Product Review: Evan Healy Sea Algae Serum
Happy Tuesday! Here’s another product review from commenter-cum-contributor Rebecca Bailey! Check out last week’s review of 5 Clean Lipsticks for Super-Sensitive Lips, too.
As we’ve talked about here plenty, the first thing in beauty is taking care of the inside—but I’m always happy to find a standout product that enhances beauty from the outside, too. I’m a big fan of Evan Healy (see my morning skin and hair routine over here) and this is my current favorite in her line…
Evan Healy Sea Algae Serum: I first used this a year or two ago, and somehow got off it. I think I was preoccupied with my DIY experiments, and in the colder seasons I wanted something a little heavier. But in these last couple weeks I felt like I needed something light. I’m in love all over again!
It has everything I want in a skincare product. It gives a full sensory experience of great scent and texture, comes in a cute and convenient pump, is a pleasure to put on, and has top-notch performance. Remember that Seinfeld episode with the beachy-smelling perfume? This is what I imagine that was supposed to smell like. The clean ocean smell quickly fades to neutral though, which I appreciate. It feels light and spreads perfectly applied over a hydrosol. Two pumps cover my face, neck and a bit of upper chest. I’m glad it doesn’t take much, because this is on the pricier side, about $37 for a ½ ounce bottle. OK, here’s the important part:
It is the only product I’ve ever tried that actually does some firming.
I’m no spring chicken, and I have this jowl and neck thing going on lately. I don’t think it’s my imagination: My skin looks firmer after using this serum. I can’t speak to the long-term effects yet, but in the short term at least, I’m impressed (and glowing). Super clean with lots of organic ingredients—sea buckthorn is high on the list and it’s intended to repair damage caused by the environment and aging—and it’s anti-inflammatory. I usually prefer a short list of ingredients, but Evan Healy is like an old-school alchemist, really working the magic into her products. This can be used along with your regular moisturizer, or on its own if you just want super-light, healing moisture.
Have you tried this serum, or anything else from this line?
Yay Rebecca! I love all your comments and am very excited to see you’re a featured contributer now! I love product reviews but I’m wary of Evan Healy. I really wanted to love her products, everything about her company sounded great but they were too much for my skin. I have SUPER sensitive skin, which leads me to my next semi-non related question…
HELP! the skin around my eyes is so red and itchy and flakey and they react to EVERYTHING so I’m scared to try anything. My doctor says it’s “stress” and “allergies”. ugh, and prescribe cortisone cream to make the problem go away, which I think just makes it come back more easily. Anyone else suffer from this? Any recommendations for eye creams that are soothing & hydrating with a short ingredient list? Ditto for concealer… RMS, Vapour, Jane Iredale… all are too thick/drying or don’t provide enough coverage. sigh.
@Michelle: My eyes are a total pain (although they aren’t quite as bad as yours). Just today, I am walking around like an old lady who got punched in the face because the skin around my eyes is acting up. I found that when my eyes are being moody, eye creams are just no good, even the gentlest, cleanest ones. My advice would be to leave them alone as much as possible (there have been lots of discussion on this site of whether we even need to use eye cream) and if you need to moisturize, use a single-ingredient, high-quality oil, like Kahina. I used to have weird, painful, pimple-like spots on my lower eyelids (not styes) that just wouldn’t go away and Kahina was the only thing that got rid of it.
@Rebecca, haven’t tried this serum yet, but I’m afraid that after your review, it will be sold out ! ” the first product that actually does some firming”!! Who doesn’t want that? I certainly do.
How would you compare to IN Plant Renew Serum? Do you like this better? Please tell.
Thank you
Hi Michelle, I’m so sorry to hear about your skin reactions! I’m not a doctor, but I really think you need to be looking at your diet. I always say if you have a problem with skin or digestive system, food is the first place to make changes. There are medical tests for allergies but the best way to tell is an elimination diet (lots of info online or ask your doctor). Eliminate the common allergens to begin with (dairy, gluten, etc.). This can be rough for some people to imagine, but if you find the problem you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it long ago. There are lots of ways to eat, but if you eliminate common allergens and eat lots of fruits and veggies with simple dips/sauces and healthy spices, it will be delicious, remove potential problems and add nutrients needed as your skin heals. If you can work with a holistic practitioner/naturopath, they could help you with this and deal with possible hormonal issues as well (another thing to look at with skin problems).
Product wise, you might just stick with a hydrosol you like and an oil on top of that (or straight shea butter if an oil isn’t enough). There are tons of options there, look for something anti-inflammatory. Meadowlake Farms Hive Isolates Renewing Salve is what I use as an alternative to cortsone-based creams (inflammation, bug bites, etc.), plus it’s my favorite for lip balm. Long ago I had a doctor prescribe very strong cortisone for me too, and it worked temporarily but in the long run I believe it only makes things worse. The only eye cream I use regularly is 100% Pure Coffee Bean – not a super short ingredient list, but all good stuff. For concealer around my eyes, I use my Alima mineral foundation. Best of luck finding what works for you.
