Review: Youth To The People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm

Let us dream together…

The one thing we’ve been anticipating from Youth To The People the most? A cleansing balm. Newly introduced to their collection, meet the Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm, a flash-melting balm as the first step to your double cleanse routine. Packed with their signature Dream Oil blend alongside a ton of skin nourishing ingredients, this balm quickly melts away makeup, SPF, dirt, sebum and other impurities. I’ve been testing this balm for a bit, and this review has to be one of the most conflicting/challenging ones I’ve written yet…

Youth To The People is 100% vegan, sustainable and clean cruelty free made in California. Created for all genders, all skin types, all skin tones—all people—backed by three generations of skincare expertise. Skincare for All® — Read about Youth To The People here.

Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm

My skin type: Balanced/dry.

Ideal for: All skin types and ideal for sensitive skin.

Product details:

The Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm is going to be the first step of your skin care routine and acts as the first cleanse. Packed with their signature Dream Oil blend alongside a ton of skin nourishing ingredients, this balm quickly melts away makeup, SPF, dirt, sebum and other impurities. PEG-free, it rinses off clean with a soft to the touch feel, no greasy sticking.

Product claims:

100% vegan ingredients - Recyclable packaging - Made in USA - No animal testing - No parabens- No PEGS - No phthalates - No dimethicone

Dessey tip: Leave on the cleansing balm as a mask for 10 minutes before rinsing off! This will allow for soft and moisturized skin after rinsing it off.

Texture and scent:

Texture — Waxy, soft.

Scent — Juicy and reminiscent to the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil.

How to use:

As your first step, scoop a bit of the cleansing balm into the palm of your hands. Warm it up and start massaging it directly onto your skin. Once you see all your makeup and impurities rinsing off, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water to watch it emulsify. Follow up with your second cleanse, a water based cleanser. (Hey, you know my favourite cleanser of all time is the Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser!)

Key ingredients:

— Dream Oil Blend: Moringa, Jojoba and and Sunflower Seed Oils. Moringa Seed Oil is packed with sources of omegas, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, and E. Jojoba Seed Oil is rich in essential fatty acids and acts as a non-greasy emollient, leaving the skin feeling soft and moisturized.

— Superberry Extracts: Maqui, Açai, Goji Berry. Full of antioxidant compounds like flavonoids and anthocyanins. Help the skin defend against oxidative damage*

— Prickly Pear: Rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and soothing amino acids, this hydrating cactus plant extract is a well loved ingredient we know from the Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil.

— Oil-Soluble Hyaluronic Acid: Leaving the skin conditioned, this oil-soluble HA holds importance with three molecular weights to reach past the dermis layer of the skin.

View the full ingredient list for the Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm here.

*This statement is quoted from Youth To The People’s product description.

My experience + thoughts

Out of every review I’ve ever written, this has to be my most conflicting and challenging one yet. I tested the balm out in so many different ways that at one point, I even triple cleansed one night because I wanted it to work so genuinely. But it just wasn’t doing it for me.

To cut straight to it, I’m still completely undecided whether I like it or not — And I’ll tell you why. But before I do, I want to make a statement regarding the way I view product. As an aesthetician and writer, I do my best to allow two factors coexist together: The personal user experience and product breakdown/education piece. Both of those factors can coexist in their own ways clearly when expressed properly, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do for you here. As I practice that method in all my reviews and with my clients, I always encourage others to be able to differentiate the user experience and the product itself. Not everything will work for everyone, but we can look at a product’s ingredient list and say “Hey, this is formulated beautifully, but it just didn’t work for me. And that’s okay.”

Let’s start off with the fact that this has been one of Youth To The People’s most anticipated launches yet. As their Superfood Cleanser being their best selling SKU and my favourite skincare product of all time, I had no doubt that the balm would hold close to it. Now you might be thinking… “It’s a cleanser. It’s not a serum. It can’t be THAT complicated, right?” Well, two things. One — Cleansing is in fact my favourite skincare step, so I had my hopes high. Secondly, cleansing IS the most important step in any skincare routine (alongside SPF) to ensure all impurities are removed to then follow with a clean canvas for balanced pH levels and proper product absorption to come.

So, you see — I don’t not like it, but I wasn’t rejoicing when I used it for the first time. The easiest way to break this down is my current pros and cons list, so here we go.

