Beneath Your Mask, ecoluxe skincare line

Let’s talk about Beneath Your Mask, the phenomenal new skincare line from Ms. Dana Jackson.  If you haven’t read her personal story about her life-threatening battle with lupus and how that led her to start Beneath Your Mask, you are missing out on some powerful inspiration.  Please do yourself a favor and read it!  After you read her story in her own words, check out our exclusive interview here.

Ms. Jackson originally became interested in skin care out of a deep desire to heal the damage done to her skin by lupus-related weight changes and harsh medical treatments (i.e., chemotherapy).  She wanted products that were highly effective yet safe, non-irritating, and non-toxic such that they would not tax the immune system. Unable to find non-toxic products with the power to heal her skin in stores, Ms. Jackson decided to create them herself.  Through her exhaustive work as a formulator, Beneath Your Mask was born.  Each product in the line is crafted to restore and rejuvenate skin (or hair) while reversing the harmful effects of exposure to environmental toxins, health challenges, and stress.  The line—comprised of Polish Detoxifying Body Scrub, Indulge Total Body Elixir, Nourish Skin & Hair Serum, and Heal Whipped Skin Souffle–bridges the worlds of clean beauty and ultra-luxury and deep healing.  Using any one of these products is like a mini-trip to the spa; the scents, which are amazing and transporting, come from pure, steam-distilled essential oils.

In terms of the active ingredients in each of the line’s four products, Dana literally scoured the world to find the most restorative organic botanical actives available anywhere, such she sources her carefully-selected ingredients from 25 different countries.  All Beneath Your Mask products are free of phosphates, parabens, sulfates, toxins, GMOs, and synthetic colors or fragrance.  In one more example of exquisite attention to detail, every product comes packaged in dark violet Miron glass to lengthen its lifespan and increase the potency of active ingredients.

Now that you know a little about the “creation story” and uncompromising standards driving Beneath Your Mask, let’s visit each product.

Polish Detoxifying Body Scrub

I did not think I could love a body scrub.  I was wrong. Polish has the most divine texture of any scrub or exfoliator I have ever tried. The scent is exotic and alluring, and that is just one aspect of its considerable appeal.  On dry skin, Polish is a satisfying salt scrub exfoliator with nice initial grit that gradually transforms into a luxurious hydrating oil as you rub it in.  What you get is serious exfoliation and with a luxe hydrating finish.

I have very sensitive skin that generally cannot handle scrubs, but I fell so in love with Polish upon experiencing the way it melts into a rich oil, that I could not resist also using it on my face, multiple times.  Even with my sensitive skin, it was fine. You see, if you are in the mood for something gentle, Polish melts into a luscious liquid gold almost immediately when it contacts water. The result is a scrub that is miraculously adaptable and appropriate for all areas of the body (even the face) and all skin types (even sensitive). This kind of versatility is truly unique. With Polish, you can have anything from gritty exfoliation with a smooth finish to a rich and luxurious, face-appropriate cleansing oil. Either way, you get an amazingly nourishing, healing, and detoxifying formulation that leaves skin soft, smooth, and hydrated.

Polish is the first and only scrub I have ever loved. I have tried my share of products, and nothing else on the market even approaches it. A true multitasker, Polish is full of an array of healing ingredients to tackle signs of aging, inflammation, blemishes, free radicals, scars, stretch marks, and more.  In short, Polish is blow-your-mind wonderful.

INGREDIENTS: *Dead Sea Salt, §Aloe Vera, **Colloidal Oatmeal Flour, *Avocado Oil, Bentonite Clay, *Grapeseed Oil, *Sweet Almond Oil, †Golden Jojoba Oil, *Lemongrass Essential Oil, **Lavender Population Essential Oil, §Vitamin E, *Tea Tree Essential Oil

*CERTIFIED ORGANIC

** ORGANIC

†WILD HARVESTED

§NON-GMO PLANT SOURCED

Indulge Total Body Elixir

Beneath Your Mask Indulge Total Body Elixir is aptly named.  This revitalizing, nourishing, and protective blend is a far cut above any other body oil I have seen or tried. Rather than scrimping on high-quality actives and/or using lots of unpronounceable fillers (as so many body products do), Indulge Total Body Elixir knocks it out of the park with a results-driven blend of 19 pure and carefully-chosen plant oils.  These high-quality plant ingredients include, to name a few, Baobab Seed Oil from Senegal (hydrates, firms, promotes elasticity), Pomegranate Seed Oil from Israel (powerful antioxidant, diminishes both wrinkles and blemishes), Camellia Seed Oil from China (balances, maintains healthy pH), Sea Buckthorn Berry CO2 Extract from Germany (fabulous for taming inflammation and promoting healing), Macadamia Nut Oil from the US (reduces inflammation and promotes healing), Tamanu Oil from Madagascar (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic, and antioxidant properties), Myrrh Essential Oil from Kenya (anti-aging, revitalizing on a cellular level), Geranium Oil from Egypt (tightens skin, boosts UV protection, astringent and anti-inflammatory), and Carrot Seed Oil from India (balances and protects skin, offers rejuvenating effects).