@Nancy, I use both the IN stem cell (first thing on my skin) and then a hydrosol and the EH serum (my argan DIY lightener on top of that). The IN is a booster, so it should help whatever other products you use work their best. If what you are mainly after is firming and you only want to use one of the products (neither is cheap) then I’d go with the EH serum. The EH is the newer addition to my routine, and it was after starting it I noticed firming.
@ Michelle, I have the same problem but I have managed to keep it under control for the last few years. What I use might not work for you as I have a weird set of sensitivities of my own but… I avoid food triggers Wheat and dairy being the worst. Topically when I am having an eye crisis I spray with rose water, gently wipe with a cotton ball then dab a little Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream or the light version ( its expensive and I depend on samples) over my eye area. Tamanu Oil has also worked very well for daily prevention as does aloe vera gel but the substance in the skin of the aloe plant called aloe latex causes a reaction in me so I have to be a little causious and I never use it straight from the plant. I agree that Argan oil would be well worth a try and I am saving up for some. Of all the plant substances out there rose and calendula are the ones that I find most soothing but others have better luck with lavender and chamomile (although if you have ragweed allergies chamomile might be a problem). You might want to do an elimination diet and try really pairing down your skin care routine.
@ Rebecca, I’ve wondered about this serum for a while. Its nice to hear a review. Thanks.
@ Michelle
I feel your pain, my skin is also incredibly sensitive (just this week I was dumb enough to try a sample of SheerinO’kho because it looked nice and expensive, and sure enough my rosacea flared up badly!). I too stay away from a lot of natural skin care like Dr Alkaitis and Pai, despite the claims that they suit sensitive skin. They are too fragrant/active and contain far too many ingredients. I haven’t tried Evan Healy yet.
I would ditch the cortisone cream. I find that doctors tend to prescribe it as a first line of treatment when they don’t know what you have. It makes things better for a while, and then a lot worse by thinning the skin and creating a dependency. I would suggest trying organic coconut oil. Very few people react to it, and it covers most common causes of skin infections (being anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic). For anti-inflammatory action, I would pick a cream with calendula in it, like Karen’s Botanicals calendula rose cream or their rosehip eye cream. I have good results with this brand. I would certainly stick with products that contain few ingredients. If you can, I would also avoid eye makeup while the irritation clears and reintroduce it with caution.
Thank you Rebecca. ( I want it all.. that my products work at their best and also all the firming I can get so I’ll keep this serum on my radar )
@ Michelle- I also have sensitive skin and have difficulties dealing with incredibly dry skin around my eyes. According to my doctor, my tears don’t produce enough oil- who knew?! Anyway, I’ve tried everything over the years…super emollient eye creams, light eye creams (thinking less might be more) and also oils. Straight up argan oil is nice, but I have to say I’ve been using the Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum by La Bella Figura and I couldn’t be happier. It is truly a miracle product…at least for me. Incredibly moisturizing and very healing- the skin around my eyes looks better than it has in ages. It’s pricey, but a little goes a long way. I had a great experience with Victoria and she sent me a sample to try before purchasing. They are a fantastic small company and I’ve since fallen in love with the Barbary Fig Renewal Serum as well. I’ve also had a problem in the past with the natural/organic lines breaking me out with all of the essential oils and active enzymes, etc., but La Bella Figura has been amazing. Good luck!
@Rebecca- great review- thanks so much!
@Lauren-Thank you Lauren! Your sweet and kind words came just as I needed them after a tough day. Makes me happy to know our products are working so well for you. :)
Best-Victoria
I loveeee evan healys philosophy and products. her hydrosols are to die for…kinda pricey though. OMG and the green tea mask!!! so good.
i also love the pomegrante repair serum. I have sensitive acne prone skin and i like this line. Ive tried Suki, Dr.Hauscka, Dr.Alkaitis, and more and all have been too strong. I ordered the PAI sensitve skin cream cleanser with muslin cloth but i dont know how i like it yet, it doesnt seem to take off all my makeup and i kind of miss that clean feeling that this cleanser doesnt not leave me with. Does anyone else have an success with PAI?????
Overall, I find that for sensitive skin, simplicity is key. When I dont feel like splurging, I enjoy rose water as a toner, aloe vera gel/juice as a gentle moisturizer or jojoba oil.
Thank you all so SO much!! I was feeling so hopeless and now I feel like there are ways to solve this! love this site xo
@B, I also love EH hydrosols (Immortelle is my go-to) and pom serum. Pai has too much strong scent for me in most of their products, but I love their Bioregenerate serum and the muslin cloths are my favorite for face exfoliation. I let some honey sit on my skin for a while, massage in the shower, and then use the Pai cloth. Love it!
