topic Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK in Clean at Sephora

NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 04:43:40 GMT

I don't think we have one of these yet... But, if I'm wrong, please do correct me.

I've been wanting to make this thread for a while now, but as it usually is... Life got and gets in the way. But, better late than never, huh?

I've been enjoying many natural skincare products for the last 15 years or so, on and off ( mainly facial oils and balms, but masks, treatments, and body oils and balms, as well. ) I even used to make my own for years ( years ago ) as good natural skincare products were not a very easy thing to obtain. You'd have to try and hunt down quality ingredients and make stuff yourself most of the time. And, that was quite a task! It makes me happy to see that there is so many wonderful products widely and easily available lately. It makes things so much easier! 🙂

Natural skincare performs better for me personally. I love and enjoy using it. My skin adores it. I love the idea of it and behind it. So, I wanted to make a place for us natural skincare lovers to talk about anything natural skincare as I see there are many others out there that are interested, or already in love with it, as well. So why not have our own little place on here? 🙂 So we can share our experiences ( good and/or bad ), loves, favorite products, favorite brands and their news/new launches, discus things, share our daily routines, talk DIYs if anyone is into that, why not? Anything really.

By "natural" skincare here I'm talking about skincare made mostly or completely of ingredients available in nature, like plant-derived ingredients, minerals... You know, the whole nine. 😉

Anyway - feel free to join in! You don't have to be a natural skincare lover exclusively. Everybody's welcome!

A word of caution... For those who are new to natural skincare, proceed with caution. Inform and educate yourself really well on everything you are interested in trying and putting on your skin. Natural does not mean it won't hurt you! And, it certainly doesn't mean it's safe. Some natural ingredients can be irritating for some people. Go with what's good for you, don't force anything on your skin just because someone said it is good. Do patch tests. Be smart. People prone to allergies should pay careful attention to what they use on their skin.

P.S. I am not completely and 100% natural, nor I imagine I ever will be as I do love me some other stuff, as well. But mostly, yes.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

Ispend2much6 — Wed, 17 May 2017 03:55:28 GMT

@lyravega What a pretty picture!

I agree with you; I have found that the more natural skincare products treat my skin better than the rest. There are so many good products, but before I list them, I have to say that one of the ingredients that I have been the most pleasantly surprised by is frankincense. It clears my skin and makes it a glowy pink, the way it's supposed to be.

My favorite products:

1. Neal's Yard Remedies Frankincense Intense Cream- This is a UK company. I like this mostly as a night cream.

2. Biossance the Nourisher- My new love. I see an instant improvement using this in the a.m. My skin is more glowy, clear, and smooth.

3. Goldfaden MD Fresh A Peel- A lactic acid and fruit enzyme exfoliating peel. I only leave this on for one minute and I'm good for the week.

4. Omorovicza- Just about every product. 🙂 Their cleansers are superb, and I recently became a huge fan of their Gold Rescue Cream. It's the intense, nourishing night cream I've been looking for to use when my skin is extra dry or looking rough. One use overnight and my skin is evenly colored and plumped the next a.m.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

Magycmyste — Wed, 17 May 2017 04:03:16 GMT

I haven't gone completely natural yet, but I'm definitely on my way, especially with skincare. My favorite natural brands at the moment are Alima Pure and 100% Pure (most of my skincare products are from the latter). I also got introduced to Tarte recently, and I'm really liking the Make Believe in Yourself palette. 🙂 I'm also a fan of DIY bath and body with essential oils. It's fun trying out different recipes!

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Wed, 17 May 2017 06:18:52 GMT

As for the news... Mahalo ( one of my fav brands ) is coming to this hidden gem shop-spa in NYC this month. ( Or, at least that's what I've been told. ) So much yay! 🙂

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

pixiedust2 — Wed, 17 May 2017 07:38:49 GMT

@lyravega I've found my home! Great thread!

I make my own cleansing oil and face oils. I mix argan and almond together and that's what I tap on my face at night. I sometimes throw in some Blue Tansy oil for my allergies and it'a supposed to be great for skin. Just look at all the companies popping out blue skincare creams and serums.

I just found this lil gem full of Manuka Honey. A friend that suffers from rosascea swears by it. I had a weird reaction around my neck a couple weeks ago and she gave me some to try. It healed the skin so well. It was super itchy, dry and burned. So I bought some and now I've been using it all over my face and neck. Even under my eyes. No breakouts so YAY! Manuka Honey is amazing.

Ingredients in spoiler

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

veronika23 — Wed, 17 May 2017 12:49:02 GMT

Awesome thread @lyravega 🙂 This is definitely my jam 😄

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Thu, 18 May 2017 00:05:21 GMT

What is your favorite cleanser? I'd like to hear all about what you enjoy using. 🙂

I think everybody and their aunt know I am in love with NUDE Jelly. But, that baby is gone. I do have a couple of backups still... But... They are going fast. And then what?! I've been trying a lot of stuff for months and months now, but nothing has come even remotely close to Jelly in satisfying my wants and needs. I do have some runner-ups in mind, though. Will see.

