Etsy Finds: Winsome & Green

Does anyone besides me have those days when you are so sick of the vicious cycle that many brands impose on your skin that you just want to give up skincare completely?  I've cleansed the heck out my face in the past with cleansers from Clean & Clear, Clinique, Neutrogena, Clearasil, Olay, etc.  Basically, you name it, I've tried it.  However, all this cleansing never yields great results.  Sure, my face may feel smooth and squeaky clean for a few minutes, but this squeaky clean feeling is followed by a couple hours of tight skin that's had the moisture sucked right out of it. Then, when my skin is overly dry, it likes to overcompensate by producing more oil, which often causes breakouts.  These breakouts inevitably cause more harsh cleansing.  Are you beginning to see a pattern?  

It wasn't until I discovered cleansing grains and cleansing oils during this past year that I found cleansing can actually be a pleasant experience. My first cleansing grain purchase from Aucocisco Naturals was a huge success, but soon I decided I wanted something less exfoliating for daily use.  Enter Winsome & Green's Cleansing Grains.

A soothing blending of white kaolin clay, oatmeal, lavender, calendula, yarrow and aloe vera, these cleansing grains are a daily face cleansing routine that I can live with.  In the morning, I simply add a bit of water or green tea to them and smooth them all over my face, leaving them to act as a cleansing mask as I go about the rest of my morning routine.  Sometimes I will even use them as a spot treatment at night by creating the same mixture I use to cleanse my face, but in smaller amounts. 

Before Adding Water

After Adding Water

I am currently trying to turn my skincare routine into an all-natural affair, but it is definitely a long trial and error process.  I am happy to say that I have found at least one natural daily cleanser that my skin can agree with!  Fair warning, though, do not expect these cleansing grains, or any other cleansing grains for that matter, to remove makeup.  If you would like to minimize the steps in your evening routine, simply mix them with your makeup removing cleanser instead of water.  This will cut down on time, but you will still receive some of the benefits of the grains.

In addition to making some incredible cleansing grains, Christa from Winsome & Green also creates some amazing bath salts.  I was sent a free sample of her Red Alaea Detox Bath Salts* and holy moly, it was love at first smell.  I can't totally speak on their detoxing properties as I haven't been really doing much that requires my body to detox these days, but I sure felt amazingly glowy after a hot bath with these guys.  Also, I was sent a sample of her Bug & Itch Nix*, which is this awesome oil infused with a multitude of herbs that sucks the itch right out of any bug bite.  I'm not much on the smell, as it is a bit citronella-ish, but honestly I'd use it anyway because it gets the job done (and naturally at that)!

So, it's clear that I love love love Winsome & Green's cleansing grains.  Do you have any odd methods or products for facial cleansing?  I'd love to know!


The * denotes a product which I was sent free of cost.  Reviews will remain objective, regardless of how the product came to me.