I don’t think of myself as complicated, per se—although I do admit that I have combination skin. And that can make skincare a bit complicated.
However, I still like Shamanuti’s* tagline: “Simple skincare for complicated creatures.” Clever, no? And I do also have to admit that I’ve been a fan of activated charcoal for a while. It’s the best friend of a girl with skin like mine that can’t make up its mind. Is it dry? Oily? No. It’s both.
So I was understandably excited to test out two Shamanuti products—especially considering that my skin has been particularly indecisive lately, because: hormones. (See also: pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum skin craziness.) Which I think makes me the perfect person to test these products out. My crazy skin has given both of them a true challenge. Read on for my review!
What I tried: Activated Charcoal Cleanser ($10) and Seaweed Toner ($10)
First impressions: I’ve already mentioned my appreciation for activated charcoal already, and here’s why I love it: it’s a natural detoxifier, helping to balance the skin and absorb impurities. Which makes it great for oily and/or acne-prone skin. But! And this is key: it’s actually good for all skin types, because it’s not overly drying, either. So the Activated Charcoal Cleanser has that going for it. I also love the texture—it’s a bit like a gel, and foams up as you massage it into your skin. And it easily rinses away cleanly, unlike some foamy face washes that foam so much it seems to take a gallon of water to rinse them off. Meanwhile, the seaweed toner is refreshing and hydrating. I use it right after I wash my face and then moisturize while my face is still damp.
Gratuitous photo of my daughter at eight weeks. Totally worth all of my post-preggo skin woes!
A caveat: My face didn’t magically become blemish-free while using these two products. But to be fair, post-preggo skin is a huge challenge, and I’m pretty sure my hormones are still all over the place. And for me, that means I probably won’t get past this crazy breakout phase until my body has readjusted to no longer being pregnant. HowEVER, I did dab the cleanser directly on a few blemishes and leave it overnight, and several of those blemishes cleared up completely within two days.
Surprises: The seaweed toner smells surprisingly (and pleasantly) floral. When I’m wearing it, I almost feel like I’m wearing perfume—even after it dries! I’m planning to add the spray bottle to my bag when it starts to get hot out; a midday spritz would be a great, hydrating pick-me-up for my skin.
Bonus: The activated charcoal cleanser can also be used as a shaving cream and body wash.
(Top image via Shamanuti, bottom image mine)
*This product was sent to me for review, but I only write about cosmetics I think are truly worthy of being shared with you. View my full disclosure here, and my review policy here.
