Gressa’s “cupid’s” bow stroke again! It is no secret I have a soft spot for this brand since having gotten the Rejuvenating Mist and the lip boost in “Bare” earlier this
year. When I heard that Svetlana, the gorgeous founder of Gressa Skin, was extending her makeup line, I was incredibly excited, and rightfully so! Her products have now taken the green beauty world by storm, and for me they certainly live up to the hype.
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| What arrived in the mail: Radiant lip Boost (my order) and darling Svetlana included three ultra generous samples for me to try, along with the exclusive, yet-to-be-released lip brush. Beyond grateful <3 |
Gressa’s Minimalist line is the epitome of natural makeup. Currently comprising of face and lip products (if I remember correctly, eye makeup is also in the works). The formula doesn’t change much from one product to another. And what a formula, if you ask me. Her line is bascially makeup with a vitamin-boost! Just a quick rundown on some of the main ingredients:
antioxidant. Hydrating, rich in essential fatty acids, Vitamin C + A, and a natural source of retinol. It soothes inflammatory skin conditions. If you haven’t heard about this oil, I highly
recommend you to read Nath’s aka Beautycalypse post about it.
required by the body for supple and healthy skin.
a molecule contained in licorice root extract that regulates oil
production, eliminates bacteria and helps calm and soothe acne-prone
skin.
One study investigated the effectiveness of chemical compounds from licorice, known as Glabridin and Glycyrrhetinic Acid, for skin that had been damaged by UV radiation. The test subjects who used topical extracts of licorice for skin exhibited faster skin cell regeneration.
– See more at: http://rg-cell.com/licorice/#sthash.WZxlWYUl.dpuf
a molecule contained in licorice root extract that regulates oil
production, eliminates bacteria and helps calm and soothe acne-prone
skin.
One study investigated the effectiveness of chemical compounds from licorice, known as Glabridin and Glycyrrhetinic Acid, for skin that had been damaged by UV radiation. The test subjects who used topical extracts of licorice for skin exhibited faster skin cell regeneration
– See more at: http://rg-cell.com/licorice/#sthash.WZxlWYUl.dpuf
Lipboost in Radiant. My second lipboost, my first being Bare. I can’t praise them enough, they are la crème de la crème in natural lip products. If you’re not familiar with Gressa’s lip boosts, they are basically nourishing all-natural pout enhancers. A smooth formula with a superb pigmentation is a winning combo to me. Radiant is a vibrant and flattering fuchsia, that will instantly perk you up. I’ve solely been using this product with Gressa’s lip brush. The lip brush in itself has become my favorite beauty tool ever, because it turns a simple makeup application into a delicate beauty ritual. It provides the precision neeeded for smudge-free and doll-like lips – I feel very sophisticated using it, I’m not going to lie ;). With the help of the brush, only one layer is enough to distribute the product evenly on the lips.
Ingredients. *Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, *Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil,
*Seabuckthorn Seed Oil, *Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, *Theobroma
Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract,
Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Non-GMO, Mica, Iron Oxides. *Certified organic
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| The Corrective Serum Foundation in shade 02 is my perfect match at the moment |
The corrective serum foundation has a silky texture that morphs into powder upon application. It feels supremely light, yet provides sufficient coverage. The coverage is buildable depending on your skin concerns, however it never feels cakey. For the first time, I actually enjoy wearing foundation, and just like RMS un cover-up, Gressa’s sets nicely a few minutes following application to a dewy finish. There are currently 8 shades available, and I got the 02, which is fair-light with pink undertones.
