A few weeks ago I shared on Instagram a post about the skincare products I wanted for my birthday. It was more for fun than an actual demand for presents but I still enjoyed the process of really thinking about which skincare items I would most like to receive and why. I am very particular about my skincare shopping and over the past couple of years have really toned down my “impulse purchases”. A lot of research goes into anything I decide to buy and I have either tried a sample and loved it or it’s a product from a brand I know and trust and I’m confident I will love. So, without further adieu, here’s what made the list.

Tata Harper – Concentrated Brightening Serum $220/£170 (sold out)

Water/Eau, Glycerin (from vegetable origin/ origine végétale), Rosa damascena flower water*/ eau de fleur*, Propanediol (Fermentation of corn sugar), Caprylic/Capric, Triglyceride (derived from coconuts / dérivé de noix de coco), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed Oil / Huile de graine de jojoba, Hydroxystearyl Alcohol (derived from wheat, and castor seeds) / Alcool Hydroxystearyl, Silybum marianum (Milk Thistle) ethyl ester, Glyceryl undecylenate, Leuconostoc ferment filtrate (radish root extract/ extrait de racine de radis), Arachidyl Alcohol (derived from wheat and rapeseed oil / Alcool arachidylique), Sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil* / Huile de sésame*, Leucojum aestivum (Summer Snowflake / Nivéole d’été) Bulb Extract, Ascophyllum nodosum (Knotted wrack seaweed) Extract / Extrait d’algue algue noueuse, Lavandula stoechas (Spanish, Lavender/ Lavande espagnole) extract, Narcissus tazetta (Daffodil) bulb extract*/ Extraire des bulbes (jonquille)*, Phoenix dactylifera (Date) seed extract / Extrait de pepin de datte, Sodium hyaluronate / Hyaluronate de sodium (sel de l’acide hyaluronique), Lilium candidum (Madonna Lily) leaf cell extract / Extrait de fleur de lys blanc, Anogeissus Leiocarpus (Akulia) Bark Extract / Extrait d’écorce de saule blanc, Pancratium maritimum (Sea Dafodil) extract / Extrait lys maritime, Menyanthes trifoliata (Buckbean/ trèfle, d’eau) Flower Extract, Dunaliella salince (Algae) extract / Extrait d’algues, Brassica Napus (rapeseed) extract / Extrait de brassica napus , Squalene (derived from vegetables), Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder*/ Poudre de jus*, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed wax / Cire de tournesol, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil / Huile de noix de coco, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract / Extrait de feuille, Daucus carota sativa (Carrot / Carotte) oil, Lonicera japonica (Honeysuckle / fleur de chèvrefeuille) Flower Extract, Lonicera caprifolium (Honeysuckle / fleur de chèvrefeuille) Flower Extract, Populus tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract / L’extrait d’écorce de peuplier, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) / Tocophérol, Glyceryl Caprylate (derived from plant oils), Algae extract / Extrait d’algues, Acacia Senegal Gum / Gomme Acacia Sénégal, Xanthan gum / Gomme Exanthane, Behenyl Alcohol (derived from wheat and rapeseed oil) / Alcool béhénylique, Arachidyl Glucoside (derived from wheat and rapeseed oil), Hydroxystearyl Glucoside (derived, from wheat and castor seeds) / Glucoside Hydroxystearyl, Cetyl alcohol (derived from coconut / dérivé de noix de coco), Gluconolactone, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Tata Harper products are quite expensive but so far (thankfully) they have proved to be worth every penny and this serum is no exception. I got a deluxe sample of this during their last “Stocking Stuffer Event” and I was so surprised by how effective it was. It targets hyper pigmentation in three ways – inhibit melanin developing to the surface, boost skin’s ability to minimize discoloration and fade existing dark spots. Despite my excellent track record with Tata Harper and other green beauty brands, I still had my doubts and was massively skeptical. I thought there was no way a plant based product could impact the skin in such a way but I was wrong. My skin looked brighter and more even with each passing day and something I immediately noticed was a reduction in PIH from any breakouts. That was incredibly impressive and why the serum made the list. A close second was their new Boosted Eye Contour Mask (sold out) – a completely extravagant item at $150 but like everything else from Tata Harper, most likely more than worth the hefty price tag.

