Describe the brand in five words.
Green. Almost painfully hippy L.A..
What type of cleanser is it?
Oil
Who is it for?
The brand say ‘everyone’, but I think this is potentially too rich for acne skins.
What’s in it?
Hippophae rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba), Cocos nucifera (Virgin Coconut) Oil, Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender), Chrysopogon zizanioides (Vetiver), Citrus paradise (Grapefruit), and Cymbopogon martini (Palmarosa)
What’s not in it?
The usual suspects. Mineral oil, parabens, silicones, anything the LA ‘green’ scene deems a ‘nasty’.
Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
Coconut oil wouldn’t be my first choice for oily/combo skins
Essential oils
Suitable for pregnancy?
Yes
Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
Organic and vegan
Tested on animals in home country/EU/sold in territories that advocate testing?
No
How does it smell?
Lovely, fresh, ‘clean and green’ as you would expect.
How do you use it?
The brand suggests adding a little to the damp corner of a washcloth and massaging it all over the face. They also suggest leaving it on, making it a moisturiser. It is retailed as a cleanser, exfoliator or moisturiser.
I have only used it as a cleanser and used it my normal way so I can’t attest to it as a moisturiser.
I apply to dry skin, massage through, add a little water to give it slip, and then remove with a warm flannel.
First cleanse/second cleanse or AM cleanse?
Second cleanse or AM cleanse for me.
Best for winter or summer?
Either.
Does it remove waterproof eye makeup?
Yes it should do, but I wouldn’t. You would have to rub too hard.
How long did I test it for?
I bought it in LA earlier this year so a few months.
How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?
There are various sizes and price options available, which is great. It starts from 30ml/$20.00 and goes up to a 4250ml/$1850.00! (I’d love to see a picture of that one!)
The one pictured is $50.00 for 100ml.
What’s the website like?
Unbearable. Here’s the thing: if you are a level-headed, calmly-sceptical, science-embracing facialist, you will read this website and want to break pencils into your hands.
If you are an organic-embracing, GOOP-believing, LA-dwelling, nude-bikram-yoga-attending person, congratulations, I may have found your home planet.
I’ll leave the link here and leave it to you to decide for yourself: https://www.livinglibations.com/index.php/default/products/grace-the-face/best-skin-ever-seabuckthorn – the ‘Adulation’ page deserves a special mention.
How’s the distribution? Available freely or limited?
Limited to green stores/retailers. Living Earth Beauty are the largest for them in the US: living earth beauty
What’s good about it?
I really like this cleanser. When I bought it from the Detox Market, they only had this option, but there are 7 options on the brand’s website. I’m annoyed they didn’t have the others but let’s face it, it saved me money.
Seabuckthorn oil is nutritionally rich in omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 and is loaded with phytosterols and carotenoids. It’s a great oil for skin, hence why you could grab this as an all-in-one if you wanted a cleanser/moisturiser. I like to keep them separate..
This is a rich oil, that you do feel is helping your skin when applied. It cleanses well, but I see it more as a treatment cleanser, which would go along with their statement that you can leave it on.
It leaves the skin really plump, soft, glowing and calm. I like. I think if you have a reddened, angry skin, you may like the feel and the effects of this.
What’s not so good about it?
I notice from the packaging pictures on their website that the lid appears to have changed, which is good, as the cork one has some difficulty fully closing, as you can partially see from the picture here.
That’s it though, the juice is lush.
Would I purchase/repurchase?
Probably, yes.
Do you need it?
If you are in the market for a new oil cleanser and you can afford it, give it a go. If not, there are more affordable options out there.
Best Skin Ever – Seabuckthorn Oil is 100ml for $50.00 and available from the Detox Market – Living Earth Beauty and Living Libations website.
Similar products:
Votary Super Seed Cleansing Oil
Elemis Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil
Tata Harper Nourishing Cleansing Oil
De Mamiel Pure Calm Cleansing Dew
More affordable cleansing oil options (bear in mind the formula will be completely different):
Una Brennan Vitamin C Brighten Cleansing Oil
Avene XeraCalm AD Lipid Replenishing Cleansing Oil
L’Occitane Shea Cleansing Oil