Category: Skincare

More Affordable Green Beauty Brands

September 9th, 2021
Hi Fam,

Green Beauty prices sometimes can be astronomical. I’ve always been a proponent that organic food, good quality ingredients, and safe beauty products shouldn’t be only for the privileged. I think it’s really important to acknowledge this, and try and do something about it.

A lot of products and brands that I’ve talked about do come with a high price tag. Even to my own ears, $180 for a balm seems a bit ridiculous when this can buy you atleast 2 weeks worth of groceries (depending on where you go).

Let’s also acknowledge that not every product one uses has to be expensive to see the results! A fair amount of Green Beauty Brands are popping up where they are ingredient conscious and the price tag isn’t as high. I’ve complied a list of brands for skincare/bodycare that are more on the affordable side, as well as a few mid-range brands that are results driven.

I also want to state that everyone’s take on what’s affordable to them is vastly different. Some of the brands that I mention still might be expensive, and that’s something to keep in mind.

Slightly Lower- End Skincare Brands:
1. Follain— This is a Green Beauty Retailer, that has it’s own brand of skincare products. You can find everything from a Vitamin C, eye cream, and a face mask. https://follain.com/collections/our-products-shop-all
2. Detox Mode: This is a brand created by the Green Beauty Retailer called The Detox Market. You can find a variety of cleansers, moisturizers, etc. The body oil is one of my favorites. It has a beautiful cardamom scent to it! https://www.thedetoxmarket.com/pages/detox-mode#
3. Kinship: You can find a great eye cream, ceramide oil, and SPF for good prices. The oil is really hydrating, and the SPF is one that always has great reviews. https://lovekinship.com/
4. Weleda: You cannot go wrong with Weleda at all. This is a Swiss brand that has formulations filled with plant extracts. They have a variety of different lines for different skin types, and they are easily found at your local Whole Foods. https://www.weleda.com/
5. ByBi Beauty: This brand can be found at Credo! They have a variety of different boosters for the skin that can be worn by themselves or mixed into your other products. I’ve tried and loved their oil cleanser before and their Buriti Oil Booster (which they don’t have right now) as well. https://credobeauty.com/collections/bybi-beauty
Mid-Range Skincare Brands:
1. Free+True: This is a company based out of California that makes an incredible body serum and moisturizer, both of which are not too expensive. The brand also carries a variety of other products like a Vitamin C serum, oil, cleanser, etc that are worth checking out. https://freeandtrueskincare.com/
2. Sahajan: This brand harnesses a variety of different Ayurvedic ingredients creating some lovely, luxurious feeling products. Their massage body oil is one of my favorites! https://www.sahajan.com/
3. Earthwise Beauty: I’m including EarthWise in this section as they make travel sizes for pretty much all of their products, and the travel sizes are pretty generous. While some of the products are higher end, most of them are in the $30-$60 range (in the .15mil sizes). This brand is worth trying if you have the budget, as the formulations are all made with plant extracts, and they are complex plant formulations that have a lot of healing properties. Comment on here, and I’ll tell you my favorites! https://earthwisebeauty.com/
4. Live Botanical: This is one of my favorite brands I’ve discovered in 2020. All are plant based products, where the ingredients are harvested locally. The brand is extremely transparent when it comes to changes in formulations, or price increases. It mirrors Laurel Skincare in many ways, but without the price tag. They also carry travel sizes of every product, which makes it easier to try a product out. The brand carries a variety of skincare and body care as well. https://www.laurelskin.com/
Haircare
1. Innersense Beauty: The prices and formulations of this brand mimic what you would find at a place like Sephora but with good quality ingredients! My favorites are from their curl line. https://innersensebeauty.com/clean-beauty/
I’ve included the direct website for most of these brands, as I think it’s always fascinating to read about the stories of how these brands were started and why!

There are a few more brands that I could have mentioned, but the ones I’ve linked are those that I’ve tried and loved.

