My Honest Review of Typology Paris
I promised a review of Typology Paris, a natural skincare brand based in France, and so here I go with my quite detailed and honest experience so far.
As someone with extremely sensitive skin who is often terrified of changing anything in my routine, I knew I was taking a risk of a complete disaster, but I’m pleased to report, after two weeks of trial, the results are quite remarkable. With the exception of one product, I have found everything to not only agree with my skin but also to produce some positive changes.
Overview.
First for a brief overview of the brand. As I said, Typology Paris is a French skincare brand that focuses on simple, clean ingredients, sustainable packaging, and transparency into what goes into their products and why. They are B Corporation certified and Vegan Approved.
‘Our philosophy is not to add anything to our products to make them stand out; instead we pare them back and distil each formula down to the most-essential, natural active ingredients.’
Typology Paris
The Diagnostic.
The Typology journey begins with a brief diagnostic of your skin type, assessing your skin’s needs, any concerns you would like to address, and takes into consideration environmental and life stresses that may be impacting your skin.
The diagnostic only takes a few minutes. My skin type resulted in AE (•) which basically translates into normal skin. They break down how they diagnose your skin’s needs and offer a ‘prescription’ based on their assessment.
You have the choice of adding all of the items to your cart or selecting only the ones you would like to try. I chose most of the suggested products and left out a couple I may circle back to later.
Packaging.
I was extremely impressed with their packaging. Everything came compactly organized in a box with no wasted space. All their materials are made with recycled and recyclable materials and with a minimal aesthetic that I personally love. While some brands exaggerate their packaging to make you feel like you are getting more product, this is not the case with Typology. They are incredibly transparent with what you are getting.
Pricing.
Though the initial purchase may at first seem daunting, the pricing seems very fair, and I have found a little goes a long way. I can easily see these products lasting months, and in some cases even a year. So when figuring out the overall cost per month breakdown, my entire routine, including the tinted serums I am using as makeup, figures in at about twenty-five dollars a month or even less.
Products.
Let’s dig into the products in my prescription. I will start with the items I particularly love, and then get into a product I love but with one caveat, ending with the product that doesn’t seem to work with my skin.
Exfoliating Cleansing Gel with 5% PHA + Aloe Vera
I admit, I had mixed feelings about the choice of this cleanser. My skin is leaning toward the dry side these days, and I have been accustomed to using milk cleansers. Because there are some active ingredients, which have historically been troublesome for my skin, I wasn’t sure if it would work. On the flip side, my skin loves aloe vera, so I thought that might help offset the more active ingredients, and that seems to be the case. I’ve had no problem whatsoever with this cleanser; it leaves my skin feeling clean but not dry.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Coco-Glucoside, Gluconolactone, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Inulin, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glucose, Sucrose, Fructose, Limonene.
9 Ingredient Moisturizer
I was truly excited about this moisturizer. I previously was using a 10 ingredient moisturizer, and I thought it couldn’t get better than that. I was willing to give this one a shot, because my old moisturizer was just so expensive. I was a little concerned about the coconut oil, as I have read it can cause breakouts, but I have had none to report as of yet. Just a pea sized amount is enough to cover your entire face, neck, and then some. It has no fragrance, which is an added bonus.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, o-Cymen-5-01
Face Sunscreen for Dry Skin with Aloe Vera | SPF 30
I was hesitant to use the sunscreen at first, because sunscreen is notoriously the main culprit for me when it comes to troubled skin. I held off for a few days, so as not to confuse my skin with too many products. Usually sunscreen is extremely drying on my skin, but I was surprised to find this sunscreen is moisturizing. So much so that I notice with the recent cold weather that my skin feels more comfortable when I remember to add it to my morning routine. Again, I credit the aloe for its moisturizing effects. This is also fragrance free.
Ingredients: Aqua, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Disopropyl Sebacate, Zinc Oxide, Bis- Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Olus Oil, Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ethylhexy|glycerin, C18-21 Alkane, Candelilla Cera, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Gluconate, Diethyl Sebacate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid.
Radiance Night Serum Botanical Blend with White Rose
This serum I thought for certain would not work with my skin, because I have a history of my skin reacting negatively to essential oils and fragrances. The geranium oil raised a red flag. However, I love that it includes rosehip oil, because I’ve been using it for years, and it’s one of the best oils I’ve found.
To my surprise, this oil caused no problems, and it even served to calm my skin. It has a beautifully silky texture, and it feels quite luxurious to apply at bedtime. My prescription recommends using this in place of my nighttime moisturizer, and I have found it is moisturizing all on its own. This may be one of my favorite products, which I wasn’t expecting.
