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Let’s face it, the last 12 months have not been easy for most people. I’ve turned natural brand Elemental Herbology for their spa-at-home products for some TLC from hair care to body care and more recently, their skincare products.
Elemental Herbology, a natural skincare and body care brand based on the Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine – wood, fire, earth, metal, water – and that these elements need to work in harmony to achieve a state of perfect equilibrium. Not sure what it is? You can do Discover your element quiz on the website to help you find your element and the right products for you. Your Elemental Herbology prescription will comprise products from a mix of their ranges, depending on what your skin needs to achieve balance at this point in time. All the products are cruelty-free and over 20 of them are suitable for vegans. The products are completely free from synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate), parabens and mineral oils.
Today, I wanted to go over these products as a whole skincare routine, one that I’ve been adopting twice a week in my evening routine for the last couple of months, mostly on evenings when I’m not having prescription-strength retinol. On a retinol routine, I keep my products very gentle and minimise the use of acids and actives.
Bio-cellular Super Cleanse Facial Cleanser
A gentle milky cleanser that cleanses and refines skin with key ingredients including:
- AHA Complex: A blend of malic, lactic and glycolic acid help to exfoliate the top layer of the skin, make it appears smoother and fresher.
- Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment(Kombuchka™): Rich in probiotics and antioxidants, improves the overall skin quality by enhancing skin smoothness, radiance and colour.
- Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate(Vitamin C): antioxidant, collagen booster, skin brightener
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Linalool, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Malic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid.
Verdict
My skin is oily blemish-prone but can also get sensitive and dehydrated from time to time, so while I’m always tempted to use very active skincare products I do have to discipline myself. This cleanser is a nice happy medium, the presence of AHA blend gives my skin the exfoliation it needs but not as a leave-on product so the chance of irritations is much lower. There’s a gentle aromatherapy scent with a hint of lavender, it’s very calming. I apply this cleanser, close to 2 pea-size amount and massage onto dry skin. I spend a little more time on my chin as that area gets congested easily. This isn’t a foaming cleanser, so if you want to add water, you’ll barely get a milky lather but it does rinse clean. My preferred way of removing cleansers is always with a warm washcloth, it’s the easiest, fuss-free and residues-free. My skin always feels cleansed and smooth in the most gentle yet refreshing way without any drying or tight feeling.
Available: £28/125ml – Get 20% off with code WAXYBEAUTY
Antioxidant Hydration Mist
A hydration mist that hydrates, soothes and protects dehydrated, sensitised skin using main ingredients:
- Rose Damask Flower Water: Rich in antioxidants to protect the skin from environmental damage.
- Rose Damask Oil: Helps to reduce redness and sensitivity, deeply moisturising and repairing.
- Glycerin: Powerful humectant properties to lock moisture into the skin.
Ingredients
Rosa Damascena Flower Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Aqua, Eugenol
Verdict
This feels very hydrating. I mist this a few times after cleansing whenever I want that extra boost of moisture, not just with this routine. My skin really loves rose oil and it calms my skin from any irritations or redness. So, I really don’t mind the prominent scent. It smells like a bunch of fresh roses than synthetic perfumey kind of rose scent but you don’t like the rose scent at all, then this one may not be for you as it’s fairly prominent. I enjoy this mist a lot, it’s moisture quenching and it calms my mind too.
Available: £30/100ml – Get 20% off with code WAXYBEAUTY
Bio-Cellular Matrix Serum
An advanced daily serum, combining patented technology with skin-boosting botanicals to help soften lines and wrinkles, increase hydration and improve skin tone.
- Beuplex®VH: A multi-vitamin complex (from Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine HCl & Maltodextrin, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate and Silica which contain the benefits of Vitamins E; C; B3; B5 and B6) helps to combat free-radicals and protect skin from environmental damage.
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38/Matrixyl®Synthe’6™: A potent peptide that stimulates hyaluronic acid and collagen production, resulting in more even skin and fewer wrinkles.