Lastly, if you are buying directly from a brand’s website, keep in mind that most of these are small business and that you might have to spend a certain amount to receive free shipping. So if that’s something you want to avoid, you can always find the products at retailers like Beauty Heroes, Credo Beauty, Integrity Botanicals, and The Detox Market.

Do let me know if you have any questions or if you end up picking something up from one of the brands I’ve mentioned.

-K
August 2021 Boxwalla Box

September 1st, 2021

Hi Fam,

I received my box from Boxwalla for the month of August last week, and I have to say, I am really impressed. It features the brand called Votary, which is a British brand. I know Boxwalla has partnered with them before, containing a variety of different products.

Because of my eye surgery that I had last week, I haven’t been able to wear any makeup, so I’ve been a bit hyper aware of the skincare that I’ve been using and noticing the impacts even more. I thought this would be a good time to test out the products in this box to see how they would perform.

I originally wasn’t sure about picking up this box, because the serum contains glycolic acid. I haven’t reacted well in the past to chemical exfoliators, and have always found that they can be a bit much. But, physical exfoliation wasn’t cutting it for my skin in some ways. One of the founders of Boxwalla, Lavanya, kindly suggested that I try this serum out, as it was formulated for sensitive skin types as well, and she’s right!

The box contains two products (a mask and a serum), with a retail value of $254, but the box can now be purchased as a limited edition box for $75. Linking the box here: https://www.theboxwalla.com/product/votary-skincare/

The Brightening Hyalauronic Serum

This serum has multiple benefits. It contains hyaluronic acid which helps with hydrating the skin, and then the glycolic acid gently exfoliates the skin to brighten dark spots, help with texture, etc. It is clear in color, and has a runny texture. I have not had any issues with dryness, redness, texture, etc after using this for 5 days for consecutively. Usually harsher acids, have a tendency to react on my skin within 1-2 days easily. This serum also has ingredients like Sugar Maple Extract, Salcylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, a variety of fruit waters, and fruit extracts, which makes the serum even more enjoyable to use. It has a beautiful Neroli smell, which isn’t strong at all. The price of this serum, is $118 if you were to buy it individually, and comes in a 1.70z bottle, which is a generous size. I can’t wait to see what the results of using this serum will long term.

Intense Overnight Mask

I’ve been using this mask as a moisturizer in the evening and so far it’s worked well, and I haven’t experienced my dryness on my skin on areas that usually become dry very vast. This is a more richer product, and doesn’t really have much of. a scent in my opinion. It has ingredients Avacado and Rosehip Oils, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Tomato Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oat Kernal Flour, etc. So this has some of the same properties as the serum in the sense that it also has brightening ingredients and as well as hydrating properties. But, it contains more hydrating and nourishing oils and butters. It’s supposed to work really well for dull skin, and the idea is that you wake up with rejuvenated skin in the morning. I use this as my last step, and leave it on overnight, and so far so good!

I highly recommend checking this box out and purchasing! Votary is known for some amazing formulations and the boxes that Boxwalla puts together are filled with some great products. This is also a great way to test out products and then decide whether or not you would repurchase.

Let me know if you pick up the box, and how you like the products if you do!

-K
My Almost Empty Products

August 24th, 2021

Hi Fam,

I have a few products that are coming to the end, and thought I’d share how the products worked for me.

1.The Pai Lightwork Rosehip Cleansing Oil

I had tried this cleansing oil before the packaging was updated a few years ago, and thought it worked really well to remove eye makeup, and was a great first cleanse. However, I’m not sure if they changed the formula when the packaging was updated, but this cleansing oil didn’t really do much for me when I tried it again recently. It does what it needs to do in terms of removing makeup, and being a good first cleanse, but I’ve noticed that it has the tendency to make my skin feel dry right after the first cleanse, which is not something I look for. With a first cleanse I look to remove my makeup, massage my skin, and leave it feeling moisturized. This didn’t do that for me, so it’s not one I will be repurchasing. I do have a travel size of this as well, and it’s been good to travel with for a quick cleanse, as I just go in with the same product twice, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

