Geek & Gorgeous: Overview

After a three month hiatus online thought I would do an overview of affordable skincare brand Geek & Gorgeous. They are a Hungarian brand, but now have a US site--yay! I grabbed a few things I had been wanting to try for quite some time. Stress Less serum is a soothing, hydrating serum. Details per brand site:

Stress Less is designed to improve sensitive, damaged, irritated or dehydrated skin with the combination of Beta-Glucan & Madecassoside, two supermolecules with remarkable skin soothing, repairing and hydrating abilities. Beta-Glucan is the most bioactive and valuable part of Oat with intensive skin repairing, skin smoothing & wound healing properties, while Madecassoside is one of the main active components of Centella Asiatica, a medicinal plant that has well-established soothing, wound healing and antioxidant activities.

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Methyl Gluceth-20, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycerin, Madecassoside, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

The texture is beautiful. Very light and thin yet hydrating and not sticky at all. It's simple with hydrators saccharide isomerate, glycerin and beta glucan plus soother madecassoside which is one of the main active ingredients of cica/gotu kola/centella asiatica. I love beta glucan, it's a great humectant. They use a version from oats. It's a big polysaccharide molecule that hydrates similar to others like hyaluronic acid and so on. I like it better than hyaluronic acid myself as it has some soothing properties as well. Saccharide isomerate is another humectant I love. I seem to love every hydrating serum it's in. I would totally buy this serum again, it's $13.20, the texture is great and I love the three humectants they chose to use.

A-Game 5 could change the retinoid world. It's the most affordable retinal on the market at this point. Details per brand site:

Retinal is the "big brother" molecule of the better known anti-aging superstar, retinol. While retinol needs two metabolic conversion steps to reach the active form, retinoic acid (aka  tretinoin), retinal is the direct precursor only one conversion step away from the active form the skin cells understand. It is estimated that retinal can convert more than 10x faster to retinoic acid than retinol, making retinal an outstandingly effective member of the retinoid family (vitamin A family).

Once converted, retinal helps the skin cells to produce more collagen and other structural elements, making the skin more youthful, firm and elastic. It also speeds up the renewal process of the upper skin layers making it smoother and more even. A-Game is a smart-aging must-have, but it is also useful as an adjacent product for fading pigmentation, as well as helping acne-prone skin. In terms of strength and knowledge, we would compare our 0.05% retinal serum to a mid-strength retinol product (typically in the 0.2-0.5% range), but with less irritation potential and possibly quicker results.

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleyl Erucate, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Allantoin, Retinal, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium Edta, Pentylene Glycol, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

A-Game comes in two strengths 0.05% and 0.1%. I grabbed both, but started with A-Game 5 the 0.05% strength. I switched to retinal and ditched retinol a few years ago and I've been happy ever since. I find retinal to be more effective and less irritating for my skin. There haven't been that many retinal formulas on the market, especially in the affordable range. It's nice to see more and more launching retinal products. A-Game 5 is $14.90, while A-Game 10 is $19.90--you can't beat the price. The texture is a thin emulsion, it's lighter than the typical cream. Obviously, the star is retinal but it also has allantoin and panthenol for soothing plus cloudberry seed oil which is an antioxidant rich oil.

I have no idea if the retinal is encapsulated, it says stabilized. I'm thinking they use IconicA which other brands use as well. IconicA has a 'delivery system utilizing a “transient” hemiacetal bond which stabilizes RAL for use in cosmetic preparations' per the manufacturer CoValence website. The product does have a 1 year shelf life after production and 6 months after opening. Retinoids can degrade quickly so it's not an item to stockpile--buy it when you need it. A-Game 5 is medium strength and A-Game 10 is for more experience retinoid users. Again, I prefer retinal because it's really effective at reducing lines/wrinkles, discoloration and helping reduce signs of aging while being less irritating than retinol. That's my general experience with every retinal and this one is the same. I prefer the 0.05% strength as it's easier to use more often, I find the 0.1% is too strong for me and I have to recover generally. I do not have that experience with 0.05%. For the price you need to try it, plus I love the pump packaging.

They have two moisturizers. Hydration Station and Happy Barrier. Hydration Station is the gel cream. Details per brand site:

A refreshing, light gel cream textured moisturiser that goes beyond the basics, as it not only hydrates, but also protects and soothes the skin. A medium-amount of 5% Glycerin is enhanced by hydrators working in synergy with glycerin: a new-generation molecule called Isosorbide Dicaprylate and a sugar trio, trade named Aquaxyl, help the transportation of glycerin throughout the epidermis (by upregulating Aquaporin-3) and strengthen the skin barrier by stimulating the skin’s own ceramide production. The 1% Ectoin in the formula hydrates & soothes the skin, while it also protects from all kinds of environmental stress, such as pollution, oxidative stress, blue & visible light. A good dose of two classic calming ingredients, Allantoin and Bisabolol further enhance the soothing ability of Hydration Station.

What makes the formula of Hydration Station unique is also what is not in it. It avoids three super common ingredient groups that are found in almost all moisturisers: fatty alcohols, fatty acids and silicones. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with these ingredients (and we do use some of them in our other moisturiser, Happier Barrier), we know there are a few skin types bothered by these, and we know how hard it is to find a good product without them. If you find that most “normal” moisturisers break you out, or you have a skin issue related to Malassezia fungi (malassezia folliculitis, aka fungal acne or seborrheic dermatitis), Hydration Station could be your formula.