Application: Brush, makeup sponge and bare hands worked all for me, but I assume using Gressa’s buffing brush would be the easiest way. In the meantime, I use my bare hands and I apply it just like any face oils. It seamlessly blends into the skin for an even and beautiful finish. A point I wanted to address was the fact that it contains Caprylic Capric Triglycerides: when you google it, it also appears as fractionated Coconut oil. However, after a few searches, there seems to be a difference between Caprylic Capric Triglycerides and fractionated Coconut oil.
specialized esterification of Coconut Oil using just the Caprylic and
Capric Fatty Acids, while Fractionated Coconut Oil is a, standard,
distillation of Coconut Oil which results in a combination of all of the
fatty acids, pulled through the distillation process. (…) Caprylic Capric Triglycerides are an ester and
have a very light, silky oil, feel that is not at all greasy / oily
feeling on the skin”.
I have previously mentioned that coconut oil is pore-clogging for me. (Speaking of which, I highly recommend Sarita’s enlightening post about the ups and downs of this oil, here) However, I’ve been wearing the foundation regularly, and so far it wasn’t breakout-inducing. The definition above could be a possible explanation. I’d have to report back during spring and summer, where my skin is more sensitive to see if I still react positively to it. As I said, the serum is very light, and immediately blends into the skin without feeling greasy.
Ingredients: *Brassica oleracea (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride,
Silica, GRESSA Healing ComplexTM *Silymarin, *Neem (Azadirachta indica)
Extract,*Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) Extract, *Lemon Balm (Melissa
officianalis) Extract, *Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) Extract, *Sea
Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) Seed Extract, *Elder Flower (Sambucus
nigra) Extract, *Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) Extract, Licorice
Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate Non-GMO, Coenzyme
Q10, Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, (Vitamin C), *lecithin, *glycerin,
mica, iron oxides, titanium oxide. *Certified Organic
The contouring serum bronzer. Don’t be unsettled by its dark cocoa color, it blends very easily. I use the contouring serum bronzer with an angled eyeliner brush: I trace the
lines where countouring is needed and then I use my fingertips to blend.
Foolproof guaranteed.
Ingredients *Brassica oleracea (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, GRESSA Healing ComplexTM *Silymarin,
*Neem (Azadirachta indica) Extract,*Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Extract, *Lemon Balm (Melissa officianalis) Extract, *Barberry (Berberis
vulgaris) Extract, *Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) Seed Extract,
*Elder Flower (Sambucus nigra) Extract, *Bitter Melon (Momordica
charantia) Extract, Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Extract,
Tocopheryl Acetate Non-GMO, Coenzyme Q10, Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate,
(Vitamin C), *lecithin, *glycerin, mica, iron oxides, titanium oxide.
*Certified organic
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| Liquid glow in action, the picture doesn’t do it justice, but it catches the light beautifully, (it’s so quickly absorbed, but you can see at the bottom of my hand some shine) |
Now onto the illuminating serum. For someone who recently got into using luminizers, this
is foolproof as well. One drop and it blends effortlessly to provide a natural-looking glow. It’s not sparkly, it catches the light. I’m impressed by how well it performs at providing the utmost natural-looking glow.
Ingredients: *Brassica oleracea (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride,
Silica, GRESSA Healing ComplexTM *Silymarin, *Neem (Azadirachta indica)
Extract,*Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) Extract, *Lemon Balm (Melissa
officianalis) Extract, *Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) Extract, *Sea
Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) Seed Extract, *Elder Flower (Sambucus
nigra) Extract, *Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) Extract, Licorice
Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate Non-GMO, Coenzyme
Q10, Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, (Vitamin C), *lecithin, *glycerin,
mica, iron oxides, titanium oxide. *Certified organic
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| Top left, clockwise: Me bare face, after one coat of the foundation serum, with bronzer, highlighter and lip boost. ps. apologies for the “serious” face, I am happy I promise 😉 |
The makeup look is entirely made with the Gressa products mentioned above. As you can see on the first picture, my skin was acting up, with cheek and chin breakouts. I just applied one coat (= 1 to 2 drops), and this is how my skin looked like afterwards. Some zits are still slightly noticable on my chin area, so I just apply one additional drop or I use a little bit of concealer. The finish is sleek. Gressa’s foundation does a stellar job at evening out the skin, with a noticeable sheen. The bronzer is barely noticeable in the pictures (I think I blended too much lol), but I applied it to contour the nose and the cheek bones. The illuminating serum was applied on my eyelids, under the browbone, and down the bridge of the nose. Finally, I applied one coat of Radiant on the lips using Gressa’s lip brush (so amazing!) and that’s it. Now, I’m ready to conquer the world 😉
All in all, Gressa is constantly bringing their A game to deliver high-performance products. A skincare/makeup hybrid, I feel like Gressa’s Minimalist makeup
enhances your natural beauty and features, while healing your skin at the same time, rather
than just covering your skin woes. Svetlana’s love for green beauty as well as her generosity shines through her products, because you can tell each product is crafted with utter care. If you want to look picture-perfect, without the hassle of using a multitude of products, Gressa is the solution. Minimalistic makeup at its best!
