Some of the best skincare lines start out in someone’s kitchen. Today we’re going to be exploring one of those brands – S.W. Basics of Brooklyn.
Adina Grigore, the founder of S.W. Basics, began creating her own skincare products at home, using only the purest ingredients to help with her sensitive skin. After sharing her creations with close family and friends, it was clear that her skincare was something special, and so she started S.W. Basics of Brooklyn.
What makes her skincare stand out? The formulations are simple and natural. Most of the products have just 3 ingredients (and a max of 5), all of which are listed in plain sight, right on the front of the bottle. Every ingredient is all-natural, and the large majority of her line is USDA certified organic, including their Cream, Body Scrub, Exfoliant, and Organic Lip Balms (with all of their other products soon to follow). They’re also cruelty-free, and almost completely vegan (the one exception of course is their organic beeswax lip balm). To top it off, their refreshingly pure and simple formulas come housed in beautiful glass jars that can be recycled and reused.
I had a chance to sample a few products from their skincare line, including their facial Exfoliant and Body Scrub, which I’ll be reviewing here today. Let’s get started with the more delicious of the two… š
S.W. Basics Body Scrub Review
Ingredients (all organic):
- demerara sugar
- extra-virgin coconut oil
- shredded coconut
Just as it says on the jar, the S.W. Basics Body Scrub is quite literally a dessert for your skin! It exfoliates the skin with rough, grainy bits of organic demerara sugar plus gentle bits of shredded coconut (which give it an amazing scent too!). Topped off with extra-virgin coconut oil, this scrub leaves the skin soft and hydrated long afterwards. While I truly think anyone would enjoy this scrub, it’s particularly great for those with dry or sensitive skin, simply because of the natural and moisturizing ingredients.
As you may be able to make out from the photo above, the sugar bits are pretty large. This is a huge plus because they last longer than finer grained sugars, so you get a long, and hence more thorough scrub. You can even use this on the face for an intense exfoliation (though I’d recommend being extremely gentle and using light pressure so you don’t overdo it – the sugar can be pretty rough.) And if you’re tempted to take a lick, no worries, it’s made with the same ingredients you’d find in your food! š
S.W. Basics Exfoliant Review
Ingredients (*organic):
- sea salt
- oat flour*
- almond flour*
S.W. Basics’ Exfoliant is the perfect everyday exfoliator. Formulated with just three simple ingredients – Maine sea salt, organic oat flour, organic almond flour – it provides exfoliation on all different levels – from soft flours that gently polish the surface, to slightly grainier sea salt that helps remove dry patches. Once mixed with water, it forms a thin paste that allows you to easily massage it over the skin.
If you’re looking for an everyday exfoliator that offers a nice ‘in-between’ intensity (not too harsh, but not too gentle), I would absolutely recommend this. It noticeably smooths and softens the skin without causing irritation thanks to the finely ground salt and gentle oat and almond flours. And best of all, the flours also work to calm, soothe, and even balance all skin types (I find that it’s effective even on my oily/combo skin!).
Wrap-Up
Overall, if you have sensitive skin and/or are simply looking to make the switch to more pure, organic, and all-natural solutions, the S.W. Basics of Brooklyn line is worth looking into. They offer cute little minis of almost every product, so you can test them out first and see what works for you. A great place to start would be one of their mini kits, found on the S.W. Basics website, and occasionally on Amazon. Mini and full-size products can be found at Target (both in-stores and online).
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