I feel like it’s time to talk about a Top 3 post again. Now I’ve already listed my top essences before HERE, but tastes and needs change so I thought I would update. This year because of COVID and masks my skin has been in a major freak out more sensitive mood and I’ve been unable to use products like I used to. This was hard to narrow down as I love a good essence and I have quite a few favorites. So the main three I’ve been reaching for recently are all soothing and repairing. No big surprise that seems to be the story of my life the last 18 months. Acaderma Equilibria Stabilizing Toner has a delightful light slippery hydrating texture. It’s geared towards helping with dryness, irritation and redness with MSM, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and prebiotics. It also has some other soothing and hydrating ingredients like Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate (tripeptide, boosts production of hyauronan which is important in skins hydration). I love how light this is plus it’s a great hydrating base for skincare, I find it soothing. Perfect for my needs right now. This has no fragrance. Full review HERE.
Another essence that became a quick favorite is the FORLLE’D Hyalogy P-effect Refining Lotion. This is super light yet hydrating and also very soothing. It uses a special patented nano-delivery system (ultra low hyaluronic acid and ionized minerals). The key ingredients is their patented hyaluronic acid and ionized minerals, amino acids, hydrolyzed egg shell membrane and hydrolyzed pearl protein. This is fragrance free and I find with frequent use it’s soothing, helps overall resilience of my skin and boosts hydration. Totally recommend it and full review is HERE. YOU Skincare is a favorite brand of mine. Their Moisture Replenishing Essence is fantastic. I think I’m on number three and it was in my first round of favorites. It’s also light and slippery, maybe the heaviest of the three (though still light). It has aloe, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin & cucumber, green tea leaf extract, Thanakha bark (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory), yucca root and horsetail leaf extract (anti-inflammatory). This one is soothing but with added bonuses like antioxidants plus it has a more herbal extract focus. The scent is very light and refreshing from the natural ingredients. I love it and it’s one of my favorites from their range. Full review HERE.
So while my tastes did shift this year, based on my changing needs, that doesn’t mean there aren’t tons of essences I don’t think deserve recognition. For instance Naturallogic Elemental Advanced Hydration Red Wine Essence is utterly fantastic. It has a light gel liquid essence texture that hydrates & sinks in well. It’s got red wine (hello love this idea for AHAs & antioxidants), hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol and red algae. Truly a unique and special gem in the skincare world. I’m on number two.
I also can’t forget about my beloved African Botanics Infusion which is a fabulous more waterlight essence with a more multi-focal active treatment focus. It manages to manages to soften, soothes, hydrate, brighten, rejuvenate plus improve texture all in one. Plus it helps protect against environmental stress and pollution with adaptogens and antioxidants. It’s full luxury meets effective skincare as African Botanics always delivers. Full review HERE. I’m now on bottle number three. I can’t use this one as much this year due to my mask sensitivity, but it deserves to be recognized again.
LOVINAH Dragon’s Blood Probiotic Tonic also deserves to be mentioned. This essence is a thicker essence but similar in feel to YOU Skincare. This essence has a few antioxidant rich tea extracts, soothing cucumber & rose, Dragon’s Blood (healing, soothing, purifying), antioxidants like beet and astaxanthin, hydrating glycerin, hyaluronic acid and lactic acid, plus probiotics and prebiotics inulin & alpha-glucan oligosaccharide. It has a faint berry color and a light berry scent. It’s another great green beauty essence specimen that deserves to be recognized. Overview of all LOVINAH HERE.
* Some items gifted but all thoughts are my own.