I have sung the praises of True Botanicals on many occasions. This safe, potent, and proven skincare brand boasts a seriously impressive ingredients list, and is highly effective to boot. After loving their Vitamin C Booster and Cellular Repair Serum, I was pumped to try the Pure Radiance Oil. The Clear oil, in particular, has balancing properties that work to regulate sebum and clear your skin while allowing its natural radiance to shine through. I love that while this oil is deeply hydrating, it doesn't feel too greasy or heavy, and I can wear it year-round thanks to its quick absorption. Antioxidants and potent antibacterial ingredients help heal any infections and clear congestion, leaving your skin vibrant and revived. As always with True Botanicals products, their facial oil is certified MadeSafe, and formulated with natural ingredients like helichrysum, hemp, pumpkin & grape seed oils, and algae extract. No scary ingredients here! A potent acne treatment and glow-inducing moisturizer in one?? Sounds like the perfect combo- I'll definitely need to restock soon! While I'm at it, I'm excited to try some of their newer releases, like the Antioxidant Booster, Resurfacing Body Mask, and Deep Repair Eye Serum, as well.
fave products // true botanicals nutrient mist
I don't know about you, but come summer time, I find myself reaching for a refreshing facial mist on a pretty regular basis. I love a good mist anytime of year, but if it's hot and humid out, literally nothing feels better on my skin! Whenever mine needs a bit of a pick-me-up, a spritz of this True Botanicals Nutrient Mist does just the trick. This one is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, including green & white tea, algae extract, and kombucha, which help to hydrate, nourish, and repair the skin. Even better, these ingredients help fight free radical damage, keep your skin nicely plump, and leaves you perfectly dewy and glowing! For something a bit more affordable, and also more basic, I really enjoy Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray as well. I always keep a mist or spray in my purse for that extra boost when I'm on-the-go, and it's especially refreshing at the beach on a hot summer day!
fave products // true botanicals hydrating cleanser
I've been a True Botanicals fan for a while now- from the renewal serum & vitamin C booster to the polishing grains, these products truly work. And with ingredients that are both potent yet gentle, you can actually feel good about what you're putting on your skin. The hydrating cleanser is a jack of all trades that removes makeup and dead skin cells, unclogs pores, hydrates, heals scarring, and stimulates cell turnover. The cleanser from the clear collection also helps to fight infection, by destroying acne-inducing bacteria and balancing your skin (all the while being careful not to damage it). I love that it leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed, rather than dry and tight, like so many harsh cleansers seem to do. Every so often I'll add a shake of the polishing grains to the mix to get that extra bit of exfoliation!
True Botanicals uses green and white teas (as opposed to just water) for the base of this cleanser, which allows you to reap the antioxidant and polyphenol benefits of these impressive ingredients. Think toning, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, just to name a few! Black willow bark extract joins the party as a non-irritating, but highly effective, version of the traditional salicylic acid you're used to, and helichrysum is a total anti-powerhouse (anti-bacterial, fungal & inflammatory). Talk about an added bonus!
beauty minute
I recently got interviewed about my beauty routine for a feature on Garance Doré. You can read my Beauty Minute on their site, or continue reading to check out my daily beauty regimen and go-to products. By no means do I use all of these products every day, but the ones listed below are some of my favorites that make me look and feel my best!
Morning Routine:
I have sensitive skin, so I prefer to use brands that use clean, simple, and high-quality ingredients. I usually just rinse my face with water in the morning instead of using a cleanser. Then I use Osmia Organics Active Gel Toner. I add True Botanicals Vitamin C Booster to my True Botanicals Cellular Renewal Serum (which activates it), and apply that mixture next. Then I finish with either Osmia Organics Purely Simple Face Cream or Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil, depending if I want something lighter or more rich (and don't forget your neck!). My lips always get a thick coat of Aquaphor in the morning. I take a probiotic every day, and like to have hot lemon water if I can as well. I’ve also been loving Sun Potion supplements in my morning coffee or smoothie! For fragrance, my go-tos are by Tom Ford- I love Violet Blonde or Oud Wood, depending on my mood!