2. May Lindstrom Youth Dew

If you’ve followed me on here for sometime, then you know I’ve talked about the Youth Dew many times. It is one of my favorite facial oils, and I always have one. Now, I had this bottle open for sometime, and something that I’m starting to understand the importance of in clean beauty is really paying attention to the date of expiration. This makes such a big difference. Just like how organic food goes bad quickly as it doesn’t have preservatives, skincare without preservatives also can go bad and cause adverse reactions. It may not be as noticeable as you probably won’t see fungus, etc but you’ll notice the color change, the texture, and you might breakout as well, which was happening when I started using this oil after a few months. I decided to just use it up as a body oil, and opened up a fresh bottle for my face. The freshness of ingredients in relation to buying multiple products is actually a topic I’d like to write about more as it’s an important one to dive into!

3. Lepaar Elemental Day Silk

I talked about this SPF a few months ago, and safe to say it has been my favorite SPF product to use till date. It’s creamy, moisturizing, the smell is gentle, and it works really well with my skin type. I already have another one ready to open. There is something grounding about this product/brand as they focus on sun-infused plant extracts, and harness celestial energy. You can read more about the brand on their website, but everything that I’ve tried from this brand I’ve truly loved. It rubs into the skin well, and very rarely leaves a white cast. I feel like it’s actually worked to improve my overall skin texture, which is amazing as well!

Let me know if you have tried any of these products before, or which ones you’d like to pick up!

-K
Skincare Haul

July 9th, 2021
Hi Fam!

I bought a few skincare products (and one hair product) over the last few weeks, and here they are. I’ve tried some of them already, and have yet to try a few of them.
1. Ayuna’s Revitalizing Solid Shampoo: This is a shampoo in a bar form, and I was curious to see how this would perform in comparison to the one by Odacite, hence I wanted to pick it up and try it! I love Ayuna’s products in general, so will keep you posted on how it performs.
2. Ayuna’s Soap Rich: Ayuna has had an artisan soap in their line, but they’ve introduced two more- one for really dry skin, and one for more oilier skin types. I picked up the one for dry skin, as I like to cleanse in the mornings with a more gentle cleaner. Being that it is in a solid form, it’s easier to use as well! It is rich in Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Borage Seed Oil. Will keep you updated on this as well!
3. Laurel’s Essential Lipids Delicate Barrier Oil: I’m calling this an oil, as it is one, but it will work as an oil cleanser, moisturizer, and facial oil. This is formulated without essential oils, for the most sensitive of skins with a damaged lipid barrier. Being that it’s Laurel and the price point was not that high, I wanted to try it! Essentially, I was looking for an oil that I could use under makeup, and during the day time as well. I really like this so far. The smell is not as strong as some of her other products, and it leaves a very dewy finish and feels moisturizing as well! It has Calendula, Jojoba, Evening Primrose, Pomegranate Seed Oil, and a lot more skin soothing ingredients.
4. May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon and The Youth Dew: Lastly, I needed to replenish a few favorite products of mine, The Blue Cocoon and The Youth Dew. These two (the balm and the oil serum), have been favorites of mine for a long time. The company just had a Summer promotion, so it was the perfect time to buy these two products again! I’ve made blog posts about these products before, so you can go read them for more details!

Let me know if you end up trying any of these!

-K
April 2021 Boxwalla Box featuring Twelve Beauty

April 27th, 2021
Hi Fam!

I received my Boxwalla Box for the month of April and wanted to share my thoughts on it! If you don’t know, Boxwalla is a subscription based company that sends out Beauty Boxes every other month. They have other options like book subscriptions, etc.

I have tried one product from Twelve Beauty before which is the brand’s Lip Oil! I loved the packaging and the ingredients but thought I’d wait to try more from the brand as I knew this box was being released.

Twelve Beauty is a Spanish brand and aims to combine the potency of nature with skin-safe science. The founder comes has a combined background in pharmacy, botany, and cosmetology. The brand is especially known for creating products for folks with sensitive, reactive, and stressed out skin.

