evanhealy Facial Tonic Hydrosols: Frankincense and Immortelle - Review

Today I'll be rambling about the best hydrosols on the face of the planet: the ones made by evanhealy. evanhealy is one of those brands that will go down in the green beauty history books as true trail blazers (they've been open for business since 1999!) and, having tried many of their products, it's clear to me why they've had such success and incredible staying power in an industry that is constantly fluctuating. Evan's approach to skincare (as embodied by her brand's tagline: the skin breathes) is to encourage the skin's natural function by promoting healing and whole wellbeing; her products feel truly holistic and are an absolute joy to use. Best of all, though, they perform exceptionally! Most recently, I've been using the frankincense and immortelle tonic hydrosols; here are my thoughts:

evanhealy frankincense facial tonic hydrosol: sourced from somalia, this unique mist (I've never known of another brand that sells a frankincense hydrosol) gives the skin an immediate burst of energy. Frankincense has superb anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and, as such, is incredibly useful at combatting acne and other infectious conditions of the skin (dandruff, dermatitis, athlete's foot). On evenings when I don't bathe, I like to drench my whole body in this rich, invigorating mist post dry-brushing and pre body-oiling. It soothes my freshly exfoliated skin, while allowing the body oil to penetrate more deeply. I, of course, finish this whole routine off with a few saturating blasts of the hydrosol to the face and scalp, after which I sit peacefully and inhale the cloud of bright, invigorating, and slightly spicy frankincense while reflecting on my day.

evanhealy immortelle facial tonic hydrosol: I anticipated that I would love this stuff, and I wasn't wrong. Immortelle (or helichrysum, whichever you prefer) is one of my all time favourite ingredients; it's extremely healing, revitalizing, and (best of all) plays nicely with sensitive skin as it has superior soothing powers. A quick blast of this warm, creamy, and spicy water immediately calms any inflammation, taking down the facial redness I tend to develop during long days in dry, climate controlled environments. This tonic is also perfect after stimulating facial masks, steams, and baths as it helps appease the skin while quietly erasing any signs of irritation and effectively cooling its surface.

I'm confident in saying that, for the rest of my life, I will always have at least one evanhealy hydrosol on hand. You can check them out here.

Vered Organic Botanicals Herb-Infused Toner - Review

Look at that colour *swoon* via

I'm coming back at you today after a brief (virus induced) hiatus with a review of the unbelievable Vered Organic Botanicals Herb-Infused Toner!

Allow me to preface by saying I have a bit of a toner addiction. With 4-8 typically in my rotation, a toner has to be absolutely fantastic to really stand out to me.

That said, I'm incredibly impressed with Vered's offering. This water based potion of chickweed, nettles, echinacea, rose buds, and comfrey (to name but a few) is given a hydrating kick with a hefty dose of vegetable glycerin and some effective antibacterial properties through the addition of grape alcohol (and  many of the herbs themselves).

While the toner stage is, admittedly, one of my favourites, I've been trying to use this toner (as Vered Herself recommends) as a quick morning (or evening, if there's no sunscreen, makeup, or filth on my face) cleanse. I was skeptical at first, I've tried and loved other rinse-less cleansers (I'm looking at you Fig + Yarrow Cleansing Nectar), but I wasn't sure if a product with such a simple formula could get the job done. It does. Seriously folks, my skin has never been softer, more even-toned, or more breakout free (acne prone dry skin is a difficult thing to deal with). A couple dashes into the palms of my hands, followed by a speedy facial massage gets my morning cleanse out of the way in a jiff!

This stuff is also a joy to use; it's like a strongly brewed cup of herbal tea for the face. The citrusy herbaceous scent and gorgeous crimson colour make it a feast for the nose, the eyes, and the skin.

I get seriously good vibes from this bottle of miracle juice. I cannot possibly recommend this product enough.

Ingredients: Organic, ethically sourced, therapeutic-grade essential oils and herbs including chickweed, calendula, nettles, echinacea, lemongrass, orange grape root, horsetail, chamomile, hibiscus flower, lavender, orange and lemon peel, rosebuds, comfrey leaf, comfrey root, speedwell infused into a base of organic grape alcohol, distilled water and vegetable glycerin.

Vered Organic Botanicals' Herb-Infused Toner, 57$ is available from Clementine Fields