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Okay, so we’ve had freezing weather at night, and 70s during the day…?!?! Wth? What the heck, Mother Nature? If she could make up her mind, that would be great! And if she could keep it warm, that would be even better…lol! Anywho, changing weather is always a good time to update your skincare routine. (And a great excuse to shop 😉 )
I’m always excited to try new and new-to-me brands. Erno Laszlo is one of those that I’ve always been curious about. I knew it was a brand that was popular in Old Hollywood, so it was iconic, but hadn’t ever personally experienced anything from them. So…. I was super-thrilled when a PR contact from a fave brand contacted me about Erno Laszlo- she’s never steered me wrong before, so I was pretty confident this time, too!
The brand was started by Dr. Laszlo in Budapest in 1927. He moved to New York and started an institute there, on Fifth Avenue, in 1939. His clients included Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, Jackie Onassis, and Marilyn Monroe. In the 1980s and 1990s, the products were in such high demand that a membership, capped at 25,000 members, was required just to purchase the products, so quality could be preserved with each member being given personalized attention. Pretty awesome!
So, I’ve been trying out all the goodies that were sent, and I’ll tell you guys all about them over the next few weeks. I’ll start with the best-selling detoxifying double cleansing duo, and a mask unlike any others I’ve tried: Detoxifying Cleansing Oil, Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar, and the Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment.
I did a bit of research and read that some people think the formulations of some Erno Laszlo products have changed from what they were many years ago. While some seemed to prefer the original formulas, we must take into consideration all the advancements that have been made in the skincare industry. More effective ingredients are continuously being discovered, so, aside from a few cult-faves, I think it’s a GOOD thing when a company keeps formulations fresh and updated. That being said, I was pretty impressed with all three products, read on to find out why!
Detoxifying Cleansing Oil
Erno Laszlo Detoxifying Cleansing Oil immediately appealed to me as soon as I saw it was black, because I knew it likely contained charcoal. I LOVE charcoal in skincare, but it’s often difficult to remove charcoal masks, and my washcloths tend to become discolored…lol. So, the ingredient being in a cleansing oil seemed very promising.
When I checked the ingredients, charcoal powder was indeed listed, along with shea butter, sea water, Vitamin E, and jojoba, olive, and grapeseed oils. I couldn’t wait to try this stuff! I also like that it comes in a pump bottle, so it’s really easy to use, and the consistency is a bit thicker than the other cleansing oils I’ve used, so it was easier to manage and wasn’t runny. I also like the very light scent- it’s pleasant, but not strong.
To use, you’re supposed to massage a generous amount in small circular motions on dry skin to open pores and remove impurities, then follow with the cleansing bar of your choice for balanced, clear skin. I have oily skin, so I didn’t feel like it rinsed as cleanly as a non-oil cleanser, but that’s to be expected- you’re supposed to follow up with a second step, anyway. I did find that if I used this just before getting into the shower, and let it sit on my face fore a few minutes while getting into the shower, it rinsed very cleanly without leaving my skin tight.
I’ve heard a lot of people say they fear oils, and having had acne as a teen, I totally get it. Just remember, oils are oil-soluble- so an oil is great for dealing with the oils on your skin, and this one has the added benefit of charcoal to detoxify. Make sense? So… if you’ve been apprehensive about trying a cleansing oil, this is a great one to start with.
Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar
A facial cleansing bar? Yup! These are becoming increasingly popular, even for shampoo. First things first- I know what you’re probably thinking… I used to think liquid soaps were more sanitary, but science shows this isn’t exactly true. Researchers purposefully contaminated bar soaps with e. coli, and had test participants use the soap regularly, and none developed any adverse effects (Heinze & Yackovich, 1988). So, it seems soap just isn’t a hospital environment for bacteria. If the idea still grosses you out, just rinse the bar before and after each use, and place into the included tray.
Cleansing bars were one of the original Erno Laszlo products, and are meant to be used directly on the face to stimulate circulation, so the bar actually makes sense in this aspect. I’ve always been a fan of bar soaps in the bath for the same reason. As a child, I would even wrap a bar of soap in my wash cloth and use that on my arms and legs.
The Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar contains Dead Sea mud, charcoal, and oakmoss extract to address blemished or stressed complexions. The cleansing bar is to be used directly after cleansing oil, simply dampen the bar and rub directly onto the face to stimulate circulation, rinse with warm water, and follower with toner and other products to meet your needs.
The cleansing bar produces a light gray lather, and cleanses effectively, but doesn’t strip my skin of moisture. I’ve used it as directed with great results, but I prefer to dampen my sonic cleanser as well as the bar, then rub the bar onto the brush, then cleanse. I like that my skin is detoxified without being left tight and dry, and I’m left with a fresh, glowing face.
Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment
I’m a science nerd, so I love anything that involves mixing stuff to create some sort of reaction (I made SO many vinegar and baking soda “volcanoes” as a child, much to my mom’s dismay…lol), and this is one of those products! The Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment is a peel-off mask that contains a liquid and a powder, and you mix them to create a mousse-y foam. It was quite fun to mix it up and watch the foam develop- not even going to lie, that alone made the whole thing worth it!
The liquid contains various moisturizers and hydrators, and the powder contains magnesium, which has myriad benefits for the skin- such as addressing inflammation and acne, improving cellular processes, even preventing moisture loss. With the colder, drier winter weather, this is the perfect product to address tight, itchy, dry skin, and get your glow back.
I will say, make sure to follow the instructions, because I ended up making a mess on my face and it wasn’t as easy to remove as it should have been…lol. They give you a sleek, shiny, convenient spatula to mix the mask and apply. You’re supposed to let it dry for 15-20 minutes, then peel off. Well, I figured if 15-20 minutes are good, then 30-45 must be better, right? Well, the parts that dried too much were a little stubborn, whereas the spots that were still damp peeled right off. SO- don’t leave on too long like I did!
Nevertheless, despite my SNAFU, my results were spectacular! As in the instructions, I used a bit of toner to remove the bits that were left behind. My skin was left dewy and soft, and plumped enough that my fine lines seemed to disappear. One packet made a lot more than I needed, so after a little (okay, a lot) of prodding, I put some on Jerry, and his skin was soft and glowing, too!
I really like each of the products individually, as they all performed quite well with no adverse effects. I think they really worked well together, though, and gave me such a nice, dewy glow. I don’t feel as “drab” on the days I don’t wear makeup…lol!
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with the results I got from the Detoxifying Cleansing Oil, Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar, and Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment mask. Check them out at NORDSTROM.com, or get 20% off with code BEAUX20 if you order from ErnoLaszlo.com!*
Source:
Heinze, J. & Yackovich, F. (1988). Washing with a contaminated soap bar is unlikely to transfer bacteria. Epidemiology and Infection, 101(1):135-42. Retrieved November 13, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3402545.
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