natjtan Welcome back to another Beauty Finds! This edition, Ola Tropical Apothecary Hawaiian Body Products, Ocean Elements Kai Toner.
I have a few requirements when it comes to cosmetics and skin care: cruelty free, natural, clean, vegan better. I do my best to avoid the nasty ingredients such as SLSs, parabens, PEGs, silicones, etc. Petrochemicals are the sneakiest with so many derivatives and aliases. I also avoid palm oil and it’s derivatives as I prefer orangutans. Coconut oil marketed as the good oil I’m also cutting down on as it can be just a damaging crop as palm oil. If I do get products with these ingredients in I try to get organic or sustainably sourced. With make up it’s a little harder so I go for cruelty free brands. I prefer products with less plastic and thankfully more brands are aware consumers don’t want unnecessary plastic (or governments are telling them less plastic). My skin type’s oily sensitive, acne prone and now wrinkles. I know nothing stops those lines, but if I can delay them then….
Kai toner blends Distilled Water to purify the skin, Aloe Vera and Coconut Sugar to exfoliate the skin, naturally astringent Witch Hazel and an infusion of mineral-rich Hawaiian Seaweeds and Nigari to support exfoliation, purification and balancing of the skin.
I found Kai toner in a department store in Honolulu on holiday last year in the main shopping/high street. There were so many local skincare and cosmetic brands I wanted to take them all back with me. Luggage allowance and pennies prevented me. Lets not talk about Target’s beauty department, Ulta or Sephora on the ‘mainland’ either. I’d have needed an extra suitcase just for beauty products as I’d have gone crazy if it was unlimited. We did get another suitcase each, but mine wasn’t filled entirely of beauty products!
Toners are the one product I’m not that loyal with. Creams, cleansers I’ll stick with a brand for a few bottles. Toner’s being the link between restoring ph levels after cleaning and before serums, oils and creams I switch out a lot more regularly. Maybe this because I can tell if my skin likes them more than other products.
Aloe vera, coconut sugar, Hawaiian seaweed and formulated for oily skin had me. Even more so hibiscus flowers my favourite flower. Made in Hawaii, I’m in. Local crafted, I’m in. Sustainably crafted, locally harvested, naturally active and certified organic, I’m always in. I really like Hawaiian Body Products ethics and use of ingredients and materials.
Sadly the amount of witch hazel was too drying for my skin. I used to use witch hazel as toner years ago and eventually gave up on it. It’s targeted to oily skin, acne prone skin, but for me it just dried my skin out. It took a while to realise it and again last year having to admit that as much as I was in love with the toner as it’s from Hawaii. I kept all the other skincare products the same when using it and had to be honest with myself it was the toner. I tired later another toner containing also witch hazel last year and again found that too drying.
In a way it’s a bless in disguise international shipping was a little too much along with it possibly getting caught up in customs, import fees or returned to sender. It’s a pity as I really wanted to try their coconut sugar body scrubs, lip balms and lomi stick. I like that most products packaging’s glass cutting down on plastic.
If you have oily skin that isn’t sensitive and takes well to witch hazel I think this would work well. If you have sensitive oily skin, maybe skip it. I applied it with fingers rather than a cottonwool ball/pad, but I don’t think that affected it’s usage. It’s scent is a little strong, but dissipates quickly. Would I repurchase? No, however if I went back to Oahu I’d like to try other products by Hawaiian Body Products.
