Moss Skincare Illumina Vitamin C Perfecting Treatment Intensif Review

Hi All,

Ever since I came across Moss Skincare, I have always wanted to try them especially since the formulations looked right up my alley! Thanks to The Boxwalla subscription which featured Moss Skincare Beurre Celeste Cleansing Balm and Illumina Vitamin C Perfecting Treatment Intensif serum in their June 2018 Box! BTW if you aren't subscribed to The Boxwalla I highly highly recommend to do so if you are interested in trying luxurious green beauty products! It's the BEST green beauty subscription box in the market. Period! 

Coming back to Moss Skincare, Illumina Vitamin C Perfecting Treatment Intensif serum (that's quite a mouthful) is Vitamin C and exfoliating serum in one. It uses Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate which is a stable form of Vit C and Pumpkin Enzymes to gently exfoliate the skin. The formulation also includes Moth Bean extract which is botanical form of Vit A similar to Retinol. Retinol can be harsh and not everyone can tolerate it, Moth Bean extract has shown to give similar results as Retinol but without causing any irritation. Research has shown it helps to boost cell turnover and reverse signs of sun damage and hyperpigmentation. The serum also contains White Willow Bark extract which is botanical form of BHA ie Salicylic Acid, one of my favorite ingredient to decongest the skin and keep it clear. It also contains Plant ceramides which helps to strengthen the skin barrier.

Ingredient List:-

Viola Odorata (Violet) Leaf Hydrosol*, Water/Aqua, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Vigna Aconitifolia (Moth Bean) Seed Extract, Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Extract*, Serenoa Serrulata (Saw Palmetto) CO2 Extract*, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Glycosphingolipids, Gluconolactone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Magnolia Grandiflora (Magnolia) Bark Extract*, Andrographis Paniculata Extract*, Epilobium Parviflorum (Smallflower) Extract*, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract*, Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract*, Monarda Fistulosa (Bee Balm) Oil*, Palmarosa Oil, Coriander Oil* *Organic/Wildcrafted *Organic/Wildcrafted Botanicals 100% non-toxic, safe and gentle ingredients

My Thoughts:-

I have been using Illumina serum consistently for past few weeks every single night and let me tell you this stuff works! If you are a regular reader of my blog/instagram you know I swear by my Epionce Lytic Plus Tx lotion to keep my skin free of congestion/clogged pores but ever since I started using Illumina I haven't touched Lytic Plus Tx Lotion! This serum is quite potent and even though Celestyna the owner and creator of Moss Skincare suggests to use it every other night I could tolerate it every night without any irritations. Please remember I have been using chemical exfoliators on my skin for quite few years and have slowly build up the tolerance, if you are new to chemical exfoliators and vitamin c serums I would suggest to use 2-3 times a week first and then slowly build up to everyday usage depending upon your skin condition.

The serum is light weight and has lotion type consistency, it absorbs beautifully in the skin without leaving any sort of residue behind. I find 2-3 pumps are more than enough for the entire face and neck. I directly apply it after cleansing my face before applying any serums or moisturisers. This is one of those serums where you see the results overnight! My skin feels bright and even toned in the morning! It literally makes my skin glow and I don't say that lightly! I don't get hormonal acne anymore but do get congestion sometimes and using this serum it has helped me to keep breakouts at bay. It definitely helps with lightening of the dark spots and previous acne lesions. The biggest change for me was softening of the scars! With regular usage I found my deep rooted scars have softened quite a bit and skin looks more healthy and luminous. It has become one of my favorite discoveries of this year! Having said all that I have heard this serum purges but I personally did not face any purging, probably because I am used to using stronger exfoliating serums but if you are unsure I would recommend to get a sample to try first!

Overall highly impressed by this serum and would definitely recommend it in a heartbeat! This serum retails for 145$ for 30ml, it's definitely expensive and as much as I respect Celestyna for her knowledge and formulations, I know not everyone can afford to spend 145$ on a single product. But if you want to try one product from Moss definitely check Illumina out..it works! You can buy Moss Skincare products at Aurora Beauty my favorite retailer for all things green beauty! Also don't forget to use the code "PARITA15" to get 15% off your entire order! This is non affiliate code ie I do not gain anything in return if you use my code other than your love and support :) Plus it's the only green beauty retailer who offers free shipping over 50$ with samples! You can also buy samples of products you want to try, I personally have bought samples from her many times and they are always very generous sizes!

