REVIEW: Perianne Skincare ~ Spring/Summer Collection

Quick, open a new window on your computer and get yourself some of the most refreshing, cleansing, hydrating, sensory heightening skincare available.

You've heard me rave about Perianne Skincare before. Cora Michael, the company's creator, and her fabulous team have once again created extraordinary products for this Spring/Summer Collection, chock full of vitamins, seasonal extracts, essential oils and organic ingredients. These are a feast for the senses and incredibly effective for skin.

Perianne Gel-Based Foaming Cleanser - 6 fl oz - $24

Perianne Refreshing Toner - 6 fl oz - $20

Perianne Light Face Lotion - 2 fl oz - $40

What I like:

• The incredible aromas of each of the products; all different in their own respects. The gel, foaming cleanser is light, citrusy with a hint of lavender; the refreshing toner (so true to its name) is fresh with a grassy-scent highlighted by cucumber and mint; the light face lotion is deliciously sweet, but not too sweet, with aromas of fresh berries, a delicate tropical ylang-ylang, and the slightest accord of wood - words really can't give you the same feel the experience of these scents render.
• The ingredients used in the Perianne skincare products are simply cream of the crop, mostly organic, with the most careful attention paid to what each and every ingredient yields for the health of your skin.
• The effectiveness of this line is wonderful; the Spring/Summer line, fabulous for my combination skin type, gently cleanses without stripping skin, tones beautifully preparing skin for hydration while refreshing tender facial areas, and moisturizes without leaving a heavy, oily feel to the skin. In fact, the lotion absorbs almost instantly into the skin and provides great hydration.
• The cost of these products is amazingly reasonable considering they are mostly organic and are packaged beautifully
• Which brings me at last, but not least, to just that - the packaging of the products is very carefully thought out. These aren't cheap, plastic, hard to dispense contents containers; these are all glass containers - the cleanser comes in an easy to dispense pump as does the lotion providing the perfect amount of product (although I generally pump 2x on the lotion cuz I love it so much)

What I don't like:

• Not a single thing! How many products can you say that about ...

available: Perianne, Dharma NYC

EARTH DAY SPECIAL FEATURE: Q & A with Perianne Skincare's Cora Michael

I can think of no one in the beauty industry I'd rather spend time with on Earth Day than Perianne Skincare Founder and Creator Cora Michael. You guys are in for a treat. I had the distinguished opportunity to interview Cora specifically for our feature story for Earth Day; she exceded all my expectations. Her generous spirit, personable nature and wealth of knowledge about effective skincare - organic, natural and botanical ingredients - is both refreshing and inspired. Oh, and if I've failed to already mention, her products are like nectar from the gods.


1) What inspired you to create Perianne?
I was inspired by the seasons, mainly, and by what I saw as a hole in the beauty market. I wanted to create adaptive, seasonally aware products that would answer the skin's changing needs throughout the year -- something that hadn't really been done yet. I'd always had a hard time finding the right products for my skin as the weather changed from summer to winter, and was incessantly switching around, trying new brands. It was frustrating, and my skin paid the price (irritation, imbalances, etc.). So, I decided to start my own line!


2) Did the way you grew up or your professional history have anything to do with your drive to create your own skincare company?
Yes, and no.
From a personal standpoint, I'd say growing up in West Virginia (where nature is much more accessible, and woven into daily life) made me conscious of the seasons and their effect on the body, mind, and spirit. Also, my mother was always very good about caring for her skin (she looks great for her age!) and that filtered down to me. I have always been "obsessed" with skin care, you could say. From a professional standpoint, my background is in art history -- I have a PhD and I work in the museum world, so I don't have any business training. But you could argue that there is a connection between skin care and art, in that both have to do with BEAUTY, ultimately -- whether it be art or the beauty of healthy, radiant skin.




3) How did you choose the ingredients for your skincare products?
Very carefully! I did tons of research into the properties of different botanicals and essential oils, but really the most important thing was to consciously choose SEASONAL ingredients. It's amazing, but nature really does provide what skin needs at different moments of the year. For instance, in my new Spring/Summer line, ingredients like cucumber, lavender, red raspberry seed oil, and mint -- which are all summer-seasonal -- help skin stay cool, refreshed, cleansed, and protected in the hot, humid months of the year. It's really about trying to achieve harmony and balance for your skin, but also I want to emphasize the importance of paying attention to the seasons, and to how they affect us in all ways.


