Derma ProMedics Anti-Wrinkle Formula -- Gem 2 of Wrinkle Care

The Anti-Wrinkle Formula by Derma ProMedics is gem number 2 of the Derma ProMedics "gem products" I've been ravin' about.

Derma ProMedics, a "state of the art" Anti-Wrinkle Formula is an "anti-aging, micro sculpting wrinkle reducer" that is said to be "better than botox" on the website for ordering.

 "Derma Promedics is a scientifically tested serum that actually works. It comprises of state of the art firming ingredients and a perfect mix of vital moisturizers along with vitamins. Once you apply Derma Promedics, the skin is well nourished and feels pampered. The effects of Derma Promedics that work on your skin are:

• Derma Promedics is purely responsible for diminishing wrinkle density by 37%
• Derma Promedics manages to reduce the Wrinkle volume by 18.5%
• Last but not the least Derma Promedics reduces surface wrinkles by 44.9%
•  

These statistics are scientifically researched and tested. This makes Derma Promedics an Anti Aging Micro Sculpting Wrinkle reducing serum that helps to fight the signs of aging, thus giving you a young looking smooth skin."

How Does it Work?

Anti-Aging Serum works by actually pulling skin tighter to smooth out its surface, creating an appearance of smoother, less aged skin.

The Matrixyl™3000 ingredient in the Anti-Wrinkle Serum has been shown to reduce deep wrinkles, add more moisture to the skin, and keep it there longer (Clinical Studies.)


The claims of this product were so large that I didn't know whether to just send my entire wallet to the Derma ProMedics or be wary, so of course I opted for sampling first (thankfully the company was kind enough to allow me, and that alone, in my experience, tends to be a good sign about a company's product.)

Anyways, just take a look at the products' awesome properties and see what I mean. Sounds like some incredibly powerful stuff!

The folks at Derma ProMedics were so incredibly kind that they allowed me to try both the Eye Renewal product (recently reviewed) and their Anti-Wrinkle Formula I'll be reviewing today. 

My Goals (as far as using this and any anti-aging product goes)

To give ya'll an idea of what my goals are and what my skin type is, what I'm hoping to accomplish by using the Derma ProMedics products, I'll give you some brief detail:

1. Prevent wrinkles, improve the minor aging signs I do have. I'm 24, and I do have minor lines forming around my mouth, also known as "smile lines."

It's been my goal to work towards combating signs of aging since I turned about 19. Wanting to use prevention early, I began trying many different anti-agers and as always, continue to moisturize religiously. I've always had dry skin issues, so moisturizing is a must, and I figure in the long run, it'll help towards my goal of preventing aging signs.
  
I prefer a product that will do both -- take care of my skin by moisturizing it as well as work towards healthy skin while also preventing aging signs as much as possible. I feel confident that Derma Pro Medics' Anti-Wrinkle Formula/Serum is my best bet for anti-aging and for reducing what I do have.

2. Remove blemish or dark spots, which are on my skin from previous breakouts, and occur frequently. 

3. Lighten/improve the dark, sunken circles that have appeared underneath my eyes and never went away, no matter how much sleep, vitamins, minerals and herbs I take.

Something else I hope I might accomplish by using the Derma ProMedics products is just maybe reducing the minor scarring I've obtained on my cheeks from breakouts. Some ingredients in the Anti-Wrinkle formula have been touted by some as useful for this.

My skin type:
Combination skin -- dry "flakes" are common around my cheeks and nose while the middle of my forehead has excess shine/oil most of the time. Breakouts occur more frequently than I'd like, leaving behind blemish marks.  Minor, but noticeable scarring on cheeks from previous breakouts.

What Are The Claims, What's This Stuff Supposed to Do?

• Derma ProMedics is responsible for reducing signs of aging that appear on the face. It reduces wrinkles and visible fine lines. 45% less wrinkles in 2 months.

• It keeps the skin hydrated and moisturized. Therefore the skin feels soft and flexible.

• Derma Promedics is smooth to apply and does not break or flake like other products.

• The state of the art firming ingredients that are present in Derma Perfect ensures to keep the skin light and tight.

• Derma Promedics boosts collagen in the body right from the cellular level that helps to fight the signs of aging.

