Products I'm Currently Testing: Volume III
Continuing on with the series of new in products // I get so many products sporadically that it's hard to gauge when I even got products, so I'll just be posting these here and there and not really at the end of a given month. I've gotten in a lot of skincare bits since the beginning of the year which I actually have spent the last month + testing out. I've tried just about everything out so I thought I'd share my thoughts on the products I have, and the highlights of the ones I haven't.
Products I've Tried
Natura Brasil Gentle Cleansing Mousse // This one is currently my AM cleanser and I've been loving it! It's a gentle and sulfate free cleanser which has a nice and light scent. It's very fresh and fades very quickly. It's a foamy mousse texture which feels soft on my skin and washes off easily. I tend not to love foaming products and haven't used one in years - but this one is great and does not break the bank at all. If you're in the market for a gentle morning cleanser, I highly recommend this one!
Natura Brasil Energizing Face Cream 30+ // Wooow did I really like this cream. I had it less than a month and I've already finished it (shock - I know). I actually ended up using this on my face, neck, and legs as it was such a game changer in my skin. This cream has Brazilian Jambu Extract and Cupuaçu Butter which minimize fine lines, softens skin, and leaves skin looking bright. I've noticed such a difference in the appearance of my skin and it's something I would highly consider circling back to and repurchasing. One thing I also love is the eco-conscious packaging of the product. At first I did think the packaging was strange, but someone pointed out to me that the little bronze jar inside was removable. That means you can easily replace the inside jar only (replacement) which helps reduce waste overall. This is slightly cheaper in price than the new jar, but baby steps right? I do wish more brands approached eco-friendly packaging.
Alya Skin Australian Pink Clay Mask // It seems like Australian clay is definitely one of the popular mask ingredients out there right now, so I was quite excited when this beautiful little pink jar from Alya Skin popped onto my doorstep. This one has ingredients like Bentonite, Aloe Vera, Vitamin A & E, Witch Hazel, Pomegranate, Rosemary, Lactic Acid, and more! I've used this a few times and while this one dries my skin out a bit, it doesn't leave my skin feeling completely stripped (if that makes sense). Basically my skin always feels like it's had a good purge and appears less oily and with pores less visible after I use this. While it isn't the most expensive mask out there, it isn't the cheapest. But - a huge perk is that they do have free international shipping (!!). They're also a great cruelty free option and a little goes a long way with this mask - so with warm weather around the corner, this one will probably be reached for an awful lot. Also - it's pink. And it seems like that's the color having a huge comeback in the beauty world (for me anyways) and everyone's gravitating to all things pink lol.
Get Velvet Skin No. 11 Brightening Serum // This is a mixture of so many good things - marula oils + primrose oils to moisturize and rehydrate skin and grape seed polyphenols to help brighten dark spots. Do not be fooled by this tiny bottle - this is a thick serum and a little goes a long way. I do find this one to be heavier so I tend to reach for this one once or twice a week. Although I've been testing out a few products that claim to leave my skin brighter, I really do think this one has been contributing to those results. This one is currently on sale (from $35 to $24.50), so I'd say run on over ASAP and support a small business! PS - everything is 30% off and I'm heavily eyeing their Plush Hydrating Balm.
Vis Viva Skincare Retinyl + Frankincense Restorative Oil Serum // This one definitely caught my attention with the simple packaging and the oil's soft rose hue. I was also intrigued by the frankincense ingredient as it wasn't one I have come across before (or at least I don't see it as a main ingredient often). Frankincense Resin contains boswellic acid which is known to soothe the skin and gives a more even-toned and youthful looking complexion. Another ingredient is Retinyl Palmitate, a natural form of Vitamin A which helps refine the skin to improve the overall appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Another active ingredient happens to be Cholesterol, which helps enhance the skin barrier function - helping to keep the skin hydrated and protected against environmental stressors (i.e. air pollution + harsh climates). I'm slowly adding this in to my routine and have used this a handful of times, but I've really noticed a difference in my overall complexion after adding this in. I'm definitely going to keep using this one and will report back!
True Moringa Face/Body/Hair Oil // Moringa oil is naturally rich in cytkinin zeatin, which is known to help stimulate cell division, growth, and delay aging cells. Because moringa oil is rich in those good fatty acids and antioxidants, it helps fight free radicals that cause premature aging. I love that this oil is a three in one product that works for your face, hair (damp hair), and body. They even suggest that this can be used as a makeup remover. I am a fan of cleansing oils and haven't given it a try with this yet, but I definitely will be soon.
