Hi! I'm Maggie and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter about slow beauty and slow living. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below! No pressure but thank you if you do.
Some of you may know of Ayla Beauty, a San Francisco brick-and-mortar devoted to all things clean and luxury beauty. Of course, there are some more affordable items, but most of the brands they carry lean luxury. Regardless, they are one of my favorites, if not top favorite online retailers because they have:
excellent customer service
fast and free shipping* Okay, it's only free if you spend $35 and up, but for those of us who shop clean beauty, that's the lowest minimum above free!
samples
Ayla offers custom samples ($7–$40) as well as three free samples with any purchase. And let me tell you, the samples they dole out free with purchase are delightful. Sometimes they're freshly packed (in the past, I've collected a few vials of their Dara's Oil), new items they're carrying, or a few gems from those previously mentioned luxury lines.
With my past few orders and two samples generously sent from my dear friend, Asti (Instagram, YouTube), I'd managed to collect almost an entire skincare routine from just samples. Thus, I thought it time to put this well-loved brand to the test.
Let's get general musings out of the way first. TWELVE Beauty is "a high-performance skincare collection which fuses botanical expertise with clean, skin-safe science…designed to bring much needed relief to stressed, sensitive and reactive (or allergy-prone) skin." I very much agree with this description. Right off the bat, the brand feels akin to Marie Veronique, an intersection of organic/botanical and science-safe ingredients. All their products contain only twelve ingredients max; thus, TWELVE Beauty. Their items are either unscented or offer a beautifully gentle, light, clean, and fresh scent (from floral extracts or traces of essential oils). Of all clean skincare I've tried, this is the least scented after unscented products. I also didn't break out at all when trying all these new items, which speaks volumes in my experience. Gentle, yet effective, and undoubtedly caters to sensitive and reactive skin (aka me). Some of their items are entirely essential oil-free, and I believe none contain castor oil for those who might be allergic.
Here's what my AM + PM routines looked like for about a week and a half:
TWELVE Beauty Ideal Moisture Level Serum ($68, 30ml | 1floz)
I'm starting with my least favorite (but trust me, you'll want to stay till the end). I don't usually use a moisture serum. Most contain hyaluronic acid, and my skin is very selective when it comes to that ingredient. It has to be the right blend; otherwise, it either dries out my skin or does nothing. It's a thin, clear liquid serum that swipes on effortlessly and sinks in quickly. Some moisture serums can have a tacky feel, but this one is silky smooth! The first time I used a minimal amount (sensitive skin, always have to be careful with new items), maybe four drops worth? It wasn't drying like some other moisture serums, but it didn't hydrate or plump either. The second time I used a lot more, around ten drops, and it felt much better. It didn't dry me out, but I didn't see much change aside from a bit more hydration to the skin. I think perhaps with continued use, there would be more results, but I didn't see enough to make me want to invest in it with this sample.
TWELVE Beauty Clementine Cleansing Balm ($60, 100ml | 3.38oz)
I was most excited to try this cleansing balm. One of my very persistent skin issues is blackheads on the nose. For whatever reason, that's where I'm always most congested, and I've just learned to live with them. From one of Ayla Beauty's newsletters (highly suggest signing up if you aren't already), I read that this cleansing balm works magic on blackheads. The balm itself is ultra-soft, almost like whipped shea butter, and slightly translucent. Using this to cleanse at the end of a long day is a dream. So emollient, cushiony, and the very light creamsicle citrus scent is mood-lifting. I don't like sweet scents, but this one didn't bother me because of how faint it is. This balm doesn't rinse off, so you'll have to use a washcloth to remove. What's impressive about this cleansing balm is that it only has five ingredients. FIVE!
I had two of these sachets, and I tried to divide the first one into two uses, but it wasn't enough. One sample is suitable for one use! I enjoyed the cleansing experience of this, but I must admit, I generally gravitate more towards cleansers that rinse off on their own. Two uses also weren't enough to see any real difference on my blackheads, so I imagine I'd have to invest in a full-size of it to see whether or not it works. But, if we're going to compare TWELVE Beauty cleansers, there's another one I'd instead purchase.
