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Product: Illumina Decongesting Radiance Treatment
How Long Have I Used the Product? 3 Months
Illumina is a powerful yet gentle exfoliating serum that uses botanical extracts and enzymes instead of harsh acids or retinoids to balance cellular turnover and revive the skin’s natural glow and smooth texture.
*Disclosure: I did purchase this product. I only publish reviews of products that I love. The opinions in the post are completely my own. There are affiliate links below. Click here for more details.
About the Brand
MOSS stands for Modern Organic Sacred Skincare.
Moss has a vision of providing superior, non-toxic skincare using the power of plants through highly concentrated formulations. Moss sources exceptional quality ingredients, showcasing the power of beautiful and exotic botanicals while also utilizing the latest in dermatological technology. A balance of herbal extracts and skin-changing peptides, ceramides, and non-toxic, but effective preservation systems help your skin stay radiant and healthy.
Our mission is to deliver truly effective, luxurious skincare that doesn’t contain “fairy dust,” toxins or fillers of any kind. In formulating lingo, “fairy dusting” is adding an active ingredient at a low, ineffective percentage just to be able to use it in marketing claims.
Moss' specialty is to target both aging as well as acne in a single product using highly concentrated, luxury ingredients.
My Review
I got in touch with moss' founder, Celestyna last year because I wanted to learn more about her adult-acne-specific line. Moss was in the middle of relaunching, so I was not able to try out any products. I was very happy this spring when I saw that moss was ready to make a comeback.
Moss has now relaunched and rebranded. The line is slowly building back up.
I was excited to give moss a try with my acne. For years I had been using benzoyl peroxide to control my acne, but I was ready to try something more natural and less harsh on my skin. I gave up benzoyl and went full in to using moss exclusively.
I was sent a sample package back in April of 2017 to try out the products. I saw results, so I bought the full size products of Potenci (moisturizer) and Illumina.
Illumina is a natural exfoliating treatment that uses pumpkin enzymes to digest dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores. It is meant to help reduce acne, as well as fight signs of aging. I have been using Illumina for 3 months now and it has made a difference in the amount of breakouts I get.
My Experience Using Moss Skincare to Treat Acne
April 8 2017 - I stopped using benzoyl peroxide. I went on a makeup buying splurge because I knew my acne was going to come back and I wanted to be able to cover it up.
April 25 2017 - My moss samples came in the mail and I started on the moss skincare regime. I used the Revele Cleanser 2x a day, Potenci 2x a day, and Illumina 1x at night, every 3 days.
May 2 2017
May 15 2017 - My skin is starting to look better. I can see that there are less clogged pores under the surface. I am still getting breakouts, but my skin looks healthy and plump.
May 19 2017 - I order full size products of Illumina and Potenci.
May 26 2017 - I am now using Illumina 1x every day rather than using it every few days. I want to see more of a change in my skin.
June 1 2017
June 1 2017 - I keep hoping my skin will get totally clear, but it hasn't. I know that the products are helping, I am getting less breakouts than I was without using any treatments, but my skin is still breaking out. I ask Celestyna if I can use Illumina 2x a day, like I was with the benzoyl peroxide. She tells me that as long as there is no irritation, I can go ahead and use it 2x a day.
June 2 2017 - I start using Illumina 2x a day.
June 13 2017 - My skin looks worse than it has in the last few months! It looks as bad as when I was using nothing. I have multiple large pimples on my face. I am distraught and almost ready to give up. Celestyna says to stay on the products for at least 3 months, so I push on. I figure that this might be skin purging, because of my increased use of the Illumina exfoliating treatment.
June 15 2017
My skin is breaking out like crazy!
June 29 2017 - My skin is looking better! It looks like it is clearing up. I was right about my skin going through a purge. Using Illumina twice a day brought up all of the congestion to the surface.
July 7 2016 - It is hard to tell from the picture, but I have less active pimples. Most of the marks are post-acne redness.
July 7 2017 - My skin is looking pretty good. It has not totally cleared, but it looks 95% better. I still get a few pimples, but I don't mind that, it is better than it was. I am hoping that over the next month, my red marks from previous breakouts will fade and I will continue to have minimal breakouts.
Moss Skincare really does work!
Scent and Texture
The texture of the Illumina Radiance Exfoliating Treatment is quite runny. It has the texture of a serum. Moss purposely makes her products slightly runny, to prevent over-application. The scent is very faint.
