Product Review: Botnia Gentle Cleanser
Botnia is a woman-owned and led organic skincare line that is 100% produced in their own lab in Sausalito, California. They grow and use their own plants with the support and relationships with local farmers. The founder Justine Kahn worked for years as an esthetician before deciding to create products made of raw ingredients. While it doesn’t use traditional active ingredients you may see in other commercial products, producing with plant-based components results in less irritation and fewer side effects than non-natural ingredients.
Botnia’s skincare formula is developed by herbalists, estheticians and scientists who have harnessed the nourishing power of plants. And that is exactly how it smells.
When trying a product for the first time I always like to unscrew the cap to get an up close whiff of what’s inside. I had stepped into a garden of blooming flowers, each scent delectable to my olfactory senses. This cleanser smells amazing, as though you are smelling a bouquet of flowers. That’s how I fell in love with this cleanser.
GENTLE CLEANSER
WITH GOLDENSEAL LEAF + CHAMOMILE
$50
☆☆☆☆☆
Goldenseal, its more common name is yellow root, has antibacterial properties that help fight acne-causing bacteria, a good everyday ingredient for eczema and helps reduce oiliness. Chamomile as a natural herb is anti-inflammatory with antioxidants and a natural bleaching effect so it can help brighten uneven skin tones. So with these two main character ingredients in a daily cleanser, it allows to remove the dirt and bacteria from your face without harsh chemicals. Other ingredients include hyaluronic acid, which aids in collagen production and arnica, a plant that offers anti-inflammatory effects and reduces redness associated with psoriasis and eczema.
I use the Gentle Cleanser for my morning and nightly skincare routines. It comes after my cleansing oil and I pump out about a quarter size into the palm of my hand. However I do a bit smaller portion for the morning, since the only products on my face are nighttime serums and creams. As soon as it massages onto my skin, I am transported into a gardenia of scents and now has become the best part of my skincare routine. Never have I ever thought a cleanser was something to look forward to, normally it’s the serum or the facial oil that is anticipated, but this Gentle Cleanser somehow gives a calming effect, physically and mindfully.
This is how natural the Gentle Cleanser is, my face doesn’t feel dried out from a heavy duty of chemicals like it does with other cleansers. It’s so refreshing to not have to intake a medicinal smell, and instead I’m taken to a conservatory of flowers. I cannot exclaim enough about the natural scents. Certainly worth trying, especially if you’re very into natural scents, this cleanser can only put a smile on your face while balancing and nourishing your skin barriers. The two weeks I have been using it, my skin has appeared smoother, never dried out and most of all clean in the most soothing way possible.
Other takeaways:
Compostable, Recyclable, and Reusable Packaging
Grown Organically and Locally in California
Free from Toxins, Fillers, and Synthetic Chemicals
Always Cruelty-Free
