July Openeds Reviews

Ah July, nearly the height of summer here in Colorado. It’s been dry and smoky (seemingly the new normal in the Western US), and my skincare has been reflecting that — there’s a strong focus on antioxidants and sunscreen below. As always, products are listed in the order you would theoretically use them in a routine. Stay tuned for later this month, when my husband will give a more in-depth review on some of them!

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

This was really my first “grown-up” cleanser when I first tried it years ago, and I remember loving the cucumber smell of it, so I picked it up for my husband when he started getting more into skincare. (He doesn’t enjoy using it, which is why it’s now in my routine.) It has coconut-derived surfactants, so it’s quite a gentle cleanse, and of course includes soy protein per its name. It wouldn’t be a Fresh product, seemingly, without rose so it has that, as well as other antioxidants like ginseng extract, aloe juice, cucumber extract (ergo the smell) and vitamin E.
Price: $15 USD / 50 mL; available in a variety of sizes

Isntree Real Mugwort Clay Mask

I’m not much of a clay mask person these days, now that I’ve learned that just letting them dry out is a bad plan if you live in a desert. But this mugwort mask came highly recommended by Kelly Driscoll, so I decided to give it a go. (I have subsequently actually won this in a giveaway from the brand, but this is the tube I purchased myself.) It includes six types of clay, including the usual suspects kaolin and bentonite, but also includes mugwort extract and powder for calming.
Price: $24 USD / 100 mL

Acure Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Jelly Mask

Having grown up with only stripping clay and peel-off masks, it’s been wonderful to see the proliferation of wash-off masks catering to drier skin types. Since it’s a wash-off mask there aren’t too many long-term benefits, per se, but it helps me tolerate more drying masks like the Isntree Real Mugwort Clay Mask with no ill effects, and the antioxidants (blue tansy, blueberry, seaweed, eggplant and more) are always a nice plus!
Price: $20 USD / 30 mL

Peach Slices Snail Rescue Blemish Toner

This toner is a repeat in my skincare journey, because it’s really hard to beat the price. I’m so far through this already it’s a bit embarrassing, but my skin was thirsty in July! This toner is a pretty medium weight, without any snail gloopiness to it.  This makes it layer up reasonably well. I’ve been doing two layers AM and PM after the Isntree Green Tea Toner and before the Hanskin Hyaluron Essence.
Price: $14 USD / 120 mL

Good Skin Days C’s the Day Serum

Tired of me reaching about this yet? Tough, I still have two more bottles in the fridge. This is a watery, gentle vitamin c that I just can’t quit. 10% ascorbic acid, niacinamide, licorice root and camu-camu really bring some brightening for an overall glow, while ginseng and mushroom make it so hydrating. I love the texture and go through it so fast I barely run into oxidization issues, though I’ve started keeping it in a little bag just to help it stay fresher longer.
Price: $26 USD / 30 mL

Beekman 1802 Milk Drops Probiotic Ceramide Serum

When I bought this on Ulta’s sale I bought two, just in case. This, of course, is the second one. It’s a bit pricier than I like my serums but it has a lovely, lightweight and hydrating feel while nourishing the skin with probiotics and ceramides. There’s a more thorough review in my empties I posted last week!
Price: $45 USD / 28 mL

Facetory Oats Calming Glow Weightless Facial Oil

This is definitely more of a serum than a facial oil. It’s a very white, milky serum thanks to all the oats and rice — rice bran water, oat kernel extract, oat kernel oil. It includes a variety of antioxidants like green tea, rosemary, licorice and lichen; and good oils like linseed, soybean, hazelnut. Fragrance-avoiders beware, this does have quite a scent due to tea tree, bergamot and cedar oils.
Price: $18 USD / 30 mL

Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

As my husband continues on his skincare journey, we’ve been trying to take some spots of rosacea that can flare on his cheeks — while this is only at 10%, higher percentages are actually used as clinical rosacea treatments. Despite not enjoying the feeling of things in his face, he seems to not mind a light layer of this all over, and it does seem to already be helping a bit. Personally I’ve only stolen a bit of it, but unrevealed to keep doing so for some of the stubborn spots that retinol and vitamin c haven’t yet corrected. I can see why it’s so popular among the Skincare Fanatics modmin team!
Price: $36 USD / 30 mL

Stratia Liquid Gold

I just wrote about this in July’s empties so I won’t wax too eloquent about it beyond to say that if you’re trying to get someone you care about to wear skincare, start here. It wears so light but has so many good, nourishing ingredients and, of course, the color is a real crowd pleaser. This is my husband’s first rebuy!
Price: $27 USD / 60 mL

Peach & Lily Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream

I remember trying a sample of this a year ago and not loving it (simultaneously too thick and not thick enough) but decided to pick it up when it was half off at Ulta. I stand by my earlier take. This makes a good day cream for dry skin or a good night cream for oily skin. It’s got a green tint (thanks matcha!) which helps with redness and a nice smoothing finish to it. I don’t find it to be particularly nourishing, however, so when I use it in the evening I put an oil and sleeping mask over it.
Price: $40 USD / 50 mL

HYGGEE Vegan Sun Cream

I bought this because it’s considered to be a dupe for Krave Beet Shield and … I’m pleased to resort that it basically is! Nearly all the same UV filters, many of the same antioxidant ingredients. The most noticeable difference is that Hyggee is more moisturizing — it comes out more as a cream while Krave was more liquidy — but still feels incredibly light. I’ve got it on my droplist to buy more!
Price: $24 USD / 50 mL

SUNTIQUE I’m Pure Perfect Cica Suncream

I’ve been having such good experiences with Korean sunscreens but not loving the price, so when this big one which some friends had tried showed up at Costco I took the plunge. The good news is I’m halfway through it. The bad news is that’s because I’m using it on my body. This has a matte finish but also has a very tight feeling that accompanies that look, which I found to be uncomfortable — my husband found it so unbearable he immediately washed it off, but finds no issue with it on his arms.  Probably great for oily skin makeup wearers, as part of that finish does seem to have a smoothing effect.
Price: $27 USD / 120 mL in the jumbo size shown (from Costco); $24 USD / 50 mL through most retailers

Make P:Rem UV Defense Me Blue Ray Sun Fluid

I had been using a smaller bottle of this, then decided to get a big one because I don’t love it for my face, but the price was right for body. It can be a bit drying, but it’s light enough that my husband happily wears it and hey, that’s what moisturizer is for anyway. It’s got a bunch of great antioxidants like madecassoside, heartleaf and raspberry extract. It also has a light fragrance to it from some of the oils and extracts in it. I actually opened this last month but then PROMPTLY LOST IT on our Telluride trip, only to discover it again two weeks ago.
Price: N/A; discontinued in its current format and formulation