Monroe Misfit Makeup | Beauty Blog: Shopping Skincare at Pharmaca

August 18, 2014

Shopping Skincare at Pharmaca


Just when you think you know of every beauty spot on the grid one pops up you don't know about, and this one was right in my backyard! Seattle Pharmaca has locations here in West Seattle, Madison, Wallingford, and a new store opening in Queen Anne. Pharmaca is unique because it brings together traditional Western medicine with the long-stranding traditions of natural and alternative medicine. In addition to traditional pharmacists, customers may be helped by a naturopathic doctor, a licensed esthetician or another expert who will work together to provide each customer with a holistic way to manage their health. 

Pharmaca stores and Pharmaca.com are one-stop-shops for a wide variety of natural health, beauty and household products from top-of-the-line brands. They offered me the opportunity to try a few offering's from their store, I chose two skincare products on my really want to try list, Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster and Dr. Hauschka Revitalizing Mask. My third choice was one I'd sampled before, Juice Beauty's Sensitive Skin Green Apple Peel.

Keep Reading for the Pharmaca Skincare Product Review

Dr Hauschka Revitalizing Mask ($52.95)

In just 20 minutes, Revitalizing Mask offers soothing care and deep renewal to all skin conditions. The appearance of redness or blemishes is diminished, pores are visibly refined and skin appears even and toned. Skin glows with a healthy radiance.
  • Quince seed, anthyllis and chamomile extracts rapidly support the skin's processes of renewal
  • Helps to maintain moisture, visibly minimize pores and calm the appearance of redness and irritation
  • Nurturing jojoba, apricot kernel and wheat germ oils clarify and smooth skin
  • Used as directed, Revitalizing Mask lasts approximately 2-3 months
  • Formerly known as Rejuvenating Mask

I was hoping I wouldn't like this mask as much as I did because it's a pricey little thing, but wow is it nice!  Dr. Hauschka Revitalizing Mask is skin hangover RESCUE. Hydrating, calming, refines pores, and brings out a radiant complexion. Unlike a lot of masks the effect stays in place for more than just a couple of hours. It's especially good for reducing redness and soothing the skin and it's suitable for all skin types. You can also use a tiny bit as a moisturizer to bump up the glow to your skin. This will be the go-to mask for Winter skin hydration, it's also wonderful after long flights to dry climates. Dr. Hauschka Revitalizing Mask is more expensive than I like to spend on masks (though on sale at pharmaca for $42! right now!) but I think it's worth it, a little bit of this goes a long way for getting a big glow to your skin.


Paula's Choice RESIST C15 Super Booster ($45)
Resist C15 Super Booster is a concentrated, light-as-water liquid treatment product designed to supercharge your Paula's Choice serum, or it may be used alone. A blend of 15% stabilized vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) at a pH of 3.0, antioxidant vitamin E, ferulic acid, and peptides repairs visible signs of aging and stimulates collagen production for smoother, brighter, and firmer skin.

I've become a bit of a Vitamin C serum junkie, I'm on my 4th different brand now. I love the way VitC's even out skin tone and fade the freckles that I inevitably get every Summer. What I noticed different about PC's C15 over other C serum's I've tried is it that it's hydrating to the skin when applied. Some Vitamin C serum's can feel dry or tight, but this gives your skin a smooth soft look and feel just from the application. I've been adding a couple drops of this to my serum for three weeks now and have had favorable results. My skin looks brighter and dark spots are fading which is exactly what a Vitamin C serum is supposed to do. Resist C15 just adds that little extra "boost" to your current serum's and moisturizer's.


Juice Beauty Sensitive Skin Green Apple Peel ($39)

Exfoliate naturally without harsh chemicals with Juice Beauty's patented, best-selling, Green Apple Peel. With a potent blend of alpha and beta hydroxy acids, this peel delivers spa-grade exfoliation without the price tag. The advanced formula is highly nutritive and restoring to reveal a brighter complexion while also firming the skin, eliminating the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and reducing hyperpigmentation.

  • Exfoliates to even skin tone and texture with organic alpha hydroxy acids of malic acid from green apples, citric acid from lemons, tartaric acid from grapes.
  • Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles and promotes healthy cellular turnover with Vitamin A, C.
  • Brightens, reduces hyperpigmentation and dark spots with alpha hydroxy organic fruit acids and glycolic acids.
  • Heals and hydrates with Vitamin E & organic aloe.
After using up a sample of this peel I knew I needed the full size. I love all things Apple in skincare products. With having sensitive skin finding a peel that isn't too harsh can be difficult. Juice Beauty's Green Apple Peel comes in regular and sensitive skin strength. This one is like baby steps in to skin peels. It's so gentle that it doesn't leave skin irritated or red and there's no downtime. I like to use this once a week and notice smoother skin and fine lines softened 10 minutes later. Love the natural ingredients and gentle effectiveness.

Pharamaca has some fantastic promotions they are always offering sales and exclusive deals in store and online. Just when I was writing up this review the whole Dr. Hauschka facial care line was 20-30% off. There's also Free Shipping over $35. I like that I can get my supplements, flu shot, and all natural beauty products in one place. Hoping to check out one of their in store monthly events soon!

Pharmaca has 23 locations throughout the western US, in California, Colorado, Oregon, New Mexico and Washington or check out more in natural health and beauty at pharmaca.com

*samples provided for review consideration