Live Botanical skincare review – Combination oily skin

Where I got it

I have heard of this brand for a little while from Danielle of CrueltyFreeVeganBeauty on YouTube as she raves about this brand. They have been featured in beauty subscription boxes previously, but I have either missed out, or did not want to try the particular products that were featured. I was really glad that they offer sample sizes (5ml to 15ml) of pretty much every single product in the their range. I picked out 8 sample-sized products according to my skin type (combination) and it came to a total of USD$122, but I used a discount code from Danielle (VEGANBEAUTY) to get 20% off the entire order. Shipping did cost me USD$20 to New Zealand so the total came to USD$117.60. This equates to NZD$170.05. They also have a first-order discount code of WELCOME15 for 15% off your order.

What I got

I picked out an entire skincare routine for combination skin from Live Botanicals and these are the products I ordered: 15ml Nourishing Cleansing Oil, 15ml Gentle Cleansing Gel, 5ml Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum, 15ml Ambient Moisture Liquid, 30ml Overnight Resurfacing Oil (I ordered a 10ml sample size, but I was sent a 30ml full size!), 10ml Tidal Moon Moisture Mask, 10ml Greenhouse Glow Antioxidant Mask and a 10ml Glowing Honey Mask.

Live Botanical is devoted to using the most vibrant, regionally grown and ethically sourced ingredients to encourage a deep connection to the natural world that can be felt with every use. Formulas are rooted in creating balance and harmony, to enhance what makes you uniquely beautiful. Our goal is to incorporate the beauty and wonder of nature into your daily skin care rituals. They use fresh, house-infused whole botanical extracts focusing on using local & regional ingredients in small batch creations.

Nourishing Cleansing Oil ($14 for 15ml). A rich and nourishing oil cleanser formulated for dry and sensitive skin. A base of non-comedogenic cold pressed organic seed oils including hemp dissolve typical buildup from dirt and makeup. Elevated with a whole herb infusion where lemon balm works alongside lavender, heal-all, rose and chamomile to deeply clean pores, calm inflammation, balance skin flora and enhance protection from environmental factors.

Ingredients: helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*^ (and) melissa officinalis (lemon balm) leaf*^ (and) lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower*^ (and) prunella vulgaris (self-heal) leaf & flower*^ (and) rosa sp. (rose) flower*^ (and) matricaria recutita (chamomile) flower*^, Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil^, Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil*^, camellia sp. (green tea) seed oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) wax*^, Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate (mild emulsifier) and Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*

Gentle Cleansing Gel ($14 for 15ml). A hydrating, oil-free and soap-free milky gel to gently cleanse without stripping or disrupting the skin’s delicate acid mantel. (pH approx. 5.5). With acne-prone and sensitive skin, harsh cleansers and over-exfoliation can cause long term damage to the skin.  Focusing on supporting your skin’s inflammatory response will help reduce breakouts and prevent scarring when eruptions do occur.

Ingredients: aloe barbadensis juice*^, camellia sinensis (green tea) hydrosol*^, sodium cocoyl apple amino acids, sodium lauroyl oat amino acids, distilled water & palm free vegetable glycerin* & glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root^* & anthemis nobilis (roman chamomile) flower/leaf*^ & matricaria recutita (german chamomile) flower*^ & spiraea ulmaria (meadowsweet) flower/leaf*^, lactobacillus ferment and xanthan gum

Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum ($12 for 5ml). A simple yet effective hydrating blend of just 4 ingredients. Mild enough for the most sensitive, reactive skin. Initially designed for oily to combination skin types though dry skin types can reap the benefits when used as a micro-emulsion with their facial oil.

Ingredients: aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) juice*^, camellia sinensis (green tea) hydrosol*^, lactobacillus ferment and sodium hyaluronate (vegan).

Ambient Moisture Liquid ($20 for 15ml). A multidimensional moisturizer to hydrate, soothe, firm, and strengthen the lipid barrier function in one step. Whole aqueous infusions created from local, fresh herbs balanced with advanced green beauty technology such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and phospholipids to provide luminous, vibrant skin.

