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I can honestly write a love sonnet for Nap in the Meadow Face Serum, my HG (Holy Grail) skin serum for inflammation, blemish healing, hyperpigmentation & radiant, healthy skin! The one product in green beauty that I actually really loved and raved about for years on my blog was the Andalou Naturals Turmeric Enlightened serum, which was reformulated and now contains a much less potent formula with comedogenic ingredients to boot 😕. Alas, all is not lost! 🎉Sometimes, when one door closes, another opens… In this case, the door that opened for me led me to Nap in the Meadow, my HG, dessert island, can’t-be-without face serum from my beloved Earthwise Beauty!
If you’ve been following me for a while, I’m sure you’ve heard me rave about Nap in the Meadow serum before, but, in case you’re new or just need a recap, Nap in the Meadow Face Serum from Earthwise Beauty is essentially the amped up, 100x more effective version of the previously mentioned serum! Once I tried this gem of a product, I was hooked and have never looked back!
It took me over a year of sampling Earthwise Beauty’s line of products to figure out just how essential Nap in the Meadow is for keeping my acne at bay & healing the hyperpigmentation I have from genetics as well as residual scarring from post-acne marks. I kept going back & forth between Nap in the Meadow & Resiliency Serum (formerly known as Carrot A Day) to try to determine which serum is my HG. It took lots & lots of trial and error, but after much experimentation, I realized that I can live without Resiliency, but I absolutely cannot be without Nap in the Meadow! In fact, for me, I wonder if my skin tolerates Resiliency because when I used both Serums in conjunction, I couldn’t see the full effects of Nap because I was still breaking out. I didn’t stop breaking out until I omitted Resiliency Serum & solely used Nap for at least a month.
However, I don’t want to stear you completely away from Resiliency because in my mom’s case, she has super sensitive, acne prone (mild acne in her case), aging skin & she actually prefers Resiliency to Nap in the Meadow! 🤷♀️ 😃 So, we’re all different and I still recommend trying samples to find what works best for YOU. This is just my story and more details about what makes Nap in the Meadow special, as well as photos to show how it tremendously helped my skin heal.
***Gut health is a BIG factor when it comes to chronic, cystic acne & unfortunately there is no topical product that will miraculously stop this cycle if you’re not addressing any digestive/hormonal imbalance issues you may have. I’ll go into more detail in my next post all about how I’ve been taking care of my digestive issues, so stay tuned! In the meantime, all is not lost! The RIGHT skincare can certainly help heal the skin & prevent further damage while other factors are being addressed internally.***
So, what makes Nap in the Meadow special?
Nap in the Meadow is a super lightweight, aloe-based serum that has turmeric CO2 extract listed as the THIRD ingredient, which makes this star anti-inflammatory ingredient at the very top of the active ingredients, which serves to de-flame acne, calm hyperpigmentation, heal acne breakouts, and give life back to dull, tired, thirsty skin. The most potent, therapeautic, healing, and super pricey essential oils have been added to pure, organic Aloe Vera (with zero added water in the formula! 👌) to make this serum a rock star! Many Serums are watered down, at the very least, or usually contain water as the first ingredient, followed by aloe vera, if it’s included at all. You won’t find any of these little “tricks” at Earthwise Beauty, which is a line based on a foundation of the purest, most effective ingredients that serve a myriad of purposes to target various skin concerns.
Additionally, German blue chamomile, yarrow essential oils, & turmeric CO2 extract give this serum its classic, beautiful turquoise hue pictured above, along with de-puffing properties, anti-aging properties, and a calming aromatherapeautic scent that transports me to a forest with cascading waters that sooth the soul. Nap also includes Elderberry extract, yarrow, two different types of lavender and Helichrysum (italian everlasting oil), which is the most beneficial oil for revitalizing skin tissue and reducing scarring! 👍Lastly, taken from Ava’s description:
“Galbanum: This essential oil is made from galbanum resin, an ancient wound-healing agent for slow-to-heal skin conditions and also used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Included here to aid skin tissue repair and scar healing and prevention. ✨*Note from Julie: I can DEFINITELY attest to this! I’ve found Nap to singlehandedly be the best scar reducer that has NO sensitiizing ingredients like AHA or BHA or the highly unpredictable, topical Vitamin C found in most products aimed at reducing scarring. In addition, Nap does not have added oils that can clog pores, which can be tricky when finding products designed to heal scarring/hyperpigmentation once a blemish starts to heal.*✨
Copaiba balsam resin: Another healing resin, this one from Brazil, used here to contribute acne-healing properties.”
