Ever wanted to get a new facial cream, but you don’t know which one to pick as there are so many out there? My students commonly ask me “Which skin care do you use”?
First of all I do not use make up every day, only if I really really have to, for photoshoots or special events.
I like to give my skin freedom to breath and I feel like I look like a different person when I wear make up (my husband agrees!).
As I do have very sensitive skin, I am very picky with the products I use. I study them, before I get and use them. I insist on perfume free and organic products. But which products are really organic, consisting of 100 % natural ingredients?
I picked a few organic skin care products which are now on the market, tested them for a few weeks and reviewed them for you.
1. How organic is it? Certifications?
2. Smell
3. Reaction to my skin
4. Price
i + m Naturkosmetik Berlin
I have been testing the facial moisturising cream and the fluid sensitive from i + M. I absolutely love the delicious smell of the two products. As both facials are less thick, I do prefer to use them during the summer as during the winter my skin is craving for thicker moisturisers and oils.
Both liquids are made of jojoba and almond oils, which my skin loves and absorbs very quickly.
When using these moisturisers my skin felt hydrated and nourished. I love that the German brand insists of parfum free products, no preservatives included and no harm to animals during the production.
These products are free from: aluminium, colourings, gluten, preservatives, lactose, mineral oil, nanoparticles, parabenes, parfum, paraffin, silicon etc..
You can definitely be sure, you are really using organic skincare. To prove this, they have got the following certificates: Cosmos Organic, Fair Organic Vegan, Vegan, Cruelty free International.
Fluid Sensitive: 17,90 € (30 ml)
Moisturizing Cream: 15,90 € (30 ml)
Link to website: www.iplusm.berlin
i + m on Amazon: Bodylotion Shea butter
Greenpeople
The story behind this English brand is rather fascinating. The founder’s mission (Charlotte Vøhtz), was to create organic skin care when she found out that her young daughter had multiple skin allergies and eczema.
She realised that “you only need to have less than 1 % natural or organic ingredients in the formulation to call it ‘natural’.”
She was insisted on never using “aggressive” ingredients or synthetic chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, alcohol (ethanol) or synthetic fragrances or colourants, and to never test on animals.
I have been trying the VITA MIN FIX moisturiser duo for day and night, which is also alcohol-free and supposed to nourish the skin for 24-hours and reduce wrinkles. I really like the smell of the liquids, which is sandalwood and rose. The moisturisers take a bit longer to be absorbed by the skin, but therefore they also stay longer in the skin. My skin felt really good and nourished by the ingredients squalane from olive and jojoba esters and antioxidants from seaweed and avocado.
With this brand you can be sure you are definitely using natural products. The products are certified via Eco Cert Organic Cosmetics.
Vita Min Fix 24-hour cream: 21 € (50 ml)
Link to website: www.greenpeople.co.uk
Greenpeople on Amazon: Vita Min Fix 24h cream, Day solution cream, Aloe Vera hand & Body lotion, Face wash, Tan Moisturiser, Gentle Cleanse, Vita Min Fix cream
BeOnMe
I have been using BeOnMe‘s facial cream for sensitive skin and I am very happy with the results. The moisturiser is a bit thicker than the other products I have tried, so you need to massage it a bit longer into the skin, but therefore it stays longer on your skin. It is perfect for cold winter days when the skin feels dry. I personally do like to use this cream during colder days. It has a nice, gentle healthy smell to it.
My skin definitely felt softer when using this moisturiser.
I love that you can be sure that this product is also 100 % organic, free from synthetics, allergens, and components of animal origin. They have got the ECOCERT certification, which says that “a minimum of 95% of the total ingredients come from natural origin and that a minimum of 95% of all plant-based ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 10% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming.”
If you want to get your first BeOnMe product, you can get a 15 % discount using the following code: zeynep01.
BeOnMe – Sensitive Skin: 12,50 € (50 ml)
Link to website: www.beonmelab.com
BIO:VÉGANE
Do you like green tea or goji berries? I like both and I am pleased this German brand has 100 % organic skin care with those two ingredients in it.
I would have never thought that I would like the green tea smell on my skin, but yes, it gives such a nice refreshing smell. My skin reacted positively to the ingredients which include green tea, gingko leaves, liquorice root extract and olive oil.
I have been also testing the serum which has ingredients such as goji, epica, Argan oil, jojoba oil und shea butter. This serum helps with skin elasticity and yes, once you put the liquid on your face you really feel the skin getting firm.
These products are also 100 % vegan and are certified by NATRUE.
Bio Gruentee 24h Pflege: 14,95 € (50 ml)
Bio Goji Serum: 22,95 € (30 ml)
Link to website: www.biovegane.com
Weleda
Weleda is another German organic brand, which is very established on the market. I love their products, especially this almond smelling body lotion. If you are into almonds, this is the one to get!
This one is a hydrating moisturiser which absorbs quickly into the skin, perfect for warmer days for me, I personally need a thicker moisturiser for the winter days.
Weleda products are cruelty-free, non-toxic, paraben-free, synthetic fragrance-free, SLS-free and GMO-free. All products are certified by the NATRUE standards. You can definitely be sure you are putting natural ingredients on your skin.
Almond Sensitive Skin Body Lotion: 19,27 € (200 ml)
Link to website: www.weleda.com
Weleda on Amazon: Weleda Skin Food, Sensitive Skin Facial Lotion, Renewing Day Cream, Evening Primrose Age Revitalizing Eye and Lip Cream, Age Defying Day Cream, Everon Lip Balm, Sensitive Skin Cleansing Lotion, Facial Cream, Almond
Dr. Hauschka
Dr. Hauschka is another German brand, which has been on the market for quite a while and I have been using it for a long time too. I am totally obsessed with all their facials, such as their rose cream. I have been also using their rose nurturing body cream lately and love it. I love the rose smell on my skin! My skin absolutely loves the ingredients, absorbs it very quickly, my skin feels smooth and also smells good. The ingredients are rose essential oils, organic Shea butter, almond and jojoba oil.
