Leahlani Skincare gets an enormous WOW from me. I did an experiment using a selection of their products exclusively for over 30 days. Now I’m now back with my Leahlani Skincare review and results.
Every month I receive numerous requests to review Leahlani products.
And after using the products, I can now understand why.
About Leahlani Skincare
Leahlani Skincare is an artisanal skincare line based in Hawaii using fresh local botanicals, nectars and beauty oils. There’s something about the line that just gives the impression of it being nurturing, nourishing, and healing.
The creator, Leah, is a dually licensed esthetician and botanical alchemist, who struggled with cystic acne.
I like skincare lines created by estheticians because of their hands-on experience. They’re not formulators isolated in a lab, but working with real people, with real skin problems. They see and understand how ingredients and formulations interact with the skin, and what can help.
And Leah herself use to have severe cystic acne. For a lot of us here, we can relate (I sure can!). Just looking at the product line and ingredients, everything looks gentle, balancing, and nourishing. There’s nothing harsh about the products and she uses ingredients compatible with acne prone skin.
A big stand out for me is Leah’s intent of “creating a line of skincare that would transform a routine into a ritual”. I personally love skincare that is intentionally created not only to benefit the skin, but also a sensory experience. It takes your self care routine to the next level and you look forward to it.
Choosing the products
Selecting the Leahlani Skincare products for the 30 day experiment wasn’t easy. I wanted to try everything. But in keeping with my preference of using a core “minimal” skincare routine, I stuck with the basics.
Leahlani skincare routine for the 30 day experiment:
- Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil (daily cleanser)
- Happy Hour Balancing Serum (daily serum/moisturizer)
- Meli Glow Illuminating Nectar Mask (1-2 times/week treatment mask)
My skin type these days is normal dehydrated. I’m 43, I have lines and wrinkles. I also have acne prone skin. And therefore I have to be very careful with my diet and skincare products I use. Recently, I stopped breastfeeding my daughter Skye, and due to the change in hormones, my skin is sensitive, red, and prone to breakouts.
First Impressions + Demo Video
Here is Part 1 of the video series kicking off the 30 Day Leahlani Skincare Experiment. In the video I share my first impressions of the products, and a demo using everything for the first time.
30 Day Experiment Results + Video Review
My results using Leahlani Skincare for 30+ days were great. Most notably how much the products evened out my skin tone, and getting rid of redness. My skin was also exceptionally smooth and clear throughout the 30 day experiment.
Happy Hour Balancing Serum (formally called Champagne Serum) in particular was the star product. It completely balanced, strengthened, and soothed my red sensitive skin. Within one week of using it, I could tell my skin was on the mend. By the end of the 30 day experiment, my skin was looking good. My complexion was even and clear, and no more sensitivity. I would go as far to say, my skin is looking better than it has in a while. And a lot of that had to do with this one magical product. I also didn’t need to wear any concealer or makeup the entire 30 days. My skin was that good!
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I did have some challenges using the Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil. I will get more into that in the final review video. Let’s just say, I had to experiment with different ways of using it to make it work. Despite my challenges, I did use it for the entire 30 day experiment, and I still got great results.
Leahlani Skincare Reviews
Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil
What is it?
Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil is a first step oil cleanser for removing makeup, impurities, and cleansing the skin.
This oil cleanser is formulated to rinse off clean with water (no wash cloth needed).
It has papaya and pineapple enzymes to brighten and gently exfoliate the skin, and the base carrier oils are macadamia seed oil and sunflower seed oil making it a nourishing oil cleanser.
The Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil is formulated for all skin types, including acne prone.
How did I use it?
I used it mainly at night to wash my face, and mornings when I didn’t exercise (when I exercise in the morning, I prefer not washing my face with a cleanser, just water).
What were my expectations?
When I purchased the products, I had a VERY hard time choosing between the Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil and the Bless Beauty Balm.
