I don’t quite know how to express this in words because when I try to write it down it just comes across as slightly strange but here goes……I am obsessed with everything small. Petite. Little. Mini. I just find tiny things so unbearably cute. When someone serves me some food and it’s a beautifully formed bite sized tasty treat then I am sold as soon as I see it and when I stumble across absolutely anything beautifully packaged in a tiny little box I hardly even care what’s inside! I don’t know where this desire comes from but I am certain that if I told many businesses this fact they would be throwing miniscule products at me all day every day and I would probably be penniless before long. I just seem to be programmed to want everything that comes in little portions. It was this exact infliction that lead me to finding the brand Grown Alchemist as their products all come in the cutest packaging I have seen in some time. They hark back to a retro apothecary style with their brown bottles and artist studios with their tubes that are reminiscent of a painters tools. This aesthetic works particularly well with their kits that combine different products from their range together and marry these selections to a specific purpose. The kits are a great way to introduce yourself to their brand as you can try lots of their range without spending too much and see which particular products you like the most before investing in the full size version. I have to also say that they are wonderful for travelling too as you can just pop these little specimens into your makeup bags and not have to decant everything out. From what I have experienced so far of their range the smell is just the loveliest light scent and is totally adorable, just like the packaging and design!
Cleanser Geranium Leaf, Bergamot & Rose Bud – This cleansed perfectly without stripping the skin’s oils or leaving it feeling dry and tight. I used it mostly in the morning as it’s delightfully refreshing. I have to confess that I did try to remove my makeup with it but it didn’t do a very good job on the mascara so personally I would just opt for an oil like Jojoba instead. They claim this cleanser visibly reduces pore size as well as the appearance of age spots (liver spots) but sadly I didn’t notice any changes with the appearance of my skin with regards to pore size (and thankfully I don’t have age/liver spots yet). It does a good job of leaving the skin feeling fresh and clean but don’t expect much more than that.
Balancing Toner Rose Otto, Ginseng & Chamomile – I really liked this toner as it smells nice and contains a beautiful mix of hydrating and soothing ingredients like Aloe Vera, Ginseng and Cucumber. It left my skin beautifully soft with a subtle glow.
Antioxidant Facial Oil Rosehip & Camellia Seed – This oil quickly became adopted as part of my daily morning routine and due to that fact alone I barely need to mention any more about how much I loved it! If anything gets promoted into this position then it speaks for itself how great I think the product is. It’s a lovely simple serum that contains a few highly nourishing ingredients (Camellia, Rosehip Oil..) which are full of antioxidants and omegas. They work together fantastically to make the skin much softer and more supple. The serum last me ages as 2 drops are easily enough to cover my entire face. Try not to be heavy handed though otherwise if you apply too much it can be slightly greasy. It is also possible to use it as a regular moisturiser and therefore negate the need for a cream. If I were a normal/sensible/rational person I would definitely rebuy this oil but because I write this blog there is a backlog of serums in my drawers waiting to be reviewed. If none of them manage to better it in the upcoming months though then this will be on my shopping list soon!
Hydra-Repair Day Cream Camellia & Geranium – What a brilliant product! I absolutely love the matte finish that it leaves on the skin. When I apply this Day Cream it soaks into my skin instantly without leaving my face sticky and shiny. It hydrates my skin perfectly and I love the fact that I can apply my makeup straight after without having to wait.
Watermelon and Vanilla Lip Balm – This was the only real disappointment that I found in the kit (I always notice this strange correlation though where the product I am most excited about trying turns out to be the worst of the bunch)! I am a glutton for absolutely any product I find with watermelon in it which is one of the main reasons I was so desperate to try this. It has a sweet odour that didn’t rock my world but equally wasn’t sickly or off putting. The texture is surprisingly glossy which I found to be far too much for my liking. This is definitely not the usual finish that I look for for a lip balm, and the clue here is in the name, as if I want a gloss on my lips…….I just use a lip gloss! It seems to leave a coating on your lips that you feel all day which I personally found quite unpleasant. It is also definitely not a strong enough moisturiser for my liking and if you have chapped lips then don’t even think about turning to this balm for help!
You can find The facial Kit on Alyaka website at 34£, I am so pleased that I tried these minis before buying the full products as in all honesty I think I would only repurchase 2 out of the 5 that I tried…….the serum and the day cream.
Have you tried any Grown Alchemist products? What did you think?