• This is considered to be 100% safer option than Botox.
• Reduces eye puffiness
• Lightens dark circles
• Revitalizes the enlarged pores
• Keeps the skin refreshed and rejuvenated at all times

How to Use Derma ProMedics' Anti Wrinkle Formula:
It's recommended that you apply it to freshly cleansed skin, then simply apply the clear, thin gel-like serum to "affected areas." I tend to apply it on the areas where wrinkles commonly form -- around the mouth, eyes and forehead. However, I also apply a dab to any blemish or acne since some of the ingredients do double as an acne fighter. In short, they help dry out the pimples/blemish, getting rid of them sooner.

 My Results with Anti Wrinkle Formula 

Here are a couple of "before" photos so we can track my progress and you guys can follow along. Believe me, it wasn't easy posting photos of me with zero makeup (aside from mascara. I actually cleaned everything off, leaving the mascara just for these pictures!). You may notice the bags or dark eye circles. Notice the smile lines. And let's see if over the next month of using these Derma Promedics, we can't just diminish those a bit!

In this one, you can really see the under-eye circles and darkness as well as my smile lines.

 

After 1 month from the start period, I'll be taking "after" pictures and posting them for you guys to see for yourself if I've gotten any progress! Just promise not to judge! ;)

I'd like to make note of a few things I can attest to, regarding the claims made about this Derma ProMedics product:

1. Serum doesn't leave noticeable residue behind on my skin.

2. It's true that there isn't any "breaking or flaking," and some skin-tightening products have left me with a film over my skin that had visible cracks in it. The Derma ProMedics does seem to absorb really well into my skin, without making my skin feel tight like many tightening products do.

3. It doesn't interfere negatively with my combination skin -- no negative results such as drying out my skin or causing oiliness, even in the areas that are typically dry/oily.

4. Formula goes on smooth and weightless, and does not interfere with makeup  application. I can apply before using makeup (including heavy foundations) and it gives me no issues.


I often notice a slight sensation on my skin that's subtle it's like a "tingle" or something between a subtle tingle and a light stinging sensation that dissipates as it dries. Hours after applying, I notice a tight feeling in the area I applied. I typically use it before bed, and sometimes when I wake up, I'll notice that subtle tightening sensation on the areas around my mouth and forehead, where I applied the serum. So that is interesting and could be a hint of the serum working its magic.

As for my results, I have definitely noticed that this serum removes blemishes and helps pimples diminish sooner, also lightens the dark spots left over from previous blemishes. It took about 1 week of use before I got these results, so I'd say with continuous use, it could definitely do a job on wrinkles and lines, it'll just take time to do the trick and show results. I'll update as I go.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Organic Fundamental Face Cream from Earth Turns *Product Review*

 

Recently, I have had the amazing opportunity to try a few products available at Earth Turns, which happens to be a friendly company that carries a variety of high quality products like supplements and natural/herbal products, and even a beauty department. All of the products Earth Turns carry are manufactured under Current Good Manufacturing Process Standards and are natural, safe and effective. At this moment, I've been enjoying the pleasure of using a product from there called the Fundamental Face Cream.

Before I get into the review for the Fundamental Face Cream (which I'm loving, by the way), I wanted to take a second to include that Earth Turns has an A+ BBB rating, and at the moment, they're doing free shipping for  US orders! You really can't beat free shipping these days.

What Makes The Fundamental Face Cream so Fantastic
The Fundamental Face Cream is 100% natural and contains organic ingredients, nutrients and antioxidants that fight wrinkles and other signs of aging. This is one of the most important things I look for in a face cream -- it absolutely must moisturize my skin well without leaving too much residue behind, without interfering with any makeup application and lastly, it must have some type of anti-aging properties. Brownie points because it contains my all-time favorite ingredient & remedy for anything -- Aloe vera.

The Fundamental Face Cream does everyone of those things in the most rich & creamy way! I really adore the texture and consistency of this cream. It makes applying it to my skin a real pleasure. I enjoy seeing it almost melt into my skin instantly, like butter and leave a nice, supple appearance behind.


Aloe vera soothes inflamed skin, promotes healing and is a natural anti-bacterial.

Organic Cacao Seed and Shea butter provide intense hydration and Cacao Seed butter protects and conditions skin. Shea butter has antioxidant properties, can reduce scars and other marks. It contains Vitamins A & E, and can help reduce UV radiation damage.


Organic Soy Lecithin an emulsifier that promotes moisturization.


Organic Rice Bran Extract contains antioxidants, is an anti-inflammatory that prevents aging.


