Christina Alyce Beauty: acne

Marin Bee Pure Honey Skincare recently reached out to me on Instagram to see if I would like to try out their Detox Masque, and after reading up on both the company and the product ingredients, I had a great feeling about working with them. Marin Bee promises that they "never use pre-made bases, parabens, PEGs, sulfates, phthalates, or synthetic fragrance. Our products are gluten free, never tested on animals, and help support Planet Bee Foundation." No nasty ingredients, and they support a wonderful initiative? Yes please! You can read all about their company's story, and how to get involved here.

As for the mask they offered me, I was in desperate need of something that would battle my ever-persistent acne, as well as soothe and nourish my dry winter skin, all of which Detox Masque is perfect for. The mask is composed of one third wildflower honey, which has wonderful antibacterial and humectant properties, so it is well suited for those with acne and dry skin. Because of the inclusion of honey, the mask stays moist on the face throughout the whole treatment, which I love. It also contains kaolin clay to detox the skin, so I was concerned it would dry down or tighten as clay based masks are know to do, but it stays comfortable and does not dehydrate.

In addition to the kaolin clay, it also utilizes sulphur and zinc oxide to battle acne. I have recently fallen in love with zinc oxide for acne treatment with my Graydon Face Food Mineral Mist, so I thought it was interesting to see it in this mask as well.

One of my favorite skincare ingredients is oat, because it has wonderful soothing properties for sensitive skin. I love taking oat baths in the winter to calm the dry, itchy skin on my body, and this mask is the perfect product for a similar effect on the face. I also love that the ground oats paired with salt give just a hint of mechanical exfoliation to smooth out skin without irritating it. Pumpkin ferment extract is included for a brightening, enzymatic exfoliation.

This is one of my favorite clay-based masks, because it addresses all of my skin's needs. I did not encounter any problems with breakouts or irritation while using it. On the contrary, I turned to this mask when my skin was especially broken out and reactive and it soothed inflammation and gave my skin the boost it needed to clear out and heal. I can always count on this mask's softening and brightening ingredients to add some glow back into my skin. I think all skin types could benefit from Detox Masque, and I very highly recommend it.

No comments

As a sufferer of adult acne, I am willing to try absolutely any (nontoxic) product that has the slightest chance of working. I naturally gravitate toward beta hydroxy acid (BHA), because it not only exfoliates the surface of the skin, but penetrates the pore as well to clear out whiteheads and blackheads. It is also relatively gentle and soothing, so it does not irritate sensitive skin, and it can even out skin tone. I wanted to give Herbivore Botanicals' AHA + BHA Blue Tansy mask a shot, because it contains willow bark and aloe vera, which are both natural sources of Salcylic Acid, a BHA.
The mask also contains AHAs, in the form of Fruit Enzymes from papaya and pineapple. AHAs exfoliate the surface of the skin to rid it of dullness, and to help other products penetrate more effectively. Blue tansy oil is included as an anti-inflammatory to soothe redness and calm irritation.
Herbivore recommends that when you first introduce the mask to your routine, you use it for 5 consecutive days, then about twice per week after that for upkeep. I have incredibly sensitive skin, so even with the gentle ingredients in this mask, the acids were a bit too much to use 5 days in a row. Instead, I applied it in the evening for the first two days, and again every other day for the remaining 3 applications. The application process of this product is very soothing and cooling, because the formulation is gel like. It is easy to apply in a thin layer, and a little product goes a long way. You can definitely smell the jasmine oil, but it is pleasant and almost grape-like, and not at all overpowering.

