Review: Valentia Skincare

Hello my loves, I feel like I’ve been on the road for forever now; so long now that I can’t remember the last time I sat down to write a blog post. I’m currently on the last leg of my travels for this month, saving the best part for last: two weeks of island hopping in Hawaii! I’m in Oahu now and have been posting pictures like crazy on Instagram, which you should totally check out here:

Anyhow, with all of this travel, I was hoping to take a break and have a couple of guest bloggers take care of you all while I was away, but alas things didn’t go quite as planned. No worries though, life happens and I understand. Luckily, I packed a few products that Valentia had sent me a while back to test out and it worked out perfectly for me to review them for you now. (General disclaimer here.) I apologize that this review is coming to you waaayyy later than planned, as they just had a HUGE sale going on earlier this month, but you still can check out their awesome products on their brand new website!

I originally received only the mask through Brandbacker but upon originally trying it, found some mild irritation and a reaction. I looked at the ingredient list and did not recognize anything that I am allergic to, so I figured I might have a dud. I reached out to Valentia and they were kind enough to send me a replacement mask and another product to review as well.

Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask

The purpose of this mask is to draw out excess dirt and other impurities in order to improve skin tone and texture. It also contains natural fibers to gently exfoliate skin once washed away to leave skin feeling smooth. Over time, pores will supposedly be minimized and skin will be left firmer and clearer.

• Formula- This is a lightweight clay based cream mask. It is an almost moussey gel texture and feels more like a cream rather than a traditional sticky and thick clay mask. It does not really dry out like a mud would, but just sits on the surface of the skin. 4/5
• Ingredients- The ingredients in here a majority natural and there are some organic ingredients as well. I do not see very many man made chemicals, mostly plant based components, including the main ingredients (4.5/5):
  • Kaolin Clay: Clay minerals draw impurities, improve skin tone, and tighten pores for smoother firmer skin.
  • Plant Stem Cells:Naturally decreases the level of pro-aging toxins and works to soother the skin, reduce redness, and improve evenness.
  • Spirulina: A botanical stimulant full of vitamins that hydrates the skins surface and contributes to tissue regeneration of the skin.
  • CoQ10: Lessens the appearance of wrinkles by reducing free radical damage and stimulating health collagen production.
  • Hibiscus & Cranberry Fibers: Both lend their anti-aging properties to firm and reinforce the skin, helping to reduce the creation of new wrinkles.
  • Full Ingredient List: Deionized Aqua (Water), Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera), Kaolin clay, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract (plant stem cells), Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetapeptide-7, Undaria Pinnatifida Cell Culture Extract, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Hibiscus Fibers, Cranberry Fibers, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cellulose Gum, Purified Smectite Clay, Cranberry Fragrance, Haematococcus Pluvialis extract (Astaxanthin), Organic Rosa Canina (Rosehip Seed Oil), Wildcrafted Panax Ginseng, Wildcrafted Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi (Bearberry), Organic Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry extract), Organic Viola Tricolor (Violet), Wildcrafted Prunus Virginiana (Wild Cherry), Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry), Citrus Limon (Lemon Essential Oil), Organic Rheum Palmatum (Rhubarb), Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, Spirulina Maxima (Spirulina), Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp), Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed Oil), Organic Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), Wildcrafted Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail), Wildcrafted Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion), Wildcrafted Geranium Maculatum (Wild Geranium), Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sucrose Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Lecithin, Tocopherol.

• Scent- This mask smells AMAZING!!! I think it is the hibiscus and cranberry that gives it this intoxicating fruity and floral smell. I could honestly smell this aall day! 5/5
• Packaging- The packaging is pretty standard; nothing special. It comes in a plastic tub with a screw on top and a simple label. I don’t prefer the tub as it is prone to contamination, but it does the job. 2.5/5
• Effectiveness- This is very potent stuff. As I said before, the first time I tried it I found I had some mild irritation. I had some stinging after about a minute of contact with the skin the first time I tried it. The second time I tried it, it wasn’t as bad but I still found it to be pretty harsh on the skin and I could only stand wearing it 10 out of the recommended 15-20 minutes. I don’t typically have sensitive skin so this surprised me. It definitely draws out impurities and helps with breakouts, but I can’t say that I’ve seen much improvement in my pore size or the firmness of my skin. You should definitely patch test this before using and make sure to follow up with a nourishing moisturizer. 3/5

Pros:

• Made with natural and organic ingredients.
• Vegan friendly and cruelty free!
• Alcohol and paraben free.
• Made in the USA.
• Smells amazing!