I hope this review was helpful and if you have any questions please feel to free to leave them below in the comments and I will definitely get back to you asap.

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Disclaimer - Boxwalla June 2018 Beauty Box was sent to me for consideration, however all my reviews are non biased and my own. This is NOT a sponsored post.

Sanitas Vita C Serum Review

Hi All,

If you ask any dermatologist what their top 3 must have products are Vitamin C based serum would probably make the list! We all are aware of the health and skincare benefits of Vitamin C. It's an antioxidant which helps to fight the free radicals that are often triggered by sun exposure and pollution. It also helps to stimulate collagen production which in turn helps the skin to stay firm and youthful! Research has shown it also helps with dark spots and hyperpigmentation! 

Unfortunately not all Vitamin C serums are stable, in fact the most common form of vitamin c serum on the market are made from L-Ascorbic Acid which is highly unstable in nature and loses its effectiveness once exposed to air or light, also it's quite acidic in nature which can cause irritation and inflammation on the skin. Another problem is that not all Vitamin C ingredients are oil soluble ie they will only work on the surface of the skin and not penetrate the epidermis where it can stimulate collagen production.

Since my skin could not tolerate L-Ascorbic Acid and would always end up having congestion I went looking for other vitamin c options and came across Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate , an oil soluble form of vitamin C which is stable and non-irritating on the skin! During my research I came across Sanitas Vita C Illuminating Serum which has Tetrahexyldecyl Ascrobate as the second ingredient so I knew the % would definitely be very high! 

Sanitas skincare uses Biogenic science ie they use active ingredients which are natural but found in biology and in the skin as well. If you look at their ingredient lists, the formulation is very simple and straightforward with not huge list of ingredients and that was one of the things which attracted me towards this line as it's free of any unnecessary fillers! So you get what you pay for! 

Sanitas Vita C serum has whopping 30% of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate which is the highest amount of THA I have ever seen in a serum yet! The serum is housed in a beautiful glass bottle with a dropper, it's definitely on heavier side but it's travel friendly as well. The serum is clear oil based but has a nice slip to it. I use 3-4 drops directly after my acid toner and its enough for both face and neck. 

Full Ingredients List: Squalane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Safflower Oil/palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuau) Seed Butter, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D), Palm Alcohol, Lecithin, Phytosteryl Canolate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil.

Results:- I have been using this serum for quite sometime now and really really love the results! With regular everyday use my skin definitely appears more brighter and radiant. The complexion has evened out and even deep scars have lightened up. My skin had become quite dark and dull during the course of my pregnancy but with using this everyday for past few months my skin is now in much better place! Not only it helps to fight the free radical damage caused by sun exposure, due to its oil soluble capabilities it penetrates deeper into epidermis and helps to stimulate collagen which I believe has helped to lighten the pigmentation and plump up the scars making them not that visible! The ingredients are pretty impressive too with first ingredient being Squalane, followed with Safflower oil which is high in linolenic acid, murumuru seed butter from brazil and cupuau seed butter contain essential fatty acids to keep the skin moisturized and strengthen the skin barrier. 

This serum is also very moisturising on its own due to the inclusion of butters and oils, it has never clogged my pores or caused any kind of irritation or congestion. There is absolutely no redness and inflammation which would occur whenever I used a higher dosage of L-Ascorbic Acid based serum. It's the most gentle yet most effective form of Vitamin C out there so if you have sensitive skin or even your skin reacts badly to L-Ascorbic based Vit C serums, give this a try! 

It retails for 99$ for 30ml, since you just need 3-4 drops per use, it lasts quite long time, I have been using mine everyday for past couple of months and still got quite a lot left! Plus you can always get 20%-25% off from Dermstore, Pharmaca , PremierLook or EDCSkincare :)

Hope this review was helpful, if you have any questions please feel free to leave them below.

Stay blessed and stay beautiful!

Epionce Skincare Line Review - Lytic Gel Cleanser, Lytic Plus Tx Lotion, Intense Defense Serum and Renewal Facial Lotion

Hey Everyone!

