Elemis Superfood Skincare Range (overview)
Although I only recently started mentioning Elemis on this blog, I feel like their products have been in my routine forever! But now that I think of it, I’ve only really been using them for a few months. I had the opportunity to try a wide variety of Elemis skincare and body care, and have since discovered a few favorites, including the cleansing balm featured in a blog post about my current beauty routine.
Today I wanted to share my general thoughts on a brand new Superfood skincare range that hit she shelves only a few weeks ago. The formulations are aimed at ‘feeding’ the skin essential nutrients, and include Omega fatty acids, pre-biotics, and lots of antioxidant-rich botanical extracts, oils, and butters.
Right now Elemis Superfood line includes four products:
- Superfood Facial Wash ($25)
- Superfood Facial Oil ($55)
- Superfood Day Cream ($45)
- Superfood Night Cream ($55)
My pH testing strips say that the cleanser is between 5.5 and 6.0 when mixed with my tap water. Not bad!
Superfood Facial Wash ($25) – The formula is enriched with broccoli seed, avocado and pumpkin seed oils to soften the skin during the cleansing; sugar-derived prebiotic to feed the microbiome; and wheatgrass, kale, nettle and minerals to rejuvenate and refresh.
Elemis is usually pretty good about making pH-balanced cleansers, and this one is no exception. When mixed with my tap water, the testing strips register between pH5.5 and 6.0, which is on the far end for my personal preference, but still gentle enough for any skin type. The skin is naturally slightly acidic, so a cleanser that is also a little acidic will not disturb the delicate microbiome, leaving your face clean, soft, and nourished. I enjoy using this cleanser in the morning, or as a second step after the cleansing balm or an oil in the evening. On its own it’s not enough to completely remove makeup, so I always pair it with something else.
To be fair, I think that fancy ingredients in cleansers are unnecessary. After all, they don’t stay on the skin very long, and the benefits of all of those wonderful botanicals are being literally flushed down the drain. Still, including nice ingredients in body washes, scrubs, soaps, and facial cleansers is very common nowadays, so it’s not like this one is somehow different. However, as I mentioned above, I really appreciate that Elemis cleansers are gentle and pH-balanced [and those are my only criteria for a good cleanser], so they never leave my skin feeling tight and stripped of all moisture.
You will LOVE it if:
- You like the hygienic squeeze packaging.
- You love to support cruelty-free brands.
- You are all about that low pH life.
- You avoid parabens in skincare.
- You avoid sulfate-based cleansers.
- You love products loaded with botanical extracts.
You will HATE it if:
- You prefer fragrance-free skincare.
- You are on a budget. $25 is a lot to pay for a face wash.
- You prefer 100% natural products.
- You work with motor oil, mud, oil paint etc and need an alkaline soap to wash off the grime.
- You like no-frills cleansers without added botanicals.
- You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Lauryl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Galactoarabinan, Disodium EDTA, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caramel, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Juice, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Acephala (Kale) Leaf Extract, Triticum Aestivum (Wheatgrass) Leaf Extract, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Tocopherol, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbic Acid.
Superfood Facial Oil ($55) – This lightweight concentrated oil combines over a dozen different potent oils and botanical extracts to intensely nourish the skin, help with water retention, and provide a boost of powerful antioxidants to aid in defending against environmental stressors and free radical damage. The texture is heavenly – it’s luxuriously rich upon application, and absorbs within minutes without leaving a sticky layer on top. The composition of this oil makes it suitable for all skin types, even oily, since it contains a balance of Oleic and Linoleic-rich botanicals, which means that it won’t clog the pores if used as directed [2-3 drops max]. To learn more about different beauty oils and how to pick the best one for your skin type, check out this blog post [it got pinned so many times on Pinterest!].
The oil comes in a small glass bottle with a glass dropper. I normally use 3 drops for my whole face in the evening, but sometimes I mix it into my moisturizer in the morning, too, especially when my skin is feeling particularly dry. The fragrance is definitely present, but it’s very faint, and makes the oil smell like broccoli. I don’t think it was necessary, but at least it’s not strong or offensive.
You will LOVE it if:
- You like using natural oils in your beauty routine.
- You love to support cruelty-free brands.
- You avoid parabens in skincare.
- You like to use a lot of antioxidants in your routine.
- You live in the city, or somewhere with highly polluted air.
- You love natural beauty products.
You will HATE it if:
- You prefer fragrance-free skincare.
- You are on a budget.
- You like oil-free products.
- You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Flax) Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Papaver Somniferum (Poppy) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Squalane, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange) Peel Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract.
Swatches top to bottom: Elemis Superfood Facial Wash, Superfood Facial Oil, Superfood Night Cream, Superfood Day Cream.
Superfood Day Cream ($45) – In short, this moisturizer was designed to protect and moisturize the skin, and supply the microbiome with necessary prebiotic nutrients. And in long, this is an antioxidant-rich moisturizer loaded with botanical extracts and nourishing natural oils, just like the rest of the Superfood range. Those ingredients are known for their ability to combat free radicals, nourish dry spots, help with water retention for plumper, more hydrated appearance, and feeding the good bacteria that make up the protective skin barrier.
