A few weeks back I went to VERT Beauty in Denver to meet the very dynamic (and every bit as wonderful as you’d imagine from her popular Instagram), Dr. Sarah Villafranco founder of Osmia Organics. Just listening to her talk, I could feel her passion for creating safe, effective, responsible skincare which made me so excited to give it a try especially since my skin is basically just a full time disaster these days. She gave a ton of good tips, but the one that really resinated with me was so simple but something I never thought to do in the past. She said that when your skin is sensitive or reactive (like mine) that putting a serum straight on could lead to further irritation since those formulas tend to be so potent. She recommended mixing a few drops of your serum with a gentle moisturizer like her Purely Simple Face Cream which is like a better-for-you Cetaphil-like formula that’s a one-size=fits all solution for those who can’t seem to find the right hydrator for their skin.
When you mix the serum into the cream, it basically softens the delivery making it easier for your skin to tolerate. I’ve been applying my serums this way with awesome results. Because it’s made with aloe, apricot kernel and sweet almond oil, probiotics, vegetable glycerin, jojoba oil, and a few other essential oils and natural skin softeners, it’s calming and really easy on the skin.
Dr. Villafranco suffered from temperamental skin for a long time, so her formulations totally feel your pain if you’re a breakout queen like me. This sample sized set (above, $25) lasted several weeks (I’m still enjoying the last of the soap!) and when I stuck with it and used only what was in the kit- my skin was clearer than it had been in 6 months. It’s the first natural line that convinced me that they can be just as effective on troubled skin as any other harsh, chemical-filled treatment. (Grab THIS Spot Treatment too, which I also re-purchased at the event.)
If you like the longevity and effectiveness of a bar cleanser the way I do, you’ll be way impressed by their Black Soap which targets stubborn skin issues and leaves skin so calm after cleansing. They say it lasts 8-12 weeks, but I’d be surprised if mine didn’t last at least 5 months. My now sliver of a sample hung in there wash after wash giving thick suds while barely rubbing any away from the bar. It’s my new fave bar cleanser which I always seem to go back to using when my skin is giving me not so subtle hints to make some changes.
I needed an explanation about what exactly this Gel Toner did because it isn’t like anything I’ve used in the past. You use it right after cleansing so the hyaluronic acid, aloe, vitamins, and botanical extracts can gently hydrate and seal in your skin’s moisture barrier. I like the idea of a little added hydration (especially the completely innocuous hyaluronic acid- which is awesome), and giving my skin a little layer between itself and a serum. It’s like a skincare equivalent to a primer, prepping the skin to better tolerate a moisturizer.
Thanks for a great night Amanda, VERT, and Sarah. I love when I can get to know the personality of a line and really fall for one as great as Osmia.
