Skincare

A growing number of readers have asked for more reviews on clean beauty and I was thrilled to partner with Farmacy Beauty to try more from the line. I’ve tried and loved a few items from the line before including their Green Clean, Honey Potion and Green Screen but was really excited to learn more about the other products in their lineup. As many of you already know, I love trying a wide range of skincare to help with different issues as I age and have adapted to different climates, but am really particular about what I use. The Farmacy Beauty philosophy is something that has really impressed me – as a brand they care about the environment on all aspects of their products, from how it’s made, ingredient sourcing all the way to the packaging. Their “clean” philosophy means their products made with gentle, safe and non-toxic ingredients. They are paraben free, formaldehyde donor free, synthetic fragrance free, mineral oil free, phthalate free and also cruelty free. You can read more about that here. I have six products I want to talk about today. After putting new to me products to the test for several weeks now I have found some solid winners. Up first are three things that I’ve used for nearly a year now and really liked.

Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm

The Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleanser is gentle cleansing balm that removes makeup and impurities. It’s made with Echinacea Greenenvy which is a patented plant the team discovered in New York. The plant has 300% more natural antioxidants compared to regular Echinacea which helps support collagen production, improve hydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines. It’s a solid balm that melts into the skin once you massage it. It feels like a creamy oil once you start working it into the skin and removes all traces of face makeup after your rinse with warm water. As much as I really love traditional cleansing oils I find solid cleanser balms a lot easier to use and less messy. There’s no drip from your hands to the elbows and it also solves the issue of oil running into your eyes on accident. With other balms I often have to do two rounds to remove longwear makeup. This one takes off everything in one go. The packaging has a removable plastic lid with a place holder for the spatula which is perfect for people like me. I’m always misplacing spatulas! One 90 ml jar will last a long time. It also comes in a smaller 50 ml option.

Honey Potion

The Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask is probably one of their best-known products and happens to be the only honey-based face mask I have tried that I actually like. Since it is made of rich honey and hydrating it is thick and gooey but it spreads easily with their metal magnetic spatula. I truly appreciate the fact the spatula sticks to the lid so it stays in place. With this one you massage into the skin and it turns into a white color and warms up on the skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse off. Most of my masks are clarifying or purifying, but this one is one of the few hydrating masks I like that does not leave a film. Skin is left very smooth, supple and fresh looking. There are two sizes which includes a 1.7 oz/50 g and a 4.1 oz/117 g jar.

Green Screen

The Green Screen Daily Environmental Protector is a sunscreen with SPF 30. It’s a non-greasy sunscreen that is white in texture but disappears completely once blended. Long-time readers know I’m really particular about all sunscreens. Any white cast is a no-go for me and this one works perfectly even on my olive/tan skin. Active ingredients include Titanium Dioxide 2.4% and Zinc Oxide 5.82%. I found that it works well alone on non-makeup days but also layers really well with their Honey Drop Moisturizer and the combination isn’t heavy, even if I add foundation on top.

Below I have it all over the face and also swiped heavy on the cheeks. There’s no white cast once blended, it disappears 100%! I also did not see any white flash back when photographed with a flash.

Clean Bee, Honey Drop and Green Screen

Next are three new to me things that I’ve tried. One is the Clean Bee Ultra Gentle Facial Cleanser. This is something I bought a few months back and have been using it on a regular basis. I’m halfway finished. I am a cleanser fanatic – especially with the Florida heat, I clean my face more frequently than the average person because of the sweat, heat and humidity. I rotate depending on what time of day or when I’m cleaning, but I always clean in the morning. Before a workout if I’m wearing makeup. After workouts to remove sweat and at night before I go to bed (usually during a bath or shower). This one is gentle and non-stripping but really effective. I can feel my pores being cleaned out with this one which is something I’ve never really actively felt with other cleansers. It’s free of soap, PEG, alcohol, formaldehyde and artificial coloring. It smells like clean honey. Even though it does a thorough job at cleaning this doesn’t dry out the skin.

The Honey Drop Lightweight Moisturizer is probably my most favorite new skincare discovery. Moisturizers in general are tricky for my skin type. I have combination skin which is prone to getting oily with extreme heat but it is also prone to getting dried out with air conditioners constantly on everywhere I go. Finding one that is hydrating enough but not heavy has always been a challenge but I have luckily found several that I love. This one is pure love. It has their Echinacea GreenEnvy for hydration. It also has these tiny little Cupcuca Butter Beads you can see inside the product. It melts once it touches the skin to help soften skin. It also includes ingredients to support firmness, elasticity, help reduce water loss and keep the skin looking plum. After putting this to the test I would say it does all of the above for me.

Last but not least is the Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm. This is the first time I’ve tried a night time leave-on balm for my face. I wasn’t sure I’d like it as it’s pretty emollient but a little goes a VERY long way. It smooths over the skin nicely and leaves a veil of moisture that surprisingly did not make my face stick to my pillow. I tried using this around 2-3 times a week over the past few weeks. I wake up with smoother and well-rested looking skin. It truly does a good job at keeping skin hydrated and removes any tight feeling you might have from dryness or a strong air conditioner blasting. I only need a tiny bit but you can definitely apply as much as needed depending on your skin type. It’s non-irritating, did not clog pores, doesn’t have a strong scent (it smells natural) so it doesn’t interfere with my sleep.

