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Before I became a mom to OLM, I spent many years in the spa industry slathering creams, potions and lotions on other people’s faces and bodies. Of course I did that for myself too, having to keep up appearances. But these days I’m lucky if I even remember to wash my face at all. (Ack, that looks so terrible to see that written down, I’ll have to do something asap.) With a lack of time on my hands these days, I am always on the hunt for skin care products that simplify my skin care routine to the point where I don’t even have to think about it. Because really, I’ve got better things to do, like draw and paint and run and play.

When I was introduced to Golden Naturals Skin Care I was excited to try it because it seemed simple to use, made promises of making changes to my skin, is all natural and made right here in the lower mainland (Langley BC). I was sent a package containing 3 products meant for oily skin and was asked to do a 14 day trial using only Golden Naturals. I have to admit I was skeptical. I had the consult over a conference call (no hands on here) and even though my skin is oily, it is also sensitive and dehydrated, and fussy. But I decided to give it a go.

First up:

Pristine Oil-Free Gel Cleanser

At first, I had trouble with this cleanser. Although I loved the gel base and fresh scent it appeared as though I was getting more bumps and breakouts than ever before! I almost ditched the whole thing but after talking to Marinella Nicolosi, founder and skin care specialist, I was reassured.

The problem was this: This product contains an extract from Willow Bark (BHA), or Salicylic Acid that does a great job of exfoliating the skin, leaving it clean and ready for the toning step.

But!

It is not able to remove makeup or sunscreen. And so my skin wasn’t getting clean and that’s where the bumps and breakouts came in.

How to use:

Remove your makeup with your favourite cleanser first and pat the skin dry. Apply Pristine Oil-Free Gel Cleanser in circular movements, working it into those areas that are congested or rough. Leave on the skin for 1 minute. Rinse. Your skin will feel smooth and soft immediately, I promise!

The next step:

Pristine Cucumber Toner

How to use:

Using the Pristine Cucumber Toner was simple enough, simply spritz on damp skin on the face and neck after cleansing. The Pristine Cucumber Toner is meant to help rehydrate and re-establish the pH of the skin, is anti-inflammatory and relaxes stressed out skin. And it feels lovely.

Have you ever wondered what toner is for and why it’s a necessary step?

The answer isn’t a simple one, although you might believe that all toners all created equally. This is simply not the case. Some are meant to remove excess oil (remember the days of applying Sea Breeze Toner with a cotton pad until it stung? OUCH!) I don’t recommend this. Other toners help to lighten dark spots, some are specific to acne and some restore the pH. In a nutshell, please ask your skin care specialist to recommend the appropriate toner for your skin condition.

The final step:

The Pristine Oil Control Face Cream

This product isn’t really a cream at all, at least not in the traditional sense as the Pristine Oil Control Face Cream is as light as they come. It helps prevent excessive oil build-up while promoting collagen production and fighting free radicals while improving skin elasticity.

How to use:

Dispense a very small amount, (the size of a pea) onto your fingertip and apply evenly to damp skin. It’s best if you use this product during the day as that’s when your skin needs the most protection. At night, just cleanse and tone and you’re done! This gives your skin a chance to rest too. By the way, please make sure to incorporate an SPF15 or 30 into your skin care routine every day.

My Review

I like this line very much. My skin gets oily and builds up a lot of dead skin very quickly and so it really helped manage this for me. (Maybe that’s why it looks so young!) And it was dead easy to use.

I like that the Oil Free Cleanser gives me a gentle yet thorough exfoliation every day and I don’t have to resort to using a washcloth or a scrub once in a while. Using a washcloth or scrub to manually exfoliate the skin can do more damage than good so I don’t recommend that you do this. The exfoliating properties in the Oil Free Cleanser are very gentle, respect the pH balance of the skin and don’t leave it irritated. You might find your skin a bit pink after using the product after about a week but this in not cause for concern as long as the skin isn’t peeling or feeling tight, which it shouldn’t. Your skin will adapt and reward you for treating it so well by looking and feeling happy!

I like the Cucumber Toner a lot. It’s refreshing and gently, and does a great job of hydrating my skin. I like that I don’t have to put anything on afterwards at night. What a time saver!

The Oil Control Face Cream is nice however I like a little more nourishment during the day which I get from the BB Cream I use ( I like the BB Cream much better than now than when I did the review!) for SPF and a bit of colour. If I’m staying indoors then it feels just fine. I find it’s important to apply this product when the skin is slightly damp to allow easier spreadability.

Overall I recommend this line to you and would be happy to answer any questions you might have about it!

About the Packaging

The Pristine Line packaging makes it easier to control the amount of product you use. And because the Oil Control Face Cream and the Oil-Free Gel Cleaner come in air tight packaging the natural and highly active ingredients have a much longer shelf life. This means that your product will not only last longer but it will stay pure to the end. If only life were that simple.

If you’d like to know more, please follow Golden Naturals on Twitter, Facebook and visit the Golden Naturals website.

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