Skin. The largest organ in the body. I always worry about what we put on it - the way a product absorbs into the bloodstream, what is it that my pores & cells are sucking up?
I’ve tried & tried & tried a host of organic skincare products over the decades, and they’ve all left me nonplussed. Until now. I discovered Good Molecules - and there is so much to love about it.
The way It Looks
I’m a sucker for good packaging. Great design and an eye-catching logo will always win me over. I used to (when I was a drinker) choose wine bottles based on the design of the label, and 99% of the time the choice was a good one. My theory is that if you’re prepared to take time and pay attention to the design of the packaging of a product, then what’s in it will also have the same attention to detail.
God is in the details*? And Good Molecules does just this.
The design, whilst simple, is not boring, and the different colors work well together. Their Instagram is also really appealing, and enticing, and draws the viewer in. Unfortunately, most of their tubes are plastic, yet some of the products are in glass, which is a huge plus.
The Way It Doesn’t Smell
Though most skin products have a seemingly eternal appeal through their ‘expensive’ scent, I was advised by a celebrity makeup artist and good friend of mine, Eileen Kastner Delago, to avoid products with perfume.
Reason being, pretty obviously, is that one would never apply perfume to one’s face as this would have disastrous consequences.
Even those that are naturally scented are a no-no, as this would mean applying an essential oil to the facial skin (similar disastrous results - drying, flaking, aging), so why would one ever, therefore, choose a product that has scent? Great news! Good Molecules products have no scent at all, at least no obvious ones, bar the very faint smell of the ingredients themselves.
What’s In It & What’s Not In It.
The Way It Feels
Think silk and milk. Silky milk. Silky, smooth lightweight products that glide along and into the skin, leaving no residue at all. Only the eye gel has a thicker consistency than expected, but this means I simply use a little less than I thought I would, so a tiny dollop goes a long way.
Once again, silky, silky smooth, almost as if it were made for your very own skin, as if they were made for each other, which, of course, they were! Amazing!
What It Costs
The prices are very reasonable, and each tube goes a long way.
What It Does For My Skin
I used Good Molecules consistently, almost religiously, for a whole month, morning and night, and will continue to do so. The results: no breakout, no dryness, no discoloration, just healthy, smooth skin, for days, and hopefully decades, without breaking the bank.
The Skincare Quiz: Personalized Recommendations
Good Molecules offers a personalized skincare quiz that helps you identify your skin type and main concerns, guiding you to the most suitable products. I took the quiz, selecting options that indicated I have combination skin with concerns about hyperpigmentation and hydration. Here are the five products recommended for my routine, each addressing specific skincare needs.
My Five Recommended Products From The Good Molecules Skincare Quiz
Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel: An excellent start to your skincare routine, providing a clean, refreshed base for the rest of your products, and ensures a thorough cleanse without drying out your skin.
Niacinamide Brightening Toner: A great addition to any skincare routine, especially if you're looking to brighten and refine your complexion. NOTE: The 10% niacinamide concentration is safe as confirmed by the International Journal of Toxicology
Super Peptide Serum (needed 2): Incorporating it into your routine can significantly improve your skin’s elasticity and youthful glow, smoothing out rough patches and enhancing overall skin texture.
Lightweight Daily Moisturizer: Perfect for maintaining balanced, hydrated skin throughout the day, for all skin types, and won’t clog pores, making it perfect for pimple-prone skin too, which, bizarrely, I still get from time-to-time, even at the age of 56, so a light-weight moisturizer is ideal for me.
Sheer mineral Sunscreen: An essential step in protecting your skin daily, especially if you spend time outdoors, for UVA and UVB rays, and absorbs quickly without leaving a heavy or oily residue.
I follow the routine twice a day, morning and evening, and it takes about 3 minutes.
Recommended By My Beauty & Skincare Therapist:
Vitamin C Serum with Oryzanol: Improves brightness and signs of aging (what me?) with two forms of vitamin C, Kojic Acid Ester and Oryzanol.
Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel: caffeine & acetyle tetrapeptide-5 with 3 forms of hyaluronic acid, natural antioxidants and polyphenols all help reduce puffiness and swelling, plump fine lines, and protect from UV light.
And Good Molecules Is Good For The Planet
They take several steps to ensure their products are as eco-friendly as possible:
Packaging: They are transitioning to more sustainable packaging options, including glass bottles and recyclable materials to reduce plastic waste.
Cruelty-Free: Good Molecules is certified by Leaping Bunny, ensuring that none of their products are tested on animals.
Ingredient Transparency: They list all ingredients, including the exact percentages of active ingredients, to help consumers make informed choices.
While Good Molecules may not be fully organic, they emphasize high-quality, safe ingredients and continue to make strides toward more sustainable practices.
It Really Is In The Details
In a market where skincare choices can be overwhelming, Good Molecules offers a beacon of clarity and trust. Their commitment to transparency, sustainability, and affordability aligns with the values we cherish at ACRE 22. Whether you’re new to skincare or looking to enhance your routine, Good Molecules provides reliable options that you can feel good about using. Choose wisely, and let your skincare routine reflect your values.
*The idiom "God is in the details" has been attributed to a number of people, most notably to the German-born architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969) by The New York Times in Mies's 1969 obituary. Mies van der Rohe was a German import to the USA, and he changed the Chicago (where I live now, part-time) skyline, creating buildings that are remarkable in their streamlined, minimalist subtlety. Being one of the most influential architects of the early modernist era, whose designs were mimicked in urban centers all over the world, these days Mies’ modern edifices are barely noticeable to all but the attuned aesthete, however in the day & age they were built (as early as the 1920s) they were revolutionary in their steel and glass simplicity. There's a timeless, sublime satisfaction to them that, though copied over and over again, has never quite been achieved by Miesian wannabes.