Clean Beauty Edit // May 2020
The clean beauty products and brands that I’ve been trying out this month and what I think of them; as a reminder, I thoroughly test a product for at least 30 days before sharing what I think of it; all thoughts and opinions are my own, based on my use of the product, and are independent of the brand or anyone else’s opinion; all gifted products are noted with “c/o”
Krisana Vigus c/o //
what I’ve been using // Radiance Facial Mask + Gentle Exfoliant
my thoughts // Both of these products are incredibly effective while also being really gentle and non-irritating, and I love their light citrus-y, spa-like scents. The mask isn’t irritating, or drying, despite the fact that it has clay in it. It just does a great job of cleansing and toning your pores without stripping them of moisture. As for the exfoliant, I’ve always had a hard time finding a good basic exfoliating cleanser. They’re either too rough, too strong or too irritating. And, as of late, I feel like most of the exfoliants that I find are actually more some sort of acidic or chemical peel/treatment {which I love, but they have a time and place and it’s not in an everyday skincare routine}. This one, however, is just a good exfoliating cleanser. It’s gentle enough for daily use and it never leaves my skin feeling dry or irritated. Instead, it leaves it soft and smooth.
Mon SHAMPOING c/o //
what I’ve been using // Gentle Shampoo + Gentle Conditioner
my thoughts // I was sold as soon as I saw that this line was from Paris, because I mean, the French can do no wrong when it comes to beauty! Besides being from one of my favorite places, I also love that this line is completely customizable. You start with the base shampoo and conditioner {which you can, of course, use as is} and then they have a variety of different boosters that you can add in depending on the needs of your hair. You can mix and match using different ones in your shampoo and conditioner or use the same one in both. And the products really are gentle. The shampoo always leaves my hair and scalp feeling clean but not stripped. The conditioner is also a great gentle option, however, for my very thick, dry and naturally curly hair I tend to prefer something a little thicker and more moisturizing, so I’d probably opt for one of their hair masks as my conditioner in the future. But overall I think it’s a great gentle and customizable hair care option!
Botanics c/o //
what I’ve been using // Hydrating Serum, Overnight Mask and Face Cream
my thoughts // I love that this line is so well priced, comes in glass jars and has a mild yet really relaxing scent. The products are really gentle and I’ve loved using the serum to help combat redness or skin flare-ups and reactions. I’ve also loved the overnight mask for an extra layer of moisturizing, especially after days in the sun or doing a peel treatment. The only product I didn't really notice a difference with or felt like it did much is the face cream.
Claudiana Beautanica c/o //
what I’ve been using // Whipped Body Mousse
my thoughts // I adore this product! It smells like a spa in the best way possible. Like I want this scent in a candle so my whole life can smell like this mousse. The scent isn’t overpowering, over-flowery, too citrus-y or too anything else really, it’s just right. And the texture? Yeah, it’s also pretty perfect. Moisturizing but not heavy, sinks right into the skin, feels all kinds of luxe and nourishing. I also like that the jar is small enough to travel with as one of my biggest issues with lotions is that I have to get a whole separate travel size {or take up half my suitcase with a giant container}. Last but certainly not least, I love the packaging {brown glass jar that you can recycle} and the branding. In other words, you’re going to want it displayed in your next #shelfie.
Drunk Elephant //
what I’ve been using // Bronzing Anti-Pollution Drops
my thoughts // I am OBSESSED with this product and will never live without ever again. It gives the most perfect golden glow that isn't obnoxious or too golden or too glowy. Basically, you just look like you stepped off the plane from a beach vacay, which, like, who knows when we’ll be able to actually do that again, so thank God for this insane product!
by Humankind //
what I’ve been using // Refillable Deodorant
my thoughts // I LOVE this deodorant so much, like even more than my beloved Native! And my favorite thing, besides the fact that it actually works {like even through workouts and days in the hot sun} and doesn’t leave any weird white marks on clothes, is that the container is reusable so you’re cutting down on some serious plastic waste by using this deodorant instead of traditional deodorants. My only complaints- it’s not as accessible {unlike Native, which I could grab at Target, this I have to have shipped}, the amount is smaller and it’s definitely a bit pricier.
Noughty c/o //
what I’ve been using // Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner
my thoughts // First of all, these smell beyond incredible, like a tropical passionfruit paradise! In fact, it smells so good, I can’t get Dave to stop “stealing” the products from me! Ha! The price point is also really reasonable and it’s readily available at places like Ulta and Amazon. And better yet, the products do exactly what they say they’re going to do, in this case, volumize your hair. I already have such thick hair naturally that volume isn’t usually my priority, but it’s nice to know it actually works, and volume aside, I love the scent and softness the conditioner gives me hair. I also love that they have such a wide variety of products to suit all sorts of hair types and needs and I’m definitely planning to try more of their items, like the detox shampoo and scalp line, Care Taker, as well as their Rise & Shine products. Highly recommend checking out their line if you’re looking for affordable hair care!
UpCircle c/o //
what I’ve been using // Clarifying Face Mask, Cleansing Face Balm and Exfoliating Body Scrub
my thoughts // I was so, so excited to try these products! Not only are they affordable, but they go above and beyond to be sustainable, doing things like recycling coffee grounds into usable and effective beauty products. They also don’t skimp on sustainable packaging, with everything coming in glass jars with metal lids or metal tubes. The mask leaves my skin feeling invigorated and refreshed and I absolutely love the cleansing balm, which I use as part of my evening double cleansing routine on the days that I’ve worn makeup. It doesn’t irritate my skin, it does an amazing job of cleansing and removing dirt and make-up and it leaves my face really soft and feeling extra moisturized. The one product that I wasn’t as impressed with is the body scrub. I always feel terrible when I don’t like something, especially when it’s from a line doing such amazing things {like creating sustainable beauty products at great price points}, but I also pride myself on being as transparent and truthful with y’all as possible, so here are my honest thoughts on the scrub- it was too watery for me and I was not a fan of the scent. It also felt very much like a homemade/DIY scrub and, while it certainly left my skin more exfoliated, it didn’t feel a whole lot different than me just taking leftover coffee grounds and rubbing them on my skin. As always, to each their own. We all have different tastes so just because something doesn't work for me or I’m not a fan of it, doesn't mean it won’t work for you or that you won’t love it.