Kensington Apothecary Skincare Holiday Top Picks | Review

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Kensington Apothecary is a luxurious healthy skincare line that I have been obsessed with since I first tried it some time ago. Their products boast luxe textures, undeniable efficacy, and an affordable price point. Furthermore, their natural aromas are a treat to the senses, and using them is a true joy. I thought that I would share a few of my recent favorites that are worth considering.

Kensington Apothecary Sake Skin Detox Tonic ($28.00 for 4 oz. from Kensington Apothecary, Beautyhabit's Amazon Store and Beautyhabit): This is the perfect tonic for the excesses of the holidays, and if you are overdoing it with sugar and alcohol intake, this magical elixir is designed to mitigate the effects of glycation. What I note more than anything is that my skin looks and feels fresh, rejuvenated and radiant when I use this tonic. It has a mild spicy fruity aroma that is thoroughly exhilarating.

According to Kensington Apothecary,

If your cocktail-circuit lifestyle is leaving you with dark circles, sagging, and an all-around 'fatigued' look, fight back with our unique blend of Organic Brown Rice Vinegar and Chamomile Hydrosol infused with Mimosa Bark and Olive Leaf Extracts.

Excessive sugar intake and an active social/work life can leave your skin looking bloated and overworked, with dark circles, sallowness and sagging. These are the effects of glycation, which can cause accelerated aging of the skin. Sake Skin Detox Tonic is formulated to combat this process, so your skin can live to be fabulous another day.

Directions: Sweep across a clean face with an organic cotton ball or reusable flannel cloth. Keep away from eye area. May be used morning and night. Follow with the Skin Serum and Facial Oil of your choice. Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen during the day.

Ingredients: Chamomilia Reticulata (German Chamomile) Flower Water*, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Flower Water*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Water/Aqua/Eau, Oryza Sativa Acetum (Brown Rice Vinegar)*, Glycerin (plant-sourced)*, Albizia Julibrissin (Mimosa Tree) Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Algae (Kelp) Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort) Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid. *Organic Ingredient

Kensington Apothecary Rose Water Exfoliating Tonic ($28.00 for 4 oz. from Kensington Apothecary, Beautyhabit's Amazon Store and Beautyhabit): This aromatic Rose Water tonic smells good enough to wear as a perfume, but it is also potent exfoliant. In fact, it does an exemplary job exfoliating dead skin cells to reveal soft, supply and ultra-smooth skin. Its medley of fruit acids gently remove and dissolve dead skin cells, they it help heal blemishes, and soften the appearance of fine lines.

According to Kensington Apothecary,

That tired, outer layer of skin needs to go, and you’re too smart to scrub it with grit. Let our quintet of fruit acids reveal the fresh smooth skin beneath. For gorgeous teens, their chic grandmothers and everyone in-between.

Sugar Cane, Bilberry and Citrus Extracts gently dissolve the outer layer of dead skin, revealing the fresh younger skin beneath. Calming and healing Organic Rose Hydrosol combines with the pH balancing powerhouse Witch Hazel and the moisture-locking properties of Aloe Vera. As effective for fine lines and discoloration as it is for blemish-prone skin, our Rose Water Exfoliating Tonic can be used daily by gorgeous teens, their chic grandmothers, and everyone in-between.

Directions: Sweep across a clean face with an organic cotton ball or reusable flannel cloth. Keep away from eye area. May be used morning and night. Follow with the Skin Serum and Facial Oil of your choice. Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen during the day.

Ingredients: Rosa Damascena Flower Water*, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Flower Water*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin (plant-sourced)*, Vaccinium Myrillus (Bilbery) Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonium (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Algae (Kelp) Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort) Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid. *Organic Ingredient

Kensington Apothecary Facial Oil #1 Pure Beauty ($25.00 for 1 oz. from Kensington Apothecary, Beautyhabit's Amazon Store and Beautyhabit): This lightweight and fast absorbing antioxidant-rich anti-aging facial oil sinks into the skin effortlessly, and it leaves skin with a pronounced luminous glow. Furthermore, skin is left deeply nourished, hydrated, soft and supple.

According to Kensington Apothecary,

Formulated to help you fight the top three signs of skin aging. Evening Primrose Oil is loaded with the essential fatty acids your skin needs to maintain its firmness and elasticity. Sea Buckthorn Oil is packed with minerals and amino acids to nourish skin from the outside. Green Tea Polyphenols are an antioxidant powerhouse, revered for their protective properties on skin of any age that is stressed by long-term lifestyle issues and the simple passage of time.

Directions: Massage a few drops onto a clean face, using gentle, circular motions. Be sure to include your neck, earlobes and décolletage. Blot lightly before applying sunscreen and makeup.

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil*, Camelia Sinensis (Tea) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil*, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Unsaponifiables, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, Tocopherol. *Organic Ingredient.

