When the heat goes on in my house, my skin immediately goes into a tailspin. I’m spending more time inside exposed to drying heat, even with a humidifier. Sadly if I don’t act, my skin gets drier and unhappy. It’s absolutely necessary for me to change up my facial and body care routine adding oils and balms to restore moisture lost due to the drier air.
Character’s Background
Enter Character, a new Boston-based natural, cruelty-free, and indie brand from Laura Crandall. Laura’s background is in massage therapy and complementary and alternative medicine. As she explains it, her family, going back several generations, is made up of interesting, accomplished and even quirky individuals – “characters” if you will – and she named her brand of natural facial skincare and body care products after them.
“Because she comes from a long line of characters, and wants every person to know what it is to feel at home in their own skin and to let their own character shine with comfort and ease, Laura decided to start a skin care line that would include people not always seen by the skincare industry.
Character Skin Care is delightful and practical. It’s made of good ingredients that you don’t have to worry about using. It tends to your laugh lines and enhances their glow. It nurtures the places on your skin that fold or crease and have a hard time feeling comfortable. It soothes your skin with science – and maybe even a little magical energy.”
The brand has a great attitude and products lovingly made from high quality ingredients, at least 80% of which are organic. You will be amazed at how short the ingredient lists are compared to other brands including other natural brands! The products are gender neutral, and they have appealing natural scents. The majority are skincare multitaskers. Some are vegan. Check out the Character website for more details on the company and the products.
Character Product Line
Several weeks ago, I received the Full Product Kit that consists of a combination of half size and full size containers of the complete Character product line. I think it’s a wonderful way to try out the products and determine which work best for you. Here are the five products included in the Kit:
- Seven Wonders Face Oil: This lavender and lemon infused lightweight golden oil is a delight. Sometimes I just open the bottle and smell it as if it were a bottle of essential oil. Because of the lavender, I find it to be very relaxing and calming to use. But it works wonders on my face. When my skin is very dry, I press in a few drops of the oil, using it as a serum, and then I apply my moisturizer over it. Other times, I use it on its own as a stand alone hydrator. Men can use it as a beard and mustache conditioner. In addition to hydration, Seven Wonders Face Oil oil soothes and reduces inflammation. The Kit size green glass dropper bottle contains 0.5 fl.oz. and can be purchased in that size on its own for $24 or in the 1 fl.oz. full size bottle for $44.
INGREDIENTS: JOJOBA OIL, MEADOWFOAM SEED OIL, APRICOT KERNEL OIL, CALENDULA INFUSED JOJOBA AND OLIVE OIL, EVENING PRIMROSE OIL, VITAMIN E OIL (MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), ROSEHIP SEED OIL, ESSENTIAL OILS: CARROT SEED OIL, LAVENDER, LEMON, ROSEMARY, HELICHRYSUM, ATLAS CEDARWOOD, SANDALWOOD, AND ROSE ABSOLUTE
- Bare Necessity Skin Salve: I use the Skin Salve as a lip balm because the oval shape of the tube makes it ever so easy to apply. It has no flavor, and it has the lightest possible herbal scent but has no scent on the lips. The salve is emollient and soothing for any dry or stressed skin. It’s also perfect for sensitive skin or chafed skin. Because it is petroleum-free, it’s a better-for-you option that can be used instead of Vaseline. The Kit tube contains 0.15 oz. and is priced at $6, or you can purchase a full size 0.5 oz. tin for $9.
INGREDIENTS: SHEA BUTTER, JOJOBA OIL, BEESWAX, OLIVE OIL, VITAMIN E OIL (MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), NON-NANO ZINC OXIDE, ESSENTIAL OILS: HO WOOD AND VANILLA
- Secret Agent Body Butter: I’ve been using the Secret Agent Body Butter everyday since it arrived. It has a fantastic herbal scent that is calming and great to use before bed. Its consistency IMHO is more like a balm than the cream-like body butters I’m used to because it is a whipped blend of shea butter, beeswax, calendula-infused jojoba oil, and essential oils. It’s perfect for my feet. I’ve been using it every night on my heels under a pair of socks. I wake up with soft feet every morning! I love this stuff coz it works big time! The Kit size is 1 oz. for $26 purchased on its own, or the 2 oz. full size for $48, both in sturdy glass jars.
