Hello clean beauty lovers! This is my first dispatch from the Integrity Botanicals blog, so I thought I’d introduce myself. My name is Susannah, and I write about natural beauty and wellness, mostly as a contributor at No More Dirty Looks. I’m all about discovering what natural and safe cosmetic ingredients have to offer, developing a healthy relationship with the products I use — be they homemade or store bought, and finding ways to honor my body and mind through clean beauty and ritual. I love to share my findings with others, and I am thrilled to have another avenue for discussing the best in clean beauty here at Integrity Botanicals. I’ll be posting fresh content on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so please visit often for new product reviews, easy DIY recipes, interviews with brand founders and beauty experts, the latest natural beauty trends, and more. This is going to be so much fun!

For my inaugural Integrity Botanicals post, I wanted to write a little love letter to something I adore… something that fully demonstrates the power of high quality natural ingredients in skincare. The MUN No. 1 Aknari Brightening Youth Serum is one of my favorite products, and I’d love to introduce you to this special serum.

It’s easy to over complicate things, don’t you think? There’s a time and a place for that 7-course dinner, or the fancy night cream you love with 31 botanically derived ingredients, but when you run into something so simple and so effective, doesn’t it make you giggle a little at the lengths we go to sometimes? I had one of those moments not long after I began using MUN No. 1 Aknari in earnest last summer. At the time I was testing out products from brands participating in A Night For Green Beauty. My skin was behaving normally with no discernible needs, so the MUN serum sounded like a good maintenance oil to experiment with. It’s marketed as a brightening treatment that helps even out skin tone while gradually diminishing fine lines. I was feeling pretty good about the condition of my skin, but who doesn’t want some of what MUN was promising?

After incorporating No. 1 Aknari into my morning and evening routines, I noticed changes within a few days. Yes, days! My complexion took on a glow that wasn’t there. My face felt so smooth all the time — like freshly exfoliated smooth. I felt less inclined toward makeup with each passing day thanks to how much more even and calm my skin looked. When testing products, I’m not accustomed to seeing results that quickly. By the time I arrived in L.A. for A Night For Green Beauty, I’d been using No. 1 Aknari for over a month with beautiful results, and I couldn’t wait to meet the founder in person and thank her for such a gorgeous contribution to clean beauty. That’s exactly what I did.

It’s easy to incorporate this serum into any routine, and I think you’ll like the results. If not, send me your leftover oil. Kidding! Kind of. I also treat this serum a little bit like a supplement and find ways to work it in outside of my normal routine. For example, when I stumble into the bathroom first thing in the morning, I’ll spritz my face with a hydrosol and then apply a half pump of No. 1 Aknari before heading toward coffee. In a way, it’s akin to drinking a tall glass of water first thing in the morning.

Why it works: Three gentle yet powerful ingredients work together to nourish, protect, and repair. Both prickly pear seed oil and argan oil are rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E. They boast serious antioxidant power and help skin restore and maintain its elasticity. With use over time, fine lines are softened, and skin tone is evened out — including dark under eye circles thanks to the high levels of Vitamin K in prickly pear seed oil. In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of argan oil reduce redness and provide relief to stressed and problematic skin. Rose oil rejuvenates and brightens the complexion thanks to a host of antioxidants and high levels of Vitamin C, and the scent has healing therapeutic qualities of its own.

What it’s like: The scent is both unusual and familiar, a spicy rose that lingers and warms on the skin. No.1 Aknari is the perfect viscosity — not too heavy, not too dry — and leaves a silky matte finish. It makes a gorgeous base for makeup and adds a nourishing touch to your evening routine. You will love the way your skin looks in the morning — brightened, calm, and plumped.

Want a chance to win the MUN No. 1 Aknari Brightening Youth Serum? Follow Integrity Botanicals on InstaGram and look for a giveaway later this month!

Mark your calendar for November 14th, when MUN’s much anticipated sophomore launch —the MUN No. 11 Anarose Rejuvenating Rose Toner — will be available for purchase at Integrity Botanicals. Clear your shelves and make room for this naturally pure rose-based toner crafted to hydrate, soften and moisturize the skin. Formulated to compliment the No. 1 Aknari Brightening Youth Serum, No.11 Anarose Rejuvenating Rose Toner helps enhance performance of moisturizers and anti-aging treatments.