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Living out west is not for the faint of heart. Annie Vallely and Kathryn Bain know this well. The LONA co-founders grew up in Texas and the Midwest, respectively, before moving to the ‘big city’ (NYC and LA) to pursue careers in beauty. After helping to build powerhouse brands like Tula, Kora Organics, and Hatch Beauty, the duo met up to reconnect with their roots.
And thus, LONA was born. The “adaptive skincare” brand is powered by the western botanicals challenged to thrive in dry and difficult environments, and their unique benefits are yours to enjoy via LONA’s hardworking 2-in-1 formulas.
LONA’s range includes three key products: Cactus Silk (a skin oil and serum), Babe Balm (a lip and eye serum), and Desert Dust (an active cleanser and exfoliator). I was curious to see if I could really cut my skincare routine in half with LONA’s 2-in-1 help. Ahead, you’ll find my unfiltered thoughts on all of the brand’s key products over the course of two weeks.
Testing LONA Beauty For the First Time
LONA’s line is intentionally pared-back, which means I could test it in its entirety. While what’s inside is, of course, most important, I can’t help but comment on the exceptionally cute packaging, too. Major bonus points.
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1. First Up:
The hero ingredients in Desert Dust include kaolin and bentonite clays that help purify your pores, as well as plant-based surfactants and yucca stem to cleanse your skin gently. Desert Dust also has lactic acid that is known to smooth and resurface, while vitamin C helps to brighten and even your skin.
To apply, wet your hands and face before taking out around three shakes of powder. I massaged it onto my face to create a creamy paste and then rinsed it with water afterward. It took me a second to get used to the application process, but by the second or third time I used it, my experience was seamless.
I love how it didn’t make my skin feel super tight, and I didn’t experience any redness (which I usually do with exfoliators). It was super gentle and made my skin look brighter overall over the course of the two weeks I was testing it.
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2. Followed by:
As the next step in my routine, I followed up with the brand’s serum and oil hybrid: Cactus Silk. The main hydrating desert-derived ingredients are prickly pear and evening primrose, which provide fatty-acid replenishment. The product even includes ceramide NP, which helps strengthen your overall skin barrier, and an OG skincare classic, hyaluronic acid, which leaves you with long-lasting moisture.
It has reverse emulsion technology to help provide the hydration factor a serum would, and the desert oils help provide targeted nutrients to your barrier. I opened up the unique baby pink bottle and poured out a pea-sized amount to start. I then took out some more to make sure I applied enough to my entire face. There’s a light scent to the product that’s quite calming. The milky texture really blends seamlessly into your barrier and provides a nice bounce to your skin. It soaks it right in without leaving any residue and works beautifully under makeup, too!
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3. And Finally
LONA’s Babe Balm is a two-in-one lip and eye serum. Blue agave, which is known to provide deep moisture retention, is the key ingredient here. It also includes both calendula and sunflower, which help soften and calm your skin and lips. Finally, the brand’s desert greens complex of dandelion, nettle, and alfalfa are designed to nourish and protect.
It comes in a super cute compact case, which also has a built-in mirror. You simply swipe your finger to warm some of the balm and apply it to both your lips and under your eyes. It’s ultra hydrating, and my lips didn’t feel chapped an hour or two later, which typically happens after using a lip balm (remember: this stuff was made from desert-derived ingredients). I threw it into my purse and reached for it daily when my lips felt dry, and I felt instant relief after each use. It doesn’t hurt that the case it comes in is also so darn cute to look at!
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My Final Thoughts
After using only LONA’s hero products for two weeks, I have some thoughts. Although I was skeptical at first, I ended up extremely impressed by how my skin and lips felt after using all the products. All of the packaging was unique and brought an element of fun and surprise when using each of the SKUs. None of the products had an overpowering scent to them, which is something I personally can’t stand when it comes to skincare (can you tell I’m sensitive?).
If I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be between Cactus Silk and Babe Balm. I love the unique packaging of Babe Balm that makes putting on a lip product feel more fun. Granted, it may not be for everyone since you have to use your fingers, but I quite enjoyed the tactile feel of it and thought the built-in mirror was such a cute touch.
Cactus Silk really melted into my skin, leaving it plump and hydrated with zero stickiness or oily residue even after a few hours of wear. If you’re looking for easy, effective skincare that’s also super cute to look at, you can’t go wrong with any of the LONA products.
The brand can be found in stores nationwide at Credo and online at Free People, plus via the brand’s site. Give it a go, and prepare for some serious hydration.
