Naturalla Beauty

I was first introduced to Holiskin last year and, more than a year later, I still can't say enough good things about this brand!  With simple formulations, affordable prices, and a focus on sourcing the BEST quality organic and wild crafted ingredients, Holiskin is a line that really resonates with me.  

The company launched a few new products this spring and I've happily been trialing the Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser* and Holiskin's first mask creation, the Cacao Seaweed Facial Mask*, and, once again, I'm impressed!



Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser
Oil cleansers are my favorite way to remove makeup and the Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser is a real gem.  With a base of organic apricot kernel, camellia, meadowfoam, and castor seed oils, it's gentle and suitable for all skin types.  I prefer traditional oil cleansing (dry skin and a wet washcloth), but it also works well for dry oil cleansing, which I've seen talked about a lot recently.  

The key to good oil cleansing, for me, is to take a couple minutes to really massage the oil into the skin before taking it off, and the Sensitive Skin Cleanser has the perfect slip and viscosity for that.  It glides over the skin easily, but it's not so thin that it just runs off your face.  It removes every last trace of makeup and grime and leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated.  

I usually double cleanse with a second cleanser after any oil, but I wouldn't say it's an absolute necessity with this one, as it wipes away cleanly and doesn't leave a noticeable film behind on the skin.  The chamomile lavender scent -- heavy on the chamomile and light on the lavender -- is also beautiful, and perfect for winding down at the end of the day.  

Cacao Seaweed Facial Mask
With only three ingredients, this blend of organic raw cacao, organic wildcrafted seaweed powder, and kaolin clay is simplicity done just right.  Kaolin is a gentle white clay that detoxifies and purifies the skin, while raw cacao and seaweed are both packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that nourish the skin and fight against free radicals and other environmental stresses.

Holiskin suggests mixing the mask with honey or coconut milk, but I'll admit, I haven't actually tried it with either of those.  Instead, I've mixed it with plain water and hydrosols.  Both worked great, and I'm sure honey and coconut milk would too.

Because kaolin is such a gentle clay, I don't find the Cacao Seaweed Mask to be supremely detoxifying, but it definitely pulls some junk out of your pores and I can visibly see that they look cleaner after using it.  This would be a great option for sensitive skin or anyone that finds most clay masks overly stripping or drying.  

A final thing to note is that the seaweed smell is quite pronounced, even when mixed with hydrosols and essential oils.  I love what seaweed can do for your skin, but it's admittedly not my favorite smell in the world.

The Bottom Line
Two great new additions to Holiskin's line!  The Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser is an all around winner and the Cacao Seaweed Facial Mask is great too, as long as you aren't overly sensitive to the smell of seaweed.  

I also spotted a great deal on Holiskin's Instagram just as I was putting the final touches on this post -- $15 off any purchase of $20+ on the main Holiskin site with the code SPECIAL15.  Good for 3 days only.  I'm not seeing the Sensitive Cleanser on there, but I'm sure Holiskin can hook you up if you get in touch!  

Lavish is a rich hydrating treatment specifically formulated for dry, stressed, sensitive, reactive, inflamed, irritated, and/or mature skin.  With 18 active ingredients, it blends together anti-reactive herbs, restorative oils, and moisturizing butters.  Beta-glucan is a polysaccharide with strong anti-anflammatory and antiaging properties and a proven track record for reducing skin irritation and redness, and Lavish takes full advantage with three sources: organic oatmilk and reishi and maitake mushrooms.   To complement these three, the mask also contains cupuacu butter, rich in antioxidants and great for moisture retention, as well as organic oils of baobab, pomegranate, perilla, and pumpkin to soothe irritated skin.  Blissoma products are also always packed with beautiful herbal infusions and Lavish is no different.  Organic St. John's wort, astralagus, self heal, and passionflower are included, all great for soothing sensitive skin and promoting healing.  

