When we walk into a Sephora or Watsons, we are immediately surrounded by hundreds of brand from all over the world to choose from. Truly we are spoilt for choice. More often than not, we are attracted to packaging and product presentation, I know I fall into this trap time and time again. When it comes to skincare, I am a little more wary and I will look into the ingredients list before making a purchase, making sure that there’s nothing that my skin could potentially have an adverse reaction to.

But let’s take a step back. Where are the local brands? And what are we actually putting on our skin? 

This was when I was introduced to Rania Hasna’s skincare range that she makes from scratch. The superficial girl in me was initially attracted to the simplistic packaging that gives me major “MUJI” vibes. I loved the clean and simple look. And then I dug deeper into the brand and what it’s all about.

 

Rania Hasna Nature Elements is all about knowledge. Knowing exactly what you are putting on your skin and what purpose they serve to you. Rania started this line, first as a mother. Her motherly instinct to protect her son made her start asking questions and doubting the integrity of mass produced items sold in drugstores. They are marketed for sensitive skins, suitable even for babies but when she dug deeper and researched the ingredients, there were so many cheap fillers and harmful substances that were passed by the HSA (Health Sciences Authority) due to “low” amounts present in them. But why are they present at all?!

So she took things into her own hands. 

All her products are formulated on her own, using organic produce and cruelty free. The brand is also environmentally conscious, encouraging customers to recycle their empty product containers in exchange for dollars off their next purchase. Made in Australia, she uses the highest grade essential oils and thus, only can make small batches at a time. In essence, she gets rid of all the unnecessary nasty stuff and just focus on the good.

And we all could do with a little bit of good.

 

Due to years of using more chemically potent products on my face, I have always been rather adverse or underwhelmed with “natural” or “organic” products. I find that they don’t give me the fast results that I am looking for. But gentle products are not supposed to be abrasive and I realised how much I liked knowing what is going on my body.

 

The star for me is the Awaken Oil.

 

Just the name, ohh~ YAS! Give it to me! This product only has 6 ingredients, 5 of which are amazing oils and the last ingredient being Vitamin E. It has a herbal smell that comes from the oils in the bottle itself. All her products contain no artificial fragrances. I personally love herbal smells and I find it extra relaxing when I am massaging this onto my skin.

 

 

My skin type is Oily and Acne-prone. Contrary to popular belief, oil is amazing for oily skin as it helps regulate the amount of oil your own body produces. I find that the more I hydrate my skin, the more balanced it is and the less oily I am.

However, it’s all about finding the right balance as too much hydration can clog my large pores. I find that the best way to use this oil is to mix a drop into my night moisturizer. Due to it’s thicker consistency, my night cream helps it become more emollient and easier to spread over my skin. I also find that it sinks in more quickly this way. And I wake up to plump and juicy skin.

I truly admire people who go out and make things happen for themselves. It is especially difficult in a country like Singapore, where international brands take center stage and we ignore our own people. Here is a mother and entrepreneur who is looking to make a difference in teaching people what they are actually putting into their bodies.

 

This woman goes against the grain and I salute that!