Skin Consultation: How to double cleanse? Do I need antioxidants in my routine? Benefits of plant derived stem cells?

Summarized from a consultation originally recorded on December 13, 2023.

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 Products 

What skin care routine do you recommend?

We recommend a basic 4-step routine morning and evening that consists of cleansing, toning, applying a serum and facial oil. However, we emphasize the importance of customizing your routine based on your skin type and lifestyle. Whether you’re just getting started with a simple routine or looking to incorporate more into your current routine, our products are designed to deliver results. 

Consistency is key—being consistent with your skin care regimen and using products that contain high levels of activated ingredients will deliver more visible results more quickly. 

What sets your products apart?

Aside from our unique process, our commitment to sustainability distinguishes us from others. Our products are packaged with intention using sustainable materials that are recyclable or made up of post-consumer-waste, and produced at a wind-powered facility. We focus on using ingredients in our products that are not only safe for your health, but for the planet as well. 

How are your products made?

Our products are crafted using our 3-step, proprietary Energized Botanical Infusion process. We carefully curate organic and wildcrafted ingredients—from herbs to high-vibration plant extracts—that meet the highest standards of quality and effectiveness for your skin and body. We forge relationships with farmers and tirelessly audit our sources to maintain our standards of purity and sustainability.

We then infuse these hand-selected herbs into organic aloe vera and skin-nutritive oils at low heat (never over 95°). These botanical infusions are left to steep for up to 30 days and energized by crystals before serving as a potent base for all our formulas.

Finally, we add high-performance seed oils, antioxidant-rich botanicals, and synergistic plant stem cells that deliver skin-supporting nutrients and luxurious aromatherapy. 

This process results in potent, active, supernaturally-effective skin care products that deliver results.  

Are your products certified?

We are proud that many of our products are MADE SAFE® certified—a nonprofit organization that provides America’s first comprehensive human health-focused certification for nontoxic products. The MADE SAFE® (Made With Safe Ingredients™) seal literally means that a product is made with safe ingredients, without toxic chemicals known to harm our health. MADE SAFE® certified products have passed ingredient screening for known behavioral toxins, carcinogens, developmental toxins, endocrine disruptors, high-risk pesticides, reproductive toxins, and more.

How do you ensure transparency?

We feel everyone deserves the right to know exactly what they are putting on their skin. We provide a full list of every single ingredient in our formulas on our product packaging and website. Information about the sourcing of each ingredient is also available on our website, along with additional details on our blog about our ingredients, practices, and products.

Cleansing

How should I choose a cleanser for my skin?

The best cleanser for your skin depends on your skin type and personal preferences. Keep in mind that your skin type fluctuates with your environment, age, diet and hormones—so your skin type may change, needing different cleansers depending on your circumstances. Our cleanser guide can be a useful tool. 

A note to our readers: If you are looking for guidance on building your perfect skin care regimen, take our 2-minute skin quiz or book a consultation with our in-house licensed estheticians. Both methods are completely FREE!

Can you recommend a cleanser for sensitive skin?

The Aloe Herb Cleanser is an excellent choice for sensitive skin. A pH-balanced cream formula, this cleanser is suitable for all skin types and contains soothing ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, calendula, lavender and lemon balm. Skin is left feeling clean, nourished and calm.

How do I remove makeup effectively?

The Aloe Herb Cleanser is effective in removing makeup. The Restorative Cleansing Oil is also excellent for removing makeup, including even waterproof mascara. To use, apply to dry skin and massage then rinse or remove with a warm washcloth. 

What cleanser is suitable for double cleansing?

If you prefer a double cleanse, start with our Restorative Cleansing Oil and follow with whichever cleanser you prefer (Aloe Herb Cleanser, Citrus Mint Cleanser, etc.). The Restorative Cleansing Oil is suitable for all skin types, and can be especially beneficial for those prone to congestion. It can be used on its own or as the first step in a double cleanse routine. Double cleansing ensures a thorough cleanse which will allow treatment products to be better absorbed to improve their efficacy.  

Toning Mists 

What should I follow the cleanser with?

After cleansing, mist a toning mist over your face and neck. This will help to complete the cleansing process, add a dose of hydration and skin supporting nutrients, enhance absorption of treatment products, and minimize the appearance of enlarged pores (depending on which toner you choose).

You can let it dry and then apply your facial serum and oil. Or, another way I recommend is to apply your facial serum and oil while skin is still slightly damp from the toning mist. This will help to increase absorption of your treatment products and make them “go further” as well. 

What are the differences between the toning mists?

Each of our toning mists has unique properties. 