Organic Tremella Mushroom is rich in Vitamin D, can help fill in places where wrinkles form, and improves skin complexion and overall appearance by promoting Hyaluronic Acid production in skin. Moisturizing.


Organic Pomegranate Oil an antioxidant that supports cell function and regeneration. It can improve skin's texture and might help with hyperpigmentation.


Organic Grape seed Oil is an anti-inflammatory that soothes skin. GSE contains antioxidants -- which help prevent damage and repair previous damage,  -- rich in Vitamins C, D, E, and Beta Carotene and essential fatty acids. This ingredient can help minimize scars, prevents acne and definitely prevents aging signs, as it helps restore collagen. It can even help with excessively oily skin by balancing it.

Organic Marshmallow Root Extract helps skin regenerate from damage, helps reduce inflammation.

More Reasons I Love The Fundamental Face Cream

• Free of PEG's, BHA, Mineral Oil and Petrolatum
• Completely safe & impressively effective.
• Makes my skin appear plump, healthy and clear
• Doesn't interfere with my makeup application
• Hydration is one of a kind with this Face Cream.
• Feels silky and velvety, goes on without sticky or greasy residue left over.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Fundamental Chemical-Free Organic Shampoo Review

I've just had the lovely opportunity to try a few products that are available at Earth Turns, who happen to be a very friendly company that carries a variety of really amazing quality products like supplements and natural or herbal products, and even a beauty department. All of the products Earth Turns carry are manufactured under Current Good Manufacturing Process Standards and are natural, safe and effective. I've recently been trying various samples of their product (like the "Relax Already that I recently reviewed) and this new, chemical-free shampoo. 

Before I get into the review for this interesting shampoo, I wanted to take a second to include that Earth Turns has an A+ BBB rating, and at the moment, they're doing free shipping for  US orders! You really can't beat free shipping these days.
 

Fundamental Shampoo is a chemical & SLS-free shampoo with organic ingredients designed to restore hair's shine and body. 

Obviously, as with any natural shampoo, you're going to experience little to no lather. This sometimes means you feel the need to use more product than normal, as I do, so when I dumped an entire hand-full of shampoo in my hair, I was shocked to learn that with the Fundamental Shampoo, that was not necessary! The stuff actually lathers as good as any typical shampoo! So, I kicked myself for wasting so much.

Something I love about Fundamental Shampoo is my hair always smells, feels and looks totally clean, even though I didn't use sulfates to clean it.  The shampoo has a minty scent that does not stay in hair.

 I once thought that natural shampoos that did not contain some sort of harsh sulfate couldn't truly clean my hair. I think we've all been kind of brainwashed as to what the real definition of clean is. It seems we've been thinking that "clean" means stripping all of our skin and hair of anything and everything. If any little natural oil was leftover (which cannot be seen when you first wash the hair with Fundamental Shampoo) is considered dirty.

In fact, my hair feels, looks and smells just as clean as when I use the average drug-store shampoo.

Another plus is that the scent of the Fundamental Shampoo is "acceptable" by either gender (male or female.)

After using the Fundamental Shampoo, my hair was different in texture and appearance. It had more fluff/volume than it normally does, which can be a great thing when hair is flat.

My ends, while they appeared a lot fuller than normal (plus!), they felt a tiny bit drier than they do when I use a good leave-in conditioner, but I made sure to use my leave-in the next night when washing my hair with Fundamental Shampoo  & that helped my ends a lot. I normally always use the leave-in since my ends have some damage, but I skipped when I used the shampoo for the first time because I wanted to be sure I could get the best idea of how this shampoo does. 

I do want to make it clear that I love this shampoo! I really do. My hair actually felt cleaner than it does with other shampoos, and I have been able to skip a day between washes (I normally do that) without my hair looking oily at all the last day. Very impressive.


Benefits of the Ingredients in Fundamental Shampoo
With ingredients like saponified olive oil and coconut oil, the Fundamental Shampoo is nicely moisturizing for hair, and will help with damage and promote shine.

Ginger extract is a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, which makes it great for sensitive skin. Ginger extract may also be a useful remedy for hair loss and can make the hair stronger & healthier. Ginger plus olive oil makes a great dandruff remedy, so since the Fundamental Shampoo contains both, it'll be useful for that too. 

Honey, a natural anti-bacterial is an all-around amazing ingredient for health in general, which is why I try to consume pure, raw honey at least 5 times a week, daily when I can. As for hair, though, honey may be useful for preventing hair loss since it helps hair to retain moisture, and it's conditioning. It also makes hair shiny.

