Anytime I see a brand on my instagram feed or in a magazine that I'm not familiar with, I'll immediately jump on their website and go straight towards the ingredient listing to see if there are any products worth looking into. More times then not, the initial excitement turns into disappointment - but oh how nice it is to be pleasantly surprised. After looking at a few of these products, my interest was piqued, and a sampler kit was ordered right away!
TAHNYC (pronounced 'tonic') was started after the founder, Irene Barksy, had a myriad of skin issues. Irene explains: “It all really started after I found out that I unexpectedly developed a contact allergy to sesquiterpene lactones, parabens and the entire sunflower family, also knows as the Asteraceae or Compositae family which includes over 30,000 species of plants. I say unexpectedly, because I never experienced allergies as a child nor as an adult, then one day that changed. Among many of my internal symptoms, the reactions would leave my face covered in oozing painful pustules that would crack and continue to puss for days. So when I heard from my doctors with simple instructions, ‘remove all products that contained those allergens’, little did I know that that was the easy part. The allergic reactions left my skin sensitive and unable to tolerate fillers, slip agents and texture makers. Even after I removed all allergens from my skin, I found that my skin was still exceptionally reactive and not going back to ‘normal’. Being sensitive or reactive to additives in Skin Care is not so unusual, quite a large number of people who are tested are reactive or allergic to ingredients found in cosmetics. I realized then it wasn't about going back to normal, that would never happen, this was and still is, my new normal. I remember the moment TAHNYC began so clearly. I was standing in Whole Foods looking for a dish sponge, I picked up the Twist Naked Sponge and that's when you might say I lost it. ‘Wait, I can pick up a filler free sponge, I can get a filler free toothpaste, but I can't find filler free skin care!?!’ That was the moment that TAHNYC was born, after, of course I cried in the Whole Foods cleaning aisle.” (This excerpt is taken directly from their website, www.tahnyc.com)
And there you have it, from Irene's journey was born a gorgeous line of products with proven ingredients and without added fillers, fragrance, slip agents, parabens, or texture makers. This means every ingredient has a purpose.
- Samples are available, enough for about 4 to 5 uses. Products also come in .67 oz 'discovery sizes' AND 1 oz full sizes. I wish all brands did this!
- The serums have common similar ingredients, and I would confidently say any of them are good for all skin types. Oily or acne prone skin will love these, nothing will clog pores or let you feel greasy. Dry skin will get a boost of replenishing anti-aging ingredients all while calming and soothing. You can't pick the wrong one, although some are more geared towards aging skin.
- I consider all of these products safe for the upper and lower eye area.
- TAHNYC also make powders, one silk powder and three shades of pearl powders. I didnt try these but they look fabulous.
- Sets of serums for specific skin concerns are also available, which include two serums and an optional powder- and these also come in two sizes. The serums in the sets are actually slightly different formulas then the stand alone serums from my sampler kit, which I found a little confusing initially (!) since the ingredients in the sets are very similar to the other serums not in the set. If you are looking to fill a void in your routine, go with a stand alone serum, but if you want to try the line as a complete system, go with a set.
Photo taken from www.tahnyc.com
The sampler kit (shown above) included dropper style vials of 6 products:
Complex B: Concentrated Vitamin B5 Serum
Pure: Restoring Molecular Moisturizer
Contour: :Cellular Peptide Complex
Elemental:Gentle Hydration
Renew: Antiaging Collagen Complex
Translucent Jojoba: Organic Jojoba Oil
Since these are truly great for any skin type, think about which ones to get based on age.
Teen to early twenties: Elemental or Pure + Complex B
Early twenties to Early thirties: Pure + Renew + Complex B
Early thirties and up: Pure + Contour + Complex B
Complex B: Concentrated Vitamin B5 Serum
-Price: $36 (discovery size .67 oz) or $68 (full size 1 oz)
-Texture: waterlight, dries within seconds, no stickiness, very smooth feeling skin immediately
-Ingredients: aqua, panthenol, n-acetyl glucosamine, lactobacillus ferment, tetrapeptide-21, glycerin, butylene glycol, acetyl tetrapeptide-40, caprylyl glycol, sodium hyaluronate, sodium pca.
