EARTHWISE BEAUTY & AVA’S WORK DIARY

Earthwise Beauty has evolved significantly over this past year alone but as always you will find meticulous sourcing practices, top quality quality ingredients & innovative formulations. Besides many exciting new product launches (Cistus & Moonlight Face Mist, Nap in the Meadows Face Serum, Passion Eye Serum, Pacific Northwest Body Oil, Ruby Facial Oil, Farizad’s Veil), Earthwise has also upgraded their labels to higher quality scratch-free ones that are durable. This is a brand that obsesses over every aspect and detail of their products and one that you can wholeheartedly trust that they will only bring you the best products & ingredients. I’m also super excited that Earthwise Beauty is participating in an OBL CLUB product testing campaign so you might be the lucky members who’ll test & review an Earthwise product!

Check out the best organic skincare brands you’ve never heard of here!

The founder of Earthwise Beauty, Ava Zhan, is also sharing her work diary with OBL readers so you can see what it’s like to be in her shoes for a day. To read the first installment of my new series “Diary of a Ladyboss” scroll down to the end of this post.

Ruby Facial Oil

The first product I’ll be highlighting in this post is their newest facial oil, Ruby that just launched in Mar 2017. This is a lightweight powerfully hydrating oil perfect for daytime use and designed to be paired with their Farizad’s Veil SPF powder & the warmer months in general. Perfect for all skin types & quick absorbing, the oil has a subtle resinous & fruity scent and is made of sun-protective buriti & pequi oils, wrinkle-reducing and sun-damage-correcting raspberry, buriti, rosehip & primrose), noncomedogenic oils particularly recommended for skin types prone to congestion (milk thistle, guava, rosehip, cranberry). sunflower-derived vitamin E. Turmeric CO2 extract and whole-plant celery CO2 to reduce inflammation. I find this oil lightweight but not too lightweight for even the driest skin types and it leaves no orange tint. I add a few drops on top of my moisturizer and before applying makeup. I also like using a tiny amount as a hair defrizzer because it absorbs quickly into my hair without leaving it looking greasy. Ava also mentions in an Instagram post that this oil is perfect for hair as well as skin.

You can also order this facial oil with a raw ruby gem sourced from India.  Ruby enhances personal power, charisma, and confidence, aids in creative output and enhances leadership qualities, and corresponds to the heart chakra.

Ingredients

Organic Psidium guajava (guava) seed oil (India), organic Silybum marianum (milk thistle) seed oil, Vacinnium macrocarpon (cranberry) oil*, organic whole-fruit Rosa canina (rosehip) oil, Plukenetia volubilis (sacha inchi) seed oil*, Rubus ideaus (raspberry) seed oil*, organic pequi fruit oil, wildcrafted Moringa oleifera seed oil, blue tamanu oil* (India), organic buriti fruit oil, turmeric supercritical CO2 Select extract* (India), vitamin E (from certified non-GMO sunflowers), organic primrose seed CO2 Total extract, organic celery CO2 Total, wildcrafted mimosa flower absolute (artisanally extracted in Grasse, France).*Certified organic.

 

Carrot-a-Day Face and Eye Serum Sensitive (NEW Formula)

Carrot-a-Day is Earthwise’s all time bestseller and they came out with a new formulation for sensitive skin. The original one would cause reactions for some people and as a brand who truly listens to their customers’ needs they created a gentler formula for sensitive skin types. They use a milder natural preservative and have taken out carbomer though the original has less than .5%. The original version has a thicker aloe base while the Sensitive version is suspended in a semi-liquid, instantly absorbent cold-press aloe juice that has just a touch of thickness with natural xanthan gum.

The serum is great for dry, aging & acneic skin and contains anti-inflammatory German blue chamomile, helichrysum (3 types: Corsican (the first choice for pain reduction, including painful acne breakouts), Croatian, and Albanian) which is one of the top essential oils forspot reduction & wrinkle reversal (and is also used in wound and burn healing by medical aromatherapists). Because it’s semi-liquid it can replace your toner and it has a rather strong herbal carrot scent. I’ve used both the original and now sensitive versions and found that they both hydrate, firm & refresh my skin. I apply a few pumps and spread across my face and wait for it to dry. It provides an instant cooling effect and once dry my skin feels slightly more taut/firm.

Ingredients
Cold-press aloe barbadensis juice*, carrot seed oil*, natural non-GMO tocopherol (vit. E from sunflowers), Italian everlasting oil*, German blue chamomile oil*, spearmint oil*, naturally derived Polysorbate 20, potassium sorbate (natural preservative, food grade), xanthan gum, rosemary extract, ascorbic acid (vit. C), citric acid.

Nap in the Meadow Face Serum

Earthwise’s other serum which I believe launched last year provides deep hydration, strong anti-inflammatory action, anti-oxidants, anti-aging benefits, issue repairing effects, and sunburn and sun damage repair. The super light blue shade of this product is instantly calming and its name, like many of Earthwise’s products, is highly evocative. The sensorial product yearns to transport you to a peaceful meadow where you lie down, feel the warm sunshine on your face and see the clear blue skies as you drift off into blissful slumber.