I generally leave the mask on for about 10 minutes- they recommend 5 minutes for sensitive skin and up to 20 for normal skin, but I find that 5 minutes does not do much for me. After 10 min I rinse off the mask, and need to use a konjac sponge to do so, because the gel texture isn't easily dissolved. If you have sensitive skin, I would advise against using anything abrasive like a wash cloth, because it is too irritating after a treatment with acids. I follow up with my Herbivore After Sun Soothing Aloe Mist as a toner, because the aloe, spearmint, and lavender are incredibly soothing, and my Oh Mega calming chia oil from One Love Organics.
After Using the Blue Tansy mask for the initial 5 applications and following two weeks, I have noticed my skin feels much smoother and has a healthier glow to it. Unfortunately, I still have a major patch of hormonal acne on my chin, and a smattering of acne of my right cheek. I did not expect this mask to completely clear my skin, but I am disappointed that it did not cut down on my breakouts or prevent them as much as I had hoped. My forehead and left cheek are noticeably clearer, but my trouble areas have not improved. I will continue to work through my jar because I do think it has helped my skin overall, and I enjoy using it, but I am disappointed there have been no major improvements in my most troublesome spots.

No comments

Overhauling your skincare routine can be a daunting task, especially if you are completely new to the world of clean beauty, and unaware of what brands are out there. There's also the money factor. Glowy, smooth skin doesn't usually come cheap, so when a brand offers a boxed set of things to try at a pretty decent deal, you thank the skincare gods. I was happy to see that Fig + Yarrow, (one of the first clean beauty brands I had heard about) offers such a set. At $76, for 5 trial/travel size items it seems expensive, but if purchased individually, the total would be $88, so not a bad deal, especially if you can snag a coupon, or catch a sale. In case you wish to check out any of these products individually, I will provide links to each product listing as well.
Of course when buying a set there is the downside that one or two out of the several curated products may not be the right fit for you, but I find that for the value that comes with these types of sets and the small amount of each product you get, it's not that much of a loss. Besides, the odd product out can always be used in an alternate way than originally intended, gifted, or traded with a product junkie friend. I was lucky enough to be able to use all of the products in the Fig + Yarrow Facial Care Kit, without any issues and as you will see, I was quite pleased with everything.

Cleansing Nectar [1oz $12] [4oz $32]

My main focus in my skincare switch has been to find a non-foaming, low pH cleanser, and this product ticks both of those boxes. The Cleansing Nectar is meant to be a gentle cleanser for all skin types, that exfoliates and purifies the skin while leaving the acid mantle intact. I think it does a very good job of this, particularly for oily and acne prone skin, because it does not strip the skin.

It is formulated with lavender hydrosol, which helps to soothe the skin, along with aloe and ginko bilboa, which is also excellent at improving nutrient delivery. The cleanser exfoliates with a combination of manuka honey, apple cider vinegar, willow tree bark (salicylic acid) and dead sea salt, which all contain exfoliating enzymes. This is a purely chemical exfoliation process, so it is well suited for anyone with sensitive skin. There are no salt particles or other rough ingredients to be found in this formula. Calendula repairs damage, and green tea offers antioxidants. Licorice soothes irritation and redness.
I use this cleanser primarily at night. If I have worn make up during the day, I oil cleanse first, then wet my face with water, apply the cleanser to my face, and use either my hands or a konjac sponge to spread it around, then rinse and follow with the rest of my skincare. I have never felt stripped or dry when using this product, and I do not break out. I do think it does a great job of balancing the skin and healing/preventing further breakouts.

Facial Scrub [1.4oz $14] [2.8oz $22]

I love exfoliating, but like most people with sensitive skin, I have to be careful not to use any coarse products containing things like salt or sugar with sharp edges. A fantastic alternative to these more traditional ingredients, is a combination of ground oat flour and fullers earth. Ground oat flour cleanses, softens and soothes the skin, and even improves discoloration. Fullers earth also works to lighten skin imperfections, and detoxifies and exfoliates. Raw honey purifies, moisturizes, and contains enzymes that help slough of dead skin cells. While these ingredients are all gentle for sensitive skin, this product also contains a few extra soothing ingredients, to make sure your skin stays happy, like lavender, rosewood, and chamomile essential oils.