Superberry PROs:

• The packaging is phenomenal. The jar feels luxurious and beautiful in hand.

• The ingredient list is leading and avant-guard which comes to no surprise as every Youth To The People product is. From my aesthetician standpoint, I think they formulated the balm beautifully with all the different omegas, antioxidants and vitamins to ensure a protected barrier during and post cleansing. I’m extremely impressed but not surprised — Their chemists always knock the product formulas out of the park.

• The balm does remove all traces of makeup and impurities.

Superberry CONs:

• Scooping up the balm is quite difficult as it crumbles as soon as I scoop it out the jar.

• Even though I warmed it up in the palm of my hands for a solid bit before massaging it onto my skin, I find it didn’t become that oily and still had a wax-y feel once massaging it onto my face.

• It took a lot of elbow grease for me to massage it everywhere, but after using it a couple of times I just don’t think a little goes a long way. The more I use, the easier it is to melt onto the skin.

• It didn’t emulsify as creamy as I thought it would and I personally enjoy that in a first cleanse. (Emphasis on personal as it doesn’t have to emulsify creamy for it to be working. This is just personal preference!)

Overall

• The balm does leaves the skin soft after rinsing it off but I didn’t find there to be any “wow” feeling after rinsing. It just was like, “Yeah, okay. I did my first cleanse. Now what?”

I do think most skin types would enjoy this. My skin is extremely dehydrated and acne prone at the moment so I feel my barrier is compromised and wondering if this is playing into why I’m not head over heels for the balm, although… it shouldn’t really make a difference since it’s just cleansing.

So, here we are. I’ve been going back and forth whether I really like it or not. Because I don’t hate it. Some nights I find it easier to use than others. For now, it’s just not a standout to me and that’s okay. I think why I rated it the way I did currently is because I simply didn’t experience the one thing I wanted to: The thrill of it. Cleansing is my favourite step so yes, I’m diving deep into this review.

Truthfully, some nights I like it, some I’m “meh” over it. I do see myself liking this more and more, so if you want to see if my opinion changes, head over to my Instagram to catch up!

Packaging + user experience

The frosted jar is truly one of the most beautiful parts of the whole experience. It feels so nice to hold. Scooping it is very difficult for me as it crumbles quickly.

Overview

★ ★ ★ .5 as it stands right now, but my thoughts are constantly evolving with this one.

Price: $34.00 USD / $45.00 CAD for 3.45 oz/ 100mL

Please keep in mind that I’m in Canada which means I review my products with a Canadian price tag/conversion in mind.

Does a little go a long way?

It took a lot of elbow grease for me to massage it everywhere, but after using it a couple of times I just don’t think a little goes a long way. The more I use, the easier it is to melt onto the skin.

Would I repurchase?

For right now, I can’t tell just yet.

Do I think it’s worth $45.00 CAD?

If the balm was a 5/5, yes. It’s hard for me to justify the balm price with my personal user experience but I do think it’s worth the money when discussing ingredients and ounces per $.

Available for purchase:

Youth To The People — Sephora

Disclaimer: The Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm was sent in PR by the Youth To The People with no obligation to post.

Dreaming is a forever state I don’t want to wake up from. Let’s talk about it. Catch me on my Instagram here so we can chat all things Dream Balm and check out more photos and content for the launch over there! I’m always here if you have any questions.

Review: Crabtree & Evelyn Bali Rice Exfoliating Cleanser

It’s the soothingness, for me.

I have a weakness for a good powder based exfoliant in my skincare collection, and, well, now I have a new one to share with you. Today I’ll be reviewing Crabtree & Evelyn’s Bali Rice Exfoliating Cleanser.

Bali Rice Exfoliating Cleanser

My skin type: Balanced/dry.

Read more about Crabtree & Evelyn here.

Product claims:

• Microbead-free

• Gives a rich, grainy froth

• 100% biodegradable rice powder

Product details

The Rice Exfoliating Cleanser is a delicate scrub to refine skin texture for a brighter and smoother complexion, inspired by an ingredient at the heart of Balinese life.

Dessey tip: I love mixing it with a water based cleanser for extra froth!

Recommended for:

Oily/combo, although my dry skin loves this.

Texture and scent:

Texture — Gentle rice powder, finely milled.

