My skin type: Acne-prone, combination, sensitized (but not quite sensitive)
Skin concerns: Dark spots from acne scars, active acne, some redness, enlarged pores, oiliness in t-zone, broken skin barrier
*Disclaimer: This post is NOT sponsored by Cocokind, I simply just love their products and the brand.
Forget Skittles, my rainbow of Cocokind products brings me so much happiness, I sometimes line them up by color just for the ~aesthetic~. But beyond their vibrant hues, the products themselves also have really helped my skin and provided me with great budget-friendly and drugstore options as opposed to their pricier counterparts. The brand also has a very ambitious and impressive mission of providing transparency about labeling and the ingredient breakdown as well as offering more sustainable packaging and even tracking their carbon emissions. It’s also a women owned brand! A win in my book. So here is a breakdown and ranking of my favorite products, which will definitely prove to be a challenge for me.
10. AHA Jelly Cleanser
Although at the bottom of my list, this cleanser and its pastel pink coloring grabbed my attention when I saw it used naturally derived AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids) from hibiscus flower acids and fermented grape. A lot of Cocokind products use either a combination of or solely naturally derived exfoliants, moisturizers, etc., with more commonly used skincare ingredients such as salicylic acid or zinc oxide in sunscreen. It’s one of the reason why I was so drawn to their products.
The reason I rank it low is that I found that the cleanser didn’t lather as much as I was hoping and didn’t feel as cleansing as I had hoped. I think it may work well in maybe drier areas but living in humid South Carolina, it just didn’t do it for me. But still, I am always happy to try a new Cocokind product, especially when it retails for half the price of luxury skincare but provides just as much, if not more, benefits.
9. Turmeric Tonic Spot Treatment
I loved the turmeric illuminating solution (see below!) so much that I decided to try out the spot treatment of the same yellow hue. The tonic has a cool metal roll-on applicator that I adore and I use it in the morning for dark spots and acne before moisturizer. As much as I wanted to love it, I can only say I like it. I haven’t noticed a strong difference, maybe because it turns out I am using it wrong! According to the website, it is meant to be applied after toner but before serums. I will definitely be trying it out with this method and will come back in and edit this post if my feelings change. But for now, I just love rolling it around my face in the morning and feeling fancy.
8. Silk SPF
I decided to give this sunscreen a try when I felt that the other Cocokind sunscreen (the daily SPF) was simply too heavy for my acne-prone combination skin. When I saw they released this chemical and mineral sunscreen hybrid that was labeled “silk”, I was intrigued and decided to try it. I loved using it during my senior year of college after purchasing it in the fall, and used it up until the end of spring. It did indeed feel silky and blended flawlessly. I eventually started to look elsewhere because when the humidity combined with more sun and heat, it started to feel a tad too heavy. Just a tad! But any kind of weight on my skin, especially during the day, drives me nuts. So I unfortunately can’t rank this as high as I want to. On to the next!
7. Vitamin C Glow Serum
I tried this serum about a year ago, just to use in the mornings, but it did not seem to work with my skincare routine at the time. It didn’t seem to absorb well for some reason and it added weight to my skin, which, as I said above, I despise throughout the day. But I decided to give it another try recently, incorporating it into the morning once again and after my The Ordinary 5% Lactic Acid serum. I did not feel the heaviness feeling at all and instead started to notice more of a “glow” in my face and maybe even a reduction in the pigmentation of my dark spots. It’s now easily one of my favorites.
6. Sea Kale Clay Mask
I bought this mask for myself a birthday ago and upon unboxing it, realized maybe I didn’t need it because I have combination skin, not oily skin…but still decided to try it. And thank goodness I did. Although I avoid the mask when I feel a bit dry, I reach for it every time I feel like my pores need a good cleansing. What I didn’t realize is how soothing this purifying mask is, while also working to decongest the skin at the same time. The addition of blue sea kale extract, adding the soothing component, is what makes this mask a perfect go-to for my combo skin. I will never stand in a drugstore aisle and panicked, buy a cheap, drying clay, charcoal whatever mask again. Never again.