As you can see from the ingredients, this scrub works as a cleanser as well, so there is no need to use a separate product for cleansing with it. This is great news for your skin, because the less often you wash, the less you have to strip your natural oils. I will usually use this whenever it's time to exfoliate (I usually do so twice a week), and I rotate this with my Glowing Skin Cleanser from The Dirty Goat, depending on how much of a scrub I think I need. For extra- dull days, I do prefer my scrub from TDG. But overall, this is a great exfoliator. It is gentle and not rough at all. I do feel like it leaves a bit of residue behind, but it doesn't feel dirty, and I don't get breakouts from it. I find my skin looks plumper,, brighter, and more nourished.

Yarrow/Immortelle/Rockrose Complexion Water [1oz $14][4oz $42]

Fig + Yarrow offers two variations of this skincare set, the differences being found in the toner. I chose the Complexion Water formulated with yarrow, immortelle, and rockrose, because this version is supposed to help in regenerating skin cells, and soothing troubled skin. The key ingredients in here are gently astringent as well as anti-aging. I don't typically go for astringent products, but I have no problems with irritation or unbalanced skin with this toner. My only issue with this toner is that I don't care for the smell, which too earthy for me, but it does fade quickly. I don't like using fragranced products on my face, and I find that it is odd that this complexion water is also marketed as an aromatherapy product. I don't think the scent is overpowering, and the fragrance comes from natural essential oils, but I do think it is important to mention. But as I said, my sensitive skin does not have any problems when I use this.

Facial Serum [0.25oz $20][0.5oz $38]

As recently as a year ago, I don't think I had ever used a serum. I understood their purpose, but at the time I felt like I was getting all of the benefits I needed from the other products in my routine, and I would just revisit the thought of a serum down the line, once I got a little older and my skin needed an extra boost. Well, during my Lush foray and quest to try every single product they offered, I used a serum for the very first time and became hooked. I'm now a serum junkie, with more serums than any other type of product in my collection, and this one from Fig + Yarrow ranks right at the top.

It's easy for me to recognize when my skin loves a product, and I get all the telltale signs with this little bottle of magic. I get glowy but not greasy, instantly softer, smoother, with an all-around "good skin day" vibe.

It is made with a base of olive (squalane) oil, which my skin loves. It absorbs quickly into my skin, and feels incredibly silky. It contains vitamins A and E, and helps fight aging and repair sun damage. Rosehip oil is also very nourishing, containing fatty acids, vitamins E, C, and B-carotene. The combination of meadowfoam seed oil and jojoba oil traps in moisture to keep skin glowing, and rosemary essential oil helps to fight acne.

Yarrow Buttercream [1oz $28][2oz $48]

The final product in this set is the Yarrow Buttercream, which is described as hydrating and nourishing for dry and damaged skin. It contains many intensely hydrating ingredients, including aloe, almond oil, carrot seed oil, and shea butter, making it ideal for winter months or very dry skin. This can be used on the face or body, and makes a fantastic hand cream. It also has chamomile to soothe the skin and nutrient rich ingredients like grapefruit seed extract and rosemary leaf extract. This combination promotes cellular turnover, and collagen production, giving the skin a youthful, renewed look.

I have only used this product on my face once, because it is a little too rich for me in the summer months. I have loved it on my extra dry spots like my elbows, hands, and feet though. It hydrates beautifully and leaves your skin plump with long- lasting moisture. It does not carry much of a smell, so it makes a perfect unscented hand-cream.

I think this set gives a great selection of products, for all skin types. I feel like it has left me with a very positive impression of what Fig + Yarrow has to offer, and I am excited to check out some new skincare items from the brand, now carried at Target. I am impressed by the quality of everything I tried, and it certainly felt luxurious. My skin reacted well to everything, and I definitely plan to purchase a full size of the cleansing elixir and serum when I run out. I would highly recommend this set to any skincare lover, particularly those who enjoy higher end products and clean beauty.