The cream has a delectable milky-lotiony texture that spreads on the skin like a dream and absorbs quickly, leaving my face feeling moisturized without excess shine. It has a light scent to it, something grassy and green with a fresh, zingy twist.
This is not one of those products that would produce dramatic before and after results, it’s more of a supplementary moisturizer for general skin health. For instance, if you have a serum with powerful actives, an equally powerful moisturizer is unnecessary. However, the skin could always use more antioxidants. It’s one of those cases where more is more. The formula does include some AHAs, but the concentration is not high enough for serious brightening or anti-aging benefits [you won’t even feel the tingle]. You will notice a nice healthy glow though!
Keep in mind, this moisturizer does not contain SPF and you will need to use one on top to complete your skincare routine. I strongly advocate for daily SPF use, even in the winter and on cloudy days. Clouds and shade may be able to protect you from burning, but UVA rays that cause most of the skin aging [easy to remember – UVBurn and UVAging] can easily penetrate through clouds and glass windows, unless they are treated with UVA filters [most aren’t]. I recommend SPF30 for everyday wear, and SPF50+ for sunny days. The sun is not all bad, of course, but you only need about 20 minutes of unprotected exposure to meet your daily quota of Vitamin D. Any longer than that, and your pretty skin is aging for nothing.
You will LOVE it if:
- You prefer products in the hygienic airless pump packaging.
- You love to support cruelty-free brands.
- You don’t use serious anti-aging products yet.
- You like lightweight formulations.
- You avoid parabens in skincare.
- You like to use a lot of antioxidants in your routine.
- You live in the city, or somewhere with highly polluted air.
- You love beauty products with lots of natural ingredients.
You will HATE it if:
- You prefer fragrance-free skincare.
- You prefer moisturizers with SPF.
- You prefer moisturizers with high concentration of anti-aging active ingredients.
- You are on a budget.
- You only use oil-free skincare.
- You prefer 100% natural products.
- You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Green Mandarin) Fruit Extract, Raphanus Sativus (Daikon Radish) Seed Extract, Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Lycium Chinense (Goji Berry) Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Lactobionic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Panthenol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Camellia Sinensis (Matcha Tea) Leaf Powder, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Geraniol, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Lactobacillus, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Caramel, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lecithin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid.
Superfood Night Cream ($55) – In a nutshell, this is a hydrating moisturizer that aids in skin repair overnight. The formula contains Hyaluronic Acid and botanical oils that work as a protective barrier to nourish the skin and help the rest of your skincare penetrate more effectively. The cream is scented with a calming blend of lavender, ylang-ylang and vetivert that provide aromatherapy benefits and create a soothing vibe. To my nose, this moisturizer has the strongest fragrance among the Superfood products, but in this case I don’t mind, because it just smells so relaxing to me. However, I know I have some scent-sensitive readers here, and I don’t think this product will work for you guys, because the scent is not only fairly strong, it also tends to linger for a while.
The texture is richer than the day cream, but still lightweight enough, so it doesn’t feel overly oily or greasy. I have combination skin, and this moisturizer sinks right in. I also didn’t experience any excess oil production, as it can sometimes happen when you use products that are too heavy for your skin type. I don’t really have much more to say about this night cream other than this formula worked just fine as a topper for my overnight serums, and that’s pretty much all I wanted from it.
You will LOVE it if:
- You prefer products in the hygienic airless pump packaging.
- You love to support cruelty-free brands.
- You don’t use serious anti-aging products yet.
- You are looking for a lightweight overnight occlusive.
- You avoid parabens in skincare.
- You like to use a lot of antioxidants in your routine.
- You live in the city, or somewhere with highly polluted air.
- You love beauty products with lots of natural ingredients.
You will HATE it if:
- You prefer fragrance-free skincare.
- You prefer moisturizers with high concentration of anti-aging active ingredients.
- You are on a budget.
- You only use oil-free skincare.
- You prefer 100% natural products.
- You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Coco-Caprylate, Linum Usitatissimum (Flax) Seed Oil, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Nigella Sativa (Black Seed) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Betaine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 60, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Barley Protein, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance (Parfum), Caramel, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Limonene, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Maltodextrin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dehydroacetic Acid.
BOTTOM LINE:
Overall, I found the new Elemis Superfood line quite lovely, but I wouldn’t use all of the products in a single routine. All four are jam-packed with antioxidants, which is awesome, but I prefer a good balance of various actives to deliver a wide range of beauty benefits. Right now the product I use most often is the oil, to give my other skincare an antioxidant boost and make the routine a little more nourishing. I also use the day cream at least 2-3 times a week, because one of my new serums is quite potent and I just need a nice supplementary moisturizer to seal in the goodness without interfering with the formula. I don’t use the cleanser at all right now, since I have several others that need to be finished first. The night cream will probably go into regular rotation once the weather is a little warmer, so I can switch from heavier products to more lightweight formulations.
Have you tried Elemis skincare? Do you use any antioxidant-rich products in your routine right now? Let me know in the comments below!