I also really like NUDE Nourishing Cleansing Oil, and NUDE Clarifying Cleansing Oil, even though that one is a bit drying on me. ( So many oil cleansers are so. friggin. drying! I have dry skin and finding a nice, non drying cleanser is a pain. Maybe some would work - if there were no wash cloth included! ( Looking at you ( most ) balms! ) My skin would denounce me and run away screaming, or just fell of, if I tried to use a wash cloth even couple of times a week, little less every day! *shudders* )

Mahalo The Unveil Cleanser is very, very nice. Very! It's so good to my skin! And, even though I am of those people who think it is ridiculous to pay such money for something that will just end up going down the drain... I am seriously considering it at this point.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

greenchilli — Wed, 17 May 2017 17:02:42 GMT

@lyravega

My favourites are:

Tata Harper - the entire range (all 4)
Oskia Renaissance Gel Cleanser - I consider this the better version of NUDE Omega Jelly
Emma Hardie Cleansing balm

I use these constantly and have a back-up of each one of them.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Wed, 17 May 2017 17:28:40 GMT

@greenchilli which one of Tata Harper ones would you say is the most dry skin friendly? The nourishing one? I haven't tried those yet as my lizard ( fellow dry skin ) friend keeps telling me how they all were drying on her. So, that kept me back so far. But, I eventually will have to try for myself.

I think I've tried Oskia... But I am not sure anymore. If that's the one I think it is, it made my skin angry the way REN Evercalm Cleansing Milk made my skin angry. Or was it that it needed to be removed with a wash cloth, which I can't do... Ay, I don't remember anymore! There's been so many! I'll have to try it again. But, I usually do remember the ones I like.

Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm I don't care for.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Wed, 17 May 2017 17:34:11 GMT

@Ispend2much6 right? Such a nice, calming and relaxing photo. It's not my, though. I wish I knew who to give credits to for it, but I don't know. Found it randomly online.

Nice list! I am glad you've found so many new loves and products that work so nicely for you.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

k617 — Wed, 17 May 2017 17:40:58 GMT

@lyravega I tried a 1 oz sample (from a Sephora Favs kid) of Sunday Riley Blue Moon and purchased the full size just over halfway through!

My face feels VERY soft and moisturized after this. Not drying at all. There are what feels to be exfoliating granules in the balm (the misconception is those are sugar granules) but they are actually wax beads... as I keep massaging into my skin, I can feel them slowly soften and disintegrate. Not gritty.

I always follow up with a second cleanser but I'd say if the ingredients agree with your skin (no reactions), could be a good single step cleanse for dry skin!

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Wed, 17 May 2017 17:43:18 GMT

Odacite is having a free mask ( the hydrating one ) or exfoliant with $95 orders.

I love me Odacite. Love sooo many of their products. They are one of my fav brands no doubt. But, I can't say I like that hydrating mask, or that exfoliant... at all.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

veronika23 — Wed, 17 May 2017 17:45:49 GMT

@lyravega do you know that because of you I got the NUDE Jelly last time I saw it in stock 😄 hahaha You kept talking about it... I needed to see what the fuss was about 🙂

I think you know I have dry skin too and possibly know my obsession with Omorovicza. LOL It's pricey (cheaper in the UK.. much cheaper... let me know if you need a place to shop/get it) but the thermal cleansing balm is my absolute favorite! I do have a sample of the Mahalo and I think I liked it too but would have to re-try. My skin has been a mess so lots of stuff is on hold... I thought it was getting better but no really... well not today 😞

A long time ago I had The Body Deli's Almond Milk cleanser and remembered liking it too. But definitely a fan of balms right now.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

veronika23 — Wed, 17 May 2017 17:47:49 GMT

I need to add this to my shopping list @pixiedust2 😄

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

k617 — Wed, 17 May 2017 17:57:29 GMT

I have a mix of natural skincare products and synthetic chemicals and I love both... sometimes my skin just needs a little chemical boost! 🙂 for me, natural does not mean they work for me...many things are natural and you would NEVER put it on your skin! For anyone interested, you must find ingredients that agree with YOU. Don't go rubbing poison ivy all over yourself now!

My favourite natural skincare products:

Herbivore Blue Tansy mask - I don't think I have ever finished a mask jar/tube before expiry but I'm about to finish this and seriously considering repurchasing. It's my go-to whenever my skin is being difficult and has helped me calm down cysts (not make them go away, but make them NOT get worse)

Tata Harper Purifying mask - my recent preference is to use this after at-home microdermabrasion so my skin can absorb all it can from this mask. My skin feels softer after using this, and the scent is so calming. Reminds me of a herbal balm my aunt (who almost raised me while my mom went back to work) used to use. It's so pricy but I've probably gotten more than 10 uses and I'm only about halfway through my jar.