This month’s box includes two products a the price of $49.95, while the actual retail is $287 (which is a lot)!

The first product is the Twelve Beauty Intelligent Frontier Oil- 1oz (retail value @ $215).
- This is a lightweight Oil, which absorbs pretty fast, but is really soothing an has antioxidant properties
- It’s been known to help with repairing the skin’s barrier
- The oil is made in a base of Meadowfoam and Sacha Inchi Oils
- The scent is very very mild, and almost undetectable and whenever I put this on my skin, it feels nourished
The second product is the Twelve Beauty Nutritive Repair Emulsion (retail value @ $72)
- This has a semi-matte finish, and is truly a quick absorbing cream
- The cream is great for soothing sensitive skin that is stressed out
- Has ingredients like Spelt Grain Wax, Shea Butter Extract, Glycerin
- Has a slight medicinal scent
Overall, I don’t know what I was expecting with this box, but it has helped heal my skin in so many ways. I was dealing with extremely dry skin due to the allergies here in CA, and my skin felt really tight no matter how many hydrating products I added and how much I exfoliated. Then, this box got delivered to my doorstep last week and I added these products into my rotation immediately, and I noticed a HUGE difference the next day itself in terms of dryness.

I have a feeling it’s the moisturizer that’s doing the trick, as I have been using it everyday. This has truly been a surprise for me, because I don’t like semi-matte moisturizers and prefer more dewy ones! And, I never thought it would do much for me.

It’s a great time to treat yourself to this box, as I think this past year has definitely taken a toll on our skin!

Today is the last day to subscribe to this box, and if you can get your hands on it, I would highly recommend it! Here is the link if you are interested : https://www.theboxwalla.com/product/beauty-box/.

-K
New Skincare Buys + 1 Favorite

March 8th, 2021
Hey Fam!

Two posts ago I mentioned about a part 2 of a haul coming up, so here we have it! I also have a favorite that I’ve been loving, so wanted to mention it here.

As I talked about before, I’ve been dealing with some eczema and I wanted some new face oils that were really nourishing and thicker in texture, instead of being really light. I also finished my Ayuna Cream II and I wanted to try out a a different moisturizer at a lower price point! That’s what got me started on this haul, and here we are!

Left to Right:
1. The Bluh Alchemy Antioxidant Face Oil. I have loved a lot of what I have tried from this brand so far. They don’t have many products in their line, but whatever they have created is so beautiful and really works. I’d heard some good things about this facial oil, so I wanted to give it a go. This has some beautiful actives like Astaxanthin (comes from algae), Kakadu Plum (brightening effect), Snowflower (UV absorbing properties), and other ingredients like Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Tamanu Oil, Argan Oil, Vitamin C esters, etc. So far, the smell is peppery, earthy, and it’s a great facial oil. I still need to play around with this to see how much I love it, and see if I end up repurchasing it.
The color is a bright orange, and comes from the astaxanthin

2. The Laurel Night Balm. I bought this balm in December, and it was only after trying out a sample. This is a rich balm, and it’s waterless. So you’re getting rich oils and plant extracts in a balm form. I love this balm as it’s very hydrating and it leaves an amazing glow. The only thing is the scent. The sample that I tried had a different smell than the actual jar. Now this variation does occur in small batch products. Since everything is done by hand, and depending on the batch of ingredients, it can change.

This balm is bright yellow in texture, and melts upon contact

3. free+True Mama Pacha Moisture Infusion Cream. I was looking for a new moisturizer that wouldn’t make me cringe like the price on the Ayuna Cream II. I was still feeling dry in the mornings, even after applying Cream II, so I wanted to know what else was out there. I may go back to it in the future, but one of my main goals in trying to find something else to replace cream II is the fact that not every product in our skincare lineup has to be super expensive. It’s good to mix in some different price points to not feel overwhelmed. This new cream is one that SO MANY folks have talked about. I am actually finding a difference in my skin on the days I don’t apply this vs. when I do. It delivers so much of moisture and sinks right in. The texture is beautiful, the scent is beautiful (slightly floral), and the packaging is beautiful. I would recommend this! It’s worked for my sister who has oily/combo skin and for me as well (dry skin).

