Radiance-boosting hydration for Balanced to Dry skin / 1.7 oz
The Organic Pharmacy's Double Rose Rejuvenating Cream is an oldie but goodie. This standout formula has been the brand's best selling moisturizer since it was first created in the early 2000s, and it continues to be one of our favorite moisturizers out there because it's blissfully simple, yet entirely excellent. A little bit of this lightweight, organic cream goes a long way towards leaving skin feeling fresh and looking dewy. The finest rosewater and rose hip oil help soothe any areas of redness or sensitivity and give this product an elegant, distinctively British scent.

Healthy beauty that works. Personalized guidance that's unparalleled.

Ayla

The Organic Pharmacy Double Rose Rejuvenating Cream

Title

Skin Care

Genuine Manuka honey from New Zealand with antibacterial attributes / 12 oz
Activist Raw Manuka Honey 300+ MGO may not yet be a staple of your breakfast table, but we think it should be.
Manuka honey comes only from New Zealand, where bees pollinate the native Manuka bush during a very brief seasonal window in the spring and summer. People don’t just go wild over it because of its rarity, though. Manuka happens to boast a significantly higher level of beneficial enzymes than regular honey, which lend it anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects that can address acne and other inflammatory skin conditions and, taken internally, alleviate digestive discomfort and support the immune system.
Activist’s Manuka is unusually potent, as indicated by the MGO scale (which measures the concentration of Manuka’s naturally occurring antibacterial compound, methylglyoxal). The 300+ has measurable antibacterial power that makes it the perfect pick for daily immune support. Slather it on your toast, add it to your smoothie, or use it in creator Gabrielle Mirkin's recipe for turmeric tea that you'll find in the Activist spotlight on our blog.
And while you're at it, pick up a container of the super-potent 850+ MGO version, too: it's ideal for treating colds, digestive issues, and inflammatory skin conditions, and it might be our favorite mask for acne-prone, sensitive, fussy skin.

Activist Manuka Honey 300+ Mgo

Size

Hair & Body

Elegant and charming fragrance / 1.7 oz
Ellis Brooklyn Fable is a chic floral fragrance created by Bee Shapiro, a beauty and style writer for The New York Times, Vogue, and others, and Jerome Epinette, the genius behind Byredo. Like all Ellis Brooklyn fragrances, it's free of endocrine-disrupting phthalates and parabens, but far more sophisticated than the typical essential-oil fragrances that are typically the only option if you're avoiding such questionable ingredients.
And Fable is — we'll admit it — our favorite of them all. It's an elegant, charming, chic floral, featuring top notes of neroli and black currant, that's inspired by the Aesop fable. As Bee puts it, "Set in the forests of Arcadia, this elegant orange blossom scent is roused by the first meeting of Androcles and the Lion. The gorgeous initial bloom plays with dewy violet, petitgrain and honeysuckle before being rounded by the warmth of crisp amber and cedarwood. The moral of the famous Aesop fable is kindness—Androcles removes a thorn from the lion’s paw—a notion as lovely as the fragrance."
The phthalate-free fragrance, made in small batches in New York, is housed in an environmentally-friendly glass bottle from an Ecocert supplier; the biodegradable Bakelite compression cap is petrochemical-free.
If you're not sure which Ellis Brooklyn scent to try, check out their Chronicle set; it includes samples of all of them!

Ellis Brooklyn Eau De Parfum - Fable

Supercharged, mixed-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid serum proven to significantly increase firmness and reduce the look of lines / 1 oz
Dr. Lara Devgan's Platinum Hyaluronic Serum is one of those luxury serums that we really didn’t want to love. But the deeper we got into our first bottle, the more we were convinced that we absolutely couldn’t live without it.
So here’s the thing: skin laxity, or the loss of firmness, is tough to handle. Once skin starts to spring back a little less easily to the touch and gravity starts its inexorable pull downwards, the signs of aging have really taken off their collective coat and decided to stay awhile. But there are very few products that address firmness in a material way, so when we come across one, we grab it.
Dr. Devgan’s Platinum Hyaluronic Serum is one such product, and it has the clinical studies to prove it. Packed with mixed-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, it adds niacinamide, lysine, proline, and copper to the mix to trigger mitochondrial energy and address intrinsic aging, reactivating collagen and elastin production. At the same time, glycosaminoglycans protect skin’s extracellular matrix from extrinsic aging (caused by things like pollution and UV rays) and improve its barrier function.
The results are remarkable: this serum has been shown to reduce wrinkle appearance and volume by 15% within two weeks, stimulate an increase in production of collagen and elastin of between 179-194% within 11 days, and — the kicker — prompt a 50% decrease in skin laxity after 28 days. And, due to its improvement of the skin’s barrier function, it prompts a reduction in the appearance of rosacea over 12 weeks.
Yes, it’s got hyaluronic acid in it, but this is more about short-chain hyaluronic acid — the kind that penetrates deeply to firm and plump skin. While some think of it as a hydrating serum, we don’t; we think of it as a supercharged skin-firming booster, slather moisturizer on top, and thank our lucky stars that this marvelous product exists.

