I had the pleasure of meeting Indie Lee, founder of the popular clean beauty skincare brand "Indie Lee" a few months ago at a press event in Sydney. I've been trying out some of her skincare products and I'll share my thoughts of them here. So here is my review of Indie Lee Skincare along with a section about Indie Lee herself.
In Australia, Indie Lee is available exclusively to Sephora (click here to shop online).
For the rest of the World, please visit Indie Lee's website (click here to go there).
I was gifted the following skincare products for review (trust me, I'm saving up for more):
Brightening Cleanser (AUDRRP 49)
CoQ-10 Toner (AUDRRP 49)
Daily Vitamin Infusion (AUDRRP 119)
Daily Skin Nutrition (AUDRRP 97)
Radiance Renewal Pad (AUDRRP 102)
I-Waken Eye Serum (AUDRRP 68)
The prices indicated above are current as at the date of this article.
Disclaimer: All of the photos here are taken by me. You cannot use them without obtaining my written permission first. These are my personal views and I do not any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message.
A Bit about Indie Lee
Indie Lee was diagnosed as a diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and the doctors sad she had about 6 months to live. Luckily she was able to recover and decided to learn more about what kind of skincare products can have a ingredients that are not good for you and she embarked on her journey to create a safe, clean and sustainable line of skincare products. I was very struck by her message and inspired and in awe.
To read more about Indie Lee's inspirational story and how it all began for her skincare products please click here.
This brand is about empowerment, education and healthy living; creating a community of like minded individuals on the same journey of change.
I got a chance to talk to Indie Lee at the event and at the Sephora Press Day and she has such an amazing aura about her.
Indie Lee even gave me one of her caps which I use when I go on my meditation walks.
Review of Indie Lee Skincare
The range of products that Indie Lee has is quite extensive. In addition to the six which I will review here, there is also a blemish/clarity range that I definitely want to try.
For the purposes of my review, I used these products continuously over about 5 weeks as my main skincare.
The packaging is lovely. Exquisite even. All of the products' packaging have a luxurious feel about them. The three bottles you see in the photo above are made of frosted glass and there is a good weight to them making them feel more luxurious. The names of the products are printed on the bottles/tubes/tubs, making it easier for the packaging to be recycled.
Indie Lee Skincare is what I would describe as "clean beauty" and sustainable products. Very eco-friendly and they are all cruelty-free.
The names of the products are printed in English on one side and in French on the other side. In some of the photos you see below, you will see the English or French names.
What I also like is that some of the products come in two sizes - the key ones being the cleansers and moisturisers. You do get the option to try the smaller sizes before settling on the ones you like. Indie Lee also offers a few skincare kits.
Indie Lee's skincare products are categorised by "ritual" and by "focus". The Rituals are:
Prepare
Perfect
Prevent
Protect
Boost
Clarity (part of the category of "focus")
All of Indie Lee's skincare products are formulated without:
Ethoxylation
Parabens
Aluminum
Petrolatum
BHA & BHT
Phthalates
Coal Tar Dyes
Phthalates
Siloxane
Sulfates
DEA (Diethanolamine) MEA (Monoethanolamine) & TEA (Triethanolamine)
Synthetic Fragrance
Formaldehyde
Talc
Methylisothiazolinone and Methychloroisothiazolinone
Toluene
Triclosan
Mineral Oil
Nanoparticles
Indie Lee's website has a very good description of why each of the above "nasties" are nasty. Click here to learn more.
The range of products available is extensive. There are so many products to choose from and I'm sure you will find something that you like. Indie Lee also has a body range.
The order in which my review of Indie Lee's skincare products is set out as the steps in which I use them. With skincare, it is best, when you are layering them, to go from the "lightest" product to the "heaviest".
Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser Trial Size
On each of Indie Lee's skincare products, there is brief description for what that product does. For this cleanser, it says "strengthen & protect". It is described as:
I really enjoy this gel cleanser. It is mild and quite refreshing. The scent (naturally derived from its ingredients) is both uplifting and soothing. This did not have much of a foaming effect which, to me, indicated the good absence of sulfates. It felt more like it was "emulsifying" on my skin, much like the effect I get when I'm using an oil or balm cleanser.
