One of the reasons I've fallen head over heels in love with my Moi-mem subscription box is that it provides me with luxury products to try. Most of the time is products and brands that I have never come across before, and they usually come with a price tag that would make me contemplate for a while before taking the plunge and buying them. Skin Alchemists is a brand I have come across once before with a luxurious skin treating candle, so when I pulled their beautifully packaged product from within my Moi-meme box, I knew it was one I would want to look into more.
Upon reading more about the brand I loved them even more, discovering that the create their products in small batches to ensure maximum freshness. Their products are formulated with 100% natural, organic, unrefined and unbleached butters and oils. Each and every batch is bespoke, meaning products can vary slightly in terms of colour and fragrance as the harvest seasons change.
Their story begins with the brands founder, Theresa. Theresa was born and raised in the Caribbean, and after migrating to London found that the combination of fast-paced city living, processed food and of course the polluted air had a negative effect on her skin. Upon returning to St Lucia, with the fresh food and clean air her skin became clear again. Having come from a family of herbalists, Theresa was inspired to replicate the natural benefits of the Caribbean upon her return to London in the form of organic skincare, and thus Skin Alchemists was born.
Something that really drew me in was the emotion around the brand. It’s not just skin care to Theresa, there is an almost romantic and sensual feeling to it. Quality ingredients are at the heart of each and every creation, but there’s an experience that comes with using these products. The experience of pressing pause on life, if only for a few minutes to really take in and enjoy the process of the self-care ritual. Even the instructions on the box scream luxury to me;
“Shake bottle and pour a small pool into palm. Gently rub palms together to warm the oil, bring to nose and take a deep breath exhaling slowly, three times. Massage into fact, neck and décolletage to stimulate circulation and release environmental debris. Follow by cushioning your face in a warm steamy face cloth. Hold for 5. Softly sweep cloth over oiled areas. Repeat if necessary.”
In addition, there has clearly been a lot of thought that has gone into the packaging. The oil is encased within a dark navy glass bottle, to help shield out light and protect the potency of the ingredients within. Other than the tiny pump tip, the entire bottle, pump and outer carton are fully recyclable. The products are 100% natural, vegan and cruelty free.
Being a cleansing oil, The Humble Warrior is an ‘oil pulling’ product. Oil pulling is a technique that can be used in both skin care or oral hygiene. In terms of this skin care, it comes in the form of a blend of both large and small molecules of oil that detoxify the skin and lift stubborn makeup and cleanse pores of oil, dirt and debris.
The use of oil on the face has previously been something I’ve been wary of and hesitant with. Being of an oily skin type, the natural logic is that oil on the skin creates more oil. However, the reality of it is that oily skin is typically a build-up of excess sebum or oil. The use of products that strip your skin of that sebum also strips the natural oils too, which makes your skin think it is lacking in what it needs, so it produces more. By using an oil that is complementary to your skin, it doesn’t feel the need to over produce more oil. Sebum and grease can be gentle removed and the natural oils our skin wants can remain intact.
Upon using this product for the first time I followed the instructions on the box, which truly made for a more relaxing experience than “rub product on, rub product off” as is my usual routine. The oil itself smells absolutely divine. I can’t quite describe the scent, I can pick up on a lavender like tone, although it isn’t sweet, but if I had to describe it I would say it had a very sensual scent to it.
The oil is thick and a dark amber colour and glides onto the skin making it easy to distribute and massage. I prefer to use mine in a warm shower after I have already removed most of my makeup and while my pores are open due to the heat. Around 4 to 5 squirts of product is perfect to cover my face, neck and chest area. The oil does use a very slight residue on the skin, which does shift if you wipe away a few more times with a damp cloth. I personally use this oil as the first step for a double cleanse, so know that I don’t need to worry as I’ll be going in with a cleanser that is not oil based immediately after.
The Humble Warrior has become a staple within my pamper routine and I have incorporate it into my evening routine pretty much daily. It leaves my skin looking and feeling clear, and has added a certain degree of plumpness to my skin since using on a regular basis. When I use this cleansing oil it doesn’t feel like part of my normal routine and feels far more like a treat. With the addition of this product my evening skin care routine has become my little portion of ‘me’ time to enjoy. The biggest test for me when it comes to product is the morning after use. If a product hasn’t worked for my skin I tend to wake with oil slicked skin and a host of new spots. Each and every morning following the Humble Warrior has greeted my with clear, spot and oil free skin.
It’s been an absolute pleasure using this oil, and it’s one that I’ll be re-purchasing for myself when this runs out. It can be brought on the Skin Alchemists website at £30 for 60ml, £18 for 30ml or is available within the ‘love bites’ range at £5 for 5ml, so there are plenty of options when it comes to size. So if you are a lover of carefully crafted, artisanal skincare products I would highly recommend you grab yourself a mini or two to try out.
Have you tried and Skin Alchemists products before? What did you think?
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