TWELVE Beauty Purifying Cleansing Beauty Cream ($36, 100ml | 3.38floz)
And that's this one. I wish I had more than one sample of this! This works exceptionally well as a second cleanse or on days where you aren't wearing makeup. It's a silky, lotion-type texture and is gentle but feels like a deep clean without stripping the skin. It also has the mildest scent reminiscent (but so much better) of Pond's Cold Cream , which brings back lovely memories of sitting in the bathroom with my mom watching her remove makeup.
Nostalgia aside, I'm smitten with the feel of this cleanser. I currently don't own any cream cleanser even though I love the texture of them! This one spreads easily, feels great with massage, and the best part; it rinses clean on its own, leaving my skin feeling fresh, plump, and happy.
Unlike some other gentle, second cleansers (pAra botanica's Komala cleanser comes to mind), this won't remove heavy makeup or SPF, especially if you're using a heavier mineral one. I'm currently using a blend of the Heart of Gold Outer Sanctum Day Serum and Sundaze C-Shells, which lasts exceptionally well throughout the day but is tougher to remove at night. I imagine if I were wearing just the Heart of Gold Outer Sanctum, it might have a better chance of removing. But the Sundaze C-Shells is long-lasting, so this cream cleanser doesn’t cut it.
Regardless, I'll definitely be investing in a bottle whenever I run out of my second cleanse. Did I mention it's astonishingly affordable too? For $36, you get 3.4oz. And who knows, with an amount more than the sachet, maybe this can remove more substantial SPF and makeup!
TWELVE Beauty Ideal Brightening Corrective Serum ($90, 30ml | 1floz)
This is my favorite item from the routine. Wow. I have so many amazing things to say that I don't even know where to start. I guess we'll start with the texture. It's similar to the Purifying Cleansing Cream, a white, lotion type consistency. However, when spread onto the face, the experience is so…unexpected! Despite the weightless texture in the palm of your hand, on the face, it feels heavy at first. But as you work it in, it almost feels like it sets as it sinks in? And before you know it, you're left with an almost matte finish on the skin, and as it wears, that heavy feeling dissipates. It's something I haven't come across before, and it's magical. I love a matte finish on the skin and anything that feels weightless. This does both AND knocks it out of the park in the brightening category. I noticed a significant brightness in my skin and lightening of some recent acne scarring with just one use. I ended up getting three applications out of one sample, and luckily I had two! I only applied this at night though it's suitable for day and night. And I can only imagine what it could do with a 2x a day application!
Another fun fact is that it is pregnancy and nursing friendly! (*No, I'm not pregnant, but seeing this note means it's just suitable for more individuals, which is great!) It also does an excellent job of moisturizing. My skin feels plump and protected as I sleep, and I wake up to soft, bright skin. I was genuinely taken aback (in the best way) by how effective this serum was in such a short time-span, illuminating the skin and leaving it looking even and healthy. I already miss it in my routine. My next brightening serum will undoubtedly be this one.
TWELVE Beauty Nutritive Repair Emulsion ($72, 50ml | 1.7floz)
The feel of this is very similar to the Ideal Brightening Corrective Serum. It's creamy and highly moisturizing and calming. It delivers all that a great heavy night cream does but without the weight! It is packed with fatty acids and antioxidants from a deluge of beautiful botanicals to heal your skin. I would say this one is slightly more moisturizing than the Brightening Serum. It feels very protective while allowing the skin to breathe, and with that signature matte finish. I think this is one of those deceptively simple products. At first, you feel like it's doing nothing, then the gorgeous healthiness of your skin creeps up on you one day, and you realize it's because of this gem. If you're looking for a night cream, this one will give you more than the Brightening Serum at a reduced price but with unique magical abilities all its own.
Husband and I have watched many films in the past two weeks, and then I watched a few more just by myself! Here's all I've gone through recently. You may notice an action/horror theme…
The Old Guard (Netflix): I'm a huge Charlize Theron fan. I admire her tenacity and range when it comes to acting. She's an incredibly talented and accomplished action actress. Even in roles that aren't specific to the action genre, her body language and physicality never fails to hit the mark or a technical feat. So naturally, I was very enthused to learn the release of The Old Guard on Netflix. Watching it, however, was a whole other story. I don't mind plot holes and bad lines in action movies, but this took that to the next level. Plus, the music was horrendous and took me out of the story every time, AND it was terribly mixed. I can and can't believe there will be a sequel. At least the action is pretty great, but it could've been better too. Overall, a sigh of disappointment.
