Garden Of Wisdom Skincare Regimens

by
Garden of Wisdom

Garden of Wisdom, or GoW as it’s often referred to, has been making waves on Reddit and beauty blogs for several years due to its clean, straightforward and affordable serums. Based in Arizona, the products are formulated and manufactured by two incredible skincare experts, Markey and Jen. Impressively, every single formula is cruelty-free, suitable for vegans and free from alcohol and silicones. The formulas available on VH have been created by Shabir exclusively for us, so they are different to the ones you’ll find on Garden of Wisdom. 

From skincare staples such as Hyaluronic Acid and Rosehip Oil to more niche ingredients, including Mandelic Acid and Squalane Oil, the range has a solution for every skin issue, regardless of your skin type and tone. Here are our suggested Garden of Wisdom skincare regimens depending on your skin concern…

For Acne-Prone Skin

It can be tempting to attack your skin with anti-bacterial ingredients and acids when it comes to acne, but these may dry it out. This often results in your sebaceous glands producing more oil to overcompensate, which leads to clogged pores and more breakouts. A better approach is to hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier in the morning, and use a gentle exfoliating acid, such as salicylic acid or azelaic overnight. Not only do both of these acids help to unblock pores, but they also help reduce the appearance of existing acne scars.

AM: Hyaluronic Acid Serum; Niacinamide Serum followed by Daily Hydrator 

PM: Salicylic Acid 2% Serum or Azelaic Acid; Hyaluronic Acid Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

Use Pore Cleaning Powder two or three times a week to remove dirt, debris and improve pore appearance.

For Acne-Prone Skin – Darker Skin Tones

Salicylic and azelaic acids can have a lightening effect on darker skin tones, so it is better to swap in mandelic acid instead. Mandelic acid is a gentler exfoliator, but will help unclog pores and remove any dead cells on the surface of skin.

AM: Hyaluronic Acid Serum; Niacinamide Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

PM: Mandelic Acid 10% Serum; Hyaluronic Acid Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

Use Pore Cleaning Powder two or three times a week to remove dirt, debris and improve pore appearance.

For Non-Inflammatory Acne

Clogged pores usually results in either whiteheads or blackheads. The latter tend of form in clusters, usually around your hairline, chin or T-zone, while whiteheads can pop up anywhere in a group or on their own. The best approach is to clear your pores with a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) such as salicylic acid, which unblocks pores, as well as gently exfoliates the surface layer of skin. It might be worth using the below on the problem areas rather than all over your face and neck first and foremost.

AM: Salicylic Acid 2% Serum; Niacinamide Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

PM: Azelaic Acid; Niacinamide Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

Use Pore Cleaning Powder two or three times a week to remove dirt, debris and improve pore appearance.

To Help Combat Ageing

As we age our body’s production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin and ceramides slows down, which results in drier, slacker skin and the appearance the fine lines and wrinkles. GoW’s Anti-Aging MultiPeptide Serum contains an impressive amount of peptides, which help boost your skin’s natural production of collagen to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, as well as a number of antioxidants to help prevent environmental factors ageing your skin.

Neurophroline Serum helps reduce cortisol in skin, an inflammatory hormone, responsible for the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

AM: Anti-Aging MultiPeptide Serum; Neurophroline Serum; Niacinamide Serum; Eye Contour Serum; C-Deep Vitamin C Serum; followed by Daily Hydrator (optional)

PM: Lactic Acid 5% Serum or Glycolic Acid Serum 5%; Anti-Aging MultiPeptide Serum; C-Deep Vitamin C Serum; Granactive Retinoid 5% Serum; Eye Contour Serum followed by 100% Pure Prickly Pear Seed Oil or 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil

For some, depending upon skin type, C-Deep may take longer to absorb in which case use after water-based serums such as peptides and Neurophroline.
Lactic Acid 5% Serum is ideal for those with sensitive skin. Glycolic Acid Serum 5% is a smaller molecule and may cause irritation. Use either acid twice a week gradually increasing to daily PM usage if necessary and wear an SPF cream during the day.

For Dehydrated Skin

Dry, dehydrated skin can often look dull and lacklustre and feel tight, itchy and sensitive. Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient to combat this as it has the ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water, which means it can help your skin stay hydrated for longer. Employing oils will also help to replenish and nourish your skin.

