Beuti Skincare Beauty Sleep Elixir & Red Flower Little Candle Set: Two more Credo Beauty finds for gift giving inspiration

You know when a skincare item is constantly selling out, it must be really good. Such is the case with Beuti Skincare's Beauty Sleep Elixir, the (right now) sole product offered from this UK based line. This is an oil based anti-inflammatory serum that has none of the slipperiness or weight of a typical oil, so anyone who's afraid of oil will find this to function more like the serums they're accustomed to. Comprised of 14 anti aging plant ingredients (camellia oil, chia seed oil, seabuckthorn oil...) it also has some relatively unusual inclusions, like bitter cherry seed oil, strawberry seed oil, and sea whip extract–which is derived from Caribbean coral. (which I've confirmed to be sustainably resourced, only the tips of the coral are used, leaving the rest of the coral in tact and able to regrow). Sea whip extract is said to be particularly effective at quelling inflammation, which is the hallmark benefit of this bottle. In fact, they even suggest using this as a spot treatment for deflating acne spots.

A little goes a long way, and it's a nice change to have a facial oil deliver hydration that actually lasts throughout the day. (I've started keeping a bottle of Tata Harper's roll on facial oil in my bag because my cheeks become uncomfortably paper-dry during this winter months). The title suggests this being primarily used at night, but it's fantastic layered under SFP and doesn't interfere with foundation, blush or powder longevity. I'd suggest this for anyone dealing with acne, sensitive skin, premature aging, sunburn or recovering from laser therapy. Fun fact: Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge (formerly known as Kate Middleton) is said to be a fan.

I'm hard pressed to find someone who doesn't appreciate a well made, scented candle, but I'm also hard pressed to find one that actually scents the room, versus delivering a feeble 2" radius of fragrance. Not the case with Red Flower, their ubiquitous candles are sensory experiences. Their little glass gems with simple names (Indian Jasmine, French Lavender...)  belie unexpectedly complicated, rich and layered fragrances. If a candle can give off a cerebral olfactory effect, this would be it.

Plus I'm looking forward to repurposing these tiny beakers for mini succulent and air plant terrariums on my desk. 

Break apart this box for stocking stuffers or deliver this to a worthy recipient, it's like a box of chocolates but so much better.

Vintner's Daughter

One of the hallmarks of the clean beauty revolution are the overwhelming roster of facial oils. In some ways, it's an easy hack to get measurable results from relatively easy to access ingredients. Because oils penetrate the layers of the skin efficiently, infusing the skin with antioxidants and plumping up the complexion with moisture restored, i's a lo-fi way of doing skincare right. Rose hip oil, for example, isn't all that expensive. And there are brands that are basically DIY kitchen projects with brilliant marketing and packaging for those not inclined to mix their own products.

That said, along comes Vintner's Daughter, a bottle that irrefutably ups the facial oil game with serious cred, a sensory experience followed by jaw dropping (and quick!) results. I was eager to test it out after hearing miraculous testimonies about this sleek black bottle. It's not inexpensive – it's as luxe as clean skincare gets –  but if you're after results, you will be smitten after the first application. 

Several drops pressed and patted into the skin for 30 seconds, and you're done. Minutes to hours later, skin looks satiated, well rested and glowing. I used this religiously throughout the latter weeks of my pregnancy, even pausing for a moment to pat some more on during labor while packing and rushing to the hospital to deliver my daughter. It's been the only thing to keep bumps from surfacing, calm patches of irritation, and keep the summer swollen pores and post-partum dry skin that usually plagues me at bay. I was going to pick up an eye cream, then realized I really didn't need one given this does the job so well.

Minimalists will appreciate that not only is this holy grail bottle versatile, – deemed a "desert island" product by it's creator, April Gargiulo – is the sole offering from the line. Gargiulo, a winemaker following her family's tradition, applied the stringent processes for creating wine towards creating her cocktail of 22 oils. She spent years sorting through a dizzying amount of research and experimentation before landing on the perfect combination, including standbys like Avocado and Carrot Seed Oil with more exotic additions like Frankincense and Tumeric Root Oils. Gargiulo wanted a high end product that ticked all the boxes for skincare woes (hormonal, dry, itchy, acne, wrinkles...), and now proudly goes makeup-free. Vintner's Daughter is definitely worth checking out if you'd like to see just how good your skin is capable of getting.