Pai – Rice Plant and Rosemary Bioaffinity Tonic $56/£30

rice plant water**, aloe vera*, rosemary water*, vegetable glycerine, aspen bark extract, radish root extract (*Organically produced ingredient, **Transitional Organic ingredient).

I love toners and I love Pai so even though I haven’t sampled this product before, it’s a must try for me. This tonic is for combination/sensitive skin and unlike most toners, contains pure ‘living waters’ taken directly from the plant, which is such a unique concept. It’s alcohol free, perfectly pH balanced and rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals so this toner should calm and rebalance the skin as well as improve skin tone and texture. Sounds good to me!

Drunk Elephant – Shaba Complex Eye Serum $85

Water (Aqua), Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Coconut Alkanes, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Steareth-20, Lecithin, Panthenol, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Ubiquinone, Citric Acid, Thioctic Acid, Tocopherol, Chrysin, Sclerotium Gum, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), Phenoxyethanol.

Coming from one of my most favourite new brands and discoveries, this eye serum just screams excellence to me and I believe it will be truly great based on my love for their incredible sunscreen. When Drunk Elephant launched at Sephora I took a chance and purchased their SPF without trying it (shocking, I know!) because it sounded that good. I have had such a problem with sunscreen in the past and this one sounded so good I just had to try it right away, and I am so glad I did because it worked wonderfully and has become my most favourite sunscreen ever. So, based off of that, when they launched this eye serum I knew it would be a good one. Packed with a long list of excellent ingredients like Copper Peptides (my obsession thanks to NIOD), Niacinamide, Ubiquinone and Sea Buckthorn Oil – this is clearly a well thought out, highly researched product that I just know is going to be amazing.

Omorovicza – Mineral UV Shield SPF30 $125/£75

Aqua (Hungarian Thermal Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Zinc Oxide, Silica, Squalane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyldodecanol, Stearyl Heptanoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Titanium Dioxide, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Saccharomyces (Hungarian Thermal Water) Ferment Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Alumina, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum (Fragrance), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isostearic Acid, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phospholipids, Linalool, Limonene, Citral.

Here is another product I have not tried but am fully confident in thanks to my great past experience with the brand. I have loved everything I have tried from Omorovicza and I just know this is going to be as high quality and effective as everything else in their stellar collection. This is a physical sunscreen (zinc and titanium dioxide) and seems like it would be silky and light and because of the matte finish, should make the skin look great, even under makeup. This is the year for SPF in my opinion. I think they have improved immensely over the past 18 months and physical sunscreens are just getting better and better and I am sure this will be up there as one of the best.

May Lindstorm – The Honey Mud Cleansing Silk $80/£64

Raw Honey, White Halloysite Clay, * Macadamia Integrifolia (Macadamia Nut Oil), * Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Argentum Metallicum (Colloidal Silver), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Absolute) Oil, * Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, * Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) Oil, * Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) CO2 Total Essential Oil, * Juniperus Virginiana (Cedarwood) Oil, ** Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Oil, ** Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Oil. (* Certified Organic, ** Wild Harvested, *** Collected from unsprayed and unfertilized fields of Michigan wildflowers).

I have been so interested by May Lindstrom ever since she launched but have yet to try anything from the brand and that is such a shame. I love the idea of The Honey Mud because it seems like it would be such a luxurious, indulgent product – perfect for creating a relaxing and soothing nighttime cleansing ritual. My only reservation is that I have read such mixed reviews on the products so I have always hesitated when it came to making a purchase. I feel like with my sensitive skin, I must try the products first but so far I haven’t been able to do that. This and The Problem Solver are the ones I’m most intrigued by and I will definitely make more of an effort to try this brand because the products sound amazing and the packaging is so beautiful.

Ren – Bio Retinoid Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Oil $60/£44

Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Bakuchiol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Parfum* (Fragrance), Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Linalool. (*100% Natural Fragrance).