Makeup Routine:
I rarely wear makeup when I'm not working- it feels nice to give my skin a break! If I'm wearing makeup, it's usually just the basics. I like a lot of Glossier products- they make great no-frills essentials. I use a tinted moisturizer (with SPF!) by Laura Mercier or True Botanicals, and concealer if need-be by Glossier (Stretch Concealer) or RMS Beauty (Un Cover-Up) on the face. Curled lashes, with or without mascara, but I like Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes. Groomed brows are a plus, and Glossier Boy Brow has a nice waxy texture. Glossier Haloscope and RMS Beauty Living Luminizer for highlights on the cheekbones and brow bones help give you that dewy glow. I rarely wear lipstick, but a red lip is fun every once in a while, and YSL Rouge Pur Couture has lots of great shades.
Daytime Touch-Ups:
I always have a good lip balm with me. Glossier Balm Dotcom and Lano Lips 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm are go-tos, and I also just brought several tubes of Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment back from Australia. I also like to have a facial mist of some sort for whenever I feel like my skin needs a pick-me-up. Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist and Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence are both great. I drink tons of water throughout the day as well.
Nightly Routine:
My nightly regimen starts with removing any makeup (if I'm wearing any) with Bioderma Crealine (aka Sensibio). Then I wash my face with Osmia Organics Black Clay Facial Soap or Sunday Riley Blue Moon Cleansing Balm (this one also makes a great mask). I tone with Biologique Recherche P50 (without phenol), then apply Mario Badescu Buffering or Drying Lotions to any blemishes if needed. I love a hydrating & calming oil at nighttime (something thicker than moisturizer) and Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil or UFO are amazing. Eye cream is also important to start sooner rather than later- I've been loving Tata Harper Restorative Eye Creme.
Hair, Body, Masks:
I love R+Co shampoo & conditioner- both the Sunset Blvd. Blonde & the Dallas Thickening versions are go-tos. If my hair needs a refresher, I’ll use a bit of R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo or Ouai Wave Spray. Korean exfoliating mitts also work wonders for fresh, baby-soft skin. Post-shower, I’ll use either R+Co Tinsel Smoothing Oil or Ouai Hair Oil on the ends of my hair, then coconut oil all over my body. Every once in a while I'll apply a face mask (like Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask or Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask) or a sheet mask (Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask or Hada Labo Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial Mask) to treat my skin to a little at-home facial. Now just to be clear, I don't use all these products every day. Beauty sleep, a healthy diet, and lots of water are all great ways to create that glow from the inside, out as well :)
fave products // true botanicals polishing grains
By now we've all heard about the importance of exfoliation. Exfoliating your skin helps to remove dead skin cells, exposing the soft, smooth, and polished layer underneath. It also helps prep your skin for any other products you'll be applying, like a moisturizer or serum. Exfoliating is one of the best ways to achieve that natural glow all over your body (not just the face!), and these Polishing Grains from True Botanicals make it super easy. Add a few shakes to your usual cleanser of choice, and voilà- you have an instant secret weapon exfoliator! Made from oat flour, adzuki bean powder and rice powder, this super-fine mix of grains work as natural exfoliants that won't irritate the skin. Kaolin clay is a soothing mineral that helps remove impurities and regulate oil production, while rosehip seed powder enriches the skin with retinol and essential fatty acids! Talk about an exfoliator that does it all! Added bonus that these polishing grains are environmentally-friendly, made without plastic microbeads, as well as travel-friendly! Renewed and radiant skin is just a shake of grains away.
brand love // true botanicals
Have you ever come across a line of products that not only impresses you with its stellar ingredient lists, but also is totally transformative for your skin? Products that make you think- Why didn't I know about these sooner? I recently had such an experience with True Botanicals. Super concentrated, bio-active ingredients come together to yield unparalleled results, all while causing zero harm to your skin. In fact, the entire line of products is MADE SAFE certified, critically analyzed and evaluated by third party scientists to ensure no harmful ingredients are involved in any way. Rest easy- you can use these products without any hesitation and feel great about doing such wonderful things for your skin along the way. I've already raved about their renewal serum and vitamin C serum, but be sure to keep an eye out for reviews of some of their other products soon as well. I can say for certain that I am a True Botanicals convert.