I was actually more drawn to the Bless Beauty Balm because it can dually be used as a moisturizer and cleansing balm. Plus, unlike most balms, it doesn’t contain waxes which tend to clog my pores and congest my skin.
But what ended up drawing me to the Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil is that it’s a rinse-off oil cleanser. Unlike the Bless Beauty Balm and most oil cleansers, you don’t need a washcloth to remove it.
And that ended up being the deciding factor.
With all my recent hormone changes, my skin is more sensitive these days. When I can, I prefer skipping a washcloth completely.
The Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil is also suppose to be brightening from all the fruit enzymes in the product. I was curious to see if it would help my melasma or improve my complexion.
What did I like about the product?
I loved the consistency of the product. It’s easy to apply and work into your skin. Sometimes oil cleansers can be too thick and heavy, making them difficult to use. Or the opposite, they’re too thin and runny, and you need a lot of product to cleanse your skin.
I found the consistency of the Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil to be perfect. It’s easy to apply and you don’t need much product to fully cleanse your skin. 1-2 pumps is enough to wash your face and neck, and the bottle could last you a good 4-6 months.
The cleanser did a great job removing sunscreen, dirt, debris, makeup, and build up.
It was also very nourishing, but not overly nourishing that it felt heavy or clogged pores. Using all the Leahlani products over the 30 days, my skin was exceptionally clear, not a single bump or clogged pore.
My skin always felt soft and supple after cleansing. The tropical citrus vanilla scent of the product made it a pleasure to use.
As far as being a brightening product, I didn’t notice any difference in my complexion, but it did keep my very skin clear.
Having a history of melasma, I’m always cautious using new products containing essential oils, especially “brightening products” with citrus oils. In my case, these can trigger my melasma to reappear or darken. This product didn’t affect my melasma at all. It didn’t do anything to improve the hyperpigmentation, but it also didn’t make it worse.
What I didn’t like about the product?
In my First Impressions + Demo video trying the Leahlani Skincare products for the first time, I had mentioned that the cleanser did not rinse off completely as expected. When I tried rinsing it off with water, there was residue of the oil cleanser left on my skin.
At first I didn’t mind the residue. I figured that the trace amount of oil would add more moisture and nourishment to my skin. But by the second day, my skin started to itch and sting. The residues would also move up towards my eyes causing irritation.
I was pretty sure it was the residues of the cleanser irritating my skin, so I tried using a washcloth to remove it instead of rinsing it off with water, which was a lot better.
But, I bought the product because it was an oil cleanser that could be rinsed off with just water. That’s how it’s described, and that’s how I wanted to use it. It was a bit disappointing. I wonder if it’s because where I live, the water is hard. Maybe that makes it difficult to rinse the cleanser off? I’ve looked at the reviews of this product and no one mentions this issue.
So for the first half of the 30 day experiment, I ended up using a washcloth with the cleanser to wash my face. This took off most of the product, but I was still uneasy about it potentially irritating my skin and eyes.
Then, halfway through the experiment, there was one night I was washing my face with the Pamplemousse Cleansing Oil and I realized I didn’t have a fresh wash cloth to remove it. I rinsed it off with water, but was unable to fully wash it off. I decided to follow it a mild gel cleanser. It turned out double cleansing with the Leahlani Cleansing Oil and a gel cleanser worked great together (recommended gel cleanser: Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser).
So for the second half of the experiment, I did my first cleanse every night with the Leahlani Pamplemousse Cleanser (without the washcloth), and then followed it with a second cleanse using a mild gel cleanser.
I found this approach to be the best, because I could skip using a wash cloth, and remove any trace residue of the Pamplemousse Cleansing Oil with the mild gel cleanser. Normally I don’t like using gel cleansers, but using this oil cleanser as my first step protected my skin from drying out from the gel cleanser.