Rosemary Toning Mist: Is good for all skin types—especially normal to oily skin types. This toning mist replenishes the skin with essential minerals and cleansing botanicals. It contains white willow bark to calm, thyme to cleanse and neem to purify.  

Neroli Toning Mist: Is also good for all skin types. It is hydrating, refreshing, and soothing. Aspen bark extract benefits troubled complexions while neroli essential oil—derived from fresh orange blossoms—imparts a sweet aroma and calms skin. 

Botanical Hydration Mist With Immortelle: Can be used for all skin types. This mist contains a blend of botanical hydrosols that deliver hydration and a dose of skin protective antioxidants. Frankincense essential oil tones, tightens, and rejuvenates the look of aging skin. 

How often can I use toning mists during the day?

Toners can be used throughout the day liberally. You can’t really over-do it with our toning mists! The Rosemary Toning Mist is an excellent option to be used throughout the day to minimize excess oil and shine (you can even spritz it on your hair!). The Neroli Toning Mist and Botanical Hydration Mist With Immortelle are great to use as a midday pick me up and boost hydration without disturbing makeup. 

Serums & Elixirs 

What are the key ingredients in the Anti-Aging Serum?

The Anti-Aging Serum is a deeply hydrating, antioxidant-rich serum that is good for all skin types. It contains a non-GMO vegetable sourced hyaluronic acid—a humectant that holds 1,000 times its weight in water—making it a superb hydrator for dehydrated skin. Life everlasting flowers, buddleja extract, and edelweiss provide a potent dose of antioxidants to protect against environmental stressors. Calendula and rose have a soothing effect, minimizing the appearance of temporary redness in the skin. 

Which serum is suitable for addressing the look of dark spots and targeted brightening?

The Citrus Stem Cell Serum is recommended for thicker textured skin, skin that has had a lot of exposure to the elements, and those concerned with the look of discoloration or unevenness. It contains a blend of licorice root, uva ursi, and alma berry that work to lighten and brighten the appearance of dark spots. It also contains citrus-derived stem cells that are rich in proteins, peptides, and amino acids. 

What is unique about the Wild Fruit Serum?

This powerful serum is designed to illuminate, moisturize, and rejuvenate aging skin. Experience a potent infusion of fruit, herb, and plant-cell extracts that enhance the radiance of your skin tone. A synergistic blend of Kakadu plum and apple works to invigorate lackluster skin, while the richness of resveratrol from knotweed, along with plant-cell extracts and copper, collaborates to maintain skin hydration, fullness, and flexibility. Achieve an all-encompassing, luminous glow with this transformative serum.

Is the Activated CBD Serum suitable for sensitive skin?

Yes, the Activated CBD Serum is excellent for all skin types, but it is especially helpful for soothing the appearance of temporary redness and irritation in sensitive skin. Along with CBD, tremella mushroom extract and our unique aloe herb infusion work to calm and soothe skin. 

Can you provide information about the Activated Night Serum?

The Activated Night Serum is our latest serum release that contains our safe retinol alternative. It is a nighttime treatment that features our algae-derived bioactive A-Complex. This bioactive A-Complex tones and revitalizes skin without causing reactions or hypersensitivity. It helps to strengthen the skin vs. thinning it over time the way that a traditional retinol can. We’ve paired this complex with soothing ingredients like lavender and blue chamomile as well as antioxidant-rich astaxanthin and mangosteen oil. Because this product helps to resurface the skin, we recommend avoiding harsh sun and using an SPF during the daytime for proper sun protection the following morning.  

What is the recommended application method for the serums?

It is recommended to apply the serum to slightly damp skin, preferably after using a toning mist, to enhance absorption (using it on damp skin also helps the product go further, allowing you to use less). 

Apply the serum to clean skin. Pump a generous amount into the palm of your hand, dab a bit on your nose, chin, cheeks and forehead​ and blend well. Follow with your preferred facial moisturizer.

Can I alternate between different serums, such as the Anti-Aging Serum and the Wild Fruit Serum?

368767uytreYes, alternating between different serums is a great way to incorporate multiple serums with a variety of skin benefits into your routine. For example, you could use the Anti-Aging Serum in the morning and the Wild Fruit Serum at night or the Probiotic Serum With Tremella in the morning and the Activated CBD Serum at night. 

Tell me about the Concentrated Boosting Elixirs.

The Concentrated Boosting Elixirs come in a set of three that includes the Hydrate, Brighten, and Revitalize elixir. They are highly concentrated elixirs that are not to be applied directly to the skin. To use, mix 1-3 drops of the elixir(s) with your chosen serum or facial oil. These elixirs allow you to customize your skin care routine and increase the level of activated ingredients in your skin care products. 

