Good Looks
Does your skin need an elimination diet?
It’s an unexpected suggestion from the founder of a beauty company, but Adina Grigore suggests that women stop using skin-care products. Especially if they have unexplained skin-care sensitivities.
“Sometimes people don’t realize that all the things they’re doing to make their skin better are actually making it worse,” says Grigore, who studied nutrition and personal training before creating Sprout Skincare, a cool line of seven all-natural skin-care products that she makes by hand.
“Overusing products, washing the skin too often, and slathering the skin with chemically based ingredients can cause problems,” says Grigore, whose own sensitive, freak-out-prone skin was inspiration for Sprout. Hence the no-frills products, like a three-ingredient cleanser with organic tea tree oil that’s non-drying ($24) and a toner that zaps excess oil with raw apple cider vinegar, floating particles and all ($24).
While Grigore was in nutrition school, she experimented with simple formulas made from kitchen ingredients. After graduation, she led seminars on how to make the products. “But people wanted to buy them instead!” says Grigore, whose products top out at $32.
Ingredients are fastidiously sourced from small farms and the Union Square Green Market, or fair-trade cooperatives, like the unrefined shea butter from Togo that goes into Sprout Cream ($32), a best-seller.
Grigore also does some cosmetic counseling for those suffering over the state of their skin. Often, she suggests clients ditch products altogether—even cleanser—and wash with water alone to hone in on what’s actually causing the problem.
After that, she reintroduces products attuned to the confirmed sensitivities. (Even if they’re not hers.) Think elimination diet, but for your skin. —Larkin Clark
For more information, visit www.sproutskincare.com
Updated: Sept. 22, 2012
Great article. I have Rosacea prone skin & take periodic breaks from products. I like the sound of these Sprout Products and plan to try.
This makes so much sense! I use Philosophy products, which are great, but contain way too much fragrance. My skin freaks out over everything. If I can get my lazy butt to Brooklyn, I’m definitely gonna try these.
I use Sprout cream, it is amazing for every part of the body. Well worth the price.
[...] -Stop using skin care products, especially if you have sensitivities. (Well and Good NYC) [...]
I def. agree that simple skincare is better. Ever since I started using jojoba oil for pretty much everything – removing makeup, moisturizing…my skin cleared up, and it’s become very supple. I’ve wasted lots of money on expensive products over the years!
[...] -Stop using skin care products, especially if you have sensitivities. (Well and Good NYC) [...]
JUST went to the derm yesterday and was told the SAME thing! You’re on to something for sure…
Great Article!!!! I also make my own Ayurvedic, all natural skin care products and I really love what Sprout is doing. Replacing your mass produced, chemical ridden face care prodcuts with all natural alternatives is a GREAT way to take charge of your happiness and well being!!!
Sprout is an amazing idea, and the products show serious thinking behind their conception.
I am much older than most of you readers but in my younger years had no skin issues. I use Adina’s products now as my formerly lovely and blemish free skin now suffers more from dryness and flaking. Sprout products are making a huge difference for me. Especially the “All Over Cream”. Adina gave me samples when she first started, and now that she has a website shipping to my home in Tennessee is so easy. I’m so glad I met her.
[...] Napa Organics is like the West Coast Sprout Skincare. The range of six affordable products is handmade in small batches, using just a few ingredients. [...]
[...] Napa Organics is like the West Coast Sprout Skincare. The range of six affordable products is handmade in small batches, using just a few ingredients. [...]
[...] Adina Grigore S.W. Basics of Brooklyn Bubbly, 28-year-old Grigore originally founded Sprout Wellness for her own sake, because her super sensitive skin couldn’t take the harsh ingredients in most [...]