I have been struggling to write this review for months now and not because the products are boring by any means, but over the years I have found it really hard to sit down and pump out multi-product posts unless they are round-ups. Gone are the days when I had the focus to to do skincare reviews so now when I do, it's because I like the brand and/or have found something interesting to chat about. Today's it's both reasons as I was truly excited and happy for Mary Kay when they launched their COSMOS Natural certified by ECOCERT Mary Kay Naturally collection last Fall as having this third party certification means a checklist of things to fulfill like environmentally friendly production and processing, no GMOs, no petrochemicals, recyclable packaging and a responsible use of resources. It's also not just the brand that gets the certification, but EACH product so you might come across a brand that only has a couple of products certified as it does cost quite a bit to have done. I always get excited when I see that ECOCERT stamp on a product so when this collection landed at my doorstep, I couldn't wait to give each product a whirl!
PR gifted
Purifying Cleanser*
For normal to dry skin, this is a really easy cream cleanser that I use as my second cleanse. It says Purifying, which automatically makes me think it's going to be drying, but it was honestly quite pleasant. Not as cushiony as the Kosmea Clarifying Facial Wash I love so much, but still nice to use on the face and eye area. The fragrance is also minimal to non-existent. If it weren't for the ECOCERT stamp, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy this cleanser on my own as there are SO MANY cleanser options out there in the creamy/milky category. Though I am almost finished the bottle, I have nothing bad to say about this product, but also nothing revolutionary either.
Exfoliating Powder*
Gotta love the simplicity of an ingredients list like this one! Exfoliating powders are nice because the absence of water means that no bacteria can grow on them making them last A LOT longer than your regular skincare. They are also travel-friendly since they aren't a liquid! Although, depending on the airport, they might not like the idea of a "white powder" in your makeup bag. They sure didn't like my husband's fibre in a ziploc baggy!
This is rice bran exfoliant and all you need is a few drops of water mixed with a quarter sized amount of powder. For an extra luxe way of exfoliating, use 2-3 drops of Mary Kay's Nourishing Oil (any face oil will work) instead of water! While I still prefer to use exfoliators that are "pre-made", having it in a versatile form like this can be useful. In terms of efficacy, this was a perfectly fine physical exfoliant. For a more gentle exfoliation, use more water and less for one that is more intense.
Nourishing Oil*
This Nourishing Oil is on the thicker side so 2-3 drops really is all you need for hydration. Any more and it just takes too long for it to settle into the skin. There is a strong sweet scent as there is sweet almond oil in this in addition to some natural fragrance. Personally, I love the scent, but if you are into more herbal scents, this would not be it.
Moisturizing Stick*
This is a beeswax-based moisturizing stick that can be used anywhere you need hydration so face, elbows, knees you name it, you can use it there! While I think the compactness is cute, having beeswax means there will be a bit more drag to the texture so not the best for gliding across your delicate face. A product in this form is probably better used on the body, but I much prefer a cream making this moisturizer the least favourite of the Naturally Collection.
Final verdict: This is a simple, starter skincare routine with minimal ingredients and is easy to incorporate into any routine. Notice there is no serum in this collection which might be because this is often the toughest and most expensive step to formulate so I expect this step will be coming eventually. I wish there had been a cream-based moisturizer as opposed to the stiffer beeswax, but other than that, I think this is a solid start to an ECOCERT skincare routine. I think I am spoiled having used formulations that are more adventurous, but for someone who just wants a couple of products that work without much fuss AND have an ECOCERT stamp of approval, this collection checks all the boxes!
You can find the Mary Kay Naturally Collection at www.marykay.ca or through you friendly Mary Kay representative.
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