Vela Days skincare review

Where I got it

I have known this brand for a little over a year as I have seen it on a friend’s IG feed and at one point I was able to try out their products from some sample packets. Generally I find their products alright, but I decided to wait for a sale/discount so I left it and forgot about it.

I picked up the Cleanse and Treat Pack (RRP $178) during their easter sale (20% off), and I also go the Cleansing Bands (RRP $20) and a Cica-Gen B3 Treatment Mask (RRP$15). I got everything for $159.75 after the discount. I ordered this on 4/9/23 and it was shipped to me from Australia (I’m in New Zealand) and it arrived on 2/5/23 which is nearly a month. It had to go through our customs which I suspect is because it contains hemp products.

What I got

Vela Days Cica-Gen B3 Treatment Mask (25ml).A proprietary blend of omega-rich oils that utilise new technology creates a unique Oil/Gel-to-Milk cleanser enriched with Ceramides, which melts away impurities, makeup and the day. This antioxidant cleanser works as both a first cleanse on dry skin and a second cleanse on wet skin. Our unique gel texture is made from rare plant oils containing vitamins A, B, D & E and Omega 6 & 9 to restore skin, thoroughly purify pores and provide long-lasting moisture for the skin, rinsing off cleanly.

Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Trehalose, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Algae Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jo]oba) seed Oil Hyaluronic Acid, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Cannabis sativa (Hemp) seed Oil Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Cantella Aslatica (Cantella) Extract, Niacinamide, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Butylene Glycol Fructose, Phenoxyethanol.

Vela Days Lipid Complex Cleansing Balm (120ml). A proprietary blend of omega-rich oils that utilise new technology creates a unique Oil/Gel-to-Milk cleanser enriched with Ceramides, which melts away impurities, makeup and the day. This antioxidant cleanser works as both a first cleanse on dry skin and a second cleanse on wet skin. Our unique gel texture is made from rare plant oils containing vitamins A, B, D & E and Omega 6 & 9 to restore skin, thoroughly purify pores and provide long-lasting moisture for the skin, rinsing off cleanly.

Ingredients: Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aqua, CaprylidCapric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sucrose Laurate, Sucrose Stearate, Mixed Tocopherols, Ceramide NP, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Glvcine Soia (Sovbean) Oil, Sucrose Palmitate. 

Vela Days Active Compound Multi-Active Facial Serum (30ml).  Your all-in-one, multi-use daily anti-ageing serum, so you can do more with less. The Active Compound is a revolutionary 6-in-1 proprietary blend facial Serum (which took over two years to develop). The serum is focused on transformation and helps amplify the absorption of active ingredients and skin nutrients to easily penetrate the skin using encapsulated technologies, delivering the benefits of each component deep within the skin. Brighten, tighten, hydrate, renew, balance, and defend with one all-encompassing serum. Encapsulated retinol helps to stimulate cellular turnover, while 4 weights of Hyaluronic Acid intensely hydrate and plump the skin. In addition, Niacinamide and active Plant Growth Factors help to boost collagen, reduce the appearance of large pores and diminish pigmentation. The Active Compound is a one-of-a-kind serum that gives your skin the optimum dose of each essential vitamin and nutrient for glowing skin. Innovative actives, minerals, adaptogens, and antioxidants naturally brighten, soothe, fortify, and support your most radiant complexion morning and night. This serum will help to boost collagen, clear breakouts, and soften fine lines, making it one of the best anti-aging serums in Australia.

Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, AmmoniumAcryloytdimethyltaurate/ Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract. Niacinamide, PEG· 16 Macadamia Glycerides, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil Ethyl Olivate, Panthenot Butylene Glycol Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Extract. Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol Gap,ytoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower/Helichrysum ltalicum Extract. Diheptyl Succinate, Citrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Canola Oil, Cap,ytic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract, Starch, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Polysorbate-20, Retinol Dehydroacetic Acid, Sorbitol, Pentylene Glycol. Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Cetyl Palmitate, Laureth-23, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide 3, Rosemary Extract, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Xanthan Gum. Caprylyl Glycol Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexytglycerin, Glyce,yt Caprylate, Oleic Acid. Cl 77491, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh• Polypeptide-76. 

