This post is a collaboration with Biodelly.fi, contains a giveaway
Let’s delve deeper into the holistic skin care brand The Organic Pharmacy by reviewing their complementary skin care products. If you’d like to read about the company’s background, skin care philosophy, and essential products, please check out part one.
The variety of products offered by The Organic Pharmacy is massive, and I was spoiled for choice as I tried to decide on the products I wanted to test. Besides the essential, basic product, I also wanted to try some stranger ones – and peels and masks, of course. I hit the bulls eye with all of my picks, so get ready for a (well-deserved) avalanche of praise.
Firstly, the Enzyme Peel Mask is perfect for you if your skin is too sensitive for the stronger AHA or fruit acid peels. The peel is suitable for all skin types, including thin, sensitive, and couperose skin. I would also recommend it for other skin types, to go with a stronger AHA-peel.
The active ingredient in this product is a type of polyhydroxy acid called lactobionic acid; the difference between lactobionic acid and alpha hydoxy acid is that the former causes less stinging in the skin, making it suitable for more sensitive skin types, as well as rosacea and psoriasis. Just like alpha hydroxy acids, polyhydroxy acids stimulate skin cell regeneration, thus helping to unveil new and glowing skin. Polyhydroxy acids are also great for ageing skin, whereas AHA-acids are better suited for treating discoloration.
The peel does also contain lactic acid, which is a type of alpha hydroxyl acid, but the amount is small enough not to cause stinging. Pineapple, grape, and papaya extracts, boosted by a dash of salicylic acid, exfoliate the skin enzymatically and gently. The peel also contains a healthy dose of antioxidants from goji and acai berry extracts, helping to fight free-radical damage, as well as vitamin C to brighten the skin and boost collagen production. This mild but pleasantly scented peel is simply wonderful.
On my list of products to test were also two masks: the Honey & Jasmine Mask and the Collagen Boost Mask. I’ll try not to overdo it with the superlatives this time. I don’t usually care for hydrating masks, as I often find them too creamy and entirely unsuited for my skin type. The Honey & Jasmine Mask, however, is something else entirely, beating all other cream masks I’ve tried out of the water. Besides deep hydration, the mask gave my skin such a glow that I was stuck, staring at the results in the mirror for about thirty minutes, at least. The fine lines were smoothed out, the pores smaller, and my skin was simply radiant. Amazing, if you ask me.
The mask contains potent repairing ingredients like rose-hip and primrose oil, a dash of sea salt, vitamin C, essential jasmine and ylang-ylang oils, and honey. I think honey might be the key-ingredient of the mask, actually, as it is an excellent humectant, or moisture-binding ingredient, which plumps up the skin cells, literally elevating and smoothing out lines, and evening the texture of the skin.
You’ll have seen the Collagen Boost Mask on the blog before, in my Top 5 list of weird and wonderful products. The name is a bit misleading, as the product is a leave-on treatment, not a mask. Firming and toning the skin, and brightening the skin tone, the Collagen Boost Mask is the queen of boosting treatments. To get the most out of this product, apply the Honey & Jasmine mask on top of it – after exfoliating with the enzyme peel, of course.
The consistency of the Collagen Boost Mask is gelatinous, and its active ingredients include alpha lipoic acid, MSM, DMAE, co-enzyme 10, oat extract, rose-hip oil, vitamin C, as well as ginseng root, St John’s wort, and propolis. The result is a multi-effect product that hydrates, repairs, minimizes pores, regulates sebum production, cleanses, soothes infection, improves skin tone, and evens the skin texture – all at once.
As the cherry on top, we have the multipurpose product, the Rose Balm, whose cute jar and sweet rose scent (from rose otto oil) have won me over. There are two types of essential rose oils: rose absolute, which is made by extracting, and rose otto, which requires steaming. The latter is clear in color, has a strong, sophisticated, and sweet scent, and is very expensive. Rose otto has a very distinct and…intoxicating fragrance – you’ll know it when you’ve scented it.
The consistency of the Rose Balm is solid, but also thin and fairly runny, and it can be used in a manner of different ways: as a lip balm, on the cuticles, on dry and rough patches, dry ends, redness, and fine lines – anything really. Ingredients include argan oil, apricot kernel oil, rose-hip oil, shea butter, marigold, and pomegranate. I use it as a lip balm and cuticle cream.
That wraps up the product-testing for The Organic Pharmacy – for now; as soon as I’ve run out of these, I’ll be running out to get more, and you’ll be the first to know! We’ve also had great results using the brand’s products in our study on atopic skin care .
And now for the giveaway. I was sent two Rose cleansing gels by mistake, so I decided one of you should get the other one. Go and check out Biodelly’s selection of The Organic Pharmacy products, then come back and leave a comment, telling me which product you’re the most curious about. The winner will be picked on Sunday March 22nd 2015, and will be announced in this same post.
By using the code KATJA15 at checkout, you will get a 15% discount on all full priced products at Biodelly. Valid until April 6th 2015.
Towels and small vases Proloque
Products provided by importer
Photos Katja Kokko
Translation Katja Nikula