Skincare for me is all about results. If you have been following me on Instagram you know my love for the Epionce line! This review has been long pending but better late than never. I was introduced to Epionce products via Brianna Stanko on YouTube. If you are a fellow skincare junkie like myself you probably are already following her, if not then I suggest you do it right away! Her skincare and makeup recommendations are absolutely spot on and have never failed me yet. She is also the owner of Premier Look - An online skincare boutique which btw have amazing customer service..speaking from personal experience :)

A little bit about Epionce skincare - "It is a physician-strength skin care line created by clinical dermatologist, Dr. Carl Thornfeldt. Our unique approach provides a blend of key botanical ingredients to reveal healthier-looking skin that can help improve the visible effects of aging – giving you smoother, more radiant skin. Our gentle and effective formulas are paraben, fragrance, sulfate and gluten-free. Restorative botanical ingredients incorporate powerful multifactorial antioxidants along with barrier boosting cholesterol, ceramide and free fatty acids in proven concentrations to improve the overall health and appearance of the skin."

I personally have tried 4 products from the line and repurchased them again and again! Yes these are that good! The best part about this line is that they have different version of products for all skin types! I typically use the ones for normal to oily skin prone to congestion.

Let's start with the cleanser, I absolutely love the Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser! As the name suggests it is a gel based cleanser housed in a see through plastic bottle and comes with a pump and is very travel friendly as the pump locks so no spillage! Even though it does foam up beautifully it is Sulphate free and Paraben free and is not drying at all. It gently yet thoroughly cleanses the skin leaving it soft and glowing! I love the refreshing fragrance of menthol it leaves behind which instantly wakes my skin up! It also contains Orange fruit and Lavender extracts along with Willow Bark Extract which contains natural BHA for gentle exfoliation. Even though they say on their website that it can remove makeup, I don't use it as a makeup remover and would not suggest to do so either. Always remove your makeup before hand ..oil/balm based cleansers work the best to remove stubborn everyday makeup and SPF! 

Ingredients:-

Water (Aqua), Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Althaea Officinalis (Marsh Mallow) Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Oleate, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Augustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera (Date) Fruit Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Sodium Hydroxide.

Next product in the line HG for me and something I will never be without..never! The Epionce Lytic Plus Tx Lotion is the only lotion/treatment product which works to keep congestion and acne away for my skin! I love it and my sister loves it as well! She get's hormonal acne mostly on the jaw line and it works amazingly well for her as well. Even though it typically falls under exfoliator/acid/treatment category it's not drying at all! In fact I have used it morning and night everyday for months and it never dried my skin! The formula is light and has lotion type consistency, on application it does have a slight cooling sensation which I believe is from the menthol, so if you are sensitive to menthol I would suggest to check out the gentle version of this treatment. The Lytic Plus Tx is specifically for oily and acne prone skin. 

The Lytic Plus Tx lotion is their maximum strength formula containing Willow Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid and Azelaic Acid. It gently cleans out the stubborn congestion by penetrating in the skin and dissolving the dead skin cells and killing off the bacteria. Azelaic acid helps with inflammation and brightening up the spots as well as it has antibacterial properties! I personally find the combination of BHA ie Salicylic Acid + Azelaic Acid fantastic for my skin! With regular usage it has helped my skin to stay clear and free of congestion! It works great as a spot treatment as well and overnight will reduce the size of the zit! 

Ingredients:-

Active: Salicylic Acid 3%. Inactive: water, Butylene Glycol, Salix Alba (willow) Bark Extract, Ppg-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Limnanthes Alba (meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Polyacrylamide, Phoenix Dactylifera (date) Fruit Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Allantoin, Atelocollagen, Azelaic Acid, Bisabolol, C13-14 Isparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (orange) Fruit Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Emulsifying Wax, Ethyhexlaglycerin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Lavandula Angustifolia (lavender) Flowr Extract, Lecithin, Linalool, Limonene, Linum Usitatissimum (linseed) Seed Oil, Menthol, Peg-100 Stearate, Petrolatum Phnoexoythanol, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Sodium Hyroxide, Xanthang Um, Zinc Pyrithione.

