Gentle & Natural Skincare Routine with Luminance Skincare
I started really getting into skincare about a year ago. Up until then, my interests had been more centered on hair and makeup. But since then, I have built up a skincare routine that I love and that works for me. I love trying new products and, if I like love them, figuring out how to fit them into my already-existing routine. Taking care of your skin, especially while you’re still young, is super important not only for your skin’s health, but also for preventing pre-mature signs of aging, appropriately treating adult acne, and helping it transition as you age. I have personally faced many challenges with my skin throughout my life, and am constantly trying to find products I like and that work for me, which is hard because skin is always changing. That being said, everyone’s skin is different and responds to products differently, so keep that in mind as you continue to read this post.
I was so excited when Luminance Skincare reached out to me and offered to send me some of their products to try! Luminance Skincare is a Northern California based skincare brand that hand crafts vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic, non-synthetic, and fresh products (most are organic, too!). They don’t use harmful preservatives, and instead use red radish root which keeps the products fresh for six months. The relatively short shelf-life may be discouraging to some, but I like the motivation to use up a product once I’ve started to use it.
The package came just a few days after I responded to Luminance’s original message, and I couldn’t wait to see what products they had sent. As I opened the box, I was immediately disappointed to see styrofoam packing peanuts 🙁 (please reconsider your packaging!). I would much rather have seen any form of paper to protect the products during shipping. But once I got past the packaging, I was greeted by a super nice hand written note 🙂 . Once I pulled all five products out of the box, I was thrilled to see that the Delicate Facial Cleanser, Rosewater Toner, Hydration facial moisturizer, Acne Serum, and Exfoliating Mask were in GLASS containers! Woo hoo! (If you know me, then you already know I prefer anything in non-plastic packaging because it’s better for me and the environment!) I slowly integrated these products into my skincare routine over the following week and have now been using all five products for about three weeks.
Here are my thoughts on each product:
Delicate Facial Cleanser — a moisturizing facial cleanser that is super gentle. I would definitely recommend this cleanser for anyone with sensitive skin or a sensitive nose since it simply smells like a nice bar of soap. This cleanser does not take makeup off, so make sure you remove your makeup prior to washing your face. It is very gentle and did not leave my skin feeling dry, which is a real plus.
Rosewater Toner — a balancing pH adjustment for your facial skin. I LOVE this toner! It is definitely my favorite product from the package. It is made of 100% rosewater so you can feel good about spraying it on your skin. I also spray it on my neck and décolletage. It is refreshing and smells AMAZING – just like a fresh bouquet of roses 🙂
Hydration Facial Moisturizer — a facial moisturizer for a youthful face. I have been using this moisturizer at night and I think it’s really helped my skin. For about the past year and a half, I have been using a prescription topical acne treatment that works really well, but is also extremely drying. Hydration is a thick moisturizer that keeps my skin from drying out while I sleep, which is a struggle I was facing for a while (Get it? Facing? Haha!). It is not greasy and smells lightly of roses and lavender.
Acne Serum — a non-drying, gentle acne product with tea tree oil, tamanu oil, matcha tea powder, and borage oil. This serum has a lovely texture and light tea tree scent (I know the scent of tea tree oil can be over-powering sometimes). I have been using it twice daily (once in the morning and once at night) over a serum and under a moisturizer. This serum is not a quick, overnight, “let’s dry out this zit” kind of product. It is more of a long-term solution to preventing bacterial growth that causes acne, balancing sebum production, and breaking down accumulated sebum in your pores. I like this product because it is not drying like so many acne products I’ve tried before. I’ve also been using it on body breakouts I get from working out and my skin seems to like it. If you have severe acne, this product might not be the one solution for you (since it is gentle) but it might be a helpful long-term addition to your skincare routine.
Exfoliating Mask — a gentle exfoliating mask with papaya papain enzyme. This mask is very gentle and does not cause irritation. It has a sort of sour smell, but that is just the papain enzyme, which works remove dead skin cells from your skin’s surface without any scratching or burning (like a lot of exfoliating products). Again, I think this product would be great for someone with sensitive skin!
All in all, I’m happy I had the opportunity to try these natural, organic, cruelty-free, and pretty-local products (WA –> CA ~ West Coast Best Coast! lol)! I think the Rosewater Toner, Hydration moisturizer, and Acne Serum are best fit for my skin, while I would recommend the Delicate Facial Cleanser and Exfoliating Mask to anyone with sensitive skin and/or a sensitive nose. Like I said, everyone’s skin is different and you just have to try products until you find what works for you. Once I finish these products, I think I might try their Clarifying Mask or their Detox Mask!
Luminance Skincare has many more products that are all highly rated, plus you can get a FREE sample kit to try out their Delicate Facial Cleanser, Rosewater Toner, and Deep Hydration Moisturizer (you just pay shipping). If you try any of their products, let me know what you think – especially if it’s something I haven’t tried!