Comfrey Root Extract is an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, too. It also prevents dryness, is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and may stimulate hair growth. The plant protein Mucilage in Comfrey is a foaming agent, which gives the Fundamental Shampoo a bit of sudsy-ness, it also softens hair.

Grape Seed Extract is an anti-septic and anti-inflammatory that may also be helpful for hair loss. GSE contains antioxidants, which help prevent damage and repair previous damage.

Rosemary Extract, an anti-microbial and anti-fungal with some scientific evidence showing that Rosemary oil may be able to help with hair growth. Rosemary extract will help soothe any scalp irritation and keep it clean while also preventing dandruff

Burdock Root Extract helps promote healthy scalp and hair. The Vitamin A, Mucilage and essential fatty acid content in Burdock helps nourish and strengthen skin and hair. It can also provide relief from itchy, inflamed and dry scalp problems.

What I Love About the Fundamental Shampoo:

• Cruelty Free. Fundamental Earth products have been approved by Leaping Bunny & PETA as cruelty free products.
•  The shampoo contains organic ingredients and vitamins.
•  Is nourishing to hair
• Won't damage hair at all as it's free of toxic chemicals, sulfates, parabens, etc.

• Maintains hair's pH balance.

• Doesn't dry out scalp

I can't say that I would actually go so far as to totally switch to this shampoo at this moment in my life. Mostly just because at $11 something for a full sized bottle, considering how much shampoo my hair uses, it just wouldn't be affordable right now. However, I have checked around and it appears that it's as much as $5 elsewhere online, so I certainly cannot complain about the $11 price for it at Earth Turns, especially with free shipping on top of it. I would certainly jump all over that offer when my usual budget allows just a bit extra spending, though.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Relax Already - Magnificent Herbal Sleep Aid from Earth Turns

I've had the lovely opportunity to try a few products that are available at Earth Turns, who happen to be a very friendly company that carries a variety of really amazing quality products like supplements and natural or herbal products, and even a beauty department. All of the products Earth Turns carry are manufactured under Current Good Manufacturing Process Standards and are natural, safe and effective. I've recently been trying samples of an herbal sleep aid they carry called "Relax Already." 

Before I get into the review for the Relax Already supplement (which I'm loving, by the way), I wanted to take a second to include that Earth Turns has an A+ BBB rating, and at the moment, they're doing free shipping for  US orders! You really can't beat free shipping these days.

Relax Already is a dietary supplement manufactured in America, by StoneAge Wellness and designed to not only help you sleep, but also to relax your muscles and relieve stress. If you've never used a natural or herbal based sleep product, then you'll be in for a big surprise because ingredients like Valerian root, passion flower and lemon balm are highly impressive sleep and relaxation aids. These ingredients also help relieve stress wonderfully and relax tense muscles.  What I love most about Relax Already is that I can take them and sleep amazingly well, but they don't leave me feeling out of my head or sluggish.  Also that they're so safe, natural and without negative side effects is a main reason I like them. Store-bought sleep aids have always left me feeling really out of it, and the effects leave me sluggish and irritable the next day. With such clean ingredients and effective herbs, Relax Already never leaves me feeling off or sluggish. In fact, I've woken up feeling better than I typically do. And you just can't beat the deep, relaxed sleep that comes about 40 minutes after taking it.

Taking only once capsule of Relax Already put me to sleep gently for about 6 hours before I ever woke up. After waking and having a snack, I went back to bed and read for a few minutes before falling back to sleep for another 4 hours. Waking up was easy and I felt wide awake once I'd slept off Relax Already's awesome effects. I didn't even remember dreaming for those first 6 hours. 

What Makes Relax Already so Effective:
Relax Already contains 100 milligrams of magnesium per serving. Magnesium itself is helpful for getting sleep since it relaxes the muscles.

A serving of Relax Already contains 1150 milligrams of ValFlora, StoneAge Wellness' proprietary blend of Valerian Root, Passion Flower, Lemon Balm, Chamomile & Cramp Bark.  This kind of blend is sure to relax and promote sleep due to Valerian Root being an anti-anxiety herb as well as a centuries old sleep remedy.

