SKINCARE | FirstBase Fresh Start Organic Essence #CanadianJuly

This one I technically bought, but I was originally sent a press sample!

This review is long overdue! So overdue that I had to BUY a second bottle to take photos of because I FINISHED the press sample that was originally sent to me! I became a massive fan of Calgary-based FirstBase Skincare after trying their first product - the Double Dose Vitamin C Serum (my review) of which I have already gone through two full sized bottles which says a lot for someone like me! Their vitamin C serum was their first and only product for awhile until their second product release in 2023 - the Fresh Start Organic Essence which *spoiler* also turned out to be another winner!    

 

This is a 2 in 1 essence and toner that is a lightweight spray (it's just heavenly, honestly) that works to restore the skin's natural pH level, refine pores and boost overall hydration using a blend of protein-rich peptides like hydrolyzed rice protein, natural astringents like witch hazel and antioxidants like rooibos and horse chestnut flower extract. 

As I mentioned, this is a glorious spray with the perfect amount of mist that feels light on the skin and leaves you wishing you could keep spraying! It also smells fantastic - like rooibos with a slight vanilla scent. There is no added fragrance so what you are smelling here is what you get and it is a scent I have only ever smelled in my tea!

The packaging is also a solid glass and feels so luxurious to use. I just could not stop myself with the initial press sample the FirstBase team sent and kept wanting to use it! 

This is not a stamp of certification I see very often and it is the ECOCERT Cosmos Organic certification which means that from start to finish, this product has been audited by a third party company that has deemed this product environmentally friendly with socially responsible practices from ingredients to packaging. 

Ingredients: Aqua (water), aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) leaf extract*, glycerin (vegetal), aspalathus linearis (rooibos) leaf extract*, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract*, hydrolyzed rice protein, galactoarabinan, levulinic acid, sodium levulinate, cellulose gum, decyl glucoside, potassium sorbate, sodium hydroxide, sodium benzoate, rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil*, fructose, aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) extract*

I use this right after cleansing and just before a serum/sheet mask. I also enjoyed using this in combination with the Double Dose Vitamin C Serum. I do probably 3 sprays and perhaps 1-2 more spritzes if I feel like treating myself! My skin is really easy with essence/toner and in terms of consistency, this played nicely with all of my other products and absorbed quickly.

Final verdict: I know that the essence/toner step is still slightly controversial and while I would never say a product like this is necessary, I have always used a toner in my routine - specifically a spray toner as I like how refreshing it feels on my skin and how it maintains "moistness" if I have waited too long after a shower to start my skincare routine. The scent of my toners is also important to me as I like the boost of mental positivity which is what this Fresh Start Organic Essence does. My skin feels happy, my brain feels happy and the ingredients list is a beautiful one! I am delighted to see that this product is made in Canada and provides the experience of a luxury product. I feel like that association doesn't often come up, but in this case, the luxurious packaging and allure of the ingredients makes me feel like I am using something truly special. Highly recommend!

You can find the FirstBase Fresh Start Organic Essence at www.firstbaseskincare.com