Slow Beauty: Laurel Skincare Review

Laurel Skincare embodies all that is wondrous in the world of green beauty. It’s the kind of line that made me fall in love with green beauty in the first place. While some brands are all about what they don’t have, with endless “free-from” labels, Laurel Skincare is all about what it does have.  The careful thought and intention every step of the way brings out the best that nature has to offer. All of the products are beautifully formulated with ingredients that are natural, yes, but more than that, they all have a purpose. While I’ve talked a lot about this brand over the years, I wanted to share some of my favorites in a full Laurel Skincare review!

All photos by emmaloo.co

What first led me to this line was their philosophy and unmatched sourcing of quality ingredients. Everything they use is certified organic or biodynamically grown and they partner with local farms to grow the plants they use and to ensure the plants are picked at just the right time. They are so hands-on with everything that goes into their products from the get-go and know exactly where everything came from and what’s inside each of their products.

You can read a full interview I did with the founder of Laurel here and listen to a podcast episode she joined me on here. I have to say that Laurel, the founder & namesake, is so lovely and knowledgeable. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her in person a couple of times at events and hopefully, our paths will cross again.

Laurel Skincare Review

Just as you might imagine after reading about their ingredients, each of their products is rich with botanical scents and colors. Both very soothing to the senses and very potent at the same time. I’ve tried quite a few things from their line and each has been wonderful, but today I want to highlight some of the products I’ve enjoyed the most. These are all great for first-timers to get a good intro to the brand.  

Support Cleanser Cool Relief 

I almost can’t imagine a more quintessential Laurel product. From the way it smells to the non-soapy, but oh-so-effective way it cleanses. With a bright but herbal scent, this gets to work gently dissolving makeup, oil, and grime from the day while keeping your moisture barrier intact. It has a cooling effect and is perfect for breakout-prone or congested skin.

Hydrating Elixir I Phytonutrient Replenish 

Not your average face mist. This is packed with so much botanical goodness that it really does become a very nourishing part of your routine. Rose is definitely the first thing you notice in this lovely blend, but it’s combined with some deep herbal, earthy scents as well.

This includes artisan distilled hydrosols, which according to Laurel Skincare are rich in polysaccharides, B vitamins, enzymes, bioflavonoids, polyphenols, resveratrol, vitamin C, and plant humectants that mimic hyaluronic acid. The end result is noticeably more hydrated and calm skin. 

Can I also point out that this has the perfect amount of mist! Not a stream or spray like some others. It truly has just a perfect little mist with each pump. This is best for sensitive, normal, and/or dry skin.

Hydrating Elixir II Support + Recover 

Much like the first spray, this delivers the perfect mist while also over-delivering on its botanical goodness. But this version is best for inflamed, congested, or blemished skin. It includes vitamins and minerals as well as calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

I LOVE the way this smells. It’s slightly herbal and floral with a hint of citrus. My combo skin does wonderful with this spray too. 

Unburden Serum Deep Tranquility 

Laurel’s face serums rank really high up there for me as far as face serums go. The serums are oil-based but absorb into your skin like no other oil-based product I’ve tried. They somehow manage to be deeply moisturizing, yet light and completely non-greasy. 

The texture and moisturizing power of this serum are unique and lovely. The Unburden Serum (formerly the Anti-Inflammatory Serum) works well for sensitive or inflamed skin or those with cystic acne. It moisturizes deeply while soothing and calming skin.

Antioxidant Mask Vibrancy Revival Mask

A mask full of superfoods! A blend of herbs, flowers, fruits, mushrooms, and seaweeds are combined to nourish skin with vitamins, enzymes, flavonoids, polyphenols, resveratrol, and more. This comes as a powder and you combine it with a slight amount of water and let it sit (or let it steep like tea as Laurel says). It’s good for any skin type but especially works well for dry or mature skin.

Almond Rose Exfoliant 

A really unique mask/exfoliator! Almonds and oats are combined with rose, chamomile, and more to create a gritty, but beautiful smelling, grainy product. You can sprinkle a little in your cleanser for a quick exfoliation or you can mix with a bit of warm water, let it thicken for a few minutes, and then apply as a mask. As a mask, it does a wonderful job of softening skin, as well as exfoliating.

Honey Berry Mask

A honey-based mask that’s nourishing, brightening and packed with antioxidants. It leaves skin soft, smooth, and hydrated. This is a really simple mask that leaves skin glowing!

Mask Bowl + Brush Set

A beautiful handcrafted mask bowl and brush set to bring your mask session next level! It really does add in a spa-like experience to brush your mask on and I love having specific bowls to mix my masks in.

California Body Oil 

You may start to see a theme here, but just like several of the products mentioned above, their body oils have a wonderful way of being rich but sinking into skin immediately. I don’t always love body oils due to the greasiness they can leave behind, but Laurel’s are almost like a serum. California has an earthy, rich scent.

Sun Body Oil

This has the same great texture as the other body oil and is great for protecting and treating skin before and after sun exposure. As Laurel’s website says: Every single ingredient chosen for this blend has been clinically studied or used historically for its sun damage prevention or sun damage repair capabilities. It is definitely a treat for your skin and helps to mitigate the negative effects of the sun.

So much to love from this line! I only shared some of my favorites in the Laurel Skincare review, but you really can’t go wrong with anything from their line! They also do limited edition launches a couple of times a year which sell out fast- we’re talking hours sometimes. So this line has some well-deserved fans! You can shop the whole collection at Laurel Skincare. 

*Post contains affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are always my own.