My first post! Let’s talk about SkinCity

Hello, world! I am so thrilled to start this blogging journey with you all, talking about SkinCity.

I am Valentina and I have been a skincare + make-up geek for more than two decades. At 9 years old, with the help of my “cameraman” dad, I would make-up, dress up, and share some invented news in front of the camera.

Nowadays, when I am out and about, people would ask me if I am a make-up artist, or where I get my brows done. And the answer is always the same: I’m self-taught and I do everything myself. Online you can find so many sources of knowledge, and if you want to learn something, the sky is the limit.

So, twenty years later from those theatrical, yet home broadcasting for my family, I am here writing my first blog post! It’s about time to start sharing my passions with everyone and give some advice, plus learn some more myself as the journey goes forward.

• SKINCITY: What’s that?

I want to start by talking about a recent discovery: SkinCity. I was looking for a Paula’s Choice reseller in Finland, so it would be easier (and more convenient) to get the products, favorite by many skincare junkies around the world. However, when I found SkinCity’s website, I was enchanted, to say the less!

Not only the website has some of the best brands in the world, but I also found new skincare lines and quality “essentials” aka accessories. SkinCity was founded in 2011 in Sweden as a small family business by Annica Forsgren Kjellman. Nowadays the company has its own skincare line and the formulas are a breath of fresh air. Some of the products could be compared to Paula’s Choice, however, SkinCity Skincare is more affordable and local (if you live in Northern Europe).

• SkinCity Website

The website is easy to navigate and available in different languages. It is very detailed for every, EVERY skin type and condition (i.e. you can find menopause, pregnancy, rosacea, eczema, acne) or expected results you wish to achieve. There is also an informative skin guide where skin therapists write articles. However, the best is yet to come…How is it possible you might ask?

So, which is THE best part? 💜 Skin tests! 💜

• Skin Tests

I have to be honest, with this FREE feature they convinced me to stay and come back many, many times! First, I wanted to try a new SPF50 for the upcoming summer. In Finland the sun shines almost 24/7 during that time of the year, so an effective sunscreen is a must. Please, remember to wear sunscreen daily and reapply every 2 hours, especially if you are exposed to the sun. I finally completed my skin test for the best suitable sunscreen, and the reply came in 5 hours! Thank you, Mari.

Was I REALLY satisfied? Absolutely yes, so the next day I went back to fill more tests 🤣

Another dawn, another chance to use SkinCity tests to my advantage! The questions are thorough and cover every need and wish that your skin might require. It kindly asks for your budget, so it is accessible to everyone. At the end of the test, it’s possible to add extra comments like favorite brands or allergies to ingredients.

At this point, I was BLOWN AWAY! The results came after 3 hours, with a full routine for both AM and PM, plus one treatment. I felt listened as I stated that my Holy Grail ingredient is Niacinamide 🥰

• More about the products

Obviously, I decided to buy the products that Mari advised. However, I can’t incorporate all these at once. At the moment I have been using the Licorice Toner and the Renewing eye cream. I usually wait 1 to 2 weeks before adding a new product, so it’s easy to understand which is causing the reaction if any occurs, and the skin doesn’t get too stressed from the changes.

Why is the Luminous Licorice Toner a travel size? Whenever possible, I always buy the travel size, especially if I don’t have the chance to patch test the product beforehand. Your skin reaction to new products is unpredictable, and it’s risky to give for granted that a product is good for us, just from the ingredient list…so it’s better to be safe than sorry! Also *money speaking*, there’s no need to waste hard-earned bread when we aren’t sure if the good is good, right?

• Packaging

Let’s have a look at the products. The ones I have are all made in neighboring Sweden. 🇸🇪 Most goods have a life cycle of 12 months after opening. The packaging is simple: it reminds me of brands like CeraVe or Dermalogica. I think there’s no need to have a crazy design if the formulation is good. It’s anyway a marketing and brand strategy, not more and not less. SkinCity mainly uses white for the package and black+red combination for the written parts. The best feature consists of the list of ingredients in the back (or under the outer layer). Moreover, the actives are highlighted, which is indeed a big help: at first glance, you understand what’s the product about. Next to the actives, there are the skin goals achievable with the product, followed by another part, where you can mark if you use the product in the AM or PM routine. So handy!

• Shipping and Delivery of products

Believe it or not, this is the BEST part. Yes, so far I have said that every part is the best part, and that’s why I wanted to dedicate my first blog post to this brand. So, how can shipping be the most exciting part?

Usually, on many websites, it’s always stressful to arrive at the checkout and see the amount added for the shipping. Even worse, we procrastinate with the purchase, waiting for the moment when there’s a discount coupon or free shipping. This won’t happen when you order on SkinCity. It always has free shipping inside the Fenno-Scandinavia (HECK YEAH). The products are shipped within 24 hours of the order.

At the checkout, you can choose the packaging you prefer. The first is the Signature package: it includes the Skincity shopping bag and a small make-up bag, plus the kokeshi doll and samples. The other one is called Sustainable, which is produced with 100% recycled material, and it includes samples as well.

Kokeshi doll? What’s that? If you pick the Signature package, this little and super cute doll is included. Such a lovely thought.

Delivery: you can choose between Posti and BudBee. I chose BudBee, which is the greenest “logtech” company around! Also, it delivers straight to your doorstep between 15-22, and it’s honestly the best delivery service I have ever used! You can add your information for the smoothest experience ( door code, house/apartment, etc). I ordered my package during Easter time so it took more time than usual, so 3 working days! On the delivery day, BudBee notifies you and gives an estimated time of arrival (i.e. 17.15-18.15) and it was accurate. You can even see from the map who is your deliverer, where is s/he at the moment, and how many deliveries s/he has before you.

That’s all folks! Let me know in the comments if you have used SkinCity and your experiences with the products!

I will come back in the following weeks, with the review of the Licorice Toner and the Renewing Eye cream, so stay tuned! You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook, where I will share stories and updates regarding the blog as well.

Valentina