5. Rosewater Toner
I think what most drew me to this toner at first was the fact that it’s a spray. I loved the idea of simply spritzing it onto my face morning and night, eliminating the need for using a cotton round and spending an extra minute wiping it all over my face. Basically, I’m a lazy skincare lover. But also less waste! And I’m saving money. But after getting through my first bottle, I also realized how much I loved the solution. It’s refreshing, soothing and also can be used to set makeup or just to refresh the skin throughout the day. I didn’t take it with me to Spain because of the glass bottle so I cried internally until I recently bought something similar. But it doesn’t top my beloved rosewater toner.
4. Turmeric Illuminating Solution
The bright yellow bottle, matching its hero ingredient turmeric, definitely got me a little excited. This and the turmeric spot treatment were my first yellow additions to my little Cocokind family. I actually got this product thinking it was meant to be an exfoliating serum, but it’s really an exfoliating and brightening toner. However, I still like to use my rosewater toner before to give my skin a refreshing layer. The toner definitely lives up to its name with the brightening properties of turmeric coupled with the exfoliation from a blend of acids. Besides the occasional tingling, it never gave me a burning sensation or anything close to pain. I used it every other day, alternating between this and my The Ordinary 10% Lactic Acid serum. It’s recommended to only this product 3-5 times a week and I think that’s the perfect amount to reap the benefits.
3. Revitalizing Eye Cream
I received this as a Christmas gift two years ago and was skeptical at first — almost $20 for a tiny little eye cream? But I started using it consistently in my night routine and was quickly hooked. First off, this eye cream has a metal applicator that always feel cool against my tired under-eyes. Second off, it took me (I swear) almost a year to finish the entire 0.5 fl oz bottle. A year. I was shocked. Whenever I thought it would surely be on its 9th life, there was somehow more product hidden in the depths. I immediately repurchased after finishing it. And finally, the product itself definitely soothes my dark circles and works as a perfect little moisturizer for the eyes. It’s not a miracle eye cream but I think for the price point, it accomplishes its goal.
2. Sake Body Lotion
This is my all-time favorite body lotion. I had tried countless drugstore options and never felt satisfied. Too greasy or heavy, too light, too much of a scent. So I finally decided to try the Cocokind Sake Body Lotion, which I had not purchased before because the $22 price tag deterred me. I had never spent more than probably $12 on body lotion and I was not entirely convinced this would be worth it. But finally when I saw the body duo, which includes the coffee scrubbing clay, was on sale, I bit the bullet and bought both to treat myself.
I was put off by the white cast that appears when you first rub on the lotion, but it almost immediately disappears once further being rubbed on. This lotion goes on light but hydrates the skin and replenishes the skin barrier without weight. I use it year round for these qualities and put it on damp skin so a little can go a long way. I love this lotion. Bury me with it please.
1. Ceramide Barrier Serum
I avoided buying this serum for too long, mainly because I was against hydrating serums for years (bad choice) since I thought they would feel too heavy on my acne-prone skin with an oily T-zone. When I realized I actually was in recovery from a broken skin barrier and in desperate need of something, I bought this. The serum is highly-rated and I had seen a few TikTok videos raving about it. I incorporated it into my night routine after my exfoliating serum of choice, with 3 drops on my cheeks and forehead. Now, I do two drops on my cheeks and one on my chin, where I have the worst breakouts and occasional dryness from attempts to treat acne.
I saw a difference in just a few weeks. My skin felt more nourished and hydrated, especially following the serum with my moisturizer. I understand the hype. I would recommend this serum to any skin type because of the benefits of ceramides for the skin and because I never felt any weight on my skin after application. It is easily the most important serum in my skincare routine and I will never, ever skip it. Even at 4am after a night out. It won’t happen.
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