I’ve been working on formulating a facial moisturizer, and finally came up with something I thought was worth trying. I asked for volunteers to test it for me for a couple weeks, and just received the last of the feedback on Saturday. I wasn’t sure what sort of response to expect. Facial moisturizers can produce very different results in different people which is why I chose a broad spectrum of skin types to test it for me. The majority of the feedback was very positive. It didn’t work for everyone, but it did work for all of the skin types!

The ones who had trouble with it were the ones with the most sensitive skin. Two people said that it caused them to have breakouts, so they had to discontinue using it. Two people said their dry skin did not get hydrated enough, while two people experienced a little bit oilier skin at first. One thought that the anti-aging ingredients could be stronger, and a couple people mentioned the color being a bit “off-putting”. (It’s a medium yellow from the Sea Buckthornberry Extract.) One person said she would like the texture to be a bit thicker.

Here are some quotes from those who had excellent results:

Lisa, age 33, in FL has oily skin. She says:

“Most moisturizers leave an oily film on my skin after a few days use. This is why I only use them once a day. This never made my skin feel oily at all. I normally use Mark, Estee Lauder, or Origins because they have certain items that help with oil control. I found that your cream works very well for oil contol and have not had to use the other brands.”

Most of my testers had combination skin – oily in some areas, dry in others – which is a good representation of most people.

From Kari, age 34, in PA:

“I would compare [this moisturizer] to the Philosophy Hope In A Jar. It took away the flakiness in the dry area and decreased shine in the oily areas.”

From Janie, age 56, in AR:

“It didn’t make [my skin] more oily, and the dry areas were hydrated. [My skin] was more supple and hydrated. Seriously, when can I purchase some?”

From Heather, age 29, in FL:

“I think it worked well. I have always been plagued by whiteheads due to under active sweat glands. This product kept my skin soft and smooth without clogging my pores. No new whiteheads emerged and my skin looked plumper and healthier. My makeup went on easily and didn’t wear out as fast. I give this product a B+!”

From Judy, age 52, in KS:

“It’s perfect. I experienced the same results I get from using my Arbonne, so that’s very good.”

From Courtney, age 34, in PA:

“The moisturizer worked very well. I have sensitive skin and could breakout in pimples or a red rash if a moisturizer is not right for my skin. This natural formula worked so well. My skin feels smooth, but not oily. I have been using the clarifying soap and with this moisturizer I have found my skin to be noticably smoother. I usually have a few bumps or dry patches. The Great Cakes Soapworks products have helped improve the look and feel of my skin tremendously. I am hooked!!!!”

Several with dry skin also loved the moisturizer.

Sue, age 57, in KS says:

“I felt the results the first time I used it. It left my skin soft and supple. A small amount was all that was needed.”

Sheila, age 37, in KS says:

“I have such dry skin that with other moisturizers I would have to apply one layer, let it soak in, and then apply another layer. This was the perfect balance for my skin type. It felt as though I didn’t have anything on my face, yet it didn’t feel dry. My skin appeared to be less blotchy and I had zero blemishes. I have unidentified skin allergies which led me to give up on the store moisturizers last year. I have been using your stress relief lotion which prevented me from having allergic reactions; however, it wasn’t working as well as the something designed for the face.”

Vicki, age 52, in KS says:

“The moisturizer absorbed quickly into my skin. My two daughters commented on how nice my face felt. I noticed how much smoother my neck looked too. I have tried a lot of moisturizers, and I can honestly say that I like the results I have had with the Great Cakes Soapworks moisturizer the best.”

Anice, age 35, in KS, is fortunate to have “normal” skin. Even though she didn’t have any noticeable difference in her skin, she says:

“I love the no odor/no fragrance, a little went a long way, it is not greasy! I love it. Keep us all updated on when it is ready to sell and price.”

There were also some unexpected bonuses that came with a couple of the testers.

Lauri, age 46, in KS, experienced some scratches on her face and arms during the time she was testing the moisturizer. She said,

“My household has 2 puppies, about 4 months right now, and they are very playful. One of them scratched me pretty good on my face. Those scratches were completely gone in 2 days on my face, but remained on my arms from the same incident.”

Lauri also mentioned that even though it took her skin awhile to adjust to the new moisturizer, after about a week of using the product, her skin started to feel softer than it has for a while – which she thought was a nice bonus!

Melinda, age 39, also in KS has very fair skin and felt that the moisturizer worked better than she expected it would. She said,

“I found most of my pimples went away and my skin seemed to look healthier. If I started breaking out with pimples, it seemed to make them go away. That was nice for a change as most facial mosturizers cause me to break out. One of the things I really liked was the lack of odor, no chemical or flowery smell. The lotion went on and disappeared immediately. When will the lotion be available for purchase?”

Ah yes. When will it be available? This week I will be sending some of this moisturizer to a lab to have it tested and make sure my formula is safe before I sell it. It may take several weeks to get the results back, so please be patient! I promise to let everyone know as soon as it’s ready.