I‘m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but I suffer from really sensitive skin which seems to be getting worse as I get older. More often than not I have dry, painful areas around my nose, eyes and chin and for the most part I’ve no real idea what causes them. I know lack of sleep, dairy/alcohol have a part to play, but even when I’m being ‘good’ I can get a flare up and I find it really embarrassing. Generally speaking Im pretty laid back when it comes ‘beauty’, but my skin is something that does get me down because I can’t hide it under a jumper or laugh it off as Christmas excess.
Shortly before Christmas I was sent this duo of products by Ermana Natural Skincare to try but I was suffering from a particularly bad break out at the time and so I didn’t want to aggravate it further by trialing a new product. If you’ve ever suffered from skin issues, you’ll know that they not only affect your appearance, but also your mood, so you’ll do anything just to get through the break out.
* Please note that I was under no obligation to write this review
Because of the sensitive nature of my skin, I have to be careful about what I put on it and do tend to invest in good skincare and think I have managed to find a selection of products that help- but they are expensive and it’s frustrating when I’ve spent all that money and the flare ups still occur. The Ermana Skincare range is much more affordable than the brands I use, and as it was sitting pretty on my dressing table for a couple of months, I decided to give it a try when my latest flare up began to ease of .
The Ermana brand was developed specifically for sensitive skin as its founder Claire, discovered that many of the additives and preservatives used in day-to-day skin care can actually cause flare ups for sensitive skin suffers. The gift pack I received contained a facial cleansing balm (similar to Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing balm) and facial oil formulated for dehydrated skin. I’m already a convert to facial oils and use the Emma Hardie Moringa Balm as part of my evening routine, so the products were already things I would use.
I was under no obligation to write a review of the products, but thought it might be useful to someone else with sensitive skin or to anyone wanting to look into a more natural skincare regime. The packaging is really cute too so it might be a nice idea for mothers day?
The Products
The Ermana Natural Skincare range is 100% natural made only from ingredients that Mother Nature has to offer. The package I was sent to try contained the Revive facial oil and a daily cleanse balm both presented in a lovely little square gift box. The box also contained a muslin cloth for using with the cleanse balm, however for some reason it seems to have gone astray in this picture!
The Revive Face Oil
I’ve spoken before about my love for facial oils. I have combination skin and often suffer from dry painful patches around my nose and mouth. I find facial oils really hydrating for these areas and a good base from which to apply make up.
The Revive face oil is designed specifically for dehydrated and sensitive skin. Infused with pure essential oils such as frankincense and lavender it has been formulated to keep the skin hydrated, slow the appearance of wrinkles and balancing the skin to prevent flare ups. Vitamin E has also been added to aid cell regeneration and to boost collagen (what more could you need from an oil?)
I have a couple of go to facial oils that I am already really happy with and so the Ermana Face Oil was up against tough competition, but I do rate it. First and foremost it smells divine. The combination of Lavender and Frankincense make it perfect to apply before bed time as the soothing aromas help me drift of to sleep. I’ve also been looking into facial massage recently and have found this product perfect for that as it isn’t too sticky or messy.
Because I’m surviving on about 4 hours sleep a night at the moment I can’t vouch for this products anti ageing abilities as it would take sheer magic to make this face seem more youthful, but I do really enjoy using the product and it feels great on my skin so it makes me feel younger, even if I don’t look it.
The Cleanse Balm
The cleansing balm is my favourite of the two products. As I said above I’m a regular user of the Emma Hardie cleanse balm and love how I can massage it all over my face at the end of the day and watch my make up melt away. But at £47 a pop it can be expensive. The Ermana Cleanse balm works in exactly the same but retails at £24 which is much more affordable
The Cleansing Balm itself is a blend of cocoa, Shea and coconut butters used to soothe and hydrate the skin. Beeswax is included to form a protective barrier against environmental damage and coconut oil is added for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The balm is also infused with grapefruit and galbanum essential oils to help restore and tone.
I really like the smell of the cleanser as it smells fresh and natural (none of those strong artificial perfumes). Initially I thought it was going to be hard to use as the balm is a lot harder in texture to the Morninga Balm, but I was pleasantly surprised. A small amount goes a really long way as it melts down really quickly on contact with the skin. I just rub a small amount over my face in the evening to break down any make up and then wipe away the excess with a hot muslin cloth for a really deep cleanse. I’ve found that my face feels hydrated and moisturised after using it, and that’s before even applying the facial oil. My face also feels clean and toned which is a nice feeling just before bed.
The Verdict
I’ve really enjoyed using the Ermana range, particularly the cleanse balm as it is every bit effective as my regular brand and it is a product I’d use again and again. I find myself heading up to the bathroom really early in the evening to remove my make up because I love how nourishing the balm feels on my face. When I follow it up with the facial oil, it really is a double whammy of kindness for my sensitive face. I love the sustainable nature of the brand and the fact that all of the Ermana products have undergone full cosmetic testing without using animals. I also love the packaging and think it makes a very welcome addition to the products on my dressing table.
* this post contains gifted items but I was under no obligation to write this review
