Take a look at one of the probably 52 serums you have in your bathroom and put a few drops of it on the back of your hand. What color is it? Chances are it’s a light golden hue that looks a lot like jojoba, grapeseed, avocado, or argan oils. There’s nothing wrong with that, carrier oils are the basis of a serum. It’s what gives the essential oils- the more potent ones- a base so that you can actually put it on your skin without it being so intense. But the more essentials, the better. Those are the the plants, flowers, and seeds that hold vitamins, fatty acids, and other nutrients that actually make changes in your skin. Not every natural line knows how to extract and deliver the most potent formulas, but Laurel does, so if you don’t think an organic line can help with your specific skin issue, they’ll make you a believer.
Now I could talk all day about how they use organic plants which have 40% more antioxidants than non-organic plants, or about how the extraction method – how companies actually get those precious oils out of the plant- is as important as the ingredients themselves because the cheapest way to do it is by chemical extraction which pretty much cancels out and potential good the serum might do for your skin when the chemicals are still present in the formula, but I won’t. The proof for this one is right where you can see it because their serums literally look like a summer sunset with shades or orange, raspberry, and gold. You can see the potent essentials in each drop which is why they’ve developed such a loyal following for those with less than perfect skin.
I got the Serum for Sun Damage Repair few months back through Beauty Heroes which is brimming with 27 actives to help with discoloration including Licorice, which they explain as a ‘powerful anti-inflammatory, proven to break up melanin clusters over time and keep them from reforming.’ Each ingredient from the serum was hand picked to treat discoloration and fade out those dark areas over time.
I fresh off of my second Jesner peel (more to come on that), so I’ve been using this faithfully with my Banish Roller (which should be a staple in your routine by now) to try and keep up with skin clarity. Now, let’s get it straight. This isn’t hydroquinone or some sort of medical grade treatment that’s going to completely fade out melasma or hard core scaring- that’s why I got a peel. It can keep discoloration in check though, meaning it contains some known skin brighteners like carrot seed oil, licorice, and even something called Scarlet Pimpernel (which sounds pretty magical, but truthfully I have no idea what it is!) to encourage brightness and clarity.
If you have discoloration and like a more natural vibe to your skincare, this is worth checking out. There are so many companies that are just whipping up great smelling natural creams and serums without testing the formulas to see if they actually work which is why so many people get frustrated with clean lines and stop using them.
Also worth checking out is one of my favorite masks of all time, their Honey Berry Enzyme which is (as you might have guessed) a honey-based formula with Royal Jelly and bits of fruit like strawberries, blueberries, and grapefruit which are all brimming with vitamins. It’s a great change from a drying clay mask and it makes my skin so soft and instantly brighter.
Check out more from Laurel online, or at VERT Beauty you’re here in Denver.
