Unboxing Beauty

I have the pleasure of receiving 3 products from Cannatera  for review purposes ~ a skincare brand that uses highly concentrated CBD (cannabinoid) in their products and they currently offer a cleanser, serum and moisturizer.  I have been a huge fan of hemp oil for years and am glad to see CBD’s get a higher profile in skincare.  Cannatera skincare products are 100% THC free, cruelty free, paraben free and not tested on animals. 

Skin type/concerns:  Oily, aging, blemish prone, pores, hyper-pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. 

I received these products complementary to review and was not paid.  All reviews are my own honest opinion and  I never have been asked to write copy for a brand.  This blog post might contain promo codes, affiliate and referral links, which using my links will help generate a small commission that helps support my blog at no extra cost to you.

Inflammation isn’t just puffiness and redness of the skin:  Inflammation also causes signs of aging as it breaks down collagen and elastin in our skin faster, hyper-pigmentation spots and blemishes that linger.  It can be an internal source, such as rosacea or eczema, or externally triggered from exfoliating too much, pollution, allergies.  Cannabidiol (CBD) is part of hemp plant, but it is not hemp oil.  It is not a psychoactive and has many health care benefits, with a focus on anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-oxidants, such as omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C and E.  This is absorbed directly through our skin when applied topically and not into the bloodstream. CBD has excellent hydrating  and softening abilities and due to its antioxidant benefits, it will help protect from free radical damage and repair existing damage to your skin.  CBD helps control your oil production and since it is an anti-bacterial agent, it can help prevent blemishes, while soothing and lessening irritation.  CBD oil is legal in the USA and you do not need a prescription to use it.  Cannatera skincare products do not contain THC, so it is legal in all 50 states and the UK.

Cannatera Refresh Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel (120 mL)  I only have one complaint. Glass bottle. Mine did shatter in my shower (slippery stuff) but I did place an order for a new cleanser as I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. Please change the bottle to an eco-friendly plastic, so that way people won’t break their cleansers in the shower! What this is: This is a lovely cleansing gel, meaning it won’t be a foam machine.  This cleanser has CBD oil in it , which means it will help with inflammation and soothe skin, reduce excess oil and it has antioxidant benefits, by helping reduce dullness and ruddiness. This also has apple extracts, which is a natural astringent that can reduce the appearance of pores and is perfect for oily/blemish prone skin types, aging skin, dull and uneven skin tones. Bromelain is derived from pineapples and is a gentle exfoliator, as it is an enzyme similar to papaya’s papain. This helps remove excess dirt, dead skin cells and oil, leaving your face fresh and clean. Sunflower seed oil contains omaga-6 fatty acids and is a lightweight oil, known for its hydrating properties. This also has soothing calendula, antioxidants pomegranate, green tea and brightening rice, along with essential fatty rich hemp seed. This does have a orange herbal scent to it as the cleanser does contain lavender and orange oils. This is 100% THC free and I think this cleanser is perfect for us oily skin types.  More from Cannatera: 

• Bromelain – A protein extract derived from pineapples. Bromelain digests dead skin cells which enables other ingredients to absorb more efficiently. Helping to aid in inflammation and swelling to reveal softer, smoother skin.  
• Cannabinoid Rich Hemp Extract – Powerful antioxidant to help fight against free radicals. Anti-inflammatory helps heal and protect against breakouts. Natural fatty acids found in CBD oil may relieve dry, itchy skin.
• Apple Extract – Rich in Alpha Hydroxy Acids and contains natural astringent properties. Regular use of Apple Extract can help clear the appearance of acne while helping your skin appear brighter and smoother by sloughing away dead skin cells.
• Calendula Flower Extract – Extremely soothing ingredient tolerated by even the most sensitive skin. Mainly used to promote skin softness as a conditioning oil. This flower has the ability to help collagen restore during the skins healing process while adding anti-inflammatory properties.
• Peony Root Extract – Softens skin and improves skin clarity. Peony Root offers astringent, antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Peonies contain a compound called paeonol which has shown ability to firm and tone the epidermis.

This is a gel, so it won’t lather up too much ~ I like to use my Foreo to help give it some light bubble action. This feels so silky on my skin, while not irritating and it does a great job removing makeup. This has a pH level of around a 6.5 to 7 and I do not find it drying or stripping at all and it leaves my skin very soft, smooth and bright.