AM: Hyaluronic Acid Serum followed by 100% Pure Squalane Oil

PM: Lactic Acid 5% Serum or Glycolic Acid Serum 5%; Hyaluronic Acid Serum followed by 100% Pure Squalane Oil or 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Argan Oil or 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil

Lactic Acid 5% Serum is ideal for those with sensitive skin. Glycolic Acid Serum 5% is a smaller molecule and may cause irritation. Use either acid twice a week gradually increasing to daily PM usage and wear an SPF cream during the day.

For Hyperpigmented Skin

Hyperpigmentation is caused by melanin clumping together, resulting in sporadic darker patches of skin. It can be caused by hormone changes or sun damage, so we recommend that you opt for a good quality SPF every day. When it comes to fading these dark spots, Alpha arbutin inhibits pigment manufacture; kojic acid is a well known skin lightening agent and niacinamide, present within the formulation, works to prevent the uneven deposition of pigment onto skin.  

AM: Hyaluronic Acid Serum; Alpha Arbutin 2% and Kojic Acid 1% Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

PM: Vitamin C Serum 23% and Ferulic Acid or C-Deep Vitamin C Serum followed by 100% Pure Prickly Pear Seed Oil. You can use Azelaic Acid (optional) in addition to Vitamin C serum.

Twice a week in the PM regimen, use Glycolic Acid Serum 5% alongside Vitamin C Serum to slough away hyperpigmented skin cells gradually. 

Rosacea-Prone Skin

Rosacea can be brought on by many factors, including lifestyle and genetics, and we recommend you take a two-pronged approach, as recommended in Rosacea Uncovered. Topically you can soothe rosacea-prone skin by keeping it hydrated and strengthening your skin barrier. While it might seem counter-productive to use an acid on inflamed skin, azelaic acid is known for its calming properties and can help reduce inflammation.

AM: Hyaluronic Acid Serum; Niacinamide Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

PM: Azelaic Acid followed by Niacinamide Serum

Explore the full Garden of Wisdom range here, and for any further help on which products to buy, please feel free to comment below.

This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner.

Hair Skin Nails, Shabir Daya | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
←  Older Comments
 →
  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    You are welcome Sanna.

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Dianne, I am so glad that you are enjoying the GoW serums. A lot of women change their routine on a monthly basis where they can then maximise the effectiveness of individual serums without overloading skin. So you may use the Vitamin C Serum 23% with the Bakuchiol and perhaps next month use the peptide serum alongside the C-Deep and then revert back to the original vitamin C.
    Does that sound like a plan?
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • Diane Freeman

    Hi, yes that’s an interesting idea and something I hadn’t considered before. I actually placed an order for the c-deep and the anti ageing serum and am excited to try them

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Diane, I am sure you will like these but remember that the C-Deep is totally different from Vitamin C 23% so perhaps use in the PM to start with as it is suspended in squalane which is a light oil.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • Diane Freeman

    Will do. Thanks for the help!

  • Eliza

    Hello !

    I was wondering (for hyperpigmentation/ melasma )if I can use Prickly Pear oil with GOW kojic Acid in night instead of AM and Vitamin C with hydrator in morning ? (i have a medium-tan olive complexion).

    Can’t wait to start my regime !!
    Many Thanks

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Eliza, you can definitely use Alpha Arbutin followed by Prickly Pear Seed Oil in the PM regimen and the vitamin C serum with Daily Hydrator in the AM but remember to use a sunscreen in the AM. Enjoy the products.
    Shabir

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Luka, I would be inclined to use the regimen by GoW for non-inflammatory acne which works to tackle excessive oil production as well as blackheads and whiteheads. The regimen is anti-inflammatory so will help to prevent dry skin. Please see order of usage and products to use below.
    AM: Salicylic Acid 2% Serum; Niacinamide Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

    PM: Azelaic Acid; Niacinamide Serum followed by Daily Hydrator

    Use Pore Cleaning Powder two or three times a week to remove dirt, debris and improve pore appearance. After three or four weeks usage, we can evaluate your regimen if you feel that some concern has not been alleviated.

    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • Lu

    Thank you for your reply.

