I stumbled across this
brand when reading Fiona’s (orchidsandpeonies) post about the cleanser
mentioned below and how she compares it to May Lindstrom’s Honey Mud. I had
been on the search for a cleanser that was similar to that of May’s but without
the heavy price tag. The sleek sophisticated packaging was what caught my eye
so I headed over to their website straight away, it didn’t disappoint. It is
one of those brands where you instantly want everything, the images and content
is so aesthetically pleasing!
Briar is the founder and
creator of Marble and Milkweed and has a clear passion for all things natural,
sustainable and green. Her formulations are made in a small apothecary studio
in New York’s Lower East Side which to me sounds so wonderfully enticing seeing
as NYC is my favourite city! Her aim is to simplify the way we care for our
skin, recommending a ‘less is more’ approach. All ingredients are sourced
organically and contain no harsh additives or artificial synthetics plus all products
on offer are housed in compostable and/or recyclable packaging. The light
protective glass jars certainly look beautiful sat on your bathroom shelf…
When it came to deciding what
to purchase alongside the cleanser it really was a struggle, I deliberated for
a while as everything sounded so good! Briar has a lyrical way of writing which
truly comes through in her explanation of each product. You won’t find any
outlandish claims and this is one of the reasons why I enjoy using smaller
brands which hand make smaller batches of skincare. There is something
incredibly real and refreshing about delving into a product that has been
created from the heart and doesn’t promise the world. Now let’s talk about
these beautiful creations…
Rose and Chamomile Honey
Clay Cleanser:
As I mentioned before
this was the product that initiated my search and I am so pleased I took the
plunge to buy this. It is designed to be an everyday cleanser that deeply
cleans whilst leaving skins natural balance intact. As expected the ingredients
include local raw honey, 3 different types of clay (bentonite, white kaolin and
rose kaolin), rosehip seed oil, essences of organic rose otto and organic German
chamomile. These create a beautiful balanced scent which is neither
overpowering or artificial and is actually quite sweet. Almost like a subtle
rose chocolate concoction…
Upon first use I was a
little taken aback by how thick and sticky the product was, I suppose that I should
have expected it to be based on the fact it contains honey! Briar recommends
using a spoon and I would agree that this is necessary for easy removal from
the jar and extending its life span. Having damp skin is also an essential part
in getting the best results from the cleanser. You need to have skin fairly wet
skin in order for the product to move around easily and the water encourages
the ingredients to break down and turn into an oilier, silkier texture.
Once massaged in it feels
truly wonderful on the skin, not heavy and the stickiness disappears. I like to
use this as a morning or second cleanse especially when my skin is feeling
groggy and I have more time to pay attention and really invest in a calming
ritual. Usually I will leave it on for around 10 minutes so it can work as a
mask allowing the clays and antibacterial honey to cleanse deeper. I find this
gives fantastic results in calming my skin and bringing down any redness or
irritation whilst still retaining moisture levels. I have only ever emulsified
and rinsed this cleanser off with warm water, which I find to be super
effective. It doesn’t leave any residue behind but just very soft glowing skin.
Every time I find myself staring into the mirror as my skin just looks happy
and smooth!
The results of this
cleanser will keep me coming back time and time again. It’s not a product I would
use every day as you do need to dedicate time to it, working it into the skin, and
I do like to allow it to sit there for a while as I feel washing the goodness down
the sink straight away would be a waste! The basic but very effective gentle
natural ingredients really make this cleanser stand out from anything I have
tried before. As much as I would love to try May’s THM it would seem that I
have found something of a lesser known treasure. This pot is 70g and cost me
$38.00 (around £30), compared to THM which is £87.00 for 100ml. Although size
wise there is a difference and the price is very similar overall, the plus
point is that it is available in smaller pots which to me is much more
appealing and price wise, easier to digest. It is worth noting the pot will
last you a while with around 2-3 times weekly use. Just look at those
ingredients and tell me you aren’t tempted…
Ingredients:
local raw honey, *sunflower oil infused with *calendula &
*marshmallow root, bentonite clay, white kaolin clay, rose kaolin clay, *sesame
oil, *rosehip seed oil, essences of *rose otto, *rose geranium & *german
chamomile, local beeswax, non-gmo vitamin e (*organic)
This cleanser can be purchased from Marble and Milkweed directly here Link or Etsy
for $38.00 for 70g pot or $8.00 for 10g pot
Nourishing Facial Balm:
The next product I purchased from Briar’s capsule collection was this
facial balm. I am a complete facial oil/balm fanatic and love massaging them
into my skin as part of my nightly routine. As you would expect this balm is
packed with rich nourishing botanicals that hydrate and balance your skin, a
little bit goes a long way. The scent is rather heady and smells completely
natural and herbal, I would say that it is definitely stronger than the
cleanser mentioned above but certainly not off putting. A real luxurious treat
before bed.
Prior to using this I was a little hesitant as it does include ingredients
which some oily/combination skins would run away from, but I’m all about
experimenting and have realized that although some ingredients are big no no’s
for certain individuals, I don’t think that should be the judge for all. For me
it’s really down to how the product is made and the quality of the ingredients.
Onto what’s inside… it really is jam packed with skin loving soothing
ingredients such as local beeswax and honey, rosehip seed oil, calendula and
sea buckthorn extracts. I feel these all help to balance the skin and I have
noticed this balm seems to help blemishes and speed up the healing process.
This was a pleasant surprise as I would have imagined this product would more
likely aggravate breakouts than assist! Just goes to show you shouldn’t judge
a product before trying! I like to warm a little bit up between my fingers and
apply as a last step to seal in everything. It absorbs very well and leaves no
greasy residue. Although I don’t mind going to bed a bit of a grease bucket
when my skin is dry etc it is nice to feel like your skin can breathe and this
gives the perfect finish to my routine. The scent truly relaxes me before
bedtime and I like that the smell lingers.
Briar does mention that this can also be used as a cleansing balm and I
think it does an excellent job used this way. Massaging onto dry skin and
removing with a warm damp cloth feels so amazing and allows all the beautiful
aromas to come through providing a completely sensorial experience. As with the
cleanser I love that it is multipurpose and can be used in more than one way
really making you feel like it is money well spent.
Ingredients:
Apricot
Kernal Oil*, Coconut Oil*, Local Beeswax, argan oil*, sesame oil*, shea
butter*, rosehip seed oil*, pomegranate seed oil*, local honey, calendula
extract*, rosehip extract*, sea buckthorn extract*, jasmine extract*, essential
oils of helichrysym*, frankincense*, neroli*, wild carrot, wild chamomile, rose
otto*, local bee pollen, propolis & royal jelly, non-gmo vitamin e (*organic)
This balm is available in 6g for $14.00 or 14g for $32.00 (I have the
14g pot).
I will definitely repurchase both of these products again but have my eye on the Rose and Chamomile or Orange Blossom Butter, the Nourishing
Body Oil and one of the facial serums! To be honest all of it! If you haven’t
checked out their website then I urge you to do so! They also have some vintage
pearl spoons which look gorgeous for mixing masques with!
In terms of shipping to the UK I paid around £18 for both of them and
then around £9 in customs taxes I believe, I ordered through Etsy. Briar did add in some other samples as
well which was so very kind. Her customer service was second to none and she answered
any questions I had. I wish Marble and Milkweed all the success in the future, a
brand like this should receive recognition for all the wonderful work they do
not only for people but for the environment as well.
What smaller niche brands do you like? I would love to hear.
Thanks for reading xx
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