- Green Tea and Raspberry Stem Cells: Helps to improve the texture of the skin and reduce free-radical damage
- Echium Oil: Rich in essential fatty acids and Omegas 3 and 6 to nourish, repair and protect the skins natural barrier.
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Squalane, Octyldodecanol, Carrageenan, Phenoxyethanol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Hematite Extract, Xanthan Gum, Isostearyl Isostearate, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Panicum Miliaceum (Millet) Seed Extract, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Niacinamide, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Benzoic Acid, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Seed Oil, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Soluble Collagen, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Pearl, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pyridoxine HCl, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Tannic Acid, Gluconolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Silica, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Sorbic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.
Verdict
This gorgeous serum has a pink hue pearlescent look and the consistency is closer to a super lightweight lotion. I love the airless pump packaging, it’s always nice to have a pump for ease of use but most importantly, it protects the ingredients from degrading and it’s much more hygienic. I typically use 2 pumps which equate to about a pea-sized amount after misting while my skin is still a bit damp. It absorbs into the skin very quickly and it feels very silky on the skin. There’s a natural green scent but it’s very pleasant and it never irritates my skin. The overall ingredients deck are very well rounded and I really like the idea of having peptides in my stash. I feel that this can be your only serum, you won’t need to layer multiple serums as it covers all aspects already. This serum leaves my skin fresh, balanced and nourished along with the rest of the routine.
Available: £45/30ml – Get 20% off with code WAXYBEAUTY
Vital Glow Overnight Resurfacing Cream
A rich overnight treatment to repair skin from environmental damage and the early signs of ageing.
- Plant C-Stem™: Anti-inflammatory action to repair over-exposed skin and improve collagen production.
- Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate(HPR)/Granactive Retinoid: So-called retinoic acid ester. Stimulates cell turnover, reduces pigmentation and the appearance of pore size, improves elasticity and improves the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
- AHA Blend: Glycolic (sugar), Malic (apples) and Lactic (milk) acid to exfoliate the skin, improve skin texture and promote radiance.
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Squalane, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Limonene, Panthenol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Arginine, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Malic Acid, Oryzanol, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Hydroxypinacolone, Retinoate, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Phaseolus Radiatus Meristem Cell Culture Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Stearate, Maltodextrin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Alcohol Denat, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Citral.
Verdict
This night cream is more than a moisturiser, it’s a treatment, more like an overnight mask. There’s a slight citrusy scent but it doesn’t linger. The texture is very light whipped and not heavy at all. The first couple of times I used this, there’s a mild tingling sensation but it doesn’t happen anymore. So, I think my skin has adapted to the formula. I like this cream a lot and apply it generously on my face and neck, I usually don’t apply actives on my neck as they tend to irritate that area but this cream doesn’t do that. I think the presence of Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Squalane, Apricot Kernel Oil, Argan Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, Broccoli Seed Oil and all the other emollients must play a big part of making my skin feel nice and nourished. Now, the only thing I’d say is that don’t leave your evening routine right before bedtime because this cream takes a bit of time to absorb fully. On my oily skin base, even after an hour, I’d notice a bit of residue on my face, sort of like facial oils are freshly applied. I imagine if someone who’s drier skin than me, this can be very different. Despite that, I love the results I get, when I wake up in the morning, my skin feels brighter, smoother and well-rested without having to use a high percentage actives product and risk irritating my skin.
Available: £57/50ml – Get 20% off with code WAXYBEAUTY
Final thoughts
I really enjoy all the products, they are beautifully formulated and I’m happy to use these products on my non-retinol nights. They are gentle yet effective, they haven’t caused any irritations or aggravate my skin sensitivity. If you are looking for one product to try out, then I’d highly recommend the Vital Glow Overnight Resurfacing Cream, it truly delivers its promises. Just avoid using other strong actives on the same routine for example other leave-on exfoliants in case the combination overwhelms the skin barriers. One final thing to mention, they are all technically fragrance-free, however, they are essential oils used in the ingredients and they smell lovely, but, if this is not something you enjoy, then best avoid.
Be sure to check out your element and find out what products are suitable for you. Get 20% off with code WAXYBEAUTY