As a certified skincare addict, I am always up for trying any new products that come my way — especially if they are made with clean ingredients and are 100% vegan. So when LA-based clean beauty brand, Bella Vérité reached out to me to try their new skincare line, I couldn’t resist!
Before we launch into this review, let’s talk about the company itself.
Bella Vérité, I just learned, stands for “beautiful truth.”
This can be said for both their philosophy and their line of products: skincare made with pure ingredients, to reveal and enhance one’s natural beauty. A longtime dream of mine is to be able to go makeup-free with confidence, knowing that I have clear, glowy skin that doesn’t need to be covered up. Well, with all the WFH I do these days, my dream has been slightly fulfilled, only due to the convenience and pure laziness of being able to work in my pajamas. ANYWAY…
I got to try the following, courtesy of Bella Vérité:
- Stardom Glow CC Serum
- Cool As a Cucumber Herbal Eye Gel
- Dew Wonders Oil Cleanser
- Vibrant Exfoliating Face Scrub
Please note: I was gifted these products in exchange for an honest review, and opinions are all my own.
Stardom Glow CC Serum (AKA a great dupe for Ole Henriksen’s ‘Truth Serum’!*)
I was the most excited about this product, because it’s a vitamin C-based serum, which is key to getting that fresh-faced, glowwy, summer-skin look that beauty bloggers always seem to capture perfectly in their golden-hour selfies on Instagram.
Vitamin C is a must in your skincare routine because it fades dark spots and brightens up dull, aging skin. The ingredients in Stardom Glow are simple and clean: Caribbean orange oil and citrus stem cells, along with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, for the ultimate combination of brightening and hydration. I love putting this on my face in the morning (it’s like a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice for your skin!) and watching as the vibrant colour sinks in, leaving an instant glow. I’m very happy with my results so far, and will definitely purchase when the bottle runs out.
*Additional notes: I have spent hundreds on Ole Henriksen’s famous “Truth Serum,” only to be disappointed by the lacklustre results. Bella’s Stardom Glow CC Serum is half the cost and arguably better, with clean ingredients that you can actually pronounce. Another huge difference I noticed was the overall texture between the two: OH’s serum left a somewhat sticky residue, whereas Bella’s serum sunk deep into the skin and actually made it appear more even-toned. Win!
Cool As a Cucumber Herbal Eye Gel
I am in LOVE this eye gel. Putting this under my eyes every morning and night is an absolutely decadent treat that I always look forward to, mainly because of the instant cooling sensation I get from using it, and the fresh scent of cucumber that lingers. I apply Bella’s Herbal Eye Gel and for a brief moment I’m transported into a luxurious spa.
That’s actually a great line to describe this product: it’s basically a spa in a jar. Bella Vérité’s eye gel is 100% natural, formulated with hyaluronic acid, and an intricate array of botanical extracts: aloe, shea, avocado, cucumber, coffee bean, eggplant, jojoba, basil, turmeric, and ginger. I have yet to see a huge improvement in my dark under-eye circles from this product (I blame the anemia), but it does wonders for puffiness and awakening the eyes in the morning.
Bonus: The price is excellent for the amount you get ($29 for a 2 oz. jar), and a little goes a long way with this eye gel. I could see a single jar lasting up to a year or longer!
Have you ever tried an oil cleanser? I’ve always wanted to, especially after reading about the numerous benefits of oil cleansing, but I never quite felt ready to swap my Dr. Bronner’s for pure oil. When Bella Verite sent me their oil cleanser to try, it initially felt so strange to me. I was used to the lathering up my wet face in soapy bubbles, not massaging a dry face full of makeup with all oil and no water. It seemed counter-intuitive.
Dew Wonders features a proprietary blend of the following naturally-derived oils: castor oil, sweet almond, apricot, avocado, jojoba seed, rosehip seed, and Caribbean orange oil.
Hmm, that’s a lot of oil. I’m acne-prone, so I was skeptical. At first use, the oil sunk into my face and didn’t really feel like it was cleaning anything. But then, after rinsing with water, the magic began to happen. As I rinsed my face, I noticed that the oil cleanser effortlessly melted the makeup off of my skin. It was gentle enough to remove the makeup around my eyes, too, and my face didn’t feel super dried out, like it does after using a soapy cleanser. My skin felt hydrated and I hadn’t even applied moisturizer yet! It was crazy. 100% recommend.
Hot tip: For those ultra lazy nights when you’re too tired to go through your entire bedtime routine (let alone wash your face), I’ve gotten away with using just Dew Wonders Oil Cleanser, rinsing with a warm wash cloth, and promptly going to bed completely guilt-free.
Vibrant Exfoliating Face Scrub
I haven’t used a good face scrub since my teenage St. Ives days, which I now know is actually horrible for your skin and the environment. The trick to a good exfoliator is to be gentle with both its ingredients and the method. Bella’s Vibrant Exfoliating Face Scrub luckily does not contain any icky plastic microbeads, and instead opts for eco-friendly sodium bicarbonate and jojoba esters that dissolve in water and break upon application, providing a much gentler exfoliation and a softer feel.
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the scrub has a scent reminiscent of childhood. It smells sweet, like cotton candy, but contains only the most natural and nourishing ingredients, like vanilla, coconut, and anise. A part of me is sad that I can only use this once a week, because it’s such a joy to scrub my face with it.
Another tip: Pair this scrub with Dew Wonders Oil Cleanser (use the scrub last) and your skin will feel baby soft and smooth for a week.
So, there you have it. Bella Originals is a clean beauty must-have if you want happy, glowing skin. If you’re interested in trying out Bella Vérité, use my coupon code strawberry15 for 15% off your entire order at checkout. You can thank me later. :)