Palm Springs (Hulu): There's nothing new about this story, trope, or its characters, but it's heartfelt, silly, and perfect for 2020. If you want to laugh, cry, ponder the meaning of life, then start all over again, this one is for you.
Guns Akimbo (Amazon Prime Video): Husband loves B horror movies. And while I don't for the most part, sometimes I love me a B action movie. This is somewhere between the two and provides real shock, laughs, and all the cringe you can handle. I'm sure you never pictured little Harry Potter doing a film like this. But if you've followed his career since Harry Potter, you know he would absolutely do a movie like this. And for those of you who appreciate that, you'll appreciate Guns Akimbo. (Also, this title is just hilarious, and I'm not afraid to admit I love it.) And one more shout out to Samara Weaving, who's really carved a path for herself in these types of movies (i.e., 'Ready or Not,' 'Mayhem,' both worth a viewing).
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (HBO Max): This is, of course, my umpteenth time watching this film, and it holds up. Fight choreography has vastly improved since 2003, but these are still very entertaining. I am continually impressed by Thurman's choices of when to be reserved and when to explode. Also, I've decided all of her outfits in this film are timeless (less so in Vol. 2), and I would wear every single one of them. It's time to go hunt down some Onitsuka Tigers.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (HBO Max): I've watched both volumes several times, but Vol. 1 far more. Yet I'd never watched them back to back until now. It adds to the experience, and I appreciated Vol. 2 much more this time around. Vol. 1 feels like the setup and action-heavy of the two. Vol. 2 is for the spicy drama and brutality (yes, more hard-hitting than Vol. 1).
Crimson Peak (HBO Max): This is my second viewing of this film. We watched it sometime when it first released. Husband hated it, and I remember not liking it as much as I thought I would. It turns out I more or less feel the same. I wish this movie were better because each member of the core cast is excellent. Maybe it would've shined with a different screenplay.
John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum (HBO Max): I love the John Wick series. Let me just repeat that for dramatic effect. I LOVE the John Wick series. It's the age-old tale of the retired assassin coming back in for one last fight except it turns out to be 80 bazillion fights with endless and highly unexpected weapons-use, and well, lots of carnage. The movies get more and more ridiculous as they go, and I love it. Particularly enjoyed the addition of guard dogs in this series. And a big round of applause for Halle Berry made those scenes excellent and gave it all she's got. She had an incredibly long list of hard skills to learn for this film, including martial arts, firearms, and dog training. Plus, it was filmed between May and November of 2018, making her 52 when performing these stunts and fight choreo! Let's change that applause to a standing ovation.
Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It! (HBO Max): Technically not a movie, but it is an hour-long stand-up, so I'm just going to add it here. This was the best part of my day on whichever day I watched this (they all blur together now, don't they?). I was laughing so hard that I cried at one point—tears of joy. I'd watched 'Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin' (Insecure's Tiffany DuBois), and it started great but took a quick turn for the worse. So I wasn't expecting too much from Orji's, but I was wrong! It's hilarious. Watch it. (It's also awe-inspiring that she performed her entire set in thigh high boot heels, and lots of dancing. Wow, that leg power.)
As always, thanks for reading! Remember, you can always leave a comment or reply directly to this email for one-on-one chats. I would love to know if you've tried TWELVE Beauty! I hope you have a great start to your week, and see you next Sunday. (Or sooner on Instagram!)
I love everything about Ayla Beauty! My fav thing about them is their events and blog (ofc the team too)!!!! I'm always learning something new and exciting and I feel like I'm investing in something other than just products when I shop with them.
Yay I'm so happy that you finally got to spend proper time with Twelve Beauty - I'm also smiling reading your thoughts on them. I love Pedro's formulation - it always feels ultra gentle, refined and effective (a rare combination!). I'm just in love with the textures of his products and how they apply on the skin! His products also remind me of the gentleness coming French pharmacy products! I always find it fascinating how products containing actives or "in-the-spotlight" ingredients these days like niancinamide and retinol play up with brands like Marie Veronique, Twelve Beauty or Yuli which also harness the full power of botanical as well while maintaining their green beauty integrity :)
thanks for castor oil free note! im so sad i was allergic to the cleansing balm. why skin why? 🥺 but i tried a sample of the body oil and really enjoyed it! hope to try more of twelve beauty and ayla is for sure one of my most fave retailers