Lemon Balm also has anti-anxiety properties and reduces stress, improves appetite, eases pain and discomfort, promotes sleep, eases bloating, gas and indigestion. When combined with herbs like Chamomile and Valerian (just like in the Relax Already supplement), Lemon Balm is soothing, calming and promotes relaxation.  Lemon Balm also has antibacterial properties. It also may improve cognitive function and help with Alzheimer's symptoms.

Passion Flower has a calming effect and has been used as an aid for insomnia and anxiety.

Chamomile, with its mild sedative like effects have also been used for centuries to promote calming, help sleep and reduce anxiety, promote relaxation and reduce stress.

Cramp Bark  is a muscle relaxant and anti-spasmodic Cramp Bark, interestingly enough, also relieves uterine cramping.

Note: Many of the herbs in this product are helpful for digestive pains and discomforts, too.

The rest of the ingredients:
Vegetable cellulose (capsules), rice flour, vegetable stearate.

What I Love About Relax Already:

• No artificial ingredients.
• Safe and impressively effective.
• Vegetarian, and the capsules are made of vegetable cellulose.
• Free of wheat, dairy, soy, corn, sugar and yeast.

•  Earth Turns' Price for the product. It's rare to see a supplement with these ingredients for such a decent price. At the moment, a bottle of 60 capsules is available on Earth Turns for only $11.49. That's coming from me, a big tight-wad.

• The manufacturer of Relax Already, StoneAge Wellness uses tested ingredients for purity and ingredient potency.

•  Relax Already is manufactured to cGMP (current Good Manufacturing) standards. You can read more about what that means here.

How to use Relax Already:

The packet says to take 2 capsules about 30 minutes before bedtime. I find that I only need one capsule to get the job done.

 Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Ritual Discovery Kit by Tatcha -- Review/My Results

   If you guys have been following Ribbons & Pearls for a long time, you may already know my deep, love for Tatcha the Japanese skincare company. Tatcha & I have collaborated together in the past, which is where I'd first tried their products, and also where my deep, ever-lasting love for them began.

The photo above is to showcase Tatcha's elegant, beautiful packaging, which includes the box, swaddled in purple tissue paper and the 4 skin-beautifying products each placed in their lavender colored slots and of course the guide and instructions to the Ritual Discovery kit. The 4 wonderful products presented inside such lovely packaging makes this a totally gift-worthy kit, and the ultimate gift for a gal like me who loves her high-quality Tatcha products.

  

Yea, Tatcha is one of those companies. The one you call your "go-to" for all your skincare needs. The one that never fails you, no matter what your skin may be doing at the moment. Dry and flaky? I know without a doubt Tatcha will have a product for that -- and one that will not only fix me right up, but also leaving me with the feeling that I've just dipped my face in an elegant bath of velvet.

      Luxury Skincare Inpspired by Geisha Rituals is Tatchas "logo," (I guess you call it,) and it sums up their skincare line well.
 
     You can read -- and I encourage you to do so -- Tatcha's intriguing, geniune journey/heritage here.

       

    Now that I've professed my dying love for such unique, effective skincare products... 

   You might recall reviews I've written about some of Tatcha's products in the past. Tatcha now has  them all put together -- based on your skincare needs -- in one easy-to-use kit: the Ritual Discovery Kit (for combination skin, like mine) which you'll read all about in this review post. Tatcha has also formulated a kit for other skin types, too:

   The Ritual Discovery kit for dry skin 

       The Ritual Discovery kit for oily skin.

    Tatcha is a health-conscious company. Their products are safe and  formulated free of awful, harmful ingredients like Mineral Oil, Synthetic Colors, Synthetic Fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.

  

Ritual Discovery Kit contents

Tatcha has incorporated safe, effective and some of the finest  ingredients -- such as rice bran oil -- into their products for beautifying, cleansing and keeping skin looking youthful. Those are my words based off my opinion of Tatcha.  

 Rice Bran Oil -- An Ingredient for Youth & Beauty

 Back to rice bran oil for a moment. This is found in most of Tatcha products (perhaps even all?). Rice bran oil in Japan, is a popular tradition for skin and hair care as it's known for its ability to keep skin looking youthful and smooth as it increases skins elasticity.

 

 It also contains Squalane, which increases skin’s ability to regenerate, nourish, hydrate, oxygenate and protect itself.

    

    Rice bran oil contains antioxidants, which explains its ability to keep skin youthful and protect against damage.  It also contains Vitamins B and E.