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi, both products mentioned would be ideal for use both AM and PM. However, I think that your friend may benefit from the use of a nourishing oil such as Rosehip or Prickly Pear seed oil two or three times a week in order to replenish lipids within skin which can affect the elasticity. Aside from this, i believe in keeping skincare simple and not highly fragrant.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • mfair

    Hi Shabir,
    Thank you very much for this advice. It was much appreciated.

    Best wishes,
    Maura

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    You are welcome, please keep us informed if you can.
    Shabir

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Catherine, you should ideally use an SPF cream during the day after the Daily Hydrator. Some people mix some hydrator with the SPF and then apply to the face which is perfectly fine. Green People’s Scent Free Sun Lotion SPF30 is very popular with rosacea sufferers.
    With reference xanthelasma, this is thought to be associated with the liver which processes and manufactures cholesterol.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Marie, I completely understand how easy it is to be overwhelmed by the number of serums which is why I generally tend to recommend no more than three serums in any day or night regimen. I am going to recommend a simple regimen as outlined below which I am sure will be of benefit – please use in the order listed.
    AM: Daily Cleanser; Niacinamide Serum; Daily Hydrator
    PM: Daily Cleanser; Vitamin C 23% Serum; Daily Hydrator

    Daily Cleanser removes dirt and grime without affecting the acid mantle or stripping skin of its natural oils
    Niacinamide Serum works to regulate oil production, improves pore appearance, targets pigmentation problems and strengthens the skin barrier function.
    Daily Hydrator is a light emulsion that hydrates skin’s surface without clogging pores.
    Vitamin C 23% Serum helps to brighten & freshen skin improving the appearance of age spots.

    Use one pump of each serum and allow half a minute to sink into skin.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Fay, I do tend to prefer the use of serums in order of pH values wherever we you can but there are certain exception like peptides where I personally feel that I want these peptides not to be hindered by other serums for example. In the case of Granactive Retinoid, this is oil-based and so I would rather that the alpha arbutin serum, which is water-based, is not hindered by the use of an oil based serum like the retinoid.
    I tend to recommend retinoids in the evening perhaps two or three times a week.
    Try the regimen without MAP first to see if it makes a difference; remember azelaic acid also helps with PIH and is gentle so you may not need MAP.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Teb, I am glad to learn that the GoW products are working well for your skin.
    Cocamidopropyl betaine is generally recognised as safe and is widely used in shampoos, cleansers and other skin and body products. There always remains a possibility of a reaction to one of the ingredients in any product and the only way is to stop using Daily Cleanser and see if skin improves.
    Daily Cleanser is specifically made for VH – I prefer a gentle massage to remove dirt and grime and to enhance circulation but equally one could pat the product and rinse.
    With reference to Pore Cleaning Powder, apply dry powder to a slightly damp face and that might result in more powder on the face rather than the pad.

    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Teb, I think this really depends upon the individual person’s skin type. In theory if you have cleansed your face at night time then there should not be a need to cleanse in the AM however if you have combination skin type or have oily skin, then this may need cleansing so there are no hard and fast rules – only one rule which is to use gentle cleansers.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi, the one serum that is a must for all types of sensitive and reactive skin is Neurophroline Serum. Neurophroline is a patented extract derived from the Wild Indigo plant which helps to lower inflammatory compounds and inflammatory cortisol in the upper layers of skin. This serum also contains super low molecular weight hyaluronic acid to get the hydration levels back since inflammation often leads to dehydration within skin.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • Cat

    Thank you so much. I will order some.

    Warmest,

    Catherine

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    You are welcome.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Ali, I would recommend the following regimen set out below.
    AM: Hyaluronic acid serum, Niacinamide Serum.
    PM: Vitamin C 23% Serum; Alpha arbutin Serum.

    Use Mandelic Serum two or three times a week in the evening after Vitamin C since this is a pH sensitive serum.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

  • Ali

    Thank you for your reply. In the PM can i use hyaluronic acid after the vitamin c and alpha arbutin? Many thanks

  • http://www.victoriahealth.com/ Victoria Health

    Hi Ali, you can use the Hyaluronic acid serum either before or after alpha arbutin serum in the PM as their pH levels are very similar.
    Best wishes,
    Shabir

←  Older Comments
 →