All in all, I did find a way to make this cleanser work for the 30 day experiment, but beyond the experiment, I wouldn’t want to continue using this as my daily cleanser. Once in a while, paired with another cleanser for a deep cleanse is fine. I also really liked using it with the Leahlani Meli Glow Illuminating Nectar Mask (more on that in my review of the mask below). But on it’s own, this isn’t my cleanser of choice.
Who would I recommend this to?
I would recommend this to anyone who likes double cleansing using two different cleansers.
Many of you love using an oil for your first cleanse to remove makeup and sunscreen, followed by a gel or jelly cleanser to remove any traces leftover from the first cleanse. If that is you, this product might be worth trying. It’s especially good if you are looking for a more nourishing oil cleanser that is safe for acne prone skin.
Who shouldn’t use it?
If you have sensitive skin, I wouldn’t recommend this cleanser.
If you have sensitivities to fruit enzymes or essential oils, this product might not be the best for you.
This cleanser removes makeup and sunscreen easily, but I wouldn’t use this as an eye makeup remover. The product is too strong to use around the eyes.
Would I re-purchase it?
I wouldn’t repurchase it for my face, but since doing this experiment I’ve been using it as a body cleanser, and I’m loving it.
While in the shower, I use 2-3 pumps on an exfoliating cloth, and use it to exfoliate, cleanse and moisturize the skin on my body. I’ve been doing this a few times a week, and keeps my skin soft and toned. I would definitely repurchase this as a body treatment.
Where to buy?
CLICK TO SHOP: Leahlani Pameplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil
Happy Hour Balancing Serum
What is it?
Happy Hour Balancing Serum (previously called Champagne Serum – same formula but new name) is a soothing and balancing oil-based serum, formulated to combat redness and inflammation.
Suitable for all skin types, it’s especially soothing, calming and nourishing for sensitive and dry skin types prone to redness and inflammation.
How did I use it?
For the 30 Day Leahlani Skincare Experiment, I used the Happy Hour Balancing Serum morning and night as my treatment serum and moisturizer.
I used 1 pump of the serum in the morning after cleansing, and 2 pumps of the serum at night after cleansing.
What were my expectations?
When I was selecting a serum and moisturizer for the 30 Day Leahlani Experiment, I was having a really hard time choosing – they all looked really good.
Since it was my first time ever using Leahlani Skincare, I didn’t want to overload my skin with too many new products. So I decided to narrow down my choice to something that could act as a hybrid between a moisturizer and treatment serum. And that’s when the Happy Hour Balancing Serum stood out to me.
I was intrigued that it could help get rid of redness. I am prone to a lot of redness in the center of my face (chin, around my nose, and in between my eye brows). When I kicked off this experiment, the redness was especially bad from the change in my hormones (I just stopped breastfeeding and the skin on my face was really sensitive, red and irritated).
This was a perfect time to test out a product formulated specifically to calm inflamed skin. So I wanted to see its magic.
What did I like about the product?
I LOVE this product.
I absolutely LOVE it.
The Happy Hour Balancing Serum really worked at calming my skin, reducing redness, evening out my skin tone, and strengthening my skin.
I noticed a big difference in my skin after just one month of using it.
The big stand out benefit was how much it reduced redness and irritation.
I started the experiment with really sensitive, inflamed skin. By the end of the experiment, my skin was strong, resilient, and healthy again.
For the entire 30 Day Leahlani Experiment, I didn’t use any concealer or foundation. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t need to.
This serum really helps get rid of the red patches, and even fades old acne marks.
My skin was exceptionally clear the entire 30 days. Not a single bump or clogged pore. I feel it’s down to this product, and the entire Leahlani Skincare routine I was following.
The Happy Hour Balancing Serum really works (and I don’t say that lightly).
I also liked how moisturizing it was. For the 30 day experiment, I could comfortably use this as a treatment serum and moisturizer. And even though it’s an oil, it absorbs beautifully, never making your skin look greasy or oily. For best absorption, I recommend using it on clean skin and give it a good 10-15 minutes to fully absorb.
What I didn’t like about the product?
