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I’ve always been pretty experimental about my skincare routine. I’m always open to trying out a trendy new ingredient or trying out a fun new skincare product. But I know that sometimes the best skincare routine consists of complex ingredients. That's why I was excited to test out CLEARSTEM Skincare, a brand designed to help relieve skincare concerns related to hormonal imbalances and aging.
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CLEARSTEM was founded by Danielle Gronich and Kayleigh Christina, each of whom brought unique, formative experiences to the company. Danielle had struggled with cystic acne throughout her life and wanted to create the holistic solution she couldn’t find on the market. Prior to launching CLEARSTEM, she had founded the San Diego Acne Clinic, becoming well-known in the beauty industry as “The Acne Guru” thanks to her expertise and deep understanding of skincare. Danielle ultimately partnered with fellow skincare expert and certified holistic nutritionist Kayleigh Christina to formulate CLEARSTEM’s line of holistic skincare treatments that are designed to reduce inflammation, improve gut health and improve elasticity.
Thanks to this duo’s commitment to uncovering the benefits of holistic skincare, CLEARSTEM Skincare has helped countless women deal with cystic acne, scarring and discoloration, and other skincare issues that can be easily aggravated by hormonal and environmental factors.
Nourishing From the Inside Out
Although the brand is well-known for popular treatments like its Clearity Blackhead Dissolver ($65), I was really intrigued by the MINDBODYSKIN® Hormonal Acne Supplement ($58) because I have struggled with hormonal acne throughout the years. As a fan of beauty and wellness treatments, I have definitely taken supplements here and there, but I often found them too difficult to implement into my routine as a long-term solution.
One of my favorite things about the Mind Body Skin® Hormonal Acne Supplement
is that it was designed to help women treat acne at its source without medications or antibiotics that could potentially cause further issues. In many cases, people struggling with acne end up on harsh treatments or antibiotics- myself included.
Danielle and Kayleigh were passionate about creating a supplement that would help women deal with nutrient deficiencies, stress, and other factors that contribute to hormonal imbalances. This came through Danielle's years of working with her clients, helping them understand their blood work and monitoring their progress.
The founders hoped that this holistic approach would help people get off the harsh medications that they did not want to be on while also helping them achieve hormonal balance and a reduction in skin concerns.
In looking at the acne supplements formula, I found that they contained turmeric for reducing inflammation, enzymes for improving gut health, and 5-HTP for managing stress. Plus, DIM and Vitamin B5, which are great for easing inflammation, preventing acne flare-ups, and balancing hormones. This was also my first time seeing glutathione in a supplement focused on clearing acne, which is great for supporting a healthy liver and can lead to a brighter complexion.
After a week and a half of taking 2 capsules a day, I noticed less acne around my chin and forehead. These are the zones where I tend to deal with heavy congestion, so I’m positive they would work well to prevent mild breakouts throughout the month. Unlike other supplements, they didn’t make me feel nauseous after taking them, so I’m confident they’ll continue to work their magic without affecting my lifestyle in any way.
Skincare for the Next Chapter
Danielle and Kayleigh had a goal to find a holistic alternative to medications and harsh treatments. That’s why one of the brand’s most popular products, the MindBodySkin supplement, contains a proprietary blend of ingredients that help reduce inflammation while improving liver and digestion health.
Many people have relied on using harsh ingredients to treat breakouts as quickly as possible. However, many of these products contain fillers and ingredients that actually cause worse acne over time. In fact the product was created after years and years of seeing actual patient’s blood work at Danielle’s clinic revealed the correlation between prescription medications and the negative corresponding impact on other areas of people’s health. For example, chronic antibiotic use can ruin gut health which can accelerate the worsening of acne. That’s why the founders of CLEARSTEM focused on formulating their products with clean and nourishing ingredients that treat the causes of skincare from the inside out.
Their holistic approach is less about getting rid of the zit on your forehead before a big event and more about promoting a holistic approach that addresses the root cause of acne: such as inflammation, vitamin deficiencies, toxic ingredients that were triggering acne, and even stress.
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Better Sleep for Your Skin
This perspective definitely got me thinking about how my own skin type has changed throughout the years. My skin tends to crave hydration much more nowadays than in my teen years. As we shifted into early spring, I realized that it was a great time to test out The HYDRAGLOW Stem Cell Moisturizer ($56) since my skin tends to become a bit dehydrated and flakey in the spring. At this point in the year, I’m typically also battling seasonal allergies and my nose can become pretty red due to me constantly rubbing it with tissues.
This HydraGlow™ moisturizer is designed to be used as part of a nighttime skincare routine and is formulated with nourishing ingredients that help you wake up with glowing skin. I’m a big fan of bakuchiol (a natural retinol alternative that helps fade discolorations without causing sun sensitivity, irritation, or other negative side effects), which I was pleasantly surprised to find as one of this product’s key ingredients. Bakuchiol has also been proven to help train the skin to appear younger while you sleep since it encourages even skin tone while boosting collagen and minimalizing wrinkles. The moisturizer is also formulated with squalane, hemp seed oil, aloe vera, and other nourishing and natural ingredients.
One of the first things I noticed about the Stem Cell Moisturizer was how creamy and soft the formula felt. As I applied it to my skin, I noticed that it sat nicely on my skin and didn’t leave a greasy residue, which is great because dealing with stained pillowcases is never fun. At $56, it is pricier than what I usually spend on moisturizers, but understand that it's formulated without pore-clogging ingredients that cause breakouts and high-quality potent ingredients that my skin enjoyed.
CLEARSTEM’s holistic approach helps those suffering from acne navigate the root causes of their breakouts and integrate the right skincare treatments and supplements that target their unique concerns.
By catering to so many skin types and offering products that help keep aging skin protected, the brand will definitely stand the test of time among beauty lovers and people who have acne-prone skin.
And I love that it was founded by two women who understand exactly how difficult dealing with acne can be.
5 More Reasons We Love CLEARSTEM Skincare:
- Not sure where to get started? Take Clearstem Skincare’s 60-second quiz (which asks questions about your current skin type, routine, and lifestyle) and find out which products work best for your skin goals. The quiz results even gives dietary and lifestyle recommendations based on skin issues you're struggling with!
- The brand’s founders frequently make guest appearances in many beauty podcasts. Check out their podcast page to keep up with recent episodes.
- Education is at the forefront of the brand’s mission. So much so, that the brand has a Skin Care Learning Center. The brand also offers a series of free masterclasses where you can hear a variety of holistic wellness experts speak about the root causes of acne, gut health, and more.
- The brand’s founder, Danielle Gronich also founded San Diego Acne Clinic and has treated thousands of patients over the past decade with a 98% success rate of clearing people’s skin.
- The brand offers free shipping on all orders of $75 or more.
