Welcome to Our Favourite Products, a monthly feature of the products keeping our skin glowing, mood lifted and health high. It's a combination of the new things we've tried over the previous month and historic repeat purchases that we think you might love too. And as part of our editorial policy, every product we write about is vegan, cruelty-free and 100% natural and where possible organic. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of incorporating clean beauty and wellness products into your daily routine — or even finding them, we hope you find the following helpful. And as a reminder, a constant favourite of mine — clean filtered water. Drink it frequently, daily. Here's what I'm loving this month:
Aesop Bitter Orange Astringent Toner
Toner to a regimen minimalist can seem redundant, but this Aesop toner gives my skin a reset after cleansing and before I do my serums. If I am honest, sometimes I don’t wash my face in the morning, I’ll instead pour some toner into my hands and splash up onto my face and neck and move on. I know I should probably start buying from other brands, there are many worthy of our money, but all Aesop’s products smell incredible. This toner smells like Tuscany — oranges and warm ocher. I find this toner non-drying, cleansing my skin of grime while clarifying. Witch Hazel delivers purifying properties, though if you have sensitive skin, request a sample before committing. pH rebalancing, bacteria combating, pore refining — and so far the only toner that can rebalance my skin, I’ll be repeat buying this one.
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
It all started with a serious outbreak, I had purchased this tub of calcium bentonite clay in anticipation, opted not to exfoliate and leave my skin alone as much as possible—and this is hard for me. So rather than use this clay three times per week, I used it every day. For a week. My face was noticeably calmer — it pulls everything out of my pores like nothing else and my blemishes shrink overnight. It’s a total skin reset, tightening and detoxifying as the clay minerals sink deep below the skin surface. I’m not breaking out like I used to so now I’ll use this twice weekly to deeply purify and draw out any congestion. Aztec Secret is vegan and cruelty-free, comes in a huge tub and you can mix in essential oils, rosehip oil — make this mask your own. And at $16 for what feels like a lifetime supply, you could mask your entire body.
To use I mix equal parts clay and ACV and mix into the palm of my hand, and this method has been working great — less involved. I’ll apply a thick layer and leave it for 15-20 minutes until super dry. Wet slightly, that way your skin absorbs more minerals from the clay, then rinse thoroughly with warm water or a damp cloth.
Hylamide SubQ Skin
I’m almost finished with this serum, and my skin is better for it. I know that because someone the other day thought I was a decade younger than I actually am — not all SubQ Skin but in all seriousness, I have noticed an improvement in the texture and feel of my skin after four months of use. I am in my mid-thirties, my skin has been stressed — UV, environmental pollution, and eventually our skin produces fewer proteins like collagen and elastin, and that’s when we start to notice visible signs of ageing.
This serum relies on an exhaustive list of highly active hyaluronic complexes, peptides and biotechnologies that encourage hydration and support barrier function. That’s what the product page said more or less, and I’ll believe it since my acne flares up far less, and I just don’t notice my acne scarring as much anymore. Comparably inexpensive, you don’t need to spend north of $200 on serums — SubQ Skin is getting things done at USD26. I love the overall level of hydration, there’s no scent, and my skin drinks it up. I use this serum in the AM, usually mixed with The Ordinary 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder, gently massaged into cleansed skin. I have perhaps 8ml remaining, and I will re-order.
Snowberry Smoothing Eye Serum
I received this Snowberry eye serum through I AM Co, I photograph their monthly box, and this was the product exclusive for June. I had purchased a cleanser from Snowberry a couple of years back from Smith & Caughey and was acutely aware of their range but was not aware of how much integrity there was in the product formulations and their cruelty-free position. Snowberry is certified Cruelty-Free, their product supplied through the Free Trade Agreement with China which does not require animal testing. Perhaps NARS could consider this approach.
Instantly this eye serum gives me a fresh look, it has Mountain Ash Bud Extract in it that prevents puffy eyes, so it helps make you not look tired. This eye serum brightens and smooths; ingredients include Argireline Peptides — amino acids that relax muscles, ideal for fine lines, and L22 (active extracts of Jojoba, Macadamia and Olive), lipids to support our skin barrier. It's antioxidant high. The ingredient list also includes Vitamin E, Totarol and Harakeke Seed Oils alongside Hyaluronic Acid which retains moisture, close to 1,000 times its weight to water, plumping skin. We produce less of hyaluronic acid as we age — it's an ingredient you'll want to look for in a facial serum. I'm lazy with this eye serum and only use it every other day but always notice brightness after I do.
Dr Dennis Gross C+ Collagen
I had been dealing with discolouration and scarring on my jawline after a stint of hormonal breakouts and knew I needed vitamin C to brighten and even the tone. I had read the reviews on Dr Dennis Gross products, in particular, the peels and serums. It was the reviews for the C+ Collagen on Mecca that convinced me to try this vitamin C serum first. It’s a brightening, tightening formula that is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (stabilised vitamin C) and Collagen Amino Acids — your best route to effective results, proven in clinical research to target dullness, hyperpigmentation, uneven texture and loss of firmness. Lactic Acid removes dead skin cells to brighten while Carnitine protects and prevents skin degradation — making this a reparative serum. I apply massage one pump of serum into my skin after the vitamin C powder plus serum emulsion in the PM. I was informed at Mecca that I must use SPF — which I do anyway, but I am human so need reminding since UV works against vitamin C.
C+ Collagen has made a difference for me, since using this serum I have had the longest period without a breakout, my acne scarring has lightened heaps, and my skin is healthier looking in general, dewy even. Next step is the Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel. I’m determined to try this before more invasive approaches. If anyone has had success with peels, please send me an email!