1 comments

A couple of months ago, I had to do a complete overhaul of my skincare routine. I had been using exclusively Lush products, but if you've taken a peek at my previous post, you will know why I stopped using their products. After lush, I had a very brief foray into Korean skincare because I had heard glowing reviews about so many products, but my experience ended up being completely frustrating, with the worst breakouts I have experienced in my entire life (which is really saying something, as I have struggled with hormonal acne for the past few years). So after giving K-beauty a fair try, I returned the products that I could, and decided to go back to absolute basics. I wasn't wearing makeup, I cleansed with water only, I toned with a mix of apple cider vinegar and water, and moisturized with a homemade mixture of aloe vera gel and oils. Slowly, my skin started to improve, but I had to admit, I needed a better method of cleansing.
Over the winter when I was very much into Lush, I followed quite a few Lushie instagram accounts, one of which was Erica, @thedirtygoat. I had actually purchased a Lush scrub from her, way back then, but knew she also made her own products for skin, hair, and body, as well as wax melts and even the occasional product for pets! By the time needed a skincare revamp, I had been following her for a few months, and her delectable products would pop up on my feed from time to time, and I knew The Dirty Goat had to be my first stop.
It was really quite difficult deciding what to get on my first visit, because not only had I been depriving myself of new skincare products for weeks at that point, but she just had such an array of beautifully photographed products tempting me on the site. I selected three items for my first order: the Gentle Facial Cleanser, Method Oil Cleanser, and the trial size Probiotic Deodorant in Yuzu scent. The latter two products will most definitely be reviewed in future posts, but today we will focus on the Gentle Facial Cleanser, because it was the item I had initially set out for.

The liquid cleanser comes in a 2.45oz plastic bottle, which is lasting me quite a while, because I mostly only use it in the evening, and you just need the smallest amount. It is a castile soap and shea butter based cleanser, and it does need a good shake before each use. As stated in the product description, it does not contain surfactants, which is fantastic. Surfactants are what make a product lather and foam, and will strip away your natural oils which will leave you face, hair, or whatever you use them on dried out, unbalanced, and will most likely lead to an overproduction of oil (that's how we get caught in the vicious cycle of needing to wash our oily hair everyday, or finding our faces an oil slick by noon- surfactants!). This cleanser, on the other hand, cleanses with castile soap, which lathers enough to get you clean, but won't leave your face a desert. The shea butter offers a lovely creaminess and some extra moisture, while orange extract dissolves sebum, evens out skin tone, and combats acne. Goji berry extract contains vitamin c and amino acids to help the skin retain a youthful, plump glow.
I really like this cleanser. It leaves me feeling clean but not dried out, and it keeps my skin clear and radiant. I really look forward to future purchases from The Dirty Goat, (I've already been back once!) because she has such a great selection, including a soapless cleanser that I would love to try for my morning cleansing.
Overall, I am incredibly happy with the quality and ingredients of everything I have tried, and she gives out generous samples too!

Please feel free to join my new Facebook Group, where we can talk about clean beauty! - Non-Toxic Beauty Lovers

No comments

Full of Grace had been sitting on my wishlist for quite a while. When I first saw it in the catalog as a brand new Lushie, I was pretty intrigued. At the time, I was starting to incorporate a lot of natural oils into my skincare routine, so a bar that featured a plethora of gorgeous oils sounded like a dream to me. I let it sit on the back burner for months without purchasing because at first glance the price seems a bit steep for 20g of product, but I finally decided it was worth it and made the order. I’ve had this little serum bar in my possession for a week now, and in conjunction with my Coalface Soap, my skin certainly looks the best it has in months, if not years.

So many people tout this as a miracle for the skin- softening, reducing redness, scars, discoloration, even fine lines. While I don’t suddenly have skin as even and supple as an infant’s, I have absolutely noticed a difference. I apply this in the evening, as my moisturizer. So after cleansing and toning, I rub the bar either between my hands, or directly on my face (It’s all up to how I feel that day, both methods work equally well!) and smooth the melted oils into my skin. I love this before bed, because aside form having wonderful skincare benefits, the rose oil and chamomile blue oil are incredibly relaxing. I find the scent of this is quite similar to the Dreamtime Bath Melt, so it is definitely a calming scent, perfect for your evening routine.

