that are unnecessarily harsh and end up irritating skin rather than just gently exfoliating.  How did you manage to get this texture so perfect?   Tell us more about how you developed this.

Andrea Rogers: That took a bit of tweaking. You’d be surprised how much of the formula is actually clay; there’s a lot of body to it.  The smoothness to the texture comes from including the tiniest amount of olive-based wax. I didn’t want it to be too exfoliating, and the oils in the formula add a lubricating element so it’s not too abrasive.

I love both your Watermelon & Moringa Face Oil and the Plum Seed Face Oil.  Both are nourishing and hydrating yet miraculously do not break me out.  You also have another face oil called The Cure.  What do you see as the main differences between these three lovely face oils, and how would you advise someone to choose between them?

Andrea Rogers:  Plum Seed Face Oil is great for dry or mature skin. Watermelon & Moringa Face Oil is soothing with marshmallow extract and prickly pear, a good oil for anyone. Then there is The Cure, which has the lightest texture, but is is good for all skin types. I don’t formulate for a specific skin type. I try to formulate versatile products so it’s more a matter of preference. I’m not trying to cure something with my products, but in general I avoid comedogenic oils and ingredients, because there are so many great alternatives.

Your eye serum is so rich and luscious and extremely hydrating.  What key ingredients make it so effective for the delicate eye area?

Andrea Rogers: It’s probably the rosehip seed oil and the chia seed oil; the consistency of the final product was designed to be like an oily gel.

Can you tell us a little about your masks?

Andrea Rogers: I have a Pumpkin Enzyme Mask that uses pumpkin bioferment as a key ingredient. It’s designed to be a very gentle peel with the consistency of a light lotion. In fact, I designed it to be gentle enough that you can leave it on for anywhere from 10 minutes to overnight, depending on your preference.

The Honey Mask is an oily gel mask, and when I designed it, I wanted to avoid harsher, drying clay-based masks.

The Milk Jelly Mask is designed to be moisturizing and to feel good when you rinse it off.

What are your best sellers?

Andrea Rogers: Any of the face oils tend to be best sellers; when I formulate those, I want them to feel good, and there’s a variety for different preferences in terms of the texture from light to luxurious.  Also, the Face Balm is often a repeat order once people try it.

What’s the most surprising thing about running your business been so far?

Andrea Rogers: Right now I’m trying to get my line more established. Once I get that taken care of, and it’s getting there, I’m realizing that a lot of the work is not creating but actually running the business side of things.  In terms of getting more established, I haven’t started promoting Beige Dusk Greys much yet. People discover me and reach out, and it’s also been word of mouth.

There are so many people doing what I do that, for me, the investment is in repeat customers.  Between customer service (e.g., custom orders) and products, I’m focused on maintaining as much repeat business as possible.

There’s a rewarding aspect to it as well. Beige Dusk Greys is a way for me to celebrate a love for pretty things; I want the skincare to display nicely and, in a way, serve as functional accessories.  I think people are drawn to Beige Dusk Greys because they want to have things that are handmade and specific to them.

The post Beige Dusk Greys Founder Andrea Rogers on Finding Artistry in Formulation appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

After falling in love with Kana Skincare’s CBD Sleeping Mask and experiencing its great skin-soothing results, I was eager to explore this promising trend of CBD skincare further.  There are tons of emerging brands to choose from, with more popping up all the time.  However, I’m not naive:  I know that with an ingredient as “hot” and current as CBD, many companies are simply jumping on the bandwagon, ordering ready-made–and mass-produced–formulas and then just slapping their own label on it as if it’s their unique creation.  (This is called white-labeling, and it is done a lot in the industry, especially when an ingredient is trendy.)  I’m only interested in showcasing brands that are made with true care and intention.  With that in mind, the next special brand I am proud to introduce and review is Code of Harmony.

Code of Harmony Continues to Lead the Way for CBD Skincare

Code of Harmony is the original luxury CBD skincare brand—and still the brand that sets the bar for newcomers and the rest.  I had the great privilege of trying several Code of Harmony products, and I was also able to interview Code of Harmony’s charming and insightful founder and formulator, Janet Schriever (click to read!).  This is incredible skincare created with love and effort by a brilliant maker.  Code of Harmony feels amazing on the skin, and for anyone whose skin may be a little imperfect, it provides serious beautifying powers.  I could tell when I looked at the ingredient lists that these products were unique.  The formulas are ultra-clean, highly botanical, and offer an array of benefits in a single bottle. Plus, all you have to do is follow Code of Harmony’s Instagram for a few days to tell that Ms. Schriever (who runs the account, along with everything else related to the brand) is one of the coolest women in the beauty industry.  She tells it like it is, works hard on her products, and offers up the highest quality skincare without ever overstating what you can expect.  Having said this, Code of Harmony CBD Skincare is transformative and highly effective. The brand’s transparency is refreshing in an industry rampant with false promises.  Now, onto the delicious Code of Harmony products themselves!

 Code of Harmony OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe – CBD Face Cleanser & Makeup Remover

 OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe  is a best seller in the line, and after even a single use, it’s easy to see why. OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe gives you what is known as the Goldilocks effect, or the “just right” clean. OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe is easily one of my favorite cleansers-of any type—ever.  I’ve never used another cleanser that is so gentle and non-drying yet truly gets my skin clean without leftover residue (from makeup, SPF, or the cleanser itself); at the same time, OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe never strips or leaves skin at all tight or dry either. Skin is left perfectly clean, lightly hydrated, and totally comfortable.

OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe is a feat of formulation.  When it comes to cleansing, there are many places to go wrong, like overdoing it and stripping the barrier, not cleansing effectively, and/or leaving a stubborn greasy film on the skin.  I have used many oil cleansers that required a lot of repetition and manual exfoliation to work—not this one!  OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe has earned a permanent place in my routine because it falls into none of these traps and gives me the perfect clean every time:  gentle, refreshed, smooth, never greasy, and never dry.  Code of Harmony’s OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe is gentle, yet it loosens dirt/makeup/debris with even a light touch.  The formula has all sorts of beneficial botanical oils that support and fortify the skin barrier, along with two ultra-gentle yet effective cleansing agents typically used in baby products (genius!), and the result is a brilliant cleanser that leaves my skin gently exfoliated without any of the damage that a typical exfoliator inflicts on my sensitive skin.  I call this the perfect clean.  As an added bonus, the cleanser feels so good on skin that I almost never wash it off immediately, leaving some of the goodness (e.g., Hemp, Hemp-derived CBD, Cucumber Seed Oil, Moringa Seed Oil, Black Cumin Seed Oil, Watermelon Seed Oil, Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil, and more) to sink in for a few minutes.  Even after letting it sit, the minute I add water, it emulsifies into the cleanser I have come to love and rinses easily for the perfect, balanced clean.

Why do I consider this a superior oil cleanser?  Aside from the skin-nuturing ingredients, there is the fact that it uses two extremely gentle surfactants in the formula—so gentle they are most commonly found in baby products. These surfactants are what makes the cleanser actually cleanse the skin; without them, it would just be a skin oil, not a skin cleanser. So many oil “cleansers” on the market have nothing in them that is designed to clean the skin, so they are basically just face oils. The use of ultra-gentle surfactants for an effective clean—along with lots of beautiful skin-nourishing actives and oils—truly sets this formulation apart and explains why I have never truly fallen in love with an oil cleanser before using Code of Harmony OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe.

If you have ever been dissatisfied with traditional oil “cleansers,” you have got to try the real deal, a true oil cleanser that hits all the right notes, cleansing gently and deeply. OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe puts other so-called oil cleansers to shame, I promise you!

OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe Ingredients:

Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, D1-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Ricinus communis (Castor) seed oil, Caprylic capric triglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Oil, Moringa Olifera Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Oil, Canarium Luzonicum (Elemi) Oil, Cedrus Deodora (Cedarwood) Oil, Cannabidiol, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract + Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Bisabolol, Phytosterols, Tetrahydrocurcuminoids.

Code of Harmony Virgin Skin Youth Serum

Virgin Skin Youth Serum has become a staple for me because it is incredibly soothing as well as plumping, firming, and brightening.  This serum offers an array of benefits, especially for mature, fussy, or troubled skin (all of which I have).  In addition to offering potent youth-enhancing (firming and brightening skin), I have found Virgin Skin Youth Serum is a wonderful “soothe-all” product that can remedy all sorts of skin ails whether the issue is a frustrating blemish, redness/irritation, or persistent dryness.

Virgin Skin is packed with goodness; in addition to CBD, it also features Virgin Centella Asiatica, Glucosamine, Niacinamide, Tremella Mushroom, Apple, Algae, Sea Kelp Bioferment, Beta Glucan, Coconut Endosperm, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C, Green Tea, and more!  Each one-ounce bottle has a very generous 150mg of CBD as well.  All these luscious actives are emulsified with Safflower Oleosomes for time-released delivery of the actives, so that you get maximum benefit continuously through the day or night.  The result is a gift that keeps giving; skin is calmer, plumper, firmer, and far more peaceful.  If stress is taking a toll and/or you are short on time, this is a great product to have on hand.  Virgin Skin Youth Serum has all the intensive benefits of a truly great serum, and it is hydrating enough that it could double as a moisturizer for most skin, offering a wonderful single step regimen for those days when you’re in a hurry.

The ingredient list (see below) reads like a dream, and the experience is every bit as good as one would hope given the many star players. The hefty helping of CBD is just one of countless beneficial ingredients in this hydrating serum.  The color is a creamy tan, and the scent is natural and earthy in a delicious way—all suggestive of the clean formula and substantial nutrition skin is about to enjoy.  I have gone through my first bottle of this rapidly for good reason. Virgin Skin Youth Serum is another long-term favorite and definite repurchase for me.

Virgin Skin Youth Serum Ingredients:

 Water, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes + Water, Lactobacillus/Nereocystis Luetkeana Ferment Filtrate (Sea Kelp Bioferment), Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp (Mushroom) Extract, Niacinamide, Colloidal Oatmeal, Glycerine, Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Algae Extract + Pullulan, Betaine, Sodium Lactate, Lecithin (Sunflower, Non-GMO), Glycerin + Water + Hydrocotyl (Centella asiatica) Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Water, Glycerine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract, Tocopherol, Coconut Nucifera Fruit Juice, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid (and) Glyceryl Caprylate (and) Glycerin, Cannabidiol, Ferulic Acid, Beta Glucan, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Bisabolol, Glycerin, Canarium Luzonicum (Elemi) Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract + Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil.