For those who want to try before committing to the full size they have a few amazing travel sets available with minis. I do think their full size products are reasonably priced and think the Honey Potion Mask and Green Clean Meltaway Cleansing Balm are going to be the most versatile regardless of skin type. However The Mighties Set has four of their most popular items in minis. The sizes are large enough to give you a decent sampling of the product. They are also perfect to travel with on shorter trips. There are a couple of other mini sets available on their website as well.

Overall I love this line. I have yet to try everything in their lineup but I have been really impressed with what I’ve tried so far. Their products are gentle but effective. I like that they care about their ingredients, the environment and the processes used to make their products. They have a few other face masks I’m really curious to try!

Shop the post below.

Sponsored by Farmacy Beauty. As always all opinions my own.

I have typically had a low maintenance skincare routine for night but in the last few years I’ve tried to up my game for night time treatments. As I’ve aged I’ve found my skin needs an added boost of moisture whether it’s for the face, lips or body. When we sleep we lose moisture and if you add a heater or air conditioner to the mix skin can become extra dry. I prefer lightweight products so they don’t get sticky or feel heavy. In the past my favorite night treatments were the Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift +Retinol and her RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream. I used them religiously and used up multiple bottles but eventually decided to try new things.

In the last year I’ve become really interested in sleep masks and oils. After months of testing I have a roundup of things I’ve tried in the last year. Some I’ve used up entirely while others I’ve been testing for a few months. In terms of skin type, I’m normal combination but in recent months it has been dry due to the weather and water in Florida is kinda harsh! My preference for night time skincare is something that feels weightless but adds enough moisture to remove any dry or tight feeling. Scents are also really important to me as some smells can interfere with my sleep.

Sleeping Masks

For the longest time I thought “sleep masks” were a fancy name for night cream/lotion but they really are different in texture and feel. There are a wide range of sleep masks that will do different things. The ones I’ve tried have a lighter weight feel compared to a cream. A lot of the ones I’ve tested have a gel or jelly like texture which has a less emollient finish so it doesn’t get all over your pillow or hair while you sleep. With all the sleeping masks I’ve tried I find a little goes a very long way. They usually come with a spatula to apply and some I feel like I can use every night regularly and barely make a dent even after several months. Some brands recommend you stir or mix before applying as the ingredients can separate or settle naturally.

• Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Mask * ($45 for 2.7 oz/80 ml) – This is my favorite sleeping mask that I’ve tried to add bounce and moisture to the skin. I loved it so much I’ve probably bought at least a dozen in the mini size to give to my friends and also a few to giveaway here! They call it radiance in a jar and I think it’s just that. For me it’s lightweight but hydrating. Smells delicious. Has hyaluronic acid, AHAs and watermelon extract. It softens and hydrates the skin overnight.
  • Ingredients listed at here
• Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask * ($90 for 40 ml/1.35 fl oz) – This is one I found a little too rich for me. If you have normal to dry skin or don’t mind something a tad bit sticky this one is great. It’s a memory sleep mask that I found works to calm redness, remove dry patches and smooth the skin. I’m super picky with any kind of texture and it feels like a mask on the skin when I fall asleep. However when I wake up, skin is refreshed, more plump/firm and ultra smooth. This has prickly pear extract, green ginger extract and kelp extract.
  • Ingredients listed at here
• Omorovicza Midnight Radiance Mask ($125 for 1.7 oz) – This is a brightening mask and it does give the skin a really fresh glow when you use it overnight. I found this super lightweight – you only need to apply a thin layer and it almost feels like water. I haven’t noticed any of my sunspots or discoloration disappear with this, but in general the face looks brighter. The active ingredients are sand lily and salicylic acid to gently exfoliate the skin overnight. After using this I wake up feeling like the skin is truly rebalanced – not oily or dry. It’s very expensive but a little goes a VERY long way.
  • Ingredients list here
• Kiehl’s Ginger Leaf and Hibiscus Firming Mask ($54 for 3.4 oz/100 ml) – This is one of the newest masks from Kiehl’s. It’s an overnight mask that has a cream texture with a velvelty finish. The hibiscus flowers close at night and this is in the mask to help preserve moisture. The ginger leaf softens the skin and fine lines. I’ve started to develop more noticeable lines on my forehead and this mask definitely helps to soften them. The wrinkles are something I feel like botox could help, but I’m really scared of needles and worry that once I start it’s something I’ll have to keep doing to maintain. I will probably try it eventually, but for now this mask has really helped to plump and firm the skin. In terms of moisture I’d say it’s moderate. If you only need a lightweight product and not a huge amount of moisture this is a great one to try.
  • Ingredients listed at here
• Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask ($26 for 15 g) – Hands down one of my favorite night lip treatments. I’ve used up several tubes of the clear one. Right now I have the tinted options in Champagne and Maple. It hugs the lips and hydrates unlike any other balm.
  • Ingredients listed at Sephora

As you can see below these look barely used but I assure you I have been using them for months (with the exception of the Kiehl’s mask because it just launched recently). A little truly goes a very long way – especially if you use the spatulas that come with the masks.

