For the 2nd year in a row, I was a judge in the annual Clean Beauty Awards! The awards are held by CertClean—a leading skincare and makeup certification in North America, and PurPicks—a large online community of beauty reviews. This year I judged Face Creams, which as someone with super dry skin, is a type of product I definitely have experience with and love to use!
I tested out 9 face cream products from different brands spanning North America and Europe, over a two-month period. It’s always fun getting to discover new brands and try out products I otherwise wouldn’t have known about.
CertClean should note that for judges it’s a bit overwhelming to receive a package of products with no introductory information, and sometimes no packaging. I understand they might have been aiming to cut down on waste, which I admire but would appreciate at least a brief one-pager or email with product or brand information for context.
My final judging ballot has been submitted (ranking products based on a number system) and the folks at CertClean will be gathering data from judges across all categories and announcing winners in the new year.
I gathered more detailed thoughts below based on CertClean’s judging categories: User Experience, Ease of Use, and Overall Performance andRecommendation. Click each dropdown box to reveal a more detailed review of each product.
Honey Sweetie Acres Goat Milk Facial Cream (Retails for $18, 1.7oz) This product is made by a local couple in a rural community outside of Cincinnati, OH. The brand utilizes premium quality goat milk in their natural soap and skincare products.
User Experience
While this is a fragrance free product, to me it is delightfully fresh and smells exactly like other goal milk products I’ve used. The texture is very smooth and buttery. Something like goat milk cream can be very heavy and rich, but while Sweetie Honey Acre’s is extremely hydrating, it is also quite lightweight and gentle on sensitive skin like mine.
Ease of Use
As for packaging, I don’t tend to love plastic, airless pumps like these (they make dispensing product a bit difficult in my opinion, and are bulkier to travel with). The application process is simple, a little goes a long way. The cream is easy to apply and immediately sinks into skin. The result is it leaves skin very supple. The process is straightforward, yet labeling could include some additional instructions or just more fun details about the product.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
I thoroughly enjoyed this product! This hydrating, gentle cream is great for anyone with dry or sensitive skin. The simple and natural plant-based ingredients (and goat milk) really deliver in treating and nourishing skin over time. For the price, this is a facial cream gem. It sinks into skin quickly, feels soft and buttery, and keeps skin hydrated and supple. Not for the luxe-minded, you can’t always judge a great facial cream by it’s (lackluster) packaging! For the price, this is a facial cream gem. ~This cream received a high score from me.
Biosphere Naturel Jeunesse Creme Anti Age (Retails for $32, 1.7 fl. oz) Biosphère Naturel a woman-owned, boutique line of organic and cruelty-free skincare based in Occitanie in the South of France.
User Experience
This anti-aging face cream has a very thick formula that doesn’t absorb as smoothly or quickly. The texture is creamy and soft, and the scent is fresh but not offensive. I found it best for use in the evenings as it was very nourishing, but also a bit greasy and sits on the top of skin. It was difficult to rub in easily.
Ease of Use
This product comes in a large plastic pump, which is not my favorite type of packaging. The product often get stuck and is difficult to dispense, especially any small, exact amount. The product has great labeling, both on the box and pump that highlights ingredients, certifications, and application instructions.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
This face cream feels soft and hydrating, which is perfect for anyone with dry skin. The heavier texture makes a great, substantial evening cream, yet the greasier and slow absorption means it’s not as versatile to wear during the day. The clunkier packaging and pump top were also drawbacks in my opinion. I would recommend this for anyone who needs serious hydration or doesn’t mind a heavy, thick face cream.
Iremia Skincare Protective Cream (Retails for approx. $44.71 USD ($58CAD), 2 fl oz) This Canadian skincare brand was inspired by the brand founder’s holistic health journey. Iremia Skincare products feature natural ingredients with simple formulas, aimed to inspire busy, passionate women to evoke a sense of calm in their lives while encouraging conscious decisions towards positive environmental impact.
User Experience
This product has a super smooth, airy-cream texture, with a very muted, soothing floral scent. The texture is so gentle, and skins into skin relatively easily and quickly, though it can take a bit of effort to rub into skin and absorb. This cream can be quite thick if applied too heavily, so a little bit goes a long way. The cream is very hydrating and perfect for dry and sensitive skin. I’ve enjoyed using this non-greasy formula during the day and in the evening.
Ease of Use
This cream comes in a glass jar, so in my opinion the best form of application is to use a skincare spatula or just your fingers. It’s extremely easy to use this product, but definitely need to use a light hand when applying. The labeling includes ingredients, certifications, and recommendations, yet I only wish there were a little more information about the brand and product.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
For me, this cream is perfection especially for dry, dehydrated skin. It’s deeply nourishing and hydrating enough, while lightweight so can be worn during the daytime as well as in the evening. I love how soft and gentle this feels and how supple it leaves my skin. I would definitely recommend this to anyone searching for a deeply moisturizing product. It does not look like it’s carried at any U.S. stores yet. ~This cream received a high score from me.