Kensington Apothecary Facial Oil #2 Pure Clarifying ($25.00 for 1 oz. from Kensington Apothecary, Beautyhabit's Amazon Store and Beautyhabit): This is alightweight and fast absorbing aromatic facial oil with a fresh lemony scent, from the Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, that delights the senses. It is the perfect choice for people prone to breakouts and clogged pores because it heals pimples, unclogs pores and reveals clear beautiful skin. If you are among the many people with oily, breakout-prone skin, then this beauty oil is made just for you.

According to Kensington Apothecary,

Breakouts and clogged pores? Your natural skin oils are likely out of whack. Rebalance them with this. Pumpkin Oil is rich in linoleic acid, often depleted in the surface lipids of acneic skin. Tsubaki Oil, famous throughout Asia for it's smoothing and tone evening properties, and purifying Rosemary Extract join forces to allow your skin be its glowing best.

Directions: Massage a few drops onto a clean face, using gentle, circular motions. Be sure to include your neck, earlobes and décolletage as needed. Blot lightly before applying sunscreen and makeup.

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract, Vitis Vinefera (Grape) Seed Oil, Camelia Japonica (Tsubaki) Oil, Curcurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol. *Organic Ingredient

Overall Assessment: If you are looking to green-up your beauty routine, then I highly recommend trying Kensington Apothecary. Their skincare is both effective and covet-worthy.

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own (Affiliate Links).
Copyright © 2016 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Kensington Apothecary Facial Oil #3 Pure Soothing | Review

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Given the veritable flood of beauty oils on the market, one of the greatest challenges for the uninitiated is finding one that best suits the needs of their skin. This particular challenge might even seem insurmountable for people with sensitive skin and very sensitive skin. For them, finding skincare products that neither exacerbate known sensitivities, nor introduce unknown offending ingredients, from the plethora of botanical actives that can overstimulate and irritate particularly sensitive skin, can present a very daunting challenge. The importance of the peace-of-mind associated with selecting a beauty oil that is formulated with the specific needs of sensitive, and reactive skin,  cannot be sufficiently underscored. 

Kensington Apothecary Facial Oil #3 Pure Soothing is, as the name suggests, a soothing face oil that is formulated to soothe, calm, heal, nourish and hydrate even the most sensitive skin types. Carefully selected anti-inflammatory ingredients such as Schisandra Fruit Extract, heals irritated and inflamed skin, while Avocado oil deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin. 

While my skin isn't always sensitive, it can be very reactive to certain ingredients, and when something triggers a reaction, I definitely seek refuge for my skin by using particularly gentle products that contain potent anti-inflammatory ingredients to mitigate the effects of the offending products and their particularly offending ingredients.

Kensington Apothecary Facial Oil #3 Pure Soothing leaves my skin soft, supple, nourished, hydrated, and with a pronounced luminosity. My skin benefits from this oil whether or not it is in a sensitive and reactive state, but when I experience skin irritation, this oil immediately soothes and calms it. Therefore, whether your skin is reactive to particular ingredients, or it is sensitive, in general, then this mighty little oil is absolutely worth having. 

Furthermore, this is a brilliant choice if you have been using aggressive facial peels and exfoliants that leave skin red, inflamed and traumatized. It's hard to believe that such an effective healing beauty oil is available at such a reasonable price! It should be noted that it has a light and pleasant earthy herbal scent that disappears after it is absorbed, and it won't likely cause an issue for people sensitive to aromatic face oils.

According to Kensington Apothecary,

Sensitive skin comes in all ages and subtypes. Schisandra Fruit Extract and Avocado Seed Oil give your skin the break it needs to heal itself.

Skin can be irritated for a number of reasons: lifestyle, genetics, allergies, irritants, stress. The key is to calm it down so it can begin to heal itself. Anti-inflammatory Schisandra quiets stressed, hyperactive skin while Avocado nourishes with vitamins A, D and E and a fatty acid complex that is close to our skin's own natural lipid profile. Take a deep breath, your skin will be okay.

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Persea Grattisima (Avocado) Seed Oil*, Vitis Vinefera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Curcurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Camelia Japonica (Tsubaki) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Unsaponifiables, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Neroli) Flower Oil, Tocopherol. * Organic Ingredient.

Overall Assessment: This is a very effective beauty oil that is well worth having if you have sensitive skin, or if you do frequent exfoliation. Kensington Apothecary is a brand that most definitely needs to be on your radar. A+

$25.00 for 1 oz. from Kensington Apothecary, Beautyhabit, and Beautyhabit Official Amazon Page.
Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own (Affiliate Links).
Copyright © 2016 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Kensington Apothecary Rose Oil Cleanser, Creamy Coconut Cleanser and Skin Serum #2 City Girl | Review

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In the last few years I have received countless requests to feature more healthy skincare products that are affordable and a joy to use. With this in mind, I thought that I should introduce you one of my favorite lines that satisfies all three of the aforementioned requests. 