There’s nothing not to like, it’s a beautiful product. I got great results using it.
Who would I recommend this to?
All skin types would benefit from using the Happy Hour Serum. Especially acne prone, redness prone, dry, irritated or sensitive skin.
Normally I wouldn’t recommend products with essential oils for irritated skin, but with this product, I would make the exception. I had no problem using it when my skin was irritated and extra sensitive. For best results to treat irritated skin, use it in a very mild and minimal skincare routine, so the serum can really do its work.
This is also a fantastic product for acne prone skin. If you need a moisturizer, try this. It will hydrate and moisturize your skin, and it will calm the redness and irritation from breakouts. The base is grapeseed oil which is high in linoleic acid making it compatible and balancing for acne prone skin. Plus the product has tea extracts, calendula, chamomile flower, and blue tansy which are all known to be very soothing for acne. From the 6+ weeks I’ve been using it, my skin has been exceptionally healthy and clear.
For most skin types, this serum would dually work great as a serum to treat redness and irritation, and as a moisturizer. If you have normal, oily, or combination skin, this products is all you need. But if you have really dry or dehydrated skin, you might want to use a moisturizer on top to seal in moisture.
Who shouldn’t use it?
If you have sensitivities to plant oils or essential oils, this product is not for you.
If you use products with a lot of essential oils, I would be cautious adding the Happy Hour Balancing Serum into your skincare routine.
Personally, I found I got the best results using the Happy Hour Balancing Serum with other Leahlani Skincare products, or, with mild skincare products formulated without essential oils. When I used other brands’ products that had a lot of essential oils in the same skincare routine with the Happy Hour Serum, I didn’t get as great results. I was also running the risk of irritating my skin with too many essential oils.
The Happy Hour Balancing Serum really works, if you let it. The less products you use in your skincare routine with it, the better it performs.
If you do have other skincare favourites from other brands that have a lot of essential oils and active botanicals, you can always use them separately, at opposite times of day. For example, use the Leahlani Happy Hour Serum in the morning with other mild products, and at night use your other products containing essential oils and botanicals. This way, you get the benefits from all your products, without them conflicting or overwhelming your skin all at once.
Would I re-purchase it?
Absolutely YES!
Where to buy?
CLICK TO SHOP: Leahlani Happy Hour Balancing Serum.
Meli Glow Illuminating Nectar Mask
What is it?
Meli Glow Illuminating Nectar Mask is a multi-functioning moisturizing mask that hydrates, plumps, brightens, and gently exfoliates the skin.
The mask is made of Hawaiian raw honey, rose clay, hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, and an array of tropical fruits and fruit oils.
How did I use it?
I used it 2-3 nights a week (every 2-3 days).
I would first double cleanse with the Leahlani Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil, then use the Meli Glow Mask (leave it on for 15-30 minutes), rinse off and follow it with the Happy Hour Balancing Serum.
What were my expectations?
I was expecting it to be a moisturizing mask that would brighten and hydrate my skin.
What did I like about the product?
The Meli Glow Illuminating Nectar Mask truly hydrates, brightens, and tones the skin.
The standout benefit was how hydrated and plumped my skin was the day after I used the mask. Normally when I use facial masks, the results are immediate but fades by the next day. When I used the Meli Glow Mask in conjunction with first washing my face with the Pamplemousse Tropical Enzyme Cleansing Oil, my skin still looked radiant and super hydrated the next day.
(I’ve since tried using the Meli Glow Illuminating Nectar Mask after cleansing with a plain gel cleanser, and I didn’t get the same super hydrated, long-lasting plumped skin results I did using it after cleansing with an oil cleanser. If you want extra hydration and more lasting results, make sure to wash your face first with a nourishing oil-based cleanser like Leahlani Pamplemousse Cleansing Oil instead of a gel or water-based face wash).
I also liked that there’s just enough rose clay to clarify and exfoliate your skin without it being a full on clay mask. It’s just enough to give you a deep cleanse without being overly clarifying or drying.
