*** This post contains items gifted for review. All thoughts and opinions are forever my own.***
Long-time readers will know that I am something of a skincare fanatic, especially when it comes to natural skincare and cruelty-free brands. So when the French skincare brand Typology reached out to me, I was absolutely thrilled.
Typology products of minimalist, vegan, cruelty-free, ethically-sourced, all made in Paris, and sustainably packaged and posted. All the formulas of products are minimalist, with less than 10 ingredients.
I was so impressed with the way that the products were sent. There wasn’t a single piece of plastic wastage, and everything was recyclable card. Product tubes are aluminum and glass.
Typology has pending B-corp status. B-corp is the current gold standard of measuring the environmental and social impact of a company.
After sending Typology through my skincare concerns: light signs of aging, dryness, slight sun exposure, breakouts during my period – Typology sent me through my skincare diagnosis and prescription.
My skincare diagnoses was a DE. 18% of other Typologists are DEs.
DE skin produces slightly less sebum than average, especially in the wintertime. The lack of lipids hinders the formation of the skin’s protective barrier that works to retain moisture. When dehydrated, fine lines may appear on the surface. When kept hydrated and nourished, your skin feels more elastic. Fortunately, my skin’s sebum-deficiency can sometimes be an advantage, as it prevents the appearance of pimples, which is a rare quality.
In the AM:
I use the solid hydrating cleansing bar (£11.80) to gently and thoroughly cleanse my skin, rubbing the soap into a lather in my hands before applying to my face. The bar smells incredible and doesn’t feel stripping to the skin in the slightest – no post wash tightness!
I follow that with the peppermint hydrolate (£8.80) after cleansing with a cotton pad. It’s to purify and balance my skin’s pH levels.
The last step in the morning is to use one of my Women’s Serum (£44.90) – the set is adapted to the specific needs of the skin throughout the menstrual cycle so I just pick the serum that corresponds to the week in my cycle that I am in. On the first day of your cycle (which is the first day of your period), you start using the first serum. The next week, you use the second serum and so on.
Each of the 4 serums has it’s own function:
- WEEK 1. During this week, your hormone levels are low which makes it hard for your outer skin layer to stay hydrated. Your skin can also get irritated and red during this week. The solution? Typology’s Hydrating and soothing serum with hyaluronic acid, bisabobol and soothing cornflower water.
- WEEK 2. Normally, in this week your skin is at its best. It feels more supple, looks more glowing and redness starts to fade. The Glow and bounce serum is designed specifically to boost the skin even more, using a vitamin C extract and fruit enzymes.
- WEEK 3. Your progresteron levels rise in this week. As a result, your skin starts to produce more sebum (oil) and your pores widen. This is where the Hydrating and astringent serum comes in. Ginger is antibacterial and clear the pores, while glycerin and aquacyl keep your skin hydrated and in balance to stop it from over-producing oil.
- WEEK 4. If you’ve suffered from hormonal breakouts before, you know the week before your period is mostly when they decide to pop up. Typology’s Mattifying and anti-blemish serum helps fight this using algae and antibacterial zinc.
In the PM:
It was recommended that I cleanse with their Micellar Water (£12.80). This reminded me of the French classic- Bioderma. I really like it, but if you use a waterproof mascara you’ll need another product to get it to budge.
Then I apply 3-4 drops of Retinol Serum (£14.80) using circular motions. This helps fight the development of wrinkles and plump skin. This serum has an oiler texture which doesn’t bother me as I have an issue with dryness, but that’s something to keep in mind if it is an issue for you. Always use a suncream, but always ALWAYS use a suncream if you are using retinol.
Then if there are any spots that I want to nourish, I put a drop of Salicylic acid 2% + Zinc 1% serum (£11.80) to the individual spot. This helps limit bacterial development and reduce blemishes. I haven’t had the chance to use it on a spot yet, but other reviewers online mention that it’s great with minimizing blackheads as well.
I haven’t been using the products for long enough to form a set-in-stone opinion, but since adopting a Typology regimen, my skin has been clear, glowing and generally healthy-looking.
In the future, I’d really like to try their moisturizer.
There are so many products in the range that I highly recommend exploring the Typology website for yourself.
