Everyone needs an Aunt Roxy. She’s my fun aunt, my outspoken aunt, and she just happens to be my aunt with flawless 54-year-old skin (Seriously, she doesn’t look a day over 30). Needless to say, when she shares skin-advice, I take note.

Aunt Roxy swears by three things:

• Abundant zinc oxide sunscreen

• Sun hats

• A regimented skincare routine

This year I was determined to find my ideal anti-aging line. I wanted something that would keep my skin toned, wrinkle-free, and youthful.   

Now, I’m a bit of a hippie at heart, so my expectations for products are rather high:

1. Good For Me. Skin is our body’s largest organ and it happens to act like a porous sponge (that’s one of the reasons why nicotine patches and progesterone creams actually work topically).  So, needless to say, if I’m putting something on my face (and neck and hands) 2x a day I wanted to steer clear of all that artificial fragrance, phthalates, silicones, sulfates and PEG junk. The more natural the better.

2. Good For the World. We’re talking both ethically and environmentally. Because when we treat our world w/ respect it’s just good Karma and good for the soul.

3. Oh, and (of course) Effective. It’s not worth swiping the ole’ debit card if you don’t noticeably feel a difference. I’m looking for a routine that will even get the attention of even the hubby. If he notices something about my skin—I know it’s really worth its weight in gold.

I’ve jumped around a bit trying a few different products.  But there’s one skin-care collection I’ve recently been hooked on. My friend sold it to me.  It’s a line called Veráge (and yes I feel classy pronouncing it) made by doTERRA.  

Good For Me

First, hat’s off to doTERRA for being fully transparent about the ingredients they use in the Veráge line.  I really appreciate how they even categorize each ingredient in a chart and describe the ingredients sourcing, safety rating and any previous third-party concerns.  Talk about an easy way to verify my “all-natural” checklist.

Also, typically when it comes to products that use essential oils, I’m usually a bit hesitant. I’ve heard too many horror stories of synthetic fillers or false promises of purity.  But, when I was doing my research on Veráge I stumbled across doTERRA’s Source To You website.  Talk about impressive.

Unlike other EO industries, doTERRA boasts 2,200 square feet in cutting-edge laboratory space and 30 scientists to meticulously test that each product is CPTG quality (meaning it’s passed 8 thorough tests). That means no fillers and no synthetics. Now that’s some oil I can feel good about using on the daily.

I also appreciate that the collection only uses 100% natural preservatives and that the scent (my nose is rather sensitive) isn’t too potent.  Plus, with all the natural ingredients, you don’t have to worry about it having that lingering “chemical” scent on that I kept finding from other brands (even ones that tout to be >80% natural).

Good for the World

doTERRA has an awesome Co-Impact Sourcing program. Their products are grown and sourced in 40 developing countries. That means that the farmers, communities, and families receive fair pay and fair labor conditions. doTERRA also strives to create long-term contracts to provide security for small-scale farmers and producers across the globe.

I also really like how doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation supports development projects in the very communities where doTERRA’s farmers work. Some of the projects include building schools and clean water systems

Last but not least, doTERRA is environmentally friendly with green energy use and packaging with raw materials from sustainably managed sources. There’s also special care to decrease the carbon footprint via sea shipping.

I love how doTERRA’s saving me some worry—and wrinkles—because I know Veráge line isn’t harming the world but instead adding to its goodness.

Does it Work?

Yep.  Nature beats the fake stuff once again. Out of all four products, the hydrating serum is my favorite.  Mostly because my skin is already prone to being dry, and I just happen to live in a desert. I think this product, taken in tandem w/ 100% natural collagen supplements, is my skin’s ultimate duo.

I’m also a big fan about how the product lasts fairly long.  I didn't feel like I had to test out a ton of product just to see results. Because the essential oils are pure, a little goes a long ways, so like a tiny “dab” will do.  For my 2x per day routine, my set of four bottles lasts almost three months (which in the anti-aging industry is practically forever).  

Sometimes I get a little bit of acne. Blush, white heads flair when I’m stressing. I think a lot of it has to do with my skin’s dryness, but with a routine of cleaning, adding serum, and then moisturizing/toning, I feel like my skin has more sheen and fewer breakouts. I’m convinced that using products with essential oils helps my face produce less oil naturally!

XOXO,

Lemon