The iris is more than a pretty flower. In Ancient Greece, the goddess Iris personified the rainbow. She also acted as the connection between heaven and earth. This fantastical mythology may be just that—a myth—but it’s also an indication of the biological magic contained within the plant.
The root of the iris plant has an unusually dense cell structure with an outstanding ability to retain moisture. And just as the root structure supports the iris plant’s ability to thrive in a variety of climates, iris root extract is particularly useful as a self-adjusting skincare ingredient. Over a typical 24 hour period, when your skin is hit with a barrage of external factors (cold weather outside, dry heat inside, wind, pollution) and internal factors (dehydration, physical activity, inactivity or sleep) it must adapt to this ongoing fluctuation.
The unique qualities of iris root are so fabulous that Weleda, a European skincare brand established over 90 years ago, included it in three different facial products.
“Choose your own adventure” with your skincare
Remember those “choose your own adventure” novels from elementary school? We loved them because we are naturally attracted to anything that allows us to articulate our needs and idiosyncrasies.
By formulating their Iris Hydrating line in three different intensities, Weleda has helpfully allowed you to choose your own skincare adventure. This way you’ll find the product that appropriately reflects your unique skin type, climate, activities, age, and skincare goals.
For moderate moisturization, choose the Iris Hydrating Day Cream. It’s rich enough to support mature skin. And it works beautifully over daytime serums and under makeup—some face creams don’t layer well, but you won’t have any such problem with this cream!
For the richest skin treatment, choose the Iris Hydrating Night Cream. It’s decadent and will seal in whatever nighttime serums or treatments you’re using.
Personally, I prefer the Hydrating Day Cream and Hydrating Night Cream. They suit my dryness-prone skin and don’t look or feel greasy. But younger me would have loved the Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion.
Inside the Ingredients
The ingredients are paraben-free, GMO-free, and phthalate-free.
Here is the full ingredient list for the Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion: water, jojoba seed oil, witch hazel distillate, glycerin, glyceryl linoleate, hydrolyzed beeswax, magnesium aluminum silicate, calendula extract, iris germanica root extract, xanthan gum, sodium beeswax, fragrance from “natural essential oils.”
| Extremely Safe | Reasonably Safe | Proceed with Caution | Insufficient Data |
Jojoba seed oil is an excellent base for this facial lotion. To learn more about all sorts of ways to use jojoba, and why it works for so many skin types, check out Jojoba Oil: 7 Ways to Use This Green Beauty Essential.
Natural Certification
On these products, you’ll see the NATRUE certification. NATRUE was created by the International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association to “protect and promote natural cosmetics to the benefit of consumers worldwide.” Not only does NATRUE perform an audit of the ingredients and formulation, independent certifiers perform an on-site inspection of the production facility.
Independent cosmetic certifications tend to be regionally oriented. NATRUE is no exception. NATRUE primarily certifies European brands, namely ones based in Germany and Switzerland.
Where to Purchase
There’s no doubt about it: Weleda gives you bang for your buck. Their products are, with rare exception, excellent. But to score even steeper savings—up to 20% off—consider purchasing them through Pharmaca.
Normally the Iris face creams are about $20 each, but here’s where you’ll find them at a discount:
The Sensitive Skin Alternative
If you have sensitive skin, or won’t tolerate the mild floral scent of the Iris Hydrating line, be sure to check out the Almond Soothing Facial Cream. As a woman with sensitive and redness-prone skin, I can’t recommend this natural face cream enough.
*This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.
**Products get makeovers too. Be sure to check if this product has been recently re-formulated before using it yourself.
