Salt & Stone Review: My Honest Take On This Natural Skincare Brand
Hey there, skincare lovers! Today, I‘m excited to dive deep into my personal experience with Salt & Stone, a California-based natural skincare brand that‘s been generating a lot of buzz lately. If you‘re like me and always on the hunt for the best clean beauty products, keep reading for my honest, thorough, and unfiltered take on this popular indie brand.
What is Salt & Stone?
Before I get into the nitty-gritty of the products, let‘s start with an overview of the brand itself. Founded in 2017, Salt & Stone is a natural skincare company that focuses on high-performance, plant-based, and sustainably-packaged products for your whole body. Their range includes everything from facial oils and mineral sunscreens to natural deodorants and body washes.
The brand was created by husband and wife duo Nima and Basma Jalali, who were inspired by their active, outdoor California lifestyle to develop skincare products that could keep up. All Salt & Stone products are cruelty-free, vegan, and formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances.
One of the things I love most about Salt & Stone is their commitment to sustainability. They use recycled and recyclable packaging whenever possible, and offer some products in refillable glass containers to cut down on plastic waste. In a beauty industry that generates a huge amount of packaging waste, this is a refreshing and important stance.
My Salt & Stone Skincare Routine
Over the past few months, I‘ve been testing out a full routine of Salt & Stone products to really get a feel for the brand. Here‘s a breakdown of the specific products I‘ve been using and my thoughts on each:
Glacial Marine Clay Cleanser
I started my mornings with the Glacial Marine Clay Cleanser ($24), a gentle gel cleanser that claims to detoxify and balance the skin. The first thing I noticed about this cleanser was the texture – it‘s a thin, almost watery gel that lathers up into a soft foam. The scent is refreshing and spa-like with notes of lavender and bergamot.
After using this cleanser consistently for a few weeks, I was really impressed with how soft and smooth my skin felt. It did a great job of removing impurities and excess oil without leaving my skin feeling tight or dry. I credit this to the glacial marine clay, which is rich in skin-balancing minerals like magnesium and zinc.
Vitamin C + Seaweed Serum
For my daytime serum step, I used the Vitamin C + Seaweed Serum ($38). This lightweight serum combines brightening vitamin C with antioxidant-rich seaweed extracts to even skin tone and protect against environmental stressors.
I loved the silky texture of this serum and how quickly it absorbed into my skin. It layered well under my moisturizer and didn‘t cause any pilling or strange reactions with my other products. Over time, I definitely noticed my skin looking more glowy and even-toned. Vitamin C is a research-backed powerhouse ingredient for brightening skin, and this serum delivered.
Lightweight Sheer Daily Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a non-negotiable step in my daily routine, so I was excited to try Salt & Stone‘s Lightweight Sheer Daily Sunscreen ($24). This mineral SPF 40 formula uses zinc oxide to provide broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.
I was pleasantly surprised by the texture of this sunscreen – it‘s a lightweight, almost milky lotion that blends into the skin easily without leaving a white cast. It worked well under makeup and didn‘t cause any breakouts or irritation. I also appreciated that it‘s reef-safe and doesn‘t contain any chemical UV filters that can harm marine life.
Antioxidant Facial Oil
In the evenings, I reached for the Antioxidant Facial Oil ($36) to nourish and replenish my skin overnight. This luxurious oil blend features organic jojoba, rosehip, and apricot oils to deeply moisturize, plus antioxidant vitamin E to fight free radicals.
I‘m a big fan of facial oils, and this one did not disappoint. It has a light, citrusy scent and a texture that‘s rich but not greasy. My skin drank it up and always felt so soft and supple in the morning. I especially noticed a difference in the fine lines around my eyes – they looked much less dry and crepey after a few weeks of using this oil.
Soothing Himalayan Salt Soak
Finally, I treated myself to a relaxing bath with the Soothing Himalayan Salt Soak ($18) whenever my muscles were feeling sore or my skin felt dry and dull. This pink salt soak is infused with nourishing jojoba oil and soothing lavender and lemongrass essential oils.
Adding a scoop of this to my bath was a game-changer. The salts dissolved easily and made the water feel silky and luxurious. I could feel my stress and tension melting away as I breathed in the calming scent. And when I stepped out of the tub, my skin felt insanely soft and moisturized. It‘s the perfect Sunday self-care ritual.