This serum is very lightweight and liquid-like but its ingredients are so fresh and potent that most noticeably I feel it increasing my blood circulation seconds after I apply. My face feels slightly heated and I can tell it’s working its magic. It contains Turmeric CO2 supercritical extract, anti-inflammatory, Yarrow Oil, German Blue Chamomile Oil,  Elderberry extract to delay skin aging and reverse UV damage. and Galbanum which is an essential oil made from galbanum resin, an ancient wound-healing agent. I apply 1 or 2 pumps and apply all over my face with circular massage motions. The one downside of these liquid like serums is that you can easily use up the product quickly so I suggest using just 1 max 2 pumps for each use.

Ingredients

Aloe leaf juice*, elderberry fruit extract, turmeric CO2 Total supercritical extract, polysorbate 20 (naturally derived), lavender oil (* and †), yarrow oil*, Italian everlasting oil†, German blue chamomile oil*, potassium sorbate (natural preservative), organic geranium bourbon oil, geranium rose oil*, copaiba balsam resin†, galbanum oil*, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), wildflower essences†.

Ambrosia del Cerrado Liquid Moisturizer

Perfect for the warmer months, Ambrosia del Cerrado is a liquid moisturizer (toner-moisturizer cross) and has a unique consistency different from both the Nap in the Meadow and Carrot-A-Day. It’s like a bouncy viscous liquid and comes in a dropper bottle so you feel like you’re applying golden dewdrops to your skin. The aloe-based formula is great for oily, combo, acneic & dry skin and most noticeably contains hand-extracted pequi fruit oil from the cerrado savanna in Brazil (rich in vitamin C, betacarotene, vitamins B1 and B2), Buriti oil from Brazil (anti-aging results & improves the appearance of brown spots and scars), Moringa pod oil (wide range of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients).

I’ve tried the Ambrosia del Cerrado a year ago and again this year and found that it leaves my dry skin feeling refreshed, supple & hydrated. This product does not contain any essential oils for those of you who are looking for essential oil-free skincare products.

Ingredients
Aloe barbadensis whole-leaf cold-press juice*, sustainably wildcrafted cold-press unrefined Caryocar braziliensis (pequi) fruit oil, sustainably wildcrafted cold-press unrefined Mauritia flexuosa (buriti) fruit oil, sustainably wildcrafted cold-press unrefined Moringa oleifera seed oil, polysorbate 20 (naturally derived), potassium sorbate (natural preservative), natural non-GMO tocopherol (vit. E from sunflowers), xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (vit. C), citric acid.

Marshmallow Suds Face Cleanser

One of my favorite cleansers is the Earthwise Marshmallow Suds Face Cleanser which is especially great for sensitive & dry skin types. A blend of oils and herbal extracts, this cleanser has a unique silky, viscous, creamy consistency and a beautiful white shade that almost symbolizes purity. It lathers well and feels deeply nourishing & soothing with marshmallow root, healing calendula petals, and anti-inflammatory chamomile flowers. I remove all my makeup before using this cleanser because I’d rather use a wipe or oil cleanser to remove makeup so the powerful ingredients of this cleanser can better penetrate my skin.

Ingredients
Herbal infusion {distilled water, Althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root*, Calendula officinalis petals*, Matricaria recutita (chamomile) buds*}, water, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*†, cold-press Prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) esters*, Aloe barbadensis juice*, vegetable glycerin (from non-GMO soy)*, Olea europaea (olive) oil*†, potassium hydroxide (but none remains in final product, after saponifying oils into soap and glycerin), Cannabis sativa (hemp) oil*, natural ECOCERT preservative {glycerin, Leuconostoc (radish root) ferment filtrate, Lonicera japonica flower extract, Lonicera caprifolium extract, Populus tremuloides bark extract, gluconolactone}, guar gum, glucono-lactone (from non-GMO corn), Melissa officinalis oil*, Matricaria recutita (German blue chamomile) oil*, organic Tanacetum annuum (Moroccan chamomile) oil, Anthemis nobilis (Roman chamomile) oil*, citric acid, non-GMO tocopherol (vit. E).

Blackstrap Molasses Face Mask

I still consider the Blackstrap Molasses one of the most powerful and effective masks I have tried. I have had a number of people try this mask with me and they also were surprised by its effects.  If you want immediate noticeable effects this mask is one to try – it resurfaces, brightens, smoothes & clarifies skin. It also detoxifies, firms and provides powerful anti-aging benefits. The shiny black Hungarian Moor Mud & Moroccan Rhassoul Laval Red Lava Clay base looks as if someone literally scooped up the mud and clay from Hungary and Morocco, placed it in this jar and handed it to you, completely fresh & unadulterated.

Ingredients
Maris limus (Hungarian Moor mud), Moroccan Rhassoul red lava clay, Kaolinite (kaolin clay), Saccharum officinarum (unsulphured blackstrap molasses from Paraguay)*†, Rosa damascena hydrosol/distillate* (Bulgaria), Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) distillate* (14% alcohol; double distilled), cold-press unrefined organic Pentaclethra macroloba (pracaxi) pod oil (Brazil), L-ascorbic acid (active vit. C), natural ECOCERT-approved (for use in certified organic cosmetics) preservative {glycerin, Leuconostoc (radish root) ferment filtrate, Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, Lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) extract, Populus tremuloides bark extract, gluconolactone}, unrefined Daucus carota (carrot) seed oil*, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) oil*.

