Disclosure: Bolden Beauty: By Black Girls, For Black Girls contains press samples provided by the Bolden. In addition, this post contains affiliate links. Bolden is a skincare brand founded by two black women. Their brand carries products specifically for darker skin tones. Since the creation of Bolden, Target now carries Bolden, which is an amazing milestone. The brand reached out Fall 2018 to try a few products from the line. Check out what claims the brand makes and my thoughts and decide whether Bolden offers products that would improve your skincare routine. Skin Clarifying Cleanser, $16.50 Bolden Skin Clarifying Cleanser is described as a gentle, pH balanced formulation that addresses the needs of anyone with dull, congested and breakout prone skin. My thoughts: Cleansers go down the drain, so their importance in a routine is minimal, as you will rarely see benefits from just cleansing. Bolden clarifying cleanser is your typical cleanser that does what it’s supposed to do- it cleanses. Peeking at the ingredients list, I’d advise anyone with sensitive skin to beware, as this cleanser contains artificial fragrance and three dyes. There are also no ingredients to decongest as it claims. Does it cleanse? Sure it does. It’s a cleanser. Bolden Skin Brightening Toner, $19.50 Bolden Skin Brightening Glycolic Acid Toner is described as a toner that promises to dimish dark spots, tighten pores, prevent breakouts and control oil and shine. My thoughts: Bolden Skin Brightening Toner is a medley of witch hazel, niacinamide, glycolic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and antioxidants. One ingredient that caught my eye was corn starch, typically used skincare formulas for oily skin, which makes a good thing better. It’s gentle like a hydrating toner and powerful like an exfoliant without stinging and burning. Bolden Nighttime Repair Serum, $29.50 Bolden Nighttime Repair Serum claims to target damage caused by acne, sun exposure and aging. It features 10% glycolic acid. My thoughts: It’s rare that I run across glycolic acid serums as everyone typically adds it toners, so it was refreshing to see it in serum form. It is packaged in an airless pump (5 stars!!) and dispenses like a gel lotion and quickly absorbs. It is not greasy, so it’s not going to be heavy enough to double as a moisturizer. Always wear your AHA’s at night and follow this serum up with a good moisturizer for max efficacy. Bolden Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30, $28 Bolden Brightening Moisturizer is described as a broad spectrum sun protectant that improves skin texture and appearance My thoughts: I fell in love with the moisturizer at first sight of the ingredients list. Shea butter meets linoleic acid meets a gentle version of vitamin c meets squalane. Because this line of products was created by black women, for black women, the SPF does not leave a white cast on the skin. I would highly recommend adding a Hyaluronic Acid serum to the equation to add some hydration. Unfortunately, I have to add a buyer beware footnote, as this moisturizer does contain fragrance. If you are sensitive to products that contain fragrance, skip this one. The smell is a bit odd and lingers. I secretly wonder if they really needed the fragrance. Bolden also offers other products including: Glow Hydrating Mask Clear Skin Clay Mask Overnight Spot Treatment Check out everything Bolden has to offer by visiting their website. Target does not carry the brand’s full SKU, but they do carry the cleanser, toner, glycolic acid serum, and clay mask.
The post Bolden Beauty: By Black Girls, For Black Girls appeared first on Hey Aprill.