How many times have you read a skincare product's description, and all of its promises, only to think, well, that's probably not gonna happen?
Take this one for example:
“A harmonizing blend of organically grown plant oils and CO2-extracted Nordic berries. Sea Buckthorn, Cranberry, and Blackcurrant help smooth the complexion and restore balance. This lightweight, nutrient-rich formula leaves skin feeling soft, supple and helps promote its true radiance.”
Only this time…every single word turned out to be TRUE!
I am talking about Harmony Bloom Oil by Lena Wild (formerly Wild Beauty Apothecary).
This wonderful oil is completely non-comedogenic, without any dubious ingredients that just shouldn't be there (‘green beauty' lovers, you know what I mean!), while offering so much for acne-prone skin.
What's best, it's the first product that has actually made a difference in how smooth my skin was – literally overnight!
HOW I USED LENA WILD SKINCARE TO GET SMOOTHER SKIN
In the video below, I will give you some more details on how I used the products and what difference I noticed after using the Lena Wild products for about a month.
To be honest, I haven't planned on making a video, but I loved the products so much that I felt compelled to make it, so hope you like it!
Also, make sure to scroll down the post for more details on each product and my exact evening skincare routine for smooth skin.
Useful timestamps (if you just want to jump into the specific parts of the video):
1:05 – How I use Harmony Bloom oil during my evening skincare routine
1:45 – More details about the oil and my overall experience
2:27 – The consistency and feel of the oil
4:09 – Who the oil is best suited for (plus some tips)
6:11 – My experience with Harmony Rescue Mask
8:10 – Tips on how to use the mask
CREATION PROCESS OF LENA WILD – YELENA'S JOURNEY
I've been following Yelena on social media for quite a while before I heard she was about to make her own skincare line. Since Yelena is a former acne sufferer, I was very excited to see the results! It's just something that makes you understand what works and what doesn't when it comes to acne once you've experienced them yourself.
In 2015 I enrolled to study Organic Cosmetic Science with Formula Botanica, one of the world’s industry-leading schools for the subject. It was a game-changer!
Their courses taught me how to research ingredients, decode skin structure and apply this knowledge to refine my cosmetic formulations.”
Today, Yelena is passionate about spreading the word on greener beauty, and providing us with only the purest, and very effective natural skincare ingredients!
Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to try out Yelena's Lena Wild products – Harmony Bloom Oil and Harmony Rescue Mask, so thank you, Yelena, for gifting them to me for an honest review!
Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to try out Yelena's Lena Wild products – Harmony Bloom Oil and Harmony Rescue Mask, so thank you, Yelena, for gifting them to me for an honest review!
HARMONY BLOOM OIL – A CLOSER LOOK
Full ingredient list:
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil◊, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil◊, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil◊, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil◊, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil◊, Squalane (Olive Derived), Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract◊, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Seed Oil Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract◊, Oxycoccus Palustris (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil◊, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil◊, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange) Peel Oil◊, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil◊∆, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool*
◊ Ingredient from organic farming ∆ Wildcrafted ingredient * Naturally occurring in essential oils
HARMONY BLOOM OIL IS GREAT FOR YOU IF YOU HAVE:
– oily or combination skin
– acne-prone skin
– congested skin
My skin is usually somewhere between normal and combination, and I found this oil to be wonderful at balancing my T-zone while being nourishing enough for my cheeks.
