Minus my massive allergy attacks and the erratic temperature changes, spring is one of my favorite seasons. It’s that time of year when everything is in its prime for a transition. The most obvious thing we do is switch out our clothing to meet the needs of the seasons, but what if the same practice applied to our skincare?
Saison Beauty is a San Francisco-based brand founded on the principle of seasonal skincare. Every season influences a change in our skin therefore, different ingredients and formulations should also adapt with it for the most effective treatment. Each seasonal collection from Saison is concentrated with the highest-quality, organic plant extracts from that season.
“As the seasons change, so does our skin. Our approach is to treat and revitalize our skin as it responds to the environmental conditions throughout the year. The seasons also influence the ingredients we use in our products, highlighting the plants and produce from that time of year.”
Saison features 4 skincare collections according to skin type and their respective seasons: Spring- Normal Skin, Summer- Oily Skin, Autumn- Dry Skin, Winter- Mature Skin. Each collection is comprised of 4 skincare products (a cleansing oil, cleansing grains, toner, and moisturizer) for a simplistic yet, complete skincare routine.
All Saison products are expertly made by hand and made to order in San Francisco using only the highest-quality, USDA- or Oregon Tilth-certified organic ingredients and sourced from companies that practice ethical, earth-friendly processes. Products are also certified cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny and PETA) and free of petrochemicals, parabens, silicones, phthalates, sulfates, glycols, PEGs, DEA, MEA, TEA, triclosan, synthetic fragrances, colors or dyes. (Find out more about Saison’s ingredients HERE.)
All of Saison’s products are housed in refillable and reusable packaging to produce less waste, or Saison will even accept your empty bottles and jars when you’re finished. It’s pretty cool that even the vacuum bottles and spray bottles can be easily refilled (more info here). I’ll be using my empty Saison bottles as travel-friendly containers.
As my skin was itching for a change (also literally as my seasonal allergies are kicking in,) I was eager to try out Saison’s Spring skincare collection as winter appropriately departed. Spring’s ingredients features: avocado, apricot, cherry, green tea and rose geranium. Each of Saison’s skincare collections have the basic necessities for jumpstarting any skincare routine, with sufficient product sizes and affordable pricing:
Spring Cleansing Oil: My sensitive, dry skin definitely favors cleansing oils though I prefer using most of this type in the evening and opting for a lighter cream-based cleanser in the morning. The Spring Cleansing Oil is gentle and pleasantly light that I feel comfortable using it both in the morning and at night. The formula utilizes a special blend of spring botanical oils to nourish and treat the skin like organic green tea and organic apricot kernel, organic jojoba, organic safflower oil, plus lavender and ylang ylang for a fresh, spring-inspired scent. It is easier to remove than other cleansing oils yet, I appreciate how quickly it sinks into my skin, leaving behind a layer that hydrates my skin throughout the day. My skin feels cleansed, nourished, incredibly soft, and not overly greasy. I also enjoy using this product to remove makeup, as it gently and effectively cleanses the skin without feeling harsh or dry. No irritations either, just an effective do-it-all cleanser, plain and simple. $45, 1.7 fl oz
Ingredients: Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Organic Safflower) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Organic Apricot) Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis (Organic Green Tea) Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Organic Rosemary) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Oil, Fragrance (made from pure essential oils)
Spring Cleansing Grains: I’m normally extra cautious when it comes to trying out loose, exfoliating powders but I was amazed at how easy and gentle this product was. One scoop of these grains and a few drops of water instantly creates a creamy, loose paste that effectively exfoliates without being harsh or irritating on the skin. My skin felt refreshed, cleansed, and soft after use. “This special blend includes carefully selected spring ingredients, like Organic Cherries, that exfoliate and tone your skin. These Cleansing Grains are enhanced by organic rice, natural clay, organic milk and honey powders, to cleanse and soften skin.”
