The December Boxwalla subscription box is out. The theme is 'If on a Winter's Day, a Traveller" and it features brands Cipher and Skin Alchemists. I love the Boxwalla box because one it's bi-monthly meaning less products than a monthly box so I actually have time to use the new acquisitions as well as Boxwalla is very well curated. This box has the antioxidant/vitamin C serum C-Shield Refining Antioxidant Serum by Cipher. Cipher is an up and coming Aussie brand. Think green chemistry I guess if you're going to label it something. Their formulations are well thought out and executed, plus they're high quality. This serum combines antioxidants, hydrating and barrier happy ingredients for a three in one serum. It could be a one and done for many. It has two forms of vitamin C (derivatives sodium ascorbyl phosphate & ascorbyl glucoside), white pine bark (proanthocyanidins), green coffee seed (high concentration of chlorogenic acids) and superoxide dismutase for a powerhouse combo of antioxidants. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production and helps brighten the skin in addition to protecting the skin from free radicals. Derivatives while less brightening on the skin for me are great for low irritation and those who have sensitivity. It's tolerable for most (the non-derivative is not), plus it's not going to oxidize.
This serum also has prebiotic freshwater micro algae (balancing), yeast oligopeptide, tremella mushroom (hydrating), hyaluronic acid, allantoin and niacinamide. The serum has a deep orange hue and a slight scent from the natural ingredients. It's not a vitamin C scent or anything, more prebiotic natural I guess. The texture is a light gel serum with some weight to it. It's hydrating for sure. It can be a little tacky at times and my suggestion is to only use one pump as the brand suggests for face & neck (two can be too much) and apply over damp skin like after misting or after using an essence. That helps a lot. If you mist after and move onto the next layer it's fine. That feeling disappears after the next product is applied. I haven't used this long enough to give a detailed effects review. It's been about two weeks for me. I love the pump packaging and brand aesthetic, I think it hydrates and will do a great job as an antioxidant and hydration/healthy skin serum. Derivatives aren't as brightening for me as far as melasma or dark spots but I'm kind of done with ascorbic acid this year in order to help my skin be less irritated and I'm glad my first to delve into is by Cipher. I like the other products I've tried by them so far as well.
The brand Skin Alchemists is totally new to me, honestly I had never heard of them before this box. Time Traveller Renewing Face Cream is a silky medium weight cream. The goal of this cream is to target blemishes, wrinkles and oxidative stress. It has colloidal silver and black seed oil to clarify, bakuchiol plus cacay, rosehip, hemp, abyssinian and seabuckthorn oils. It also has aloe and cupuacu butter. This cream does have bitter orange and geranium essential oils. It has a citrus scent but not in the typical citrus fashion. More citrus floral.
So this cream is silky and not greasy or heavy at all. It's more light medium or so in texture. I tend to run into this conundrum with creams around this texture--They're too light for night use for me and too heavy for day use. I have dry skin so keep that in mind. Maybe on deep winter days this would work as a day cream but not during warm or humid months. Now this will be the perfect texture for more combo to oily types. It won't feel greasy or heavy on you at all. If you like that more creamy, silky, satin finish texture like Votary Super Seed Cream then you'll love this. I just need more (occlusives maybe ?) in a night cream. It has a lot of lipids but I tend to reach for a really lipid and occlusive heavy cream for nights for my particularly dry skin.
A night cream for me needs to last all night long and cling, this one melts in with a more silky satin finish than my usual heavy duty night moisturizers. I see this working well for those more normal to combo to oily types who need some clarifying. This is your type of cream. I think the key to skincare is knowing that just because something may not work for your skin doesn't mean it's a bad product, it's just not for you and that's OK because it will be for many. I just have rather dry, sensitive skin at the moment and in order to use this I have to either cover it with a balm or Vaseline.
This box is currently available for subscription HERE. The value is $212 for $49.95.
Box provided in PR but all thoughts are my own.