I first tried Honest Beauty a couple months ago and was thoroughly impressed with the reasonable price point and clean formulation (read my review for the Gentle Gel Cleanser and 3-in-1 Detox Mud Mask here). So I decided to delve a little deeper into the brand with a test drive of a couple of its bestsellers, the Vitamin C Radiance Serum (C$39.99) and the Honestly Pure Retinol Serum (C$39.99), both available in stores and online at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada. To read all about them, click......
Honest Beauty | Vitamin C Radiance Serum (C$39.99 for 30 ml):
The Vitamin C Radiance C Serum comes in a plastic pump bottle with a sleek and modern design. The pump dispenser features a twist to open mechanism but the plastic components feel slightly cheap as it took me several tries to get the pump locked in place and ready for use. Given the affordable price point, however, this is far from a dealbreaker.
 |
| Honest Beauty | Vitamin C Radiance Serum & Honestly Pure Retinol Serum |
Formulated with pore-tightening artichoke extract, hydrating aloe juice, and hyaluronic acid, the Vitamin C Radiance Serum brightens the skin with the help of diglucosyl gallic acid, vitamin C, and antioxidant-rich apple extract. The serum has a lightweight gel formulation that's easy to spread and quick to absorb. The formulation also contains light-reflecting pearls that look quite shimmery when first dispensed but undetectable when completely blended. The serum does have a bit of a tight, slightly tacky finish so it should be followed immediately with a nice and nourishing moisturizer. Overall, this is definitely one of the best vitamin C serums I've tried. The brightening and pore-minimizing effects are almost immediate and the clean formulation free of silicones and alcohol is just superb, especially given the affordable price point! If you can find this at your local Shoppers Drug Mart, definitely give this a try!
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Propanediol, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Citric Acid, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Silica, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Erythritol, Carrageenan, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopentyldiol, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) Flower Water, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Tin Oxide, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Mica (CI 77019)
 |
| Honest Beauty | Vitamin C Radiance Serum & Honestly Pure Retinol Serum |
Honest Beauty | Honestly Pure Retinol Serum (C$39.99 for 30 ml):
Also packaged in the same sleek pump bottle, the Honestly Pure Retinol Serum is an effective anti-aging serum designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve skin tone and texture. Formulated with tapioca encapsulated time-release retinol, squalane, jojoba, apple extract, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid, the Honestly Pure Retinol has a light, runny texture that blends very nicely on the skin. The formulation feels instantly hydrating and leaves behind no discernible residue. I've been using some light retinol over the past couple of years so I thought I had some tolerance. However, the Honestly Pure Retinol Serum is actually quite potent. I failed to introduce it to my skincare routine in a gradual manner (i.e. starting with once a week and increase the frequency gradually) and unfortunately experienced quite a bit of peeling and sensitivity. So for those brand new to retinol or those that use weaker versions of retinol like retinyl palmitate, definitely start slow to avoid adverse reactions. Overall though, I still think that the Honestly Pure Retinol Serum is a very good retinol serum thanks to its clean, well-balanced formulation free of drying-alcohols and silicones. It's not one I would recommend to novices but for those looking for an effective yet affordable over-the-counter retinol, it's definitely a great option!
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Retinol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Availability:
Honest Beauty is available in Canada online and in stores at Shopper Drug Mart.