REVIEW | Laurel Skin

I’ve been meaning to put this review together for awhile now, so I figured I’d just throw it all into one huge post for you! This is a combo of my last 2 orders from Laurel Skin.

A long, long time ago (it’s been so long that I actually don’t even remember when) I came across Laurel’s Honey Berry Enzyme Mask at an online Marketplace called Abe’s Market (which no longer exists), and the brand was under a different name. So, I’ve been loving Laurel Skin since it’s early days of inception. And, over the years it’s so been amazing to watch such a beautiful brand like hers, grow into the farm-to-face luxury brand that you know it as today! Made in California, with love – Laurel Skin is especially known for their idea of Slow Beauty, and their dedication to clean, organic, local, artisan made products & sustainable farming practices.

Cleansers

Effortless Cleanser: Radiant Glow ($56 | Normal, Dry, Sensitive & Mature Skin) – A non-foaming & non-stripping gentle daily facial cleanser that removes excess oil, pollutants, sunscreen & most makeup. Blended with a combo of whole plant extracts, teas, hydrosols, oils & honey as well as California grown Calendula & Rose Geranium to help tone & refine, paired with Rose, Rosehip & Myrrh resin to repair. I really love the scent, as well as the light & creamy gel-like consistency of this cleanser – it leaves my skin feeling super-soft & hydrated. And, much like Annmarie’s Aloe Herb Cleanser – I love using it first thing in the morning, for a fresh start to my skincare! Unfortunately, since I wear pretty heavy eye makeup sometimes – I still needed a second cleanser for my eyes. So, I’ll have to look into how combining this with Laurel’s Deep Clarity Oil Cleanser would work.

Elixirs

Hydrating Elixir: C Jasmine Hibiscus (NEW! Limited Edition $78 | All Skin Types) – This beautiful aromatic mist combines a raw, in-house triple Hibiscus extraction process using fresh hibiscus fruits alongside its bioavailable flavonoids, helpful co-factors & phytonutrients (known for their exorbitant concentration of Vitamin C), like: Camu Camu, Acerola, Sea Buckthorn, & Rosehip to ensure maximum, whole plant Vitamin C delivery & potency. In addition – the rarest, most organic Jasmine Hydrosol (often considered impossible to make) is added for it’s restorative powers, through a unique, artisan hydro-distillation technique that preserves their most delicate, water-soluble constituents. While I’m normally not a ‘floral’, or ‘Jasmine’ person (for the scent), I do love the properties of it, and anything Hibiscus or Vitamin C oriented for my skin! If you’re a Jasmine fan – this is a definite must-try!

Hydrating Elixir I: Phytonutrient Replenish ($56 | Dry, Normal, Sensitive Skin) – A deeply hydrating Serum / Mist combo of nutrient & antioxidant-dense single-farm hydrosols, made with whole plant extracts for glowy, dewy-looking, plump skin. This Elixir is incredibly rich in polysaccharides, B vitamins, enzymes, bioflavonoids, polyphenols, resveratrol, vitamin C, & plant humectants that mimic Hyaluronic Acid (which I love!). And, while it’s good for all skin types – it’s best for dry, mature, sensitive, reactive skin types, as well as Rosacea. Definitely my favorite of Laurel’s Elixirs so far (I still haven’t tried the Hydrating II Support + Recover Elixir or the California Rose Single Farm Hydrosol yet, both of which are next up on my Wish List)! I love how it smells, and how hydrated it makes my skin feel, without being sticky or greasy. I just spritz a little on right after cleansing or masking, then apply my Moisturizer, Makeup etc. Unfortunately, I had to stop using it recently though, because I can’t have anything with Mushrooms in it (it contains Reishi). I’m SO sad! Definitely, definitely, definitely check out if you’re wanting to try one of her mists!

Serums

Antioxidant Serum: Vibrancy Revival ($96 | All Skin Types) – A concentrated moisturizer, serum, & elemental defense oil in-one, that restores healthy, vibrant, & radiant skin in just one drop – with 31 of the freshest, most potent & powerful botanicals, as well as every beneficial essential fatty acid possible! Its nutrient density combined with antioxidant, vitamin, & mineral activity is meant to help with the surface-level signs of aging, and includes fresh plants like Gotu Kola (connective tissue strength), Calendula (barrier support & carotenoid activity), Comfrey (cell proliferation & regeneration), as well as essential oils like White Rose, Carrot Seed & Frankincense. This was the first of Laurel’s Serums that I tried. I was initially drawn to this one because my skin loves anything with Pomegranate, Evening Primrose, or Chamomile Oil in it, & it did not disappoint! FYI though, some of Laurel’s products have a very distinct ‘herbal’ scent that’s notorious to the brand. And, both Serums I’ve tried so far (Antioxidant & Unburden Serums) smell very similar, although they have different ingredients. I use this by adding only 1-2 drops either directly to my skin, or into my regular moisturizer for an extra boost, before applying on damp skin.

Unburden Serum: Deep Tranquility ($88 | Sensitive, Inflamed, Cystic Breakouts, Reactive Skin) – A Cult-Fave & Laurel’s Best-selling product! Also, a concentrated moisturizer, serum, & elemental defense oil in-one (like her Antioxidant Serum), that’s known for lifting the burden of inflammation (the root cause of secondary skin symptoms), including: cystic acne, rosacea, redness, broken capillaries, excessive dryness, loss of elasticity, & hyperpigmentation. Made with plants that have an affinity for encouraging lymph flow with ease, & help release stagnation that show up in qi, lymph, fascia, & connective tissue (how cool is that?!), the Unburden Serum supports cellular functioning, by transforming skin into a total state of tranquility. Recently, I’ve been having some sensitivities & reactions to random things so, I wanted something to have on hand for when my skin just isn’t having it. I’ve only started using this a few weeks ago, but so far, I’m loving it! I find myself going back & forth between this & the Antioxidant Serum, depending on what my skin needs at the moment. I honestly haven’t been able to pick a favorite out of the two. But, either way this is another win for Laurel, in my opinion!