As I stated, I use this in the evening as my sole moisturizer, but you can use this underneath or on top of another moisturizer if you have incredibly dry skin, or only on certain pats of your face that need an extra boost in moisture. It really depends on your skin’s needs, and I may layer this with another moisturizer later in the winter if I notice increased dryness, and in the summer I may cut back my use. I think that this is a very versatile product, and though it was formulated for dry, sensitive skin, I think many people can benefit from it, even if you only use it as an occasional treat. One way I would not recommend using it is under a mask, which is one method Lush suggests on the website- this seems quite silly to me, from an esthetician’s standpoint. Not only are you wasting a product by washing it off with your mask after 10 minutes, when you would reap so much more benefit by leaving it on for an extended period, but the oils in the serum also create a barrier of sorts, that will prevent your mask from being absorbed fully into the skin, hindering it’s full effectiveness. I’m really not sure why they recommend using it this way, but you will notice many more benefits to your skin when keeping the two steps separate!

So, what is it exactly that makes Full of Grace so wonderful for the skin? Aside from leaving out preservatives and filler ingredients, this serum is packed full of beneficial oils. Almond oil mimics the skins own natural oils, so it won’t clog your pores, and absorbs easily. Murumuru butter is known as a miracle butter. It’s highly emollient and hydrating, and it is wonderful for acne prone skin, as it is naturally antibacterial and anti inflammatory, and also boasts many antioxidants and fatty acids. Portobello mushroom is also incredibly antioxidant rich, and contains B and C vitamins, potassium, vitamin D and ergothioneine all of which show this is a good candidate for protecting the skin from damage Ingredients such as almond oil and murumuru butter broaden the market for Full of Grace, because while it is gentle and highly moisturizing, it has the potential to work well with oilier and acne prone conditions, as well as for anyone who is looking to protect their skin from environmental damage. I have not had any breakouts since using Full of Grace, and my skin is normally very acne prone.

Calamine powder, rose oil and infusion, and chamomile blue oil are all very soothing on the skin and should help with redness. I currently have a lot of acne in the healing stage, so my face is quite sensitive and I have a smattering of red along my jawline and temples. Since I started using this serum, I have noticed the healing process seems to be going much faster than usual and my redness is fading quickly.

I am completely enamored with Full of Grace so far, and though I have only been using it for a short time, my skin is softer, more hydrated, and feels wonderfully soothed. I would recommend this to all skin types, and it is totally worth the price!

Rating: 5/5

Price:

UK - £8.25/ 20g
US - $15.95/ 0.7oz
This is very inflated in the US, order from the UK and save almost $4!

Status: Permanant

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase?: Yes

Ingredients: Murumuru Butter, Calamine Powder, Cupuacu Butter, Fresh Rose Petal Infusion, Organic Almond Oil, Perfume, Fresh Portobello Mushrooms, Chamomile Blue Oil, Rose Oil, Tagetes Oil, Eugenol, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl, Cinnamate, Citronellol, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool

1 comments

To say I was unsure about truing a solid facial soap was an understatement. Basically, everything you learn about bar soap in Esthetics school is that it is bad, and you shouldn’t use it on your body, and you most certainly should never use it on your delicate face! Of course, these warnings are aimed more at traditional, harsh soaps with damaging ingredients, that Lush tends to leave out of their products. The composition of Coalface is very far from that which makes up a standard drugstore brand soap- Lush does not use tallow, lye, lauric acid, titanium dioxide, or any other ingredients that are still used in soaps that cause dryness, irritation, and not much benefit. Instead, the majority of ingredients in Coalface are very natural, and boast many benefits that not only cleanse the skin, but improve the overall condition.

First on the list is liquorice root decoction. Liquorice root is known to be antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing, which means that it is fantastic for treating acne (which is essentially a clogged, infected pore) by killing the bacteria, soothing swelling and redness, as well as keeping your skin from feeling stripped. This soap also contains rosewood oil to act as an additional antiseptic, as well as add an uplifting aroma.

