Handcrafted Beauty is affordable, effective
In all my time of beauty blogging, I've learned that you can't really judge a product by its packaging or it's price. Yes, there are some expensive luxury brands that work well, but you can also find smaller handcrafted products that really give you some bang for not a lot of bucks, like the ones pictured above by Handcrafted Beauty.
The lovely Lyndsey and Raquel (pictured above; the photo is from their website) are the founders of Handcrafted Beauty, a line of natural skincare, created by hand in a home kitchen out of only the best ingredients nature has to offer. These ingredients are selected for their effectiveness, purity, ability to promote healthy nourished skin, and never include synthetic dyes, fragrances, colors or chemicals. The ladies like to tease that they don't test on animals, although they do sometimes test out their products on their husbands :)
I'm so honored that Lyndsey and Raquel offered me an opportunity to test out their Handcrafted Beauty Bundle (it contains a facial cleanser, toner, serum and moisturizing oil), as well as their After Glow Detoxifying Scrub and Mask. It's basically everything you need to begin your Handcrafted Beauty facial routine, starting with the Almond & Honey Cleansing Oil.
The Almond & Honey Cleansing Oil is basically an oil base (coconut oil, almond oil, apricot oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil and jojoba oil), mixed with organic castile soap and organic raw honey to create a creamy, gentle, "beegan" cleanser that removes dirt and makeup, providing a deep clean without throwing your skin off balance. It leaves your skin soft and not too tight, despite the fact that it contains castile soap (just be careful about getting it in your eyes, as it can sting when combined with makeup). It keeps my skin clear and my fine lines less define. It also has a light honey almond scent.
Next up is the Handcrafted Beauty Rose Water Toner, which I, of course, adore. I'm a huge fan of rose water toners, and this one does not disappoint. This combination of spring water, aloe, organic witch hazel, dried organic roses, dried organic calendula and citric acid provides the perfect balance to both hydrate the skin and keep it clear. This toner has antioxidants to protect the skin from signs of aging; it improves overall tone, texture and reduces pore size. It's advised to apply it with a cotton round, but I like to just give my skin a spritz or two. It smells so fresh and lovely.
The Handcrafted Beauty Vitamin C Serum has quite a sparkly container, which made me extra curious about what was inside. Could it be this bright and shimmery? Well, I was only slightly disappointed that the color and shine was really just the outside of the bottle, as the product inside is a more natural pale lemony lotion. However, this light serum really brightens and tones my skin, giving it a youthful glow. I absolutely love this product.
This Vitamin C Serum contains aloe, glycerin, rosehip seed oil, emulsifying wax, vitamin C, vitamin E, soybean oil, organic cranberry fruit extract, organic red raspberry fruit extract, organic blue raspberry fruit extract, organic white willow bark fruit extract, organic alcohol, organic neem seed oil, organic rosemary leaf extract, organic sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil and organic lemon essential oil. It's loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, which work to prevent environmental and UV damage to your skin.
The Handcrafted Beauty Daily Moisturizing Oil also comes in a brightly colored bottle, although the product is clear and natural. A little of this hydrating oil goes a long way, as I just dab a small amount with my fingertips on my face and neck. This combination of sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, apricot oil, organic dried calendula, organic dried chamomile and organic red roses absorbs well and is made for all skin types. I tend to use this at night and sometimes during the day. The rest of the line seems to balance my skin so perfectly that my skin doesn't seem to need the extra moisturizer all the time.
Lastly, the After Glow Detoxifying Scrub and Mask is my favorite Handcrafted Beauty product out of the ones I was sent for review. It really is a scrub and mask in one that quickly gets the job done. After cleansing, simply apply a generous amount of this mixture of castile soap, coconut oil, sugar, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, activated charcoal, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, wintergreen oil and bentonite clay to your face and massage it in a circular motion. Heads up that this mask can be a tad bit messy (but fun), as it's texture is more like an oil-based sugar scrub than a mask and its color is quite dark (it has a deep marine blue-green/gray color).
After exfoliating away any dull skin with the sugar scrub, allow the charcoal mask to dry a few minutes to draw out impurities. The mint will provide a refreshing aromatherapy scent and a slight tingle to stimulate blood flow, while the tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that clear your skin. The oils will also keep your skin hydrated, even after you wash this scrub/mask off your face. I highly recommend this mask, especially this time of year when it's prone to sun damage and sunscreen-coated days.
Actually, I highly recommend Handcrafted Beauty in general. I never would have guessed I'd get such amazing results from handcrafted products from a home kitchen.
Have you tried Handcrafted Beauty? What are your favorite small-batched beauty brands? Let me know on Twitter at @Rawdorable and/or Instagram (also @Rawdorable).
