Judging CertClean’s Clean Beauty Awards 2021 – Face Serum Category

Ad: Gifted products received for judging purposes.  As always I give honest and unbiased reviews of products I receive.

Earlier this year I was selected to join the judging panel for the 6th annual CertClean Clean Beauty Awards!

CertClean, a leading certification for safer beauty and personal care products, assesses, approves and certifies clean beauty products free from harmful chemicals – look for 1000+ products proudly bearing the CertClean mark. CertClean’s mission is to elevate clean beauty brands to make safer skincare the new norm. For more information: www.CertClean.com.

Now in its 6th year, CertClean is proud to announce the best performing products in 24 categories. This year, 455 products from all over the world entered the global Clean Beauty Awards program and an esteemed judging panel of 146 green beauty advocates and influencers determined the top products.

The annual Clean Beauty Awards recognizes the best performing beauty and personal care products, manufactured without the use of known harmful chemicals, from across the globe. The products are evaluated and ranked based on product performance by an eminent judging panel of green beauty influencers and advocates. The mission is simple: to accelerate the growth of the clean beauty movement so safer skincare is the new norm.

I waited patiently to find out what category I would be judging and to my excitement it was Face Serums!

Products I was sent:

Founder’s Formula Australian Botanicals Pro-Aging Treatment Concentrate Serum
Moor Spa Hydrating Serum
Honey Sweetie Acres Facial Serum
SUR Clean Skincare Repairing Serum with Vitamin C
HUNA Clarify Blemish-Control Face Serum
Pure + Simple Minimalist Luminous Face Elixir

These were all new brands and products to me so I was keen to try them out.

I judged each product on:

Overall performance (does the product do what it says it would do)
Ease of use (application process, clear instructions etc)
User Experience (odour, texture, residue, absorption rate)
Recommendation (would you recommend this product to others?)

First up….

Founder’s Formula Australian Botanicals Pro-Aging Treatment Concentrate Serum 30ml

16 potent Australian Botanical Actives selected from newly researched Australian Botanicals. Founder’s Formula Australian Botanicals Pro-Aging Treatment Concentrate Serum is a true power-house, pro-aging multi-tasker.

This never-sticky serum absorbs quickly to provide brightening, pro-aging, hydration and skin-protecting benefits for healthy, glowing, dewy skin.

Ingredients:

Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol (from corn), Pentylene Glycol (from sugar-cane), Glycerin (Natural), Aqua, Sodium Levulinate (Naturally-derived preservative), Sodium Anisate (Fennel naturally-derived preservative), Banksia Serrata Flower Extract, Anigozanthos Flavidus Flower Extract, Hibbertia Scandens Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Mentha Australis Leaf Extract, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Maclura Cochinchinensis Fruit Extract, Durvillaea Potatorum Extract (Tasmanian Sea Kelp), Solanum Aviculare Fruit Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Telopea Speciosissima Flower Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Olida Leaf Extract.

This serum has a light gel consistency and is fragrance-free. A little goes a long way. I apply 1-2 drops to cleansed skin morning and night before applying moisturiser or oil. I love how quickly it absorbs into my skin without leaving it sticky. It plumps, smooths, brightens and hydrates my skin. My skin loved this serum and I was really pleased to add this to my routine.

Moor Spa Hydrating Serum 30ml

This ultra hydrating serum simultaneously quenches your skin’s thirst with hyaluronic acid and kelp extract; nourishes with marine phytoplankton and protects with vitamin C and ectoin.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Plankton Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Lauryl Lactate, Sodium hyaluronate, Heilmoor Clay, Oleyl Erucate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Sea Kelp) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Algin, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Ectoin

This serum has a light, creamy consistency and reminds me of a milk lotion. The scent is quite light and reminds me of the sea. The airless pump bottle is great as it is more hygienic, preserves the product and dispenses just the right amount.

This is the perfect serum for my combination, dehydrated skin. It contains both hyaluronic acid and sea kelp extract which help skin retain its moisture. It absorbs instantly as the consistency is light-weight and it leaves a matte finish.

My skin feels very smooth, soft and hydrated. I follow up with a moisturiser or oil and my skin stays moisturised all day.

Honey Sweetie Acres Facial Serum 30ml

We have brought together several powerhouse ingredients…..Organic Aloe, Vitamin B (Niacinamide), Avocado oil and Hyaluronic Acid for a soft as silk facial serum. Our natural hyaluronic acid and niacinamide facial serum is a wonderful, natural option for people with extremely dry or sensitive skin.

Ingredients:

Organic aloe leaf juice (Aloe Barbadensis), Glycerin, Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Emulsifying Wax (Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60), Avocado Fruit Oil (Persea Gratissima), Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus), Organic Neem Seed Oil (Malea Azadirachta), Organic Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus), Organic Rosemary Leaf Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis), Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Roseum), Xanathan Gum, Phenoxyethanol (preservative).

This facial serum has a light consistency and feels silky smooth on the skin. I apply 2-3 drops and gently massage into my skin. It goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly as my skin just drinks it in. It sits well under my moisturiser or face oil.

I love how silky smooth and soft my skin feels and the gorgeous floral scent of Rose Geranium lingers afterwards.

SUR Clean Skincare Repairing Serum with Vitamin C 15ml

Packed full of active-plant based ingredients like Irish Sea Moss, Citrus Unshiu Peel and Swiss Apple Stem Cells it works to promote collagen production and even the skin’s complexion for a brighter more youthful appearance.