Rapeseed oil and coconut oil are two oils that are fantastic for moisturizing the skin. Of course, coconut oil is pretty comedogenic for some skin types, so if you are prone to acne, this may prove to be a problem. I have had good luck so far, despite being acne prone, and I have not noticed any increased clogging- but we will get to that in a moment.

Powdered charcoal is an ingredient that has become increasingly popular in recent years for it’s oil absorbing properties. In this soap, it also lends a slightly rough texture which means you’re also getting a gentle exfoliant along with your cleanse. Sodium Chloride (or salt) also acts as an exfoliant, while cleaning the skin. It’s also used to formulate the soap base.

Of course, Coalface is not 100% natural. It does contain a few humectants such as sorbitol and glycerin, to give the soap a consistency that spreads easily on the skin. Sodium Hydroxide to react with coconut oil and rapeseed oil to create a soap base, instead of a more traditional combination such as tallow and lye. SLS, while not the best ingredient because it can be drying and irritating, produces a foamy, cleansing lather. EDTA and Tetrasodium Etidronat safely preserve the color, scent and consistency of the product.

So looking at the ingredients, quite a few jump out to prove this is a good choice for those with oilier or acne prone complexions. While I do not have a particularly oily face, I do suffer from some truly awful hormonal acne, that until now, has been very difficult to improve. I have tried many different cleansers and other skincare products that have claimed to work wonders on acne, but they did not do much for me. Hormonal acne comes from under the skin, so it’s not just as easy as washing your face to get rid of it. Luckily, Coalface is one of few topical products that has actually made a difference in my skin. I started using this facial soap while I was in the middle of one of the worst breakouts I’ve ever had- my jawline and chin was completely covered, I had mountain ranges on both temples, and a smattering of spots on my cheeks and forehead. My skincare at the time was obviously not effective, so I was so glad once my order containing Coalface finally showed up.

I washed my face with Coalface, and was a little concerned with how stripped my face felt while rinsing, but luckily once I patted myself dry, my skin felt supple again. I spritzed my face with my usual toner and put on my moisturizer, and went to bed. In the morning, I did notice my acne was reduced. Most of my spots had shrunk noticeably, and redness and inflammation was improved. I decided to continue washing with coalface once each day, and over the next week, my skin cleared by about 80%.

I have been using Coalface for about 3 weeks now, and my skin has not yet returned to the awful mess it was before. My face is not completely clear by any stretch, but I have not broken out once on my forehead since I’ve started using this, and I never have more than 4 or 5 pimples at any given time now. I do not notice my skin becoming any drier, or more oily since I have started using this, so that is fantastic. I am really glad I have introduced this soap into my routine, and I hope it continues to improve my skin.

Rating: 4/5

Price:

UK - £5.25/100g, £13.10/250g, £26.25/500g
US - $13.95/ 3.5oz

Status: Permanent

Vegan?: Yes

Would I repurchase? Yes

Ingredients: Liquorice Root Decoction, Propylene Glycol, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Water, Perfume, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Powdered Charcoal, Sandalwood Oil, Rosewood Oil, Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, *Geraniol, *Linalool, Silver Edible Lustre.

No comments

Received Cosmetic Lad as a sample from my local store. I had gone in wanting to try Enzymion, but they were all out, so the salesgirl suggested I try Cosmetic Lad instead. This is not a moisturizer I would have chosen for my skin type, and I don’t think I would ever purchase it. I had told the girl that I have dry skin that is prone to breakouts, and I realize now that I should have emphasized my issues with acne a little more clearly, because this really isn’t a first choice for those who struggle with acne.

I found this to be very greasy, and though I often wake up each morning with a few new breakouts no matter what product I use, I noticed my acne was substantially increased after using this moisturizer, and I had not changed any other aspect of my routine. I believe it was primarily the shea butter and cocoa butter in this product that caused the breakouts, because although these are very hydrating and nourishing ingredients for dry skin, they should be avoided by people with acne prone skin as they are comedogenic.

