LATHER is a superlative natural and cruelty-free skincare brand that I’ve written about in the past (Tinted Lip Balm Trio and Lavender Soap Set). Whenever I go to the airport in Atlanta, I hope that I’m flying into or out of the terminal that has the LATHER store so I can run it and get myself a good-for-me skincare treat!
Recently I a few LATHER products to tell you about. First, I received a bunch of skincare samples. There wasn’t really enough to do a real review, but of the samples that I’ve tried so far – eye cream and AHA facial therapy, I have determined that LATHER facial skincare (that I hadn’t tried before) are very promising for my mature, dry skin. The two samples that I used were medium-thick white creams that left my skin feeling nourished and plumped. I hope I’ll have an opportunity to try some more full size facial skincare products so I can give you the complete lowdown.
I was sent three full size products that I’d like to share with you.
Bulgarian Rose Phytonutrient Elixir
Speaking of facial skincare, I received LATHER Bulgarian Rose Phytonutrient Elixir. I’m laughing because I recently wrote about Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist that I just repurchased because I love it. But Erika from Notes From My Dressing Table pointed out that the Jurlique spray contains alcohol, and she was right. Because it didn’t affect my skin, I didn’t even notice it in the ingredient list. So it’s fine for the warmer time of year, but during the winter, it might not be good for my super dry skin.
How wonderful to receive LATHER Bulgarian Rose Phytonutrient Elixir that does not have alcohol! Plus, Bulgarian Rose Phytonutrient Elixir was specifically developed as “a hydrating tonic to soothe and revitalize stressed skin”. My dry skin always needs hydration. In fact, I was trying to find a hydrating form of the Jurlique rose toning spray, but it appeared to be discontinued. LATHER answered my wish!
I have a friend from Bulgaria, and she told me about the specialness of Bulgarian roses. In fact, I just saw Rick Steve’s travel show on Bulgaria, and one of the places he visited were the rose fields. He showed how many roses it took to make just a small amount of rosa damascena, the hydrosol and essential oil that’s the key ingredient in the LATHER Bulgarian Rose facial spray. The scent is absolutely divine!
The soothing spray also contains organic ylang ylang from Madagascar as well as aloe to moisturize and protect skin from drying conditions. Oat beta glucan, an ingredient that I wasn’t familiar with, calms skin and protects the skin’s moisture barrier. Peptides sourced from carrots provide skin-loving vitamin A, and milk amino acids help balance skin, one of the primary things you want a toner to do.
As the weather heats up (like today when it’s going to be 93 in Boston in May!), I will keep my LATHER Bulgarian Rose Phytonutrient Elixir in the fridge so I can cool down and de-stress my skin from being outdoors. But already, I love the feel of this elixir on my face. It’s not watery – it’s kind of a gel-water if there can be such a thing.
If you’re a fan of rose and would like to hydrate and calm your skin, take a sniff of LATHER Bulgarian Rose Phytonutrient Elixir and check it out on the LATHER website. 2 fl. oz. priced at $22.
Ingredients: rosa damascena (Bulgarian rose) flower water*, water (aqua), aloe barbadensis leaf juice, oat beta glucan, sodium pca, milk amino acids, sodium hyaluronate, fucus vesiculosus (seaweed) extract*, glyceryl oleate, vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract, retinyl palmitate/carrot polypeptide, rosa damascena (Bulgarian rose) oil*, cananga odorata (Madagascar ylang ylang) flower oil*, squalane (olive), tocopherol (natural vitamin E), phenyoxyethanol, ethylhexylgycerin.
*organic ingredient
Quiet Night Relaxing Balm
Speaking of de-stressing, I can’t sleep. I haven’t been able to fall asleep since I was born. When I was a baby, my parents used to drive me around in their sole car till I fell asleep almost every night. I wish someone would do that for me now, because the car is the only place (oh yes, airplanes during takeoff too) where I can’t stay awake!
I find going to sleep stressful. I relive the day and think about everything I need to do or that I’m concerned about. Ugh. I can even feel my heart race. I need something to calm me down.
Quiet Night Relaxing Balm has been helping. The scent alone is enough to calm me down. It’s a deeply herbal scent made from essential oils of lavender, ylang ylang and calendula, well-known as calming and soothing. I dab it on the tip of my nose, on my temples, on the back of my neck, and then I lie down and breathe deeply. It helps me trick myself into going to sleep.
It’s also a skincare balm. The emollient base is made up of sunflower and rosehip oils as well as beeswax. (sorry about the thread in the photo. I didn’t notice it till now, and I’ve already used the balm.)
When I really can’t sleep, I take a shower and apply this rich balm on my arms and décolletage. Not only does it deeply hydrate my dry skin, but it amplifies the relaxing, herbal scent.
Part of LATHER’s aromatherapy collection, Quiet Night Relaxing Balm comes in a cute tin that I can take with me when I travel. 1 oz., $9 and worth it.