The mask has a thick cream consistency, but it doesn't immediately sink into the skin like a moisturizer would.  And, though rich and hydrating, it doesn't feel heavy or occlusive on the skin.  Lavish doesn't have any added ingredients for scent and the scent is just mildly herbal from its other ingredients.  

Circling back around to my skin reaction from this past weekend, Lavish worked like a charm.  My skin had stopped burning after washing off the original offending product, but I was left with splotchy red spots, scattered bumps across my cheeks, and generally irritated, unhappy skin.  Lavish felt cool and soothing as I applied it and my skin absorbed most of the product in the 20 minutes I had it on, leaving just a thin layer to wash off.  After rinsing, I was left with plump and hydrated skin, and both the redness and bumps were gone.  After using Lavish, I think anyone would have been hard-pressed to tell that I'd had any kind of skin reaction that day.  

The Bottom Line
I've only used it the one time so far, but I foresee Lavish becoming a "must have" product in my skincare stash.  As anyone with sensitive or reactive skin can attest, skin reactions are awful, awful things, so a product like this that's able to quickly tone down irritation and bring skin back to a calm, healthy place can be pretty indispensable.  

I'm looking forward to using the mask for more regular maintenance-type uses too.  Blissoma talks about using Lavish regularly to build up skin resilience and I'm curious to see how it'll fare in that regard.  I also think it will make an excellent hydrating treatment through the upcoming winter months.  

Have you used Lavish before?  What are your favorite products for sensitive skin?

I've used face oils almost exclusively since discovering them, but when the cold weather hit this year, oils alone just weren't doing the trick.  My skin didn't feel dry, so it took me a while to clue in to the fact that my fine lines suddenly seeming more pronounced and a worse overall skin texture could both be signs of dehydrated skin.  It amazes me how much of a difference adding in a water-based moisturizer has made!  I'll have more on my full skincare routine soon, but for today's sample stash post, I want to focus on a few of the moisturizers I tested during this dry spell.  All are very gentle and formulated specifically for sensitive skin, but there are some notable differences between them as well.



Blissoma Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex
I actually had two samples of this - one from a Petit Vour box and one that I received in a Foxy Mango order - so I was able to test this out for close to a month and get a good feel for it.  Blissoma products are always packed full of herbal goodness and this is no exception.  With shea butter, marshmallow root, plantain, self heal, heather, and lots more, Pure is an excellent product for soothing redness and irritated or inflamed skin and it's been a pleasure to use.  It's a thick, substantial moisturizer, but it melts into the skin beautifully and actually ends up feeling quite weightless.  The formula is unscented, but it does have a very herbal scent from the ingredients.  Definitely a product I could see buying in the future.  

Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturizing Cream
Trilogy's Very Gentle line is fragrance and essential oil free and the moisturizer is intended to soothe and protect the skin barrier while deeply hydrating and comforting the skin.  The cream instantly eliminated any redness on my face and I also noticed less redness over the course of the day.  It felt pretty rich - though not overly heavy - and did take a couple minutes to fully sink in.  I'm using one of Trilogy's other moisturizers now, but I might come back to this one in the future.

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Beautiful Day Cream and Heavenly Night Cream
I'm not usually one for rose scents, but these ones - which were something of a sweet, candy-like rose - were surprisingly okay.  And, I liked the creams themselves too.  Both were soothing and quite hydrating, while also absorbing quickly.  I preferred the Day Cream over the Night, as I noticed a bit of a slimy coating when I wet my face in the mornings after using the Night Cream the night before.  I didn't have any adverse skin reaction in the few days the sample lasted, but I worry that whatever the coating element is might cause one with longer use.  The Day Cream was a little lighter in texture and didn't leave any kind of coating on the skin.

Pai Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream
I always want to love Pai, but their products sometimes just don't do it for me.  I think this is one of the richer moisturizers in the line and it felt too heavy for my skin.  The jasmine scent - although light - wasn't my favorite either and didn't help to endear this product to me.  I'd be curious to try a different moisturizer from the line, but this one wasn't a hit.