Next we have the Intense Defence Serum, this is probably the most expensive product from their line and well worth it as I have repurchased it multiple times! It's highly advanced anti-aging serum which provides complete set of multi-vitamins for your skin using botanical sources of A, B, C, D & E. It contains two of my all time favorite ingredients - Niacinamide and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate along with many botanical extracts like melon fruit extract, sea fennel extract, cotton seed oil, raspberry seed oil etc. If you are serious about anti-aging , the ingredients to look out for are antioxidants! Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is a highly stable Vitamin C derivative which is oil soluble ie it has the ability to penetrate deep into the epidermis layer and work it's magic! Most of the vit c treatments in the market use L-Ascorbic Acid which is the basic Vit C form but this ingredient is highly unstable and oxidizes easily! It also can be very irritating on the skin causing congestion and breakouts. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate on the other hand does not cause any irritations and is suitable for all skin types! Another of my favorite ingredient is Niacinamide! Research has shown that this ingredient helps in refining pores, dull skin, uneven skin tone, fine lines and also helps in strengthening the skin barrier! It's a fantastic ingredient and a must have in your skincare products!

The Epionce Intense Defense Serum comes in an airless pump packaging which helps in maintaining the freshness of the product which is a must especially since the price is so high! I have used this serum on and off for over 2 years and absolutely love it! It gives me almost poreless skin especially when used along with the Epionce Lytic Plus Tx lotion. With regular usage I find it helps in brightening over all skin, smoothing out the smile lines and refining the texture of the skin! I don't have any fine lines or wrinkles so cannot comment on that. Overall I really adore this serum and definitely would like to repurchase it..the only con I can think is the price! It retails for 136$ for 30ml which is definitely on the higher side but if you are willing to splurge this is a fantastic serum for overall anti-aging benefits!

Ingredients:-

Water (Aqua), Propanediol, Niacinamide, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Cucumis Melo (Melon) Fruit Extract, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Maltodextrin Crosspolymer, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Raspberry Seed Oil/Tocopheryl Succinate Aminopropanediol Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Triethanolamine.

Lastly we have the Epionce Renewal Facial Lotion. It is moisturizer for oily/combination skin. It comes in a see through pump packaging and retails for 94$ for 50ml of product. It is described as "Facial Lotion that protects the skin from oxidative damage while strengthening skin's natural moisture barrier. Ceramides along with hyaluronic and essential fatty acids and seal in moisture while a botanical complex of meadowfoam, flax, avocado and lavender calm inflammation and neutralize free radicals. Zinc fortifies against future damage." The consistency of this moisturizer is thin lotion type and is absorbed immediately into the skin. It makes the skin look plump and hydrated immediately! It does not have any fragrance so people with sensitive nose can enjoy this as well. 

I have used this moisturizer both morning and night time and it works well for both. It does not feel heavy on the skin nor does it clog my pores or cause any congestion! It especially works extremely well under makeup! I have used it as a primer underneath makeup and it helps keeping my makeup fresh throughout the day! I love the dewy finish it gives to the skin making it appear well rested and hydrated. I have repurchased this twice already and will always have it in my skincare collection! 

Ingredients:-

Water, Butylene Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius (safflower) Seed Oil, Limananthes Alba (meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Cyclophentasiloxane, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Ppg-2 Myristyl Ether, Propionate, C10-30 Cholestrol/lanoestrol Esters, Poalycraylamide, Linum Usitatissimum (linseed) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Beeswax, Bisabolol, C12-20 Alkyl Glycoside, C13-14 Isoparaffin, C14-22 Alcohols, Capylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (orange) Fruit Extract, Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylgylcerin, Hexylene Glycol, Lareuth-7, Lavandula Angustifolia (lavender) Flower Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Magnesium Salicylate, Magnesium Stearate, Malic Acid, Manganese Glycerophosphate, Persea Gratissima (avocado) Oil Unsaponifiables, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dcatylifera 9date)f Ruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Pyrus Malus (apple) Fruit Extract, Rosa Cainina Fruit Oil, Rutin Sodium Hayluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Zinc Pyrithione, Zinc Stearate.

Epionce products are available at Dermstore, SkinStore, EDCSkincare, SkincareRX , LovelySkin and PremierLook. These are the online retail stores I generally prefer to buy, always use trusted authorised retail partner stores only to buy any type of skincare or makeup products. Currently (as of 17th Aug 2018) Dermstore is having their Birthday sale with 25% off discount on most brands and Epionce line is included as well! Don't forget to use Ebates, if not signed up yet..you can use my referral link to sign up and get 10$ ..sign up here or directly go to Ebates.com to sign up!

I hope this review was helpful, if any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments section and I will get back to you asap!

Thank you for reading and stay blessed!