Review: Back to Basics with Eco Diva’s Natural Skincare
It’s been a long, tough winter for me and my skin. While I’ve always had very reactive skin, this winter things got really bad. Most notably, I’ve been struggling with a stubborn, dry, flaky, and red reaction above my left eye for what feels like months. No matter what I tried, the damn thing just wouldn’t go away. At my wit’s end, I knew it was time to go bare bones and give my skin a break from the product onslaught it is usually subjected to when I’m on the beauty review train.
I decided to cut out everything I was using on my skin and just stick to using an all-natural cleanser, mask, and face cream for a month to give my skin time to recover and restore itself. I’d been lucky enough to receive some travel size skincare products from local brand, Eco Diva, and so it seemed like as good a time as any to give my skin some much-needed R and R. Great news, the gamble paid off… big time. Not only is my skin looking and feeling rejuvenated and healthy, but I finally got to say sayonara to that stupid rash above my eye!
For my skincare ‘detox’ I ditched my usual skincare routine and used only the Eco Diva Face Wash (R335, 200ml), Hydrating Masque (R385), and Face Cream (R345) and have really loved the results. There were times when I was tempted to try another product during the month-long detox stint but because the Eco Diva products are multi-use, I really haven’t felt like anything has been missing from my routine, except maybe an exfoliator.
Packed with olive oil, fruit oils, sesame seed oil, Grapefruit oil, Bergamot, and Vanilla extract, the Eco Diva Face Wash is gentle, refreshing, and unlike a lot of other cleansers, surprisingly hydrating. While many other cleansers can leave the skin feeling stripped and tight after washing, this cleanser actually helps to put moisture back into the skin and leaves the skin feeling not only clean but wonderfully toned and smooth. Designed to promote skin elasticity, prevent rashes and breakouts, and reduce signs of ageing, this product is the ideal way to start your daily skincare routine and even removes stubborn waterproof makeup.
The product has a great lather, so it can also be used as a shaving cream for men and women. Just whip the face wash into a creamy lather using a shaving brush and bowl for the ultimate, smooth shaving experience. I tried it on my legs, and it does a great job, plus it left my skin feeling hydrated and soft after shaving.
I also adore the Hydrating Masque which contains Rice Bran Powder, Coconut Oil, Marula Seed Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Rosemary Oil, Lemongrass Oil, and Spearmint Oil to help remove impurities while helping to enhance the skin’s natural barrier properties. Designed to rescue stressed, dehydrated skin, this mask is ideal for skin that needs revitalizing. The product is packed with Omega 3,6,9 fatty acids, to increase skin elasticity and moisture content and is a great way to give your skin a pick-me-up when you feel like it needs a bit of extra help.
I’ve been using the mask twice a week, and it has really made a difference to the condition of my skin, leaving it looking fresh and feeling oh-so-smooth after every use. To get the full benefits of this mask you simply apply it to the face and neck after cleansing, leave it on for 20-minutes until it hardens, and then remove it with warm water. Bonus — the mask can also be used as an overnight spot treatment to treat breakouts while you sleep!
I finished off my routine with the Eco Diva Face Cream which works as a day and night cream for the face and neck, as well as an eye cream. Formulated to achieve maximum hydration, this super-rich face cream helps to rejuvenate the skin and leave it feeling silky soft and nourished. Containing Vitamin A & E, as well as Omega 3,6, and 9, the cream helps to boost collagen production and leaves skin looking more youthful.
I must admit this cream really does give you a beautiful natural glow. So much so that you can get away without wearing heavy makeup every day, no problem — since I’ve been using Eco Diva I haven’t been wearing foundation on a daily basis, yet I’ve received so many compliments on my skin and how healthy it’s looking, so the products must be doing something right! The only downside of this cream for me is that it takes a little while to get used to. I’m so accustomed to using large amounts of moisturizer every day that at first, I used way too much of this product. The cream felt super heavy on my skin and left a greasy residue. I hated it at first, but then I started using less and less product and my skin started to soak it up after a minute or so. With this cream, less is most certainly more!
I loved trying out these products, and it was super easy thanks to Eco Diva’s new travel kits. The travel kits are not only ideal for fitting in your bag when you’re jetting abroad or going away for the weekend, but they’re also a great way to try the Eco Diva products and save money finding the ones you love rather than investing in a full-sized product. For example, the face wash can be bought in a 50ml travel size (instead of 200ml) for R125, the Hydrating Masque in a 10g travel size (instead of 50g) for R115, and the Face Cream in a 10g travel-sized (instead of 50g) for R105.
The products really go a long way and the travel sizes have lasted me more than a month so far, even after I overdid it on the face cream, so they’re super great value! You can buy the travel sizes individually or in ready-packed kits packaged together in a Eco Diva beautiful toiletry bag. For the full Eco Diva skincare experience try the Eco Diva Travel Face Kit with 5 travel size skincare products, including the Face Wash, Exfoliant Skin Polish, Hydrating Masque, Liquid Vitamin Hydra Mist, and Face Cream, at R915.
If you’re keen to test out these, and other Eco Diva products for yourself the travel kits are ideal but if you’re in Cape Town I would also recommend popping into the new Eco Diva store in De Waterkant. Tucked away inside a luxury sofa shop on Waterkant Street, the little natural skincare emporium offers the bare necessities everyone needs to look after themselves and their home and gives Eco Diva customers a chance to touch, feel, and smell the products in the range and even refill their favourite products in store once they’re finished. Want to know more? Read my full review of the store here.
Find the Eco Diva shop at 115 Waterkant Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town or shop online via the Eco Diva website.