  

   I could spend an entire post on just the benefits of rice bran oil on skin, but I'll try to sum it all up now: Rice bran oil exfoliates, soothes skin, promotes blood micro-circulation -- which has its own benefits such as reducing dark spots,  -- has anti-melanin properties, can lighten skin, has healing and restorative properties. If you guys want the whole she-bang about rice bran oil and its benefits alone, let me know & we'll just dedicate an entire post to that, too.  

   

   Another reason I love Tatcha is that they've put together this kit, which provides you with everything your skin type needs, allowing you to go about your life without having to pick and prod to find which moisturizer, cleanser etc you need. That's always been something I despised about skincare products. Having to search for the right moisturizer for my skin, which believe it or not has always been a tremendous feat thanks to my weirdly and intensively dry skin. Then, having to find the product to fix the only spots on my face that aren't so dry they flake -- my forehead, which is so shiny that folks around me could use it as a mirror! Combination skin is a b****, and so is trying to find the right products for it.

    You see, a lot of folks, like myself absolutely need a moisturizer. I know some people are able to just cleanse with whatever soap happens to be in their shower & go. Not me. I have to slather on moisturizer, and usually, I have to after showering and as I wake up! 

    The Ritual Discovery kit is quite perfect for my skincare needs, and not only because it's all put together in one kit, based off my own skin-type, but also because the 4 products, especially my all-time favorite skin-saving Tatcha items (to be revealed momentarily) are included.

A look Inside the Ritual Discover Kit's Contents

Ritual Discovery Kit is a 4-step kit, containing:

 
Step 1: Pure
 One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil.

Step 2: Polished
Rice Enzyme Powder.

Step 3. Radiant
Radiant Deep Brightening Serum.

Step 4. Supple 

Moisture Rich Silk Cream Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream.

Another Close-up of All Products Within Ritual Discovery Kit

  Now we'll discuss each of them and how they work

One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil:
I'll start in order, with the One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. If some of you still haven't come around to the idea of using oil on your face, let me please just beg you now to try. After all, I have guinea pigged myself right here on Ribbons & Pearls multiple times in the last 2 years by  sharing my adventures into using different oils (olive oil was first) on my skin. Using oil, especially Tatcha's Camellia Oil has been a constant, daily part of my routine ever since I first used an oil on my face.

In fact, I really loved olive oil for my skin. It, for some reason worked so wonderful for me that I kept going back to it, even after trying others like coconut oil!  That was quickly replaced with the Camellia Oil as soon as I used it, I guess a year or so ago. 

In fact, I still had a bit of the Camellia Oil left, even when the Ritual Discovery Kit arrived to me. I have used the Camellia Oil daily, without exception. If I'm not using it as a cleanser (rare, but I do switch up with an exfoliator every few days), I'm always using it upon waking, to remove any left-over makeup & leave my skin glowing. 

Is Oil Really Appropriate for Cleansing Skin?

Oil like the Camellia Oil is a magnificent cleanser for our skin. When I first began using oil, I felt the same thing some of you may be thinking: but oil can't possibly remove all dirt and grime. I was proved wrong. It does remove all of that. In fact it removes even the thickest black makeup and far better than any soap based cleanser. Yes, even better than any make-up remover, including the handy wipes. Nothing comes close to removing makeup and crud from my face like the oil.

If you don't believe me, you can test it yourself, just as I did. Cleanse your face with your regular soap, then go back over it after you're finished with the oil on a cloth or cotton ball. You'll be shocked at what was left behind. 

Camellia Oil washes away dirt and impurities, but does not strip away natural oils.

Aside from the deep cleansing Camellia Oil provides, we can't deny the fact nature never intended for us to strip away all oils from our skin. Sure we should clean it well, and make sure the build-up, sweat, dirt, pollutants, etc. are removed. Being left with skin so dry and tight it felt as if it would crack (not to mention how it looked!) after using any drugstore bought facial cleanser, and even many natural cleansers, was proof enough for me to come to terms with the fact that I simply couldn't use most cleansers. Camellia Oil has been a life-saver for my skin.


What is Camellia Oil, anyways?
The Camellia Oil from Tatcha is a blend of Camellia and rice bran oils.
Camellia oil comes from Camellia Japonica Seed. 


And for the days when my skin needs a good exfolliating, the Rice Enzyme Powder serves it up just perfectly!Specs:

• Camellia Oil is good for all skin types.

• Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing. Dermatologist tested.

• Formulated without:

Mineral Oil, Synthetic Colors, Synthetic Fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.

