zk’in Certified Organic Skincare – Honest Beauty at its Core

This year has been a year for making connections, for meeting people. I have spent a lot of time over the past 2 years whilst writing this blog, connecting with so many amazing people over Twitter, and 2014 has finally been the year when I have met some of them.

One such person is Tracey Robinson from Vert PR. We only live 2 counties away from each other here in the West Country, however it took the fabulous Organic Beauty Week at London’s Wholefoods Kensington to finally bring us together in September and I also had the honour of meeting Grace Culhaci the founder of zk’in Organic Skincare at the same time, who was launching her amazing certified organic skincare range in the UK that week.

We spent many an hour chatting and I have to say it was like catching up with old friends. The time whizzed by and if I’m honest I could have chatted all day!

Grace is one of those women you meet who glows. She has an amazing smile and her generous nature makes you feel at ease straight away. Her passion for her certified organic skincare range is evident from the moment she shares with you the many benefits they bring and some of the unusual ingredients they contain.

Grace, like many others was guided to change her life when she had her first daughter. She developed a skin condition in pregnancy which made her take a long hard look at the products she was using. Carcinogens and toxic ingredients in even those products which professed to be natural inspired Grace to research, study and learn to create her own organic alternatives and through their use her skin condition cleared.

However, during her second pregnancy Grace was to be diagnosed with an inoperable tumour on her optic nerve which left undiagnosed for many years had affected her vision in the right eye. This life changing moment made Grace focus her attention on creating and living a healthy, organic lifestyle with a vitamin B17 nutritional program. This and the use of her pure skincare products meant that she now lives, as she puts it ”a beautiful, pain free life”.

I was given the opportunity to try out some of the zk’in range and I have to say that my skin went through quite a few weeks of positive change. I’ve only had this with 2 other skincare ranges so far; AEOS and Live Native. More on that later.

Grace has a zero tolerance policy to anything less than the best:

• Zero tolerance to unnatural ingredients. They choose instead to have a 100% natural preservative system.
• Zero tolerance to unsustainability; all packaging complies with food grade standards and is BPA free. The packaging is recyclable and sustainable.
• Zero unsustainable ingredients and business practices.
• Zero tolerance to animal cruelty; no testing of products or ingredients on animals, no selling to markets that require compulsory animal testing and the range is proudly vegan.
• Zero tolerance to dishonest marketing; no photo shopping of images of women used in their promotional literature. Remember this is honest beauty.
• Zero petrochecmicals, zero parabens and sulphates, zero GMO ingredients, zero nano particles.

I was given products from their oily / combination skin range to try; the purifying cleansing gel, clear skin toner, rebalancing lotion and then the line smoothing serum and clarifying exfoliator.

I began with the main 3 products from the oily / combination range for the first few weeks to get my skin used to the new regime. I was glad I did, as my skin went through a type of cleansing. Our skin is our largest organ and it is a great detoxifier. The zk’in range uses healing Aloe Vera at its core, being the first ingredient on each of the product lists. I found that my skin started to shift out toxicity quite quickly after starting with the new products and I erupted in spots around my jaw line which is a key area for me if my skin decides to clear out.

Now I could have decided to stop there and not continue on, however knowing that my skin was taking this opportunity to throw out some toxicity I persevered and after about 4 weeks of using the cleanser, toner and rebalancing lotion my skin settled again to reveal smoother, clearer, smaller pored skin. Wow, I was impressed. I then started to introduce the line smoothing serum and once a week the clarifying exfoliator.

I have continued on with this regime for about 7-8 weeks now and my skin is calm, clear and much less shiny in the t-zone area. I’m really impressed. I have only ever had this change with two other skincare ranges AEOS which uses biodynamic ingredients and Live Native who like zk’in only use a 100% natural preservative system. My skin seems to love the purity of these ranges.

Purifying Cleansing Gel – This is an oil free gel which uses clinically proven Quillaya Bark Extract to help reduce shine. It doesn’t foam which is a shame, but it gently cleanses the skin leaving it feeling clean and matt.

Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice*, Sucrose cocoate*, Quillaja saponaria (Quillaja) bark extract*, Leuconostoc/Radish root ferment filtrate, Sclerotium gum (natural gelling agent), Avena sativa (Oat) kernel flour*, d-Limonene#, Parfum (natural preservative), Citrus reticulata (Red mandarin) peel oil*, p-Anisic acid (natural preservative), Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter Orange) peel extract, Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) peel oil*, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) oil*, Linalool#, citric acid.(*certified organic, #natural component of essential oil). 96.11% organic of total

Clean Skin Toner – This light toner was lovely to use. With astringent witch hazel and anti-acne Willow Bark, this fresh toner was effective yet gentle. My only criticism would be that I’d love to see it as a spray toner. I love to spritz my toners onto my face – I’m lazy !

Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice*, Aqua (Hydrosol of Leptospermum petersonii (Lemon scented tea tree)), Hamamelis virginiana (Witch hazel) bark/leaf extract*, Alcohol* (natural), Salix alba (Willow) bark extract, Leuconstoc/Radish root ferment filtrate, Leptospermum petersonii (Lemon scented tea tree) oil*. (*certified organic). 95% organic of total

Rebalancing Lotion – This has a lovely citrusy smell and sinks well into the skin leaving it matt and ready for make-up. It features EPS Seamat to mattify shine within one hour of use. My skin loved it and stayed matt pretty much all day which is normally unheard of!

Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice*, Macadamia integrifolia (Macadamia) seed oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil*, Aqua, Leuconostoc/Radish root ferment filtrate, Cetearyl^ olivate (natural emulsifier), Sorbitan olivate (natural emulsifier), Avena sativa (Oat) kernel flour*, Sclerotium gum (natural gelling agent), d-Limonene#, Citrus reticulata (Red mandarin) peel oil*, Parfum, (natural preservative), Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter orange) fruit extract, p-Anisic acid (natural preservative), Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) fruit oil* (Bergaptene free), Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) oil*, Tocopherol (non GMO natural Vit. E), Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Linalool#, Plankton extract (Bacterio genus), Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) flower oil*, Phenethyl Alcohol (natural), Benzyl benzoate# (natural from Ylang Ylang). (*certified organic, ^RSPO sustainable palm input, #natural component of essential oil). 92.63% organic of total

Line Smoothing Serum – This beautifully light skin serum smells of vanilla and sinks beautifully into the skin. It uses clinically proven active Galuline Expression which temporarily blocks the muscular contractions that contribute to expression lines. I can’t say I noticed much difference with this however, I am blessed with few lines even at my now 42 years young. Oily skin does have its benefits in the end !

Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice*, Rosa eglanteria (Rosehip) seed oil*, Alcohol (natural from beet), Aqua, Cetearyl^ olivate (natural emulsifier), Sclerotium gum (natural gelling agent), Leuconostoc/Radish root ferment filtrate, Sorbitan olivate (natural emulsifier), Parfum (natural preservative), Lavandula hybrida (Lavandin grosso) oil*, Spilanthes acmella (Paracress) extract, Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter orange) fruit extract, Linalool#, Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla) fruit extract*, Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) flower oil*, Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) oil*, Benzyl benzoate# (natural from Ylang Ylang), d-Limonene#, Geraniol#, Coumarin#. (*certified organic, ^RSPO sustainable palm input, #natural component of essential oil) 95.05% organic of total

Clarifying Exfoliator – This exfoliator uses coffee beans and colloidal oatmeal to remove congestion, refine pores and improve clarity. I preferred to use this almost like a mask which is recommended to drier skins. It was quite coarse in its texture and smelt amazing. I don’t like to drink coffee but the smell is fabulous. This exfoliator smells of freshly brewed coffee – delicious.

Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice*, Coffea arabica (Coffee) seed powder*, Sclerotium gum (natural gelling agent), Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter orange) fruit extract, Avena sativa (Oat) kernel flour*, Citrus reticulata (Red mandarin) peel oil*, d-Limonene#, Citric acid. (*certified organic, #natural component of essential oil). 97.90% organic of total

Overall I’m really impressed with zk’in’s COSMOS certified skincare range. It’s well thought out, effective yet gentle and with a 100% natural preservative system you really can’t go wrong with this one.

The range extends to normal to dry skin and sensitive skin and several of the products transcend all skin types. The range is reasonably priced making it accessible to most budgets which was one of Grace’s wants. Good quality skincare shouldn’t need to cost the earth.

If you’d like to find out more about this great skincare range then pop across to the zk’in website for more information. In the UK you can currently purchase zk’in at Xynergy and Love Lula. 

Have you come across, or used any of the zk’in certified organic skincare range? If so, do share your thoughts below.

Until next time x

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Disclaimer: I was given a Purifying Cleansing Gel, Clear Skin Toner, Clarifying Exfoliator, Line Smoothing Serum and the Rebalancing Lotion to try out for review. All opinions given are my own honest thoughts and feelings on the products I used.

UPDATE: zk'in is no longer available to buy direct from the UK.