As if all of the above wasn’t enough of a unique product, Ava included 🌺flower essences🌺 of the following to this remarkable blend: Rosa woodsii (Wood’s rose) flower essence†, Phlox longifolia (pink phlox) flower essence†, Achillea millefolium (white yarrow) flower essence†, Lupinus argenteus (silvery lupine) flower essence†. to enhance the properties of each carefully selected ingredient in this super potent, vibrational blend! 👌😍 If you’re curious about Ava’s line of flower essences from her sister company, Pacific Northwest Essences, please check out my previous blog posts in my Flower Essence series HERE on the blog!
Since i have very oily skin, most products (especially oils, balms, and moisturizers) tend to sit on top of the surface of my skin without ever absorbing, which leads to more clogged pores in the end. Ava suggested that I try using Nap in the Meadow OVER a lighter oil such as Ruby or Yasuni Balm, to further assist with the absorption into my skin. THIS WORKS LIKE MAGIC!!!! I actually do what I call “A Nap in the Meadow Sandwich“, especially during the cooler months when I’m applying more oils/balms to my skin. I spritz my face with Cistus & Moonlight face mist/toner and apply one pump of Nap all over my skin. Then I apply 2 drops of Black Locust Firming Concentrate facial serum during the day and apply two pumps of Nap over top of this oil. At first it seems like it hasn’t done much of anything except increase the overall moisture…..BUT, wait 5 min or so (do your eye makeup or skincare, etc…) and then just touch your skin with the back of your hand and viola! IT ALL ABSORBS LIKE MAGIC!!!! As a person with the most oily of skin, this is truly a game changer for me on so many levels. Ever since I incorporated this method, I’ve opened up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to what products I can use on my skin. My skin feels plump, hydrated, but never oily or sticky with any form of residual residue lingering on top. Plus, my mineral makeup then applies like a DREAM! (side note: simply mixing a drop of oil into NAP and applying at the same time does not yield the same effect for me as the NAP sandwich does, but it’s worth a try!}
Now that we’re in the heart of summer with super hot days ranging in the 90s most days, I’ve actually been using two to three pumps of NAP by itself followed by either a tinted moisturizer as the only additional moisture on my face (otherwise it’s overkill for me 😅) OR I use two drops of my favorite facial serum, such as Black Locust, & mix this into my loose mineral foundation to make a serum foundation. When applied like this, the oil gets soaked up by the foundation, but still works its magic on my skin without clogging my pores & the dewy, radiant finish is absolutely beautiful! This method will also give you customizable, maximum coverage without plastering layers of makeup on your face. I did a quick Insta Story that can be found in my Makeup Highlights on Instagram @completenaturalclarity where I showed how I do this with my mineral foundation 👍. For more about my HG facial oil for Acne-prone, Aging skin, check out my Black Locust Review!
✨Keep Reading for Photos & Coupon Code!✨
Many people think their skin is much more oily than it actually is. When I say I have oily skin, I mean that I can blot my face with an oil absorbing sheet 30 min after washing my face! The only benefit to me having underwent two rounds of Accutane in my early 20s after going off the BCP, is that I learned what all different skin types feel like and how they respond to products. My skin went from being very oily, to slightly oily, to combo, to dry, to severely dry by the end of my treatment and it amazed me to watch how products that would just sit on top of my skin when my skin was oily would just absorb right in leaving no residue whatsover when it was normal-dry. So, that’s why its very important to use products designed for your skin-type and to accurately determine what your skin-type truly is, which can also change due to hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, post pregnancy, menopause, seasons, etc. The EWB site divides their products according to skin-type, which is very helpful! And the ENTIRE Earthwise Beauty line is designed with acne-prone skin in mind, which is so very rare, especially in green beauty!
If there is ONE single product I can recommend to you from this line, it is hands down Nap in the Meadow face serum if you suffer from any form of acne, hyperpigmentation, Scarring, oily/combo skin, puffiness, etc. My first birthday present request was the large size of NAP because I literally love it that much! I also secretly fantasize about bathing in a giant claw-foot, Victorian tub filled to the brim with Nap in the Meadow serum…😂🤷♀️ I have an active imagination, what can I say!? There is never a dull moment in my house 🤣.
