I loved the packaging and clean sharp branding of Linden Leaves. The design and look of the packaging is very fresh and screams quality.
The price point is high and is the number one reason I have always longed for, but never purchased any of their products. I am super grateful to be picked to trial this range even though I was disappointed to find that it didn't suit my skin, but better it be by trial than by draining my bank account.
The tubes although full size were on the small side at first appearance. But I quickly discovered a small amount goes a long way. The scent of the oil and the nightcream was lovely, subtle floral with the slightest hint of sharp berry. Unfortunately the scent of the oil changed with my skin chemistry as soon as it warmed and it took on the odour of spent vegetable cooking oil, which was unpleasant and the silage was med to high as my colleagues noticed it as well. The night cream's scent sadly vanished as soon as it hit my skin. The moisturiser scent was a mix of acrid sharp chrysanthemum and chalk, which was a surprise and the scent remained until dry down.
The consistency across the range was good, thick white creams that promised youthful hydration, and a bright unusual yellow oil.
The mosituriser came with a pump applicator which delivered a very small amount with each pump, I found 4-5 pumps were sufficient for full face and neck coverage. The moisturiser didn't absorb into my skin and felt heavy on my skin leaving a film for the duration of the day. I tried it on its own, with make up, without, after a shower on warm skin and with 2 drops of the oil mixed in and no luck, the results were always the same. The oil had a dropper applicator and I tried on its own, mixed as above, and with the night cream in separate attempts to achieve satisfactory results....... no luck, no absorption, weird odour and a filmy oil on my skin. Same results with the night cream with the added residue left on my pillow, uh nice. The delivery mechanism of the night cream was a struggle and a half. The top of the bottle has a depression with a hole in the centre of the depression and the top piece pushes down into the bottle to propel the smallest amount of cream. A how lot of fuss for very little. I got quite frustrated with it, a tube or a pottle would have been better.
In desperation I tried a couple of drops of the oil mixed in with another moisturiser (skin therapy dragons blood) and achieved soft plump hydrated skin without the filmy residue or heavy feeling. So, it could just be me, or my technique, but one thing I have discovered is that this range didn't agree with me or my skin, which I am sad about. I will just stick to admiring it from afar and sniffing the testers in store.
I absolutely love the Linden Leaves range - I would have scored 5/5 for 'Would you use it again' except there was one product I probably wouldn't use again (essential facial moisturiser) as it was probably to light for my more mature skin and I wasn't keen on the smell. However I was so impressed with the other two products in the range that I tried - regenerating night cream & miraculous facial oil that I will probably keep using the range but try a richer moisturiser. I love the packaging as it looks natural and is made with environmentally friendly inks & paper - it's also a NZ product which I also love !! My skin can easily get irritated but I've had no problems using these products and my skin feels great after application.
Tips: Try a richer day moisturiser for more mature skin