AMAZING INGREDIENTS FOR SMOOTHER SKIN IN HARMONY BLOOM OIL
Rosa canina (organic Rosehip) Fruit Oil
Rosehip seed oil is amazing for reversing hyperpigmentation due to the naturally occurring vitamin A. It fades the first signs of aging, sun damage, stretch marks, and scars. Its high antioxidant content improves texture and revitalizes the skin.Cannabis sativa (organic Hemp) Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is a great source of minerals that the skin needs to thrive – magnesium, zinc, iron, calcium and phosphorus. It clears up your skin due to the high concentration of linoleic acid, which acts anti-inflammatory and inhibits the pore-clogging hyperkeratinization process. Linoleic acid also helps to emulsify the hardened sebum, clearing up your pores.Jojoba oil
Jojoba oil is actually a wax, and chemically very similar to our own sebum. This makes it an amazing natural moisturizer because it locks the moisture in your skin. Jojoba oil has also great antibacterial properties that help control bacterial growth in the hair follicle.Safflower oil
Loaded with linoleic acid and vitamin E, safflower oil is very helpful for acne but without being overly drying.Evening primrose oil
Evening primrose is one of the few natural sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is fabulous for the skin. GLA is also a moderately strong DHT inhibitor, which is greatly beneficial for acne. It also helps dehydrated, weakened, and dull skin that lacks elasticity.Sea buckthorn fruit extract
Sea buckthorn fruit is one of the best ingredients for oily acne-prone skin! In clinical studies, it has been shown to reduce the oiliness by up to 40%! It contains two anti-androgen compounds, beta-sitosterol, and stigmasterol, along with vitamin A, which work together to reduce the oil production in the skin and regulate acne.Squalane
Squalane and squalene are both found in our skin. Yet, they are so different! The key difference is that squalene is an unstable molecule with a short shelf life that spoils quickly when exposed to oxygen. Its oxidized form (squalene peroxide) is known to clog pores. Squalane, on the other hand, is a saturated analog of squalene, produced through hydrogenation, and very stable, with a shelf life of over two years. Squalane is very moisturizing, high in antioxidants, slows down the production of excess oil, increases skin hydration by preventing moisture loss, and has antibacterial properties to help fight acne.Lavandula angustifolia (Organic Lavender) Flower Oil
Lavender essential oil has natural antiseptic and antifungal properties, so it inhibits the bacteria and yeast that can cause infection. Lavender essential oil speeds up the healing process of wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburns because it improves the formation of scar tissues. It can also regulate some of the over-secretion of sebum, helping oily skin and acne.Rosa damascena (organic Rose) flower extract
Rose flower extract is deeply nourishing, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, and protects from the loss of firmness. The lipophilic nature of rose oils enhances the penetration of other beneficial ingredients into your skin, allowing them to work deep within our skin.Rosmarinus officinalis (organic Rosemary) Leaf Extract
Rosemary helps to balance the oil production and refresh oily skin without causing dryness. Rich in antioxidants like carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid, rosemary extract protects from free radicals and rejuvenates skin for a more youthful glow.Daucus carota sativa (organic Carrot) Seed Oil
Carrot seed oil has truly one of the best rejuvenating effects on the skin of all essential oils used in skin care. It assists the cell regeneration, helps to fade scars and improve the tone and firmness of the skin. Being high in antioxidants, it helps to neutralize inflammation and oxidative damage from environmental stressors. Never used oils on your face before? Make sure to start slow, because your skin might not be ready for oils. Some skin types simply cannot tolerate oils. If you find that your skin is breaking out more after introducing oils, stop the usage.
HARMONY RESCUE MASK – A CLOSER LOOK
Full ingredient list: Illite (Green Clay), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder◊, Kaolin (White Clay), Camellia Sinensis (Matcha Tea) Leaf Extract◊, Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Powder◊, Myrciaria Dubia (Camu Camu) Fruit Extract◊, Chlorella Vulgaris (Green Algae) Powder◊, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Oil∆, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil◊∆, Limonene*, Linalool*◊ Ingredient from organic farming ∆ Wildcrafted ingredient * Naturally occurring in essential oils
STAR INGREDIENTS IN HARMONY RESCUE MASK
Green clay
Green clay is rich in trace minerals such as calcium, aluminum, magnesium, silica, phosphorous, copper, and zinc. It is particularly beneficial for balancing oily and combination skin, as well as eliminating blackheads and congested pores.Kaolin
Kaolin gently pulls impurities from the pores without causing redness. It is very helpful for oily skin, as it absorbs excess oils and it can help balance the oil production. The gentle crystals in this clay make it a great natural exfoliant.Matcha tea
Green tea and matcha tea are some of the most powerful anti-acne ingredients! They contain a substance called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has been shown to reduce oily skin by 70% (source) and reduce acne by even 50% (source)!White Willow bark powder
Rich in antioxidants, it helps to tone the skin and reduce inflammation and redness. It is very helpful for controlling sebum production and unclogging the pores.Camu camu fruit extract
The Amazonian Camu Camu plant contains the highest level of naturally occurring vitamin C found to date. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, shown to have a very beneficial effect on the skin, including lightening acne scars and accelerating collagen production.MY EVENING ROUTINE FOR CLEAR AND SMOOTH SKIN
I cleanse my skin with jojoba oil, which is either a regular oil cleanse, or a double oil cleanse if I am wearing makeup. Double oil cleanse is simply oil cleanse 2x in a row.