Honestly, my heart broke when my cleanser bottle shattered, as there were glass pieces even inside the bottle, so I couldn’t salvage it ~ but as I love it so much, I quickly purchased another one and this time, I will decant it into a plastic bottle. I like a lot of cleansers, but I only LOVE a few ~ this is in my love category. It is a bit expensive at $39.00, but I only need one pump to cleanse. This is a beautiful little cleanser and I hope it can help with reducing the ruddiness on my face with time. Have you tried any CBD cleansers or skincare products? How did they work for you? 

Ingredients: Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Cocamide MIPA, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide, Lauroyl/Myristoyl/Methyl Glucamide, Cannabidoil (CBD) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender Oil), Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Oil*, Bromelain, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Paeonia Albiflora (Peony) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis, Callus Culture Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Retinyl Palmitate, Resveratrol Phospholipid, Polyquaternium 7, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin cosDNA

The next two products I actually found worked best for me when I mixed them together.  The lotion is a bit thick for me but when I added the serum to it, it thinned out nicely and I love the consistency of the two of them together.  You could use any moisturizer to mix with the serum.

Cannatera Revive Anti-Aging Serum (30 mL)  This is by far my favorite product of the skincare line from Cannatera.  I love everything about this serum, except the price tag!!  This comes in the same frosted clear bottle as the cleanser and has a pump applicator.  Not only does this have CBD oil in it but hemp seed oil, which is rich in omega 3 and  6, linoleic acid and a-linolenic acid, acids are that are essential for moisturizing skin. It does have anti-inflammatory properties to help with blemishes and other skin issues. and can penetrate into the skin better as its molecules are extremely small.  It is non comedogenic ~ no clogged pores and does not contain psychoactive THC.  Panthenol helps cellular renewal and is an effective anti-inflammatory moisturizer.  Panthenol is a natural humectant, which retains moisture and hydrates the skin. It also is a good lubricant on the skin, making skin look soft and smooth. All three of these products contain retinyl palmitate, which is one of my favorite ingredients and this is an ester/derivative of retinol. It will convert to retinol and then to retinoic acid once it is applied and absorbed topically by the skin. Retinyl palmitate is less irritating than retinol, but its benefits are similar, but on a more gentle level, so effects will take longer. Retinol is an active and it helps promotes cellular turnover and I have used Retin-A, a prescription strength version, years ago and it really helped with my blemishes. Its other side effect that makes this ingredient so wonderful, is it will help lighten PIH, age/sun-damage hyper-pigmentation and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while making your skin smooth.  More from Cannatera

• Hyaluronic Acid – HA, a substance naturally found in our skin to hold water and help keep our skin moisturized. As we age, HA slowly decreased in our skin causing lack of hydration and fullness. Using HA topically helps the skin contain moisture while plumping, filling in fine lines and restore fullness.
• Resveratrol – Protects against oxidative stress and cutaneous damages. Qualifies as an effective ingredient to counteract photo-aging.
• Swertia Chirata Extract – A plant stem cell that helps production of keratinocytes to regenerate skin cells. Supporting skin tone and texture, resulting in thicker, stronger skin.
• Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract – A rich source of polysaccharides known to bind moisture to the surface of skin.

The serum is whitish, but translucent ~ think of an opal without the iridescence.  It has a very light herbal lavender scent to it which is very soothing and its texture has a light-gel viscosity to it.   However, it is not sticky or tacky and spreads easily and smoothly on my skin.   This helped increase my moisture levels by 52% but my skin never felt dewy or shiny, as it decreased by oils by 38%.  

I love this serum so much ~ it really has helped keep  my blemishes at bay too ~ when I stopped using it to start testing other skincare products, I noticed that my blemishes started to creep back on my chin, which is a hot spot for me.  When I restarted using it, my blemishes would start to fade and go away.  