The Hydrate Concentrated Boosting Elixir is a blend of hyaluronic acid with vegan collagen prepeptides. The Brighten Concentrated Boosting Elixir is a pure vitamin C with sea buckthorn. Our vitamin C of choice is Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate—one of the most stable and non-irritating forms of vitamin C on the market. Finally, our Revitalize Concentrated Boosting Elixir is our bioactive A-Complex paired with antioxidant rich astaxanthin.

Can I use the elixirs with any serum?

Yes, the elixirs can be added to any serum. Though we do not recommend adding the Revitalize Concentrated Boosting Elixir to the Activated Night Serum. 

Facial Oils 

Are all facial moisturizers oils, and why?

All of our facial moisturizers are oils. We have chosen oils because they are more easily absorbed by the skin and require no fillers or waxes to be used, making them more pure and more potent. 

However, if you are interested in a richer moisturizing balm, we also carry the Omorfia Balm in our Favorite Brands Marketplace—a collection of products we love by brands we trust.

How are the seed oils used in your products processed?

Some of our facial oils—such as our Herbal Facial Oil for Normal & Combination Skin, Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin, and Herbal Facial Oil for Sensitive Skin—use a wildcrafted, hand-foraged grapeseed oil for its light texture and support in balancing the skin’s natural oils. The high-quality version of this ingredient (like the one we use where the dried grape seeds are cold pressed and extracted) can work to strengthen and firm the appearance of your complexion. Additionally, the sunflower oil in our formulas comes from a zero-waste facility that uses a no-solvent extraction method, solely relying on pressure to extract the oil from the sunflower seeds. They then refine the oil from the crushed seeds without the use of synthetic chemicals or winterization (a process that can strip the oil of nutrients and vitamin E). 

I have larger pores but dry skin. Which moisturizer do you recommend?

The Rejuvenating Facial Oil may be a good option for dry skin types concerned with enlarged pores. It is a jojoba oil base, which is deeply moisturizing, but also contains black cumin seed oil which can be beneficial for reducing clogged pores and minimizing congestion. Other products that may be beneficial to incorporate into your skin care routine would be the Restorative Cleansing Oil, Rosemary Toning Mist, and one of our exfoliants.  

Can I mix the Anti-Aging Facial Oil with other oils?

Yes, you can mix the Anti-Aging Facial Oil with another facial oil if you would like to customize your moisturizer. For example, some customers like to mix the Anti-Aging Facial Oil with the Rejuvenating Facial Oil due to the Rejuvenating Facial Oil being our most potent facial oil. Diluting the Rejuvenating Facial Oil with the Anti-Aging Facial Oil can make it a milder option for your skin care routine if your skin is sensitive. For an even gentler option, dilute the Anti-Aging Facial Oil with the Herbal Facial Oil for Sensitive Skin.

What is unique about the Rejuvenating Facial Oil, and how does it differ from other facial oils?

The Rejuvenating Facial Oil is our most rich and complex facial oil. It contains skin-softening mongongo oil, brightening baobab oil, and antioxidant rich marula oil. Butterfly pea flowers provide a potent dose of antioxidants and blue tansy calms and soothes the skin.

The crafting process for this facial oil also sets it apart. While we do infuse the herbs and ingredients into the base oil, steep, strain and bottle the product (as with our other facial oils) we chose some of the activated ingredients in this oil and added them directly back into the product making it more potent/active than our other facial oils. 

What makes the Divine Woman Elixir stand out?

The Divine Woman Elixir is a limited edition product, featuring key herbs that have been hand grown and harvested at Moss Creek Farm by Kevin and Annmarie Gianni themselves. It is suitable for all skin types. It is a protective, nutrient-dense facial oil that contains a blend of comfrey, St. John’s wort, echinacea, chamomile, lavender, wild rose, plantain, feverfew, and calendula. We’ve paired these herbs with antioxidant-rich seed oils that help to nourish and deeply moisturize aging skin. 

Which facial oils are suitable for oily skin?

The Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin is ideal for oily skin types. It contains a blend of cleansing botanicals and purifying herbs such as black cumin seed oil, neem, and white willow bark. It is a grapeseed oil base, which is a lightweight, fast-absorbing oil that is quickly absorbed. 

Eye Products & Eye Care

Can I use regular facial oil around the eye area?

While regular facial oil is generally safe for use around the eye area, we recommend using specific eye care products due to the delicate skin in that area. The Anti-Aging Eye Cream is a favorite. It is nourishing and recommended for dryness around the eyes.

Are there specific cleansers recommended for the eye area?