Glossier Solution // Well this has probably been one of the highly discussed acid products over the last month or two in the beauty/skincare community. I've been using this on and off over the last month. When I first used it I did see a reduction in pore size and redness and my skin did feel smoother in the meantime. I did feel burning the first time I used this which did scare me a bit, as I'm used to using Pixi Glow Tonic daily. I started off using this every 3 days and then every other day. When I started introducing this daily I started to see some dry spots pop up and was back and forth on whether or not they were due to Solution or the dry weather. I axed out Solution over the last two weeks and I've noticed that my dry patches are gone so I think it may be this. I'm going to give it a try again and will determine if this is the culprit. More on this soon - - stay tuned. (I gifted a bottle to my boyfriend's sister and had her do a before/after shot and write up a review - so I'll be doing a mini post featuring her on it!!) // Remember you can shop with me through my glossier rep link (glossier.com/reps/cindy) - you can get 10% off your entire first order. Even if it isn't your first order, I still make a small commission if you shop through my link !
Fur Oil & Ingrown Concentrate // Ooooh man do I love this stuff. I had seen a few people online talking about this here and there and when they reached out to me I gladly jumped at the opportunity. I feel like hair growth (anywhere aside from atop our head) is something that is highly unspoken of. The oil can be used and applied to clean hair and skin on the daily, and even after waxing/shaving/hair removal. The oil is formulated to be antiseptic, antimicrobial, and to reduce inflammation - overall helping to prevent and eliminate the likelihood of ingrowns and to help soften hair. The oil is pricey but the bottle should last you about 6 months. The next product is the Ingrown Concentrate, meant to be paired with the Oil. This helps soothe ingrown prone skin (definitely me) and helps fight overall irritation/ingrowns/razor burn. If you tend to get irritated razor burn on your skin (whether it's your upper lip, eyebrows, underarms, bikini line, etc.), this one definitely helps. This helps ease trapped hair, helps with healing, and provides instant relief from redness and irritation. I used these everyday for 2+ weeks and I actually did see a difference in the appearance of my skin. I'm so impressed with these two products that I'm looking to pick up the Stubble Cream to add to the collection. I've definitely tried to be better about moisturizing my entire body and I think it does help overall with the appearance of my skin in general. I highly recommend it.
Products To Try
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream // This one is new to my stash and my first DE moisturizer. I have a mini of their Lala cream but have not cracked that one open yet. When DE reached out to me to even send this to me it was such a *pinch me* moment. I heard a lot of other bloggers review this and say it was more of a lightweight moisturizer. Since I'm drowning in moisturizers (slight over exaggeration), I've been saving this one to crack open once the weather warms up a bit more. I love that this one has the push down pump packaging - much more sanitary than me digging my fingers into an open jar (which are like an open party for germs and bacteria :B). But I'm sure once I start testing this one out, you guys will be seeing a whole lot more of it on the gram / on the blog.
Maven Botanicals Enlightened Serum // This one is like a crazy concoction of all the good oils - mixing together some powerful vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and ceramides. These all work together to moisturize and nourish your skin, overall reducing the appearance of your skin by evening our your skin tone and reducing the appearance of discoloration and texture. Of course, all these antioxidants help prevent the signs of aging. Fun fact - this one also has frankincense in it (!!) so that's exciting! I have a lot of oils on deck to test out (as you can see above), so I'll keep you guys posted and let you know once I properly test it out.
Commodity Fragrances Candle in Leather // I'm currently burning my baby Orris candle that I got as Commodity's 3x3 exploration set from Sephora during some sale last year (I can't remember which one at this point lol). This one is a tad bit strong and I haven't reached for it yet - I'm airing it out (is that a thing? lol). But I'm waiting until it's warm enough to open up the windows so that I can air out my place if this one burns and throws the scent *too* strong. I've definitely noticed that with Commodity fragrances they really pack a punch! If possible, I highly recommend testing out the scents before you get them because you don't want to be stuck with something you don't love. I've only burned my mini Orris votive but I can say that one pooled evenly quite quickly and as mini as it was, it threw quite the scent across the room. I recently checked online and see that they've brought out a Tonka Candle and Currant Candle *heart eyes*!!! The Currant candle sounds incredible as it has notes of currant, raspberries,bergamot, fir, and two types of musks - - swoooon. I've also partnered up with Commodity to be a partner so I'm quite excited for all the new launches in store for them! I'm still playing around with their exploration sets and "mixing" my favorite fragrance cocktails together. If you've tried their fragrances, please share your favorites with me!
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These products were gifted to me but all opinions remain my own. This post also contains affiliate links.
Feel free to read more on my disclaimer.