Gushing About Skincare (Random Products I've Been Loving Recently)

One of the joys of writing La Petite Rose is simply just sharing my passion for the little random beauty finds that I happen to discover. Today, I thought it would be fun to informally sit down and just talk about three products I've been loving so far this Spring 2023.

Live Botanical Renewing Concentrate ($62 USD www.livebotanical.com) : Live Botanical is a small-batch, organic skincare brand that has just won me over since the beginning of this year. I recently wrote a dedicated product review on their Nourishing Cleansing Oil, which I have been continuing to use and adore, but my love of the whole brand just keeps growing. The latest love for me is their Renewing Concentrate. It is one of their four face balms, and, of the three I've tried, it is probably my absolute favorite. Rather than being so solid and leaving a matte, occlusive layer on the skin, the Renewing Concentrate works and feels much more like a solidified plumping oil that you can generously massage in to pamper the skin. Antioxidant-rich and soothing ingredients such as rosehip seed oil, chamomile and seabuckthorn extract help to even out skin texture and tone while also adding beautiful glow while co-enzyme Q 10 helps to strengthen skin's barrier function and add firmness. Because of this lattermost ingredient, I feel it is an excellent choice for more mature skin, but the benefits are not solely for those seeking to preserve youthfulness in the skin but for anyone looking for just healthier skin in general. Plus, the warming sweet smell of the rosehip and rose ingredients mixed with the coffee-like aroma of seabuckthorn make this an extra delicious treat,

Mukti Organics Deep Cleanse Antioxidant Mask ($89.95 USD www.muktiorganics.com) : If you have read La Petite Rose over the years, you know I am a pretty big fan of the clay mask both as a leave-0on treatment and occasionally to use mixed with water as a kind of deeper wash-off cleanser. One that I have been testing recently is from the new-to-me Australian-based botanical skincare brand Mukti, their Deep Cleanse Antioxidant mask. This mask is a classic green clay mask mixed with super skin conditioning ingredients like jojoba, shea butter and cocoa butter, and skin fortifying ingredients such as Vitamin C-laden kakadu plum and Australian silk grass to totally transform skin both in terms of of adding more clarity and working to draw out and heal breakouts but also adding some gentle enzymatic resurfacing. Indeed, the papaya enzymes used here are some of the most gentle I've tried, which my dry skin really appreciates. I get no excessive peeling after using this and my skin feels smooth and comfortable, and most of all cool and refreshed. This product acts like the most refreshing green juice on the surface of the skin, perfect for summer weather and the perimenopausal hot flashes that I'm currently experiencing while also just working to keep the skin looking its best and in balance.

Blissoma Smooth A+ Correcting Serum ($50 www,blissomaskin.com) : Like Live Botanical, Blissoma Skincare is quickly becoming a most relied on beauty brand for me. Their products are relatively affordable for organic Green Beauty, and their formulas are very gently performing yet provide good benefits for the skin over the long term. With their products, you do not typically see overnight transformations, but with slow and consistent use, my skin has shown more radiance and more gradual benefit. That being said, the Smooth A+ Correcting Serum stands out as being a potent elixir while also being nonaggressive. This serum mainly with rose extract and carrot seed oils to offer a regenerative alternative to the synthetic retinol products so ubiquitous to the skincare market in both conventional and cleaner, Green Beauty brands for both anti-acne benefits and for those looking to address or prevent fine lines and wrinkles. I have used mild, over-the-counter retinol products and products with other ingredients touted as rivaling retinol in effect here and there, but many (especially the truer retinol) aggravate my skin, causing undue redness and flushing that never really goes away, even after my skin has had time to acclimate. But with the Smooth A+ serum, I see the skin clearing and smoothing benefits and faster healing of blemishes without any of the flushing or discomfort. Also, several of the other plants included here, namely frankincense and honeysuckle to name a few also help to not only tackle inflammation and heal blemishes but also address further aging signs such as creping and sunspots I realize that being in my early 30s. I do not have the fine lines or wrinkle depth, for example, that someone older might, so this may not be my maturing skin solution on its own, but it is a wonderful product. I love also how its lightweight cream texture can be layered with other oils, serums, or moisturizers, but can also fly solo, and I can totally see how someone with combination and oily skin and/or those dealing with healing blemishes can totally use this as their single moisturizer, using it to treat the skin but without worrying about clogging pores or else stripping the skin by having no moisturizing component in their routine at all. It is just a lovely product and the carrot seed and frankincense smell is just so grounding and healing I absolutely love it.

These three products have become fast-- and likely returning favorites-- in my collection as of early Spring 2023! I cannot wait to see where these beauties continue to take me and to make new discoveries to also share with you!