I've tried it as a mask as well, and my complexion did look brighter after application.
I personally felt that there was a brightening effect, as I saw my dark spots slowly and gradually fade.
The active ingredients are:
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Lycopene
Strawberry Seed Oil - I really like this ingredient. Strawberry seeds are packed with Vitamins and antioxidants.
Coconut
Vitamin C
Potassium Sorbate
The full ingredients list:
Water (Aqua/Eau), Decyl Glucoside (Veg. Oils & Sugar), Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate, Coco Glucoside (Coconut and Sunflower Oil), Glyceryl Oleate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Xanthan Gum, Fragaria Chiloensis (Strawberry) Seed Oil, Lycopene (Tomato), Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate
Indie Lee COQ-10 Toner
Ohhh this is definitely one of my faves. I highly recommend this one. It is soooo good and and the fact that it has COQ-10 in it is very cool. I love that it comes in a mist-format. It smells so delicious. A bit of citrus and herbs. It is gentle and doesn't irritate my skin (I have chemical burns on my face). I also felt that it was quite hydrating and had a plumping effect. It is extremely refreshing and I always look forward to using this.
It does come out in a very fine mist, which is delightful!
It is described as "rebalance & prime". I do agree that it does rebalance my oily dehydrated skin and works well to prime your skin for the next few products. I felt that it did control the oil on my t-zone on days when I used it.
It is described by Indie Lee as:
I definitely could smell the cucumber, chamomile and sage.
The Active ingredients are:
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Lycopene
Strawberry Seed Oil - an ingredient that I would describe as a superfood. Packed full of anti-oxidants and vitamin c.
Coconut
Vitamin C
Potassium Sorbate
The full ingredients list is:
Water (Aqua/Eau), Aloe Barbadensis, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10), Hyaluronic Acid, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile), Salvia Officinalis (Sage), Carica Papaya Leaf Extract, Cucums Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate
Indie Lee Radiance Renewal Peel
One of Indie Lee's top sellers is the Radiance & Renewal peel. It is a very gentle exfoliator and it did not irritate my skin. On the areas where I have my chronic cystic acne, I noticed an improvement over night with the flattening out of the acne and it helped to dull the pain. You do see an almost immediate effect - I use it at night and I wake up with brighter looking skin.
It has a light scent of citrus fruits and herbs. There are 60 pads which have a texture to them. I found that one pad was more that sufficient for use. On the days when I used this, I did this step after cleaning my face and before the COQ-10 Toner. It is recommended that you use a good sunscreen after using this. I tend to use this at night.
It is recommended that you use these 2-3 times a week.
What I like about these is that fact that their scent is not overwhelming. I've used similar products before and I found that I had to stop as the smell was getting to me. Not so with Indie Lee's Radiance Renewal Peel.
This product is described as: "exfoliate & brighten" and:
Review of Indie Lee Radiance Renewal Pad
Whilst the tub is made of plastic, it is made to feel a bit like marble/glass. The packaging does add to the luxe aesthetics.
The active ingredients are:
Java Plum
Banana - I can't think of any other skincare products I've tried that has banana in it! It contains many skin loving nutrients such as vitamins B6, C & E, potassium, lecithin, zinc and amono acids.
Caviar Lime
Mango
Glycolic Acid
Glycerin
Pentylene Glycol
The full ingredients list:
Water (Aqua/Eau), Propanediol, Glycerin, Spondias Mombin Pulp Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Pulp Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Pulp Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Pentylene Glycol (Natural), Phenethyl Alcohol (Natural)
Review of Indie Lee Daily Vitamin Infusion
Indie Lee's Daily Vitamin Infusion is what I would describe as a serum/booster. it does feel a bit like a face oil. I like to first add a few drops onto my hands and then gently press it onto my face. There is also a sensorial experience (like aromatherapy) when I "breathe" in the scent by placing my hands cupped over my nose. It definitely did calm down my chemical burns on my face on the days that I used it. An additional benefit was that my hands also became more moisturised as I rubbed the remainder on them.