Dr. Devgan Platinum Hyaluronic Serum

Serum

Heavenly-scented, lightweight body and massage oil with anti-stress Bach flower essences / 5 oz.
We’ve been asked by a number of customers to recommend our favorite fast-absorbing body oil, and here it is. If you love body oils but don't love having to wait several minutes to get dressed after you apply them, this is your winner.
Like the magical Les Fleurs de Bach Body Lotion, the Anti-Stress Massage Oil — which includes a blend of organic argan, calendula, coconut, and sunflower oils — manages to deeply hydrate and replenish skin without greasiness, instead leaving skin soft, smooth, and silky. We’re not sure how to explain it except to say that it’s French, and the French seem to have a remarkable ability to make perfectly-textured products in a way that can’t be explained by anyone else.
And on top of that, this massage oil actually helps to ease stress and encourage the body to achieve deep relaxation with its carefully crafted blend of 7 anti-stress Bach flower essences, which makes it perfect for massage, too. Like the other Anti-Stress products from Les Fleurs de Bach, it also features a subtle, natural essential oil fragrance with top notes of bergamot and orange, a soothing base of lavender and sage, and a final, addictive chord of patchouli and eucalyptus.
Finally, it's packaged in a beautiful brown glass bottle — making it a very chic gift for yourself or a loved one. Particularly a loved one who enjoys a good massage and could use a little de-stressing.
Available in the US exclusively at Ayla.

Les Fleurs De Bach Anti-stress Body Massage Oil

Body Lotion & Oil

Gentle daily shampoo with purifying properties for ages 3-8
Enfance Paris Purify Liquid Shampoo is designed for 3-8 year olds and the hair-related challenges common during life stage. You can tell it’s been designed by a mom: Enfance mentions that the dermatologically tested, scalp-soothing formula happens to be not only an excellent daily shampoo, but also an effective complement to anti-lice treatments. Its extra-gentle cleansing base contains only what is necessary to effectively wash hair, along with organic lavender and tea tree to gently purify the scalp and refresh the senses while you shampoo.

Enfance Paris Purity Liquid Shampoo 3-8 Years

Shampoo & Conditioner

Matcha-based, energizing superfood supplement with a detoxifying boost / 3.5 oz
Mija Superstar is the only superfood multivitamin supplement we carry — because we think it’s the only one you need. Here’s what we love about it:
1. It’s like an approachable matcha…that’s even better for you.
Yes, Superstar is a phytonutrient-packed, anti-inflammatory supplement that helps fill nutritional gaps. But its base is ceremonial grade, energizing, antioxidant-packed matcha, so if you’ve thought about making the switch from coffee to green tea, or you just want to experience matcha’s longer-lasting, better-for-your-teeth buzz, this makes it as easy as can be. It's less caffeine-packed than straight matcha (each serving contains 24mg of caffeine, less than a cup of straight matcha or coffee). And Superstar dissolves easily, so there’s none of the endless whisking or graininess you often find with straight-up matcha. And it has a delicious fruity taste — like fresh lychees — making it easy to blend into your morning smoothie.
2. It’s also an excellent way to get moringa into your diet.
Moringa leaf is a nutrient-dense leafy green that’s revered for its vitamin-packed, hormone-balancing, detoxifying qualities. It’s also known to help protect liver and brain health, and it’s even been linked to increased “happy hormones” (dopamine and serotonin) — making it the perfect partner for theanine-rich, mood-lifting matcha.
3. It was developed by leading registered dietitian who’s the real deal.
Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN has both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in nutrition; she’s written four books, serves as the resident nutrition correspondent for the Bay Area’s KRON-4 News, and has an impressive roster of local clients ranging from Silicon Valley CEOs to professional athletes. Obviously, Sarah knows what she’s doing, and she created Mija Superstar to address the most frequent nutritional gaps she’s seen in her work with private clients.
And if you don’t want to hang your hat on just moringa and matcha, never fear: Superstar combines them with a host of other safe, proven superfoods like goji, goldenberry, camu camu, lucuma, chaga, avocado, hemp, chlorella, ginger, and turmeric. And it’s vegan, entirely organic, gluten free, dairy free, corn free, soy free, refined sugar free, artificial sweetener free, synthetic additive free, and artificial coloring/flavoring free. (We’re pretty sure you’re covered.)
The icing on the cake: Mija Superstar is incredibly easy to use. Drink it cold, hot  (our favorite, with a twist of lemon), or in smoothies — you’ll find some special recipes Sarah shared with us on our blog.

Mija Superstar Supplement

Super-soft towel for perfect curls / 1 towel
The common terry towel is a curly girl’s nemesis: It draws moisture from the hair, ruffles the hair cuticle, and messes up the curl pattern. This super soft jersey curl towel is made from 46% organic cotton, 46% bamboo and 8% elasthene, absorbing excess water only — so curls retain maximum hydration. For the very best results, please read the detailed usage instructions below.
And it's not just for curly girls. It's an excellent tool for frizz-prone hair, too, and it's a great style-while-you-sleep tool for straight or wavy hair: Wash hair, apply styling product, then wrap it up in this paragon of softness and go to bed. When you wake up, shake out fabulously smooth waves. Great hair just got exceptionally easy.