What results is a multi-tasking, skin-transforming elixir bursting with a dynamic blend of anti-aging, balancing, healing, and antioxidant actives as well as beta-carotene and vitamins A, C, D, and E.  In addition to all the beneficial actives, Indulge is formulated to match skin’s natural lipid balance. I have never seen a body oil with such an impressive, beautiful ingredient deck. Indulge is the first and only body oil to impress me enough that I immediately wanted to put on my face.  (Yes, all things Beneath Your Mask are so well-formulated that I inevitably start applying them to my face.) Having used this decadent elixir on my face and body, I can tell you that Indulge absorbs easily, imparts a subtle radiance, and imbues skin with an incredible softness and smoothness.  Moreover, like all Beneath Your Mask products, Indulge is quite healing; it has helped calm irritation I had been experiencing and has also been soothing and non-aggravating for my blemish-prone skin.  In my mind, Indulge is green beauty’s premier body elixir.

INGREDIENTS: *Sunflower Oil,  *Baobab Seed Oil,  *Grapeseed Oil,  *Apricot Kernel Oil, **Camellia Seed Oil, †Golden Jojoba Oil, *Macadamia Nut Oil, *Sweet Almond Oil, *Tamanu Oil, *Pomegranate Seed Oil, †Sea Buckthorn Berry CO2 Extract,  *Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, **Lavender Population Essential Oil, *Grapefruit Essential Oil, †Myrrh Essential Oil, *Geranium Essential Oil, †Carrot Seed Essential Oil, *Lemongrass Essential Oil

*CERTIFIED ORGANIC

** ORGANIC

†WILD HARVESTED

§NON-GMO PLANT SOURCED

Nourish Skin & Hair Serum

Nourish is a comprehensive repairing and balancing treatment that achieves versatile benefits for both hair and skin in one magical blend. The ingredients are amazing and offer a wealth of ingredients both individually and together.  Here are just some of the highlights in this blend of 15 oils: Hemp Seed Oil from Canada (softens and strengthens hair, calms and pumps skin), Safflower Oil from Austria (promotes thickness and shine in hair, fights acne with high levels of linoleic acid), Rosehip Seed Oil from Chile and South Africa (revitalizes and reduces dandruff, provides hydration as well as antioxidants and essential fatty acids for skin), Macadamia Nut Oil from the US (prevents moisture loss and reduces hair’s brittleness, anti-inflammatory), Pomegranate Seed Oil from Israel (reduces build-up and dandruff, fends off free radicals and reduces skin inflammation), Neem Oil from India (increases manageability, prevents against acne scars), Lemongrass Oil from India (prevents dry scalp and hydrates skin), Lavender Oil from France (prevents hair shedding, antibacterial for skin), Tea Tree Oil (prevents build up in hair, protects against skin infections including acne while reducing inflammation), Carrot Seed Oil (strengthens and prevents split ends, healing and rejuvenating for skin) Sage Oil (combats hair loss, acts as an antifungal/antimicrobial/antioxidant/anti-inflammatory while providing hydration), and Rosemary Oil (balances scalp and stimulates hair growth, stimulates cell renewal and helps to heal problem skin) and Cedarwood Oil from Morocco (contributes to hair growth, protects and hydrates skin).

How does Nourish perform?  Nourish actually leaves my hair looking healthier—providing subtle sheen and sleekness without leaving a greasy residue or buildup. In addition to smoothing fly-aways and restoring luster, Nourish also boosts hair’s manageability, conditions, and even successfully prevents dandruff when used on the scalp.  I have definitely noticed a difference. The benefits of Nourish for skin are every bit as remarkable.  As someone with dehydrated skin prone to blemishes, I love the way Nourish hydrates skin while balancing it, prevents blemishes, reduces redness and inflammation, protects from free radicals, and rejuvenates–all in a single formula.  Without question, Nourish lives up to its growing reputation as the most comprehensive skin and hair serum ever made. Beneath Your Mask Nourish Skin and Hair Serum can do it all; I have come to think of it as my complexion and hair cure-all.

