Annmarie Organic & Natural Skincare

Annmarie Organic & Natural Skincare (~$10 - ~$300)*
August 2016

*Most of the products are about $40-50 but you can buy some for less.  Pre-created packages can cost up to $300.

Like everyone else, I am trying to do and be more natural, especially when it comes to skincare.  Skin is our body's largest organ so I like to avoid putting toxic chemicals on it (unless they smell super amazing ;).  Annmarie Skin Care is my latest obsession in this arena.  It was created by a couple of health bloggers who started their own "pure, organic, and natural line" after being dissatisfied with what was available on the market. Everything I've tried from them has been of excellent quality and produced nice results.

I'm not exactly sure how I found this brand.  I may have gotten a sample of something from this line from YOGA BY CANDACE  - this is an awesome blog/website with instructional yoga videos, in case you're interested - in one of the Mantra Boxes.  (These boxes are super fun.  Even though you order it yourself, it's like getting a present when it arrives because you don't know what's in it!)   Annmarie Skincare is exactly the type of product that would be in one of those.

Or I may have found Annmarie on EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, which is my go-to site to learn about product ingredients and their toxicity rating.  I often look for recommendations from EWG and pretty much always search there to find out about skincare products that interest me.

Regardless, I learned of this truly natural skincare line was intrigued by the company's story, the product ingredients, and the impressive testimonials I read on their website.  Have you heard of Louise Hay?  She's a survivor, author, and  guru on the mind-body connection.  She, along with other well-known people I admire, endorsed Annmarie Skincare.  Once I saw Louise Hay's endorsement, I was sold.  Also, I've tried other "natural" brands, making my own DIY concoctions, and simple options like coconut oil for everything from make-up remover to moisturizer, and I'm sick of seeing poor results and of feeling greasy and blurry-eyed.

Annmarie has a really good and easy-to-use website.  It has explanations of what things are, how to use them, why certain ingredients are included, and - this may seem obvious but is actually rare - it lists every single ingredient in a product. And the ingredients are pronounceable and real and organic or wildcrafted.

What I'm saying is, this is a company that does what it says it intends to do.  How refreshing!

I was so excited about the brand that I wanted to buy something but didn't know where to start.  Luckily, Annmarie has sample kits, so I ordered the Sample Kit for Dry and Mature Skin.  This may surprise you but I'm, um, mature, so this seemed like a good place to start.  A sample kit costs $10 and this one comes with the cutest vials of anti-aging facial oil, repair serum and aloe-herb cleanser.  It also includes a $10 coupon to use on a full-sized item, so the sample becomes free so long as you purchase something full-size afterward.

Enclosed in my first delivery was a lovely bag of lavender potpourri.  I have learned that the lavender is included as a gift with every order from Annmarie.  One of several lovely, sweet, deep-breath, good-feeling things this company does.

Annmarie Herbal Facial Oil

I can't say I was hooked, exactly, after using my samples, but I liked the brand and the products worked well enough (in other words, way better than my purchased or DIY concoctions) . I ordered the Herbal Facial Oil for Normal and Combination Skin even though I hadn't sampled it first.  I chose this one because it's summertime and this one is supposed to be lighter than the anti-aging oil (not that that one was heavy; my skin just needs less moisture in the summer).  Also, this one is less expensive - $37.95 instead of $49.95 - than the anti-aging oil.

I've been really pleased with the Herbal Facial Oil, pleased enough that I put it on auto-delivery. (This is an option for most items on the website.  You get a 10% discount for signing up for it, too.  Easy decision there.)  The oil leaves my skin feeling soft and looking fresh.  The scent is pleasant and I like it more and more every day. Originally, I was concerned that this facial oil would sit on top of my skin and feel greasy, but it sinks in fairly quickly.  The true "tell" is that my 11-year old son - who will not wear sunscreen or lotion on any part of his body because it makes his skin feel icky - will ask to put it on his face!  In sum, the Herbal Facial Oil does everything I would want it to. I can't see a reason I would stop using it unless I switch to the anti-aging facial oil in the winter when I need something more intense.

Now I'm the proud owner (and user) of several AnnMarie products.

AnnMarie Anti-Aging Serum

There's the anti-aging serum, because serums are all the rage, right?  I think it's a booster for the moisturizer?  I only know that I'm a glutton so I got it.  This one is supposed to increase skin hydration.  My skin was plenty hydrated from the herbal facial oil so I'm not sure why I got this product, in retrospect.  It think it was just great marketing and a coupon from Annmarie.  So now that I have it, I use it.

The anti-aging serum has UV protective qualities and you are supposed to use it morning and night, but I use it only before bed.  (I use Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Vitamin C Serum during the day and I am not giving that one up.  It's ridiculously expensive but really does work for sunspots.) The serum has a different texture from the oil.  The consistency feels more like a thin lotion or gel and smells really good, too - sweet and earthy.  I can't give a strong opinion either way on this product.  I do enjoy using it but I'm not sure it makes a big difference in the feeling or appearance of my skin.

AnnMarie Anti-Aging Eye Cream

So, next, I got the anti-aging eye cream.  I haven't fallen in love with this product but I don't dislike it for any reason, either.  I just don't see that a miracle has happened here. (Maybe that's what cosmetic surgery is for, though.)  This cream is nice and it hasn't done anything negative like irritate my eyes or skin, so I assume it's softening, smoothing and de-puffing. . . Oh, my.  Maybe this stuff is like Footprints in the Sand, in the sense that without this, I would look much worse... so I will continue using this product.  I think the drying effects of winter will make it more clear to me if this product is worth its weight or not.

AnnMarie Aloe-Herb Facial Cleanser

And I use the aloe-herb facial cleanser (might as well round out the regimen), which I fell in love with unexpectedly because of the ease of use and the intoxicating scent.  It's an aloe vera based cream cleanser that has a fresh, citrus-y smell.  I put it on while my face is dry because you can, according to the directions, and because I dread wetting my face the same way I dread diving into a cold swimming pool.  (Am I the only one?)  I have an easier time splashing my face with water to wash the cleanser off than wetting my face before applying it.

I don't understand how a cream cleanser can work but this one does.  Sometimes I am skeptical about its effectiveness - it really feels like lotion -  so I follow it with a makeup wipe.  Lo and behold, my face is clean and nothing is removed by the wipe.  This stuff really cleans my skin without leaving it squeaky and dry (which I used to think was the best feeling ever until I learned that it's bad for your skin).  Also, I've gotten it in my eyes a few times and it doesn't burn in the slightest.

I like that the aloe-herb facial cleanser comes in a larger size (100ml) as opposed to the little (15ml) size of the oils and serums.  I'm guessing it's because the cleanser is more stable than the oils and serums which decompose faster and need to be used up sooner.  And did I mention how delicious this cleanser smells?  This is the other product my son asks to use because he loves the way it smells.  I think he just wants to eat it, though ;)

My son is my biggest critic (as all children are of their parents!), and he continually comments on how soft and beautiful my skin is lately.  Although he's the only one to say so, I do think my skin looks great since I've been using Annmarie Skin Care products.  While I haven't seen phenomenal changes with every product, I happily recommend the oil, serum, cream and cleanser I'm using and will continue to expand my Annmarie Skincare collection.

Don't worry, I'll keep you posted on all my Annmarie products.

Have you heard of Annmarie Skin Care? Do you use it?  I'd love to hear your comments!

Thank you for reading my blog.

~The Pampered Wife