Scent — Rice powder with chamomile.

How to use:

To activate, mix 1 tsp of the powder with water to create a creamy foam. After massaging it onto your skin, rinse with lukewarm water. (Or you can mix it with your second/water based cleanser, just like I do!)

Ingredients:

— Rice powder: Gently buffs away dead skin and impurities.

— Bamboo extract: Bamboo helps absorb excess oil.

— Chamomile Flower Water: Chamomile soothes the skin from sensitivities.

— Green Tea: Rich in antioxidants.

View the full ingredient list for the Bali Rice Exfoliating Cleanser here.

My experience + thoughts

A keeper.

As someone who likes to switch up her ways of exfoliating, powder based cleansers are always my preferred way to physically exfoliate when it’s not chemical. The Rice Exfoliating Cleanser is such an easy cleanser to incorporate in any routine, honestly. I love the way it froths and it doesn’t strip my skin. With a minimal ingredient list, the cleanser is packed with soothing ingredients and gentle enough to use every one to two days.

Packaging + user experience

I absolutely love the bottle. It dispenses the powder in small doses so it’s not overflowing at once.

Overview:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Price: $34.00 USD / $47.00 CAD for 75g / 2.6oz

Please keep in mind that I’m in Canada which means I review my products with a Canadian price tag / conversion in mind.

Does a little go a long way? Most definitely, especially when mixed with a cleanser!

Would I repurchase? Sure!

Do I think it’s worth $47.00 CAD? Yes. Powder cleansers go a long way!

Available for purchase:

Crabtree & Evelyn

Disclaimer: Product has been gifted for a campaign in a sponsored post. Check it out here!

Review: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

Long awaited, I’ve been so excited to share my thoughts on one of my favourite cleansers that’s super affordable, super gentle and so lovely to use. The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser quickly became a favourite for me after only two uses and I’m happy to say I’ll always have one open on my shelf.

Squalane Cleanser

My skin type: “Normal” to dry. I quote normal because everyone’s skin is “normal” and beautiful.

Read more about The Ordinary here.

Claims:

• Alcohol-free

• Oil-free

• Silicone-free

• Nut-free

• Vegan

• Gluten-free

• Cruelty-free

pH: 5.50-6.50

Product details

The Squalane Cleanser is a gentle moisturizing cleanser targeted to remove makeup and leave the skin feeling smooth.

Dessey tip: I personally use this as my second cleanse in my double cleansing routine. It works great!

Recommended for:

All skin types. (If you have dry skin like me, I think you’ll love this!)

Texture and scent:

Texture — Creamy and gel like. This cleanser is a lightweight creamy gel texture that turns into a balm-oil type consistency after rubbing it in your palms for a few seconds.

Scent — Unscented.

How to use:

The Squalane Cleanser can be used as a first or second cleanse. If using it as a first cleanse, dispense the cleanser into the palm of your hands and massage it for 10 to 30 seconds, warming it up allowing it to turn into a balm-oil type texture. Massage it onto your dry face and melt away your makeup, then rinse. If using it as a second cleanse, massage it onto your skin after the first cleanse, then rinse.

Ingredients:

With squalane being the first ingredient of this decently short ingredient list, you know moisture will be delivered instantly.

To note: This cleanser is soap-free.

View the full ingredient list for the Squalane Cleanser here.

My experience + thoughts

A forever staple.

I’ve grown to love this cleanser so rapidly that there’s no way it’ll never be on my shelf moving forward. On my second or third bottle, the Squalane Cleanser works great for my dry skin. Leaving my skin soothed and moisturized, I enjoy using it as a single cleanse in the morning or as my double cleanse in the evening. It’s so gentle and helps reduce my redness. I say it works great in the morning for how gentle it is since I don’t usually wash my face with a cleanser in the morning. It leaves a creamy lather with no foam, just a gliding gel feeling. I’d recommend this to anyone and everyone who’s looking for an incredibly gentle and affordable daily cleanser.

All to say, it’s in my top three cleansers right now. A true favourite.

Packaging + user experience

In their classic squeeze bottle, The Ordinary’s tubes are easy to use and come in sleek, neutral packaging. I have no issues with the user experience! I also love that it comes in two sizes; 50mL and 150 mL.

