Product for review kindly provided by Twinkle Apothecary
With fragrances like “Nasty Woman” and “Bad Hombre,” you know that Twinkle Apothecary is a must-stop shop. And those are just a few of the brand’s dozen-plus all-natural perfumes. Founded by former Vilda staffer Stefanie Grant-Cassel and based in Oklahoma City, Twinkle Apothecary is an all-vegan, all-natural, cruelty-free beauty brand specializing in fragrance, skincare, and haircare (you can also find jewellery and printed merchandise that benefits organisations like the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Planned Parenthood, and The Cancer Research Institute). If that’s not enough, you can shop vintage dresses while you’re picking out your next perfume!
I recently had the privilege of sampling some Twinkle Apothecary goods—and I totally fell in love! Here are the products I tried:
Inspired by Los Angeles gardens in the spring, this uplifting blend of bergamot, jasmine, neroli, and sandalwood is a bouquet of sunny, exotic goodness. Unapologetically sensual, this all-natural perfume is lovely for both day and evening wear, but my favorite time to wear it is on a sunny day when I want to feel fresh and feminine.
A perfect companion to Mulholland perfume, this (and all Twinkle Apothecary deodorants) can be ordered with baking soda (for extra odour control) or without (best for sensitive skin). Arrowroot powder, kaolin clay, and tapioca starch help absorb moisture and leave skin with a soft, dry finish. Meanwhile, virgin coconut oil, shea butter, and grapeseed oil lend moisturizing, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial benefits, which are aided by tea tree oil, a powerful antiseptic. Finally, candelilla wax provides a protective barrier to delicate underarm skin.
Living in south Texas (even during Spring) is an ideal place to test natural deodorant—if a deodorant doesn’t work, the heat and humidity will suss it out! Fortunately, Twinkle Apothecary deodorant passes the Corpus Christi test. At the end of the day, I’m neither sticky nor smelly!
While I don’t think I’ve ever met a dry shampoo I didn’t like, Twinkle Apothecary dry shampoo has moved to the top of my list because the powders feel especially finely milled, so it flawlessly blends into my hair. The baby hairs above my ears always need attention when I have second-day hair, and this stuff is my new go-to to freshen up that area. The first ingredient, white rice powder, becomes translucent when it meets the oil and moisture in hair, so I’m not left with a chalky residue. Plus, baking soda and tea tree oil help bust bacteria and odour—win!
I didn’t get on the facial toner bandwagon until I started using green beauty products—and good thing this was the case. Many conventional toners are primarily water, coloring, alcohol, and fragrance. Not so with natural toners, which are packed with botanical ingredients that actually do nice things for your skin. Twinkle Apothecary toning mist features witch hazel, which tightens and soothes skin while helping remove any lingering dirt and dead skin cells that your cleanser didn’t catch. Neroli, ylang ylang, lavender, orange, and geranium essential oils brighten and balance skin. This toner is a perfect way to prep skin before moisturizer and makeup.
My skin lets me know when I’ve found a winning facial oil—I have an instant glow, and my face feels soft, not greasy, and my skin was particularly pleased when I first applied Twinkle Apothecary facial oil. This multi-tasking oil is a powerhouse botanical blend of watermelon seed oil, grapeseed oil, rosehip seed oil, and red raspberry seed oil—plus essential oils of neroli, carrot, lavender, and ylang ylang. Together, these oil deeply moisturize skin, improve elasticity, and repair troubled skin. This oil can be used as an oil cleanser, a serum, or an all-over moisturizer. I’ve been mixing a few drops with my evening moisturizer for an ultra-hydrating blend that gives me a lit-from-within glow (this oil blend won’t clog pores!).
Makeup Remover & Cleansing Oil
Another luscious oil blend! Jojoba and watermelon seed oil dissolve makeup, dirt, and sebum build-up while chamomile, ylang ylang, and geranium soothe skin and help balance oil production. The blend can be used alone, mixed with a masque or cleansing powder, or used with a konjac sponge. I use it as the first step in a double cleansing routine—I massage my face with this oil, focusing on areas that tend to get congested, and then follow with a cream cleanser (this oil blend won’t clog your pores either!).
Cleansing powders can be pretty amazing because there are so many ways to customize their use: mix them with water, non-dairy milk, coconut water, toner, green tea, or facial oil and use as a gentle exfoliator or apply to face and allow to dry (easy DIY masque!).
In this powder blend, white rice flour buffs away dead skin cells, leaving a brighter, smoother complexion. Tapioca starch provides a soothing, and essential oils of neroli, lavender, and ylang ylang help address problem skin.
After a period of illness and dehydration (ugh!), this bright yellow butter was gold to me as it seemed like the one thing that could rescue my parched lips. Plus, slathering this soothing blend on my face was an easy way to practice self-care and feel pampered. With a base of shea butter (amazingly rich without clogging pores) and a blend of roasted coffee arabica oil (mmm!), grape seed oil, rosehip, and red raspberry seed oil, this butter offers anti-inflammatory, skin-tone evening, skin-tightening, and anti-inflammatory benefits. It’s perfect for dry skin and as an evening cream.
Like Twinkle Apothecary Beauty Butter, the Facial Balm is a suited for skin crises as well as daily use. Shea, evening primrose, avocado, sunflower, and red raspberry seed oil provide omega-rich moisture while the catechins in matcha help reverse free-radical damage. Plus, green tea also has anti-bacterial properties, making this non-comedogenic balm great staples for fighting wrinkles and acne. The inclusion of tapioca starch gives the balm a matte finish, so it suitable for day use. I’ve been using the facial balm as a spot treatment for areas that look like they’re calling for help.
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All photos by author.