Ingredients: helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, beeswax*, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, lavandula hybrida (lavandin) oil, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) oil, rosa canina (rosehip) seed oil*, calendula officinalis (calendula) oil*, tocopherol.
*organic ingredient
Vanilla & Argan Lip Scrub
Because I have the driest lips in the universe, lip scrub is an essential item in my skincare routine. I recently bought two beautiful Revlon Lip Gels in great summer bright shades. Although the Lip Gel from Revlon goes on like a dream, some ingredient in that lipstick dries the heck out of my lips after a couple of hours. I don’t see peppermint oil in the ingredient list, so it must be something else. Hmm.
Vanilla & Argan Lip Scrub is a terrific antidote. Most important, this lip exfoliator is certified organic which makes me feel good since I’m essentially eating it off of my lips! “A moisturizing lip buff with sugar and honey”, LATHER Vanilla & Argan Lip Scrub feels so hydrating on my dry lips. The sugar crystals remove the flakes and dry patches so my lips feel restored.
Although it’s called “Vanilla”, I don’t smell a lot of vanilla and that’s fine. To me, it has a very faint almost spearmint aroma. Applied to my lips, it has no scent at all.
LATHER Vanilla & Argan Lip Scrub 0.6 oz., $10.
Ingredients: sucrose (cane sugar)*, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, vanilla flavor*, cera alba (beeswax)*, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil*, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*, argania spinosa (argan) nut oil*, mentha spicata (spearmint) leaf oil*, mel (honey)*, mixed tocopherols (vitamin e), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract*, rosa canina (rosehip) seed oil*, calendula officinalis (calendula) extract*, eupatorium rebaudianum bertoni (stevia) leaf extract *. *certified organic ingredient
Have you tried any of these natural products from LATHER?
I need to get my hands on the relaxing balm. Everything sounds lovely! xx
IndieAna recently posted…Stocktake 2017- Perfume
The relaxing scent is divine, and it’s also great for dry skin. A winner for sure 🙂
What a wonderful sounding line! I need that Quiet Night Relaxing Balm! I have yet to try anything from Lather, but clearly I need to!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Wally’s Natural Organic Body Oil | Review
I’m putting some of the Relaxing Balm on right now. All three products are great but the Bulgarian Rose Elixir & the Relaxing Balm are exceptional! Worth a try for sure
“I NEED THAT RELAXING NIGHT BALM!” 😱😱😱 I love anything lavendar! I hope Sephora carries this. Going to check tomorrow. Putting it on my LIST!!!! 🙋🏻💐
DiEtta, LATHER doesn’t appear to be sold at Sephora. They have a LATHER store in Pasadena in Old Town, but I don’t know how far that is from you. Also, it’s sold on the LATHER website and Lovelyskin.com (LS has free shipping). It smells so great, very herbal rather than plain lavender but I love the scent. So calming
Thanks Allison………..🙋🏻
🙂 xoxo
That lip scrub sounds so amazing. I love that it has honey because it’s so moisturizing.
Aleya Bamdad recently posted…SkinBetter Science Reviews
I need that lip scrub in my life. I can’t use a lot of the fragranced items from Lather but I could surely use this lip scrub.
MarciaF recently posted…Ahhhhh, relax……….with Kneipp Bath Salts, Bubble Bath, and Body Oil
Yes, LATHER is usually all about natural scents from the ingredients. The lip scrub has a bit of an herbal scent if you stick your nose right near it, but on your lips, nothing
LATHER is such a wonderful brand! I have trouble sleeping too–my daughter got me a lavender linen spray I use every night to relax!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…Amazing Cosmetics 3 Steps for a Flawless Complexion!
Allison, regarding your struggles with going to sleep. I was a sound sleeper as a child but inherit my paternal side’s very light-sleeper tendencies in my teens, and have the same struggles. I met a sleep therapist who said to do this: smell something with neroli/chamomile/lavender after lying down. Now, count slowly till eight while breathing in deeply. Hold your breath and count slowly till five. Now exhale deeply while counting slowly till eight. Hold for five. Repeat (8-5-8-5). The deep inhalation, holding, and exhaling is very important. I find myself falling asleep better with this. So much so that I did the 8-5-8-5 to calm myself during my last subcision procedure and fell asleep on my dermatologist’s chair! I don’t know if you’ve tried this already, but if not, it can’t do any harm!
CosmetopiaDigest recently posted…Mid-Year Makeup Giveaway 2017, Open Worldwide
I’ve tried a version of your technique, Renu, but I think I’ll see if the 8-5 method works better than randomly deep breathing. I’ll let you know! And thank you 🙂
The elixir sounds wonderful! I am a big fan of rose extract in skincare, even if it’s only used for fragrance.
Anastasia recently posted…Chidoriya Review | 100% Natural Skincare from Japan
The LATHER Bulgarian Rose Elixir is so gentle and hydrating. I just love it!