Code of Harmony Glo-Berry Glistening Skin Oil Serum

Glo-Berry Glistening Skin Oil Serum is a luscious, highly antioxidant oil blend that nourishes with 100% plant-based oils, while soothing skin with a generous dose of CBD (100mg in every one-ounce bottle), and imparting a subtle, natural-looking glow with a touch of finely milled mica. This is a skin-perfecting serum and gorgeous highlighter in one!  Best of all, this is designed to benefit all skin types, so even those of us with acne-prone skin like myself can use and benefit from Glo-Berry without any worry about breaking out!

Glo-Berry Glistening Skin Oil Serum is the ultimate blend, one that provides instant radiance as well as substantial skin benefits with continued use like calmer, plumper, more vital skin.  Glo-Berry is packed to the brim with beneficial botanical ingredients that include CBD, hydrating Squalane, Prickly Pear Seed, Daikon Seed, Passion Fruit Seed Oil (that provides natural carotenoids, minerals, fatty acids, and skin-loving vitamins), Hemp, highly antioxidant Guava Seed (an ingredient that not only has vitamins A, B, and C, but also has firming qualities), Acai Berry, Watermelon Seed, and Red Raspberry Seed Oils.  These many superstar ingredients offer an array of skin-beneficial vitamins and minerals, nourishing and plumping fatty acids, and potent antioxidants that protect skin from free radical damage, all while soothing with a generous amount of CBD.  Meanwhile, the perfect touch of mica leaves skin luminous and glowy.

Glo-Berry lends a radiance is gorgeous and natural—the kind of subtle glow that will leave people wondering why you look so refreshed and vibrant. If you want some compliments on your skin (and who doesn’t?!), you really must try Glo-Berry Glistening Skin Oil Serum.  Personally, I cannot get enough of this non-comedogenic, beautifying blend.  With Glo-Berry, my skin goes from dry and dull to moisturized and glowing in mere seconds.  Whenever I’m feeling a tad frumpy, Glo-Berry is the perfect remedy, an instant antidote providing vital nourishment, plumping moisture, and that extra sparkle and luminosity that makes me feel as good as it makes me look.

Glo-Berry Glistening Skin Oil Ingredients:

Daikon Seed Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed (Hemp) Oil, Squalane (Olive), Passiflora Incarnata (Passion Fruit) Seed Oil Caprylic Capric Triglycerides, Red Raspberry Oil, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Lecithin (Sunflower, Non-GMO), Tocotrienols, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Cannabidiol, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil (Ylang Ylang), Bisabolol, Tetrahydrocurcuminoids, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Copaifera Officinalis Oil.

CONCLUSION

Code of Harmony is an extraordinary line that offers the incredible soothing powers of CBD in incredible formulas filled to the brim with complementary beneficial botanical actives.  The line’s products are soothing and regenerative and leave even troubled skin calm and clear.  This is high-performance clean beauty at its best!

• OCD Oil Cleanser Deluxe offers the perfect clean—lots of skin-nourishing actives, skin barrier protection and hydration, ultra-gentle surfactants to give an efficient and effective clean.  There’s no residue, and skin is comfortable and not tight. 
• Virgin Skin Youth Serum tackles inflammaging, blemishes, and irritation; this gem has the power of a serum and the hydration of a lightweight moisturizer, and it helps skin return to optimal balance. 
• Glo-Berry Glistening Skin Oil Serum is a luscious and nourishing blend of precious and highly antioxidant oils plus the perfect touch of mica to leave skin radiant. Highly recommended!

The post Code of Harmony CBD Skincare: The Original Luxury CBD Skincare appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

If you are looking for green beauty’s most incredible, innovative, high-performance, multi-benefit mask, you need look no further, because I have found it:  Kana Skincare Lavender CBD (Cannabidiol) Sleeping Mask.  CBD is a hot ingredient right now, and CBD-themed products seem to be popping up everywhere but make no mistake:  Kana Skincare Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask is not just another CBD topical.  Unlike most CBD skincare lines, Kana does not private-label from anyone; absolutely everything is made in-house with never-before-seen formulations that allow CBD to shine like it never has before.  Kana strategically combines the healing powers of CBD with the cutting-edge beauty secrets of Korea; the result is likely to be the best skin you have ever had.  You can quote me on that.  I cannot remember a time I have been this beholden to a product.

Image courtesy of Kana Skincare

Kana Skincare Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask

I have rapidly depleted a PR sample of this treasure and am so fully enamored with Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask that I have already ordered two more with my own money because I want this mask every night.  (Note:  I am not usually the type to insist on having product “backups,” but I cannot let this run out and risk losing my Kana glow.)  If you try it, you will fall in love—hard.  Everything about Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask is magical, from the plethora of benefits it delivers (brightening, skin-clearing, skin plumping hydration, healing, lessening of redness/irritation) to its incredibly relaxing scent (it was blended by an aromatherapist to smell incredible and to aid relaxation and sleep) to the story of its creation.  You might think I am exaggerating about its splendor, but I am not the only one to have fallen under Kana’s spell.  An industry insider once told Kana’s founder, “You know, it can’t be magic,” only to try the Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask and quickly change her tune, stating, “Wow, it worked like magic!”

