Reviewing 3 Products from Blissoma Skin

St. Louis-born holistic skincare brand has risen to the top of my skincare affections latel. Similar in ethos and aesthetic to brands like the beloved and now closed, Earthwise Beauty, Blissoma focuses on the best that herbal skincare has to offer with gentle efficacy that always keeps sensitive skin in mind. I have mentioned my loves for products such as the Free Makeup Removing Gel Cleanser, the Awake Morning Firming Moisture (my most rpurchased and favorite moisturizer to date for day or night), and the Smooth A+ Correcting Serum all in other articles and continue to have them in my ongoing product rotation. Buit to round out my 2023 posts, I thought I'd share about three other equally lovely Blissoma finds that are really helping my skin this winter and through the crazy bustle of the Christmas and Holiday rush. I discovered all of these through buying a one-time purchase (which are usually around $50-60 USD currently) of the Beauty Heroes subscription service for the month of October 2023, but each item is sold on its own both through the Beauty Heroes Website and Blissoma.com.

Fresh Mild Rice Exfoliating Cleanser ($58 USD): Smelling of lemony bergamot and earthy vetiver, this cleanser is a grounding energizer that I've grown to especially love using in the mornings, especially when my skin is feeling troubled, whether from excess dryness or breakouts alike. Despite its inclusion of exfoliating ingredients (small, finely-milled brown rice grains for a physical scrubbing and willowbark extract for some mild oil penetration and shedding excess debris from pore linings as a chemical exfoliation), the cleanser is a thin, soft feeling milky cream that perfectly cushions the grit of the rice grains. Translation: the skin, feels like silk after using while not overly tightened or stripped. Particularly with the scrubbing component, this is a very rare feet particularly for someone who has a dry skin type and is prone to redness and sensitivity like myself, but Blissoma formulates so consistently well for my skin despite its sensitivity that I shouldn't be so surprised. However, I also could see this cleanser being an excellent choice for oily skin or skin that breaks out more frequently as a gentle but powerful way to really refresh but without completely stripping the skin. The only thing to bear in mind is that this cleanser is not intended to remove makeup (although it can take off a very light mineral base in my experience) and should never be rubbed into the eye area because of the rice grains, so you need a separate eye makeup remover or cleansing oil or balm to address that, including a product like the Free Makeup Removing Gel Cleanser ($58 USD) from this line.

Lavish Beta Glucan Recovery Mask ($69 USD): I tend to think of moisture masks as super sumptuous night creams rather than treatment products, and this is exactly how I use Lavish. As my indoor heating has kicked on in full force a light coat of Lavish massaged into my face has been a skin lifesaver in keeping my face from looking red and angry and feeling just generally parched. However, if you are not as dry as me or just prefer to use products only as directed, Blissoma recommends applying a generous layer of Lavish to the entire face, leaving it on for about 15-20 minutes to pack in the moisture, then rinsing off the execess. However, leaving it on as a night cream, I have never noticed any uptick in pore-clogging or breakouts. As for its ingredients, the primary is oat kernel extract, which is meant to not only moisturize but also calm irritation, similarly mushroom extracts also work to seal in hydration, much like a hyaluronic acid product will but without pulling as much water out from the deeper layers of the skin, for a longer lasting hydration. Notably, there is also St. John's Wort, which gives it a sweet uplifting smell that also helps to strengthen the skin barrier along with extracts of seaweed and plaintain. and self-heal. Basically, this product is like the silk pillow case for your face, leaving it soft and oh- so smooth.

Peace Calming Evening Elixir: ($50 USD) Though called an "elixir", the Peace Calming Evening Elixir, is textured more like a lightweight lotion (very similar in weight to the Awake moisturizer, though ever-so-slightly less water like than that) than a gel or oil serum. However with its potent, yet relaxing blend of frankincense, lavender, chamomile, and more, this product is designed to aid skin recovery overnight, be it addressing acne or other irritations, lightweight moisture, firmness, or just overall health and function. I do use this product at night when my skin is looking for a lighter moisture than when I use the Lavish mask as my night cream, and it works just beautifully . I notice my skin is comfortable and the tone is much more even when I wake up, though nothing aggressive has happened. This being said, Peace is one of the most essential oil-heavy products in the range, so if your skin does not tend to like so much at once, just try with caution or avoid altogether. For me, though, not only is the essential oil blend a kind of therapy for my skin, my nose and senses find it super relaxing and soothing for sleep as well. The aroma is not strong but definitely present. I find it super grounding and really could not imagine a better name for this formula besides Peace. There is also a candle available ($28 USD) in this scent on the Blissoma site, so if you or you know someone who likes the lavender or frankincense based spa scents out there or just needs some serenity in their life, these producy could make a wonderful gift.

Blissoma is a beloved brand in my beauty explorations as well as current and ongoing skincare routines. I cannot wait to try more from the range as well as to continue to indulge in the thoughtfully-crafted, calming yet results-giving formulas the line offers, and am glad to save perhaps my most enthusiastic review of all of 2023 for last for you!