One of the things I like about Celtic Complexion is that the packaging is charming. Jennifer Devlin, the founder of the company, is UK based and the logo and art are reminiscent of that heritage. It’s what some might call quaint. I hate to judge a book by its cover but I frequently do. Celtic Complexion passes, though. The products wouldn’t necessarily look out of place in a drug store. The packaging feels complete.

But unlike other drug store products, Celtic Complexion isn’t mass produced. Jennifer hand pours all the products herself so the textures and smells may vary from batch to batch. It is because of this very reason that I have to tell you to take any negatives in my review with a grain of salt because your mileage certainly can vary.

Love Your Skin Travel Kit

Smell aside, the balm comes in a small tin and you can use your fingers to apply it. It’s a bit waxy, like many balms. Because I wasn’t as fond of the smell, I found myself using it less than I would other moisturizing lip products but it didn’t seem to last quite as long as my Chapstick, especially as the weather becomes more dry.

I was most excited about the sunscreen in the travel set as I don’t have any light sunscreens and not all my moisturizers have sunscreen in them. This sunscreen offers SPF 22 which is pretty significant compared to many facial products. It is a light product that I was able to wear with my usual beauty routine without any problems. It’s supposed to be tinted but looks quite white to me. This isn’t a big deal at I’m quite white, too. LOL

The moisturizer was quite different from any I’d used before. It includes a ton of natural oils, ranging from coconut to jojoba to sandalwood and even including grapefruit oil. The texture is like a thin wax almost. It comes in a jar and the instructions say to dip your fingers in and rub the moisturizer between them to warm it, which will cause it to become more liquid-like. I expected the moisturizer to feel greasy because of its texture but was surprised that it didn’t. However, toward the end of the day my face did feel greasy. It can feel greasy if you use too much, though. I probably need a lighter/oil-free product because of my specific skin chemistry. This product was lightly scented. I could detect a slight sweetness to it, which I didn’t mind.

Calming Serum

Ironically, I keep forgetting to use it when I do have sensitive skin but it’s definitely best for minor irritations as the bottle is small and the formula is difficult to apply to a broad area. With a product like this, I want to readily wet a cotton ball or Q-tip to apply it but the dropper isn’t ideal for that. I feel like using my hands results in most of the product winding up on the area where I first touch my skin and not so much elsewhere.

This one also has a stronger herbal scent that I don’t necessarily love, which has contributed to me using it less than I expected. I’m pretty unlikely to use products on my face, if I don’t love how they smell. This is personal preference, of course, and your serum may smell a little differently or not as strongly because of the hand pouring. In retrospect, this might be the type of product I’d be better using before bed so I could fall asleep and let it do its work without bothering me.

Celtic Complex products are definitely something to consider if you have trouble with big name facial care or if your skin is especially sensitive or you experience rosacea. None of the products contain parabens or synthetic fragrances. Instead, Jennifer relies on organic and non-toxic ingredients to produce her products. My experience was a toss up, due to my picky nature. However, the sunscreen is something every person should have in their arsenal and the Love Your Skin Travel Kit is a great introduction to the products, to see if they’ll work for you.

First up is a 1 ounce (30ML) jar of Vitamin C Potent Topical Cream. Packaged sleekly, you wouldn’t know that this product isn’t a luxury cream. I’d really love to use it myself but half four containers of moisturizer that I have to use up yet. That probably won’t happen for two years. LOL

Natural Skin Care Shop describes this moisturizer as:

High Potency Vitamin C Complex in a luxurious facial moisturizing cream. Formulated with concentrated anti-oxidant nourishment for a youthful and radiant glow. Enriched with unusually high levels of Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane and Jojoba oil for unsurpassed moisturization and skin nourishment.

Along with this, I’ll be shipping to the winner a 4 ounce jar of Micro Derm RX, an Alpha Beta microdermabrasion cleanser. I’m not quite sure where this one came from or who makes it as I can only find information about it on Overstock.com. The product description there describes this product as:

• Exfoliating facial scrub deeply cleanses and purifies skin
• Formula refines skin surface and stimulates collagen
• Microderm treatment combines Alpha and Beta hydroxy acids with microdermabrasion crystals for smooth, radiant skin

Either of these products would be great to keep your skin healthy, smooth and young looking and feeling. The estimated retail value of these product is around $100 and one lucky winner will receive both of these items, in their unopened packages. I only hope hat you can love them more than I do.

To enter, complete the following by May 9th. Post a separate comment for each entry:

• Tell me why you’d like to win these products – Mandatory
• A comment letting me know if you follow me on Twitter – @anaesthetic
• A link to a blog post about this giveaway (must include a link to the direct post)
• Add my blog to your Delicious favorites (leave a link to your profile)
• Add this post to StumbleUpon or Digg
• A link to a Twitter post about this giveaway (once per day) such as: Win $100 of skincare products from @anaesthetic. Visit Reviews by Cole to enter the #giveaway: http://reviewsbycole.com/2011/05/put-your-best-face-forward-giveaway/ Ends 5/9

Good luck!

Unfortunately, all of those complaints apply to the All Day Moisturizer by Deja Vu which is a shame because it’s so nicely presented. This all day moisturizer is in a pretty frosted glass jar with a silver cap. “Deja Vu” is embossed into the top of the cap and product information is written in silver text on the jar itself. The jar actually comes in a white box with silver print and what appears to be teal “fabric” blowing in the wind (it also gives the impression of moving liquid) in the background. It’s quite sleek and modern. The jar has a comforting weight, sits sturdily on a flat surface and isn’t difficult to find.

I also liked the texture of moisturizer – a thick cream. It feels fluffy and luxurious but is in fact thick enough that it doesn’t fully absorb into the skin. The slightly perfumed/cosmetic scent also added to the idea that this is a quality product, at least that is what Deja Vu would have you think. According to the site:

Deja Vu Cosmetics, an international manufacturer and importer of original Dead Sea mineral products, brings you a complete line of exciting skin care and spa products directly from the very source of nature – the Dead Sea. After years of research and development, we have enriched and prepared our line of products with proven formulas, allowing us to bring to you the miraculous benefits of the Dead Sea right to your home.

But it’s not really ideal for my face to continue to feel greasy well after I put on my moisturizer and I’m not a huge fan of having to stick my face in front of a fan before I can apply make up.

Another drawback is that while Deja Vu claims this product “contains trace elements and minerals which naturally act to protect the skin from the harsh effects of the sun,” it has no official SPF rating which I like my moisturizers to have.

I would also warn folks that there are a handful of potential irritants in this All Day Moisturizer including parabens, glycol and mineral oil.

I’m not sure how much Ryan spent when he bought this and while I do appreciate the thought, I wouldn’t even pay the sale price of $64.99 on Deja Vu’s site let alone the $93.99 list price.