Skin Consultation: How should serums be applied around the eyes? What is hyaluronic acid? How does the Activated Night Serum differ from traditional retinol?

Summarized from a consultation originally recorded on January 31, 2024.

Annmarie Skin Care Skin Consultations are FREE, virtual group sessions, hosted live by our in-house skin experts, to provide personalized recommendations and directly answer any skin care related questions. Learn more about our skin consultations.

Our Company—Sustainability 

How does your commitment to sustainability extend beyond packaging?

Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond packaging. Our products are housed in a recyclable miron violet glass and our boxes and labels are made up of post-consumer waste and produced at a wind-powered facility. Aside from this, we thoroughly audit our sources on a regular basis to ensure that they meet our high standards for quality and sustainability. Our COO, Rachel Pachivas, creates an annual sustainability report, showcasing our dedication to responsible sourcing and practices. You can find these reports on our blog. 

The majority of our products are Made Safe certified. This certification not only ensures that our products do not contain any ingredients that may be harmful to your health, but also that they do not contain ingredients that may be harmful to our environment and our planet.

Our Product Line—Collections

What are the distinctions between products in the Signature Collection and the Wild Alchemy Collection?

The Signature Collection contains many of our best-selling products and products that have been a part of our line since the company’s inception. Our Wild Alchemy Collection products contain higher levels of activated ingredients as well as more exotic ingredients. Oftentimes the crafting process, the way these products are made, is a bit more laborious than those in our Signature Collection. 

Cleansing 

How does the Restorative Cleansing Oil work?

The Restorative Cleansing Oil, in the Wild Alchemy Collection, is an oil-based cleanser suitable for all skin types. Its jojoba oil base mimics the texture of skin’s natural sebum, and ingredients like tea tree oil and manuka oil contribute to deep cleansing and nourishment. It can be used alone or as part of a double cleansing routine.

What is double cleansing and how do you do it? 

Simply put, double cleansing is the process of cleansing your skin twice. This method of cleansing tackles both surface and deep-down impurities. Double cleansing ensures that your skin is thoroughly cleansed and prepped to fully absorb the treatment products applied after—your toner, serum, and oil.

To incorporate double cleansing into your routine start with an oil or balm cleanser. This will dissolve dirt, oil, makeup, SPF, and pollutants. Then follow up with a second cleanser (whichever is your favorite! We love the Aloe Herb Cleanser) to achieve a truly “clean slate”.  

We recommend incorporating double cleansing into your evening skin care routine. 

Toning 

Can you provide more details about your toners? Why should I use a toner and how do I incorporate it into my skin care routine?  

Toning helps to complete the cleansing process as well as offer a dose of hydration and skin supporting nutrients. We have three toning mists in our line: the Neroli Toning Mist, Rosemary Toning Mist, and Botanical Hydration Mist With Immortelle. 

In order to use, simply pat your skin dry after cleansing and spritz your toning mist over your face and neck. While your skin is still damp from your toning mist apply your facial serum. This will help to ensure that your serum is absorbed to its fullest potential as well as help your serum to go farther/last longer! 

Your toning mist can also be spritzed throughout the day (even over makeup) and after applying your facial oil as a final step, if desired. 

Serums & Elixirs 

Tell us more about your Signature Collection serums and their specific benefits for the skin.

Certainly! We have three signature collection serums: The Anti-Aging Serum, Citrus Stem Cell Serum, and Probiotic Serum With Tremella. The Anti-Aging Serum is rich in antioxidants and contains a non-GMO vegetable sourced hyaluronic acid. The Citrus Stem Cell Serum targets brightening, and the Probiotic Serum With Tremella is ideal for sensitive or imbalanced skin.

What is the Activated Night Serum, and how does it differ from traditional retinol?