Green Beaver Green Tea Facial Cream
Green Beaver is good for affordable, basic skincare and the Green Tea Facial Cream was no different.  There's nothing wrong with it - it's a decent unscented, lightweight moisturizer - but there are other moisturizers I like a lot more.  

Have you used any of these?  What do you look for in a moisturizer?

Months and months ago, I was the lucky winner of a Pollen & Wax trial kit in a giveaway on Beauty by Britanie.  Pollen & Wax is a relatively new apothecary line that handcrafts all its products in the Pacific Northwest.  As well as being free of parabens, artificial fragrances and dyes, the company makes a point of sourcing organic, wild-harvested, pollutant-free ingredients.

The line is divided into four skin types, corroborated to the four seasons.

Image Credit

I chose the April kit, which seemed the best suited for my skin.  The kit included Apollo Cleansing Milk, Lapis Facial Toner, Gold Petal Facial Serum, and Roses & Roses Complexion Clay.  As of right now, only Apollo and Gold Petal are listed on the Pollen & Wax website.  I'm unsure if Lapis and Roses & Roses are temporarily unavailable or if they have been discontinued since I received this kit.



Apollo Cleansing Milk
Apollo is a little different from your standard cleansing milk.  Kaolin clay gently exfoliates and the cleanser feels a bit gritty to the touch.  I like it, but it's a little too abrasive for my skin on an everyday basis.  I've gotten good results using it about twice a week.  It deep cleans and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and soft.

Lapis Facial Toner
This delicately scented toner is an anti-inflammatory blend that includes soothing calendula and aloe, alongside lavender and chamomile essential oils.  I didn't notice any real difference in my skin when using this, but I also didn't have any adverse reactions.  Me and toners is a mixed bag, so take that with a grain of salt.  Lapis does smell nice and it feels refreshing on the skin.  There's no emulsifier added, so you do need to shake it up before each use to re-incorporate the essential oils which rise to the top.

Gold Petal Facial Serum
Specifically geared towards sensitive skin, Gold Petal includes soothing calendula and St. John's Wort, alongside nourishing, reparative ingredients like sea buckthorn and evening primrose oils and helichrysum and carrot seed essential oils.  It's a pretty light oil, so it works equally well for day or night.  I really enjoyed using this one.  

Roses & Roses Complexion Clay
Probably my favorite item in the kit, this is the perfect clay mask for anyone with dry, sensitive or reactive skin.  Similar to my much loved Evan Healy French Rose Clay, Roses & Roses starts with a blend of gentle rose clay and rhassoul clay, but also incorporates kaolin clay, rose powder, marshmallow root, and vanilla bean.  The rose and vanilla add a delicate scent, while the marshmallow root soothes inflammation and prevents any over-drying from the clays.  

The Bottom Line
I'm really happy with my first experience with Pollen & Wax.  The company's attention to pure, quality ingredients really comes through and I'm happy I had the chance to try this kit. Although I enjoyed all four products, Roses & Roses was the clear favorite for me, so I really hope it will be available again in the future.  

Have you tried Pollen & Wax?

Lina Hanson's Global Body Serum took the green beauty world by storm last year and Lina's hit the mark again, this time with a baby product.  The Global Baby Serum launched this past Mother's Day, and while this blend was created with delicate baby skin in mind and is gentle and safe enough for newborns, it's also perfect for adult sensitive skin and anyone in search of a gentle, unscented body oil.  It's even recommended for pregnant bellies and new mamas, since several of the ingredients increase skin elasticity and help treat stretch marks.

The star ingredient is kalahari or watermelon seed oil, which is high in essential fatty acids, but still has a light feeling on the skin.  Watermelon seeds are harvested by women's co-operatives in West Africa, using fair-trade practices that support entire communities.  Camellia seed oil, harvested from the same plant that produces tea leaves, also stood out to me in the ingredients list.  This oil, most well known for its use by Japanese geishas, is extremely soothing, suitable for the most sensitive skin, and full of antioxidants.  Other ingredients include safflower, jojoba, sunflower, apricot, and grape seed oils.  To eliminate potential allergens, the blend is free of both essential oils and tree nut oils.