Application
Illumina is meant to be applied 1x per day - 1 x per week, but I used it 2x a day. I use 1.5 pumps on my face both morning and night. You are supposed to dot product on the 4 quadrants of the face and then rub it in. After a minute or so, you apply the Potenci moisturizer.
Ingredients
Viola Odorata (Violet) Leaf Hydrosol*, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Vigna Aconitifolia (Moth Bean) Seed Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract*†, Ceramides (Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum), Magnolia Grandiflora (Magnolia) Bark Extract*, Scutellaria Baicalensis (Skullcap) Root Extract*, Non-allergenic Preservative (Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol), Gluconolactone, Serenoa Repens (Saw Palmetto) Berry Extract*, Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Extract*, Sodium PCA, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Water, Glycerin, Organic Sugarcane Alcohol*, Rosewood Oil*, Monarda Oil
*Organic/Wildcrafted Botanicals (67%) ˚EWG score of 1, hypoallergenic †De-caffeinated 100% non-toxic, safe and gentle ingredients
Beneficial Ingredients:
Pumpkin Enzymes
AHAs or traditional enzymes such as papain or bromelain tend to be irritating on the skin. Unlike traditional materials, pumpkin enzymes show an uncommonly mild irritation profile in tests; results confirm that pumpkin is only slightly more irritating than glycerin.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Several studies have shown this form of Vitamin C to be as effective as retinol in reducing acne lesions. In one study, acne lesions decreased by 20% after 4 weeks, and 48% after 8 weeks using SAP and 21% and 49% using retinol.
Green Tea
Contains a high percentage of EGCG. EGCG has been shown to be 25 to 100 times more potent than vitamins C and E in terms of antioxidant activity. ECGC prevents conversion of testosterone to DHT, which is the hormone that causes acne. Green tea drastically reduces inflammation and regulates sebum production.
White Willow Bark
Acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. Willow bark extracts are employed as a natural source of salicylic acid. Provides the benefits of salicylic acid such as BHA exfoliation, and anti-microbial action, without any of the typically associated irritation.
Vigna Acontifolia Seed
Has a demonstrated ability to help boost cell renewal, similar to retinol, without the associated irritation. When used at similar levels, the extract’s efficacy comparable to that of Retinol. Additionally, it has potent antioxidant properties.
Ceramide Complex
A crucial component of a healthy skin barrier. Ceramides help the skin stay hydrated and in optimal health.
Tamarind Seed Extract
Has shown to be even more effective than hyaluronic acid in a clinical trial that directly compared the two ingredients. Unlike HA, it does NOT cause inflammation or draw moisture from the skin. Tamarind Seed is highly moisturizing and increases skin hydration by close to 50%.
Product Info
Price and Size:
- Travel Size (30 ml) : $54 USD
- Full Size (100 ml) : $145 USD
Who is This Product For?
Formulated for acne-prone skin. Safe for both sensitive and pregnant skins.
How Well Does it Work?
Illumina works well at minimizing breakouts and helping to repair any breakouts that do occur.
How Does The Product Compare to Similar Products?
Illumina uses natural plant exfoliates to keep pores clear, rather than chemical exfoliates such as glycolic acid, retinol, or benzoyl peroxide.
The ingredients are exceptionally high-quality and dark glass packaging keeps the antioxidants in these oils intact, unlike opaque bottles which allow light in.
How Long Will it Last? What is the Shelf Life?
The full size product should last you at least a couple of months. I have been using my full size product for one month now and still have over half a bottle left. I would assume the shelf life is 1 year, as with most products.
Final Thoughts
I am happy that I gave up on benzoyl peroxide (BP) to give something more natural and less toxic a try. The results are not as drastic as when I was on BP, I still get breakouts and the results took a lot longer than they did with BP.
When I was using BP, my skin was totally clear, with Moss I do not have totally clear skin, but I know that it has made my skin look better than when I am using nothing. Moss gives me peace of mind, that I am nourishing my skin, rather than stripping it of its protective barrier like I was doing with BP.
Pros:
- Natural exfoliate
- Retinol alternative
- Enzymes digest only dead skin cells and not live ones
- Contains potent antioxidants
- Moisturizes and heals the skin
- Safe for pregnancy
- Safe and gentle, does not irritate the skin
Cons:
- Takes a few months of consistent use to see significant results
Where to Buy
Moss Skincare is available at the following locations:
- Moss Skincare
- Canada - The Green Jungle Beauty Shop
- UK - Alyaka
Please leave any questions you may have in the comments below 🙂 If you liked, this product review, share it with your friends.
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