INGREDIENTS: CALENDULA-INFUSED JOJOBA AND OLIVE OIL, BEESWAX, SHEA BUTTER, JOJOBA OIL, APRICOT KERNEL OIL, MEADOWFOAM SEED OIL, VITAMIN E OIL (MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), ESSENTIAL OILS: BERGAMOT, JUNIPER BERRY, HELICHRYSUM, AND LEMON
- Not A Drag Body Balm: I sometimes use this stick body balm instead of Secret Agent Body Butter on my heels because it’s just so quick and easy to apply. It’s also terrific to use on my shins that sometimes get extra dry. The stick form is also perfect to use on skin that can chafe, like during bike riding. It also sounds like it will be great in the winter to protect my cheeks and nose when I’m outdoors jogging or snow shoeing. And did I mention how great the scent is: chocolate orange? Truly yummy! The stick contains 0.35 oz. and is one size for $11.
INGREDIENTS: BEESWAX, JOJOBA OIL, ARROWROOT POWDER, COCOA BUTTER, SHEA BUTTER, VITAMIN E OIL (MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), ESSENTIAL OILS: VANILLA, BERGAMOT, SWEET ORANGE, AND CARDAMOM
- Fresh Start Body Powder: Since I’ve been a kid, I have loved using body powder especially during the summer. But many body powders contain talc, and I have learned that that is a no-no. I pretty much stopped using it. But Character’s Fresh Start Body Powder doesn’t use talc. It uses safe ingredients. Character suggests using the powder anywhere your skin creases or folds. Or all over if you want to stay cooler at night (great for counteracting night sweats). I will mostly use this silky ginger and lime scented powder during the summer, but it smells so good I might be using it more often. The 1 oz. shaker can is the sole size and is priced at $10.
INGREDIENTS: MARSHMALLOW ROOT POWDER, BAKING SODA, ARROWROOT POWDER, BENTONITE CLAY, ESSENTIAL OILS: GINGER, LIME, PALMAROSA, MYRRH, AND SANDALWOOD
The Character Full Product Kit is priced at $70 and is sold on the Character website.
Frankly, I can’t come up with one favorite product because I’m really enjoying using them all, though I have made a serious dent in both the Secret Agent Body Butter and Not A Drag Body Balm. I’m converted to being a Character balm fan!
While we hardly have your New England winters here in LA, I definitely notice that my skin really needs a lot of extra moisture this time of year as well. I have never heard of Character Skin Care before, but I am very intrigued based upon your review. The face oil and body butter look especially appealing to me!
I don’t see many body powders anymore these days so good to see this brand has one and even better, talc free!
Good review, especially since Michigan winters are just like Massachusetts winters.
Sounds like those are great options for cold winters!
I start adding drops of oil to my lotions right about now for the same reason! The body butter looks good!
Nice that you like them all so much!
This sounds like a great line. My favorite would be the Not A Drag balm since the fragrance sounds delicious.
It sounds like a nice line made from top ingredients. I like most of the things, oils etc, she uses in her products. Very moisturizing ingredients. I imagine this line is quite nice.
The body balm sounds great! I love trying new brands that use natural ingredients!
Intrigued w/ that body powder, esp because it’s talc-free and vegan
The Character Body Powder seems quite unique. I love the fresh ginger lime scent. I am saving it for the summer to take with me to the beach club!
Ooh from Boston? I love checking out New Englanders stuff. This looks like a great little starter gift!
Oh, I love that it is a local company. That Skin Salve sounds like it works great as a lip treatment! My youngest daughters lips get so dry in the winter and almost nothing helps. 🙁
When I saw that it was a Boston area company (Arlington, actually), I couldn’t resist. I love this Skin Salve to use as everyday lip balm. But for serious dry lip problems for your daughter have you tried Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm? It’s my go-to in the depth of winter when nothing else works
I haven’t, but I will look for it now, thanks!
This sounds like such a great brand!
This is a new to me brand and I am just loving that balm!!! It looks perfect for my dry skin!
I love how there are actually three different balms in three different types of containers/applicators. Something for everyone!
I like the idea of the body balm in that packaging! So convenient!
My feet are already starting to feel dried out and could use the tlc of the body butter!
No talc in the body powder?! YASSSS! I love body powders but like you I can’t use them if they have talc in them. Thanks for finding and sharing this company <3
Yes, no talc in the body powder from Character! I am looking forward to using it this coming summer when I change clothes in the un-air-conditioned changing rooms at our rustic beach club! I hope you get to try it someday.
Thank you so much for the kind words and review of our products, Allison! We’re so glad that you’ve been loving them and look forward to hearing the different uses you find for each.
If you have any questions about the brand or any of the products, please feel free to reach out to us via Instagram DM – @characterskincare.