The oil feels very light going on, but still manages to hydrate really well.  I'm well aware that body oils don't always get enough love from me, since, although I appreciate the results they give, I can't always commit those extra few minutes straight out of the shower to massage an oil into damp skin.  Not a problem with the Global Baby Serum.  It's an oil, yes, but it's a dry oil and absorbs quickly and fully, even on completely dry skin.  Damp skin will make the oil spread a little further, but either way - on dry or wet skin - there's no greasy residue left behind.  

And, it's fantastic on more troubled skin too.  My legs had been reacting to something and were irritated and very itchy right around the time the sample of Lina's oil showed up at my door, and this beauty soothed my inflamed skin like nothing else.  The oil is also truly fragrance free, with no detectable scent to my nose.   

The Bottom Line
The Global Baby Serum is an excellent choice for babies, expectant mothers, and anyone else looking for a gentle, quick absorbing, unscented body oil.  The deceptively light feel hides a highly moisturizing, nourishing treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.  

Where to Buy: $35 from Lina Hanson, Spirit Beauty Lounge

Ingredients: Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) seed oil, arthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, camellia oleifera (camellia) seed oil*, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, tocopherol (non-gmo)


Disclosure: Product provided for  review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post.  All opinions are my own.  Contains affiliate links.

My skin is usually pretty easygoing, but a few weeks back, while trying out a couple new cleansers, it decided to rebel.  Suddenly my face was super dry, irritated, and even sore!  As I mentioned in my recent Skincare Tag post, my first response to troublesome skin is always to scale back to as simple a routine as possible, so that's what I did, using just a few key products...



Weleda Soothing Almond Cleansing Lotion
I tried a sample of this cleanser towards the beginning of the summer, and even though I liked it, I didn't end up buying it at that time.  But, as soon as my skin started acting up, I rushed out and snagged a tube right away!  With only seven basic ingredients, it's probably the gentlest cleanser I've ever used.  I just wish the tube was bigger, so it would last longer! After about 3 weeks of use, mine is about 3/4 done.   Regardless, I'm sticking with it for now and just ordered a second tube.  Weleda's Soothing Cleansing Lotion certainly lives up to its name and is incredible for soothing dry, sensitive or irritated skin.

Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil + Desert Essence Jojoba Oil
I'd previously been using a couple different oil blends, but in the spirit of using simple products with minimal ingredients, I immediately switched to using just these two oils.  When I first tried it a few months back, I wasn't completely sold on Pai's rosehip oil, but I'm glad I gave it another chance!  Rosehip oil has numerous benefits and it's great for repairing various kinds of skin damage.  Mixed with a couple drops of jojoba oil for extra hydration, it worked amazingly well.  My skin was calmed and moisturized while it gradually got back to its normal glow.

KYI Whipped Shea Butter Mask
My skin always responds well to shea butter and this mask was a miracle worker when it was acting up!  Made with only shea butter and jojoba oil, it eased any tightness or discomfort I was feeling, even when my skin was at its most irritated.  It also visibly soothed redness and irritation within just a few minutes of application.  I enjoyed slathering it on fairly thickly at night, but a more conservative amount made it completely workable during the day too, even under makeup.

Young Living Omegagize
I'm a big believer that your skin is a reflection of what's going on inside your body, so even though my skin troubles were triggered by testing out new products, I wanted to address them internally as well.  I was already taking Young Living's Omegagize, a great omega-3 supplement made from pure fish oils, but I increased the amount I was taking and noticed my skin felt less dry after just a couple days.

These five products were amazing during my mini skin crisis and even though my skin is back to normal now, they're ones I'll happily keep in rotation.   What do you do when your skin acts up?  Any miracle products I should know about?



Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links to iherb.