This has a really really light green color

4. LEPAAR Elemental Day Silk. This is my new SPF love. I wanted an SPF that didn’t leave any cast or that didn’t have a tint, so that when I wear makeup on top, I wouldn’t feel like I have different layers on. This checks all those boxes and it has a beautiful glowy finish. The color of this spf leans slightly yellow, but rubs in really well. This is one of those products that has a lot of energy to it! I wish the brand was more accessible, but you can order this directly from their website or get the smaller size at Credo Beauty. The texture is a bit runny, so it makes it easier to blend into the skin.

As you can see it has a bit of a runnier consistency, but its so beautiful

5. Earthwise Beauty Magical Babassu Face Oil. Last but not least, I wanted to try another facial oil that I’ve heard amazing things about. Earthwise Beauty has some really interesting creations. This is an oil/balm. It solidifies in colder temperatures, but otherwise melts. I had specifically called the company to find out what would be good for skin with eczema and they recommended this oil as being one of their densest. The texture is beautiful and this has some amazing ingredients like Babassu seed oil, Brazil nut Oil, Marla oil, lotus flower, tobacco leaf absolute, and a few others. The smell reminds me a lot of their Passion Eye Serum (it takes some time to get used to), even if you don’t use products with synthetic fragrances, you’ll enjoy this overtime!

This has a light yellow tinge to it, and as you can see it’s in a solid state right now

That was my little haul! If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments and I’d be happy to answer.

~K
My Eczema Journey/What I use

February 24th, 2021

Having Eczema isn’t easy, and I definitely empathize with anyone that has a major skin issue, as it takes a toll mentally and physically.

My first patch of eczema showed up when I was 4-5 years old, and it started out as a small patch on the back of my neck. At that particular point in time, we weren’t well educated on what steroids or a hydrocortisone can do to your body. So while the cream suppressed the patch (while also making my skin darker), it never eliminated the problem.

Fast foward to my late elementary school years, and this is where things became worse. I started developing it in my scalp which never happened before, and it just got worse. I was going to a homeopathic doctor for sometime in elementary school, which suppressed the problem for sometime, but again, never fully eliminated it. I had patches in middle school, but it was pretty much status quo. This is also the time, that my love for skincare and makeup was found again, and since I had this skin issue, I was researching ingredients and learned a lot about synthetics, etc. This was because I didn’t want what I was using to irritate the skin on my face or my body.

Come high school, we decided to go with a different homeopathic doctor, and this is where things got a lot worse. Homeopathy has a tendency to make things worse at first, and then better. But, this medicine blew up my eczema like no other. I had patches everywhere. I was wearing socks at night on my hands, so I wouldn’t scratch my skin off (which I’d do very often). I only wore long sleeves in school, because my patches hurt so bad, and I couldn’t bear to show them. Anything I ate, or touched seemed to set off my skin. I had no choice but to use the steroid cream to calm my skin down completely, and this seemed to do the trick, alongside some Ayurvedic herbs I was taking. I continued this particular medication for a few years, but eventually stopped as this doctor was in India.

I’ve even tried Ayurveda, but nothing has ever fully eliminated my eczema. It still pops up, depending on what I eat, what I use, etc. However, for the last few years, it hasn’t been a huge concern to me, as it has gone down quite a bit as compared to when I was younger.

Lately, I have introduced Grass-Fed milk in my journey of healing in relation to my hormones and gut issues. Now, while I haven’t faced any sort of stomach reactions, I am thinking this is instead aggravating my eczema.

I am currently dealing with a few patches on my fingers, eyelids, and near my ear. I have three different products that I am using to combat my inflamed skin. Now, as a disclaimer I have to say that I still use my steroid cream, once in a while, depending on where exactly the patch of skin that’s inflamed is. I would never use the steroid cream on the face, as the skin is much different from the rest of the body. And, I have no idea what steroid cream would do to the skin on the face.