How is Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask so magical?  The formulation is sheer genius.  Its 28 natural ingredients deliver an incredible array of benefits to transform your skin to the best version of itself.  Let’s look at this gorgeous blend.  One of the superstars in Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask is CBD itself.  CBD is a component of cannabis, but unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not have psychoactive properties and is legal in all 50 states—no prescription necessary—when specifically derived from industrial-grade hemp.  So why has CBD become such a buzzy ingredient for topical skincare?  It turns out that our skin has an endocannabinoid system with receptors embedded in the membrane of cells, and this system is important to basic functions like those of the nervous and immune systems.  In particular, evidence is mounting that the endocannabinoid system in skin is involved in cell growth and differentiation as well as important immune-modulating effects related to inflammation, such that the system exerts protective effects in many chronic and acute inflammatory skin conditions.  Topically-applied CBD like that in Kana Skincare Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask can act on these receptors and help optimize the functioning of our skin’s endocannabinoid system, keeping internal processes more balanced.  In skin, CBD has been posited to have anti-acne effects, anti-itch effects, and general anti-inflammatory effects that could be helpful with a number of issues including allergic and atopic dermatitis.  As Tamás Bíró, PhD, director of the immunology department at the University of Debrecen, Hungary, told Elle, “My research group was among the first to investigate whether the skin is capable of producing endocannabinoids, and apparently most, if not all, skin functions are controlled to a certain extent by the local skin endocannabinoid system.  This includes the skin barrier, which is very important for moisture retention, sebum production, and sweat-gland function, as well as skin-centric sensory functions such as pain and itch. But perhaps most important, it appears that the endocannabinoid system controls skin inflammation—so if an inflammatory or irritation challenge assaults the skin, the endocannabinoid system fights against it.”  Given that inflammation is tied to skin aging, CBD is likely to protect against premature aging as well.  The hemp-derived CBD in Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask is the ultimate soother and protector.

Image courtesy of Kana Skincare

Yet CBD is just one of dozens of beneficial ingredients in Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask.  For instance, the Sleeping Mask also features Hemp Oil itself, which provides all 21 amino acids and consists of about 75% essential fatty acids in the perfect ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids providing vital hydration and nourishment to skin.  As the full Ingredient Table below demonstrates, the Sleeping Mask features an abundance of healing, hydrating, antioxidant, nutrient-rich, and anti-aging actives.  Some of the many superstars include healing and scar-improving Lavender Oil, hydrating, soothing, and antioxidant a-Bisabolol derived from German Chamomile, skin-plumping Hyaluronic Acid, and anti-wrinkle, healing Beta Glucan.  In total, Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask offers a buffet of topical nutrition for skin and an amazing relaxation experience thanks to natural actives utilized for relaxing aromatherapy.  See the nearly endless benefits for yourself in the complete Ingredient Table below!

Image courtesy of Kana Skincare

Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask is a beautiful blend like nothing else on the market.  For anyone who wants truly innovative and high-performance skincare that delivers visible benefits, Kana Skincare Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask is nothing short of a revelation.  This mask will quickly become your best friend because it’s a total giver who can solve nearly any complexion trouble regardless of whether you use her 3 times a week or–if you’re head over heels like I am–every single night.  You’ll notice rather quickly that your skin is brighter, clearer, suppler, smoother, with a natural glow.  Not only does Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask offer all these benefits, but in my experience, she delivers these benefits even to the most troubled skin and stubborn problems.  For example, I am someone who gets hormonal cystic acne that swells up under my skin and seems to linger forever; nothing—including conventional “big guns” like benzoyl peroxide–has ever been able to make any noticeable difference in these blemishes until this mask, which dramatically reduces my inflammation and speeds up the healing process like nothing I have ever seen.  Unlike conventional treatments, she diminishes blemishes while hydrating and brightening my skin, too!  If your experience is anything like mine, Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask will get you a startling number of random compliments on your skin.  Plus, the incredible lavender scent of the mask is truly its own kind of therapy; aiding relaxation at the end of the day no matter how crazy things have been. The soothing ritual of applying this sleeping mask has quickly become as essential to my nightly regimen as brushing my teeth!  I don’t want to go to bed without her!

You don’t have to simply rely on my word on how out-of-this-world Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask is.  If you want more evidence, she is so cutting-edge and effective that she got a full feature along with unqualified praise in VICE (and as we all know, that’s not a publication that guarantees a flattering write-up).  The tagline for the article was “Turns out, putting weed on your face is dope!”  Like me, the author loved the way the mask chilled her skin out, and she stated that it could even help skin recover from “a night of bad decisions” (or in my case, a lack of sleep).  The last sentence summed it up, “Why didn’t we all do this sooner?”  If/when you try Kana Skincare Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask, I guarantee you’ll be asking yourself the same thing!  Just when you think your next decision can’t get any more obvious, there’s more!  Despite being one of the best and most luxurious products I have ever tried, Kana Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask is also a total steal at just $45.  Try it and prepare to fall in love with your skin!

Image courtesy of Kana Skincare

The post Cannabidiol (CBD) Meets Korean Beauty: Kana Skincare Lavender CBD Sleeping Mask appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Image courtesy of the LILY DE MAI Blog

If you consider your skin sensitive, reactive or compromised, LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare is a line you should know.  Why?  Because LILY DE MAI solves one of the biggest problems those of us with sensitive skin face:  finding that just-right intensity level of high-performance skincare that will deliver results without stripping the barrier, inflaming, and/or dehydrating our sensitive skin.  As someone with sensitive skin myself, I always feel like I’m towing the line between using powerful-enough actives for results and going a wee bit too far, leaving my skin an angry mess.  Like many with reactive skin, I often err on the side of overdoing it.  Time and time again, I have overtreated my skin and end up looking decidedly worse for it.  I should know better, but the desire for results is so great that I cannot seem to help but make this mistake repeatedly.  Not anymore! LILY DE MAI is a line that delivers the perfect concentration and combination of both clinical and botanical actives to yield results—without irritating or compromising sensitive skin.