Bouclème Curl Towel

Hair Care

Color-safe shampoo for squeaky-clean hair
(For those of you who are wondering, Reverie NUDE Shampoo is now simply Reverie Shampoo. Same great stuff, just no name. Reminiscent of Prince.)
Garrett Markenson, the creator of Reverie, told us, “Shampoo shouldn’t be a styling product. It should leave your hair clean and shiny, without harming color. That’s it. It should be simple and only have what it needs.” How could you not agree?
If you find that many natural/non-toxic/"green" shampoos leave your hair feeling a little too moisturized, try this one. It lathers nicely and leaves hair squeaky clean (in a good way) and shiny, which makes it particularly wondrous on oily scalps and fine hair. And the bottle will immediately make your shower look very, very chic.
Oh, and by the way: it smells terrific. The scent is a sophisticated, layered blend of neroli, pink grapefruit, lemon myrtle, bergamot, geranium, jasmine, bourbon vanilla, sandalwood, balsam, cardamom, and patchouli.
Pair it with Reverie’s super-creamy-but-never-heavy Conditioner, unless you have very short or very fine hair; in those cases, use MILK as a leave-in conditioner.

Reverie Shampoo

Balancing, decongesting, soothing gel cleanser / 3.4 oz or 1 oz travel size

YULI Halcyon Cleanser, like many YULI formulas, is one of those sneaky products that may not impress you at first glance — but then you’ll find yourself reaching for it again and again, and possibly hitting the panic button when you unexpectedly run out. We didn't really think we needed another cleanser, but then we tried this one and realized that we couldn't be without it.
One of the things we adore about YULI Halcyon is that it is unabashedly straightforward about what it does. It’s a fabulous second cleanse or solo morning cleanse; it can also capably remove light makeup. But Halcyon is not a cleanser that will remove heavy makeup or sunscreen. As the YULI team told us, “There are so many great oil cleansers and makeup removers out there. We only create products where we can add to the conversation, so we made an active cleanser that actually improves the skin.”
Active indeed. The formula provides skin with a complicated blend of exceedingly gentle exfoliating fruit enzymes, naturally pore-clearing botanicals, and zeolite clay to efficiently dislodge, mop up, and rinse away impurities. But the thing we love most about Halcyon is that, while it’s a soothing cleanser that helps restore serenity to your complexion, it also leaves skin feeling absolutely clean, truly not at all stripped, perfectly soft, and generally back to its best state.
Halcyon really is everything — especially if you're in the combination-oily, easily-dehydrated-yet-acne-prone, or easily-congested camp.

Yuli Halcyon Cleanser

Cleanser

A deep plum/blackberry for all skin tones
There’s been a lot of buzz around Kosas (example: massive New York Times Magazine feature), and rightly so. These are among the most weightless, modern, beautifully wearable lipsticks around.
We love the fact that these handmade lipsticks were formulated to be as clean as possible, but with performance as the primary goal. So they’re long-wearing, hydrating, whisper-light, non-waxy, and still good up to 18 months after you first use them despite their green-beauty-approved, preservative-free ingredient lists. (Which we appreciate; we know how long lipsticks can kick around in cosmetic cases and dresser drawers.) Kosas colors are buildable, from sheer stains to full coverage, and have a non-drying, non-glossy finish. And their addictive vanilla-orange scent is reminiscent of the top of a Cabbage Patch Kid's head. Remember that smell? We happen to love it and think you will, too.
DARKROOM is a deep, romantic plum/blackberry with just a hint of purple: a pinot noir shade that flatters all skin tones. And our go-to local makeup artist, Melissa McMillan, agrees: “Darkroom looks good on everyone. EVERYONE.” Pair it with the delicate flush of Color & Light: Creme in 8th Muse or Color & Light: Pressed in Longitude Zero and you'll be all set for a romantic night out.
PS Not sure what shades are right for you? Call or email us!

Kosas Lipstick - Darkroom

Lip Makeup

Perfectly moisture-boosting and -balancing serum with a silky finish / 1 oz
TWELVE Beauty Ideal Moisture Level Serum is one of our favorite products in the entire TWELVE lineup. (If you know us, you know that we don’t shy away from picking our favorite children.)
Its creator, Pedro Català, describes it as “a hydro-regulative wonder product which has been designed for very dry or mature skin.” We describe is as one of those products that we must have in our bag of skincare tricks at all times. It’s a water-based serum with just the right amount of silkiness that absorbs immediately, locking in moisture at the perfect level and preventing chronic dehydration — one of the key causes of premature aging.
And because it’s made with the longest-chain hyaluronic acid on the market, it creates a permeable film on skin to plump fine lines while, over time, ensuring that it stays elastic and hydrated. It’s particularly helpful for dry, sensitive, irritated skin; frequent flyers; or those who are constantly exposed to adverse weather conditions, central heating, or air conditioning.
Yes, we realize that describes most of you. That’s one of the reasons why we love this stuff. The other reason for our love is its perfectly blendable texture, which makes it a favorite of makeup artists looking to create a well hydrated canvas. Our favorite way to use it? Mixed with a few drops of Dara’s Oil, then slathered over skin for a perfectly bespoke moisturizer.
Like the other items in the TWELVE collection, Ideal Moisture Level Serum is free from parabens, sulfates, silicones, petrochemicals and glycols. This product is also free of essential oils. Formulated and produced in Spain.