For the patch around my eyelids, Ive been using the One Love Organics Vitamin E Balm. This has significantly helped to reduce the dry skin, and tame down the redness. For the patch near my ear and behind my ears, I have been using May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon. This balm is truly wonderful. The blue tansy in it, helps calm down the skin to a huge extent. I even use it on the patches on my fingers.

Lastly, I use the steroid cream, on small parts on my fingers, or on my body, but when needed!

My mom is amazing at making this homemade body butter, which is what I use. And, there are a ton of products in the eco-beauty market which are great for soothing the skin on the body as well.

Food, stress, sugar, and products all have an impact sadly. If you have this skin condition, I’d suggested switching out your body products to non-scented ones, or making your own body butters. Try avoiding essential oils in your skincare, and avoid night shades in your food. Sugar is highly processed and induces anxiety, which then can be a trigger for eczema.

It is a complicated journey, but you have to be persistent and not be hard on yourself, in the process of bringing it under control!

But because of eczema, I started this blog, and my love for all things eco beauty grew. So, in a way I am thankful, and for the fact that I can always offer support for folks who are going through the same thing!

-K
Skincare Haul from Beauty Heroes

February 16th, 2021

I typically don’t ever need an excuse to buy new skincare, but this time I had one. I’ve been having an eczema flareup and this time around I’ve had some patches form on my eyelids as well as under eyes. Back in the day, when I have had flareups, the thing that’s worked for me is to really simplify on my products and also be cautious of ingredients. I basically was in need of a new eye cream, that didn’t have a lot of actives, or essential oils that could potentially, really irritate my skin.

I was recommended the One Love Organics Vitamin E balm, and it’s worked wonders for folks with eczema.

This is a really solid balm. The best way to use is to scoop out a little and warm it up between the fingers to apply. There is a really faint smell, but I like it a lot! So far, it hasn’t irritated my skin, but I will report back.

I picked up a new cleanser from Free+True. This is their AM Creamy Gel Cleanser. I was looking for something that isn’t a traditional cream cleanser, but that has more of a gel texture. I was also looking for something that doesn’t have a strong scent profile.

This has more of a milky consistency, so I wouldn’t say this has a gel texture. I really like the scent on this, and it rinsed clean. The price point on this is relatively affordable for eco beauty, price at $38. I used it once, so will report back on this as well.

This haul gave me a chance to replenish my Osmia Spotless Blemish Oil. This is a great blemish oil. If you have a spot that you know is going to become big or painful, applying this after my skincare routine has worked wonders. I initially thought this wasn’t as good as the Black Cumin concentrate from Odacite, but when I went back to that one, I felt like the Osmia oil works better. It comes in a small rollerball form, so makes it really easy to apply.

The last thing in my haul was the Kahina Pricky Pear Oil in a rollerball form. I love eye oils, and because of my eczema flareup, I was looking for a single ingredient oil. I was told that even Prickly Pear oil can be considered active, so I’m not sure how this will react with my skin, but I will test it out and get back. I thought I might as well pick it up and if not now, will use it after!

So far that’s my little haul, but there is a part 2 coming up because of a patch of eczema on my face! Thought I would get a few new things to make sure I do not aggravate the skin on my face further.

-K
Favorite skincare discoveries of 2020

January 22nd, 2021

Hey Fam!

I wanted to round up a few skincare product discoveries that came my way in 2020. For me the last year was a chance to dive deeper into the notion of self-care, and a huge portion of that for me, is taking the time to indulge in a good skincare routine. I’ve always found having a good skincare routine to be really therapeutic.

The first discovery is the one above, which is the Inlight Face Cleanser. This is a balm cleanser, that doesn’t emulsify. After massaging a little into the skin, it needs to be removed with a warm washcloth. The scent on this is really alluring. It has hints of clove in it, which really come through. But, I LOVE taking the time to massage this into my skin. I’ve discovered quite a few products from their line, that I’ve come to love, so I’d definitely check the brand out.

