Everything I’ve ever smelled from Kat Burki makes me crave green juice like right NOW. I’m smelling the Vitamin C Face Cream and Retin-C Complex at the moment, and… Hold on. Must make self something in blender now…
BRB.
Cold processing
Ah! I’m back. I don’t know what it is about these products.
Actually, I think I do know what it is…. They smell so effing fantastic and fresh. They’re manufactured using something called “cold processing,” where the ingredients are heated to no more than 120 degrees, which is supposed to keep the nutrients intact. It’s like raw food skin care.
No synthetic fragrances, fillers, silicone, parabens, sulfates or petrolatum
Does it actually make the products more effective? Hard to say, but after using two of them for a few weeks, my face feels fab. It’s happily hydrated, and I think my skin tone looks slightly more even. Also, every time I rub one of the products into my skin, I really do get a hankering for a green smoothie, but I digress… The products smell fresh and raw, almost like someone whipped up a bunch of skin care in my kitchen and poured it into a jar.
High-end natural
I’ve been using the Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream, which is $60 for a 1-oz. jar, and the Retin-C Treatment Complex, which is $165 for a 1-oz. bottle with a pump.
Cray expensive, right?! Kat Burki products are pretty pricey for green and natural, similar to Sunday Riley, Tata Harper and Kristine Holey + Marie Veronique.
So what is the $165 Retin-C Treatment Complex?
Let’s start by talking about this, just because I can’t believe it hasn’t irritated my skin at all in three weeks.
See, that’s amazing to me because I’ve started and stopped quite a few retinol treatments because they were too aggressive for my combo skin. My skin would hurt, so I’d get discouraged and quit using them, but this one is so gentle.
Ingredients
KB5 Complex (Arnica Montana (Arnica), Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula), Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile)), Hamamelis Virginiana Water (Witch Hazel), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Extract (Botanical Hyaluronic Acid), Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Borago Officinalis Seed Oil (Borage), Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil (Tamanu Oil), Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil (Flax Seed Oil), Oenothera Biennis Oil (Evening Primrose Oil), Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Jojoba Oil), Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil (Grapeseed Oil), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe), Rovisome Retinol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Propolis Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract (Horsetail), Geranium Maculatum Extract (Geranium), Taraxacum Officinale Extract (Dandelion), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol (Preservative, less than 1%), Ethylhexylglycerin (Preservative, less than 1%), Natural Fragrance, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene
It’s an an exfoliating anti-aging serum for dull, oily or combo skin that you use at night, and it combines retinol with vitamin C to increase skin cell turnover. The idea is that the retinol and vitamin C work better when they’re used together, and even better when they’re encapsulated in a protective beauty blanket called Rovisome, which is like a bubble that holds active ingredients (like retinol) inside of it and scoots them to your skin without being irritating.
Based on my past experience with retinol serums, this is the gentlest, most effective one I’ve tried, and I already see a subtle difference after three weeks. The main difference I see is just in my overall skin tone. It’s subtly but noticeably more even.
If your skin is already accustomed to high levels of retinol in anti-aging products, you might need more kick than this, but if you’re just starting out, this should be a good training serum to get your skin ready for the big guns.
What about the $60 Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream?
The Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream is a morning/evening brightening moisturizer for normal, combo or sensitive skin. The active ingredients are 15% vitamin C and reishi mushroom, which might sound familiar because Origins also uses it as the star ingredient in their Mega-Mushroom Line for sensitive skin and redness.
It’s a lightweight but heavy duty moisturizer that absorbs quickly, so I don’t feel it sitting on top of my skin or chilling in my pores.
I like it as a very gentle brightener. If your skin responds well to vitamin C and your face craves lots of moisture, you might like it a lot.
Ingredients
KB5™ Complex (Arnica Montana (Arnica), Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula), Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile)), Isopropyl Palmitate (Palm Oil), Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Safflower Oil, Natural Fragrance, Glyceryl Stearate, Colloidal Silver, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract (Reishi), Maris Sal (OMC92 – Ocean Mineral Complex), Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter), Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Jojoba Oil), Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Equisetum Arvense Extract (Horsetail Plant), Pelargonium Graveolens Extract (Geranium), Taraxacum Officinale Extract (Dandelion), Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin (Preservative, less than 1%), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative, less than 1%), Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene
I think both of these products smell delightful, but be warned! — if you sniff them, you’ll be craving a green juice after! If you’re interested, they’re available at Space NK.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Karen I was JUST looking at that Vitamin C cream and had to pull back when I saw it was $60 for 1 oz but I am still thinking about it! Both of these sound amazing! The retinol serum, too, but sadly out of my price range. I may give that cream a try though! That is, after I finish the Kate Somerville one I just bought!
