Saaf Skincare Organic Credentials
Saaf Skincare products are all Soil Association-certified. The Saaf Organic Pure Face Cleanser contains 98.5% organic ingredients. The Saaf Organic Complexion Boosting Face Serum contains 98% organic ingredients.
The standard set by the Soil Association is that at least 70% of a beauty product’s non-water ingredients must be organically grown and harvested. As well as this the ingredients must be sustainable, not use pesticides (of course), any extracts extracted without chemical solvents, all non-organic ingredients must have a non-GM certificate and pass strict toxicity and biodegradability criteria, must not contain any nanoparticles or irritating or potentially toxic chemicals, and manufacturers must pass an annual inspection and keep detailed production records.
Rebecca’s Review
Whilst the fragrance of the Saaf Super Hydrating Body Balm did nothing for me, I’m delighted to say I love the scent of this face cleanser. Grapefruit, lavender and geranium blend well for an uplifting start to the day, and my beauty regimen!
This cleansing balm is suited to most skin types, with a base of jojoba oil (super hydrating but also a powerful oil when is comes to makeup removal!), anti-inflammatory safflower oil, regenerative olive oil, nourishing shea butter and softening beeswax.
As well as being one of the best cleansing balms I’ve tried, it’s also great for removing eye makeup, thanks to its jojoba oil content.
When I first decanted the Complexion Boosting Face Seruminto my hand, the first thing I did was smell it. For me, it smells of nigella seed oil a bit too strongly! Nigella seeds are really good for you, but anyone who has eaten them can vouch that they don’t taste all that great! After applying to the skin however, the fragrance of lemongrass comes through. There’s also juniper in the formula, but I can only smell this slightly.
It’s a very heavy duty oil, and the directions say to leave to sink in for a few minutes before removing any excess oil with a tissue. For me, I prefer to leave this product on overnight, it’s definitely not one for the morning rush! There are two skincare ingredients in here I love using on my skin – jojoba oil and rosehip seed oil.
Saaf have another serum – Ultimate Moisture Face Serum, more suited to dry skin types, which I think would be more suited to my skin type. This product didn’t do all that much for me.
Eline’s Review
Like Rebecca and Katria I also prefer the smell of this Organic Pure Face Cleanser to the Body Balm. The lovely combination of lavender, geranium and grapefruit give this face balm a very fresh and appealing scent.
When applying to your face the cleanser just warms your skin. You can really feel both the soothing and moisturising effects of this balm. And although I wasn’t sure if it would work, it can definitely be used as a make up remover as well. Just watch out when using waterproof eye make up, because you might end up with panda eyes!
Just when I though I was actually going to like Saaf, I tried the Complexion Boosting Face Serum. I don’t dislike the smell, I’m just not a big fan of the Black Caraway Seed Oil. Especially when using this product after the cleanser, it would be nice if the serum had a similar scent with a trace of lavender or some citrus fruits.
However, the face serum is a great moisturiser. It does take some time to absorb and again, when using it before going to bed I was afraid it would stain. But just as it says on the bottle, you can simply blot off any excess with a tissue after a couple of minutes.
Katria’s Review
Compared to the Saaf Organic Body Balm, the Pure Face Cleanser smells light, refreshing and timeless. The citrus notes create a lovely, stimulating aroma suited for early mornings or sleepy evenings. I’m definitely not used to using thick creamy cleansers like this particular product but I really loved this.
Whilst testing this Saaf cleanser out I found that you only need a little of the product as it goes a long way. I would apply a small amount to my face, leave it on for a few minutes and then use a warm cotton pad to wipe away the product. I found this more nourishing than purifying and wouldn’t need a moisturiser on top of this product.
Its moisturising properties are really beneficial, and I find that for my skin type this would work better as a softening face mask or thick moisturiser rather than a cleanser. However I really like the fragrance, and would most likely use this again.
So far, I’ve loved nearly all the Saaf products. I really wanted to like this Serum too but this did nothing for me. I found this to be another one of those products that didn’t sink into my skin and left my face with greasy residue, and stickiness.
I’ve been saying that a lot throughout Organic September, but most of the oils and face serums just don’t seem to be suited for my skin, and it’s the same with the Saaf face serum! Just like Rebecca, I like to leave facial oils overnight for more of a deep conditioning to the face, which is exactly what I did with this Saaf product. But like I had mentioned, I work up to oiliness!