When it comes to skin
I have always been very picky. As a teen, my dermatologist was my favorite doctor, and definitely the only one I was meeting on the regular. I never suffered much from acne, but I did have pimples some time to time, and for some reason, it was really ruining my life. I went on and took Accutane which absolutely helped, but hormones are what they are, and I couldn’t get away from the occasional breakout. Then when I was 19 I developed Impetigo on my chin, I had a pimple, which I eagerly attacked with waves of alcohol trying to dry it fast, (bad idea) and eventually made the situation worse by weakening my immune defense on that area of my skin.
The nightmare. I lived hidden for 2 weeks waiting for it to go away, but in the aftermath of it, I developed a stubborn patch of dry skin on the left side of my chin. Since then, I have been obsessed with finding the perfect balance in between controlling that sebum and pimples, while hydrating my skin to nourish it and eliminate dry patches.
Fast forward to today, and years of experience working for beauty and skincare brands, I have navigated the world of formulas, from effective, to gimmicky, passing by trendy and clean. Here is my honest review of my top 12 skincare products and faithful partners in my daily routine.
12 – Native Face Moisturizer
This is one of the cleanest face moisturizer on the market and believe me, I looked! It is not the most nourrishing but I love that it has Zinc Oxide and prep my skin with sun protection before I even apply sunscreen.
86/100 on Yuka
11 – Burt’s Bees Chapstick
This is the Zinnia version of Bart’s Bees many chapsticks. Zero trace of mineral oils, only natural ingredients, and absolutly effective. I ditched the Dior Sugar Scrub which is actually killing us with BHT, this one you could even eat.
93/100 on Yuka
10 – Native Hair Duo
The Almond & Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner duo is a clean hair care solution. Free from sulfates, parabens, and silicone, they gently cleanse and deeply hydrate. Hair is one of the hardest category when it comes to finding clean products.
93/100 on Yuka
9 – Pipette Jelly
We all love vaseline. It’s so practical, easy and affordable. But this is petroleum jelly aka mineral oil on steroids, so pretty much killing us slowly. I was horrified to learn a trust worthy product was actually dangerous to me, so I looked and found this clean alternative.
100/100 on Yuka
8 – Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap
Back in the shower, bodywashes are usually filled with fragrances and unecessary ingredients that ruines our skin and health. Dr. Bronner is actually my go-to for many other products, but their soap, especially the fragrance-free one is my ultimate favorite, for the shower or if I want a bubble bath.
96/100 on Yuka
7 – My July Therapy Balm
I will be a little biased here because I actually know the 2 women behind the brand. And I know the care and the work that has been put in the development of My July. This balm is as clean as it goes, and my everyday touch up for the face or every itchy corners of my body.
Not on Yuka
6 – Thinksport 50 SPF
SPF… The hardest category of all. It is an OTC drug with actives, often mixed with dangerous additives to keep it clear, or waterproof. It kills us and the ocean slowly sometimes even without guaranteeing a real protection.
96/100 on Yuka
5 – Colby + SPF 30
Now, we are entering my top 5, this is the SPF I use while surfing, it’s heavily tinted and thick for that usage, but it’s also the cleanest thing on earth! Only made with 5 ingredients, in small batch in Santa Barbara.
Not on Yuka
4 – The Ordinary Rose Hip Oil
Face oils are so important, and this one is 100% Rose Hip Oil, nothing else in the bottle. I love that. It’s clean, and light and super hydrating, and the good side of it, it is also very cheap. I use it every night.
100/100 on Yuka
3 – Remedy for Dark Spots
Finding serums that work without being filled with dangerous ingredients is almost impossible. I love this one, because it has 9 actives in one step, and besides for the preservative (which is 3rd to last on the IL) it’s a very clean formula.
47/100 on Yuka
2 – Eau Precieuse Toner
This one is a French miracle, a toner I use since I am 13 years old, and nothing works like it. I am so surprised it is not famous outside of EU, because it helps with acne and blemishes so well. This is my best kept secret, hands down.
72/100 on Yuka
1 – African Shea Butter
Last but not least, the holy grail, the 100% Unrefined Shea butter directly from Ghana. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what I apply on my skin religioulsy 5 times a day. It is the most hydrating, it is anti-inflammatory and protects from the sun too.
100/100 on Yuka
More Top 12?
Check out my top 12 reviews, exploring a variety of topics, categories, and conversations.
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