Ingredients: aqueous infusion of [aloe barbadensis (aloe vera)*^, camellia sinensis (green tea)*^, althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root)*^, centella asiatica (gotu kola)*^, plantago major leaf *^, prunella vulgaris (self-heal) leaf extract*^, tilia cordata (linden) flower extract*^, trifolium pratense (red clover) flower*^, & palm-free vegetable glycerin*], vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil^, fragaria ananassa (strawberry) seed oil^, mangifera indica (mango) seed butter#, oryza sativa (rice) bran oil*^, rubus idaeus (raspberry) seed oil^, polyglyceryl-4 oleate (palm-free, plant derived ecocert emulsifier), aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) seed extract*, lactobacillus ferment, glycine soja (soybean) seed extract & ceramide np, phospholipids (sunflower lecithin)*, sodium pca, sodium hyaluronate, [gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, calcium gluconate (ecocert preservative)] and rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*

Overnight Resurfacing Oil Serum ($48 for 30ml). A fruit-filled oil serum to refine the skin during slumber. Layering sensitive- skin-friendly enzymes and nourishing seed oils to reveal a smooth and healthy complexion in the morning. Developed for combination to dry skin or those wanting to soften rough patches. This could also work well for those with mild sensitivities since it includes lipid barrier protective ingredients and a very low dilution of blue tansy essential oil (0.12%).

Ingredients: raphanus sativus (radish) seed oil^, vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil^, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil & ananas sativus (pineapple) fruit, oryza sativa (rice) bran oil^, fragaria ananassa (strawberry) seed oil^, rosa canina (rose) hip oil*, rosa mosqueta (rose) hip seed oil*, rubus idaeus (raspberry) seed oil^, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed* & lecithin* & chamomilla recutita (chamomile) flower extract* & corthellus shiitake (mushroom) extract*, copaifera multijuga (copaiba) resin#, ricinus communis (castor) oil#, tanacetum annum (tansy) essential oil* and rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*

Tidal Moon Moisture Mask ($16 for 10ml). Drawing on how the moon’s tidal force affects the rainfall on earth, this rich mask replenishes moisture with hydrating raw honey, conditioning oils, and protective butters. Elevated with a collection of nutrient-dense algae extracts and a unique may-apple ferment for an antioxidant boost while enhancing the skin’s ability to hold moisture. Perfect to use anytime you want to call on the moon for additional nourishment.

Ingredients: corylus avellana (hazelnut) seed oil*^, silybum marianum (milk thistle) seed oil*, raw honey*^, raw beeswax*^, persea gratissima (avocado) butter*^, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil & saccharomyces/podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) ferment filtrate, chlamydomonas reinhardtii extract, schisandra chinensis fruit co2 extract*, spirulina platensis & arthrospira platensis *, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, lecithin (sunflower derived)*^, chamaecyparis lawsoniana (port orford) wood extract^+, pseudotsuga menziesii (douglas fir) oil^, cedrus deodora (himalayan) wood oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*

Greenhouse Glow Antioxidant Mask ($16 for 10ml). A nutrient-dense smoothie for your skin. A collection of colorful plants scavenge free radicals to maintain healthy skin function. The balm is activated by water to extract powerful Phyto-compounds to promote circulation, oxygenation and remineralization which encourages an even tone, bringing the complexion back to life.  Overtime helping to improve the skin’s ability to maintain moisture and improve elasticity.

Ingredients: theobroma grandiflorum (cupuacu) butter#, vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil^ & rubus idaeus (raspberry) seed oil^ & cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil*^& plantago major (plantain) leaf*^ & monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) flower & leaf*^ & prunella vulgaris (self-heal) flower & leaf*^, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour*^, cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed powder*^, smectite clay^, blue-green algae*^, sunflower lecithin*, tremella fuciformis (snow mushroom) whole fruiting body*, and essential oils of citrus aurantium bergamia (sun safe fcf bergamot)*, anthemis nobilis (roman chamomile)*^ and geranium macrorrhizum (zdravetz)*

Greenhouse Glow Antioxidant Mask

Glowing Honey Mask ($14 for 10ml). Inspired by ancient beauty traditions of honey infusions and powdered herb massage. A deeply hydrating and cleansing mask made with whole herbs, botanical extracts, and fruit enzymes blended with raw honey. Together the botanicals help refine the skin while providing essential moisture leaving you with a bright and glowing complexion.  It can be used daily as a cleanser or 2 – 3 times a week as a mask.