LILY DE MAI first came on my radar on Instagram, where I immediately noticed the line’s focus on sensitive skin, which is unusual and pertinent to me, as well as the line’s sumptuous, appealing aesthetic.  Impressed by the posted content, I started admiring the products and reading the LILY DE MAI blog as well.  Whereas most skincare lines’ blogs exist simply to promote products, the LILY DE MAI blog covers a range of topics pertinent to sensitive skin, and the content is consistently first-rate and highly educational.  Reading it, you realize that LILY DE MAI not only understands skin but truly understands and cares about sensitive skin.  For too long, those of us with sensitive skin have largely had to choose between gentle products that basically sit inert on our skin or products that are “sensitive” in name only–and sting or burn when applied.  LILY DE MAI is sensitive skincare without compromise, offering visible benefits and gentle care simultaneously.

When I reached out to founder and formulator Sara Runser, I discovered that she brings a wealth of expertise to her craft; she is a Formula Botanica graduate, as well as an esthetician and aromatherapist and has spent years studying skin from many angles.  Ms. Runser knows sensitive skin firsthand as well as theoretically.  As Ms. Runser said in a previous interview, “My own struggle with sensitive skin was the inspiration for LILY DE MAI.  . . . . I couldn’t find the type of products I wanted, so I created them myself. Traditional sensitive skincare products have some helpful ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, but they are full of potentially harmful ones like PEG’s, parabens, and sodium lauryl sulfates. Green, clean skincare lines have beautiful organic oils, botanical extracts, and essential oils but they’re lacking the clinically proven active ingredients that have an enormous benefit for sensitive skin. I don’t believe people should have to choose between green, clean or clinical skincare. Harmful ingredients should always be avoided, and the most effective ingredients from both nature and science should be used to formulate the best products. That’s what I did with LILY DE MAI.”  Indeed, a large part of LILY DE MAI’s considerable appeal is that the line delivers sensitive skincare without making us choose green versus traditional or gentle versus clinical.  With each LILY DE MAI product, Ms. Runser proves that we need not sacrifice striking results because of sensitivity.

LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare mindfully excludes all harsh and questionable ingredients (e.g., sulfates, parabens, phthalates, PEGs, silicones, ethoxylated compounds, mineral oils, petroleum, drying alcohols, abrasive exfoliants, and synthetic fragrance and dyes); instead, the line embraces biocompatible skin-identical ingredients like ceramides and plant sterols, clinically-proven age-defying actives like vitamins and peptides, and organic botanical extracts and oils, all skillfully combined in high-performance yet gentle formulations designed for soothing, hydrating, brightening, and anti-aging results.  Key to LILY DE MAI’s high-performance products is an understanding of how skin works. With extensive training in the function and structure of the skin, LILY DE MAI founder Ms. Runser understands that a well-supported skin barrier is paramount for beautiful, healthy skin, particularly for those of us prone to sensitivity.  A weakened barrier leaves skin vulnerable to all sorts of troubles, including irritants, bacteria, and moisture loss.  LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare products truly support, replenish, and strengthen the skin barrier to deliver transformative results, promoting calm, hydrated, glowing skin.

I was fortunate to get the chance to try three full-sized LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare treasures, RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser, BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist, and SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum, and I have quickly become very attached to having all of them in my routine.  My skin was red and irritated when the LILY DE MAI products arrived, and I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt to apply them and experience comfort rather than stinging and irritation!  As someone who has sensitive skin plus additional inflammation related to lupus, I can vouch for the fact that LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare is wonderful in terms of both application and the aesthetic experience—beautiful textures and natural fragrances (from the botanical actives) in formulas that feel lovely on application even when skin is uncomfortable, inflamed).  Let me tell you about each product I had the pleasure of using.

RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser

Do you want to fall in love with cleansing?  Then you must try LILY DE MAI RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser.   RENEW has changed the way I view cleansers.  For the first time ever, I do not view cleansing as the least exciting step in my routine, and I actually look forward to it.  Until I tried RENEW, I did not realize how much using overly harsh cleansers was harming my skin—stripping the barrier and leaving my skin more vulnerable to dehydration, acne, inflammation, and signs of aging.  RENEW is a rich, gentle cream cleanser that feels hydrating on contact yet cleanses beautifully.  It maintains the skin’s pH and supports the skin barrier while effectively but gently removing debris, dirt, and pollution.  Unlike most cleansers, RENEW is soap- and surfactant-free; as a result, RENEW does not strip skin of its natural oils or harmfully alter the skin’s pH (which leaves skin more vulnerable to bacteria and impairs barrier function).  The result is clean skin that is moisturized, calm, and balanced.

RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser is the first cleanser I have ever used that provides actual comfort on application–to the extent that I find myself making excuses to delay washing it off.  I didn’t know that a cleanser could be soothing, but with Aloe, Chamomile, Calendula, and Oat, RENEW feels luscious and calming on contact.  Along with its Ecocert-approved emulsifier for effective cleansing, RENEW nourishes with a blend of organic Sunflower, Argan, and Avocado Oils and rich Shea Butter.  Panthenol and Hyaluronic Acid boost hydration.  Everything about RENEW makes me want it to linger!  So much more than your typical cleanser, this gem is a multitasker; RENEW is frequently used by LILY DE MAI fans (including myself) as a hydrating and soothing mask, and it can even double as a light moisturizer.  It delivers a great clean along with nourishment, hydration, and soothing benefits.  RENEW is the first cleanser I have used that really provides my skin something rather than just depleting it, and I didn’t even know a cleanser could do that!  RENEW provides this luxurious hit of soothing nourishment upon contact that is paradise for my sensitive skin, and even when I leave it on quite a while, it never becomes at all drying.  I think it’s safe to say that RENEW is my favorite cleanser ever.  I adore it!! 

RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser Ingredients: Deionized Water, Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) Oil*, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) Seed Oil*, Propanediol**, Glycerin*, Cetearyl Olivate**, Sorbitan Olivate**, Capric/ Caprylic Triglycerides, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) Butter*, Argania spinosa (argan) Oil*, Persea gratissima (avocado) Oil*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe barbadensis (aloe) Leaf Extract*, Calendula officinalis (calendula) Flower Extract*, Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) (chamomile) Flower Extract*, Avena sativa (oat) Extract*, Allantoin, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Natural Fragrance, Ascorbic Acid**, Benzyl Alcohol** Salicylic Acid**, Sorbic Acid**

* Certified Organic   **Ecocert Certified Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Gluten Free

BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist

BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist is such a high-performer that it may revolutionize what you expect from a mist.  It has for me.  Prior to trying BLISS, most toners/mists struck me as totally optional, falling into two camps:  mildly pleasant, nice-smelling spritzes with watered-down ingredients (i.e., only a half-step above regular water) or harsh and stinging medicinal toners that strip skin of its natural oils and impair the skin barrier, ultimately leading to dehydration.  Not BLISS!  BLISS provides skin with skin-identical (i.e., most like components naturally occurring in skin) Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs) like Sodium PCA and Hyaluronic acid; these NMFs keep skin plump and moist by attracting and retaining hydration.  Niacinamide in BLISS brightens the skin and prevents blemishes, while Yeast Oligopeptide and Soy Amino Acids replenish the skin barrier and boost collagen production.  Finally, a blend of 7 soothing organic botanicals—Licorice, Green Tea, Irish Moss, Aloe, Chamomile, Calendula, and Oat–calms sensitivity and reduces redness.

I love that this is a highly functional, reparative powerhouse that provides significant, lasting hydration and repairs the skin barrier, all in a deceptively light spritz.  When it comes to making a lasting impact, BLISS is a big step up from other mists I have used.  It smells heavenly and feels cooling and refreshing even on irritated skin, and its hydrating powers are above and beyond any other mist I have tried.  I find that if I spritz it on after cleansing, I can even get by without moisturizer without feeling tight or dry, which is not something I have experienced with any other mist/toner to date.

BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist Ingredients : Deionized Water, Rosa damascena (rose) Flower Hydrosol*, Niacinamide, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract*** (and) Soy Amino*** Acids, Glycerin*, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) Root Extract*, Cameilla sinensis (green tea) Leaf Extract*, Aloe barbadensis (aloe) Extract*, Calendula officinalis (calendula) Flower Extract*, Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) (chamomile) Flower Extract*, Avena sativa (oat) Extract*, Chondrus crispus (Irish moss) Extract, Montmorillonite, Illite, Kaolin, Mentha piperita (peppermint) Leaf Oil*, Natural Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol**, Salicylic Acid**, Sorbic Acid**, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer**

* Certified Organic   **Ecocert Certified  *** Non-GMO Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Gluten Free

SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum

SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum is a lovely antioxidant serum with so much to recommend it.  Let’s start with its dynamic Super Fruit Complex that features skin-protecting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory Pomegranate, emollient and UVB-protective Red Raspberry, hydrating and wound-healing Rosehip, nourishing and fatty-acid-rich Cranberry, and healing and hydrating Sea Buckthorn Oils.  Together, SANCTUARY’s Super Fruit Complex provides an exceptional blend of protective antioxidants, nourishing phytosterols, skin-protective polyphenols, anti-inflammatory tocopherols, anti-inflammatory carotenoids, protective bioflavonoids, detoxifying chlorophylls, skin-enhancing vitamins (e.g., A, C, E), and nourishing fatty acids (including linoleic, a-linoleic, oleic, punicic, and omegas 3, 6, 7, and 9).  Not only doe this powerful blend nourish skin and improve tone and elasticity, it also but helps to protect skin against negative exposures from our environment, including pollution and UV rays.

In addition to the incredible Super Fruit complex, SANCTUARY also features an amazing form of Vitamin C that is both highly active and perfect for sensitive skin: Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate.  This stable and non-irritating Vitamin C Ester is proven to provide incredible anti-aging benefits by providing antioxidant protection, boosting collagen production, fading hyperpigmentation, and minimizing inflammation.  Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (TA) has special advantages over other forms of Vitamin C in that TA: is powerful yet non-irritating to sensitive skin, penetrates all the way to the dermis (where it can exert maximum benefits) and is highly stable in formulations and in the air.  Despite being less irritating than L-Ascorbic Acid, Hema Sundaram, MD., a Board-Certified Dermatologists states that TA provides five times greater collagen production and twice the suppression of matrix metalloproteinases (enzymes that degrade important structural proteins) [than l-ascorbic acid].  Thus, with TA, SANCTUARY provides the ideal form of vitamin C in terms of potency, stability, and lack of side effects.