The Activated Night Serum contains our bioactive-A complex. This ingredient is our alternative to using retinol. It is derived from algae and completely safe for your health (it can even be used during pregnancy!) This serum offers resurfacing benefits without the irritation and thinning of the skin often associated with traditional retinol. We’ve paired this activated ingredient with soothing ingredients like lavender and blue chamomile to create a beautiful product that delivers results while also calming the skin. Note that this serum is always to be used in the evening and with an SPF like our Sun Love Everyday Sheer Sunscreen during the day. 

How should serums be applied, especially around the eyes?

Our serums are to be applied after cleansing and toning. Pump a couple of pumps of your preferred serum into the palm of your hand. You can then rub your hands together and press the serum into your skin or dab it onto chin, cheeks, and forehead and spread/massage.

We recommend keeping your serum outside of the orbital bone when applying. To treat the eye area it is recommended to use products specifically designed for the delicate skin around the eyes like our Anti-Aging Eye Cream and Fruit Ceramide Eye Serum. 

Can different elixirs be used together, and how should they be applied?

Our Concentrated Boosting Elixirs are never to be applied directly to the skin. They are always to be mixed with a serum or facial oil. You can mix and match the elixirs to channel your inner alchemist! For example, in the morning you may choose to add one drop of the Hydrate Concentrated Boosting Elixir and two drops of the Brighten Concentrated Boosting Elixir to your serum. Then in the evening you might choose to add two drops of the Hydrate Concentrated Boosting Elixir and one drop of the Revitalize Concentrated Boosting Elixir. 

We do always recommend using the Revitalize Concentrated Boosting Elixir in the evening and with an SPF during the day. We also do not recommend using the Brighten Elixir and Revitalize Elixir together in the same application. 

Can the Activated Night Serum and Revitalize Concentrated Boosting Elixir be used together?

Yes, you can mix the Revitalize Concentrated Boosting Elixir with the Activated Night Serum if you would like. This combination is not recommended for sensitive skin, but for those with more resilient skin who are looking to incorporate the “max” amount of activated ingredients into their routine it is an option. 

Moisturizers & Facial Oils 

What makes facial oils a preferred choice over conventional creams?

Facial oils are chosen for their purity, easy absorption, and compatibility with the skin. They do not require fillers or waxes to be used, making them a more pure, natural option.

Exfoliation 

Why is exfoliation important, and what products do you recommend?

Exfoliation helps to remove surface impurities, and build up. Regular exfoliation will allow other products to be absorbed completely so that they can work effectively. Exfoliation also improves skin texture and can help to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores and even brighten the look of dark spots. Exfoliation is a key step in any skin care routine, but it is important to note that you do not want to over exfoliate. Over exfoliating can strip the skin of its natural oils and disrupt its natural protective barrier—its acid mantle. 

There are two types of exfoliants that you can choose from. Physical exfoliants have a scrubby or gritty texture to physically polish the skin while chemical exfoliants have a smooth texture, but contain enzymes or acids to exfoliate. 

It is often great to incorporate both types of exfoliation into your routine! Our Ayurvedic Facial Scrub is a very gentle, dry herbal exfoliant, that can be used by even the most sensitive skin types. Our Kaolin Micro Exfoliant is our other physical exfoliant option. This is a cream exfoliant with green kaolin clay and crushed bamboo powder. Finally, our Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant is our chemical exfoliant that contains honey-derived lactic acid, which is a very mild alpha hydroxy acid. This exfoliant is to be used just once a week, in the evening, and with an SPF during the day. 

Ingredients 

How can one identify a good skin care product by reading its ingredient label?

An easy tip that I always recommend to customers who aren’t familiar with common skin care ingredients is to check if water is listed as one of the first ingredients. Water-based products require more preservatives to be used to prevent bacteria from growing. Another quick and easy thing to check for is fragrance. There are a lot of not so great ingredients that can be grouped under the “fragrance” label. 

Is the apple extract in your products derived from the actual fruit?

Yes, the apple extract used in our products is derived from the actual fruit! In our skin care formulations, apple extract is carefully processed to preserve the integrity and bioavailability of its beneficial properties. Rich in alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), particularly malic acid, apple extract offers gentle exfoliation without the need for abrasive particles or microbeads. These AHAs work by breaking down the bonds between skin cells to reveal a brighter complexion.