I’m beyond excited to see what Gressa holds for us in the future, and the praise surrounding her products is beyond deserved. Gressa ships worldwide here (but I’d love to see European stockists for Gressa though!)
Have you tried Gressa? Which product would you like to try?
Take care,
Liz
32 Comments
I don't know much about this brand (shock horror!) so I enjoyed reading this review. The lip boost & serum foundation look very interesting products.
Usually it's other way round, I learn a lot from your reviews, especially about all the British gems ;D Yes, the lip boost and serum foundation are the stars of the line for me. Very convenient, yet high-performance products. xx
Attempt at comment number 2:
Ahem are you my twin? My first lip boost was also bare, followed by radiant, foundation 02! I'm a bit like you not a huge foundation fan, but this serum is magic! Looking tres belle xx
Haha you forgot we're both lip product addicts, so I'd say we definitely are twins! I feel like green makeup is getting more exciting each day, I hadn't imagined someone would come up with such an amazing foundation. ps Mille mercis beautiful! xx
Sold ..feel like hugging these pictures ..you look adorable and gorrrrgeous
Ooh what a lovely compliment, thank you darling! So happy you liked the pictures, I did enjoy doing this photo session 😉 I hope you get to try some Gressa soon. xx
I have been lusting after this brand for so long! Thank you for such a delightful post! You are looking gorgeous (as always). I don't have a base at the moment and keep coming back to the serum. If you can remember from far back what would you suggest for my skin tone I think I'm in between 02 and 03. Random of me to ask I know! x
My absolute pleasure! Honestly, if you're looking for a great foundation, this is the one. Not random at all, like I said on Twitter, the best would be to send a picture to Gressa, and hopefully they will determine the best shade for you 🙂 xx
Je ne connaissais pas du tout, ça a l'air top ! Merci pour la découverte 🙂
Mais de rien! Merci pour ton commentaire 🙂 En effet, Gressa c'est vraiment une marque incroyable, la qualité est vraiment impressionnante. xx
This brand sounds absolutely amazing! I'd love to try out the gorgeous foundation and lip boosts.
Thank you Megan 🙂 You'd love both, these are stellar products! xx
Oh you look beautiful, Liz! The foundation is magic! I don't believe I've ever felt one with that texture and instant coverage. It is hard to believe that 2-3 drops of what feels like a serum can be such a game changer, but your photos prove that it can! In my experience as well. Thanks for the research on coconut oil and for the lovely mention. Verrrry interesting, indeed. Fantastic & thorough review! Xo
Thank you so much dearest Sarita <3 Magic indeed, I don't think I'll be looking for another liquid foundation anytime soon. The fact that we both loved it despite the elements deriving from coconut oil, just show how amazing the quality of her ingredients are. Xx
I am so so so desperate to try Gressa. The lip boosts are stunning and the foundation serum sounds amazing and right up my street!
