I’ve been inspired to create a somewhat indulgent evening routine lately. I think I could feel that my skin needed some pampering and I’m really happy so far with the results of combining these amazing products!
RAPHA – H is for Love
This is easily one of my favorite oil cleansers. First of all it smells amazing thanks to all the high quality ingredients and essential oils. It’s also this incredible dark color that for some reason I just love, it makes it feel super potent and luxurious. It has a beautiful balance of being thick, so you know it’s going to annihilate your makeup, while also having the perfect slip making it effortless to massage all over your face. I’ve been really impressed by how well it dissolves mascara – the toughest test so far has been Fitglow Beauty’s Good Lash Mascara which is a whipped formula that’s designed to be semi-waterproof. RAPHA is able to get it all off without burning my eyes and that’s a testament to it’s gentle cleansing power.
INGREDIENTS: Olive Oil*, Hemp Seed Oil*, Pumpkin Seed Oil*, Castor Bean Oil*, Mixed Tocopherols (Non-GMO Vitamin E), Chamomile*, Calendula*, Essential Oils Of: Roman Chamomile*, Lemon*, German Chamomile CO2*, Frankincense*, Rosemary Antioxidant CO2*, Turmeric CO2*, Lavender* *Certified organic
2 oz. – $44
Blackstrap Molasses Mask – Earthwise Beauty
I don’t use this mask on a nightly basis but I’ve incorporated it twice now and really been loving it. Earthwise Beauty is full of unique ingredients and products and Blackstrap Molasses is no exception. The main ingredients are Hungarian Moor mud, Moroccan Rhassoul red lava clay and unsulphured blackstrap molasses making this mask a gentle way to exfoliate and detox. I’ve noticed almost immediate firming and brightening results after using this mask those two times. It was really easy to spread over my skin since it’s pre mixed, ideally you don’t want it to dry completely so I spritzed my face with a hydrosol every few minutes to keep it active. I left it on for around 20 minutes before washing off and I loved the texture of my skin afterward as well as healthy glow. I’m looking forward to using this mask consistently and continuing to see the improvements.
INGREDIENTS: Maris limus (Hungarian Moor mud), Moroccan Rhassoul red lava clay, Kaolinite (kaolin clay), Saccharum officinarum (unsulphured blackstrap molasses from Paraguay)*†, Rosa damascena (rose) hydrosol/distillate* (Bulgaria), Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) hydrosol*, cold-press unrefined organic Pentaclethra macroloba (pracaxi) pod oil (Brazil), L-ascorbic acid (active vit. C), natural ECOCERT preservative {glycerin, Leuconostoc (radish root) ferment filtrate, Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, Lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) extract, Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) bark extract, gluconolactone}, Daucus carota (carrot) seed essential oil*, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) oil*. *Certified organic. †Certified Fair Trade.
1.2 oz – $50
Nap in the Meadow – Earthwise Beauty
If I was going to tell you to buy ONE product from Ava at Earthwise Beauty I think it would be Nap in the Meadow. This is basically your do-all serum. It is full of so many incredible ingredients to combat a variety of skin concerns all in one little bottle. This is an aloe-based serum so you know it’s soothing and gentle from the start. It feels refreshing and cool when you apply it and it soaks in beautifully so you can easily layer it underneath other serums or face oils. I absolutely think that Nap in the Meadow, with consistent use, keeps my skin clear from acne, improves my skin’s texture, and brightens. This serum helps with deep hydration, calming inflammation, along with antioxidants for general skin health. I absolutely love this serum, it’s definitely a ride or die product in my book.
INGREDIENTS: Cold-press aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, Sambucus nigra (elderberry) fruit extract††, Curcuma longa (turmeric) root Supercritical CO2 Select* extract*, caprylyl capryl glucoside (naturally derived), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil (* and †), Achillea millefolium (yarrow) oil*, Helichrysum italicum (Italian everlasting) oil†, Marticaria recutita (German blue chamomile) oil*, potassium sorbate (natural food-grade preservative), organic Pelargonium graveolens (geranium bourbon) oil, Pelargonium roseum (geranium rose) oil*, Copaifera officinalis (copaiba balsam) resin†, Ferula galbaniflua (galbanum) essential oil*, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (vit. C), Pacific Northwest wildflower essences of white yarrow, silvery lupine, wild rose (Wood’s rose), and pink phlox†.
*Certified organic. †Responsibly wildcrafted. ††ECOCERT/COSMOS approved and Australian Certified Organic. Aloe certified by the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) for purity and content.
1 oz. – $50
Intense Nurture Antioxidant Elixir – de Mamiel
I was lucky enough to discover this serum in the April Beauty Heroes box and I’m really enjoying it! It’s a gorgeous milky consistency that absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling really soft and plump. This serum is relatively complex with multiple weights of hyaluronic acid, layers of antioxidants, and unique flower essences that deeply nourish skin. This serum is part of de Mamiel’s atmospheriques line meant to help your skin fight off the most intense pollution which is a key factor in prevent premature “aging” of the skin. I love how supple my skin feels after using this and I look forward to seeing long term results, I can already tell that my skin is loving this serum and it’s keeping it dewy and soft.
