The Alchemilla Ultra-Pure Skin Care line has to be one of my favorite skin care products that I've ever received. And no, the company didn't pay me to say that because it's the truth! I would've never thought that I'd loved a skin care line that uses herb extracts and plant emollients to help heal and beautify the skin.
Alchemilla is one of the companies that signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. If you've been reading Blaq Vixen Beauty since the beginning, you may remember my Pink Vixen Beauty series that I launched in October of 2008. I listed the company's name, the link to their site, the year and month that each company signed the compact.
At the time, I was suffering from flaky skin, so I requested the Skin Care Trial Kit for Dry Skin, $28. Alchemilla says that "it contains reparations that work to deeply replenish while strengthening and supporting skin's protective barrier. These effective products are rich in organic emollients, vitamins and natural water-binding, hydrating agents like honey and glycerin, to attract more atmospheric water to your skin and hold it there."
Now, I didn't get the Gentle Purifying Cleansing Milk, the Aromatic Floral Water in Rose Maroc, or the Rose Rehydrating Night Balm. However, I do have the Exfoliating Face Wash Cream, the Calendula Cream, a vial of the Rose Rehydrating Essence in Rose, and a sample of the Antioxidant Concentrate Serum. Four out of seven items is still good, right? This review is for the Exfoliating Face Wash Cream, $26.
Lately, I've been avoiding manual exfoliators since the skin on my cheeks have thinned. I can press on the skin and leave a fingerprint behind! However, the Exfoliating Face Wash Cream is the most gentle, manual exfoliator that I've ever used. My skin is never irritated or void of moisture. It doesn't contain tiny particles of polyethylene, walnut shells, apricot pits or other shrapnel. Instead, it consists of jojoba beads and organic herbal extracts to allow gentle polishing. I love that I can use this face cream every day. I don't have to worry if my face is really clean or if I'm damaging my skin. The jojoba beads are soft yet they exfoliate without scarring my skin or making it more sensitive. This is definitely a plus for me since my skin is sensitive enough and I have more than enough scars.
I've used my Avalon Organics Vitamin C Balancing Facial Toner following the Exfoliating Face Wash Cream. I was pleased to see that my cotton ball was void of dirt! Normally, I'd have to use 10 - 20 cotton balls soaked with toner to completely remove epithelial buildup. However, with this face wash, I don't have to use a toner or even a moisturizer because it deep cleans and moisturizes. My pores don't feel clogged either. I could use these products afterwards but I really don't have to. This is why I've used this product in the morning - it makes my routine more streamlined.
In addition to the jojoba and herbal extracts, antiseptic Rosemary and Calendula extracts, antioxidant Sea Buckthorn and nourishing Shea are also among the ingredients. I also want to point about the packaging. The Exfoliating Face Wash Cream is housed in an opaque tube. This is important because Sea Buckthorn Extract is the extract of the fruit Hippophae Rhamnoides. Hippophae Rhamnoides is "a seaweed containing high concentrations of vitamins C, E, and A as well as carotenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids. It is used in 'natural cosmetics' as an antioxidant and to soothe skin ulcers and as a fragrance ingredient" (information derived from A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetics Ingredients by Ruth Winter, M.S.). Sea Buckthorn also helps with dermatitis, eczema, rosacea, acne, psoriasis and the effects of sun damage.
Any product containing antioxidants should be packaged in way that protects the integrity of the ingredients by shielding them away from the elements, like sunlight and air. I think the packaging that Alchemilla uses for their products is mostly superb because it does both of these things.
When you first open the tube, you'll have to poke open the aluminum-like shield in order to use the product. Then, as you use it, you have to squeeze out the product, starting from the bottom. This aspect has always been hard for me as it's nearly impossible to get all of the product out of the crevices of the tube! However, since it's such a great product, I'll approach this task with joy, since I'll be able to experience the full benefits of this face wash before I have to replace it! :)
I wish I could afford this but since it's not available in stores near me and it's $26, I doubt that I will. But if I were to purchase this, I'd rather get the whole set, which is just $2 more but at least I'll get 7 products instead of just 1. Also, I know that I'll be helping to contribute to the United Plant Savers. This year, Alchemilla plans to donate $1 to this organization, which is committed to protecting native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada.
I originally planned to review all of the products in the Dry Skin kit, but as you've read (hopefully), this particular review has turned out to be lengthy. So the next Alchemilla reviews will probably be just as comprehensive as this one.
Which natural skin care products are you using?
