ALDER NEW YORK; read our review // DNAMAG

Traveling can take a toll on your skin, even if you’re out there getting some well deserved TLC. From extended exposure to the elements to the pollutants present in every city, you can’t afford to leave your skincare routine behind for the next week or two. For me, Alder New York’s Everyday Skincare Travel Kit was my skincare companion under some pretty serious Grecian sun exposure and through the markets of Monistraki. Based in Brooklyn, the founders launched Alder to introduce a product that was just as cool as it is ethical. Cruelty-free and vegan ingredients are wrapped up in sleek and, in the case of their Everyday Travel Kit, TSA-compliant packaging. You’ll receive a cleanser, serum, and moisturizer in the kit.

Everyday Face Cleanser

The first item in the kit is the Everyday Face Cleanser. I use it both in the morning and night, but just using it right before bed is fine too if you’re strapped for time in the morning. My skin looked smooth, soft, and bright by the time I woke up. This is a low-foaming cleanser which I think is a really important detail. It has a watery, gel-like consistency straight out of the bottle, but foams up ever so slightly once you apply it. If you like foam cleansers but find that they dry your skin out too much, I’d definitely recommend this one. Many foaming cleansers include an ingredient called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is effective in pulling oil from skin, but leaves skin stripped of really important nutrients. Alder doesn’t use any SLS so you’re still getting that light foamy consistency as you work it into your skin without pulling all the moisture from your face.

Because this is aimed around the idea of travel, I want to point out that I felt like this was a really easy product to bring with me. It’s quick, efficient, and really gentle. There was a point towards the tail end of my trip where my cheeks were starting to feel rough just from being out in the sun so long and swimming in the ocean (salt water was pretty rough on my skin), but this cleanser never stung or felt uncomfortable. It was always really gentle so sensitive skin people, this is a good option for you!

Everyday Face Serum

I really like this one--the Everyday Face Serum! This serum has hyaluronic acid and vitamin B3 which are both powerhouse ingredients. Hyaluronic acid is super nourishing and helps lock in tons of moisture into your skin. Vitamin B3 helps evens out skin tone and hyperpigmentation. After consistent use, there is a noticeable difference in the evenness of my skin tone and my skin definitely feels much firmer. It leaves skin feeling very tacky after you apply it, but that more or less goes away on it’s own. The serum feels like it really preps your skin for that boost of moisture though, you can really feel your skin absorbing the product. If you use it as your final product before stepping out, skin looks and feels more matte—just a tip if you aren’t into the dewy look (which I, personally, am very into).

Everyday Face Moisturizer

Finishing off the routine is Alder’s Everyday Face Moisturizer. This is formulated as a two-fold product that not only rehydrates but also protects skin from dirt, pollutants, and other grime that can build up. The Everyday Face Moisturizer also has a rich array of ingredients--hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and oatmeal extract to name a few. It’s got a really silky consistency and is scentless which I always appreciate. My first impression was how lightweight it is and how fast it gets absorbed. I really like that it feels like it’s really getting deep into the skin, instead of just a layer or film sitting on your face. I tend to lean toward richer formulas when it comes to my go-to moisturizers, but this one is still really good. You get a slight, healthy glow and you don’t really need to keep applying it through the day. That hydrated, soft feeling lasts well into the day.

Alder New York Skincare, read our review // DNAMAG

I really like this set of products. The packaging is great visually and functionally. They’re all really streamlined and travel-sized so they don’t take up much space on the shelf or in your luggage. In terms of formulation, they feel nourishing and I think they can work for all skin types. I am really impressed by Alder NY’s ingredient list. They’re a clean, vegan company and it shows in their ingredients--both in what they choose include and exclude. There’s no parabens, SLS, or silicone, but plenty of hyaluronic acid, vitamins, and natural extracts. My skin definitely felt healthy while following the Alder routine. Even with nearly constant exposure to the elements, I didn’t have any flare ups which tends to happen to me while I’m travelling.

In particular, I am definitely going to keep the Everyday Face Serum in my daily rotation. It just really feels like it’s doing something. I love that it protects skin while also moisturizing it, while also prepping skin for the next steps in my skincare routine.