Ingredients: Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil* (jojoba oil), C13-C15 Alkane (hemisqualane), Rosa Canina Fruit Oil* (rose hip oil), Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil (sunflower oil), Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil (rose geranium essential oil), Rosa Alba Leaf Cell Extract* (native white rose cells), Glycine Soya Oil (soya oil), Tocopherol (vitamin E), Citronello
Tinted Serum with Vitamin C, Squalane & Aloe Vera in Shade Fair
The tinted serums were what ultimately brought me to Typology in the first place. I was looking for a ‘no make makeup look’ that was clean and friendly to my skin. This tinted serum has gotten rave reviews, so I wanted to give it a try. It only comes in a few shades, and I have read some people find it difficult to find their perfect match, but I lucked out with the lightest shade, Fair. It blends into my skin perfectly. Typology does offer a buy one get the second half off for those who may find it trickier to find their exact match. If you are undecided between two shades, I would recommend this option.
The texture is a bit stickier on application than I expected, but it sinks into the skin well, and leaves my skin feeling like I am wearing nothing at all. It provides light coverage that evens out skin tone, while not creating a mask-like look foundations usually create. I might amend my above comment with this being my favorite product; it would be so difficult to choose just one.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Isoamyl Laurate, C9-12 Alkane, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 Disostearate, Propanediol, Silica, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Magnesium Sulfate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Potassium Sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Nitrate May Contain: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides)
Tinted Lip Oil in Powder Pink
Again, I love this one. The formula is moisturizing, so it seems to be both a balm and a lip gloss. The shade Powder Pink is a perfectly natural enhancement to my coloring. An added bonus: even though it is not marketed as blush drops, I have been adding a few dabs to the apples of my cheeks for subtle color.
Ingredients: Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Dextrin Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Stevia Rebaudiana Extract, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, Barium Sulfate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Serum Mascara with 1% Pea Peptides
I love the formula of this serum, and that it acts as a mascara while nourishing your lashes. My one caveat is that I found the wand to be a bit scratchy and it seemed to irritate my eyes. I prefer a silicone wand that is gentler and provides more separation of lashes. I happened to have on hand a spare ‘tester’ silicone wand I received at a makeup counter, and I tried it out. The results were exactly as I desired. For a serum, this mascara provides a natural lash that doesn’t look over the top or clumpy. It separates the lashes well and gives a soft feathery look. I found plenty of wands you can purchase on Amazon that come in sets of a hundred or even two hundred. This method is also much safer, as using separate wands decreases the risk of germs and infection.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Cl 77499 (Iron Oxides), Jojoba Esters, Polyurethane-99, Propanediol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Cetearyl Olivate, Kaolin, Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Charcoal Powder, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Pentylene Glycol, Rayon, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Glycerin, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Peptide, Phenylpropanol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Methylpropanediol, Arginine, Sodium Hydroxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Silica, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate
Targeted Blemish Serum with 2% Salicylic Acid + 1% Zinc
This was a purchase I added to my cart just before checking out. While I don’t often have breakouts anymore (one of the few benefits of aging) I do still get a hormonal blemish like clockwork every month. When I was a teen, I had combination skin that was prone to breakouts, and salicylic acid was one thing I found always seemed to work for me. I did try this serum when my monthly blemish popped up, and like magic it disappeared overnight. It’s nice to have it on hand for the occasional need when I’m looking to target one spot.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Tropolone
7 Ingredient Micellar Water
This micellar water was the one product that didn’t seem to agree with my skin type, though admittedly I only tried it twice in the first couple days. The results may be due to simple overload of new products in a short span of time. I’m not sure which ingredient did not agree with my skin, but I found it a bit drying. Also, this was recommended as a makeup remover as part of my nighttime routine because I answered I use makeup in my diagnostic. Because I am now using serums as makeup, I don’t think this step is necessary. However, I may give it another try as a morning ‘cleanser,’ because I try to refrain from cleansing my face twice a day. I will keep you posted on my thoughts.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Poloxamer 184, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Bromide, Sodium Hydroxide
Takeaway.
Overall, I am impressed with Typology – the brand, the ethics, the products. I am surprised and pleased with the results of everything I have tried and am truly happy it’s working out. I have been searching for years for a clean brand that agrees with my sensitive skin. It has been quite the journey, but I think I may have finally found the perfect fit for me. Fingers crossed.
Note: This post is not sponsored, and I am not earning commission on links in this review. All opinions are my own. Ingredients are pulled from the Typology Paris website and may be subject to change. For current ingredient lists, I recommend going directly to the Typology website.
