For many of us in the northern hemisphere July and August are the hottest months of the year, and it sure gets toasty over here! To help get through this smoldering season I chose to try Reviva Labs Rosewater Facial Spray and Hawaiian Seaweed Beauty Mask. Even the names sound summery and refreshing, don’t they?
I bet many of you never heard of Reviva Labs, because they’re one of those “under the radar”, almost hipster companies that have been making affordable, effective and innovative products for decades. In fact, they’re known as the U.N of skin-care discoveries, and were one of the first cruelty-free brands – they’ve been doing it since 1973, way before it became a huge deal worldwide.
Rosewater Facial Spray [$9] is a real multi-tasker. It can be used to set makeup, as a toner, refreshing and moisturizing face, body & hair spray, and even as a natural deodorant after a workout. It contains tried-and-true ingredients like aloe vera juice, rosewater, cucumber and arnica extracts, and vitamins E and B.
My favorite use for it is spraying liberally over my face and hair throughout the day to replenish moisture and tame the frizz, while also making them smell like roses. I noticed that my face always feels tight and patchy if I spend the whole day in an air conditioned room, even though it’s normally oily in the T-zone, so I try to mist it every hour. I know sometimes rose products can smell a bit too mature, but it’s pretty neutral in this mist. The rose fragrance is not too weak nor too strong, I would say it’s just right; it’s a single-note rose scent, like you’re smelling an actual flower.
Hawaiian Seaweed Beauty Mask [$12] sounds like an exotic vacation in a jar, and it really is. With extracts like hawaiian seaweed, wheat germ oil, and oil-absorbing kaolin and bentonite clay, it’s an oil-control powerhouse blend that makes my skin look fresh, matte, and free of impurities.
I use this mask once a week on Detox Sunday [that’s my unofficial treatment/detox/diet day], and so far I have not gotten any new blackheads, so it must be helping. Using clay masks more often than that is not recommended because it can cause the skin to go haywire and start producing crazy amounts of oil.
Do you need this? I do recommend trying the Rosewater Facial Spray, because it’s one of those universal products that anyone can use, regardless of skin type [unless you absolutely hate the smell of roses, of course]. Hawaiian Seaweed Beauty Mask is a bit trickier, because it’s a clay mask that can be too drying for certain complexions, like dry and sensitive skin. I thought it was a great weekly treatment for my combination skin though.
PRICE & AVAILABILITY
Rosewater Facial Spray – $9 USD for 8 oz. Available at Reviva Labs, Walgreens, Drugstore.com.
Hawaiian Seaweed Beauty Mask – $12 USD for 1.5 oz. Available at Reviva Labs, Beauty Encounter.
I have been using that mask, too. I haven’t experienced any adverse side effects but I haven’t really noticed anything from it either. It has been one of those products I’m very undecided about.
How interesting! What skin type do you have? I’m wondering if it works for some complexions better than others, because my skin feels fresher and more matte after using the mask. I guess, kaolin clay products always seemed pretty effective for me, and this mask was gentle and not too drying.