Cons:

• It claims to be suitable for all skin types, but through my personal experience I beg to differ. Recently, my skin has been more combo rather than full oily which is why I think I had the reaction that I did to this product. I would rather recommend this to those with truly over oily skin, as they would probably benefit most from this mask.

Conclusion:

As I said above, I feel like this mask is best suited for truly oily skin types who produce a lot of excess oil and struggle with blemishes. Some combo skin types might be able to make this work, but I would patch test first and definitely review the ingredients to make sure there is nothing you should have a reaction to. I don’t see this necessary for normal skin types, as I don’t think the benefits are applicable to those with normal skin. I would not recommend it for sensitive skin types at all. I would also caution exfoliating beforehand, as I think this also added to the irritation that I experienced the first time. The exfoliation makes skin hyper sensitive to the treatment and since this already has exfoliating properties in it as well as a very potent formula, I personally would not exfoliate beforehand. Overall, this is a nice mask, but definitely not for everyone. 3.5/5

Even Glow Serum with 20% Vitamin C

This serum can be used to moisturize skin and add radiance and even out texture. Over time, dark spots will supposedly fade, collagen production will increase, and wrinkles will fade.

• Formula-  This is a thick formula for a serum, tinted orange. It’s not very oily and is more of a liquid. 4/5
• Ingredients-  Again, mostly natural and organic plant based ingredients are found in here 4/5:
  • Sea Buckthorn Oil and Rosehip Seed Oil: These oils work in tandem to promote skin hydration and then lock in moisture. When combined with Vitamin C, all three ingredients exist harmoniously to combat free radicals, protecting your skin from future signs of aging to promote more beautiful, youthful looking skin.
  • Resistem (Plant Stem Cells): Protects against stress-related aging while promoting skin detoxification. A French study has demonstrated that Resistem improves dullness of the skin 67% when applied in comparison to a placebo, also reducing skin inflammation by 23% after just two short months. This means that your skin will regenerate more quickly as it is protected against environmental stressors in a gentle, sensitive manner.
  • Hyaluronic Acid (Botanical): Allows your skin to retain more moisture. The Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology conducted a study with 15 female volunteers ages 35 to 65 to demonstrate the effects of Hyaluronic Acid. After only two short months of use, all 15 volunteers showed demonstrated improvement in skin rejuvenation.
  • Green Tea: The catechins contained in green tea are a potent antioxidant which also contribute to the overall anti-inflammatory, and anti-irritant benefits of this ancient health and beauty secret.

  • Full Ingredient List: Proprietary Organic Skin Tea, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Methlsulfonylmethane (MSM), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract (plant stem cells), Organic Rosa Canina (Rosehip Seed Oil), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Citrus Paradisi (Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil), Carbomer, (2s)-2-Amino-5-guanidinopentanoic Acid, d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Algae Extract, Camelia Oleifera (Japanese Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn Oil), Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin

• Scent- This smells like straight up oranges and it is delightful! 5/5
• Packaging- The serum is in a dark glass bottle to prevent light and air from tampering with the vitamins. It has a dropper to dispense it which is great for sanitary purposes. 4/5
• Effectiveness- This works great on little spots, but I haven’t used it enough to see it fade older and dark hyperpigmentation I have. As I am in Hawaii right now, this works very well for preventing sunspots from becoming freckles. 4/5

Pros:

• Made with natural and organic ingredients.
• Vegan friendly and cruelty free!
• Alcohol and paraben free.
• Made in the USA.
• Smells amazing!

 

Cons:

• Fragile bottle isn’t best for travel, but I love it for at home.

Conclusion:

I absolutely love this stuff! It’s a great treatment and I even it use it on it’s own to lightly moisturize. If you’re dry though, it probably won’t be enough hydration. I like that it has both short and long term effects that seem to be achieved and I feel like my complexion is absolutely radiant! 4/5

 

Alright, that’s it for now. Thanks for all your patience with all the travel I’ve been doing! Until next time—

 

All my love,

Megan

---

Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || YouTube || Pinterest || Etsy ||  Bloglovin’ || Google+

This post is powered by BrandBacker and follows all FTC guidelines.