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil - this is a relatively new product in my routine; I've been mixing a drop of it in the AM with my Herbivore Lapis oil, and mixing 3-4 drops of it with a drop of another richer face oil (usually Herbivore Phoenix, Fresh Seaberry or Drunk Elephant Maracuja) in the PM. If our body produces squalane naturally, I could see why this is such a great product to use on skin. My skin has been glowing since I started using this product. Very happy so far!

Honorable Mentions:

Herbivore Lapis Oil - I have been trying to use up this oil for almost 2 years. When I first got it, it replaced my Laura Mercier rose oil, which became unavailable in Canada after the warehouse switch. Initially I didn't think it did as great of a job as the rose oil (didn't absorb as well) but after almost 2 years I truly believe this has helped balance my skin's oil production. I can't say that it controls breakouts but it certainly did not cause them for me. I still have about 1/4 of the bottle left and am undecided whether to repurchase. On the one hand, I want to switch back to the Laura Mercier (or only use the Biossance) but I'm always afraid of taking out products from a routine that's working well, fearing that my skin would freak out!

May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon - this is an honorable mention because 1) I don't use it frequently and 2) I haven't even finished a sample size of it. I'm not sure if I'd purchase this, but I have used this whenever my skin is reacting to something...this moisturizing balm seems to calm my skin and prevent further irritation!

Sulphur Springs Mineral Mud Mask - I went to St. Lucia last month and went to the hot sulphur springs and did a mud bath, which really is a must do! The mud comes directly from the springs and is rich in a variety of minerals like sulphur, iron, copper. You slather yourself in mud from head to toe, let dry for a few minutes, then rinse in hot spring water to wash off. The mud is very slightly gritty so as I rinsed, I gently exfoliated...my skin was so soft! And it really helped bring down mosquito bites. Highly recommended if you're ever on the island! Very inexpensive and fun spa-like experience...

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:02:43 GMT

@k617 Isn't that amazing when you find something that works so beautifully for you?! I am always so excited when I finally find something that works for my crazy skin. 😄

That one says it's for normal-oily skin, so I've never even considered it. So many oils and balms are so very drying ( for dry skin ), you wouldn't believe it, so if they say something like that, I stay away. I have problem with quite a lot of products being so very drying on me. Plus... It needs to be removed with a wash cloth? That's a big no no for me. My skin goes all different kind of bleeped off if I do that.

Yeah, I definitely don't do or care for double cleanse. No need for it ( speaking just about me ). Unless I have some heavy makeup caked on... Which I rarely do.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

k617 — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:10:35 GMT

Hmm @lyravega... I don't see anywhere that says the product is geared towards oily to normal skin... it does say on the Sephora page that it would be a good step one cleanser for oily to normal skin, which I took it as good for double cleanse for oily/normal skin, good for single cleanse for dry skin. It's touted as skin-soothing, calming, hydrating...so I think it's meant for all skin types.

I do not use a face cloth with this even though it's recommended on the instructions. I do the usual thing of rubbing warm water to emulsify and rinse off 🙂

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:45:21 GMT

"...many things are natural and you would NEVER put it on your skin! For anyone interested, you must find ingredients that agree with YOU. Don't go rubbing poison ivy all over yourself now!"

Oh, you made me laugh! 😄 But, they are good points.

I'd say that goes without saying, but I guess you never know with people. Maybe I should include it in my main post. 😉

I agree with everything you said. Except most natural skincare products ( no poison ivy here! 😉 ) do work better for me. But, that is just my personal experience with natural skincare. But, there are non natural products that I love and will never give up on using. I simply use what my skin tells me it likes. Simple as that.

We are all different and react differently to things. One should try and see what works best for them. Cautiously! ( And, no poison ivy people! 😉 )

@k617

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:46:49 GMT

Ay, I hope you like the Jelly, @veronika23 ! Or maybe... better not? Considering it's gone. 😄

Yes! I know you are my fellow lizard! 😉 It is nice to have someone with dry skin around. Sometimes it seems everyone and their aunt have oily skin, and they all talk about it and have solutions and can help each other... That is so nice and comforting. I am jealous! Not much dry skin talk around these parts...

You are gonna make me go there eventually, you!

My skin is fussing right now, too... Scales are coming back. Ay! Such a fussy, spoiled brat she is.

Re: NATURAL SKINCARE TALK

lyravega — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:35:26 GMT

@k617 I swear I've seen it says so somewhere, but I can be mistaken. Maybe what you're talking about ( "a good step one cleanser for oily to normal skin" ) is what my mind remembered, an registered in a "cut out" kind of version. I will have to go back and read about it. I am not a fan of SR, but I am willing to give their products another chance after "discovering" Juno. What a fantastic, life saving stuff for my dry skin! Can't stop raving about it. 🙂

Oh, that is so good to know! Thanks!