Art of Organics

A really good subscription box makes the day of its arrival feel like your birthday. And Art of Organics accomplishes this by doing a beautiful job of curating clean beauty products into monthly boxes. Culled around a certain concept (fresh, detox, etc...) which is pulled into a bespoke print or illustration used on the packaging and enclosed note to elaborate on the products chosen.

I really didn't think I needed another subscription box, but after following them on Instagram for several months, I found myself observing wistfully all the boxes released that I didn't have. And since signing up, I've had no regrets. Not one box has darkened my doorstep that left me thinking "well, this month's a dud -- let's see how the next one turns out."

I've discovered new holy grail items (like the Birch Rose & Co. mask pictured above that both restores my dehydrated skin and quells breakouts). Claire, the founder, has an innate sense of what her clientele are after and has somehow managed the tall order of satisfying everyone while keeping things exciting. 

A box of staples that satisfy a hole you didn't realize you had at $39 a pop (complimentary shipping!) -- I cannot recommend it enough. 

Kumi Beauty Co.

Kumi Beauty Co. is an indie clean beauty line created by (gorgeous) toxicologist and cosmetic chemist Kumi Gesinde, who, frustrated by the lack of clean beauty options for women of color, set out to make her own. Kumi also dealt with acne and eczema as a teenager, creating her own skincare from scratch, before studying green chemistry and starting her line. Prevention-before-cure is her creed, and she is committed to making an impact in the lives of women. 

Kumi sent me the above package containing a highlight reel of her lovely line to try out, and after getting over the initial thrill of receiving such a fun box in the mail, I was left quite impressed with the contents – and now have some new favorites.

Color

The powder bronzer, Sunbeam, a silky powder with no hint of orange and the perfect amount of shimmer, is housed in a generous compact. It's lightly pigmented and one of the more subtle bronzers, I'd suggest it also as a finishing powder.

The powder blush (Bloom) is a cool and demure pink with a pearly mica sheen  that gives a lit-from-within effect. I particularly liked this dusted on top of cheekbones. Also infused with jojoba oil, so there's no chalky dryness.

The cream blush stick (Merlot) is incredibly easy to apply and blends quickly to a powdery finish. Plus the lightweight packaging makes it idea to stash in purse for touchups.

I particularly loved the lip gloss (shown here in Pinking of You). The lightweight tube houses a fluffy, translucent gloss with a high shine quotient. Not to mention it's sweetly spiked a with non-cloying vanilla scent, and wears like a balm.

The nail polishes come in bottles reminiscent of 90's Hard Candy nail polishes. The two colors, London and Dakar, are opaque, punchy pinks. Oftentimes, opaque colors streak, necessitating multiple coats for even coverage. Not the case here, one coat and you're done. Plus, the polishes really last – 7 days in my case, which is no easy feat. I was previously committed to my Smith & Cult polishes, but these have usurped that role since I've begun using them two months ago.

Skincare

The Blueberry & Oats Exfoliating Powder is the ideal morning cleanser. It's simple, doesn't strip the skin, and does a lovely job polishing any debris or excess oil in the t-zone. Containing Geisha-approved powdered adzuki beans and bamboo powder, this cleanser restores a matte and balanced complexion. Plus the addition of blueberries smell wonderful in the morning, and oats are known for soothing cranky skin. The granules are small and round, so you get effective exfoliation but without damaging the skin.

It's suggested to mix with water into a paste, but I've taken to mixing a bit of it with apricot kernal or almond oil in my hands and using it as a mask before wiping it off with a damp linen cloth. 

And my favorite, hands down product that I'm already planning on buying when I run out is the Cheeky Cherry AHA Peel.

The first thing you notice when opening it is the scent of raw, tart cherries, and you can see the pieces of it in the mask. The mask is a cool, gel infused with cherry and grape seed extract, which you're only supposed to apply for a few minutes because it's packed with a powerhouse blend of glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids.

I loved the GOOP exfoliating mask, but this one has taken it's place. My skin is literally the smoothest it's ever been, acne scars are significantly improved, clogged pores deflated and I'm glowing. I've become addicted to it, using it nearly every day and leaving it on for longer spells because the results are so immediate and noticeable. By far, this is the most incredible exfoliating product I've used to date. If you're new to the line or curious, definitely add a jar of this to your basket.

You can discover the above products, and the rest of the line at kumibeautyco.com