Nancy Newsom, founder of Botanic Organic natural skincare, embodies what “unsullied” is all about: she changed her diet to make more conscious, organic choices, and soon after…examined what she was putting on her skin. Was it chock full of irritating ingredients and harmful additives? The answer was yes. We feel you, Nancy.
She decided to take the ultimate step toward positive change and start an organic skincare line, after plenty of research on natural ingredients that would cleanse, moisturize and treat. Nancy used her own formulations to diminish the appearance of sun damage on her face (dark spots) and her skin became softer and more nourished. Her empowering attitude and positive outlook on healthy choices really inspires us. Plus, her products pack a seriously effective punch, the ingredient aromas will make you feel like you’re at the spa, and the product sizes are generous: often two or three times the size of what you get at a typical green beauty boutique.
She graciously sent me some samples that I want to tell you all about!
Honey & Licorice Root Daily Cleansing Grains
Jennifer previously wrote about cleansing grains from Natural E that she tried and loved. I was pretty certain I couldn’t get on that bandwagon with her. Too much work, right? Adding water…mixing a paste… (I can’t be trusted to really do much of anything technical in the morning, besides press the “brew” button on the coffee maker.) So, when Nancy sent me her Honey and Licorice Root Daily Cleansing Grains ($22 for 2.65 oz) I wasn’t really sure they were going to be my thing. Turns out, it’s just as easy to wash your face with grains as it is with liquid: exactly the same amount of time! Wet your hands, give a good scrub to your face as the grains work their magic (a little goes a LONG way) and voila! Brighter skin. And like other cleansing grains, these perform double duty as a mask: more bang for your buck! The licorice root helps damaged skin heal, fights inflammation, and reduces redness. The honey deeply moisturizes your skin so you are not left with a tight feeling after you cleanse. No dryness. I’ve had these grains for more than six months and still have a good amount left. I’ve brought this with me as I travel because (ta-da!) you don’t need to waste space in your liquids bag (if you’re carrying on) on the plane, so you can save that space for vodka SHAMPOO.
Calendula Blossom & Rose Night Cream
This cream ($42 for 2 oz) works as well as it sounds. It’s luxurious, smells amazing, and is deeply, deeply moisturizing. The thick cream is ideal for night time and I was woefully sad when my sample was all used up! Comprised of calendula, avocado and rose, this cream stimulates cell regeneration and soothes your skin. Repairing and hydrating, this product also contains licorice extract, which over time helps heal acne scars and smooth out skin’s appearance. This was my favorite of the samples. You guys know me…I am a sucker for a great night cream!
Some other treats I really enjoyed were the Cucumber & Calendula Nutrient Mist ($24 for 4 oz) and the Tangerine & Lemon Facial Cleansing Oil ($17 for 4 oz). The cucumber mist is refreshing and great for an afternoon pick me up. Sometimes if I’m lazy or tired at night (read: frequently) I’ll spritz a little on my face and take my makeup off with it, and it works really well. Keep it in the fridge for a nice, cool, aromatic mid afternoon “hello!” to your face. The cleansing oil is efficient and nourishing, and truly a few drops go a long way. Again, the scents! The scents! The gorgeous lemon and tangerine are perfect for summer, fresh and fun.
Honey & Licorice Root Daily Cleansing Grains ingredients:
Cocos nucifera (coconut) milk, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour*, honey powder, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root powder*, emblica officinalis (amla) fruit powder*, symphytum officinale (comfrey) root powder*, grapefruit, lemon, fennel, lavender essential oils*
* Designates organic or ECOCERT approved ingredients
Calendula Blossom & Rose Night Cream ingredients:
Aloe barbadensis (aloe) leaf gel, pelargonium spp (rose geranium) distillate*, rosa damascena (rose) flower distillate*, distilled water, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf distillate*, calendula officinalis flower distillate*, glycrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil*, macadamia ternifolia seed oil*, olea europaea (olive) oil*, persea gratissima (avocado) oil*, vegetable glycerin*, borago officinalis (borage) seed oil*, calendula officinalis flower*, hydrolyzed oat protein, glyceryl stearate*, ceterayl alcohol*, sodium stearoyl lactylate*, ferulic acid, tocopherol (vitamin E), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, gluconolactone, essential oils*
* Designates organic or ECOCERT approved ingredients
Tangerine & Lemon Facial Cleansing Oil ingredients:
Prunus armeniaca (apricot kernel) oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil.*, helianthus annus (sunflower) seed oil*, ricinus communis (castor) oil*, polyglyceryl 6 dioleate, sorbitan laurate, polyglyceryl-4 laurate, dilauryl citrate, tocopherol (vitamin E), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, essential oils*
* Designates organic or ECOCERT approved ingredients
Cucumber and Calendula Nutrient Mist ingredients:
Cucumis sativus (cucumber) distillate*, chamaemelum nobilis (roman chamomile) distillate*, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) distillate*, calendula officinalis distillate*, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf distillate*, distilled water, aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf gel, vegetable glycerin*, calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract*, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, ethanol, potassium sorbate, essential oils*
* Designates organic or ECOCERT approved ingredients