INGREDIENTS: *Hemp Seed Oil, *Safflower Oil, †Rosehip Seed Oil, *Macadamia Nut Oil, *Pomegranate Seed Oil, *Neem Oil, *Lemongrass Essential Oil, **Lavender Population Essential Oil, *Tea Tree Essential Oil, *Peppermint Essential Oil, *Thyme Essential Oil, †Carrot Seed Essential Oil, *Sage Essential Oil, *Rosemary Verbenone Essential Oil, *Cedarwood, Atlas Essential Oil

*CERTIFIED ORGANIC

** ORGANIC

†WILD HARVESTED

§NON-GMO PLANT SOURCED

Heal Whipped Skin Souffle

Can you imagine a decadent whipped skin soufflé that hydrates and heals the driest of skin (even cracked skin), soothes away irritations and redness, minimizes signs of aging by promoting skin’s elasticity, and protects skin from free radical damage, all while also healing blemishes and marks left behind?  It sounds too good to be true, but I found it all in Beneath Your Mask Heal Whipped Skin Souffle.  Heal is one of the most nourishing moisturizers I have ever tried, and it’s also an incredibly effective healing skincare product.  My skin is always in need of some sort of healing, and Heal Whipped Skin Souffle always delivers; moreover, Beneath Your Mask’s Skin Souffle heals my skin where other high-profile healing lotions and creams have failed.

Of all my skin woes, the worst and most stubborn issue I deal with is cystic acne across my jawline. The blemishes take forever to heal, and even once they finally resolve, they leave behind angry red marks that can take months to finally disappear. I tried countless products to no avail until I used Heal Whipped Skin Souffle. This luxurious and creamy soufflé is the one and only product I have found that helps heal my cystic acne; not only that, it is so healing that it rapidly minimizes acne marks as well.  I have been amazed.

Keep in mind that Heal, the best acne treatment I have found, is not even specifically targeted to acne; it is just extremely effective at healing troubled skin, whatever the trouble may be.  Having tried dozens upon dozens of reparative skincare products in my efforts to heal lupus-related inflammation and adult acne, I have never found a product that restores my skin like Heal does.  How does Heal achieve its incredible results?  With a superb formulation that includes Shea Butter from Ghana (nourishes and reduces inflammation), Vitamin E from Spain (fends off free radical damage and assists in healing), Grapeseed Oil from the US (regenerative and anti-aging), Avocado (speeds up healing) and Sweet Almond Oils from Kenya (softens, draws out toxins), Golden Jojoba Oil from Israel (balances skin’s pH and treats acne), AEA Certified Pure Emu Oil from the US (anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and brightening effects), Lemongrass Oil from India (reduces inflammation), Lavender Oil from France (antibacterial and antioxidant), and Tea Tree Oil from Australia (treats acne, cuts, sores, and irritation).  All these carefully-sourced ingredients come together in a synergistic blend in Heal to deliver incredible healing results. In a line full of exceptional products, Heal has rightfully earned its place as Beneath Your Mask’s hero and most beloved product.  Heal Whipped Skin Souffle has got to be one of the beauty industry’s best-kept secrets; Heal is a gem for anyone with vulnerable or imperfect skin (read, anyone).

INGREDIENTS: *Shea Butter, §Vitamin E, *Grapeseed Oil, *Sweet Almond Oil, *Avocado Oil, †Golden Jojoba Oil, Pure Emu Oil, *Lemongrass Essential Oil, **Lavender Population Essential Oil, *Tea Tree Essential Oil

*CERTIFIED ORGANIC

** ORGANIC

†WILD HARVESTED

§NON-GMO PLANT SOURCED

CONCLUSION:  I give my highest recommendation to every product in the Beneath Your Mask lineup. This is a line you are going to want to experience for yourself; your skin and your senses will thank me!

