Spotlight on Luminous Cleansing Elixir

Jami required an easily-spreadable, yet richly textured, effective moisturizing cleanser that could be removed easily from the skin so as to avoid unnecessary pressure or pulling to the delicate facial area. The result is an elegant, water-free cleansing balm rich in beneficial oils that is ideal to massage onto the skin for an ultimate gentle cleansing experience to moisturize the skin while gently removing dirt, debris, and residue from its surface.

Silky, lush Luminous Cleansing Elixir is imbued with restorative vitamin oils and extracts. Soothing and reparative, this preparation is enriched with a high quantity of avocado oil, an ingredient celebrated for its many advantageous effects to the skin. Avocado oil is known to be moisturizing to skin; it contains a high amount of amelioratory unsaturated fats (omega-3 fatty acids); and, it is rich in sterolin, which studies have shown facilitates the softening of the skin and can help to reduce the incidence of age spots.

The avocado oil that we use in our Luminous Cleansing Elixir is pressed from the fruit grown on the Heidegger family’s ranch in Malibu, California. For years, Klaus has been growing avocados and other produce in accordance with the principles of permaculture, a sustainable practice that incorporates organic farming, agro-forestry, sustainable development, and applied ecology. As a result of being cultivated according to the ideals of permaculture, the produce grown at the Heidegger’s ranch is uncompromised by chemicals, as this most “green” type of agriculture cultivation relies solely upon natural pesticides and fertilizers and recycled waste products as well as freshwater reserves. The oil pressed from the Heidegger ranch-harvested avocados is pure, rich, and abundantly nourishing and emollient to the skin. (For more information on our ethical and sustainable sourcing of ingredients, please see our post, “Ethical and Sustainable: Sourcing Ingredients.”)

Luminous Cleansing Elixir is not a traditional soap formulation; soaps generally contain strong surfactants as well as unnecessary binders, fragrance, and artificial coloration – all of which can be potentially drying and irritating to the sensitive and fragile facial skin.

After much research in the lab and testing on our own skin, we chose to utilize Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate and PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate in our cleanser. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is clinically-proven to cleanse skin without stripping. PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate loosens debris and light makeup. (Please note that Luminous Cleansing Elixir is not recommended for the removal of eye makeup. If heavy foundation is worn, one may opt to remove first with a makeup remover. If foundation is not removed thoroughly, clogging of the pores and blackheads can result.) After use of Luminous Cleansing Elixir, skin will feel soft and smooth, never tight or dry.

Ideally, the face should be cleansed over the basin; water pressure and higher temperatures in the shower can strip and dehydrate delicate areas of the face, causing redness and flaking. We recommend using a dime- to quarter-sized amount of cleanser.

Cleanser should be massaged onto the skin with clean fingertips in a gentle, upward, circular motion, always avoiding the immediate eye area. Luminous Cleansing Elixir may be tissued off without water or removed with a warm, damp washcloth or cotton pad. If desired, the cleanser may be rinsed, but always make certain to avoid splashing the eye area.

As with our hydrating products, Luminous Cleansing Elixir is cloaked in black to provide the best possible protection from the detrimental effects of light and oxidation in order to preserve the integrity of the ingredients over a prolonged period of time and to decrease the amount of preservative necessary to provide an adequate shelf life.

In general, Retrouvé products should not be exposed to extreme heat, cold, or temperature changes and should be kept out of direct sunlight. Ideally, our preparations should be kept in a cool, dry place. Bathrooms are not usually ideal locations for product storage, because the temperature and humidity levels there change frequently!