Hi Indya,
Yeah, it’s super expensive which is typical of the line unfortunately. Have you ever tried Sunday Riley CEO? Not that it’s much cheaper but it’s also lovely.
Which Kate Somerville cream are you using and do you like it?
Happy Wednesday!
I have tried CEO, but as a sample. Over the Luna oil it is wonderful. I bought the new Exfolikate Glow Moisturizer. It’s got glycolic and lactic acids in it. Since my skin responds positively to that combination I thought I’d try it. It was also pretty pricey at $65, but you get 1.7 oz.
Yes, happy Wednesday to you too!
I like those ingredients, too, especially lactic acid. I’ll have to check it out when I go to Sephora; hopefully it’ll be hydrating enough for super dry skin!
I tried the new Kate Somerville Tight’N Cryogenic Tightening Gel the other day and it was WEIRD. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.
Girl, I saw that on Nordstrom’s website (I think) and it certainly sparked my curiosity. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it!
I’ve only been using it for two days and I can’t decide yet if it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever tried or the most unnecessary thing I’ve ever tried. LOL!
Speaking of Kate Somerville, another thing I tried recently was her Wrinkle Warrior serum/moisturizer. It’s hydrating and I like how it sits on the skin (especially underneath makeup) but I didn’t notice any improvement in my fine line situation. Just in case you had your eye on it!
I find CEO works best over UFO in my opinion!
I should buy this just so I’d crave a green smoothie. I’m sure I could use one from a nutritional standpoint. 🙂 I’ve had good luck with Retinol but not with Vitamin C, sadly. I’ve tried it from several brands in serums and moisturizers and, though it tends to smell great, it hasn’t done anything for my skin.
Hi Kim,
Haha! I swear you’ll crave healthy green drinks all the time if you just smell this stuff.
What are your current go-to Retinol products?
I’ve been looking for a retinol serum. This one looks great!
It’s pricy but it might work for you! You never know…
Thanks for the review! As I’m getting older I’m more interested in taking care of my skin beyond just taking my makeup off at night. Your smoothie looks so good!
Hi Ruchita,
You’re welcome! I’m starting to get more into skin care so if I find anything cool I’ll be sure to let you know. Are you doing any serums or exfoliating/brighting creams at the moment?
My routine is still pretty basic. I use moisturizer with sunscreen all the time and L’Oreal youth code in the morning. I think I’d like to start adding some Retin-A. Honestly, I think drinking more water and getting a better night’s sleep will help too!
Ohh, Retin-A is the real deal, but it can be rough at the start. I’ve stopped and started many, many times over the last few years because I just can’t seem to get over the first initial part when your skin has to get used to it. Do you have a dermatologist currently that you like? I’m actually looking for one at the moment because I’ve read that the good ones can help guide you through those first few months of Retin-A use.
Oh shoot- I was all excited until I read that the face cream has mushrooms in it. (I’m allergic.)
This is how I know that Connor Claire is still fairly small: you got through the entire post on the new Patrick Starrr colab w/ MAC without one single mention of Spongebob Squarepants, lol.
Hi Suzanne,
LOL! I have a vague recollection of that character. He’s the starfish, I think!? Right now Connor Claire is into Sesame Street, so she’s all about Abby Cadabby and Elmo. 🙂
If you’re looking for a comparable Vitamin C face cream with high levels of moisture, Sunday Riley makes one called CEO that’s very good.
Anything that makes me crave a green smoothie is welcome, usually I don’t touch them for the life of me and go for the all sugary fruity versions instead.
I like the sweet stuff too! 🙂
Do you like it more than Luna and CEO? I’m using DE vit c right now and it’s alright!
Karen,
Let me say how much I appreciate how you often include the ingredients for the products you review. The Retin-C Treatment Complex? You just saved me $165, which I completely appreciate. I’m celiac and allergic to flaxseed (and my 21-year-old is so allergic to it he has to carry an Epi-pen). It’s a rare allergy, but not unheard of. I’ve found that more and more “natural” companies are producing products with massive ingredient lists in tiny, tiny packaging type (often printed in white-on-pale or worse). Again, thanks.