Annmarie Skincare: The Products I love

When I heard Annmarie Gianni had launched a new skincare line, I knew it was likely to be something special. I couldn’t wait to try it out.

If you don’t know Annmarie and her husband Kevin, they are founders of the Renegade Health Show, an online resource of natural health — a great site to bookmark if you’re at all interested in improving your health through good organic nutrition and holistic therapies.

Annmarie kindly sent me a few samples from her range and I immediately put them to the test. My hopes for the brand were confirmed when I examined the ingredient list: at the top was “love”, one of the most important elements of any skincare range (yes, I’m serious). If you’re going to put something on your skin, you definitely want to know it was made and infused with loving energy. The rest of the ingredients in each product are completely natural, with the majority organic and wildcrafted. No fillers, no synthetic preservatives, no cancer-causing fragrances. Just pure elements from nature.

Why I Love it: It makes me feel like I’ve retreated to ancient times, when women only used products made of nature. It feels as good for my soul as it does my skin.

A good example of what I’m talking about is the Rosemary Peppermint Body Wash, a refreshing, uplifting wash that’s a blend of medicinal herbs that ward off bacteria without stripping natural oils: Love, aloe vera herbal infusion (aloe vera, lavender flowers, lemon balm leaves, neem leaves, rosemary leaves, echinacea flowers, life everlasting flowers, calendula flowers, comfrey leaves, plantain leaves, malva flowers), saponified olive oil, vegetable glycerin, aspen bark extract, xanthan gum, rosemary verbenone oil, peppermint oil and rosemary oleoresin pH 5.5.

Besides the ingredients themselves, another thing that impressed about this line is what each of the products are packaged in: MIRON violet glass, which doesn’t allow light to pass through. Clear glass can greatly shorten the shelf life of natural products (particularly because authentic natural products aren’t filled with synthetic preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, which can depress the central nervous system, cause vomiting and other not-so-pleasant symptoms).

Here are the Annmarie Pure Skincare products I put to the test…

Aloe Herb Cleanser

Gentle, but effective, this creamy, gel-like cleanser is pH balanced, which doesn’t disturb the skin’s natural acid mantle. It easily washed away makeup without leaving my skin feeling dry or tight. The key ingredient, aloe vera, is very soothing and healing. As with all of the products, you could literally eat it.

Why I Love it: It does what it says, all while being gentle on you, your skin and nature.

 

Ayurvedic Facial Scrub

This is going to be a permanent in my bathroom cabinet. It not only does the job, while being very gentle on the skin, it feels like you’ve entered an exotic spa every time you use it. It’s an experience. Here’s why: the ingredients are a blend of exotic Indian herbs, Moroccan Rhassoul Clay and traditional herbs, combined to rid the face of dead skin cells and nourish and remineralize the skin.

Why I Love it: It makes me feel like I’ve retreated to ancient times, when women only used products made of nature. It feels as good for my soul as it does my skin.

Purifying Mud Mask

If you like the idea of playing in mud that’s a smooth as silk, you’ll love this blend of mineral rich clays and blue green algae. It’s not one of those masks that you need to cake on to feel like it’s working. Rather, it glides on and dries easily to gently remove dirt and impurities without disturbing the skin’s acid mantle.

Why I Love it: Not only does it make my skin look vibrant, it feels like I’m connected to nature just by using it. Nothing like time out with your inner child to play in the mud!

 

Coconut Body Oil

I’m loud and proud about my love for organic extra virgin coconut oil, so I was of course excited to try out this oil that’s super hydrating for not only your body, but also your face. While there are other gorgeous ingredients that combine to make this skin treat (such as milk thistle seed, which boasts antioxidants and flavanoids that help to protect the skin), the hero is the coconut oil. Rich in lauric acid, this tropical ingredient has antiviral and antibacterial properties, while also nourishing and protecting the skin.

Why I Love it: It’s soothing, it smells divine, it makes my skin silky soft. Also, the gentle aroma of lavender, elemi, peru balsam and frankincense brings about a sense of calm.

If you want to know more about how this nourishing, natural brand came to life, stay tuned for my interview with Annmarie in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here are some of Annmarie’s personal beauty tips…

– Drink about half your body weight in ounces of filtered water each day;

– Drink and eat rich, raw foods like watermelon, green smoothies, green juices and salads;

– Exercise three to four times per week. “I love to run, stretch and do yoga on the floor or in a swing”;

– Get a good night of restful sleep;

– Use a dry skin brush every morning;

– Think happy thoughts and believe in yourself. Say, “I am beautiful”, “I feel amazing”, or “I can do anything!”

– Keep your hair silky smooth by washing it only two to three times per week. Once a month I wash my hair with baking soda.

– Get outside. Take in the sunshine and fresh air.

– Cleanse and nourish your face and skin regularly.