Ingredients

Water, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/​PPG/​Polybutylene Glycol-8/​5/​3 Glycerin, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Ectoin, Xylitylglucoside, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/​VP Copolymer, Glucose, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

I love this gel cream. I have really dry skin so I don't use gel creams as a moisturizer per se, I use them as a cushy hydrating layer in my Dry Skin Sandwich Method. I layer on all my light layers, then add a gel cream, then misting and a few drops of oil followed by a moisturizer. The gel cream has a better longevity than a serum keeping my dry skin happy longer. I like this one because it serves that purpose really well. This one glides on, doesn't pill and layers well. It's got a nice juicy texture that is thick enough (some gel cream look nice but really melt down into a weatery serum, not this one).

This gel cream has humectants glycerin, Isosorbide Dicaprylate and several sugars to hydrate the skin well. Bisabolol and allantoin soothe along with ecotin which has multiple functions including hydration, soothing, barrier repair and antioxidant protection. I find this product really quenches my skin and it makes a great layering product for dry skin. I cannot speak for it alone as a gel cream moisturizer for more oily skin. If you have dry skin and like a nice gel cream as a layering product to help reduce TEWL and hydrate longer then this is for you. It's good for sensitive skin as well, no fragrance, plus it's under $10 at $9.80. Can't beat that.

Happy Barrier is the more lipid rich moisturizer. Details per brand site:

A nourishing & intensely hydrating, yet lightweight moisturizer that focuses on maintaining a happy and healthy skin barrier. Its formula contains 7% Squalane to lock in moisture and to make the skin soft & smooth, plus a 3% skin-identical lipid mixture that works in synergy with 0.1% pure Ceramide 2 for a strong & healthy skin barrier. Happier Barrier also contains a high-quality, standardised polyphenol-rich Green Tea Extract that gives the formula its light peachy color and added antioxidant & skin-soothing properties. This is further enhanced by a good dose of two classic calming ingredients, Allantoin and Bisabolol.

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Squalane, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Ceramide NG, Squalene, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

While it's more lipid rich it's really not that heavy. It's a day moisturizer for my dry skin. I imagine more oily to combo types can use this at night. It has squalane, jojoba and macadamia oils, phytosterols, Phytosteryl Macadamiate plus ceramide NG for the lipids. There's also green tea polyphenols for antioxidants and soothing, along with soothers bisabolol and allantoin. It's great for sensitive skin plus it's only $11.80, so it's extremely affordable. I would put this in my top five affordable daytime moisturizers for dry skin.

Liquid Hydration is their mist/toner spray. Details per brand site:

Panthenol, or pro-vitamin B5 is a well-established moisturizer known not only to hydrate the skin, but to also have powerful skin soothing, barrier strengthening and wound healing properties. This formula combines 5% Panthenol with Allantoin and NMF components to further increase both the hydrating and the soothing abilities of the mist. 

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Panthenol, Peg/Ppg/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Diglycerin, Urea, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sorbitol, Lysine, PCA, Allantoin, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

I love mists as you know. I use them to help serums or products spread better, they help facial oils penetrate better, they help add a nice humectant layer to skin before you seal it in with moisturizer. This one isn't fancy, though a mist doesn't need to be fancy. This one costs $8.90 making it the most affordable mist I own and actually like. This mist has panthenol and allantoin for soothing, and glycerin combined with natural moisturizing factors (NMF). NMF are things naturally found in the skin that hydrate it such as: Amino acids (in this mist hydrolyzed rice protein), urea, PCA, sodium PCA, lactic acid and diglycerin. The mister is pretty good for a cheap one, it's not the finest mist ever but no big clumps or globs of mist like some can leave. I find it hydrating this mist and I like it. For the price it's great.

Jelly Joker is their gel cleanser. Details per brand site:

A silky, rich textured jelly cleanser designed to cleanse the skin thoroughly without drying it out or disrupting the skin barrier. Two very gentle, yet effective surfactants join forces in this all-skin type & skin problem formula to cleanse the skin and dissolve (water-soluble) makeup. It does not sting the eyes, and has a low, skin-friendly pH (~5-5.4), It is the most universally usable (or we could say, jolly joker) cleanser we could think of. 

Ingredients

Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Poloxamer 184, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Panthenol, Allantoin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

I'm not usually a fan of gel cleansers anymore as you know. I have super dry skin and find most drying no matter what the formulation is. It's just the nature of the beast. That's why I use creamy or oil based cleansers the most, I can skip the potential drying effects from gel cleansers. I do enjoy this cleanser in the shower now and then. It's got a thick gel texture that does not foam, it rinses clean and doesn't dry my skin out. I don't use gel cleansers to remove makeup, I rarely find that they work in that fashion so I don't even test it anymore. I use oil based for makeup and SPF removal. If you want a gel cleanser for the mornings or a second cleanse this is great. I like a morning cleanse as I use occlusives and oil heavy products every night. This cleanser is $9.90, again amazing deal.

Overall, I loved what I picked out to try from the brand. I purchased all the products myself. The textures were great, the prices were amazing. The 101 products are all under $20, with all but one under $15. Everything was suitable for dry skin, and even sensitive skin for the most part. I have Rosacea in addition to being really dry, and minus the mist everything was urea and propanediol free which can trigger some with Rosacea flares. Everything was fragrance and alcohol free which also is great for sensitive skin types. They do have a few other products and exfoliants that I have no interest in grabbing if you're looking for a review. I gave up acids and vitamin C a while ago. I can't wait to see what they come up with next. Maybe an occlusive or creamy cleanser? A more rich moisturizer for dry skin? I like the ingredient combos they picked on the products I grabbed.