Kensington Apothecary, a Portland, Oregon-based company, "formulates and manufactures 100% natural skincare using Organic and NON-GMO raw materials and the most advanced natural actives available in the world, primarily sourced from Switzerland and France." 

According to Kensington Apothecary, they draw their inspiration from, "a time before synthetic chemicals existed - the Renaissance through the Victorian eras."  

Kensington Apothecary uses Certified Organic, Ecocert approved, GMO-free, cruelty-free, conflict-free, and sustainably-harvested ingredients.

Kensington Apothecary Rose Oil Cleanser is a delectably aromatic rose oil that effectively removes makeup, dirt and impurities while nourishing and hydrating the skin. Furthermore, it draws out impurities and leaves skin unbelievably soft and supple.

According to Kensington Apothecary,

If you haven’t tried Oil Cleansing, you’re in for a delicious surprise. If you’re already hooked, this is the pure, nourishing oil blend you’ve been waiting for.

Dislodges and encapsulates even the most stubborn oil and grit and sweeps away clean, so your skin's natural lipid layer can go back to doing what it was designed to do. Formulated with rose, apricot and sunflower seed oils to moisturize and exfoliate.

Benefits:

• Removes and captures stubborn oil and grit
• Reveals an even and nourished complexion
• This oil is suitable for all ages and skin types

Directions: Smooth a pumpful of oil cleanser all over your face, massaging for several minutes or until all dirt is loosened. Soak a clean facecloth in warm water and spread over face, gently sweeping away cleanser until all traces of grime and make-up are removed. Repeat as desired. Follow with a tonic, serum and facial oil of your choice.

Ingredients: Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus (Apricot) Kernel Oil*, Prunus Persica (Peach) Kernel Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Olea Europea (Olive) Seed Oil. Olea Europea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopherol * Organic Ingredient

$24.00 for 4 oz. from Kensington Apothecary, Beautyhabit, Beautyhabit Amazon Store and select Whole Foods.

Kensington Apothecary Creamy Coconut Cleanser is a gentle, lathering coconut-based cleanser that neither strips skin, nor does it leave behind any sort of residue. Instead, it leaves skin soft, smooth and hydrated. It works very well alone, but I really love using it with a cleaning brush like the FOREO LUNA or Clarisonic. It has a light, barely-there mild coconut aroma that is delectable.

According to Kensington Apothecary,

For those who crave a good lather, this one will satisfy. Get out your spin brushes and scrub yourself happy.... Lathers gently using a coconut-based surfactant system that will not dry out your skin. Paraben, Phosphate, and Sulfate free...naturally! 

Directions: Lather a pumpful between clean hands and gently massage on face, neck and décolletage. Rinse with lukewarm water and lightly pat dry. Follow with a tonic, serum and facial oil of your choice.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Coco-Glucoside, Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin (plant-sourced)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Pulp CO2 Extract*, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid. *Organic Ingredient

$24.00 for 4 oz. from Kensington Apothecary, Beautyhabit, Beautyhabit Amazon Store, select Whole Foods and spas nationwide. 

Kensington Apothecary Skin Serum #2 City Girl is a lightweight anti-glycation serum that was formulated to transform skin from sallow, puffy and rough to luminous and rested appearing skin. It is also good for treating dark circles, but you want to keep it at a safe distance from the eyes. If you are up late, this will help your skin rejuvenated even when you may not be as rested as you appear. The aroma is best described as an earthy herbal scent that disappears as soon as it is absorbed.

According to Kensington Apothecary,

Don’t let the the bright nights and late nights of the cocktail circuit kiss and tell all over your face. Fight back with Kombucha and Silk Seed.

Attention Urban Glamoristas! Bright lights, late nights and the cocktail circuit leave their mark on your face in the form of sallowness, puffiness, rough skin texture and dark circles. What you are seeing are the destructive effects of protein glycation on your otherwise beautiful face. Fight those sugar blues with Kombucha and Silk Seed Extracts and return to the party fresh-faced and radiant. 

Directions: Smooth a half dropper of serum all over a clean face and allow to dry. Avoid immediate eye areas. Include your neck and décolletage. Follow with the Facial Oil of your choice. Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen during the day.

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Neroli) Flower Water*, Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin (plant-sourced)*, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Saccharomyces/Xylinum Black Tea Ferment, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid.

$33.00 for 1 oz. from Kensington Apothecary, Beautyhabit,  Beautyhabit Amazon Store, select Whole Foods Markets and online.

Overall Assessment: I definitely recommend becoming acquainted with Kensington Apothecary! Their products are healthy, environmentally friendly, eco-certified, cruelty free, a joy to use and they are affordable.

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own (Affiliate Links).
Copyright © 2016 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.