Twelve Beauty Ideal Moisture Level Serum

Lightweight yet deeply moisturizing oil with a beautifully silky texture / 0.5 oz

Marie Veronique created this product specifically for our founder, Dara, who has super-sensitive skin. One might assume that a fragrance free, essential oil free, tocopherol free (and also, by the way, vegan, gluten free, and nut free) creation would be like the skincare equivalent of salt-free rice crackers, but no! This oil, thanks to Marie's formulation magic, happens to be the most beautifully balanced, hydrating but non-greasy, calming, and all-around excellent moisturizer that Dara and the rest of our team, all of whom have different skin types, have ever used.
So we decided to manufacture it in partnership with Marie Veronique to ensure that we could have an endless supply and you could enjoy it, too.
This lightweight oil absorbs quickly yet provides deep, long-lasting, and satisfying hydration; thanks to its blend of light but nourishing oils, perfectly balanced omega fatty acids, and silky hyaluronic acid, Dara’s Oil leaves skin calm and glowing without an overly glossy sheen. Check out the details behind this powerhouse blend in the Ingredients tab below: you'll find all-stars like chia, prickly pear, and evening primrose alongside exotics like cherry kernel, which is one of the secrets behind its how-did-they-do-that texture. Our five testers have reported far more compliments on their skin since using this oil than before, and to us, that's an indicator of a truly great product.
Another thing to love about it? Dara's Oil is suitable for all skin types. While it can be used on the most delicate complexions, it's an excellent way to give any skin a break from potential allergens and avoid sensitizing skin. There are myriad ways to use it: check out our suggestions in "how to use" below.
And to learn more about how Dara's Oil came to be, click here. We're pretty sure you'll love it, but if you want to try a sample first, you can select it when you pick your free samples at checkout!
*Note: during the month of October 2021, we'll donate 10% of all Dara's Oil sales to the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund.

Marie Veronique For Ayla - Dara's Oil

Rejuvenating & elasticity-boosting serum with sea buckthorn, rosehip, and borage oils / 0.33 oz full size
MyHavtorn Organic Face Serum is one of those products we never knew we needed — and now that we’ve tried it, we can’t imagine it ever not existing. (Well, we could, but that would be too depressing.)
MyHavtorn’s original Face Oil is one of our mainstays, and we’d be hard pressed to identify a better oil to treat rosacea and eczema. But as founder Robin Johansson told us, “We also wanted a product to complement the Face Oil, something with a broader range of oils and more complex properties to revitalize, rejuvenate, and boost elasticity in the skin.” So their team started blending their signature sea buckthorn with some other oils we love — retinoic acid-rich rosehip, GLA-rich borage, omega-rich apricot kernel, and the unusually lightweight, free-radical-scavenging pomegranate and blueberry — and the Face Serum was born.
Robin and his partner in all things, Ingrid, originally designed it for dry, mature skin types, but we think it’s a winner for everyone. This fabulously fast-absorbing, naturally nutrient-rich oil serum can be layered under the Face Oil or Face Cream for extra nourishment and elasticity, as it was originally designed (perfect for winter), or it can be used on its own for those who prefer a lighter oil (perfect for combination skin types, as it feels deeply replenishing but doesn’t leave skin at all greasy). Due to its light texture, it can even be used around the eyes, too.
We adore that versatility, but what we really love about the Face Serum is the way it somehow gently nudges skin awake while also soothing and nurturing. It’s one of those products that prompts you to say, after the first use, “Oh, this is good.” And after a week, “Ooh, my skin looks great! How? Why?” And after two weeks, “They can never stop making this miracle. Never.” It just makes skin look and feel healthy, as though you’ve taken a quick vacation to the magical MyHavtorn farm in Bollebygd — but without the dehydrating plane travel.

Myhavtorn Face Serum

A medium-to-full coverage concealer with a super creamy, smooth formula / .2oz
Kosas Revealer Concealer is a home run — and we’re picky about our concealers. It’s almost as though someone created a list of all the things you might possibly want a concealer to do, and then Kosas set about methodically checking all of those boxes: it’s deliciously creamy, provides medium-to-full coverage, feels soothing on the skin, and doesn’t settle into fine lines. (For example. If you were to have any of those.)
But it’s an overachiever, so it does even more. Designed to improve skin while perfecting it, Revealer Concealer features caffeine to de-puff and brighten the under eyes, arnica to soothe, panthenol to calm, peptides to stimulate collagen production, and hyaluronic acid to pull moisture into skin.
Finally, it’s available in 28 shades. And for those of you who’ve been waiting for a wand concealer, it has that, too.
We honestly can’t think of anything else we might be hoping for. Concealer wish list: complete.

