Zkin hits the nail on the head for me, in so many ways… from the packaging and messaging, to the products themselves, it’s a brand that just gets it right.
The good folks at Zkin kindly sent me a generous selection of their range, including products for sensitive, dry, and ageing skin (or as they aptly put it, “wiser years”). In this review I’m focusing on their range for oily or combination skin, plus, throwing their wrinkle cream and exfoliating scrub in the mix.
If you’ve read my previous blogs you’ll know I’m trying to kick my epic adult acne by cleaning up my diet and using only 100% natural skincare.
Zkin is no exception, it’s COSMOS certified organic (the highest global standard for the cosmetic industry) and is chemical, sulphate and paraben free, vegan and animal friendly (sorry, your beloved pooch can use it) and it’s made in Australia – where I’m from!
It’s hard to cut through the BS and know what to believe when it comes to promises made by skin care and cosmetic companies.
They bombard us with outlandish claims about how their products can improve us, when, ironically, it’s the carcinogens and toxic ingredients in their products that contribute to the skin issues they claim to reverse.
And nowadays loads of companies are jumping on the ‘green-washing’ bandwagon and claiming to be ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ when they’re not. The only way to really discover the truth is to check the ingredient list and research the company.
Safe and Effective
After reading the personal story of Zkin Organic Skincare founder and CEO, Grace Culhaci (you can check it out here) and uncovering the lengths the company takes to ensure their products are safe and effective, I believe this is a brand I can actually trust.
Another reason to heart this company is that they have ‘Zero Tolerance to Dishonest Marketing’ and ‘Zero unrealistic photoshopping.’ Their brochure goes on to say:
“We do not adapt images of women in a manner that plays on insecurities. We do not alter the size or body shape of our models and do not use excessively thin women in any of our communications. We do amend minor imperfections in our model’s appearance and correct lighting. What you will see in all our images, is a natural honesty beauty as captured by the eye of a professional photographer”
Awesome, right? So, without further ado, on to the review!
Zkin’s collection for oily or combo skin has three products: Purifying Cleansing Gel, Clear Skin Toner and Rebalancing Lotion. Plus, there’s a couple of optional extras for skin that’s starting to age: the Line Smoothing Serum and a Clarifying Exfoliator.
Zkin Purifying Cleansing Gel
This aims to remove excess oil and restore balance without drying out the skin. Its key ingredient is Quillaja bark which apparently helps reduce shine and acne lesions. You cleanse your face with this bad boy morning and night.
I like that the directions say that if you’re wearing makeup (which most acne suffers do) to apply the gel to a cotton pad and wipe over the face to remove makeup before you cleanse. This is pretty helpful, because when you’ve got a face caked with makeup, you’ll cleanse it once and assume it’s clean, when it’s actually teeming with bacteria and your pores are as blocked as a sewerage system after a curry feast!
Speaking of sewerage, It’s slightly alarming when you pour the gel into your hand and see it’s the colour of…dirt, but I suppose that’s what you’d expect from an all-natural product. Either way, I love this stuff. It has brought meaning to the term ‘squeaky clean’, because I shit you not, my cheeks actually squeaked after cleansing with it.
Zkin Clear Skin Toner
I’ll be honest, I’ve never bought into the whole ‘toner’ thing and have never used one in my life. I figured it was just an unnecessary time and money wasting addition to your daily routine. But after using this product – I think I’m swayed. It’s designed to refine your pores, which for someone like moi with pores as big as golf balls, kind of makes sense to prevent black heads. Its key ingredients are Witch Hazel and Willow Bark. The latter is said to enhance cell turnover and prevent skin infections and bacterial growth that can lead to acne.
You just wet a cotton pad, chuck the toner on and sweep it across your face, morning and night. Again, the good people at Zkin helpfully point out that it can also be used as a blemish treatment and applied directly, undiluted, to breakouts for one minute.
Zkin Line Smoothing Serum, Anti-ageing treatment (Optional step)
The joys of having adult acne, you try and dry out your skin of excess oil to prevent breakouts and you end up getting fine lines and wrinkles instead – happy, happy, joy, joy! That’s why I’m giving Zk’in’s Line Smoothing Serum a crack. The packet says, ‘Natures Alternative to Injectables’ and I like this, but the realist in me says: ‘can it really make lines disappear!?’ You apply the serum directly to those cracks and expression lines and it apparently blocks the muscular contractions that cause them. Jury is still out on this one. The next time you see me, if I’m looking like Megan Fox, you’ll know it’s worked!
Zkin Rebalancing Lotion
Unlike most moisturisers, this is designed to reduce shine and create a matte effect. I applied it in the morning and true to the packet’s claims, it reduced shine within one hour and lasted until the end of the day – winning! Key ingredients are EPS Seamat (derived from plant based marine biotechnology…whatever that means), Macadamia Oil, which has vitamin E and A to reduce inflammation and oil gland congestion, and it’s scented with natural fragrances like Mandarin, Bergamot and Ylang Ylang.
Zkin Clarifying Exfoliator (optional extra)
Thought I’d give this one a whirl as I’d heard that it’s good for people with my skin-type to exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells. So glad I did, as this product is a coffee lovers’ dream!
When I read that it contains organic coffee beans I thought ‘cool’, but what I didn’t realise is it’s actually like scrubbing your face with ground coffee! It’s this key ingredient along with Collodial Oatmeal – so pretty much like putting your breakfast on your face – that’s said to relieve congestion, refine pores and improve clarity. I use it once a week and actually look forward to it! I’ve even busted my man using it a few times – and he isn’t even a coffee drinker!
For more info on Zk’in, their products and prices, click here.