Ingredients:
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquicaprylate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Glyceryl Behenate/eicosadioate, Water, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Fragrance (Natural), Phenoxyethanol.

 Step 2: The always promising and one of my favorites -- the little Rice Enzyme Powder super heroes.  

The Rice Enzyme Powder gently exfoliates skin, while giving pores a nice deep cleaning and leaving your skin feeling soft as can be! With ingredients like papaya extract and algae extract, the Rice Enzyme Powder never fails to exfoliate away all the old, while green tea extract soothes.  

It's a dry, white-colored powder that when mixed with water, transforms into a lovely white creamy paste. Add water to before applying.  For some reason, this process always excites me! I love mixing it and the way it feels to apply it, massaging it all over my face is pleasing. Not sure why that is, but something about it feels good, and I especially love that it actually feels as if the creamy product is going way deep down into every pore and totally cleaning it inside and out! I've never felt such a cleansing experience.

 Just what I need in an exfoliator because it allows me to have a deep cleaning without being so harsh it leaves my skin raw or dry as a bone. I like this because a harsh exfoliator used to seem like the only route as anything less than harsh wouldn't seem to really cleanse well.


Know what makes this Ritual Discovery Kit even better? Two of the products -- the Rice Enzyme Powder and Camellia Oil can be combined, which is my preferred method.

I combine a drop of the Camellia oil with the dry Rice Enzyme Powder to add immediate moisturization and glow to my skin as it's being cleansed and exfoliated. This also helps prevent any dryness that might occur.  I even find the powder soothing when there's irritations on my skin.

Other times when time permits, knowing how beneficial the ingredients in the Rice Enzyme Powder are, I love to massage my face well, then just let it dry there. Once dry, it's almost like a face mask, and I just feel like the longer I can keep these awesome ingredients in the powder on my skin, the better. And the best part: it never dries me out! Other products, I wouldn't dare let sit on my skin, or even massage too long because it'd end up drying it out. This never dries my skin out, but provides the deepest clean ever.

What is Rice Enzyme Powder?
A water-activated enzyme powder of rice bran, papaya + HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex.

Specs:

• Gentle for dry/sensitive skin. Classic for normal/combination skin, and Deep for oily/acne-prone skin. 

• Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing. Dermatologist tested.

• *The Classic Rice Enzyme Powder and Deep Rice Enzyme Powder have been reformulated with cellulose (plant fiber) beads instead of polyethylene.

Ingredients:

Classic: Talc, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Potassium Myristate, Polyethylene*, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran, Papain (Papaya Extract), Dextrin, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin (Pearl) Protein,  Phenoxyethanol.

 Gentle: Talc, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Potassium Myristate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Papain, Dextrin, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinesis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Cl 73360, Iron Oxides (Cl 77492).
Deep: Talc, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Potassium Myristate, Polyethylene*, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran, Papain, Dextrin, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinesis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Houttuynia Cordata Extract (Dokudami), Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ultramarines, Iron Oxides (Cl 77492)

Step 3 Deep Brightening Serum

Contains :
Asian botanicals + HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex for radiant looking skin.

The Deep Brightening Serum is one of the items in the kit that can be easy to skip over when lacking time.  However, I've learned that when I do take the time to use all steps of the kit, my skin does appear somewhat better for it. The Deep Brightening Serum does give a serious glow to my skin, not so richly moisturizing as Step 4, but definitely leaves shine. I like to use it at night so it has time to really absorb well. 

The thing about the Deep Brightening Serum is that it does give your skin a radiant look, and it also brightens/lightens skin such as dark spots.  So, I've found that dark circles under my eyes  have started to improve, thank God! I've tried everything under the sun for those suckers. 

The Deep Brightening serum is lightweight and thinner than a thick, creamy, rich moisturizer. It may even double as a moisturizer for people without severe dry skin. 

The Serum is definitely worth sticking with for the results in the long run. Plus, it too has a lovely, fresh scent. The only real hesitation I have about the serum is one of the ingredients, Cyclopentasiloxane. This is usually used in skin-related products for the consistency or to make it have a silky feel. It's recently been showing up in almost every single foundation/cover up cosmetic in stores. I literally found TWO in Wal-Mart that did not contain it. Even Physician's Formula has started using it.  The point, though, it seemed that the cyclopentasiloxane had been causing my skin to break out. I could be wrong about it, but I knew that once I narrowed down every ingredient I was using on my face, only when I removed anything with cyclopentasiloxane did I see improvements. And they were quite major improvements. So, I could do without that being so high up on the serum's ingredient list. We'll see how it goes, though as I continue using the kit. **See my note (below, in the section about the moisturizer) about other reviewers' posted experiences regarding the Tatcha products that contain cyclopentasiloxane.