Kosas Revealer Concealer

Color

Concealer

Supercharged age-defying retinol serum / 1 oz full size
Marie Veronique's Gentle Retinol Night Serum was developed to provide the same effects as a prescription product (0.05 to .1% Retin-A) without the irritation and questionable preservatives. To which we replied, “Where has this formula been all our lives? We’ll take tons of it. Tons.”
As you may know, we adore retinol — which, like Retin-A, is a derivative of Vitamin A. It has decades of data to attest to its safety and powerful effects, which include smoother and more radiant skin, unplugged pores, improved elasticity and firmness, less hyperpigmentation, fewer breakouts, and even the reversal of sun damage. Basically, it’s magic.
BUT/AND more recent studies show how Vitamins A, C and E work together to support superior collagen-building and antioxidant effects. Marie Veronique’s formula combines a whopping 0.4 - 0.6% microencapsulated retinol with anhydrous (very stable) Vitamin C; Vitamin E; and a heap of sodium salicylate, a powerful anti-inflammatory, for remarkable results without irritation. And, like all of Marie’s formulas, it’s as clean as a non-toxic whistle can be.
To learn more about how Marie has managed to engineer this product to deliver such meaningful results without irritation, check out our interview with her here.
Note of clarification: Retinol is the safe Vitamin A derivative — not to be confused with retinyl palmitate, which should not be used in the presence of UV, or isotretinoin, which dermatologists prescribe for severe acne.

Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum

Cult favorite lip treatment that ends dryness once and for all / 0.34 fl oz
TWELVE Beauty Hyaluroil Lip Treatment is small but mighty: it’s one of the reasons why we first took notice of this brand. Hyaluroil's hand-blended mixture of encapsulated short-chain hyaluronic acid (proven to boost collagen production) and lightweight, regenerating oils works synergistically to ensure lips are plump, elastic, and perfectly hydrated.
Hyaluroil is also a great example of the devotion behind the TWELVE Beauty brand: its creator, a pharmacist and botanist with a PhD in Natural Formulation Technologies, encapsulates the hyaluronic acid himself so that it’s oil soluble and able to penetrate skin more efficiently for better lip-plumping results. It’s our top pick for chronic dry lips, and the mess-free, perfect-for-your-nightstand rollerball applicator is the icing on the cake.
Like the other items in the TWELVE collection, Hyaluroil Lip Treatment is free from parabens, sulfates, silicones, petrochemicals and glycols. This product is also free of essential oils. Formulated and produced in Spain.

Twelve Hyaluroil Lip Treatment

Lip Care

Hydrating oil cleanser with sea buckthorn for sensitive skin / 1.7 oz
Few things guarantee that your face will glow like this cleanser. The formula, rich in deep-cleansing castor oil, also deeply hydrates skin with a blend of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, essential fatty acid-rich oils (sesame, rapeseed, sea buckthorn, coconut) and shea butter. You'll find that you need to use far less of your moisturizer afterwards because your skin will already be so well-nourished and glowing. It's excellent at removing makeup, too.
Given its rich texture, Balanced to Dry skin types might find this cleanser most comfortable, but Robin, one of the MyHavtorn creators, has found that it's positively dreamy on oily and blemished skin as well. Works particularly well with a muslin cloth or the MyHavtorn Cleansing Pads, which come in packs of three — remove the cleanser with a moist Cleansing Pad, and if you wish, run a dry Cleansing Pad over your face after cleansing to remove any residue.

Myhavtorn Organic Facial Cleanser

Balancing, non-foaming gel wash for Balanced and Combination skin / 6 oz full size or 1 oz travel size
Luzern's Pure Cleansing Gelee is among the gentlest cleansing gels we've ever tried, yet this decongesting wash leaves skin feeling fresh, soft and thoroughly clean. We're not sure exactly what makes it so unique and wonderful; It could be due to the fact that it's a gel, but it doesn't foam. Or it could be its concise but hard-working ingredient list, which is packed with goodies like algae extract, cucumber, and aloe. Whatever the reason for its greatness might be, it's one of the best balancing products around for combination skin. It feels cooling and super-refreshing, too — we love it.

Luzern Pure Cleansing Gelee

Skin-perfecting wonder lotion for aging & breakouts / 1.7 oz
BioRecept Néobio is a lightweight, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic hydrating elixir for combination and oily skin types that is one of the BioRecept creator’s favorites, and we can see why. For the multitudes among us whose skin acts young (acne) and old (wrinkles) at the same time, and seems generally confused (sometimes oily, sometimes dry), this hydrating serum is simply tops. It hydrates and plumps skin with long-chain hyaluronic acid while addressing breakouts, discoloration, dullness, clogged pores, and early signs of aging with a unique blend of natural acids (blueberry, sugarcane, orange, lemon, and maple) in a low-pH formula that renders them particularly effective without sensitizing skin. Additional actives improve the appearance of superficial scars and soothe sensitive, reactive skin. Skin is left calm, smooth, and satiny-soft.

