A client of mine was raving about an eye cream she bought at Selfridges in London, which was my first introduction to cult favorite, Oskia Skincare. It's not sold here in the US (yet!) but it is available at some of the best beauty stores and spas across the UK, as well on the Oskia website where they will ship worldwide. The line is based around the skincare benefits of MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) a natural form of organic sulphur, which you've probably seen in supplements at your health food store. This ingredient (along with many other superstar ingredients) are found in most of Oskia's products, along with an MSM oral supplement.

You can read all about the benefits of MSM here. And take a look at some researched studies here, here and here. I didn't try every product in the line, but instead got a selection of the best sellers. These are really impressive, active products that I hope make their way into the states soon- but in the meantime they are absolutely worth the international shipping costs due to the unique formulas.

RENAISSANCE CLEANSING GEL SIZE 100ML, PRICE £29.50 or $39.33 USD

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Aqua, Cetearyl Olivate, Sucrose Laurate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Sucrose Palmitate, Parfum (Natural), Geraniol*, Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Citronellol**, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactobacillus/Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Ferment Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Linalool**, Retinyl Palmitate, CI77491 (natural iron oxide), Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate. **Component of natural essential oils

This is a unique product, its a pink, rich gel that turns into an oil, then turns milky once you get water mixed with it. It does have a soothing subtle chamomile & rose scent. However, if you don't like oil cleansers, you probably won't like this- it leaves the skin clean but doesn't give that 'tight' feeling after using foamy or water soluble gel cleansers. I'm not going to dive into the ingredients because cleansers aren't left on the skin very long to have a huge impact except for cleansing the skin, but its suitable for all skin types, and this will absolutely dissolve makeup.

RENAISSANCE 360 (brightening lotion)
SIZE40ML, PRICE £65.00 (or $86 USD)

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Myristyl Myristate, Opuntia Ficus Indica Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Galactoarabinan, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Arbutin, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Glutathione, Phytic Acid, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Alcohol, Parfum (Natural Fragrance), Lecithin, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool PAO = 9M

This is packaged in an airless pump (awesome!) and the texture is light, but nourishing, and has a very subtle earthy floral scent that goes away within a minute. This does have an spf 8 from the zinc oxide, so I would apply separate spf if you are going to be out and about. Great for all skin types that are looking for a brightening lightweight lotion. Among the first few ingredients are some great plant based antioxidant oils followed by:

MSM reduces inflammation, and increases the production of pheomelanin, to reduce pigmentation, also acts as an anti-inflammatory and calms breakouts.
HYALURONIC ACID hydrates, plumps and softens
GALACTORABINAN acts as a gentle exfoliant and inhibits moisture loss
LUPIN SEED (Collangeneer) boosts Collagen I synthesis and the formation and quality of the collagen matrix
NANO BRIGHT Oskia's own encapsulated liposome includes Glutathione (key antioxidant and tripeptide), natural Arbutin (from Bearberry leaf) both of which inhibit the enzyme Tyrosinase (which stimulates melanin production within the melanocytes); and antioxidants Vitamins C & E. 0.4% of Nanobright inhibits melanin formation by 74%. (Oskia uses 5%)
ENCAPSULATED SWISS GARDEN CRESS LIPOSOMES, rich in Sulforaphane, inhibit the hormone a-MSH to reduce melanin production by 44% using 0.4% for an even skin tone and reduced hyper-pigmentation. (OSKIA uses 2%)
ENCAPSULATED MULTI-VITAMINS: A, C, E, and F
ENCAPSULATED 6% VITAMIN C powerful anti-oxidant properties and boosts collagen
OPUNTIA CACTUS EXTRACT calms irritated skin

