I like detailed skincare routines because I like trying new things in addition to the basic skincare ABCs of: cleaner, toner, serum and moisturizer, but there is something refreshing about no nonsense skincare where the ingredients are minimal, clean and effective. Graydon was one of those sexy, minimalist green skincare brands that had been on my radar to try last year, but skincare is now one of those things that I am careful about purchasing because I don't want it to go bad before I have gotten to it! Especially with green beauty, preservatives are at a low so they are really best used fresh. When Graydon reached out to me a few months ago to let me try a few things, I was for one, thrilled and two, selective about what I chose as I wanted the items to be things that I could build an actual routine around. After 7 weeks of use, I am not surprised that the brand and products lived up to my expectations and have gotten me interested in trying MUCH more!
PR samples
All Graydon products are, as they say on the bottles, "Mindfully Made in Canada" and focus on plant-based, non-toxic ingredients which do not include these ingredients. Graydon is also a real person who is the mind and creator behind the brand and products and has gone through her own personal journey to create each product.
The first product I selected was the Aloe Milk Cleanser* ($28/50mL) because it sounded so soft on the skin and I was right. This is a gentle, creamy cleanser that looks and feels like moisturizer and seems to soften my skin in preparation for the rest of my skincare routine. It is gentle enough to use on the eyes, but not tough enough to remove waterproof mascara in full. I usually do my eyes separately with Bioderma Sensibio, then an oil cleanser and finally with this cleanser so that I am using it to cleanse my actual skin. This got a thumbs up from me!
Ingredients: Aqua, *Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, *Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, *Glyceryl Stearate, *Coco-Caprylate, *Sodium Olivoyl Glutamate, *Cetearyl Alcohol, *Cetyl Alcohol, *Stearyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Glycerin, *Lauryl Glucoside, *Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, **Glyceryl Caprylate, **Glyceryl Undecylenate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol
*Vegetable wax **Natural vegetable preservative
Next up is the Superfood Serum* ($55/15mL) which initially was not what I was expecting and now after 7 weeks is my favourite product out of the group! This is an antioxidant smorgasbord of cold-pressed raspberry, blueberry and cranberry seed oil from Vancouver's own Fraser Valley, kale oil from the PEI, sacha inchi oil, goji berry oil, chia seed oil and prickly pear oil from Morocco. Each one of these oils is not only rich antioxidants, but in essential fatty acids, vitamin E and carotenoids.
This serum is a doozy of a serum because you quite literally need ONE DROP. This serum can be used all over the face, neck and undereyes and can be mixed with moisturizer to combine the serum and moisturizer steps of your routine. It is similar in consistency to a seabuckthorn oil I used maybe one or two years ago that was also bright orange and though it was oily, absorbed well into the skin. The first time I used this, I pumped out closer to 3 drops and had enough to moisturize my arms too!
I use this serum only at night as the oil molecules used in the formulation are fairly large and slow-absorbing or rather they absorb too slowly for me to wait around in the morning so I will use an oil-free serum in the AM. While I didn't notice a change in my skin immediately, it wasn't until 2-3 weeks in where my skin just looked like it had more "energy". It looked like it had a glow on its own and always looked clear and even-toned. I got a little bit lazy about exfoliating for a few weeks while I was reviewing Graydon and usually it's the congestion in my pores that reminds me to exfoliate, but I did not experience this so something in this routine was keeping my skin looking GOOD and I have an inkling that it was this serum!
Ingredients: Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Seed Oil (kale), Lycium Barbarum Seed Oil (goji), Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil (chia), Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil (sacha inchi), Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil (tea), Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Vaccinium Corymbosum (Blueberry) Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil (prickly pear), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Oil, Limonene
I was a bit on the fence about a face cream that was also an eye cream because of my past history with suffering from milia under the eyes, but the Berry Rich Face + Eye Cream* ($38/50mL) was actually alright! This moisturizer is intended for all skin types and has been particularly helpful for my normal/dry skin. It has a hint of scent from the strawberry juice in the formula and absorbs so quickly you would think there were silicones in the formula, but nope! It's not a gel and definitely a rich cream that leaves my skin feeling like it had an infusion of "soft moisture". It is hands downs one of the most uncomplicated yet effective moisturizers I have used in a long time!
Ingredients: Aqua, *Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, *Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, *Glyceryl Stearate, *Coco-Caprylate, *Sodium Olivoyl Glutamate, *Cetearyl Alcohol, *Cetyl alcohol, *Stearyl Alcohol, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Juice, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Citric Acid, Glycerin, **Glyceryl Caprylate, **Glyceryl Undecylenate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, *Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Corymbosum (Blueberry) Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil
*Vegetable wax **Natural vegetable preservative
If you need a bit of extra glow or like mixing liquid highlighter with your moisturizer, the Face Glow Tinted Primer + Illuminator* ($38/30mL) is for you! As a primer, it has a slight smoothing effect, but not to the extent that a silicone-based product would and did not make my foundation pill. For daily glow, mineral mica gives skin a hint of shimmer and because it has a bit of tint, can even out any redness which for me was my cheeks. There is also zinc oxide and titanium oxide which protects against UVB and UVA rays, but does not have an SPF rating. Though this product leans more towards a skincare product, it can also be used as a highlighter on its own though with the highlight game we are all playing now, an actual highlighting powder is probably more effective. Oh, and this also smells like a vanilla dessert!
Ingredients: Aqua, *Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, *Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, *Glyceryl Stearate, *Coco-Caprylate, *Sodium Olivoyl Glutamate, *Cetearyl Alcohol, *Cetyl Alcohol, *Stearyl Alcohol, Zinc Oxide, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, *Lauryl Glucoside, *Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, *Glycerin, Mica (and) Iron Oxides, Prunus Avium (Sweet Cherry) Seed Oil, Titanium Dioxide, **Glyceryl Caprylate, **Glyceryl Undecylenate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Spirulina Maxima Powder, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Triethyl Citrate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Leaf/Seed Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower/Leaf Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
*Vegetable wax **Natural vegetable preservative
Final verdict: This was a very nice introduction to Graydon and I will most certainly be including more of their products into my routine in the future especially their Face Food Mineral Mist which is now on my wishlist as it seems to pair nicely with the Superfood Serum! I can't argue with the ingredients and whether you are a fan of green beauty or skincare in general, you will still enjoy these products. Plant-based skincare has shown itself to be effective so even the more technical skincare lovers would be able to appreciate the formulas that Graydon uses. The pricing is very reasonable and the products are made right here in Canada which is just downright amazing so what's not to love about this brand?
You can find Graydon at www.graydon.ca or at the following stockists.
.JPG)
.JPG)
No comments