INGREDIENTS: Aqua/water/eau, Diheptyl succinate***, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (fractionated coconut), Capryloy Glycerin/ Sebacic Acid Copolymer***, Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear) seed oil*, Xylitylglucoside, Olive Glycerides, Anhydroxylitol (olive), Sodium hyaluronate, Oryzanol (rice germ), Malachite extract, Benzyl alcohol***, Xylitol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline***, Lysolecithin (rapeseed)***, Sclerotium Gum***, Ceramide 3, Citrus sinensis (orange) peel oil*, Pullulan***, Xanthan gum, Salicylic acid***, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil, Crithmum maritimum (marine samphire) extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Glucose, Boswellia carterii (frankincense) gum oil**, Pelargonium roseum (geranium) leaf oil*, Sodium Hydroxide***, Sorbic acid***, Citrus bergamia (bergamot – BF) peel oil*, Commiphora myrrha (myrrh) resin extract**, Pogostemon cablin (patchouli) leaf oil**, Vetiveria zizanoides (vetiver) root oil**, Rosa centifolia (wild rose) flower oil**, Jasminum officinale (jasmine) flower oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower/leaf/ stem oil*, Sophora japonica (Japanese pagoda) flower extract, Citronellol ̊, Farnesol ̊, Geraniol ̊, Isoeugenol ̊, Limonene ̊, Linalool ̊ Bespokely atmospheriques, created from flower and environmental essences, LightBringer essences Purify Menyanthes trifoliate (bogbean), Aconitum napellus (monkshood), Parnassia palustris (grass of parnassus), Grand Quintile, Pinus sylvestris (grandmother pine), Trientalis europaea (chickweed wintergreen), Helleborus foetidus (english bearsfoot), Linum bienne (pale flax). *** ECOCERT Certified/Approved Certified organic *Natural essential oil constituents **Wild harvested Flower and Environmental essences
1 oz – $135
Sans Age Face Serum – Khus+Khus
This was another discovery thanks to Beauty Heroes, their December box included a deluxe sample of Sans Age and I was immediately smitten. The cool blue color from german chamomile and blue tansy were just the tip of the ice berg to the things I love about this oil serum. To keep any inflammation or acne at bay I love using products with blue tansy and Sans Age so far is the most effective one I’ve used and I definitely give credit to it for my super clear skin these past few months. I immediately bought a full size bottle after running out of the deluxe sample and I don’t think I will ever let myself run out. The helichrysum is another star ingredient that has anti-inflammatory properties, plus marula, baobab, and argan oil to nourish, hydrate and protect. If you didn’t need a ton of moisture you could easily use this as your final step and be left with a lightly moisturized complexion – perfect for underneath makeup.
INGREDIENTS: Helichrysum Italicum* (Helichrysum), Tanacetum Annuum* (Blue Tansy), Chamomilla Matricaria* (German Chamomile), Rosa Canina* (Rosehip Co2), Hippophae Rhamnoides* (Sea Buckthorn Co2), Sclerocarya Birrea+ (Marula Oil), Adansonia Digitata* (Baobab Seed Oil), Argania Spinosa* (Argan Oil), Vitamin E Oil Mixed Tocopherols –NON-GMO Certified, *Denotes Organic, +Sustainably Wild Harvested
1.7 oz. – $80
BARA – H is for Love
This is the ultimate balm when your skin needs some serious love. The texture is so luscious and silky it truly melts into your skin. My favorite ingredient after the sea buckthorn oil is the total vanilla co2 which gives this balm the most amazing scent coupled with a touch of lavender. Slather your skin in this before bed and you will, guaranteed, wake up with glowing soft skin. It keeps my skin so moisturized and hydrated all night long. I even rub a little on my lips before bed to give them extra nourishment overnight. This balm is pricey for good reason, the ingredients are as high quality as you can get and the 1 oz. jar will honestly last you MONTHS because you only have to use the tiniest little dollop to cover your entire face. Also quick tip, don’t ever use your bare finger to scoop product out of jars because you will introduce bacteria much easier, always use a little scoop or popsicle stick to keep it as hygienic as possible.
INGREDIENTS: Jojoba oil*, Macadamia nut oil*, Apricot kernel oil*, Pomegranate seed oil*, Tamanu oil*, Beeswax, Sea buckthorn oil*, Mixed tocopherols (Non-GMO Vitamin E), Marshmallow root*, Calendula*, Chamomile*, Lemon balm*, Essential oils of: Chinese rose, Vanilla ‘total’ CO2, Frankincense, Lavender* *Certified organic
1 oz. – $90