Specs:

• All Skin Types. Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing. Dermatologist tested.

• Formulated without:  Kojic Acid, Hydroquinone, Mineral Oil, Synthetic Colors, Synthetic Fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane (Olive Origin), Isocetyl Stearate, Inositol (Rice Extract), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sericin (Silk Extract), Arginine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenerated Lecithin (Soy Origin), Algae Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Fragrance (Natural), Phenoxyethanol.

Step 4 Supple  - Moisture rich silk cream

There's nothing I adore more about the Supple Rich Silk Cream than its amazing, fresh scent. It dissipates soon after absorbing into the skin, but the scent makes applying it a real nice experience. It's so herb-y and fresh.

The Supple Rich Silk Cream is definitely rich. It's somewhat thick, spreads easily. It leaves a ... glow behind on skin, and for oily skin, it seems like it might contribute to more shine. However, a little powder does the trick for my already shiny forehead.

As good as a moisturizer may smell, it's totally useless if it doesn't do what it's supposed to do -- moisturize! And it's almost shameful the huge amount of moisturizers piled up in the corner of my room because they didn't moisturize, or they left my skin sticky (something I vehemently loathe). 

While you might have some shine left behind, the Supple cream certainly won't leave you with any of those dry patches or flakes! Like I've said, some parts of my skin are so severely dry that I've literally caked on lotions and moisturizers to no avail! Even those intensively moisturizing foot creams. Yea, that bad. Even after slathering olive or coconut oil on overnight, I still have to apply moisturizer when I wake up.

It's so rare that I find a moisturizer that actually takes care of my dry patches that I'm impressed with this one. It takes great care of any dryness. In fact, ever since I started using the Ritual Discovery kit, I've not had to go the extra mile and add more moisturizer. I've only had to apply it once daily. This is big progress for me! However, this one also has cyclopentasiloxane high on the ingredient list, so I'm going to be on the lookout and hope this won't break out my skin the way previous products containing this ingredient have. 

**Note regarding the ingredient cyclopentasiloxane: It's important to note that while reading several other accounts of folks who've also used the two products from Tatcha that contain it (The Silk moisturizer and Serum), none of them have mentioned any acne or increases in irritation/acne. In fact, out of all the testimonials I read, more than a couple mentioned major improvements in problems like rosacea, while using these. Most testimonials found online, of all these 4 products mention huge improvements in their skin after regular use, so my worries are probably nothing. I will update, though.

Something else I can label a big pro is that this Silk moisturizer can be applied minutes before applying makeup. It works well underneath makeup.

Specs:

• All Skin Types. Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing. Dermatologist tested.
• No sticky, heavy left-behind residues.
•   Formulated without: Mineral Oil, Synthetic fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isocetyl Stearate, Squalane (Olive Origin), Inositol (Rice Extract), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin (Soy Origin), Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Batyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Bis-behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Carbomer, Sericin (Silk Extract), Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Thymus Serpillum Extract, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Fragrance (Natural) , Phenoxyethanol.


Pros/Cons - Recap-
Without becoming too exhaustive, lets sum up the biggest pros (things I love) about the Tatcha products in the Ritual Discovery Kit:

• Very effective, high quality, well-researched ingredients in all the products. 
• Major benefits include anti-aging, reversing dark spots/sun-spots/age spots.
• Many people have said they seen all -around major improvements in their skin after regular use for a few months. I'll update as time goes on.
• Highly moisturizing.
• Smooth, soft skin that's no longer dry with improvements of dark circles under eyes have been my improvements. 
• Works well under makeup.
• Deep cleansing (rice powder and Camellia oil.)
•  No left-behind residues
•  Impressive company. 
• 4-steps is totally worth the benefits from using these 4 Tatcha products.

 Only thing I'm not 100% certain about is the ingredient cyclopentasiloxane in 2 of the products (because of previous acne that I thought was caused from that ingredient). This 'thought' may actually be useless, as I said when I mentioned it earlier. It left me unsure, but I feel like with all the other sensitive-skin testimonials saying such great things, I will probably be just fine.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.