Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser

I was first introduced to a few Suki products through Birchbox, but it was their Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser which finally hooked me.  I received a deluxe sample size in my spring New Beauty Testtube, and I'm loving it!

First off, I'm a big fan of exfoliating products.  My oily, clogged, blemish prone skin does so much better when I exfoliate it regularly.  Fortunately, Suki even has this nifty graphic which shows the benefits of exfoliating.  Suki describes this cleanser as

"100% synthetic-free, alpha hydroxy complexion rejuvenator brightens & evens tone, smoothes wrinkles & lines, eliminates blemishes & impurities from pores while jump starting collagen production."

The cleanser is composed of essential oils, sugar crystals, powdered rice, and naturally based foaming agents.  Lemongrass is one of the essential oils in the mix and is the dominant fragrance.  I personally love the smell and find that it adds to the whole experience of using the scrub.

After scooping out about a quarter's size worth, I massage it gently on my face with just a smidgen of water.  Too much water will dissolve the sugar crystals more quickly, and I prefer them to last a bit.  The mixture becomes creamy and if I have time, I let it set on my face for a while.  It rinses off nicely with water and does not leave a greasy residue.  My skin feels soft, hydrated, and smooth.

The scrub can be used once a day or a few times a week, depending on skin sensitivity.  I've been using it a few times a week, mainly just to conserve what I have.  I'm envisioning using up my Birchbox points to purchase a full size, which is $32.95.  See, those subscription sampling services do their job :-)

Ingredients:  sucrose (sugar), potassium cocoate (saponified coconut oil), oryza sativa (rice) powder, cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass) oil, calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower extract, squalane & chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower/leaf extract, citrus aurantifolia dulcis (orange) peel extract, ascophyllum nodosum (seaweed) extract, *aroma/fragrance, limonene, citral
*component of 100% pure essential oils

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

July Birchbox: Five Senses

Birchbox teamed up with Glamour this month to feature products that appeal to the five senses.  Cool, huh? 

First up is Alterna Bamboo Fluide, a leave-in serum that protects hair with a UVA/UVB barrier to fade-proof color while keeping hair vibrant and shiny.  I've gotten better about protecting my skin from the sun, my hair might as well be next.  Wonder if this will give my beloved Orofluido a run for it's money?

Another Korean BB cream for me to try!  Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm is supposed to minimize the need for a foundation or concealer while also serving as a moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum.  It's made with 50% water, and I can say that when I used it this morning, I was impressed with how smooth it was and easy to apply.  I was less impressed with it's coverage, but now that I know it's not claiming to replace foundation, I feel a bit better.  I'm thinking this is something I will use more as a primer, but we shall see.

This is the first time I've heard of suki, but it sounds right up my alley.  I'm always looking for natural or organic skincare products that deliver, so I'll be interested in trying the 5 sample packets from the nourishing line that I received.  They may not be the right fit for my oily skin, but I'm game.

I also got one of the stila click pen lip glosses, and while I get a bit irritated with click pens, I'm not going to complain about receiving a stila product.  These come in a 3 pack of tropical inspired colors, and I received Hisbiscus. 

The lifestyle extras this month were some earbuds and a Larabar Uber bar.  I ate the bar for breakfast this morning and quite enjoyed it.  I'm listening to some of the Glamour playlists as I type this up, and Eddie Murphy is singing "Party All the Time".  Cheesy goodness.  Or badness.  I had another wave of memories with Prince's "Pop Life", love that song.

Thank you, Birchbox and Glamour.  Good month!

Disclosure:  I subscribe to Birchbox, which is a $10/month beauty sample subscription box.   If you are interested in subscribing yourself, this is a referral link which gives me 50 Birchbox points after you subscribe and are a member for one month (Birchbox points can be used towards future purchases).  Or you can go to Birchbox and subscribe directly from their site.