This week, I hosted a series of events in San Francisco alongside our longstanding partners at Ayla, the first US retailer to stock our brand. Our week kicked off with a wonderful botanical garden tour, followed by one-on-one consultations, a workshop where we learned how to read all-natural skincare labels and a mini-lab session that left everyone with a radiant glow.
Having visited San Francisco several times, I knew to prepare for the unpredictable weather. Even though this time of year usually offers mild temperatures, I couldn’t simply rely on checking the weather on my phone or peering out at Presidio Avenue from my hotel room. It’s happened to me countless times – the moment I step onto California Street and turn onto Fillmore to grab my coffee in my trusty reusable tumbler, the cold wind on my face makes me reevaluate my entire skincare routine.
With this in mind, I layer on several products. First, there’s the game-changing Ultra Revitalizing Elixir, packed with humectants to lock in moisture on the outer layers of my skin. Then Plant Perfection Gel Serum, for a more rested fresh complexion so the signs of jet lag are less evident. I also make it a point to regularly use Intelligent Frontier Facial Oil, as it offers protection and keeps my skin’s natural barrier strong, ready to battle the challenging Bay Area weather. I seal in all this goodness with one of our moisturisers, normally Artemisia during the day and Nutritive Repair Emulsion at night.
However, on Tuesday, the air quality took a nosedive due to wildfires in Oregon. I could practically feel my skin getting dirtier by the minute. Once I returned to my hotel room, I stood in front of the sink pondering which cleansing option would serve me best: the divine Clementine Cleansing Balm or the heavy-duty Charcoal Peace Calming Cleanser. After some hesitation, I opted for the Clementine cleanser, allowing it to work its magic for about 10 minutes as a moisturising mask, dissolving impurities trapped within my pores. I then gently removed it with a damp muslin cloth. This is the go-to cleanser for nourishing the skin and removing blackheads. My skin felt thoroughly cleansed and supple, but I couldn’t help feeling like I was neglecting another one of my creations. So, I reached for the Charcoal Peace Calming Cleanser to perform a double cleanse. The real magic happened when I emulsified the product with my wet hands and removed it completely with the help of the Hand Wand. I knew I had successfully rid my skin of every trace of pollution. This cleanser is particularly effective for a deep cleanse, serving as a natural alternative to chemical exfoliants, yet gentle enough for daily use. It’s a reliable choice if you’re concerned about hyperpigmentation, have mixed/oily/acne-prone skin, or experience impurities, or want to improve skin texture.
The week unfolded as expected, and now that I’ve returned to Europe, I’m reminded of how fortunate I was to spend time with those of you who took the time to say hello while I was in the city I fondly refer to as my home away from home.
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