Cosmetic Lad is marketed as a good choice for those who need a product to soothe skin, especially men who suffer from post-shave irritation. There are many ingredients in here that support this claim, such as lavender, honey, aloe vera, linseed, chamomile, and marigold oil. And while it didn’t work for me, I can agree that it was extremely hydrating, not only from the she and cocoa butters, but also almond oil. It boasts antioxidant properties from wheatgrass as well.

Overall, this moisturizer is incredibly luxurious feeling and smooth, and though it feels a touch greasy and can be comedogenic, it has many soothing and healing properties that would make this a great choice for those with sensitive and dry skin. Not to mention, it smells faintly of tangerine ice cream!

Rating: 3 out of 5 Nice, but not for my skin type.

Price:

UK- £12.95 for 45g
US- $24.95 for 1.5oz

Status: Permanent

Vegan?: No, Contains honey

Would I repurchase? No

Ingredients: Lavender Honey Water, Linseed Mucilage, Fair Trade Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Chickweed, Chamomile and Marigold Petal Extract, Organic Cold Pressed Almond Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fresh Wheatgrass Juice, Stearic Acid, Glycerine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter, African Marigold Oil, Tangerine Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Triethanolamine*, Limonene*, Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

No comments

Herbalism Face and Body Cleanser

The name Herbalism certainly suits this product to a T. Upon opening my generous sample, I got a lovely whiff of a very green, herbal smell, from the combination of rosemary, sage, nettle, and chlorophyll. Herbalism isn’t a typical facial cleanser, instead of being a liquid, it is a moist powder, exactly how you’d imagine the texture would be for a mixture of ground up herbs, almonds, and clay. To use, you scoop out a generous amount for my face, I use about a teaspoon worth of the product, and mix it with a few drops of water until it forms a milky paste. Apply the paste to your damp face, massaging in circular motions, outward from the nose, then rinse off.

In theory, this is a fantastic cleanser for tackling acne. It has antiseptic, astringent, and anti inflammatory properties from the sage, chamomile blue, nettle, and rosemary.Chlorophyll regulates sebum production, so this is fantastic for those with oilier skin. Kaolin and ground almond exfoliate, while vinegar balances the pH of the skin.

I felt that while this was very softening, balancing, and moisturising, it was “soapy” enough to cut through makeup, so I would highly recommend using this in conjunction with a makeup remover, or, since my current makeup remover doesn’t quite do the job, I reserve this for use in the morning when I have nothing on my face except the previous night’s skincare. I didn’t find that this particularly helped with acne, I actually think I might’ve broken out a little more after use with this, which was really disappointing. My skin is currently undergoing some changes, and I am incredibly acne prone a the moment, so while this was not the perfect fit for me now, I hope to pick up another sample in a couple of months and try again. This was a very natural feeling cleanser with a lovely exfoliant, so I really hope I can get along with it in the future.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Price: Small - $13.95 for 3.5oz / £6.95 for 100g Large - £17.35 for 250g / $33.95 for 8.4oz

Status: Permanent

Vegan?:Yes

Would I repurchase? Not until I sample it again

Ingredients: Ground Almonds, Kaolin, Glycerine, Chlorophyllin Water, Nettle, Rosemary and Rice Vinegar Extract, Rice Bran, Gardenia Extract, Rose Absolute, Chamomile Blue Oil, Sage Oil, Perfume.

No comments

Christina Alyce Beauty

Cleansing Nectar [1oz $12] [4oz $32]

Facial Scrub [1.4oz $14] [2.8oz $22]

Yarrow/Immortelle/Rockrose Complexion Water [1oz $14][4oz $42]

Facial Serum [0.25oz $20][0.5oz $38]

Yarrow Buttercream [1oz $28][2oz $48]

About Me

Let's Connect

Search This Blog

Shop My Faves

recent posts

Blog Archive

Bloglovin