From Skeptic To Believer: How I Fell For Follain Skincare
Clean beauty is a term I've been hearing for some time. I was a bit skeptical because the concept sounds ideal, but I wondered if it was really effective. How can something be natural and safe, but still get the job done? I dealt with cystic acne and oily skin for years, so I thought that when a product left my face feeling stripped and dry, that meant it was working well! But the more I read up on it, the more I realized that my now-sensitive skin may be a result of the harsh chemicals and toxins I'd been exposing myself to for so long. I knew I needed to make the switch but wasn't ready to commit and invest in "clean" products without knowing if they'd actually work.
Determined to find an answer, I turned to my best friend, who has been a clean beauty convert for years and saw amazing results. After listening to my concerns and skepticism on clean beauty, she recommended that I check out Follain.
Follain is a retailer for safe beauty products, including skincare, makeup, bath & body, and hair care. Because the skin can absorb up to 60% of what you put on it, Follain conducts research and curates products that are free of toxins and harmful chemicals. To get the Follain seal of approval, items have to be "safe, effective and luxurious to experience". They even have a list of restricted ingredients they'll never allow in their products.
So I decided to give it a try. I started with the Follain Clean Essentials Kit, which includes trial sizes of four everyday, non-toxic skin essentials for a daily skincare routine, including:
- Cleanser- the OSEA Ocean Cleanser has sea minerals and red algae for detoxifying. The algae combines with proteins, vitamins, and clays to help naturally brighten and increase collagen in your skin. This cleanser always leaves me face feeling hydrated and clean; no leftover residue or griminess!
- Toner- theIndie Lee CoQ-10 Toner is a gentle product for boosting collagen and fighting free radicals, while reducing shine and balancing the pH of your skin. I never understood the point of a toner until this one. I didn't realize what I'd been missing out on and I'm never looking back.
- Moisturizer- the Ursa Major Fortifying Face Balm is ultra moisturizing with a matte finish. It hydrates without heaviness, calms inflammation, and promotes healing. This moisturizer is the best (and I don't say that lightly). I usually wake up with inflamed skin but this product really calms that down and brightens my complexion.
- Soap- the soothing aloe soap (that comes in lavender or lemongrass) can be used on just about anything. This soap is gentle and moisturizing as a hand soap, is safe to use on dishes, and can even be used to detox the dog!
I was surprised by how quickly I saw my skin improve. When I ran out after a couple of weeks, I went back on Follain's site and purchased three of the full-sized products. All the products range from $20-100, which is the same price I was spending on products that were not nearly as safe or effective.
Since trying Follain, I've completely changed my outlook on clean beauty. I didn't really expect such good results, but now that I've tried it for myself, I realize that I couldn't have been more wrong. Navigating clean beauty may seem intimidating at first, but Follain makes it easy to find the best products and take care of yourself as well. And I have radiant, fresh, smooth skin to prove it!