The Aloe Herb Cleanser and The Restorative Cleansing Oil are suitable for the eye area. The Restorative Cleansing Oil is especially effective for removing eye makeup. It’s advised to avoid using Citrus Mint Cleanser around the eyes.

What’s the difference between the Anti-Aging Eye Cream and the Fruit Ceramide Eye Serum?

The Anti-Aging Eye Cream is very nourishing and recommended for dry skin, while the Fruit Ceramide Eye Serum is beneficial if the look of dark undereye circles are a main concern as it contains sake peptides that may help to retexturize and brighten the look of under eye skin. Combining both by layering the Fruit Ceramide Eye Serum under the Anti Aging Eye Cream can provide comprehensive eye care.

Exfoliation & Masking 

What exfoliants do you recommend for different skin types?

Ayurvedic Facial Scrub: This is a very gentle dry, herbal exfoliant that is suitable for all skin types including sensitive. It is gentle enough to be used daily. It can be mixed with water to create a paste or mixed with your cleanser of choice. 

Kaolin Micro Exfoliant: A cream exfoliating scrub that is suitable for all skin types. Made with mineral-rich green kaolin clay and soothing lavender essential oil to polish and revitalize skin. 

Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant: Unlike our other physical exfoliants that contain a grit to polish the skin, our Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant is an alpha hyroxy acid (or a chemical exfoliant) with a smooth gel texture. Honey-derived lactic acid is the exfoliating component in this product. An excellent choice if the look of aging and discoloration are a concern.

Why is exfoliation important for dry skin?

Exfoliation removes buildup and debris to improve texture, tone, and allow hydrating and moisturizing products to penetrate effectively. For those with dry skin, incorporating exfoliation into your routine can enhance the effectiveness of other skin care products.

How do I use the Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant?

To use the Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant apply it to clean skin and leave it on for 2-3 minutes initially. If your skin reacts well, you can gradually increase the time to 10 minutes. Be sure to remove thoroughly. It is recommended to use this product in the evening and always use an SPF, such as our Sun Love Everyday Sheer Sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF 20 during the day when using it. 

How often should I use exfoliants like the Ayurvedic Facial Scrub or the Kaolin Micro Exfoliant?

The frequency of exfoliation depends on the exfoliant that you are using and your skin type. Thicker textured, oily, or more resilient skin can exfoliate more often than someone with thinner, more dry skin. In general, The Ayurvedic Facial Scrub is gentle and can be used anywhere from a few times a week to daily. The Kaolin Micro Exfoliant can be used 2-3 times a week. The Resurfacing Facial Exfoliant is recommended to be used once a week, maybe twice for some skin types.

Tell me more about the masks, specifically the Illuminating Pearl Mask and the Purifying Mud Mask.

The Illuminating Pearl Mask is a hydrating and brightening treatment mask. It has a light, jelly-like texture and feels cool upon application, making it perfect for mornings when skin is tired and puffy. The Purifying Mud Mask can be used for any skin type, but is especially beneficial for oily skin prone to congestion. It can be mixed with water or, for additional benefits, mixed with raw or manuka honey. A few of our team members also enjoy spritzing a toning mist over this mask to rehydrate it, so as to not let it dry on the skin.

How often should I use the Purifying Mud Mask based on my skin type?

For oily skin, use it once or twice a week. For dry skin, use it every 2 weeks.

Scent Preferences 

How can I address the scent of the products, especially if I’m sensitive to it?

Scent preferences are so personal. If you find that you don’t like the scent of any of our products, we recommend exploring other products with different scent profiles. 

Our Herbal Facial Oil for Sensitive Skin can be a good option for those that are sensitive to smell as it does not contain any added essential oils. The Renew Facial Cream Cleanser and Radiate Facial Oil also do not have strong scent profiles as these two products are simple formulas that do not contain our herb infusions.

Can I add essential oils to improve the scent of the products?

We do not generally recommend adding essential oils to the products.

Other Products—Body Wash, Shampoo, & Makeup 

Any recommendations for a regular body wash and shampoo?

Yes, our Rosemary Peppermint Hand & Body Wash is a pH-balanced, aloe-vera based, herb-infused hand and body wash suitable for all skin types. It leaves skin feeling cool, refreshed, and uplifted. Our Sweet Sunrise Shampoo is hydrating, purifying, and strengthening. It contains horsetail, nettle, and a blend of essential oils to leave hair looking lustrous and healthy. 

What makeup products do you recommend, especially for a powder or foundation?

We recommend the Au Naturale Powder Foundation, which can be found in our Favorite Brands Marketplace—where we stock products we love by brands we trust. 

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!

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