Pastry Skincare whips up locally loved products, and we’re obsessed

On a never-ending quest to find the best skin care products that actually do what they say they will, Pastry Skincare hopped onto my radar.

Launched in 2021, Pastry is a local, 100% female black-owned young and upcoming brand that might be giving the older brands a run for their money. Beauty on TApp’s own skincare brand shares that it was created based on their communities burning skincare questions, many of which we can all relate to.

How do we fix an uneven skin tone? 

Why do the active ingredients in face serums not work for our bodies? 

And, which products can’t work after you’ve applied other products? 

I decided to test the skincare bakery’s products, to find out if they were worth the hype from my experience:

For silky skin and no more ingrowns

Pastry Skincare’s Salicylic Acid Body Wash quickly became the main character in my shower routine. Over and above its peach bouquet scents (which are nothing short of heavenly), skin blemishes slowly lessened until they were nothing more than irritations of the past. Ingrown hairs? A distant memory.

And, for those who deal with skin acne, the Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Centella Asitica and Bisabolol ingredients are unsung heroes—though you might see an initial breakout as your pores unclog.

Not a fan of scented products? There’s also fragranceless bottle with your name on it.

Kiss your inflamed skin and dark underarms goodbye

Anybody who knows the woes of inflamed skin knows that finding products that actually prevent inflammation and breakouts are the Holy Grail of skincare. Not to mention the 5 o’clock shadow of our underarms.

Initially, I was skeptical about the BHA Body Gel. Time and pumps passed and my bi-daily application seemed fruitless. The salicylic acid’s charms, seemingly unnoticed. However, right before I considered throwing in the towel, I couldn’t spot the inflamed areas as easily. The BHA Body Gel gods looked down on me smiling.

Avid underarm shavers will also be pleased to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel as those shadows lighten up at long last.

From my experience, patience was key. You may not see miracles overnight (though some lucky fish do), but the product actually takes 4-6 weeks of consistency to see results; for me, it was roughly a week. And, importantly, always finish with sunscreen after use.

Vanilla dreams

Let’s be honest. Not all lotions were created equally. Some feel like a tall glass of lemonade quenching your skin’s thirst, while others feel thick and suffocating. I’m not obsessive about lotions, but if there’s Shea Butter involved, my ears tend to perk up.

Pastry’s Hyaluronic Acid Body Lotion (Shea Butter, Petroleum and Pantheol/Pro-vitamin 5) should become part of anyone’s self-love routine (especially right before you slide under the sheets and turn on your favourite podcast). Radiating vanilla scents, it’s like a moisturized hug for your skin (especially ashy knees) and you’ll feel the results sooner than you can say ‘self care’.

Glow on

Listen, I’m a sucker for anything Vitamin C-related. However, Vitamin C products are usually a hit or miss.

Pastry Skincare’s Brightening Serum (a recipe made up of Kojic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid and 10% Vitamin C) earned a spot among my Vitamin C favourites.

The serum does its job best after you wash your face and use a toner, and it’s best to lock in with your favourite moisturiser to finish. Especially if you use it overnight, you’ll see a soft glow and an overall lift to your skin (especially any designer bags under your eyes).

However, if you’re a Retinol user, this product might make your skin react negatively. Similarly, BHA and AHA products can’t be layered with the product, unless you want irritable skin.

Also Try:

The wonder worker for uneven skin tones

Pastry’s Pigmentation Correction Serum focuses on evening out your skintone, with Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid and Alpha Arbutin in its arsenal. Use for 4-6 weeks to see results.

The fine lines blaster

Pastry’s Bakuchiol Body Lotion perfumed with coconut that targets fine lines, wrinkles and body firming! Using Bakuchiol (the plant alternative that forms a collagen stimulant) and Squalane to smoothen out and firm up your skin where you feel necessary.

Shop Pastry Skincare here.

ALSO SEE: 

Unpacking the magic behind using pomegranate in your skincare

All Images: Pastry Skincare

Feature Image:  @doodlesandpoetry