It smells of rosehip oil and coconut water, with notes of floral, fruity and herbs.
It is described as:
The active ingredients are:
Squalane
Rosehip Seed Oil
Ceramide
Avocado Oil
Rosemary
Coconut
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Sunflower Seed Oil
The full ingredients list:
Squalane, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
Indie Lee Daily Skin Nutrition
Just two pumps of this lovely face cream and I am set to go! The Indie Lee Daily Skin Nutrition is creamy and silky. It smells like lavender and rosemary plus oils. It does absorb quite quickly into the skin and I recommend that you press it on to your face with gentle pats. I felt like it made a good base for my makeup.
This is described as being a product to "Nourish & Brighten":
I felt that my skin was not as oily on the days that I used this cream.
The active ingredients are:
Squalane
Rosehip Seed Oil
Hyaluronic Acid
Avocado Oil - I'm starting to really appreciate this oil. One of my favourite concealers has this in them. It is rich in vitamins C, E and K as well as key essential fatty acids
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Rosemary
The full ingredients list:
Water (Aqua/Eau), Squalane, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Olea Europea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Carrageenan, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum
Indie Lee I-Waken Eye Serum
I've found that all of the Indie Lee products that I have tried are gentle and absorb quite quickly. I think the "absorption" factor is due to the use of ingredients that mimic our skins own natural oils, for example Squalene and Sqaulane.
The I-Waken Eye Serum absorbs quickly too. It is described as "Anti-fatigue & brightening":
Whilst it is packaged in a tube, the texture of it is more of what you would expect of a serum - light and watery. I think that's pretty cool. The tube format for this serum makes it so easy to travel with.
On application, it has a cooling effect and I found that as I used it more often that the little lines under my lower lash lines were less obvious and my dark circles were less obvious. My under eye makeup also seemed to last longer on days when I used it.
Like all of the Indie Lee products I've tried, the scent is fresh and light. It smells of fruits, herbs and fresh greens.
The active ingredients are:
Horse Chestnut
Hyaluronic Acid
Mountain Ash - the berries of Mountain Ash (a type of small tree/shrub) are known to contain very high levels of Vitamin C.
Black Currant
Spirulina - I'm really loving spirulina in skincare products. It's like a Super Food. It is rich in protein (40-70%) carbohydrates (25%) and minerals - including potassium, calcium, phosphorous, sodium, magnesium, iron, manganese, chromium, iodine, selenium, copper and zinc.
Witch Hazel
Jojoba Oil
Chamomile
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Cornflower
Arnica
Bees wax
Glycerin
Squalane
The full ingredients list:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Levulinate, Sclerotium Gum, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Jojoba Esters, Chondrus Crispus, Sodium Anisate, Pyrus Sorbus Bud Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Sodium Hyaluronate, Galactaric Acid, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract,Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Leaf Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
I recommend this for daily use as an "anti-aging" skincare products. You are never to young to start on your anti-aging skincare regime.
Final Thoughts on the Indie Lee Products I've Tried
I have to give these products 2 thumbs up. As I knew that they were made from cleaner and all natural ingredients, I was most comfortable in using them (I've been going through a bad patch with my skin, chemical burns and rashes). I felt my skin/complexion did improve while using them and I think I will find more improvements as I continue to use them on a regular basis.
I love the packaging of these products. They feel and look luxurious and I don't know why but I smile whenever I look at them.
I think out of all the products I used, I loved the COQ-10 Toner the best. It is so refreshing and it does come out in a very fine mist. I feel quite refreshed after using it.
As I saw such quick results, I'm definitely going to try more. I'm saving up for the "clarity/anti-blemish" products.
So I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. I'm pretty much on my social media platforms in some way or fashion 7 days a week. I hope you enjoyed this review.
我希望这篇文章有用！ 谢谢你的阅读。 我几乎每天都在社交媒体上，所以请订阅我的社交媒体平台！
You can find me at:
(website) http://www.teacupofmakeup.com/
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Do follow me on my Instagram @teacupofmakeup_luxe, I do loads of demos and vlogs on there. I often show what skincare products I am trialling and you can see unedited videos of me applying and using products.