After using the mask, my skin would always be brighter, softer, more hydrated, pores less visible, and more even toned.
The mask is also a pleasure to use. It smells like strawberry jam and feels comfortable on your skin. It doesn’t dry down, so it won’t feel tight, heavy, or dry out your skin.
What I didn’t like about the product?
The mask has an exfoliating texture from the clay. I was surprised by this because there’s no mention of it in the product description. Leahlani’s other two masks are purifying masks, and I choose the Meli Glow Illuminating Nectar Mask because it’s a moisturizing mask. I didn’t expect it to be a physical exfoliant as well.
The texture isn’t harsh or rough. It’s subtle, but it’s still there. I’m sensitive to physical exfoliants, but the mask never irritated or sensitized my skin. I had no problem using it, but I wished I was forewarned (maybe it’s good thing I wasn’t, because I might not have tried this beautiful mask).
Who would I recommend this to?
Anyone with dehydrated skin would greatly benefit from using this mask.
Even though it’s a “moisturizing” mask, it’s not rich or oily, making it suitable for most skin types including acne prone.
If you have dull skin or old acne marks, this mask will brighten your skin, and help fade old acne scars and marks.
This mask is good for mature skin of all skin types (except super sensitive). I found it always made my skin appear firmer, brighter, plumping my skin which smoothed out crepiness, enlarged pores and texture (all the lovely things that come with getting older!).
It dually act as a hydrating/moisturizing mask and a clarifying mask. To boost the moisturizing/hydrating effect, wash your face first with an oil-based cleanser. If you want a more clarifying, deep pore-cleansing effect, wash your face first with a water-based cleanser.
Who shouldn’t use it?
If your skin is really sensitive, irritated, or you have active acne; I wouldn’t use this mask. Even though the exfoliating texture is slight, it could aggravate irritated skin or irritate breakouts more.
Also, if you don’t like masks with any exfoliating texture, don’t use this mask.
If you are allergic to bee products, this mask contains honey and not suitable for you.
This mask has kaolin (rose clay), some people with eczema are sensitive to this ingredient.
Would I re-purchase it?
Yes. But I want to try Leahlani’s other masks first.
Where to buy?
CLICK TO SHOP: Leahlani Meli Glow Illuminating Nectar Mask
Final thoughts & beyond the 30 day experiment
Overall, it was an absolute delight to use these Leahlani Skincare products.
I have to say, my skin is looking good! Better than it’s looked in a while.
I loved the products and the results I got using them.
All the products I selected worked really well for dry, maturing, and acne prone skin.
It’s the first time I’ve found a selection of product that clarified my skin, while nourishing and toning it at the same time. That’s not an easy feat!
Since completing my 30 Day Leahlani Skincare Experiment, I’ve continued using all the products. I’ve integrated them into my regular skincare routine, and experimented to see how they performed when using them with other products from different brands.
I’ve found that Leahlani products worked the best when used together, or, with products that don’t contain essentials oils, or strong active ingredients.
These products are in many ways medicinal, and you don’t want anything interfering with their performance.
I’m so happy to have come across Leahlani products because this is now something I can recommend to my friends, clients and readers with dry or dehydrated skin, that may be acne prone as well.
Another big standout from this experiment was how well the skincare routine worked using minimal products. All I used everyday was the cleanser and serum. 2-3 times a week I used the mask. I didn’t need a 10-step skincare routine to cleanse, hydrate and sooth my dehydrated, irritated, breakout prone, 43 year old skin. It goes to show, a little goes a long way, especially when you find quality products that work.
3 Responses
My pocket book is hating you right now!!
I know how that feels!! If you end up getting any of the products, let me know how they work out for you 🙂
I just ordered and received the Aloha Glow ritual kit in the mail. I’ve used it for two days now, my skin feels supple and soft, and the smell of each product is amazing. Looking forward to seeing my own 30 day results