Jenelt Skin Renewal Radiance Lotion (Retails for $49, 1.7 fl oz) Jenelt is a California-based brand that’s dedicated to developing skincare combining nature and science through natural and organic ingredients, and innovative and sustainable plant technologies. Jenelt also focuses on anti-aging products.
User Experience
This lotion has a traditional cream consistency, that is quite lightweight and matte. It sinks into skin extremely quickly and is very nourishing for dry skin, while never being overly greasy. This product would be great for those with oil-prone skin too. This product does have a more herbally smell, which I wasn’t a fan of.
Ease of Use
This product comes in a tall, frosted plastic airless pump bottle. It isn’t my favorite type of packaging, but this bottle is also not too bad in terms of weight and ease in dispensing an exact amount. A little bit goes a long way. The labeling is very clear, concise, and all-encompassing—a description of the product, how to use it, EcoCert certification and Made in the USA description are front and center.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
I enjoyed using this product and how nourished this product made my skin feel. I would definitely recommend it for individuals of most ages and skin types. The scent is a bit strong for my personal preference, but I enjoy the unique texture and formula that includes herbal extracts & deep sea algae. ~This cream received a high score from me.
Zorah Biocosmetiques Anti-Aging Complex C-Nature Pure Argan (Retails for $80 USD, 1.69 fl. oz)
This high-end Canadian brand offers skincare and cosmetic products featuring organic Argan oil ethically sourced from a Moroccan women’s cooperative, and other organic and fair-trade ingredients.
User Experience
This has a unique gel texture that feels more like a nourishing serum when rubbed into skin. It absorbs very quickly into skin, is extremely hydrating, and leaves behind a nice, supple barrier on the skin as well as a bit of glow. There is a faint herbal scent, but I felt it was very soothing and pleasant.
Ease of Use
The packaging is a tall, glossy plastic pump bottle, which is a bit slippery to the touch, and quite outdated in terms of style. It’s easy to use and the pump isn’t too difficult to dispense a smaller amount. The labeling is very clear and concise providing product details, certifications, and application instructions. There could have been a little bit more information about the brand itself.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
I was pleasantly surprised by this product and how well it performed. It is gentle, deeply nourishing and long-lasting, as well as lightweight. I think this would be a great product for anyone with dry skin and for older individuals as well. I would have liked to see more brand and product information on the packaging. This product is a bit on the pricier side, but seems comparable for a luxury product, especially one from Canada. One might expect the branding aesthetic and packaging to be a bit more upscale for the price. ~This cream received a high score from me.
Vanessa Megan Marine Collagen Firming Night Cream (Retails for $63 USD, 1.7 fl oz)
Vanessa Megan is an Australian skincare and fragrance brand that features products made from natural, wild harvested and bio-available ingredients. The brand is known for its uncompromising commitment to clean, synthetic free skincare, and it’s founder, Vanessa Megan Gray Lyndon, is considered an Australian pioneer and leader in certified organic skincare.
User Experience
This cream has a velvety smooth texture, that easily and quickly skins into skin. It’s extremely hydrating and substantial on the skin, yet because of the fast absorption rate, it also feels quite lightweight, making it versatile to wear during the day and at night. The scent is a bit herbally (I personally smell a lot of the aloe, kelp, and sea buckthorn, with a hint of rose) but I don’t find it overpowering or too bothersome. The scent became pleasant and soothing to me as I continued to use this. The cream is buildable, so can be applied for a lightweight finish or applied for deeper hydration.
Ease of Use
The packaging is very unique and interesting—the tube has a twistable bottom that allows one to dispense product when squeezing the tube, and to lock the tube shut. It’s very compact, convenient to travel with, and easy to use. The formula results in nourished and smooth skin, and is also very soothing and gentle. The labeling includes product instructions, certifications, and brief brand information.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
This cream exceeded my expectations as a gentle and versatile daily-use product, and performed well in providing hydrating, smooth skin. I would recommend this product to others and think it’d be fitting for all skin types. I was really excited to discover this brand and am interested in other Vanessa Megan products, but it doesn’t look like there are any shops selling the brand in the U.S. at this time. ~This cream received a high score from me.
Kaelen Harwell Soft As A Peach Creme (Retails for $44, 2 oz)
This Tuscon, AZ based skincare brand provides effective, non-toxic products using organic, sustainable, wildcrafted ingredients. Products are sustainably packaged, made in the USA, non-toxic, vegan, and cruelty free.