As if the blend of TA plus the Super Fruit Complex were not already impressive enough, SANCTUARY also provides potent antioxidant, collagen-boosting CoQ10 as well as precious oils and botanicals like Watermelon and Shiso Oils and Rhatany CO2.  The result is an incredible blend of valuable ingredients that combine synergistically to provide a wealth of skin benefits–from calming to rejuvenating to protecting to hydrating and strengthening.  The potent formula is nonetheless gentle on contact, with a light oil texture that sinks right into skin.  SANCTUARY is a beautiful daily investment in overall skin vitality and health.

SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum Ingredients:  Perilla ocymoides (shiso) Oil*, Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) Oil, Rosa rubiginosa (rose hip) Oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) Oil*, Rubus idaeus (red raspberry) Oil*, Punica granatum (pomegranate) Oil*, Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) Oil*, Argania spinosa (argan) Oil*, Calophyllum inophyllum (tamanu) Oil, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C ester), Hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) CO2*, Krameria triandra (rhatany) Root CO2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) Leaf CO2 Extract*, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) Oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender)*, Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa)*, Thymus vulgaris (thyme ct. linalool)*, Leptospermum scoparium (manuka), Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), Commiphora myrrha (myrrh)

* Certified Organic            Cruelty Free, Vegan, Gluten Free

CONCLUSION

LILY DE MAI’s tagline “The Purity of Nature + The Power of Science” is an apt description of what you can expect from the line’s formulations: the best of natural and clinical actives expertly blended to visibly benefit sensitive skin.  With LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare, you are not forced to choose between clean and green versus innovative science, because the line incorporates both.  Moreover,  you are not forced to choose between gentle versus high-performance, because LILY DE MAI is carefully crafted to deliver dramatic benefits and visible results without irritation, with careful attention paid to issues of sensitivity.  Every ingredient in LILY DE MAI RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser, BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist, and SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum has been meticulously researched and selected for its gentleness and clinically-proven ability to soothe, hydrate, minimize signs of aging, and promote skin’s vitality.  All three LILY DE MAI products feature gorgeous, highly-effective blends of scientifically-proven clinical actives and luscious botanicals that deliver benefits without drawbacks.

• RENEW is my favorite cleanser ever, nourishing skin as it effectively cleans.
• BLISS is the first mist I have used that is as high-performance, indispensable, and hydrating as a great serum.
• SANCTUARY is the ultimate high-performance antioxidant serum to protect, fortify, and bolster skin against the elements.

LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare offers transformative results, gently and healthily, such that even highly temperamental skin visibly benefits—without irritation or side effects. 

As a special treat for my readers, use the code SENSITIVE15 for 15% off any LILY DE MAI purchases!

The post LILY DE MAI: All the Benefits, None of the Compromises appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Iremia in Iremia Skincare translates to mean tranquil or serene, and this is an apt description of what you can expect from this gorgeous, clean, ultra-soothing line. Elaine Li, the founder and formulator of Iremia Skincare, knows the challenges of sensitive skin firsthand, having struggled with eczema, hypersensitivities, and redness as long as she can remember.  She knows how frustrating it is: to purchase a product specifically designed to be “sensitive” only to have it sting and burn on contact, to discover after making a purchase that harmful ingredients are deceptively hidden in proprietary blends rather than declared, or to finally find a sufficiently gentle formula only to discover that it has little impact on skin, or worse, is merely causing more problems (e.g., breakouts).  Iremia Skincare was born out of frustration with these limited options for sensitive skin.  When Elaine found no workable solutions for her skin on the market, she created her own.  Iremia Skincare offers what has been largely missing from the industry:  gentle yet effective, healing skincare for sensitive skin.  Based on my experience using this line, Iremia Skincare is proof that gentle and effective do not have to be antonyms in skincare.

Iremia Skincare embraces a less-is-more philosophy in which each ingredient is carefully chosen, and each of the line’s products is designed to deliver multiple benefits.  Rather than suggesting dozens of products for an elaborate routine (that may end up overtreating sensitive skin), Iremia Skincare keeps things clean and streamlined, with just three multitasking products: a Soothing Lotion, a Protective Cream, and a Restorative Facial Oil.  In crafting Iremia’s exceptional formulations, Elaine relied on clinical and scientific studies as well as ingredient notes she had meticulously taken over years of trial and error while searching for a workable solution for her skin.  As a devoted working mom of two children, it was imperative to Elaine that Iremia products be pure enough for children’s delicate skin and also multifunctional enough to streamline the routine of a busy working mom like herself.  As a result, Iremia Skincare is unique in the fact that it is extremely gentle and pure, yet still high-performance, delivering many benefits in each product.

I had the chance to try two of the three products in the Iremia Skincare line:  Soothing Lotion and Restorative Facial Oil.  Both have been matches made in heaven for my dry, inflammation-prone, sensitive skin.  Below, I will tell you about each one.

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion has a luscious texture that is rich and creamy but sinks into skin easily, leaving just light hydration behind.  Soothing Lotion has a faint-yet-delicious natural scent from its beautiful botanical ingredients, and it feels amazing on contact—even on skin that is compromised due to sensitivity, dryness, or both.  In addition to providing nourishing hydration, Soothing Lotion is also truly calming and efficiently eases inflammation and irritation.  I saw a lovely turnaround in my skin after using Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion for four days; redness/irritation and flakiness from dryness steadily healed, until my skin was as serene as ever.  In just a few days of use, my complexion felt dramatically soothed, more comfortable, and nourished.