Cistus & Moonlight Face Mist

Cistus & Moonlight Face Mist is another new mysterious creation. So what is Cistus? Cistus essential oil is known to be great for skin firmness and comes from a variety of rock rose that grows in the wilderness of Spain and Portugal. It has a sweet resinous honey like scent and helps with minimizing pores, skin firmness, fighting acne and more. The sourcing of this ingredient is unique in that Ava does not purchase it from a supplier’s website but directly from a person in Portugal’s countryside who distills these plants. She then adds a touch of aloe juice and enhances it with a variety of gem & wildflower essences such as Rainbow Moonstone Gem Essence, (regulates hormones & mood swings), Mangano calcite gem essence (heals emotional wounds), Clear quartz gem essence (clears toxic energies & lifts the mind),  Alaskan monkshood flower essence (helps with fears & clarity of one’s purpose), and Pacific Northwest pink phlox flower essence (enhances one’s innate gentleness and sweetness).

I apply a few spritzes of this and enjoy the unique multifacted scent of the cistus. It’s undoubtedly quite different from your average hydrosol as it contains the vibrations and energies of different flowers & gems to provide not only a skin enhancing effect but also a mind/body/spirituality one.

Ingredients
Wildcrafted Cistus ladanifer hydrosol, cold-press aloe barabensis juice*, potassium sorbate (natural food-grade preservative), rainbow moonstone gem essence and other gem essences, wildflower essences.

Passion Eye Serum

Passion Eye Serum

While not included in the OBL CLUB product testing campaign, i had the opportunity to try a sample of Earthwise’s new eye serum last winter.  This essential oil-free formula is made from unrefined oils & butters that are highly nourishing, hydrating & firming.  If you’re looking for a far from average potent eye product that is made of powerful hard-to-find ingredients the Passion Eye Serum is made of amaranth oil (source of squalene and linoleic acid) , green coffee oil (treats puffiness and dark circles), of whole-fruit (not just the seeds) rosehip oil, premium grade whole-fruit (not just the seeds) passionfruit oil, seabuckthorn berry CO2 extract, murumuru butter, andiroba oil & Brazil nut oil.

The reason Amaranth Oil was selected to be the first and main ingredient of this eye product is because it’s very high in proteins (13%), linoleic acid (49%; key for youthful, wrinkle-free, and acne-free skin and in squalene (8–12%). I found it to be super rich and nourishing, instantly smoothing out fine lines and plumping up the haggard looking skin under my eyes. I used this oil only at night as it did sting my eyes if it got in.

Ingredients
Organic cold-press unrefined amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) oil, organic cold-press unrefined green coffee (Coffea) bean oil, organic cold-press unrefined andiroba (Carapa guianensis) oil, cold-press unrefined brazil nut oil*, organic cold-press unrefined murumuru (Astrocaryum murumuru) butter, cold-press unrefined passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) oil*, organic cold-press unrefined rare whole-fruit rosehip (Rosa canina) oil, wildcrafted seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berry CO2 Total supercritical extract, cold-press unrefined tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum) oil* (India), gem essences.

 In her latest blog post how some suppliers do not have a system for monitoring inventory freshness & how those with little experience may not even know what some plant oils should look and smell like, and how to check whether their sample is fresh, unrefined, unbleached, and unadulterated. It’s very insightful and shows you how important it is to trust who you purchase from and that their values align with yours.

DIARY OF A LADYBOSS
FEATURING AVA ZHAN

a weekday in the beautiful Pacific Northwest

 

6:15 Am waking up, getting my older son ready for kindergarten, getting breakfast ready for everyone

 

7:45 Am dropping Roman off at a distant school

 

8:15-9 Am on phone calls on the road, sometimes with friends, often with our freelance designer and printer representative

 

9 am I’m in a meeting with employees: prioritizing projects for the day, reviewing long-term projects, and periodically all kinds of financial reviews with our finance specialists.

 

10 am -2 pmWorking on new product formulas, making batches of currently sold products, making flower and gem essences, sometimes getting to wander the meadows to check on various wildflowers or to infuse batches of products in a shady and hidden spot in our ponderosa pine forest, but also advising customers on best product options for their skin type, corresponding with marketing partners, and lots of art direction (reviewing the work of our photographer, graphic designer, and printers, and working closely with these artists to arrive at visuals and packaging that we all love and that communicate who we are), searching for new artisanal ingredients and print materials suppliers and testing their samples upon arrival.

 

2-3 pm I’m holding private flower essence consultations, flower essence certification course progress (homework assignments, client case studies etc.), making custom essence blends.

 

The work day has ended
Late afternoons and evenings are primarily family time, but sometimes I harvest wild herbs with the help of family members or employees, drying and processing herbs, and also attend to our own “starter” garden. Late evenings is when I read books on herbalism, essential oils and their safety, flower and gem essence healing, and natural perfumery.
Ava

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