*BioRecept Néobio now comes with a dropper top.

Biorecept Néobio

Ultra-gentle detoxifying mask for sensitive, stressed skin, 1.7 oz
TWELVE Beauty’s London Mask is an excellent illustration of just how different this product lineup is. Sure, masks that combine detoxifying, purifying clay with hydrating ingredients are hard to come by, but they’re out there. (We carry a few of them and love them.) But what you’ll notice with this one is that it is arrestingly smooth. No grittiness whatsoever. Which, as formulator Pedro Catalá explained to us, is important: for stressed, sensitive, reactive skin, he believes that grit is not a good thing. Makes sense, right?
Here’s what explains the higher price tag: to get that beautifully smooth, creamy texture, Pedro hand-blends the formula himself over the course of three days to make sure it’s mixed just enough so that it holds together, but not so much that it hardens and becomes gritty. This also ensures that its beneficial ingredients don’t get trapped inside the emulsion and, instead, remain on its surface, where they can come into direct contact with the skin. It’s such a time-consuming process that he can only make 50 jars per month. With TWELVE, the ingredients may be (for the most part) ones you’ve seen elsewhere, but devil’s in the details.
Pedro developed this mask after spending many years as the pharmacist at a famed oncology clinic in London, where he saw a clear need for a detoxifying treatment that would address the effects of air pollution while at the same time soothing and softening stressed skin. Thanks to its masterful blend of kaolin, olive-derived squalene, rice, comfrey, mallow, cucumber, and vitamin B5, it does that beautifully, even on the most sensitive, post-surgical skin.
Like the other items in the TWELVE collection, The London Mask is free from parabens, sulfates, silicones, petrochemicals and glycols. Formulated and produced in Spain.

Twelve Beauty The London Mask

Facial Masks

Gentle scalp-stimulating brush for long and thick hair / 8.66” long, 2.56” wide, with 0.96” pins
TEK’s paddle brush is the one that started our love affair with this brand. What’s so special about it? The first thing you’ll notice is that it provides your scalp with a gentle massage that feels downright spectacular. The long pins, made of 100% FSC-certified hornbeam wood, are long enough to reach the scalp even if your hair is thick — and they’re set in a cushy, pure black rubber base specifically designed to prevent excess pulling on the hair. (This is important, especially if hair loss is a concern of yours.)
Over time, since regular brushing distributes sebum along the hair shaft, your hair will look shinier and healthier — and trust us, this brush feels so good that you’ll be using it regularly. Since it stimulates circulation in the scalp, too, you’ll ensure that the nutrients and oxygen necessary for healthy hair growth are delivered to the hair follicle. We’re not saying miracles will occur and hair will start sprouting willy-nilly from your scalp within 24 hours, but you’ll be doing something that’s good for your hair and scalp health, and that’s always a plus.
To add to all of that, this paddle brush has been handmade in Italy with sustainable materials, including 100% FSC-certified natural ash wood treated only with linseed oil and beeswax. TEK does recommend that you use your brush regularly and replace it after two years for optimal performance — which you can do with less guilt given its eco-friendly materials.
This particular TEK brush is ideal for long and thick hair. Keep it on your nightstand and brush with it at bedtime; there’s something about this practice that feels deliciously old-fashioned in a decidedly chic way.

Tek Paddle Brush With Long Wooden Pins

Hair Tools

Foaming, deep-cleansing gel / 8 oz full size & 2 oz travel size
Ahh, we love this cleanser. And if you like a deep-cleaning, exuberantly refreshing face-washing experience, you will, too.
It’s exactly what one might think of as the perfect post-workout cleanser: a foaming gel that exfoliates, deep cleans, unplugs pores, and washes away dirt and residue without stripping your skin. It leaves you feeling wonderfully clean and fresh. And we love its unisex blend of essential oils that include spearmint, lemon, rosemary, cedar, verbena, and owyhee (we had to look that one up, too — it’s similar to Roman Chamomile). Like many of Ursa Major's products, there's something of a Vermont-cabin-getaway aspect to it.
Ideal for Balanced to Oily skin types. And perfect for couples that include at least one male: it’s suitable for both men and women, and the 8 oz bottle is gloriously large enough so that you won’t have to fight over it or stash it in the back of the medicine cabinet.

Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash

Extraordinarily rich and soothing body cream / 6.8 oz
TWELVE Beauty Rewarding Body Balm was the first product created by founder Pedro Catalá. A botanist, pharmacist, and expert in natural formulation, Pedro was the in-house pharmacist at a prestigious oncology clinic in London. When he noticed that many of the clinic’s patients had skin that was extremely dry and vulnerable after radiation treatments, he carefully blended a batch of this balm — which might be the richest, thickest cream we have ever come across.
The balm’s ingredients are relatively simple (no kelp harvested by moonlight here), but their quality and the way in which they’re blended together is what makes the magic. It features a blend of weightless hydrators (glycerin and hyaluronic acid), fast-absorbing oils (argan, jojoba, sunflower, and squalane), and rich butters (cupuaçú, shea, and spent grain wax) that deeply nourish while supporting skin’s natural protective barrier.
Pedro says of Rewarding Body Balm, “The product name was suggested by patients of the clinic in London where I worked because, according to them, it comforted them and the body balm was seen as a reward to the skin. Currently the product is still in use in other prestigious clinics in central London, not only as a soothing and refreshing emollient, but also as a complement to other treatments in the hands, arms and legs.” This luxuriously nourishing balm is the real deal.
Like the other items in the TWELVE collection, Rewarding Body Balm is free from parabens, sulfates, silicones, petrochemicals and glycols. Formulated and produced in Spain.

Twelve Beauty Rewarding Body Balm

Gentle gel AHA serum for smoother, brighter skin / 1 oz
The Organic Pharmacy Four Acid Peel perfectly and efficiently filled a very specific void on our shelves: we needed a straightforward, effective, yet gentle gel serum that uses alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to exfoliate and brighten skin.
Yes, this is very specific, but the reason for this specificity is simple. The right AHAs, in a thoughtful formula, can be a great choice to brighten and smooth even sensitive skin because they’ll gently dissolve dead skin cells rather than scrubbing them away or triggering more profound changes. This reveals smoother, brighter skin, quite quickly: an AHA serum, used overnight, will leave you looking fresh-faced the very next morning.
And here’s why we like this particular formula: it combines four different AHAs — glycolic, lactic, malic, and tartaric — at a level of 5% overall for a gentler treatment without compromising on the brightening, smoothing effect, and glycerin and algin keep skin calm and comfortable while the acids go to work.
Anyone can use The Organic Pharmacy’s Four Acid Peel, whether you’re dry or oily. But it’s a special favorite of ours for those in their 20s and 30s looking for a simple, efficacious night treatment, or those of any age looking for a weekly or biweekly treatment to exfoliate and brighten.
PS If you have bumps elsewhere on your body (back of the arms, anyone?), this is often our top pick for those.

The Organic Pharmacy Four Acid Peel

Facial Peel

Gentle, anti-aging sunscreen lotion that leaves no whiteness behind / 2 oz
Luzern's La Defense SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen is probably our favorite sunscreen. (There, we did it: We picked our favorite child.) It always has been a favorite of yours, too, through all of the brilliant tweaks Luzern has made to the formula over the years.
And we like it even more now that it's been upgraded with bisabolol for extra redness-reducing, soothing effects; polyphenols from jojoba and sunflower for added protection against environmental stressors; and a touch of EFA-rich oils (macadamia and argan) for lightweight hydration that also allows for smoother layering on top of other skincare products. Titanium dioxide was added to the formula as well to help with layering and spreadability; it boosts its sun-protective power, too. Plus, it's now packaged in a recyclable, plant-based plastic tube that's made from sugarcane.
This lightweight lotion feels so good that you'll look forward to wearing it every day, smells so good that you might be tempted to eat it, and provides major anti-aging benefits, too: its incredibly strong UVA/UVB protection comes in the form of zinc oxide, and it's also packed with a host of goodies to fight aging and dark spots.
This super-powered formula contains stabilized Vitamin C and three different forms of Vitamin E for antioxidant protection; organic green tea and ginger polyphenols to boost collagen and elastin; organic licorice to prevent pigmentation and brighten skin tone; organic edelweiss, buddleja davidii, and thymus vulgaris to fight free radicals; and a power trio of hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, and panthenol to keep skin hydrated and supple. It even contains lutein to help further protect against the blue light emitted from computer and phone screens.
And it's great for all skin types and conditions, including acne, rosacea, and eczema. Even — especially — our uber-sensitive-skinned testers found it soothing and, quite simply, stellar. Try it, and you'll see why we wanted to be the first retailer to snap it up. It's perfect.

Luzern La Defense Spf 30 Mineral Sunscreen

Sun Care

Incredibly soothing facial oil for sensitive skin / .33 oz regular size, 1 oz deluxe or .1 oz mini size
MyHavtorn Organic Facial Oil features a high concentration (50%) of sea buckthorn oil, freshly pressed for us from hand-picked sea buckthorn berries grown on an organic family farm on the coast of Sweden. Sea buckthorn is an extraordinarily vitamin-rich oil featuring high levels of vitamins A, C, and E; other powerful antioxidants; and a full suite of essential fatty acids — Omegas 3, 6, 7, and 9 — to nourish skin. But unlike many other sea buckthorn oils on the market, MyHavtorn's is blended with the finest argan and avocado oils for the perfect consistency and more balanced hydration benefits, making it the best sea buckthorn product we've found for regular use as a facial oil. It's one of our favorite skincare products for rosacea-prone skin, and one of our favorite skincare products in general: this brand holds a special place in our hearts.
MyHavtorn's Facial Oil makes a great nighttime moisturizer on its own (you'll wake up to amazingly smooth skin) or can be used as a vitamin boost underneath any facial cream or lotion. Suitable for everyone, but particularly marvelous on the rosacea- and eczema-prone. Available in the original 10 ml size as well as a 30 ml deluxe size for true devotees.