Furthermore, the AHAs and carbohydrates present in our products contribute to skin hydration by forming a protective barrier that minimizes water loss while still allowing the skin to breathe. 

How do essential oils, like tea tree oil, impact the skin when used regularly?

Tea tree oil, among other oils, can be beneficial for the skin. When used alone, these oils can be too concentrated and cause sensitivity in the skin however, when incorporated into our formulations, the concentration is balanced, preventing it from being overly harsh or drying. Our essential oils are of high quality and cold-pressed, ensuring a positive impact on the skin without causing any adverse effects.

Do you have any products that do not contain essential oils? 

Yes. Our Herbal Facial Oil for Sensitive Skin is formulated with no added essential oils. This facial moisturizer contains ingredients to calm and soothe skin. Omega-rich oils reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without irritating sensitive skin.

What is hyaluronic acid and why should I include this ingredient in my skin care products/skin care routine? 

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that binds water to the skin. It holds 1,000 times its weight in water, so it is considered a super-hydrator. The deep hydration that this ingredient provides helps to plump the skin to minimize the appearance of fine lines.

It is important to incorporate both hydrating and moisturizing products into your skin care routine to treat both dehydration in the skin as well as dryness. Dehydration is a lack of water in the skin whereas dryness is a lack of oil. Incorporating both hydrating products like toners and serums as well as moisturizing products like facial oils into your routine will ensure a healthy balance in your skin. 

What type of vitamin C is used in the Brighten Concentrated Boosting Elixir?

The vitamin C that we use in our Brighten Concentrated Boosting Elixir is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. We have chosen to use this particular form of vitamin C because it is very stable. Oftentimes vitamin C products use unstable forms of vitamin C that go rancid quickly once the product is opened and are then uneffective. This is also one of the most gentle and non-irritating forms of vitamin C, with a pH of 7. 

General Skin Care & Routine Questions

Can you share your experience with using the skin care products overnight?

At night, your skin naturally regenerates at twice the rate that it does during the day. This means that nighttime is the best time to apply powerful skin care products such as serums. Serums are incredibly effective products—they are made up of smaller molecules than facial oils and contain high levels of activated ingredients so they are able to absorb deeply and work to address specific skin concerns. Moisturizers and facial oils are also crucial to be used at night to prevent transepidermal water loss that occurs while we sleep. 

I’m confused about product usage during different seasons. Any suggestions?

It’s common for skin needs to change with the seasons. Adjust your routine accordingly, and feel free to switch products based on your skin’s response and seasonal changes. For example, in the summer months you may want to incorporate more exfoliation or use a lighter facial oil with purifying properties such as our Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin. During the dry winter months you might want to use a gentle exfoliant and incorporate a deeply moisturizing facial mask once a week, like our Coconut Honey Mask.

Want to join us for our next skin consultation? (It’s totally free!)

Our team of experts has been on a mission to inspire beauty, health, and wellbeing, and we believe there’s no better way to do this than through directly sharing our knowledge and passion for natural skin care. 

Join us for a live session with one of our licensed estheticians where we’ll explore the power of organic, bioactive ingredients, how they interact with your unique skin type, and how to incorporate them into your routine for optimal benefits. You’ll walk away from this consultation feeling empowered to make informed decisions for your skin’s health. Our in-house skin experts are eager to answer your questions, dispel myths, and share tailored advice for each participant.

By signing up for our live consultation, you’ll not only gain access to the latest insights in organic skin care, but also receive exclusive skin care deals only available to those who attend! We can’t wait for you to join our community as we share our love for organic skin care with you!

HOW TO SIGN UP

1. Simply, click the button below to sign up for the day that works best for you and your skin type.

2. Select your desired date and time, and click “Next”

3. Enter your contact information (your name and email), and click “Schedule Event.”