Morning routine with Sukin

I've never really been one of those people who say natural or organic is better when it comes to skin care though I still love to experiment with different brands just to see how effective they are. I do appreciate on the other hand if a company is making environmentally conscious decisions as well as being natural and builds a whole brand around it.  Sukin is one of them. I only recently discovered them getting lost in random beauty videos on Youtube.

Sukin was founded in 2007 in Melbourne, Australia. Their company tagline is 'Skincare that doesn't cost the earth'  which really nicely describes the environmentally sustainable, budget-friendly skincare brand.  The question is: are the products effective enough?

I usually start reviewing things with what's in them, but this time I will  do it the other way round and start with what you won't find in any of the Sukin products: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, synthetic fragrance, animal derivatives, harsh detergents, Propylene Glycol, artificial colours, Triethanolamine, mineral oils, EDTA, parabens. The company is Australian owned and made, 100% vegan, 100% Carbon neutral, biodegradable, grey water safe and not tested on animals. This is quite a list, isn't it? It is so great to see that there are brands now that cater to people who really want to look after the environment and don't want any harsh chemicals or animal ingredients in their beauty products. The fact that they are completely animal testing free and won't sell in China is a bonus.

I picked up a basic routine for sensitive skin and I have to say I am very impressed so far how good they are. I really shouldn't be but naively I sometimes still think that anything 'natural' is less effective. How rude of me.

Let's start with cleansing:

Sensitive Cleansing Gel

 
I love cleansing gels in the morning or as a second cleanse, so no surprise I went for it. This is a soap-free, lightly scented gel formula with Chamomile, Green tea, Cucumber and Avocado Oil. Sounds delicious, doesn't it? But does it work? The answer is yes! You simply massage it into dry skin, lather it up with some warm water and take it off with a cloth. It feels very gentle, not irritating, doesn't leave a residue and the scent is a really nice (not overpowering) uplifting experience too. I can see this working on all skin types even on oily too because of the light texture.

There are only two things I would do differently from the instructions they give on the website:
'Apply a small amount to moist hands and lather with water. Gently massage into damp skin. Rinse thoroughly and pat skin dry.'  I wouldn't only rinse, I would use a cloth to remove it. I'm in the Caroline Hirons school of beauty, I use a cloth all the time.
 'Use once or twice daily. TIP: Remove makeup with Micellar Cleansing Water first, and then double cleanse with Sensitive Cleansing Gel for thoroughly cleaned skin.' I wouldn't remove makeup with Micellar Water (unless it is a quick makeup change during the day) I always use a balm or a cream and then would go in with this gel as a second cleanse.

The product comes in a dark bottle with a pump dispenser which makes it really easy to handle. You get 125 ml for £7.95 (£5.30 on offer at Boots right now) and since a little bit goes a long way, this is good value for money.

All in all, this is a pleasant experience and thorough morning or second cleanse, it is an excellent budget buy.

Hydrating Mist Toner

 
The Hydrating Mist Toner is an alcohol-free mist with Rosewater and Chamomile is my favourite out of the three. You can use it after cleansing or during the day if you want to refresh tired skin. I particularly like using it during my workout to cool down, sooth and hydrate my skin.  You can even keep it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect. It is lightweight and has a delicate rose scent.  I can see it working for all skin types, even oily ones because it is so light. There are only 6 ingredients in it which I always love to see. You rarely get an ingredient list these days that is so simple and transparent.

It comes in a dark spray bottle, so it is easy to use. You get 125 ml for £7.95 (£5.30 on offer at Boots right now), again, this is great value for money.

Sensitive Facial Moisturizer

 
Now, this is the trickiest category to get right for me but I was very pleased to see that this is such a great formula.  The main active ingredients are Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Rosehip, Sesame and Jojoba Oils that deliver moisture and lock it while keeping the skin nourished, soothed and supple. This is an excellent day cream for the summer for me because it is so lightweight, fast-absorbing and my makeup goes on great on top of it. I think this would work for normal, combination, slightly oily skin types, less for the dry, oily and acne-prone skins. For the night or during the winter I would use more intense moisturizers but this is a great discovery nevertheless.

It comes in a dark bottle with a pump dispenser which makes it so easy and hygienic to use. A little bit goes a long way so this 125 ml would last a while. For £7.95 (£5.30 on offer at Boots right now) it is a real bargain!