Overview:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Price: CAD $7.90 for 50mL / CAD $19.90 for 150mL

Please keep in mind that I’m in Canada which means I review my products with a Canadian price tag / conversion in mind.

Does a little go a long way? Absolutely. A little bit bigger than a pea size amount and I’m good to go!

Would I repurchase? Time and time again! As someone who’s purchased and gotten sent The Ordinary in PR, I truly believe the price for both sizes is so affordable.

Available for purchase:

The Ordinary

Sephora

Have you tried the Squalane Cleanser yet? Let’s bring the conversation over to @desseydoll and in the comments below!

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate. To learn more about how you shop with me, click here. I appreciate you so much!

Review: Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser + Bamboo Booster

It didn’t start off smooth but now we’re the smoothest.

After months of testing the well recognized. cult-favourite cleansing balm by Drunk Elephant, it’s safe to say it’s a keeper. Although it took me a few tries to fully feel it out, I’ve grown to love it. Let’s dig into this review, shall we?

Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser with Bamboo Booster

My skin type: “Normal” to dry. I quote normal because everyone’s skin is “normal” and beautiful.

Drunk Elephant claims:

100% Free of essential oils, silicones, fragrance and PEGs. Irritant-free. Cruelty Free.

Read Drunk Elephant’s philosophy here.

Product details

A cleansing balm that melts away makeup, sunscreen and water resistant formulas. Packed with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and oils, Slaai aims to nourish and moisturize the skin while cleansing all at once. It also comes with a powder exfoliant, Bamboo Booster, which can be used as an additive to the balm to slough away dead skin cells.

Dessey tip: Remember that a cleansing balm / oil is meant to be used as your first cleanse on dry skin with no water just yet. To activate, massage the cleanser onto your skin and to emulsify and rinse off, use warm water. It won’t be effective with cold or room temperature. (This goes for any balm / oil cleanser!)

How to use:

Apply the balm onto dry skin, massage for a solid 60 seconds and emulsify/rinse with warm water. Add the Bamboo Booster to your cleanse to exfoliate. Personally, I wouldn’t use the Bamboo Booster if it’s with taking off makeup with the balm. Use it if it’s for a simple double cleanse! Exfoliation should be its own step, and in this case its own with the balm.

Recommended for: Normal, dry, combination, oily.

*I have a few friends with acne prone skin that really enjoy this, too!

Texture and scent:

The texture of Slaai is very rich and balm-y. The Bamboo Booster is gritty. Scent wise, the balm is unscented but for me, has odd notes of Play Dough or even a light grass-y scent?

Ingredients

Slaai

— Nourishing Fruit Salad Blend: Fruit extracts from blueberry, kiwi and strawberry along with fruit oils from cranberry seed oil, acai fruit oil and watermelon seed oil help nourish, comfort and moisturize the skin. They are replenishing and non-fragrant.

— Marula Seed Oil: High in antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9 to restore glow and moisturize the skin.

— Baobob Seed Oil: With its high fatty acid content and deep moisturizing properties, this oil will deeply moisturize the skin.

— Kalahari Melon Seed Oil: A lightweight oil to restore elasticity.

— Mongongo Oil: An oil with a rich fatty acids that protect the vital lipids in skin.

— Ximenia Oil: Rich in Vitamin C with moisturizing and nourishing properties.

Bamboo Booster

— Bamboo and Charcoal Powder: Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Charcoal Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Potassium Sorbate.

Please view the full ingredient list(s) here.

My experience + thoughts

The third time really was a charm…

I’ve grown to love this product gradually. As someone who prides in putting a ton of importance in double cleansing, I always love trying new makeup removers, especially cleansing balms.

The first time I used it, I wanted to give up on it. The scent threw me off even if it’s unscented. Do you know what I mean? I’ll talk about the packaging in a bit, but what I do love is that it comes with a magnetic scoop that sticks to the lid which makes the experience of using the product that much easier. Scooping out some of the balm, I was in awe of how rich the formula was and how thicccccc the balm actually is.

Definitely a user error, I applied the balm directly onto my face without warming it up in my palms first which is why I probably didn’t like it at first. It was chunky, piece-y and just blah. I usually don’t have to if it’s a creamier balm like Farmacy’s, but you should always try to melt a balm cleanser in your palms first for easier application when massaging it onto the skin. As I started to warm up (literally) to the balm, I fell in love with it very quickly. I love how rich it felt on my skin and how it glided effortlessly. I don’t wear much makeup, but wow oh wow does it melt every inch of everything off. What I’ve learnt with this one is that you really have to make sure you warm it up in your palms well and cleanse for a solid minute, even two.