You can be sure Dr. Hauschka is 100% organic too, free from synthetic fragrances, dyes and preservatives, mineral oils, silicone and PEG. The products are certified by NATRUE standards and not animal tested.
Rose Nurturing Body Cream: 30,69 € (145 ml)
Link to website: www.dr.hauschka.com
Dr. Hauschka on Amazon: Rose Day Cream, Revitalizing Day Cream, Moor Lavender Calming Body Oil, Hand Cream, Cleansing Milk, Regenerating Day Cream, Lavender Sandalwood Calming Body Cream, Rose Nurturing Body Cream
Annemarie Borlind
The founder of Börlind GmbH (Annemarie Lindner), once said: “If I can’t eat it, I won’t put it on my face.”
This explains the philosophy of the brand. The brand works with natural ingredients and no animal extracts, petroleum derivatives or silicones. They refuse to use harmful ingredients or substances with poor biodegradability such as PEG, paraffins, petroleum derivatives, silicone oils and polycyclic musk compounds.
I have been testing the Sensitive Cream Mask & Beauty Shot, which both include blackcurrant seed oil and balloon vine extracts which help to reduce irritation and redness. I personally do not like the smell of either product, which is caused by the blackcurrant seed oil. I found it irritating to have that smell on my skin. I guess I am more a sweet smell person. I used the mask twice per week and found it really good, very moisturising and nourishing. The shot / serum is not so thick and absorbs easily into the skin.
Beauty Shot – SOS Sensitive: 34,04 € (15 ml)
Sensitive Cream Mask: 33,98 € (75 ml)
Link to website: www.borlind.com
Annemarie Borlind on Amazon: Regeneration Day Cream, Revitalizing Care Rose Blossom, Cleansing Milk, Absolute Day Cream, System Anti-Stress Strengthening Facial Gel, For Lips
Odylique
The founder Margaret once decided to study herbal medicine and aromatherapy, to be able to produce natural skin care and to battle her family’s eczema problems. Odylique products are free from synthetic chemicals and are all certified to Soil Association organic standards.
I have been testing Odylique’s avodaco 24h replenishing cream, which comes in a sort of glass bottle. I find it tricky to get the right amount out of this bottle. I was expecting an avocado smelling moisturiser, but this has more a neutral smell to it. The ingredients are cold-pressed avocado and olive oil, which were ok for my skin.
I have been also using the Baume Ultra Riche, which is great for the colder days. You can apply it to any dry areas, on face, body or even hair. It has a sweet delicious smell to it. These products are also certified to be natural and organic.
Avocado 24-Hour Replenishing Cream: 25,11 € (50 ml)
Ultra Rich Balm: 2 € (5 ml)
Link to website: www.odylique.com
Odylique on Amazon: Avocado 24-hour Replenishing Cream
Sukin
Sukin is an Australian natural skin, hair and body care brand, which focuses on natural ingredients, cruelty free and vegan.
I have been using Sukin’s facial Rose hip cream, which has ingredients such as rosehip oil, avocado oil, pomegranate and kakadu plum in it.
It is a lightweight cream, gets absorbed easily by the skin and has a nice sweet smell to it.
On colder days, I have also been using Sukin’s Paw Paw ointment, which is really versatile. You can use it for any skin areas (I mainly use it for my elbows), that are super dry or for even for your lips. They make the lips shiny at the same time and stay longer on your lips than any lip care I have tried so far! The main ingredients are papaya and castor seed oil. The company has no organic certifications, but they have a cruelty free company certification.
Paw Paw ointment: 7,29 €
Rosehip hydrating day cream: 20,33 €
Link to website: www.sukinorganics.com
Sukin on Amazon: Rose Hip Hydrating Day Cream, Rose Hip Oil
The Organic Pharmacy
The founder of the Organic Pharmacy, Margo Marrone, who had been working as a pharmacist and then went on to homeopathy realised how many toxins there were in our food and cosmetics. Her products are all based on homeopathic and herbal medicine.
I have been trying the Body Lotion Jasmine, which has a strong Jasmine smell and includes Shea Butter, jojoba and aloe. You have to massage the cream into the skin until it gets absorbed. If you are not into Jasmine, then I would not recommend it, as it has a very strong smell. The actual cream is soothing for the skin and stays for a long time too.
The company ensures that the product has 80 % organic ingredients, but I could not find any certifications, which prove this.
Body Lotion Jasmine: 51,15 € (200 g)
Link to website: www.theorganicpharmacy.com
The Organic Pharmacy on Amazon: Rose & Jasmine Body Oil, Jasmine Body Lotion
Summary
First of all you need to decide if you are looking for a thicker or maybe a thinner moisturiser. If you want to be 100 % sure that it contains organic ingredients; I personally only believe it when I see certifications on the products, which really prove that the product contains what it says or advertises.
From my experience it is always good to go with German brands, as they really believe in organic and sustainability and have certifications which prove that what is inside is really natural or at least the percentage of the natural ingredients.
You can go for the more common brands like Weleda, Dr. Hauschka, Annemarie Borlind or you could give newer brands such as i + m, BeOnMe, BIO:VÉGANE a chance.
The two english brands Greenpeople and Odylique are also doing a very good job and have certifications which prove that they are really using organic ingredients. Good skincare asks for a price, but you can be sure that your skin will be very thankful when you look after it!
Which brands are you using? Is it important to you to use organic skin care or do you not mind if it is not 100 % natural?
Love,
Zeynep