Night Cream and Oils

Night Creams and Oils are what I’ve traditionally gravitated towards in the past. All of the ones listed below I’ve used up entirely. Notes on which ones worked best for me and whether or not I’ll repurchase.

• 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Retinol Oil * ($230 for 1 oz/30 ml) – This is an oil I received as a press sample a year ago. It’s one of the most expensive oils I’ve tried and has 1% pure retinol oil. I usually can’t tolerate retinol products. This and the ones from Kate Somerville are the only ones I’ve been able to use. This one from 111Skin really works to help the skin speed up the resurfacing process, reduce fine lines and wrinkles. They recommend starting up to 3 times per week and increase frequency to every other night. I kept this at 2-3 times per week until I used it up. It lasted a very long time for me. I loved this because it absorbed nicely, smoothed the skin, reduced breakouts and added a glow. I’m not sure I will purchase a second tube.
  • Ingredients listed here
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Overnight Renewal Cream * ($59 for 1.3 oz/40 ml) – I also received this as a press sample a little over a year ago. I feel like I neglect Caudalie because of all the other things I want to try, but I’ve been such a huge fan of their skincare and body care. This is the best gentle night cream I’ve used. It has glycolic acid to also help brighten and retexturize the skin but it’s very gentle and non-irritating. This is supposed to help with sunspots and melasma – it did work for me to gently reduce sunspot darkness. I will be repurchasing this week.
  • Ingredients listed at here
• Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate ($47 to $73) – Probably my favorite night oil. I’ve used up several bottles as it’s a great oil to use at night to help replenish the skin. It helps to rebalance and hydrate the skin in the most amazing way I’ve ever tried. I’m trying to get my husband to start using it at night. I will always be repurchasing this.
  • Ingredients listed at here
• L’Occitane Immortelle Divine Oil * ($99 for 1 fl oz) – This has been a favorite for years. It’s not technically designed for night but I use it occasionally at night because it hydrates the skin, adds a beautiful glow and smells lovely.
  • Ingredients listed here

Miscellaneous

A few other items I love to use at night. For body or hands I’ve always been more consistent about using product. I feel like my hands are prone to getting dry. Some of the things I’ve had in rotation:

• L’Occitane Immortelle Divine Eye Balm * ($94 for 15 ml) – This is a gentle eye treatment that doesn’t creep into my eyes. It’s emollient and instantly refreshes the skin around the eye area. I’ve normally used the Immortelle Precious Eye Balm and Immortelle Divine Eyes from L’Occitane but this is one I’ve had in rotation for a little over a month now. I’ll do a more detailed report once I’ve used it up, but I love the way it feels.
• La Mer Eye Concentrate ($205 for 15 ml) – I bought this during the Sephora sale so I’ve only used it 3x so far. I will have to use it more to give a proper review but so far no irritation, no stinging and it has a very smooth feel. Will review sometime in the future.
  • Ingredients listed here
• Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado ($29 for 0.5 oz) – This is a super creamy and thick eye treatment that feels like a mask for the eyes. It’s one of the most hydrating creams I’ve tried and has a thick feel but doesn’t feel super greasy. Since it’s on the rich side I’ve used this at night. It does a good job at moisturizing. I used this up all the way, I’m not sure it’s something I will repurchase, but I love that it’s a very affordable option that works.
  • Ingredients listed here
• Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Body Cream * ($69 for 200 ml/6.7 fl oz) – This is the newest from Fresh Beauty and I’m 100% obsessed. I’ve used it for around 3 weeks now and love the fresh black tea and cucumber scent that it has. I’ve noticed with exposure to heat, sun and Florida air my legs get dried out more easily. This is a nice smooth cream that instantly comforts itchy dry skin and adds life back into the body. It’s moisturizing but not heavy and has a nice dry down so I don’t stick to my sheets at night.
  • Ingredients listed here
• Chanel Fresh Body Cream ($130 for 150 g) – This is my favorite night cream for the body because it’s lightweight, feels cool on the skin and has the freshest clean scent. If you have super dry skin you will need something heavier. This works for me day or night – it layers nicely with any fragrance too. For me I often only need a light veil of moisture on the arms and legs and this does just that. This is my third tub. For hands I also love the La Creme Main because it has a velvety non-sticky finish. They just launched a No 5 L’Eau version which I’m so exited to try.
• Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil ($20 for 0.5 oz) – This has been something I’ve used since the before my blogging days. It has pure white jojoba oil, vitamin E and coconut oil. I love using this at night on the cuticles, I don’t use it everyday although I should. You can see my full hand and nail care routine here.

If you’re looking for some night treatments whether it’s an oil or sleep mask I hope this roundup helped you! If you have any favorite skincare you swear by or love for night let me know in the comments!

Press samples have a * next to them. Other items purchased by me.