Otherwise, if you don’t have oily skin and oils DO absorb into your skin, then my best suggestion to get the full effects of NAP is to apply two pumps morning and night as the first step in your skincare routine underneath your daily oil/balm. Give this product some time in order to see the full extent of the results. Ava’s products are designed from an old-world philosophy using ancient, healing herbs that are carefully chosen. So, this means you may not necessarily see mind-blowing results overnight, however, with patience and daily use, you’ll see the overall health of your skin improve dramatically! Stick around to see my before & after photos! 👌🤗
A little bit of history on my skin condition:
Since puberty, I’ve been dealing with various levels of acne from mild, mostly moderate, to severe that continued way past my 20s into my 30s. Over the past year or so, I’ve been struggling with SEVERE cystic, noduler acne that just keeps filling and re-filling with hard plugs deep under the layers of my skin, so no matter what I do, it just keeps re-filling or opening up/bleeding just from washing my face or sleeping! 😭🤦♀️Yeah I know, graphic and not fun… To say the least. To top it off, these deep blemishes leave huge chunks out of my skin once they do finally go away, leaving a trail of indented scarring all over my face. Acne is one of those things that can only truly be understood, in terms of how it affects so many aspects of a person’s life as well as his or her overall sense of self, by someone who’s actually experienced it. To others, it seems like a superficial complaint stemming from vanity. It’s so much more than that and that’s why I feel so passionate about sharing my experience with you in the hopes that I can help save you some agony! And so that you know you’re not alone!
Before & After Photos:
These photos show approximately One Month of Results over time. My skin is far from perfect, BUT, the marked improvement over just a few weeks using completely natural, organic, safe, & healing rather than abrasive ingredients is proof in and of itself that you don’t need crazy, harsh peels & lightening agents to target chronic, severe skin concerns. People often associate “natural” skincare with being the weaker of the two versus the conventional counterpart, but that’s definitely not always the case. It’s more a matter of finding the right natural brand for you, getting past gimmicks in current media, & using real-deal, quality products. Even just incorporating one, essential serum into your skincare routine, if that’s all you can budget for at any point in time, can make a world of difference!
June 28th
The above photo shows my skin as it started to heal, but there is a recent breakout on my cheek to show what type of blemish I’m referring to, in terms of the severity of the blemishes I’ve been dealing with. 😕
Lastly, here is a photo of me only wearing Nap serum with a tiny bit of highlight mixed in that doesn’t cover anything or even out my skin tone on its own. This photo is to show that my skin improved so much that now I feel confident in showing my bare face with just a hint of glow! I never imagined I could feel confident in being bare-faced in only a month’s time based on what I looked & felt like during photo one! 😍✨ I’ve seen others have success stories with their skin like that and I’ve always been so envious…. And wary of how authentic results like that could possibly be! But, here I am, as I bare my face before you all, flaws & all. I’ve been loving “barely there” makeup most days with a hint of cream blush doubled as eyeshadow & Lip color for the simplest, no-makeup, makeup look and it feels so empowering to be able to do so! To truly love the skin one’s in… And to be comfortable sleeping at night without angry blemishes woot woot 😃.
🌠Coupon Code Below!🌠
Retail Price: $54 for 1oz or $86 for 1.7oz Ava also offers deluxe sample sizes in 5ml dropper bottles so you can get a feel for the product and see how your skin initially responds so that you will know for sure if you’d like to invest in a full size! ✨💞✨You can always use the coupon code Clarity10 to save 10% on all purchases 🙌😘✨💞✨ at Earthwise Beauty 🙌🙌🙌
Ingredients:
Cold-press whole-leaf Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Sambucus nigra (elderberry) fruit extract, Curcuma longa (turmeric) root Supercritical CO2 Select extract, caprylyl capryl glucoside (naturally derived), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil (* and †), Achillea millefolium (yarrow) oil, Helichrysum italicum (Italian everlasting) oil†, Marticaria recutita (German blue chamomile) oil, potassium sorbate (natural food-grade preservative), organic Pelargonium graveolens (geranium bourbon) oil, Pelargonium roseum (geranium rose) oil, Copaifera officinalis (copaiba balsam) resin†, Ferula galbaniflua (galbanum) oil, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (vit. C), Rosa woodsii (Wood’s rose) flower essence†, Phlox longifolia (pink phlox) flower essence†, Achillea millefolium (white yarrow) flower essence†, Lupinus argenteus (silvery lupine) flower essence†.
*Certified organic. †Responsibly wildcrafted.
Aloe certified by the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) for purity and content.
Certified cruelty free, vegan, handcrafted, small batch.
I hope this post has helped you learn more about Nap in the Meadow Face Serum, the potential of plant-based ingredients in general, & has inspired you to not give up on your skincare goals! There is SO much out there as the green beauty scene explodes! I know that I personally find it so helpful to have a testimonial from a real person struggling with the same/similar skin issues. Browsing the internet & reading ingredient lists can be overwhelming & super pricey to try a bunch of different products from various brands all claiming to do similar things. So, my blog is here to help you navigate this immense world, while learning & growing with me! Rather than hating our skin, we ideally want to establish a routine that grounds us, & that we look forward to each day, knowing that we’re doing something good for ourself, healing both body & soul! 🙏🌈💞✨✨✨
Love & Light,
💞✨
Julie