Myhavtorn Organic Facial Oil

Color-safe, moisturizing conditioner for sophisticated-smelling strands
(For those of you who are wondering, Reverie NUDE Conditioner is now simply Conditioner. Same great stuff, just no name. Reminiscent of Prince.)
Reverie Conditioner, the perfect companion to Reverie Shampoo, is a smoothing cream rinse that does just what it should: condition, hydrate, and smooth hair so that it’s shiny and soft.
Created by hairstylist Garrett Markenson, who believes nothing should be added to a formula unless it serves a definite purpose, Reverie Conditioner brilliantly hydrates hair thoroughly without weighing it down. It simply looks and feels healthy, shiny, and soft — which is how it should be.
Perhaps because it was formulated by a skincare chemist, there's something about this product that just feels lovely when you squeeze it into your hand and apply it to your hair. And, like its partner shampoo, Reverie Conditioner’s scent is a sophisticated, layered blend of neroli, pink grapefruit, lemon myrtle, bergamot, geranium, jasmine, bourbon vanilla, sandalwood, balsam, cardamom, and patchouli. You'll never go back to drugstore conditioners again.
We love doing a wash & go with the Reverie Shampoo and Conditioner duo, followed by MILK to tame frizz or RAKE to give hair a little definition.

Reverie Conditioner

A wearable, flattering coral
There’s been a lot of buzz around Kosas (example: massive New York Times Magazine feature), and rightly so. These are among the most weightless, modern, beautifully wearable lipsticks around.
We love the fact that these handmade lipsticks were formulated to be as clean as possible, but with performance as the primary goal. So they’re long-wearing, hydrating, whisper-light, non-waxy, and still good up to 18 months after you first use them despite their green-beauty-approved, preservative-free ingredient lists. (Which we appreciate; we know how long lipsticks can kick around in cosmetic cases and dresser drawers.) Kosas colors are buildable, from sheer stains to full coverage, and have a non-drying, non-glossy finish. And their addictive vanilla-orange scent is reminiscent of the top of a Cabbage Patch Kid's head. Remember that smell? We happen to love it and think you will, too.
THRILLEST is a beautiful, warm red with a hint of orange — and it’s surprisingly flattering on those who may not have felt as though they could pull off a coral. As our go-to local makeup artist, Melissa McMillan, puts it, “This brand does an amazing job of putting a rich, neutral base as the first layer of color in all of their lipsticks, so even colors like coral — which seem to work for so few people — are accessible for everyone. Just throw on some mascara and Thrillest and you look glamorous and pulled together.”
This bright, warm shade can also be considered a red that's good for beginners. If you haven't ventured into the world of bold lip color yet, there's no better lipstick to start with. Pair Thrillest with Color & Light: Creme in Velvet Melon or Color & Light: Pressed in Papaya 1972 for subtle, peachy harmony.
PS Not sure what shades are right for you? Call or email us!

Kosas Lipstick - Thrillest

Raw, potent Manuka honey with medicinal attributes / 8.8 oz
Activist Raw Manuka Honey 850+ MGO is in a class of its own. We hadn’t spent too much time thinking about honey before spring 2019, to be candid. Then this particular honey came to us, and everything changed.
Manuka honey comes only from New Zealand, where bees pollinate the native Manuka bush during a very brief seasonal window in the spring and summer. People don’t just go wild over it because of its rarity, though. Manuka happens to boast a significantly higher level of beneficial enzymes than regular honey, which lend it anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects that can address acne and other inflammatory skin conditions and, taken internally, alleviate digestive discomfort and support the immune system.
Activist’s Manuka is unusually potent, as indicated by the MGO scale (which measures the concentration of Manuka’s naturally occurring antibacterial compound, methylglyoxal). The 850+ is what you'd parsimoniously dole out by the teaspoonful to yourself and loved ones to stave off a cold. It’s also what you’d apply – a little less parsimoniously — to your face as a soothing, healing, acne-fighting mask.
For specific details on the 850+ Manuka mask ritual, including Activist founder Gabrielle Mirkin's suggestions, check the Activist spotlight on our blog. Basically, you leave it on for 20 minutes, rinse, and then you’ll likely notice skin that’s softer and calmer than it’s been in recent memory. It might be our newest favorite mask for breakout-prone, generally fussy skin that needs a little TLC, because we're so taken by the fact that it's one sole ingredient working all of this magic, which is pretty mind-blowing. 850+ also makes a fabulous, luxurious, acne-fighting cleanser, per this editor on MindBodyGreen.
PS Want a Manuka you can much less parsimoniously slather on your toast or add to your superfood smoothie? The 300+ is what you’d use if you find the taste of Activist’s honey so incredibly delicious but can’t justify slathering the 850+ honey on your rice cake. (Or maybe you can — in which case, go for it.)