Oh, I’m happy and surprised to see a review on Evan Healy. I have tried and loved a bunch of her products, after they were heavily mentioned in the NMDL book. But I found on this blog, her products are not mentioned as much, and I was wondering why. I haven’t tried this serum yet, but I will check it out!
@B (and Michelle):
I agree that simplicity is definitely key! All I use on my face is Pai moisturizer (and eye cream) in the morning after splashing with water, and Queen of the Meadow face scrub at night to cleanse. No more pimples! (And Michelle, I would really consider cutting back on all products you put on your face, not just your eyes. My sensitive skin gets bumpy as soon as I do more than what I described above and a mask once a week.)
I love Pai, but the cleanser made my sensitive skin break out, so I only use it as an eye make up remover now. But, the eye cream and Rosehip/Cham moisturizer are staples for me.
Also, I love this serum! As I said, I have a very simple daily routine, but after a nice clay mask once a week, this stuff is phenomenal! (I’ve also noticed the tightening- on the pores around my nose!)
I keep reading that sea algae extract is very comedogenic and can cause breakouts. I am prone acne and have been hesitant to experiment with products that contain algae. Has anyone experienced this?
@ Victoria- I’m so happy you ready my comment. I’m a huge fan and happy to spread the love. :-)
Michelle, I’d advice to use only 2 or 3 products for now:
Dr Alkaitis Cleanser plus his Soothing Gel, and if you need more, add the Nourishing Treatment Oil. I’ve seen miracles happen with this combination (I own an organic beauty boutique in Berlin, Germany).
But before you start buying lots of expensive products, you might want to check your diet – which is probably the most important factor! This interview contains a LOT of very useful information: http://thechalkboardmag.com/dr-alkaitis-interview
yikez, this serum makes my pores DISAPPEAR! and i am totally serious. It smells like heaven, and glides on so silkily. It is perfect for summer skin, I swear it to you! I love ever single things from this company, but my FOUNDATIONAL ITEMS are definitely the pom serum and any hydrosol (lemon-thyme is to die for and rose geranium is perfect for all around skin balancing), I also love the Light Moisture Replenishing Fluid and the WHIPPED SHEA BUTTER WITH OLIVE LEAF o.m.g. It is literally the frosting on the cake. It smells like it, and it almost taste like it (yes, I have eaten it, i’m not ashamed!)
green tea clay is a must too!
ahhhh i love this line!
@Susannah I have totally experienced the break outs from algae! I want to warn anyone with acne prone or sensitive skin to be careful with serums with this ingredient. I was using the vitamin c serum from John masters daily and couldn’t figure out why I was waking up with tons of zits and have basically been horribly broken out for the last few months while using it. I actually only figured it out this week doing some research. I’ve taken a look at my hair products as well because of hairline breakouts and found that when I switched to coconut oil containing things all hell broke loose. There are still a lot of irritants/comedogenic ingredients in natural beauty products so I’m learning to find what works for me in particular not just what is said to be “good”.
@Rose, I am sensitive and acne prone (mainly hormonal), and the serum is great for me. Your point is an excellent one, though – sensitivities can occur to just about anything, and even people who don’t consider themselves sensitive could have a reaction to a particular ingredient/product.
@flo, i live in germany, what is the name of your organic beauty? i have just moved there, i am not familiarwith organic beauty product brands there except oshadhi, so i would love to know more about yours. please contact me at dwiastuti_p@yahoo.com. thank you
@ Flo, i am also looking for organic beauty shops in Berlin as I just was researching where to buy Dr Alkaitis products here in Germany! please email me as well at vjensencr@gmail.com
BUYER BEWARE–I saw no difference whatsoever with this product. The only reason I purchased this is because it was directly in line with my holistic views. Perhaps the worst part of my experience was the customer service. They were perhaps some of the most unprofessional people I have ever dealt with. Their response came almost 3 weeks after I inquired! When I called them the representative was cold and very unhelpful. When I presented my problem with the product she offered no solution and seemed unknowledgeable about the product. After presenting all of this to the company they didn’t even apologize! In fact they just never responded. I believe talk is cheap and actions are what matter. That said, their professional conduct was hypocritical in light of their “serene” stance. To quote the back of their Lavender Facial Tonic bottle ” May all beings everywhere be happy and free” UNLESS you have need customer service.
LOL @ Seth!!!! But i am with him 1000%. I tried a few Evan Healy products because of the clean, chemical-free look that they claim, and I didn’t care for them. They weren’t terrible but not worth the price. The C serum and the Lavander Facial toner did absolutely NOTHING for me. Besides, Mrs. Healy is an old, busted looking lady IMHO. So, IF HER PRODUCTS ACTUALLY WORKED HER SKIN WOULD LOOK ALOT BETTER! All these skin care product pushers need to be leading by example. Same way you wouldn’t hire an obese personal trainer to help you get in shape. Right? Not trying to be ugly, just saying…