Oh I hope you get to try them soon. Both products are absolutely amazing, and so unique! xx
what a post Liz! you answer at all my question! You are beautiful <3 La crème de la crème is you! haha xo
Oh darling Julie, my cheeks are turning red now! (no blush needed lol) Thank you so much, I'm so glad it was helpful! xx
Ahhhhh I now know that I NEED this foundation!! Mine is almost empty so i'll definitely be picking this one up, it sounds incredible x
Ah Amber, I look forward to hearing your thoughts, it is the most easy, convenient and pleasant foundation I ever got to try 🙂 xx
I've never heard of Gressa before but the serum foundation looks very moisturizing 🙂
Oh you should definitely have a look at the website, and see for yourself the whole collection 🙂 Yes, the serum foundation is truly hydrating, perfect for winter 🙂 xx
You look absolutely wonderful, Radiant is a beautiful shade!
Thank you my sweetest Ru! I can't wait to see your post about Aux Rouges, I'm sure it looks beautiful on you 🙂 xx
Awesome post Liz!<3 You're beautiful and I loved all the details and everything. Now I don't know if I'm really 01, hmm.. but I have a yellow undertone so I guess it will be okay, fingers crossed! 🙂 I've to hear back from Svetlana and we'll see 🙂 TMI I know :))) Have a lovely evening sweetie!<3 xx
Thank you sweetie <3 I'm so happy you enjoyed it. I think you're in good hands, Svetlana is incredibly kind and lovely, so she'll make sure your Gressa experience will be a positive one 🙂 Normally you shouldn't have to worry about the shade, because they tend to adapt to different skin tones acutally. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. ps it's never TMI 🙂 xx
Gorgeous pictures 🙂 I have similar issues on my cheeks with spots and that coverage is fantastic – 1 to 2 drops?? I've been fascinated by the foundation serum since I first saw it and seeing how amazing it looks on you I am very much lusting after it! xx
Thank you lovely! It's a fascinating product indeed! Yes 1-2 drops were enough for me. The pipette will dispense a generous drop, and since it turns into a powder texture, it immediately blends into the skin. A little goes a long way, which is always a relief considering the price (with the shipping etc…) xx
As always, naturally beautiful and thoroughly informative on your reviews. What's not to love I ask? Radiant is a gorgeous shade on you, don't think I'd be able to pull it off and can we talk about your beautiful locks? What shampoo are you currently using (although I reckon DNA has more to do with it than anything)? Ironically for me I started with the make up from Gressa thanks to the incredible giveaway on IG but I do want to try the skincare as well. Rejuvenating Mist sounds delightful although I may have to test Yüli's Cocoon Elixir first ( read another amazing review on it!). Xx
Nic!! You have no idea how happy your compliment about my hair made me! I used to have terrible scalp and hair issues. I plan a very thorough post about it, but the secret lies in oil treatments. I'm currently using Stop the Water While Using Me voluminous Papaya Fennel shampoo (it's so good, hello bouncy locks!) and I have every week my usual oil treatment using either Khadi Amla hair oil or Skin Apotheke hair oil (review is in the works). I leave it overnight and I wash my hair the morning after. I can gladly email you more details, if you have any questions. Thank you for your lovely words as always, dearest Nic <3 xx
Hey Liz, thanks again for the fab review! You mentioned RMS un-coverup when reviewing the serum foundation, and I'm wondering how you feel the two products measure up performance-wise? If you had to pick a favourite which would it be? I've still got half of my jar of un-coverup and am trying not to buy any more foundations until I've used it up, but I'm so tempted by the Gressa….!
Hi daisy! Thank you, it's my pleasure! I love RMS as a concealer, to me it's one of the best for covering dark circles and spots. That being said, I can't use un cover-up as a foundation because it can be a big clogging over time. Whereas I have no trouble applying Gressa all over my face, it evens out my skin tone perfectly. Once you use up un-cover up, I think you could give Gressa a try – you can even contact her for the perfect color match- it's definitely a one-of-a-kind product 🙂 xx