Apple Stem Cells help to promote skin regeneration
Irish Sea Moss helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles and moisture skin
Citrus Unshiu peels provides antioxidant powers, protecting skin from UV and environmental damage
Paraben-free, phthalate-free and cruelty-free

Ingredients:

Chondrus Crispus (Seaweed) Extract, Purified Water (Aqua), Hyaluronic Acid, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Lecithin, Leucidal Liquid, Phenoxyethanol*, Ethylhexylglycerin* **Derived from Natural Sources

I love that this serum contains Irish Sea Moss and Hyaluronic which are excellent at helping the skin retain moisture. It has a clear gel consistency which feels silky when applied to the skin.

I apply 1-2 pumps to my cleansed face and neck and gently massage. It absorbs quickly without leaving a sticky or tacky residue. I follow up with a face oil or moisturiser to lock in the moisture.

I love how soft and smooth my skin feels. It also brightens and evens out my skin tone. My skin looks fresh and dewy all day.

Pure + Simple Minimalist Luminous Face Elixir 50ml

Luminous Face Elixir sets a new standard for all other face oil blends with its powerful formula! It combines antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory, superfood seed oils which reduce hyperpigmentation and restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leaving skin radiant, nourished and toned.

Ingredients:

Corylus avellana (hazelnut) seed oil, Sclerocarya birrea (marula) seed oil, Pentaclethra macroloba (pracaxi) seed oil*, Prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil*, Brassica campestris seed oil*, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract*, polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, Althaea officinalis root extract, Oryza sativa bran extract, Carthamus tinctorius seed oil*, Spilanthes acmella flower/leaf/stem extract*, Astragalus membranaceus root extract, ubiquinone, tocopherol, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, Epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract*, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil unsaponifiables*, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbitan trioleate, Apium graveolens (celery) seed extract, Linum usitatissimum (linseed) seed extract, bisabolol, Schizandra sphenanthera (schisandra fruit) fruit extract, Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) fruit extract*, Panicum miliaceum (millet) seed extract*, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, Curcuma longa (turmeric) root extract*, Chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract*, Citrus aurantium amara (neroli) flower oil*, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) leaf oil*, Anthemis nobilis (roman chamomile) flower oil, Tanacetum annuum flower oil

*Organic Ingredients

This is a light and highly nourishing face oil formulated with plant extracts and botanicals. I love the combination of oil-balancing, regenerating and soothing oils. I like to use this as a night treatment so it repairs my skin while I sleep.

I apply 2-3 drops to my palms and deeply inhale the gorgeous warm scent before applying to my face and neck. It spreads easily, penetrates the skin and absorbs fast without leaving a greasy residue.

It calms my skin leaving it nourished and balanced. I love how my skin looks in the morning – healthy and radiant.

HUNA Clarify Blemish-Control Face Serum 30ml

Huna Clarify Blemish-Control Face Serum with hemp seed, pumpkin + green tea is ideal for oily, congested, adult-acne + blemish-prone skin. Specially formulated to be ultra-lightweight, fast-absorbing, non-greasy + non-comedogenic. This scientifically formulated serum contains the ideal essential fatty acid profile to balance out oily and acnegenic skin, while protecting skin from environmental damage with a potent Antioxidant-rich profile. Contains nature’s ideal balance of linolenic essential fatty acids, perfectly suited to balance skin’s sebum (oil) production. Formulated using Huna’s exclusive proprietary in-house ‘Clarify Blemish-Control Botanical Complex’ with antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiseptic and acne-busting Herbal medicine inspired Botanicals, such as Burdock root, Dandelion leaf, Dandelion root, Oregon grape root, Nettle, Calendula, Green tea, Neem + Licorice root.

Ingredients:

Cannabis sativa* (unrefined hemp seed oil), Vitis vinifera* (grape seed oil), Cucurbita pepo L* (pumpkin seed oil), Oenothera biennis* (evening primrose oil), Punica granatum* (pomegranate oil), Simmondsia chinensis* (jojoba oil), Arctium lappa* (burdock root), Taraxacum officinale* (dandelion leaf and root), Berberis aquifolium* (oregon grape root), Urtica dioica* (nettle), Calendula officinalis*, Camellia sinensis* (green tea), Melia azadirachta* (neem), Melissa officinalis* (lemon balm), Glycyrrhiza glabra* (licorice root), Tocopherol (vitamin E), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary extract), Pelargonium graveolens (geranium), Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree), Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene (naturally occurring). *Organic or Wild-harvested ingredients

90.6% Organic. 100% Natural. Vegan. Cruelty-Free. GMO-Free. Gluten-Free. Biodegradable. Contains raw plant-based GMO-free Vitamin E.

This face serum is a light oil packed full of natural oils. I like to use it as a night treatment to repair my skin. It is perfect for when my skin feels congested and breaks out. Organic hemp and organic pumpkin seed oils are a dream for oily + blemish-prone skin- having a high concentration of linolenic acid, these oils literally balance and dissolve the sticky, pore-clogging sebum that sits on the skin’s surface, working to prevent clogged pores + new blemishes from forming.

Organic pomegranate oil + green tea extract have potent antimicrobial properties, and have been demonstrated in clinical studies to decrease the number of acne-causing bacteria on skin. Geranium balances sebum (oil) production and secretion levels, while tea tree and neem offer antiseptic, antimicrobial + antibacterial properties have been shown to significantly improve mild to moderate acne.

My skin really loved this product. The formula is light and fast absorbing without leaving a greasy residue. It also has a lovely herbal scent. It literally does wonders for my skin. It leaves it soft, smooth and balanced. I’ve noticed less breakouts since using it which is fantastic.

I enjoyed using all the products and it was really hard to choose a favourite. My top 3 favourites are:

Founder’s Formula Australian Botanicals Pro-Aging Treatment Concentrate Serum
HUNA Clarify Blemish-Control Face Serum
Minimalist Luminous Face Elixir