4) Why is using organic and natural ingredients important to you?
To me, this is a no-brainer. There is no reason to use synthetic, artificial, harmful chemical ingredients when a natural, organic ingredient can do the same thing, and probably better. It's really about health -- for you and for the planet. I've just been reading about Ayurveda -- the ancient Indian system of health and healing -- and one of the things it emphasizes is the use of a whole plant for medicinal purposes, rather than isolating and extracting the active ingredient. The human body is similar -- we are whole -- body, mind, and spirit work together, so to me, using organic, natural products that heal and nurture (rather than harm or compromise) the skin, well, that just makes sense.



5) How is Perianne different from other skincare?
Perianne is really unique -- there is no other brand out there that "thinks" seasonally about skin care. Practically everyone has to switch their skin care routine when the weather changes, so these products answer that need. Also, the thoughtful use of botanical ingredients is unique -- with attention to the seasons and what skin needs at different times of the year in order to stay healthy, supple, and beautiful.



6) In your opinion, what is the most important (or worthwhile) natural, organic or botanical skincare ingredient one may use for healthy skin?
I'm not sure I could pick just one, but right now an ingredient I am really excited about is red raspberry seed oil, which we use in the Spring/Summer Light Face Lotion. Studies have found it to be an excellent antioxidant, but more impressively, it has an SPF of at least 15 or higher -- naturally! I love that it can help heal AND protect against sun damage, and it also looks beautiful (it's a deep, rich red color).


7) How are the Perianne products made/manufactured?
Since we are a small company, I work with an organic skin care manufacturing lab on the west coast. We produce in small batches, so the products are always fresh. As far as ingredients go, we try to use organic whenever possible, and really keep synthetics down to a minimum (we do use phenoxyethanol, a paraben alternative, for preserving the products, though we are moving towards an organic preservative system, as in our Light Face Lotion).




8) Why glass packaging?
Again, it relates to health. In this case, the health of the environment most importantly, since most plastics are produced from petroleum by-products. Glass is also 100% recyclable, and since we use a fairly high percentage of essential oils, the glass doesn't interfere with their efficacy, the way that some plastics can. Plus, I think it looks and feels more elegant, more luxurious.

9) What other products do you plan to introduce over the next year?
Moving forward, we will be developing two more ranges for Perianne: the Transitional Treatments, and the Year-Round Treatments. The Transitional products are designed to help skin adjust to abrupt or drastic changes in weather and temperature, and they will include three masks: one for overactive, oily, or blemished skin; one for dry, dehydrated, sensitized skin; and an enzyme mask, to restore skin's luminosity and freshness (by exfoliating dead skin cells). The Year-Round products are intended to be used as part of your regular skin care regimen, so that will include an eye cream, a granular exfoliant, and a vitamin serum. An SPF which you can use daily over your moisturizer will also be part of the Year-Round line.


10) Name one beauty product you can't live without.
My Perianne toners!!! I love both the Fall/Winter version -- with fennel and pink grapefruit -- and the new Spring/Summer toner, with mint and cucumber. They are both delicious, and really make your skin glow.


11) Any tips on how we can best reduce signs of aging?
Sunscreen, because prevention is the best strategy. Unfortunately, Perianne doesn't make one -- YET (we plan to make a daily SPF part of our Year-Round product line). Also, I have to say I am against "anti-aging" as a marketing concept in the beauty industry. It's a fallacy, since you can't stop time, or the natural process of aging. Besides, some of the most beautiful women I know are over 60, and they have wrinkles, but they have an inner glow that comes from being healthy, happy, creative, and loving. That's really what it's about. I think that supple, glowing, healthy skin is what we should be aiming for -- not sandblasted, botoxed, artificially taut skin!



12) What is your best beauty secret?
Regular exercise and facials four times a year.