Ingredients:Water, Propanediol, Cannabidoil (CBD) Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate/Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Glycerin, Swertia Chirata Extract, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Paeonia Albiflora (Peony) Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract Water*, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract*, Reservatrol Phospholipid, Retinyl Palmitate, Helithanus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Oil*, Maltodextrin, Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin cosDNA

Cannatera Renew Anti-Aging Facial Moisturizer (60mL)  This literally was my least favorite item for two reasons:  the packaging ~ it is the same glass bottle with a pump applicator, but the texture ~ the second reason ~ was thickish, so it was a little difficult to pump out the lotion.  This is  very nourishing moisturizer  ~ it contains coconut, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil and shea butter.  Carrot extracts are full of antioxidant beta carotene and is used in many anti-aging skincare products ~ helping to rejuvenate, heal while soothing and relaxing to your skin. Oryza sativa (rice) is an antioxidants that help preserve skin elasticity and protect against free radical damage. Rice extracts are also an anti-inflammatory and help reduce hyper-pigmentation, allowing your skin tone to be even and brighter.  Camellia sinensis (green tea) contains polyphenol antioxidants: catechins, tannins, flavonoids ~ which are anti-bacterial agents as well as acting as an astringent, retains skin moisture and hydration. due to its high concentration of polyphenols, green tea helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. More from Cannatera:

• Cannabinoid Rich Hemp Extract – Powerful antioxidant to help fight against free radicals. Anti-inflammatory helps heal and protect against breakouts. Natural fatty acids found in CBD oil may relieve dry, itchy skin.
• Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract – Sourced from fresh water micro-algae. Strong stimulation of Collagen III. Helps to stimulate skin’s own defense against UV and blue light.
• Resveratrol – Protects against oxidative stress and cutaneous damages. Qualifies as an effective ingredient to counteract photo-aging. 
• Snow Mushroom (Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract) – High amount of polysaccharides with smaller particles have the ability to penetrate deeper into the skin to hydrate.
• Pomegranate – Packed with minerals and vitamins, especially in Vitamin C. Vital in protecting and repairing the skin.
• Calendula Flower Extract – Extremely soothing ingredient tolerated by even the most sensitive skin. Mainly used to promote skin softness as a conditioning oil. This flower has the ability to help collagen restore during the skins healing process while adding anti-inflammatory properties.
• Sunflower Seed Oil – Protects skin from free radical damage. Helps to diminish fine lines and provide the skin with a radiant complexion.
• Shea Butter – Incredibly moisturizing and hydrating for the skin. Shea butter contains fatty acids and vitamins to help nourish and protect the skins natural oils.
• Avocado Oil – The high Vitamin E content helps to reduce itching and skin inflammation. Vitamins, Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids help fight against free radicals.

This is very rich and has a soft velvet texture and it is very white!  I was almost afraid it would leave a white cast, but it doesn’t.  It has oil like scent ~ even though there is lavender and orange oils in here, I found I was picking up scents from the shea butter and not from the essential oils as I did with the other two products.  I found that it was a bit too thick for my skin type as is and it felt like I was spreading Elmer’s Glue on my face, but it wasn’t sticky ~ just that thick.  It did take a few minutes to absorb and I felt that it was just “sitting” on top of my skin.  That said, my skin felt really soft and supple!  It  did increase my moisture levels by 52% while reducing oils by 34%.   The texture did put me off on this lotion for a while… until… one day I decided to pump the serum with the moisturizer and eureka!! I have the perfect moisturizer!  The serum helps thin out the lotion quite a bit and makes it easier for me to apply, as well as it absorbing completely into my skin.  This mix allowed me to use these products for well over a month and be very satisfied with the results ~ smooth, soft and clear skin and having a nice natural glow without greasiness. 

Ingredients: Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil*, Propanediol, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Polyclyceryl-2 Oleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Coconut Alkanes, Cannabidiol, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Paeonia Albiflora (Peony) Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract*, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract*, Reservatrol, Retinyl Palmitate, Helithanus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Oil*, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Lecithin, Betaine, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl, Sodium Chloride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate  cosDNA

Where To Purchase

Cannatera, of course!!  I highly recommend the cleanser and the serum!  They do bundle all three products together as well.

• Cannatera Refresh Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel (120 mL)  $39.00
• Cannatera Revive Anti-Aging Serum (30 mL)  $79.00
• Cannatera Renew Anti-Aging Facial Moisturizer (60mL)  $69.00
• Cannatera Ageless System ~ all three products for $149.00

 

[ disclaimer: products received complementary for review purposes ]