The Research Behind Natural Skincare
If you‘re skeptical about natural skincare and whether it can really be effective, I get it. I was once in the same boat! But there‘s actually a ton of scientific research backing up the benefits of plant-based ingredients for your skin. Here are a few key studies that relate to the hero ingredients in Salt & Stone‘s products:
- A 2013 study found that topical vitamin C could significantly improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles after 60 and 90 days (source: Dermatologic Surgery)
- Rosehip oil, a key ingredient in Salt & Stone‘s facial oil, was shown to improve skin moisture, brightness, and elasticity in a 2015 study (source: Clinical Interventions in Aging)
- A 2018 study on jojoba oil, another ingredient in the facial oil, demonstrated its ability to enhance skin barrier function, hydration, and signs of aging (source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences)
- Seaweed extracts, found in the Vitamin C serum, have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits for skin, according to a 2018 review (source: Marine Drugs)
Of course, this is just a tiny sample of the research out there on natural skincare ingredients. But it goes to show that you don‘t need to compromise on efficacy when choosing clean, plant-based products. Salt & Stone clearly does their homework in formulating products with proven active botanicals.
Sustainability Spotlight
As I mentioned, one of Salt & Stone‘s biggest differentiators is their commitment to sustainability. This isn‘t just lip service – it‘s a core part of their brand DNA. Here are some of the specific ways they walk the walk:
- Their sunscreen tubes are made with 45% post-consumer recycled plastic, and they sell a plastic-free, fully recyclable cardboard refill box.
- They offer refillable glass jars for products like their facial cleanser to help customers reduce waste.
- All shipping boxes and packing materials are made from recycled paper and are fully recyclable.
- Their shipping is carbon neutral, meaning they offset 100% of the carbon emissions generated from getting their products to your door.
In an industry that generates over 120 billion units of packaging every year, most of which ends up in a landfill, these efforts really matter. While no brand is perfect, I have a lot of respect for Salt & Stone‘s leadership in sustainability and their transparency around these issues.
Customer Service and Shopping Experience
Of course, a great product is only one piece of the puzzle – your experience with a brand also comes down to their customer service, shipping, and overall user experience. I‘m happy to report that Salt & Stone also excels in these areas.
Their website is well-designed and easy to navigate, with detailed product descriptions and a helpful "Routine Builder" tool that guides you to the right products for your skin type and concerns. They offer free shipping on all US orders over $75, and my order arrived quickly with no issues.
One small hiccup – I received a facial oil with a faulty pump, but Salt & Stone‘s customer service team was quick to rectify the issue. They sent me a replacement immediately, along with a bonus travel-size product as an apology. I was impressed by their responsiveness and commitment to making things right.
Salt & Stone has an average 4.8-star rating across over 500 reviews on their website, with customers raving about the natural ingredients, luxurious textures, and visible results they‘ve seen. The handful of negative reviews were addressed directly by the brand with offers to help find a better-suited product or make things right.
Pros and Cons
To sum it all up, here are the key pros and cons I experienced with Salt & Stone:
Pros:
- Clean, effective, plant-based ingredients backed by science
- Commitment to sustainability and reducing packaging waste
- Wide range of products for different skin types and concerns
- Luxurious textures and natural scents
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Responsive customer service
- Easy, intuitive website and shopping experience
Cons:
- Higher price point than some drugstore skincare brands
- Some products are strongly scented which may not be for everyone
- Not all local retailers, so need to purchase from website
Overall, I was really impressed with Salt & Stone and have continued using their products regularly in my skincare routine. I saw noticeable improvements in my skin‘s texture, brightness, and hydration with consistent use. While they‘re certainly pricier than your average drugstore skincare brand, I believe the quality ingredients and formulas are worth the investment.
Final Thoughts
If you‘re looking to clean up your skincare routine without sacrificing results, I highly recommend checking out Salt & Stone. With their commitment to natural ingredients, sustainability, and transparency, they‘re a brand you can feel good about supporting.
Of course, skincare is highly personal and what works for me may not work for you. But if you‘re intrigued by the Salt & Stone products I‘ve shared, I encourage you to explore their website, read the reviews, and maybe start with a product or two that addresses your key skin concerns.
I hope this in-depth, honest review has been helpful as you navigate the often confusing world of natural skincare. Remember, the most important things are to be consistent, listen to your skin, and have fun experimenting to find the products that make you look and feel your best!
Let me know in the comments if you‘ve tried Salt & Stone or if you have any other natural skincare brands you swear by. I‘m always on the hunt for my next holy grail product. Until next time, take good care of yourself and your skin!