RENAISSANCE BRIGHTLIGHT (brightening serum)
SIZE30ML, PRICE £85.00 or $113 USD

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C Phosphate), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Zinc Glycinate, Arbutin, Glutathione, Lepidium Sativum (Cress) Sprout Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Palmitate), Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Rhodinols (Natural Rhodinol), Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Cymbopogon Martini (Organic Palmarosa) Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Organic Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena (Organic Rose) Flower Oil, Linolenic/Linoleic Acid, Cinnamomum Camphora Linalooliferum (Ho) Wood Oil, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Pelargonium Graveolens (Organic Bourbon Geranium) Oil, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Jojoba Esters, Juniperus Mexicana (Cedar) Wood Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Organic Clove) Bud Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Bisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Alcohol denat., Phenoxyethanol*, Citronellol**, Geraniol**, Linalool**, Eugenol**, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides)

This orange colored serum comes in a glass bottle with a dropper applicator, with a scent that is lighter but similar to the Renaissance 360 product mentioned above. It dries quickly with no stickiness. This is a serum targeted for brightening, and it does contain a small amount of some essential oils, so SPF layered on top is mandatory! The second ingredient is a 6% phosphate form of vitamin c, followed by:

NANOBRIGHT:Oskia's own encapsulated liposome includes Glutathione (key antioxidant and tripeptide), natural Arbutin (from Bearberry leaf) both of which inhibit the enzyme Tyrosinase (which stimulates melanin production within the melanocytes); and antioxidants Vitamins C & E. 0.4% of Nanobright inhibits melanin formation by 74%. (Oskia uses 5%)
ENCAPSULATED SWISS GARDEN CRESS LIPOSOMES rich in Sulforaphane, inhibit the hormone a-MSH to reduce melanin production by 44% using 0.4%. (Oskia uses 2%)
MSM boosts the power of Glutathione and increases the production of pheomelanin, the type of melanin that is found in fair-skinned people, relative to eumelanin, the darker type of melanin.
5% NIACINAMIDE (Vitamin B3) reduces post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation, and increasing over-all skin lightening
ZINC GLYCINATE stimulates the formation of an antioxidant protein to bind Copper and inhibit the production of melanin and reduces Tyrosinase.
PASSIONFRUIT & GRAPE AHAS with PUMPKIN & PAPAYA ENZYMES gently exfoliate
FERMENTED MINERAL POLYPEPTIDE MIX Oskia's own fermented mineral complex delivers Magnesium, Iron, Zinc and Silicon in bio-available form for a full skin cell health boost.
PREBIOTICS help to protect the skin’s natural flora for optimum skin health by preventing the colonization of harmful bacteria.

EYE WONDER
SIZE10ML, PRICE £48.00 or $64 USD

Ingredients: Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Alcohol, Whey Protein, Zinc Glycine, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture, Limonium Narbonense Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate Lysate, Galactoarabinan, Panthenol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid.

This active eye serum is lightweight and soaks in fast. It uses a base of Rosa Damascena Flower Water but i didnt notice any scent, and there is no added fragrance. Dry skin types may need a lotion or cream on top of this for more moisture when applying makeup , but I found my concealer worked fine on top of it.

VITAMIN B3 (Niacinamide) reduces water loss, boosts fatty acid and ceramides, stimulates new fibroblasts, inhibits pigmentation
VITAMIN E anti-oxidant
VITAMIN P strengthens the capillary walls to help reduce the appearance of dark circles.
MSM the most bio available form of sulphur, aids collagen production.
ARNICA AND LAMINARIA COMPLEX rich in decongestive Vitamin P strengthens capillary walls to reduce puffiness and dark circles
MILK PEPTIDES stimulating collagen synthesis, increasing Hyaluronic Acid production, increasing cell-to-cell communication
GALACTOARABINAN acts as a gentle exfoliant and inhibits moisture loss
O3 STRESSED YEAST LYSATE helpS reduce UV induced damage
ZINC GLYCINE COMPLEX helps reduce UV induced pigmentation.
SWISS APPLE STEM CELLS are touted to prolong the life of healthy skin cells and protect DNA. there hasn't been a ton of research in this area, so even though this is in here, I'm counting on the other proven ingredients to work
HYALURONIC ACID & BIOSACCHARIDES for hydration