13) What other passions do you have besides your business? Dancing is the one thing that makes me most happy -- I was trained as a ballet dancer, and it's just in my bones. Doesn't matter what kind -- I love ballet, jazz, modern, or just dancing at parties with friends. I'm like that guy in "Dazed and Confused" -- when asked what he wanted to do with his life, he said, "I just wanna dance, man!"


For purchasing and more information about this wonderful line of skincare, an ingredients reference "library" or to learn more about Cora: Perianne

REVIEW: Perianne Skin Care

Attention, skincare lovers!
There's a brand new skin care company on the scene and you're gonna love it ...

'peri' - around; 'anne' - annual: Year Round Skin Care Products

Perianne is an organic skin care line inspired by and responsive to the change in seasons so your skin can adapt to nature's cycles. Each Perianne product is specially formulated with active natural ingredients including botanicals, essential oils, plant and flower extracts, and herbs, to help your skin stay healthy and balanced whether in the heat and humidity of summer, or the cold and dryness of winter.

I had an opportunity to ask Perianne's owner and founder, Cora Michael, about this intriguing line. Per Cora, "Using seasonal ingredients is part of my philosophy, which is in keeping with seasonal awareness in the organic lifestyle movement in general. It's amazing, but nature offers skin what it needs when it needs it!"

Currently, there are three products available, all in the Fall/Winter group. The products are being introduced in phases with the Spring/Summer line coming available in March/April 2008, the Transitional products in September 2008, and the Year-Round product line in December 2008.

So what of the three Perianne Fall/Winter products on the market since December 2007? In a word - superb! These are decidedly high quality, organic products packaged beautifully in glass bottles and jars (I love when companies use glass over plastic), the cleanser sports an easy-to-use pump dispenser. The contents - gorgeous for the skin, heaven for your senses!

• Milky Cleanser - a non-foaming, detergent-free creamy cleanser which smells of sweet oranges, cardamon and begamot essential oils; promotes clarity while stimulating and warming the senses; also contains black fig, sugar cane and milk extracts to soften skin $20
• Gentle Toner - I hardly ever use toner, but I love this! Smells lightly of grapefruit and sweet fennel essential oils, this mild toner eliminates excess cleanser residue and prepares skin for moisturizing, blends extracts of apple, chamomile and aloe to soothe dry, tired skin, but works beautifully on my combo skin as well so don't let the 'typing' dissuade you from trying any of these Fall/Winter items $20
• Rich Face Cream - ever walk down a street lined with jasmine? that's what it smells like opening the jar to this luxurious, velvety moisturizer; this anti-oxidant rich cream boasts ingredients like pumpkin, pomegranate, grape, cranberry, and carrot to nourish normal to dry complexions with vitamins and omega fatty acids. I'm enjoying the scent and hydration of this product so much I actually use it as a body cream as well - may be used day or night. $40

Alright, so having said all that, I cannot wait for the other Perianne products to take the stage.

In the works:

• Year-Round Line - an exfoliator, an eye cream, and an anti-aging serum
• Transitional Treatments - intended for skin that is having a hard time adjusting to changes in temperature, humidity, and seasonal shifts, and will consist primarily of masks: 1) one to hydrate and soothe dry, irritated, or stressed skin; 2) a second to purify and cleanse overactive, impure skin; 3) and a third to help speed cell turnover (e.g., an enzyme mask) and reveal brighter, smoother, renewed skin
• Spring/Summer Line - will include a Foaming Cleanser (with extracts of lemon, orange, bilberry, sugar cane, and lavender); a Purifying Toner (with cucumber water and mint extracts); and a Lightweight Face Lotion (which will feature antioxidant red raspberry seed oil, soothing calendula, fortifying seaweed, and balancing ylang-ylang and sandalwood essential oils, among other delicious ingredients)

Oh my gosh, the Spring/Summer line is the one I'm most looking forward to, well, that and an exfoliator! You can check out information on products, ingredients (Cora even tells you about the properties of her ingredients, WHAT they are good for) and purchase Perianne Skin Care online or by visiting Dharma NYC in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY. Expect to see Perianne in other retail locations soon.