After turning to green beauty I kind of gave up on retinols/retinoids because with synthetic products they were too harsh for my skin or were not free from the other ingredients I avoid. This seems like an excellent plant based alternative with the Vitamin A being 100% naturally derived. It contains Vitamin A from Musk Rose Seed Oil, Pro-Vitamin A from Arctic Sea Buckthorn Berry Fruit Flesh and Retinoid Analogue from Brazilian White Beggar’s Stick Flower. I love the sound of the ingredients and I have had great success with many products from Ren so I have high hopes for this one.

Josh Rosebrook – Oculus Formula $70/£54

Organic Oils of: Camelina, Hemp Seed, Sunflower, Coconut, Grapeseed and Almond; Organic Herbal Infusions of: Eyebright, Echinacea Flower, Alfalfa, Skullcap, Calendula Flowers, Blueberry, Slippery Elm, Rosemary Leaf, Chickweed, Fennel Seed, Neem Leaf and Sunflower Seed; Organic Essential Oils of: Rose, Geranium, Lavender, Blue Chamomile and Carrot Seed.

I have never tried anything from Josh Rosebrook (my MASSIVE mistake) but when I heard about this eye oil treatment I was SO impressed. This oil is a highly potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory product containing a whole host of amazing herbal actives and organic oils. It will brighten, tighten, smooth and protect the eye area and just seems like a genius product and one I am so excited to try. Also on the longer list (you didn’t seriously think I only wanted 9 things?!) is the much loved Hydrating Accelerator and the new Nutrient Day Cream (with SPF 30 non-nano zinc oxide).

Odacité – Spring In Tokyo Serum $149

Plukenetia volubilis (Sacha Inchi) oil**, Camellia oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil**, Eugenia uniflora (Pitanga) Leaf Oil*, Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil*, Corylus americana (Hazelnut) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil**, Daucus carota (Carrot) seed oil, Litsea cubeba (litsea cubeba) fruit oil, Lavandula burmati (lavandin) flower/leaf oil, Aloysia triphylla (lemon verbena) flower/leaf, Citrus paradisi (pink grapefruit) peel oil, Rosa bourboniana (rose) flower oil, Jasminum grandiflorum (jasmine) flower oil, Acacia decurrens (mimosa) flower extract, Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) leaf oil, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil**, Vetiveria zizanioides (vetivert) root oil. (*Wild Crafted, **Organic).

From Odacité’s impossibly chic ‘Private Collection’ comes a serum offering everything I am looking for in skincare. While this might seem like an outrageous price for a 15ml product I can assure you, Odacité are worth it. I have had excellent results using their equally teeny oils and can only say that the quality of their ingredients is definitely worth the price tag. This serum is formulated to combat skin pollution that causes damage and premature aging and is packed with incredibly hardworking ingredients like Tamanu oil (anti-microbial) and Hazelnut oil (tighten pores). It’s a concentrated blend of high performance organic oils that work together to repair and detoxify the skin leaving you with a clear, smooth, glowing complexion. Perfect!

Nude – ProGenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil $68/£58

Isoamyl Laurate, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Squalene, Bakuchiol, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool.

This has to be one of my favourite releases of the year, definitely up there with NIOD’s CAIS. I love everything I have used from Nude and after trying a sample of this, it was instant love, too. Light, hydrating and clarifying this product is exactly what the name says – not just an oil but a treatment. Containing Bakuchiol (a plant alternative to retinol), this dry oil is light but hardworking and is a great choice for those who (like me) found Sunday Riley’s much hyped Luna did not work for them. This is a great year round oil because it’s light enough to be used in the summer but potent enough to be effective during the winter.

Looking over these products I’m surprised (multiple eye products, usually not my thing) and also not that surprised by what made the list. Obviously, birthdays are a time for splurging and a lot of these items are exactly that, a splurge. I love to mix high/low products but really appreciate green beauty brands that are highly effective but also luxurious. To me, it’s money well spent and an investment I will happily make. If you could be gifted any skincare item, which would you choose and why?

Arly

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