Grown Facial Kit & Tinted Day Cream Review

I rarely have allegiances when it comes to skincare brands. Having ~normal~ skin often means it’s hard for me to tell when skincare products are working or not. Occasionally hormones, stress and environmental factors will throw a spanner in the works but that’s about it. Not that I’m complaining. When it comes to skin type, I’ve struck it lucky. What it does mean, though, is sometimes I can be pretty lackadaisical with my skincare routine, especially in the summer months. Moving into autumn and winter, I thought it would be the ideal time to reasses my skincare routine. I decided to splash out and treat myself to a Facial Kit by Grown Alchemist. And by “splash out” I mean I had some credit remaining on a gift card and there was a gift with purchase deal so I ended up with $100+ worth of stuff for under $30. I’ve used Grown Alchemist products in the past so was more than happy to revisit the brand. Read on for my review of the Facial Kit and Tinted Hydra-Repair Day Cream.

Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser: Geranium Leaf, Bergamot & Rose-bud

In general, I tend to stick to mild cleansers that aren’t too drying on my skin. This cleanser hits the mark and smells pretty great to boot. However, I keep having to remember to rub it between the palms of my hands to emulsify the gel because I’m so used to foaming cleansers. If I’m feeling particularly spendy I might splash out and purchase the full-sized product.

Balancing Toner: Rose, Ginseng & Chamomile

I’ve never really gotten the point of toner. It always seemed like an unnecessary extra step and I’m all about simplifying routines wherever possible. I’ve never had problem skin and don’t wear heavy makeup so maybe that’s why I never had the need for it. I’m pretty indifferent to this toner but it does seem to work in harmony with the cleanser and day cream, leaving my skin looking and feeling bright and clean. 

Anti-oxidant Facial Oil: Rosehip & Camellia Seed

I first tried this Facial Oil a few years ago now. While I was quite happy with it at the time, I never restocked it after it ran out. I guess I just didn’t feel like my skincare routine needed a Facial Oil after all. The instructions recommend application morning and evening but I only apply it at night after using the Facial Cleanser and Toner. It leaves my skin feeling velvety smooth and is a lush treat especially now the autumn air is a bit drier and my skin needs that little bit of extra nourishment.

Hydra-Repair Day Cream: Camellia & Geranium Blossom

This Day Cream is probably my favourite product out of the bunch. It’s a treat to apply and absorbs into the skin easily. It leaves my skin looking matte which I really like too. 

Lip Balm: Watermelon & Vanilla

This lip balm was one of the first Grown Alchemist products that I tried. It’s basically an organic, cruelty-free version of the watermelon Lip Smacker of my childhood. The one downside is that the aluminium packaging means that if you’re not careful it can puncture and you’ll end up with lip balm leaking throughout your bag (speaking from experience here).

Tinted Hydra-Repair Day Cream: Camellia & Geranium Blossom

Look, I’m not well versed in makeup. My first reaction was to be sceptical of a one-colour-fits-all tinted moisturiser. In fact, I wasn’t even really sure what the point of a tinted moisturiser was? I usually use a BB Cream so I thought it would be somewhat similar to that. The formula is very sheer, which helps it blend into skin easily but doesn’t really do much in terms of covering up blemishes. I have noticed, however, that it appears to even out my skin tone although I don’t know if that’s due to the product alone or a combination of other factors. I’ve come to quite like it and use it for those no-makeup makeup days. If you’re looking for full or even semi-coverage this Day Cream isn’t for you. 

THE VERDICT

These days I’m making more of a conscious effort to support companies that are ethically responsible. Grown Alchemist is one such company that I’m willing to get behind. They are Australian Certified Organic, have a view to sustainability, and their products are free from animal ingredients and no product or product ingredients are tested on animals. The sleek, minimalist packaging will also appeal to the design-obsessed.

It’s understandable that not everyone is able or willing to shell out for the products at full price. The Facial Kit, at $69.95, is a great, albeit slightly expensive, taster of the products in the Grown Alchemist skincare range. If I didn’t have the gift card, I still probably would have bought the Facial Kit at full price as I was already familiar with the brand and looking to try new products. I’ll definitely be picking and choosing between what full-sized products I repurchase. 

Ultimately, if you like your cosmetics organic and cruelty-free, enjoy lush smelling skincare products, and are willing to spend a little bit extra on your skincare routine then these Grown Alchemist products are definitely worth a shot. Of course, it’s always worth taking your skin type into consideration and consulting with an expert to find out what products will ultimately work for you.