I was really pleased with this product and really love how the packaging has a protective cover underneath the screw-on lid to prevent accidental spills (my frequent problem) and a little slot to stash the tiny spoon that is included. $35
Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Kaolin Clay, Honey, Ananas Cornosus (Organic Pineapple), Organic Milk Powder, Prunus Cerasus (Organic Cherry), Oryza Sativa (Organic Rice), Fragrance (made from pure essential oils)
Spring Botanical Lotion Spray: Perhaps my favorite product from the collection was this extremely hydrating toner. The Botanical Lotion Spray features aloe vera, glycerine and highly concentrated botanical extracts like organic basil, organic cucumber, organic lavender, organic lemon balm and organic rose geranium all of which are rich in antioxidants to help nourish and hydrate the skin. This toner leaves my face feeling insanely supple and refreshed, I can always immediately feel the nourishing formula sink into my skin. I was amazed at how smooth my skin felt after initial testing of this product and I look forward to using this toner every day. Plus, that fact that the nozzle of this bottle is wider than most toners I’ve used, effectively spraying my entire face in one go-around. This toner keeps my skin feeling hydrated and soft throughout the day and creates the perfect texture for wearing under moisturizer. $40, 1.7 fl oz
Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Water, Ocimum Basilicum (Organic Basil) Water, Cucumis Sativus (Organic Cucumber) Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Organic Lavender) Water, Melissa Officinalis (Organic Lemon Balm) Water, Pelargonium Capitatum (Organic Rose Geranium) Water, Organic Vegetable Glycerine, Ipomoea Batatas (Sweet Potato) Alcohol, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Fragrance (made from pure essential oils)
Spring Moisturizer: This moisturizer is the perfect lightweight, daily face cream that effortlessly completes the Spring Collection. Formulated with a variety of soothing botanical extracts, organic green tea and organic apricot kernel enhance the skin’s function and appearance, while L-Ascorbic acid (or vitamin C) evens skintone and stimulates collagen production, smoothing out skin naturally. The Spring Moisturizer instantly sinks into skin and provides deep hydration without feeling too thick or greasy. The lightweight, airy texture makes this product perfect for daily use and has easily helped me transition from heavier, creamier winter products to lighter, gently hydrating products for spring. I like using the Botanical Lotion Spray all over my face and then applying the Spring Moisturizer to lock in the nutrients and moisture. Never have I had such a satisfyingly moisturizing daily routine that is so simple and fast-acting! You can also use this Moisturizer both during the day and in the evening. Don’t be fooled by the lighter texture, this moisturizer powerfully hydrates the skin and nourishes deeply. The only thing I didn’t like about this product is that it had a bit of an odd herbal scent (almost rotten-smelling). Either my nose is super sensitive or I received a bad batch? $55, 1.7 fl oz
Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Water, Ocimum Basilicum (Organic Basil) Water, Cucumis Sativus (Organic Cucumber) Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Organic Lavender) Water, Melissa Officinalis (Organic Lemon Balm) Water, Pelargonium Capitatum (Organic Rose Geranium) Water, Organic Vegetable Glycerine, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Emulsifying Wax (Vegetable), Stearic Acid (Vegetable), Prunus Armeniaca (Organic Apricot) Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis (Organic Green Tea) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Organic Evening Primrose) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Organic Rosemary) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Oil, Fragrance (made from pure essential oils), Potassium Sorbate
The more I’ve been learning about the science behind seasonal skincare, the more it makes sense to me. Your body and certainly, your skin can change in regards to environment, weather, health, genetics, and lots of other factors. It only makes sense to treat your skin as it changes and to understand the best methods for satisfying treatment. Saison Beauty provides simplistic, yet comprehensive products for every season and skin type that make it easier to adopt the practice of seasonal skincare.
Learn more about Saison Beauty here. Have you tried any products from Saison? What skincare products you are transitioning from winter to spring?
*Products kindly provided for my consideration. All words and opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
sarahjanroberts
I was excited about the idea of spring-specific skincare, but I was kind of shocked to see the first ingredient in the scrub was baking soda! I wonder what the PH level is when mixed with water?