When it came to rinsing it off, I was a bit sceptical at first because I heard from many that it left a thick film, almost buttery. For me, it didn’t. Most people probably experienced it leaving a film either because a) they didn’t cleanse with warm water or b) they didn’t cleanse for long enough. For me, it leaves my skin so soft and moisturized after rinsing it off. As it's a first cleanse, following with my double cleanse (water based cleanser) feels great because my barrier doesn't feel dry from the beginning of my routine.

With the Bamboo Booster, it’s a cute little accessory to the balm but in my opinion, unnecessary. I’m a physical exfoliant kinda gal, especially with powders, but I find this one to be average. Very surface level, to say the least. It’s not too abrasive so if you’re more on the sensitive side, you should be fine with it. If anything, I like using it on my nose when I’m removing my makeup to really go in and clean my pores. I know I said I suggest not to use it with makeup, but the nose doesn’t matter to me. When I do use it, I’ll rinse off to 50% of the balm and then add it in.

Overall, a winner for me.

Packaging pros:

Solid jar, magnetic scoop? I’m in. Drunk Elephant has beautiful, sturdy packaging, so no complaints here!

Overview

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Price: C$45.00 / USD $34.00 for 3.88 oz

Since I’m in Canada, I review my products with a Canadian price tag / conversion in mind.

Does a little go a long way? Yes, which makes it even more worth it!

Would I repurchase? Yes! Although this product has been kindly gifted by Drunk Elephant with no expectation to post, I’d gladly purchase it with my money to have it in my stash again.

Do I think it’s worth C$45.00? Absolutely! Like I said, I really emphasize the importance of a solid double cleansing routine, so a cleansing balm with solid ingredients / formulations is worth it to me.

Available for purchase: drunkelephant.com or sephora.com

Have you tried Slaai yet? Let’s talk cleansing balms! Meet me over on my Instagram @desseydoll to continue the conversation or in the comments below!

Review: Kylie Skin

Here we are, Foaming Face Wash, Vanilla Milk Toner and Face Moisturizer all in one place. Not only on my shelf, but happily on my face, too.

I had a feeling this would come to life one day. I’m here to review the products, not Kylie. My initial thoughts blossomed from my curiosity as to how someone with her accessibility to top chemists and labs, would use her resources to create a skincare line and formulate the products with great ingredients and innovative developments in the beauty industry at this time. As I’m not sure how innovative that went, I’m quite excited to be writing this review. As always, I’ll be breaking down the claims, ingredients / pH levels, personal experiences and overall thoughts. This may just be the most detailed review I’ve written to date.

In this first launch, Kylie came out with six products accompanied with makeup removing wipes and a travel bag. Launching an SPF in this first launch would’ve been key. Especially with Kylie’s influence, having an SPF first would’ve been a very smart move not only for business but for educational purposes, too. I recently watched her vlog where she mentioned that they’re currently working on creating one which is great news. An SPF isn’t always easy to develop as there are tons of regulations that need to pass with the FDA.

As she previewed the products before launching, the Foaming Face Wash, Vanilla Milk Toner and Face Moisturizer caught my eye right away. In regards to trying her other three products, I didn’t feel the need to purchase them. I was somewhat interested in trying her Vitamin C Serum, but couldn’t justify buying it since I have a few others waiting for me to try at home. The Walnut Face Scrub was something I was debating over, but didn’t purchase for two reasons: One, being that walnut shell powder is abrasive and two, that I didn’t need it. The Eye Cream was the product that had the least of my interest. I don’t think eye cream is all that necessary to begin with, and I already have a few on my shelf that need to be used up first. 

Kylie Skin claims: Cruelty free, gluten free, vegan, paraben free, sulfate free, dermatologist tested. 
Please note that having “dermatologist tested” slapped on a label doesn’t justify anything. The term is very up in the air as we don’t know the source or how to debunk it and inevitably, skincare should always be tested properly.