The next discovery is the famous Kypris Antioxidant Dew. This product was really popular amongst a few Youtubers I follow, a few years ago. I never jumped on the bandwagon, but last summer I was looking for a serum that was more complex than just a basic hyaluronic acid serum, and I went ahead and tried it. It’s safe to say, that I really love this serum, and I even have backups. It has all the hydrating benefits one can ask for, plus a dose of Vitamin C. This product does not irritate my skin, whatsoever, and it just adds more plumpness to my skin. This is actually a pretty big sized bottle for a serum. Usually serums, come in at around 1oz, but this here is at about 1.67oz. So, this has already lasted me about 5 months, and I use it every evening.

My next favorite is the May Lindstrom, the honey mud. This mask was always part of the line, but the brand removed it for a year to reformulate it and bring it back in a more stable form to have a better shelf-life. The thing that stands out to me first and foremost, is the scent on this product. It is truly intoxicating and warm, and feels like a cozy blanket on the skin. It has some exfoliating properties to it, but it’s also hydrating at the same time. You can’t go wrong!

The last discovery of mine is the Bluh Alchemy Body Oil. This line is small, but they make some exquisite products. This body oil is so healing, and makes me feel immensely relaxed. The scent on this is warm, and exotic. The smell lingers on the skin for sometime, but it truly is beautiful! The other wonderful products from this line, that I would recommend are the Eye Serum, and the Vitamin C serum.

As always, if you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them down below, in the comments!

-K
August 2020 Skincare Empties

August 26th, 2020
Hi Fam!

It’s almost the end of the month, and so that means, it’s time to talk about my skincare empties for this month!
1. The Bluh Alchemy Eye Oil Serum. I received this in a Beauty Heroes box I had purchased at the beginning of the year, and it was a great way to try out this oil serum. I love that it has a rollerball, as it makes application much easier. But, the rollerball on this was a bit faulty though, and sometimes I would have to rigorously apply it to the back of my hand to get the product out. Otherwise, I loved it. It’s an amazing eye oil with Kakadu Plum, Green Tea Extract, and Caffeine which will help with brightening and de-puffing the eye area. There is a scent to this product, which I actually really loved. The oil is very gentle on the eye area and nourishing. I typically would apply this during my evening skin care routine. I haven’t re-purchased this yet, as I have a few others to get through, but it’s great one to pick up if you are in the market for a new eye oil!
2. Kahina’s Brightening Serum. I really loved this serum. I have a sensitivity towards Vitamin C serums, and while this has brightening properties, the serum did not irritate my skin in any way. It has ingredients like White Lily, Japanese Seaweed, Argan Oil, and much more to help brighten sun spots, and hyper pigmentation, etc. I already have gone ahead and repurchased this and would highly recommend.
3. May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon. This is hands down, one of my most favorite products on the planet, which is a big claim to make about a skincare product. But, I would buy this again in a heartbeat, and I have as well. Even though, my wallet cries at the price. The scent alone, has so many therapeutic benefits in my opinion and has worked many times to calm down my nerves. It has amazing ingredients like Blue Tansy, Marula Oil, Vanilla Extract, Lavender Oil, and many more. I have found this to help with the inflammation and redness in my skin and calm it down but also work towards healing my eczema as well. it looks solid when you open it, but it melts upon touch. It’s described as a balm-to-oil texture. I love it, and really I can’t say more!
4. May Lindstrom The Youth Dew. This is another one of those oils, that I have repurchased and will continue to have in my arsenal. This is a lovely golden-organge color, and the smell is fantastic. More so than that, it gives my skin this lovely glow, and hydration! It has helped with dark spots as well, and to keep breakouts at bay. While it is hydrating and a bit thicker in viscosity than a dry oil, it doesn’t clog pores. The amazing blend of ingredients in it include, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil CoQ10, Rosehip Oil, Jojoba Oil, Pomegranate Oil, and much more! I would highly recommend this oil if it is in your budget! You really cannot go wrong.
-Krutika