User Experience
The first thing I noticed upon using this was the overpowering, sweet peach scent. It is a bit too strong for my liking, but dissipates slightly after application. The product in the jar appears to have an almost balm-like texture, but when applied using fingers, the consistency feels like very lightweight, soft and creamy. The formula is a bit on the greasy side, but quickly sinks into skin to reveal super smooth skin. It’s nourishing for dry and sensitive skin, and is very gentle. A little bit goes a long way.
Ease of Use
The more solid and soft texture of this product makes it very simple to apply and easy to scoop out an exact amount of product. Again, I’d recommend using a skincare spatula or fingers to apply out of the jar. I enjoy the simple, yet stylish branding and design choices. The labeling is very detailed, clear, and concise with recommended skin type, ingredients, instructions, and product description. I would have also liked to have a bit more information about the brand.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
I would recommend this product to anyone interested in a very unique balm-like cream moisturizer that provides deep nourishment without leaving skin greasy. I would not recommend to anyone who is sensitive to strong scents as this has a distracting, overpowering scent. I was impressed by the quality of this formula and was happy to have learned of this brand. I’m curious about other products from Kaelen Harwell. The price for the amount of product and quality here is a great deal in my opinion.
Jaboneria Marianella Face Primer – Detox Gel (Retails for $42, 2 oz)
This mother and son company, makes the most luxurious one of a kind products using Venezuelan-inspired ingredients and fragrances. Jaboneria Marianella products are handcrafted in small batches at the brand’s flagship store in Soho, New York City, where you can also receive spa treatments using their products, like a body polish or a facial.
User Experience
This moisturizer has a jelly-like consistency in the jar and when applied, it dries down to a supple, gel texture. The product leaves my skin feeling tightened and lightly hydrated, yet provides a light, supple layer of nourishment that quickly dries down to an almost matte finish. This doesn’t feel as moisturizing compared to other products, but did create a smooth and hydrated base. It is soothing and gentle, with little to no scent, yet woodsy—I distinctly smell the inclusion of tea tree oil. The brand recommends using the Face Primer alone or with face serum, makeup or any other kind of product.
Ease of Use
This product has the most luxe and decadent packaging out of all the moisturizers reviewed here. The branding on the white frosted glass jar is very clean and extremely minimalistic, with no visible labeling, only a gilded wax sealed on the jar. It’s mysterious and intriguing! The bottom of the jar does have a small, which is the only way I knew what the brand or product was. Again, as a moisturizer in a jar the ideal form of application is with a fingers or using a skincare spatula. Apply quickly, as this cream dries down and absorbs fast.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
I think this is a great luxury lightweight moisturizer that has a very interesting formula and texture. This would probably work best for those with oil-prone or combination skin, definitely not the most nourishing for those with dry skin or craving something for heavy moisturization. I’m excited to have discovered this unique brand that’s close to home (I’m curious about their spa and treatments!), and I’m intrigued to try more products.
Le Pure Way to Radiance Profound Nourishing Creme Concentrate ($136 USD, 1.69 fl oz) Le Pure is a luxury organic skincare brand based in Barcelona, Spain featuring products that are hand-crafted in small batches. The brand is popular in Europe and it’s high-end formulas also focus on pure, anti-aging benefits. It looks like this product and others from the brand are only sold outside of Europe from this British beauty shop.
User Experience
I was pleasantly surprised by this product’s thick, creamy consistency that feels very hydrating on the skin. The texture is soft, and is medium-weight, it takes a bit to spread onto the skin, but does sink into skin fairly quickly. It doesn’t leave my skin as moist and supple as other products, but does provide light nourishment and leaves skin tightened. The cream smells slightly herbal, but wasn’t too strong so it did not bother me.
Ease of Use
The pump top on this bottle is very easy to use and provides a good amount of product. The box labeling does provide a good amount of information including ingredients, product details, and certifications, but I was curious to know more about the brand.
Overall Performance & Recommendation
This is a very nice luxury cream product and does provide light to medium hydration and nourishment. The light cream consistency is very easy to use and is pleasant. I think it’d work well for anyone interested in something that focuses on aging benefits. I think this would satisfy older individuals. I had to do a bit of outside research to learn more about the brand and product, and my jaw dropped when I learned how much this cream cost. I think you definitely do get a lot of product for the price, but personally it’s not my favorite product for my skin type. I am curious about the brand’s great variety of products.
Stay updated on the 2019 Clean Beauty Awards and get notified when all the winners are announced! Depending on the category, some judges are still finishing up reviewing their products, but all winners should be announced soon. Learn more about the awards here. Learn about the CertClean certification and check out the PurPicks review community.
*As a Clean Beauty Awards judge, products were provided to me for judging purposes only. I was not obligated to share about my experiences. Words and opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.