Blemish Treatment: Deep Relief ($68 | Blemishes + All Skin Types) – A potent little Serum designed to help with cystic acne, breakouts, redness & swelling, to jump start the healing process & prevent scarring. The ingredients in this were chosen specifically to help create a healthy skin flora & microbial balance, as well as deeply soothing aromatics that have a direct effect on the pituitary gland to reduce stress – often a cause for acne & breakouts. With that said, the only thing I’d change about this is the actual scent… I just can’t seem to get past the strong herbal smell of it. Although I don’t really break out much anymore (Thank God!), I’m always on the hunt for a good acne product, for if & when I do. I feel like all the natural ones always contain Witch Hazel or Salicylic Acid (which my skin seems to hate lately though), so it’s nice to find one without either of them! It’s great for dark acne marks as well!

Masks

Honey Berry Enzyme Mask: Enzymatic Glow ($54 | All Skin Types, except Sensitive or Reactive Skin) – Another cult-fave! Made with dense superfoods, whole fruit acids, enzymes & antioxidants, this multi-tasking mask acts as a gentle brightening enzymatic exfoliator, a hydrator that visibly plumps & firms, & an antioxidant-rich treatment for glowing skin! By far, my favorite product from Laurel Skin! It’s the first product I ever tried of hers, & how I actually found the brand to begin with – a sweet treat for skin that’ll always have a special place in my heart. I also love that it’s a pre-made mask (no mixing required) that’s ready to go!

Brighten Mask: Phyto Defense + Repair ($72 | Sun Damaged, Mature, Scarred Skin) – This vibrant mask is bursting with Vitamin C & all of its vital cofactors to lighten & brighten discoloration on a whole other level… so much so, that benefits can be seen in as little as one use! While there’s no question that Ascorbic Acid can help skin health, it’s even more powerful when it’s in the presence of polyphenols, bioflavonoids, Vitamin E, & other antioxidants like Gotu Kola, Calendula, & Comfrey. I love this mask, but I didn’t love the texture of it so much. While I realize that more processing breaks down the nutrients, I wish the herbs in this were blended into a much finer powder, and had a better binding component – something like maybe a clay, etc. to help it apply more smoothly. This is something I’m super-picky about with my masks. So far I’ve only tried mixing it with water (like Laurel recommends), but I’d love to try it with some Manuka Honey or maybe even some yogurt in the future.

Mask Brush & Bow Set ($36) – This custom handcrafted Set is great for creating a Slow Beauty Ritual at home. With powdered masks in mind, these are the perfect tools to help elevate your Spa Day experience, & they also happen to be the Brush & Bowl Set that I reach for all.the.time! And, I have several different sets (Check out my Masking Brush & Bow Guide, here)! The Treatment Brush is a 1 1/2″ Fan Brush that has a unique, Dark Walnut Handle – made from reforested land & Vegan Bristles specifically crafted to help make Laurel’s delicate, powdered mask application even easier. The Ivory Masking Bowl is also handcrafted exclusively for them, by Lorna Newlin (a local Sausalito Potter). Initially I thought the Bowl was going to be way too small for mixing masks, but to my surprise – its actually PERFECT! It’s tiny, lightweight, easy to store, easy to use, easy to clean & has definitely held up through my weekly Masking Sessions over the last several years! The Brush is also soft, & lightweight – for silky smooth applications of various types of treatments! Highly recommend investing in this!

Balms

Recovery Balm: Soothe + Mend ($68 | All Skin Types | Face & Body ) – Another Cult-Fave in the Laurel line! This multi-functional Balm reduces the appearance of redness, swelling, & irritation while offering up a therapeutic dose of whole plant goodness that jump-starts the skin’s healing process. According to Laurel, in addition to being a medicine cabinet heal-all – this is also a remedy for almost any skin ailment – extreme cases of eczema, perioral dermatitis & painful cystic acne, to sensitive, allergy-prone skin, occasional cuts, scrapes, burns, or rashes & even an anti-inflammatory facial moisturizer for reactive skin! I apply it to damp skin & use it on dry spots, chapped skin, scars, cuticles, etc. You can tell Laurel really puts her heart into this one!

Body Oils

Sun Body Oil: Phyto Defense & Repair ($90 | All Skin Types | Body ) – This 2-in-1 Body Serum & Moisturizer is packed with nutrients & antioxidants that can be used both before AND after sun exposure. What I love most, is that every single ingredient in this blend has been clinically studied, or used historically for its ability to assist in preventing UV induced oxidative damage, or to repair damage from sun over-exposure. This light-weight body oil is also made with Gem Essences of Aquamarine, Turquoise & Citrine to inspire joy, movement & freedom of expression, as well as a ton of carotenoids, resveratrol, polyphenols, essential fatty acids, aromatic, tropical & floral essential oils. After experiencing pretty bad Radiation Burns from Cancer Treatment years back, I’m always on the lookout for anything natural that can help others in the same situation. I wish I had something like this at the time. I like to use this after a day of being out on the beach, or in the sun, but didn’t realize I should be using it before as well… so, now I’m going to have to try that!

Get It All Here!

Laurel Skin

Have you ever tried anything from Laurel Skin? If so, what were your faves? Let us know in the comments below!