Ingredients: raw oregon honey*^, rosa sp. (rose) flower*^, matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) flower*^, althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root*^, taraxacum officinale (dandelion) root*^, salvia hispanica (chia) seed powder*, palm free vegetable glycerin*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*^, rosa canina (rose hip) co2 extract*,  carica papaya extract* and essential oils anthemis nobilis (roman chamomile)*^ and rosa damascena (rose) absolute

How I find it

I am particularly excited about their masks as you can tell, I bought 3! I was also quite surprised that the Overnight Resurfacing Oil is full-sized which I think is a packaging error because I double checked my order and I only paid for a sample size 5ml. SCORE! Anyway, I am very eager to try these products in a skincare routine and here is how I would use them..

AM: Gentle Cleansing Gel, Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum, Ambient Moisture Liquid, then my own SPF.

PM: Nourishing Cleansing Oil, Gentle Cleansing Gel, Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum and Overnight Resurfacing Oil.

And the masks I would use whenever I feel like I need extra help.

Let’s get to what my thoughts are with the products. The Nourishing Cleansing Oil is an emulsifying oil which I prefer. I use about 3 pumps of this oil as the small pump does not pump out a lot of product at a time. I massage the oil onto my dry skin and it was quite fluid and spreads easily. I like to give myself a bit of facial massage to break down the makeup, and then add a bit of water to emulsify the oil and rinse it all off.

 

After rinsing the cleansing oil and makeup off, I use about 3 pumps of this cleansing gel to do a second cleanse. This cleansing gel is low-lathering and quite runny as well. It was a little difficult to work with if my hands were quite damp. So I make sure my hands are just lightly damp and then work the gel apart before massaging it on my face. It is a really gentle gel cleanser which would be perfect for most skin type. My skin feels clean, but also hydrated and not stripped.

Then I am not using a mask, I would start with the Hydrating Serum which is a very lightweight, watery serum. Almost like an essence. I use about 2 pumps and just apply it on my face. It is not very hydrating, but it does feel like a good prep on the skin, I would prefer if this is in a mist or spray because the texture is quite runny and light. Live Botanical also provides a couple of options of Hydramists and exfoliating toners for this step.

After they Hydrating Serum, I will use the Moisture Liquid during the day and this one is a thicker consistency, like a lotion. It will provide sufficient moisture for combination-oily skin, but I would say if you have dry skin, you will need a little bit more than this. Live Botanical does offer a range of balms for drier skin types.

At night, I would add the Resurfacing Oil every other day. It is not a thick oil, but it does help seal everything in and help with resurfacing during the night. It gentle exfoliates the skin with pineapple enzymes but also contains fruit seed oils, rose hip oil and blue tansy oil to nourish and repair skin barrier. 2-3 drops of this on top of the Moisture Liquid is enough for my skin and I go to bed afterwards.

Overall

I have since finished all of the above products except for the Resurfacing Oil as well as the Tidal Moon Moisture mask and I will let you know why. First of all, the product I finished first was the Cleansing gel because I used that twice a day and I use a generous amount. Then it was the Cleansing Oil because I also use a generous amount of that. Next it was the Hydrating Serum because it was so lightweight and I use it twice a day, it was easy to finish. Next the Moisture Liquid took a little longer because I only needed 2 pumps at the most. The Resurfacing Oil is, of course still quite full because it is a full-sized product, and I do use it maybe up to 2-3 times a week only. But this is definitely something that is nourishing and comforting on the skin and sealing everything in.

Here comes the masks. I thought I would really enjoy the Tidal Moon Moisture mask because it looked so so pretty and it sounded so amazing. It was the first mask I used from the 3 I ordered. The mask applied really nice and it melted onto my skin. It was an oil-balm mask and it needed a cloth to remove. This was a little heavy for my combination-oily skin that is also acne-prone. I did not experience breakouts, but I did see some congestion around my chin area where I tend to get them. I try to use this maybe once a fortnight. Then let’s talk about the mask that I finished first and it was the Glowing Honey Mask. It is lightly exfoliating with enzymes and it was such a treat to use. My skin felt bright and smooth afterwards without feeling irritated. I also loved the Greenhouse Glow Antioxidant Mask which I needed to mix a bit of water to create to a paste and apply it on my face. I really enjoy this mask because it just feels so soothing and comforting. It was ultra-lightly exfoliating and also calming on the skin. All of these mini jars would have at least 4-5 uses.

Two product I would definitely repurchase would be the Greenhouse Glow Antioxidant Mask and also the Cleansing Gel. But I would also like to try their hydramists and cleansing balm because they also sound amazing! Have you tried anything from Live Botanical?