Beneath Your Mask lineup

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Uliv Skincare Golden Chai Facial Soufflé: Glowing, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Skin-Healing Organic Goodness

              I first heard about Uliv Golden Chai Facial Soufflé through buzz it generated at the Indie Beauty Expo.  My interest was immediately piqued when I read that the ingredients included turmeric and Manuka honey, two of nature’s most healing anti-inflammatories. As I found out more about the ingredients, I discovered that Uliv Golden Chai Facial Soufflé also incorporates essential oils of nutmeg, clove, ginger, and cinnamon (a fantastic antioxidant blend), sea buckthorn oil (rich in fatty acids and carotenes to repair and heal), carrot seed oil (for  gentle yet effective option (for repairing photodamage and sagging), hand-made infused oils of chamomile, comfrey, lavender, rose and calendula (perhaps the ultimate blend I have seen for soothing nourishment), macadamia oil (it mimic skin’s natural moisturizing factors), and sea ferment and CoQ10 to increase collagen renewal and minimize wrinkles—and those are just some of the many highlights!  Others include green tea extract, frankincense essential oil, aloe, raspberry leaf—see the complete ingredient list below. I had never seen an ingredient list this delicious before I knew immediately that Golden Chai’s formulator had an intimate understanding of skin and an awareness of the toll unchecked inflammation.  This synergistic blend of natural antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and anti-aging ingredients in one product is perhaps the perfect recipe for gently tackling inflammaging.

Uliv Golden Chai Facial Souffle raw ingredients

After falling in love with the mere thought of it, I had the lucky opportunity to try Uliv Golden Chai Facial Soufflé.  It turns out that Uliv founder and creator Lishawn Lalonde herself struggled for years with an autoimmune disease before finding balance through a healthy, anti-inflammatory lifestyle that has deeply informed her work as a formulator (more about Lishawn later in a separate post).  No wonder Ms. Lalonde crafted the exact product I hoped to find!  Upon receiving Uliv Golden Chai Facial Soufflé, I was not disappointed.  First, the Facial Soufflé smells so delicious and is—without a doubt—the freshest-smelling skincare product I have ever had the pleasure of inhaling.  Imagine the scent of a delicious turmeric chai if all the spices and ingredients had just been freshly plucked from a blooming garden, and you will get some idea of the aromatic glory.  Applying it is a full sensory experience and a momentary escape from regular life.

Uliv delicious and nourishing ingredients

Uliv Golden Chai Soufflé is a buttercup yellow, and its consistency is like a balmy cream.  Though it might seem quite rich, it spreads generously and easily so that a little goes a long way.  It is also a dynamic, multitasking product in what it provides for the skin. I am someone who tends to layer products often to the point of absurdity (I mean, really, how much of layer upon layer can skin actually absorb?), but with Golden Chai, I often or wear it alone, because Golden Chai is so nourishing, hydrating, and healing on its own.  Better yet, it really delivers benefits.  This is not just a formulation that looks great on paper only to sit inertly on skin.  Golden Chai Facial Soufflé actively calms and heals and rejuvenates. My skin runs the gamut of “issues” (e.g., dehydration, aging, hormonal acne, sensitivity, and redness, etc.) and Uliv Golden Chai helped to bring things into balance and settle my skin down, all while providing luxurious, lasting hydration.  While it does contain anti-aging ingredients, it is not meant to be a quick fix, but rather a long-term solution with results that get better and better over time. Golden Chai leaves skin looking healthier, gives an instant golden glow (really!), and prevents and minimizes signs of aging with consistent use.  Uliv Golden Chai Facial Soufflé is a product that does not force skin, but rather respects skin and treats it with healing tenderness.  As stated on Refinery29.com, Golden Chai Facial Soufflé is “a $200 face cream in disguise — the luxurious, non-greasy formula is not only saving our winter-parched skin (which we were convinced was dead inside), it somehow evokes glow on par with much pricier formulations.” Amen to that.  This is one of the best beauty buys I have encountered, ever.  Indeed, when I had the opportunity to interview Uliv Skincare Founder and Formulator Ms. Lalonde, one of the first things I asked her was whether she planned to keep her price point attainable as Uliv Skincare continues to gain acclaim.  (Read her answer here.)

Uliv Golden Chai Facial Souffle

CONCLUSION: I am delighted to highly recommend Uliv Skincare and Golden Chai Facial Soufflé.  I have no reservations whatsoever. This is a product that checks nearly every box: organic, non-GMO, gluten free, skin-healing, cruelty free, antioxidant, allergy tested, clinically tested, anti-inflammatory, hydrating, and anti-aging. The golden glow it gives would improve even perfect skin, yet I think Uliv Golden Chai Facial Soufflé’s plant-powered, multi-tasking goodness is especially beneficial for those of us grappling with “problem skin,” sensitivity, and/or chronic inflammation.  This is a Must-Try.

The post Uliv Skincare Golden Chai Facial Soufflé: Meet the Delicious $39 Organic Face Cream Refinery29 named “a $200 face cream in disguise” appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.