Related: Step-By-Step Guide To My Simple Oil Cleansing Method
About once per week, I apply the Harmony Rescue Mask. I mix 1 tbsp of the mask (which is in powder form) with either just water, or a blend of rose water and raw honey. Either way, it works great! I leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water before it fully dries up.
Then I spray on some rose water and gently apply 4-6 drops of Harmony Bloom Oil.
FINAL VERDICT: GENTLE, BALANCING AND NOURISHING
After a long battle with my skin during my teens and 20s, and then finally healing my acne, I can say that I am finally happy in my skin – now in my 30s. Still, I am very careful to use only products suited for acne-prone skin, while moving more towards anti-aging skincare. This can feel limiting sometimes because I don't often find products that help to balance my acne-prone skin while being nourishing and anti-aging at the same time. I believe I have found both in Wild Beauty Apothecary skincare, and I'll definitely continue using Harmony Bloom Oil and Rescue Mask in the months to come! Questions! Have you ever used anything that has made your skin smoother? Leave a comment!Are you in your 20s or 30s, and tired of still struggling with acne and breakouts? There is so much misinformation about the right skincare for getting clear skin, and caring for sensitive acne-prone skin. This is why I made a FREE online course where you will find little-known skin-healing secrets you won't usually hear from the skincare industry or dermatologists. And yet, they WORK.
Sign up (and get instant access!) here:
Sara, I can’t thank you enough for all your kind words and feedback, I am seriously WOWed!
I am sure anyone who creates something and hears so much love towards their job would feel the same. I am delighted my Harmony range worked so well for you.
Your passion and knowledge on this subject shines though. I am sure what you do helps and guides others who are batting with acne. It is so great to find someone like you, as when you are one of the warriors you may feel that you are batting acne alone. Which is definitely not true!
Thank you for all the love! Words like yours really inspire me to keep pursuing my dream. They encourage me to learn, research and create more products that will serve others.
Yelena <3
Dear Yelena! Somehow my comment didn’t go through yesterday, I see that now. But thank you so much for your kind words! <3 I am very happy that you are pursuing your dream, and doing so splendidly! You deserve it and the world deserves it, I am just helping to spread the message!:))) Harmony line is wonderful, can't wait to see what the future holds for Wild Beauty Apothecary! <3
Thanks for all you do. I’ve been into all this for quite some time and you’ve really got it down! I love your site. I’m wondering, have you found anything that helps acne scars?
Thank you so much Tricia for your wonderful comment!:)) I would say gentle, consistent exfoliation 2-3 times per week, plus a strong vitamin C serum can work great! The one I use (Mad Hippie) is quite gentle, and I recently found a powder by True Botanicals that has ascorbic acid (the most powerful form), which you mix with an oil. This seems to be to be quite powerful! Just try to always listen to your skin and not overdo any treatments!:)
Hi Sara – really enjoyed your posts and I am going to try the oil and mask as I have pigmentation issues and will follow your evening routine.
In addition to this, please could you let me know what your morning routine consists of as it would be really helpful.
Thank you.