How I find it

At first impression I love the Lipid Complex Cleansing Balm packaging. The plastic cap that protects the pump along with the airless pump. It is easy, clean and hygienic. However, I’m not sure if I would be getting every last bit of product from the bottle. The cleansing balm comes out in a translucent gel with a hint of green. I like to use one pump for my entire face and neck area. As a first cleanse, this goes onto my dry hands, I spread it between my palms and massage it onto my face. Immediately, I can smell the blue tansy. The balm glides on smoothly and turns into an oil. It is a very good oil to massage with.

After massaging for at least a minute, I will emulsify the oil with a little bit of water and I can see it turn into a milky consistency, but I can also feel a film over my face that I cannot seem to wash off. I rinse off whatever I can with lukewarmwater and I can definitely feel the residue on my face and it’s not something I love from my cleansing balm/cleansing oil. Once I use a second cleanser (gel or foaming), it all rinses off easily without residue.

After double cleansing, I would use an essence lotion to hydrate my skin and apply an eye cream around the eye area.  Then I will use 1-2 pumps of the Vela Days Active Compound Multi-Active Facial Serum. Using this only at night because it contains retinol, i have tried using this over my BHA liquid or AHA toner and it’s working good with no issues so far. The serum is lightly moisturising, I could easily skip moisturiser when the humidity is not too low. Otherwise, a simple moisturiser over this would complete my skincare routine.

There is a light scent from the ingredients in the serum and there wasn’t any special texture on the skin upon applying this serum, it just felt like a normal serum with a light to medium moisturising effect. I will need to use this for a much longer period to see full results so I will write up a full conclusion at the end of this post.

Now I had high hopes for the Cica-Gen B3 treatment mask and I was not disappointed. Before I started using all Vela Day products, I experienced some hormonal breakouts during the time of the month and I was frantically trying to fix it with spot treatments and benzoyl peroxide spot treatments (I really should throw it away), and it really ruined my skin barrier and it just got dry and itchy and red. I decided it would be the best time to try this sheet mask as it is a restorative sheet mask to rebuild my skin barrier. The mask sheet is really soft and size was a little on the large size around the chin area. It was drenched with serum, but not to the point of dripping everywhere. There was a good amount of serum left in the packet so I saved it to use as skincare for the next 2 skincare routine.

After 15-20 minute that I have this on, my skin immediately felt and look plump, the dry patches are soothed. I left the serum on the skin and not wash it off, then I applied a decent moisturiser over it and called it a night. The next morning, the dry area was so much better, but the overall area is not longer itchy and inflammed. The redness has subsided and one of the cystic breakout has significantly subsided. I was really impressed.

Vela Days do sell these large Microfibre Cleansing Bands that you wear down your forearms when you do you skincare routine to prevent water dripping down to your elbows. I have been using scrunchies for this purpose, but they are quite small and cuts off my circulation. These are microfibre so they do absorb alot of moisture which is great. They are also very cute aren’t they?

Overall

After using these products for a couple of weeks, I am ready to give my full review. First of all, I love the Microfibre Cleansing Bands because they are soft and big. They are very good at absorbing and stopping water runnning down my wrists. I’ve been using them every single time I wash my face. I also really enjoyed the Multi-Acitve Facial Serum for it’s lovely texture and how it targets many skin issues at once. I could not be certain, but I think this product caused a bit of purging on my chin and jawline area after a good weeks of use. I started seeing a couple of white-headed pimples around where I usually break outs and they actually go away after a couple of days if I don’t pick at it. Purging is actually a good sign that the product is working to purge out any congestions under the skin. Cell turnover is working and what’s trapped in the pores are coming to the surface and releasing it. I just need to make sure I am gentle with the breakouts and let my skin heal properly. At the mean time (after 3 weeks) I am still using this product twice a day and it’s going great so far.

I was so glad to have the Cica-Gen B3 sheet mask when my skin had a weird flair up. My chin was dry and patchy from an overuse of benzoyl peroxide and the sheet mask did very well to restore and heal my skin. This would have been great to aid healing when I was purging too. I am really pleased with the results and I will definitely repurchase this for emergency.

Lastly, I actually thought I would enjoy the Cleansing Balm, but when I realised that it doesn’t emulsify and rinse clean entirely, I’m not sure if this would the right product for me. I mean I can clean off the residue with my second cleanser, but I am still wary that some residue will remain in my pores and that’s not what I want from my cleanser. The only way I can kind of work around this cleanser and finish the product was to use only 1 pump, use a stronger second cleanser, and use a cloth to remove everything at the end. If in doubt, I also use a toner on a cotton pad.