Suited for: All skin types. (I saw Kylie mentioned she’ll be working on different lines targeted towards different skin types in the future)

With no expectations, it’s time to experience Kylie…

Foaming Face Wash

What is it: A luxurious foaming face wash.

What it does: The Foaming Face Wash claims to gently cleanse the skin while helping retain moisture levels and improve elasticity. It also helps removes excess dirt, oils and makeup. It helps brighten the skin as well. 

Key ingredients: 

Glycerin as a humectant to help balance the moisture levels in the skin. 

Kiwi Seed Oil as an antioxidant and rich source of Vitamin C & E which helps to hydrate, nourish and brighten the skin.

Sodium Hyaluronate (a derivative of Hyaluronic Acid) to help hydrate and plump the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is one of my favourite ingredients in skincare!

Notes: 

Please note that just because active / key ingredients are listed as “key", doesn’t mean they are. The “key” ingredients in this cleanser including Kiwi Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate are unfortunately at the bottom of the ingredient list which doesn’t make them main ingredients. This occurs in most of the products which you can simply discover by looking at the ingredient lists.

Water and Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate are the first two ingredients in the list. PCG is an amino-acid derived cleansing ingredient that softens the skin, derived from coco fatty acid. It’s mild and non-drying. 

Formula pH level: 7.5 which is high for a cleanser. Normally, cleansers should have a pH balance of 5.5.

Texture and scent: The texture feels very luxurious as it gradually becomes more “creamy” when massaging it into your skin. This cleanser is lightly fragranced with fragrance being at the middle / bottom of the ingredient list. I’m not for fragrance in skincare but it’s less likely to irritate your skin in a wash off product rather than a cream or toner. It has citrus notes but in my experience, I stop noticing the scent after I start massaging the cleanser onto my skin.

How to use: Kylie Skin recommends to use this morning and evening. In my opinion, I’d use this as a second cleanse if you’re wearing makeup and a first cleanse if you aren’t.

View full recommended use details here.

My experience: I’m really not mad about it.

The first three times I used it, my skin was lightly tingling. Was it because of the citric acid? Was it because I applied products too quickly after? As I used it more and more, I really grew to like it. So now, I can say I really do enjoy this cleanser. It’s gentle and surprisingly does NOT leave my skin feeling stripped or dry after rinsing it. I personally don’t have issues with foaming cleansers stripping my skin, so I wasn’t too concerned about this one. It feels very luxurious at it lathers and foams in a very rich fashion on the skin the more I massage it in. Now, in regards to the fragrance, we could really do without it. It was too strong for me at first which almost made me stop using it completely. The more I used it, the less noticeable the fragrance was which is now okay for me. I’m generally not too sensitive to fragrance, and as much as it affected me at first, it’s not bothersome anymore. Honestly, the line smells light and gentle, baby-doll pink vibes. Weird, but it just does. (Caroline Hirons described the “baby” scent in such an accurate way!)

The cleanser is gentle enough to use morning and evening, although I wouldn’t recommend to use it to remove makeup. It’s ideal as a second cleanse after removing makeup with an oil based cleanser first, or as a first cleanse on a bare face to remove minimal products, light concealer or SPF.

My skin really enjoys this cleanser. I notice an instant balance in regards to my overall complexion despite the 7.5 pH level. It’s gentle and I only need to use one pump for my full face.

★ ★ ★ ★

Details: USD $24.00 for 5 fl oz / 149 mL | Available on kylieskin.com

Vanilla Milk Toner

What is it: An alcohol-free toner.

What it does: The Vanilla Milk Toner claims to replenish the look and feel of the skin while helping rebalance its pH levels. It also helps to remove any excess dirt, oil and makeup. Kylie Skin claims it also helps unclog, purify and minimize the appearance of pores.

Key ingredients:

Apple Fruit Extract as an antioxidant to help improve the look of the skin.

Squalane as a skin-strengthening oil. With highly refined moisturizing properties derived from olives, squalane helps restore the skin’s moisture barrier. (Third listed ingredient — I’m obsessed with squalane!)

Avocado Oil & Apricot Kernel Oil as emollients to help soothe, soften and restore the skin’s hydration levels.

Other ingredients to note are Sweet Almond Oil, Banana Leaf Extract, Sucrose Cocoate, Jojoba Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate.

