When I was asked to review AA's Festival Kit I was thrilled to pieces -- not only would I be able to trial out some fantastic green goodies, but I could really put them to the test while at our local festival and on our many mini-breaks. I like to pack light no matter the occasion, so having a ready to go set of essentials would be brilliant!
I was sent four products from AA Skincare's range:
Frankincense & Rose Face Toner (150ml)
Lavender Calming Multipurpose Gel (50ml)
Intense Coconut Shampoo Bar (50g)
Green Tea & Aloe Vera Soothing Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes)
For many of use who are used to an intensive skincare routine, this may sound minimal, but all the key elements required for healthy glowing skin and hair are actually represented in just these four products. The face toner provides balancing properties as well as offering a much needed hydration boost, the wipes work to nourish and moisturize as well as removing impurities, the shampoo is packed with vitamins and minerals which help protect hair from environmental stress and damage while also keeping it clean and full of shine, and the gel is antiseptic, meaning it can sort any cuts, bruises, or unwanted spots that pop up. All you have to add to your bag is sunscreen and you are good to go for the weekend!
Frankincense & Rose Face Toner (150ml)
Lavender Calming Multipurpose Gel (50ml)
Intense Coconut Shampoo Bar (50g)
Green Tea & Aloe Vera Soothing Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes)
For many of use who are used to an intensive skincare routine, this may sound minimal, but all the key elements required for healthy glowing skin and hair are actually represented in just these four products. The face toner provides balancing properties as well as offering a much needed hydration boost, the wipes work to nourish and moisturize as well as removing impurities, the shampoo is packed with vitamins and minerals which help protect hair from environmental stress and damage while also keeping it clean and full of shine, and the gel is antiseptic, meaning it can sort any cuts, bruises, or unwanted spots that pop up. All you have to add to your bag is sunscreen and you are good to go for the weekend!
Toner: You eco-beauties know about my strange love for anything that mists, and while I am always hesitant now about anything that calls itself a toner rather than a floral water since my horrific experience with a product that burned my face due to a high essential oil concentration, I was happy to find that AA's Frankincense & Rose Face Toner was indeed more on the side of a hydrosol. The formula disperses evenly and pumps out a very light spray that is super refreshing on a warm or sticky day. The main smell is of rose rather than frankincense, but there is definitely a complexity to the scent that isn't present in straightforward rose waters. I really like the fragrance, as it has an added floral sweetness to it which is quite calming -- this headiness might be the honeysuckle's influence, but whatever it is it's absolutely lovely. I find myself spritzing myself throughout the day with this face toner, and I have to say I feel totally uplifted after just one pump!
While I loved this for the festival (seriously - I cannot imagine going to any long event without this tucked in my bag now!), it is unfortunately too large to take in your carry on bag when travelling. For anyone looking to pack light, you will have to decant some of the liquid into a smaller bottle or go without this on your trip.
Ingredients: Rosa damascena Flower Water, Boswellia carterii Extract, Aqua, Hamamelis virginiana Water, Propanediol, Lonicera caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Salix alba Bark Extract, Alcohol, Avena sativa Kernel Extract, Lonicera japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Punica granatum Extract, Citric Acid.
Cleansing Wipes: Before I even get into what I think about the effectiveness of these handy wipes, I want to reassure everyone that YES, these are indeed 100% viscose biodegradable. This means that they are not made of plastic, nor do they contain plastic. Instead, each one is made from a cellulose-based fiber. Remember, not all wipes are created equal, so be sure to check on the material if you are worried about environmental impact. With AA you can be assured that this is always in mind.
In terms of the quality of these on the go cleansing wipes, I have to report I liked them overall! The smell is very subtle, like an earthy sweetness which is really refreshing. I find that they work really well at getting all the dirt, excess oils, and makeup off my face, though I will say they require a bit of balm added on if you are trying to get stubborn waterproof mascara off, otherwise you end up wiping pretty hard which is not good for your skin. For the rest of your face they work great without any issues, though if you have sensitive skin be aware that they do contain alcohol. I found my cheeks in particular were left with a very slight tingling sensation for about 30 seconds - not particularly unpleasant, but worth mentioning as it could be more of an irritant for some! I actually preferred using the wipes on my body rather than my face, as I found they were fantastic for removing sunscreen from my chest, neck, and arms at the end of the day. They also work great as an underarm wipe if you are in a pinch!
In terms of the quality of these on the go cleansing wipes, I have to report I liked them overall! The smell is very subtle, like an earthy sweetness which is really refreshing. I find that they work really well at getting all the dirt, excess oils, and makeup off my face, though I will say they require a bit of balm added on if you are trying to get stubborn waterproof mascara off, otherwise you end up wiping pretty hard which is not good for your skin. For the rest of your face they work great without any issues, though if you have sensitive skin be aware that they do contain alcohol. I found my cheeks in particular were left with a very slight tingling sensation for about 30 seconds - not particularly unpleasant, but worth mentioning as it could be more of an irritant for some! I actually preferred using the wipes on my body rather than my face, as I found they were fantastic for removing sunscreen from my chest, neck, and arms at the end of the day. They also work great as an underarm wipe if you are in a pinch!
Ingredients: Aqua, Olus Oil, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2-Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Alcohol Denat, Cetrimonium Bromide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid.
Gel: I have to say, I was pumped up about the toner and the face wipes but a little unsure about the multitasking gel -- I have an unsteady relationship with multipurpose products, and find they are really hit and miss, as many skimp of quality in their attempt to tackle so many potential uses. I am so happy to say this was not the case with AA Skincare's lavender gel. Since it contains phenoxyethonal I could not use it on my face, but I found it was fantastic for soothing the spotty patches of sunburn I got on my neck and shoulders (I really need to ask someone to help me get those hard to reach places!!) and it was amazing at calming the nasty mosquito bite I got on my ankle. The itch did not completely disappear or anything, but the swelling definitely went down and the throbbing ache I got from the massive bump slowly went to just a mild irritation. I have not had any falls lately, so no bruises to test it out on yet, but I am sure I will have more than one spill over the summer and will be my trust in this gel to help boost my healing.
Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Lavandula angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium graveolens Flower Oil, Calendula officinalis Extract, Chamomilla recutita Flower Extract, Symphytum officinale Leaf Extract, Panax ginseng Root Extract, Lavandula angustifolia Flower Extract, Betaine, Mel, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene. *Those in italics are naturally occurring potential allergens.
Shampoo Bar: I admit I did not actually use this at the festival, but have brought it on my travels and was pleasantly surprised by how moisturizing it ended up being! Sometimes shampoo bars can leave my hair feeling a bit dry, but this was not really the case with the Coconut Shampoo Bar. If anything, it was almost too hydrating for my hair -- this would be ideal for someone with very dry or damaged hair, and while I do have some pretty dire split ends, the majority of my hair is healthy and 'normal' overall. The formula works fantastic for my partners hair and left it super soft, but I found it was a little heavy on my own (plus you all know my issue with coconut oil - it hates me!). That being said, the formula is meant to help encourage hair growth, so that is a definite benefit to this bar -- I want mermaid locks for the summer, so maybe this would help me meet that goal if i got on with coconut oil. However, I do think the Botanical Boost bar would be more suited to me, so I am looking forward to buying that when this bar is gone and trying it out in the future!
Ingredients:Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Aqua, Parfum, Limonene.
I have been really impressed with AA Skincare's products, and all four I think are brilliant for popping into your bag for when you are on the go or at an all day or weekend event. I would say this kit is festival approved, as it served me well at our local event and kept my skin fresh, radiant, and calm through the whole thing! I also love that each item (except the toner) is perfect for hand luggage as well, so if you are planning on jetsetting this summer these are great for backpacking or those budget flights that do not allow you to have a free checked bag. None of them take up much space, and they are super light so you won't have to worry too much about weight limits or lugging around a massive bag of products on your travels.
If you want to grab these essentials, you can pop over to AA Skincare's website -- you might even find some additional treats that would serve you over the summer! They have a huge range, including face masks, deodorant, moisturizer, cleansing oil, and shower gels, and everything is super affordable.
Have you tried out AA Skincare yet? If you haven't had a chance to test out any of their green goodies yet, which do you think would be your festival or travel must have? As always, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below!
*These items were sent to me by the brand to review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own honest thoughts, and you can see my Disclaimer Page for more details
Blogger Note: Every product mentioned in all of my posts are purchased with my own money, are gifts from friends or family, or were won in public competitions unless otherwise stated. However, my posts may contain affiliate links. This will never change my approach to my reviews, nor will it influence how I represent the products I am writing about, as I only choose to represent or work with brands and companies that I 100% respect and trust
*These items were sent to me by the brand to review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own honest thoughts, and you can see my Disclaimer Page for more details
Blogger Note: Every product mentioned in all of my posts are purchased with my own money, are gifts from friends or family, or were won in public competitions unless otherwise stated. However, my posts may contain affiliate links. This will never change my approach to my reviews, nor will it influence how I represent the products I am writing about, as I only choose to represent or work with brands and companies that I 100% respect and trust
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This brand sounds great, I'm gonna check if they're cruelty-free, thanks for sharing and making me aware of them 🌸✨
ReplyDeleteWith love, Alisha Valerie x | AlishaValerie.com
they are CF, and most of their products are vegan friendly as well :)
DeleteThe ecoLogical
A shampoo bar sounds fabulous. I have never used one and its a strange concept but worth a shot!
ReplyDeleteI've not used a shampoo before but I like the sound of it for travels - especially as it is coconut based :)
ReplyDeleteThose wipes sound like an ideal concept for a festival! Shampoo bars are the way forward also for sure x
ReplyDeleteSounds like a super range! I've been using shampoo bars for years, they're great! I'll have to check out these ones as they're different from my usual brand.
ReplyDeletewhich is your usual? :) awesome that you have been using them so long!
DeleteThe ecoLogical
I've only tried one shampoo bar before but I'd be intrigued to try another one as they're so convenient for travelling x
ReplyDeleteThe coconut bar sounds brilliant for my hair. I love bars of shampoo as they are really portable when you travel
ReplyDeleteShampoos bars are the best, they come in so handy!
ReplyDeleteLove, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
What a great looking kit and I love the shampoo bar, especially as it cuts down on the amount of plastic.
ReplyDeleteI love he idea of the lavender gel and I can see why you found it good for bites and itches as the calming properties help. It is a favourite scent of mine.
ReplyDeleteme too! it is so calming :)
DeleteThe ecoLogical
The shampoo bar sounds amazing, especially for festivals and travelling with just hand luggage. My hair is super dry and bleach damaged so it would be just right for me.
ReplyDeleteI am getting more and more into plastic free shampoos, and this one is so nourishing!
DeleteThe ecoLogical
I tried one of their face masks - and I absolutely loved it! I'm not surprised that their other products are great too.
ReplyDeleteooh which mask was that?? :)
DeleteThe ecoLogical
I have not heard of AA skincare before but it looks fantastic. Will look out for it when i am next shopping for beauty products
ReplyDeleteOh, these really are some awesome goodies! Not only are they packed with natural ingredients and perfect for festivals, they're great for summer travel in general! I'd love it if you'd connect with me! I've followed you everywhere!
ReplyDelete: signe
: Green Chic Life :
@greenchiclife