In the short time I have been using this luxurious gem, I have come to count on it to calm and hydrate my skin when it’s at its fussiest with redness or flare-ups of inflammation.  Soothing Lotion quickly, gently, and effectively calms, heals, and hydrates my sensitive skin at it’s most challenging.  On occasions when my skin is being well-behaved, Soothing Lotion is a beautifully nourishing moisturizer that glides on and sinks in for lasting hydration.  I find it to be pure, effective, and versatile.  Having studied Soothing Lotion’s ingredients, I know that the benefits do not end with soothing and hydration; with regular use, several actives deliver anti-aging benefits in addition to hydration and soothing.  What is the secret to this luscious healer?  I have to credit Elaine and her meticulous approach to ingredient selection and formulation.  This is a truly multipurpose lotion appropriate for sensitive skin!

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion’s beautiful blend of carefully-selected ingredients includes:

• Shea Butter—derived from the nutrient-rich nuts of the African Karite tree, this active is highly emollient, healing, hydrating, anti-inflammatory, contains natural vitamins A, C, and E, and even delivers skin-strengthening and anti-aging benefits by boosting collagen production
• Aloe Leaf Extract—used topically since ancient times for its healing and soothing capacities, Aloe is anti-inflammatory, hydrating, soothing on contact
• Grape Seed Oil—rich in flavonoids, including those called proanthocyanidins (PCOs), excellent free radical scavenger
• Calendula Flower Extract—with active components including flavonoids, polysaccharides, triterpenes, carotenes, and more, Calendula Flower Extract is proven to be soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, and hydrating
• Lavender Flower Oil—improves circulation and thus facilitates the healing process
• Manuka Honey—naturally rich in a variety of B vitamins, reinforces skin’s ability to regenerate, offsets free radical activity, improves healing, and increases fibroblast ability
• African Mahogany Tree Bark Extract— clinically proven to strengthen the skin and significantly reduce wrinkles after 56 days of use

Soothing Lotion Full Ingredient List: WATER/AQUA, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, COCO-CAPRYLATE CAPRATE, DICAPRYLYL ETHER, SODIUM OLIVOYL GLUTAMATE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, STEARYL ALCOHOL, CERA ALBA, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, GLYCERIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE, KHAYA SENEGALENSIS BARK EXTRACT (AND) MALTODEXTRIN, XANTHAN GUM, TOCOPHEROL, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) FLOWER OIL, CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) PEEL OIL, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT, HONEY( MANUKA), SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE

Iremia Skincare Restorative Facial Oil

Iremia Skincare Restorative Facial Oil

Iremia Skincare Restorative Facial Oil is an antioxidant-rich multivitamin for the skin that strengthens, soothes, and balances.  The luxurious blend of 11 beneficial oils leaves skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth, hydrated, and plump.  As with the Soothing Lotion, there is no added fragrance, and yet Restorative Facial Oil naturally has a subtle, delicious scent from its blend of fresh natural actives.  The vibrant orange hue of the blend hints at the nourishing antioxidant goodness delivered to skin with every drop.  The texture is light, and it sinks into skin quickly rather than leaving a greasy residue.

Each of the 11 oils adds value to the overall formulation of Restorative Facial Oil, but some highlights include:

• Avocado Oil—nourishes dry skin and provides a rich source of Vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E
• Camellia Oil—highly antioxidant, emollient, and anti-inflammatory
• Jojoba Seed Oil—soothing and anti-inflammatory and excellent for eczema-prone skin
• Rosehip Fruit Oil—rich in essential fatty acids that help regenerate and repair damage to skin
• Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil—rich in antioxidants, provides vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, and plant sterols, as well as healing Omega 7

Restorative Facial Oil is a wonderful hydrating oil blend with a full range of soothing, antioxidant, strengthening, and skin-plumping benefits.  Both the aesthetics and the performance of Restorative Facial Oil are magnificent.  This product is elegant and enjoyable to use and has left my skin calmer and better hydrated than before I started using it.

Restorative Facial Oil Full Ingredients: HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL , PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL, CAMELLIA OLEIFERA (CAMELLIA) SEED OIL , SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, ARGANIA SPINOSA (ARGAN) OIL, ROSA CANINA(ROSEHIP) FRUIT OIL, HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES (SEA BUCKTHORN) FRUIT OIL ,TOCOPHEROL, CYMBOPOGON MARTINI( PALMAROSA) OIL, ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER OIL, PELARGONIUM ROSEUM LEAF OIL

CONCLUSION

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion and Restorative Facial Oil

With pure, clean formulas and carefully selected ingredients, Iremia Skincare offers gentle-yet-effective healing solutions for reactive, sensitive, or inflamed skin.  Soothing Lotion offers calming hydration that quickly resolves flakiness, redness, and/or inflammation, while also delivering antioxidant protection and a proven anti-aging active.  Restorative Facial Oil, in turn, provides well-rounded topical nutrition and skin-plumping hydration in an elegant, quickly-absorbed blend of 11 beneficial oils.  Together, this duo serves as a high-performance, streamlined skincare routine that dramatically improves the condition of sensitive skin.   Both products are available at Natural Avenue.  Highly recommended!

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