I think it's a prerequisite of being a woman that about once a year you reassess your skincare routine. I personally love trying new skincare products, but sometimes my skin reacts poorly to the switch-up so these days I'm very cautious about adding anything new into my routine.
I tend to fluctuate between wanting more products in my skincare routine and seeing the value of less but better. Right now I'm firmly in the simplified skincare routine camp with a bit of a skincare cycling routine going on.
It looks a little something like this:
Sunday evening – hydrating mask, double cleanse, moisturize, oil
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – exfoliate, cleanse, toner, moisturizer
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday – cleanse, moisturize, oil
For Christmas, I received the loveliest gift of the Oak Essentials Mini Routine that I've been slowly trying out and these products have added so much to my evening skincare routine. Keep reading for a full review and my thoughts on buying the full sized versions.
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About Jenni Kayne's Oak Essentials Skincare Line
When Jenni Kayne announced they were launching a skincare line I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't know just how good. If you're not familiar with the Jenni Kayne brand, it's a luxury, California-inspired clothing and home brand that focuses on quality basics across all aspects of life.
I have been a fan for a very long time, but regrettably don't own many pieces because the price tags are steep. But when I can I splurge on a piece here and there and this past Christmas I found some beautiful pieces of theirs under the tree including the Oak Essentials Mini Routine. I absolutely love when brands release well-priced, small versions of their products to trial. Like I mentioned before my skin has reacted poorly to new products in the past so I'm also very careful when I'm testing a new product and prefer to have a mini size and mini price tag in case it just doesn't work for me. It's also lovely to have mini or travel sizes of some of your favorite products so you never have to go without - even when traveling!
But after about 3 weeks of testing out the products and *sadly* running out of some of the trial-sized products, I'm happy to report that this entire range gets a great big 10/10 from me. Let's break it down.
What's In the Oak Essentials Skincare Line?
The Mini Routine comes with 5 of their signature products in the skincare line:
This skincare set is designed to be an uncomplicated, luxurious, hydrating routine inspired by nature. It's "organic whenever possible" according to the marketing materials and uses beautiful ingredients like Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil, Organic Honey, Avocado Oil and Blue Tansy Oil.
There are also a few different serums: a retinol and a Vitamin C that I haven't tried but seem delightful. The packaging is minimal and beautiful – perfect for a spa-like bathroom or aesthetic and even the mini routine comes in tiny glass bottles.
My Favorite Products from the Oak Essentials Skincare Line
I really have been impressed by all of the products in the routine. They minimally fragranced, feel very hydrating and leave my skin glowing after use. But a few favorites did stand out from the rest.
The Restorative Mask. Made with organic honey and avocado oil this has been one of the most calming and hydrating face masks I've used in a long time. I've gotten four full applications from the trial size and the results are just lovely. In high school when I had acne I used to make a homemade mask from honey, avocados, etc. and this is just the well-packaged, less messy version of that! It leaves my skin baby soft and glowing and I already have it in my cart to repurchase for my Sunday evening face mask ritual. Plus, I actually think the price point is very good with this product at only $68 for the full size.
UPDATE: I bought the full size Restorative Mask because it's truly a luxurious product that makes my skin GLOW. It's worth every penny.
The Pure Gel Cleanser – In my latest Oak Essentials order I also popped the Pure Gel Cleanser into my cart and for only $42 for a very large bottle it's an absolute steal. The formula smells a bit like evergreens - fresh and woodsy - and it's so hydrating without any irritants. My skin is sensitive and I can use this cleanser twice per day without any issues. It's also formulated with Aloe and Verbena so it's extra gentle.
The Ritual Oil. I have been absolutely loving this product. Facial oils and serums are my favorite part of any skincare routine as that's where I feel like my skin really has a chance to heal and revive. The Ritual Oil is antioxidant-heavy and relies on Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Borage Seed Oil and Blue Tansy Oil to bring life back to dull skin and protect it from the harmful parts of our atmosphere like pollution, dirt, too much sun, etc.
Balancing Mist. This was the product I didn't think I would use that much but has ended up being a really lovely item to have on hand. This is an all-day or evening product with rose oil and aloe vera that is formulated to spritz on the face for a light and refreshing wake up or tone down. It smells like a peaceful spa and refreshes the skin so beautifully while restoring it with both vitamins and calming agents.
Final Thoughts on Oak Essentials Skincare Line
Over the past few weeks I have been looking into some different skincare lines and brands and honestly the options are overwhelming. While I love trying new things and switching up my routine, I often have to remind myself that if something is working, it's ok to stick to it.
I love that Jenni Kayne and Oak Essentials have created a simplistic, nature-forward line of clean beauty products that work and while are a bit on the pricy side don't break the bank like some other clean beauty brands.
I already placed two different orders for the full sized products and another Mini Routine for when I'm traveling. These are products that I know will work for me for a long time to come.
And if you're looking for a great deal to try a product or two - use this link to get $25 off your first order of $50 or more!