Formula pH level: 5.5

Texture and scent: This toner feels like a light essence. It’s milky and lightweight. This toner is alcohol free and lightly fragranced with fragrance being at the middle / bottom of the ingredient list. The consistency and scent are VERY reminiscent of Too Cool For School’s Egg line, especially their Egg-sential Fluid Toner, which is my favourite skincare line I’ve ever tried. I noticed a lot of people were saying that the Vanilla Milk Toner has a very strong vanilla sent but I really don’t notice it. It’s light, gentle and the furthest thing from nauseating. It’s a very gentle “baby” scent, yet again.

How to use: Kylie Skin recommends to use this morning and evening.

View full recommended use details here.

My experience: Obsessed.

I absolutely love this toner. For me, it’s a toner and essence all at once. I say that because of the texture. I absolutely love how plump and dewy it leaves my skin. For the first few times I used it, I swiped it across my face with a cotton pad. It was a little slippery because of the milky consistency, so I decided to then tap and press it into my skin, and I love, love, love using it that way. It’s so nourishing and my skin drinks it up while allowing the following steps to absorb into the skin beautifully. Waking up in the morning after having using it the night before, my skin looks just as dewy and healthy as it did when I first applied it. I love the ingredients and I love squalane, so it’s no surprise I love this toner. My skin looks so balanced and healthy after using it. I have a little weakness for it because it reminds me of the Too Cool For School Egg line.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Details: USD $22.00 for 8 fl oz / 236 mL | Available on kylieskin.com

Face Moisturizer

What is it: A smoothing face moisturizer.

What it does: The Face Moisturizer claims to help hydrate the skin with a combination of humectants and emollients. The formula will condition the skin for a soft-to-the-touch formula without heaviness, greasiness or oiliness. 

Key ingredients:

Shea Butter to provide moisture to the skin.

Banana Leaf Extract, Oat Bran Extract and Orange Peel Extract that help smooth and soften the skin. 

Glycerin as a humectant to help balance the moisture levels in the skin.

Aloe to help soothe the skin and help decrease redness.

Texture and scent: This moisturizer claims to be fragrance free, although contains Orange Peel Extract… Not all fragrance is synthetic. There are natural fragrances that are irritants to the skin as well. The moisturizer doesn’t smell like anything, and if anything, it’s reminiscent to First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream or Oatmeal Mask. The formula does contain Oat Bran Extract which I love. It feels really lightweight and sinks into the skin immediately.

How to use: Kylie Skin recommends to use this morning and evening.

View full recommended use details here.

My experience: DEW ME.

This moisturizer is incredible. It’s super lightweight and great for morning and evening. It’s crazy how healthy and beautiful my skin looks after using it. I really love it, although I wouldn’t mind a LITTLE more nourishment (ingredient wise) but besides that, it’s great. It sits beautifully over the toner and under makeup, allows for a beautiful, fresh face canvas. Like Kylie describes it, it the formula conditions the skin for a soft-to-the touch finish, without any excess oil.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Details: USD $24.00 for 1.75 fl oz / 52 mL | Available on kylieskin.com

Overall thoughts:

• The packaging is high quality and sturdy, soft to touch.

• The pricing is reasonable.

• The ingredients / formulations are repetitive.

• Good: Kylie launched the essential steps to a good, basic skincare routine. (Minus SPF)

• The wipes are useless. You should be double cleansing to properly take off your makeup.

• Kylie Skin, in my opinion, is targeted towards an audience who isn’t as invested in skincare / skincare education but want a basic routine, or for a younger audience that are looking to get into skincare.

I really do enjoy all three products I’ve reviewed. I didn’t go into them with any expectations as I try not to when testing new products. I’m not disappointed in the slightest. Now, with that being said, I’m also not over the moon swooning for Kylie Skin, and that’s because it’s a very basic skincare line. But basic can also be good, and it’s good enough for me to say I enjoy the products I’ve tried. I look forward to seeing how the formulations and ingredients will mature with her future launches, and how the products will continue to grow on me. Suited for all skin types, I’d recommend the toner and moisturizer as my favourites, which I can see myself repurchasing as well. Yes, the cleanser is gentle, but the pH is pretty high. Between you and I, there are hundreds of products I’d recommend over Kylie Skin at this time, but right now, I’m content with my purchases and results so far.

As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions.

Discover Kylie Skin here.