-Benefits: Panthenol is a type of B vitamin pantothenic acid, excellent for attracting and holding moisture. N-acetyl glcosamine brightens, increases moisture AND is anti-aging. Lactobacillus ferment is antimicrobial and a skin conditioner. Two peptides for anti-aging. The glycols are skin conditioners. Glycerin is an awesome humectant. Pca hydrates and replenishes skin. Sodium Hyaluronate is a skin replenisher and skin restorer.
Pure: Restoring Molecular Moisturizer
-Price: $32 (discovery size .67 oz) or $58 (full size 1 oz)
-Texture: waterlight, dries within seconds, no stickiness, very smooth feeling skin immediately
-Ingredients: aqua, n-acetyl glucosamine, panthenol, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, lactobacillus ferment, sodium pca.
-Benefits: Similar to above, but without the peptides and the addition of niacinamide. Niacinamide is one of those 'does almost everything' ingredients, it's a form of vitamin B3, which can help pore size, plump wrinkles, and even out skin tone.
Elemental: Gentle Hydration
-Price: $21 (discovery size .67oz) or $38 (full size 1 oz)
-Texture: waterlight, dries within seconds, no stickiness, very smooth feeling skin immediately
-Ingredients: aqua, panthenol, n-acetyl glucosamine, sodium pca, lactobacillus ferment, acetyl tetrapeptide-40, caprylyl glycol, sodium hyaluronate
-Benefits: Very similar to B Complex but with a higher amount of sodium pca, so I would consider this more geared towards younger skin types that don't need as much anti-aging.
Renew: Anti Aging Collagen Complex
-Price: $35 (discovery size .67oz) or $65 (full size 1oz)
-Texture: waterlight, dries within seconds, no stickiness, very smooth feeling skin immediately
-Ingredients: aqua, tetrapeptide-21, glycerin, butylene glycol, panthenol, lactobacillus ferment, tetradecyl aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric urea trifluoroacetate, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyroyl hydroxythreonine, palmitoyl dipeptide-6 diaminohydroxybutyrate , sodium pca
-Benefits: This is a multi peptide serum, five in total. Plus skin restoring and replenishing ingredients like the panthenol, glycerin, and sodium pca. Great anti-aging serum for fine lines, I especially love this for oily or acne skin types that still want anti-aging ingredients.
Contour: Cellular Peptide Complex
-Price: $50 (discovery size .67oz) or $95 ( full size 1oz)
-Texture: waterlight, dries within seconds, no stickiness, very smooth feeling skin immediately
-Ingredients: aqua, acetyl hexapeptide-8, glycerin, butylene glycol, carbomer, polysorbate 20, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, tetrapeptide-21, panthenol, tetrapeptide-30 . glycerin, n-acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, lactobacillus ferment, acetyl hexapeptide-38, acetyl tetrapeptide-40, caprylyl glycol, sodium pca, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate
-Benefits: This serum is a peptide powerhouse! Plus a dose of niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate. This is more suited for serious wrinkles and all signs of aging.
Translucent Jojoba: Organic Jojoba Oil
-Price: $20 (discovery size .67oz) or $38 (full size 1oz)
-Texture: Its the lightest oil, soaks in fast, leaves skin a little dewy.
-Ingredients: Just one: Premium wildcrafted refined organic jojoba oil.
-Benefits: Jojoba is rich in fatty acids, soothing, nourishing, and won't clog your pores. It's so lightweight. I would use this anywhere you need a little extra moisturizing protection. For us oily skin types, I love this under the eyes and over the lips.
Final Thoughts
This is an amazing brand doing something really unique, and rarely am I able to say that every single product in the line is formulated beautifully.
With all of the actives we are using (retinoids, acids, etc) there is a place for a replenishing serum like these in anyone's skin type, not to mention those of you with very sensitive or highly reactive skin. Personally, I have very oily/acne prone/sensitive skin and have a hard time finding anti-aging and hydration in a liquid form, so these will become a mainstay in my routine. xx jm