Recently I was invited by BeautyCrew to participate in the Andalou CannaCell® trial. Lucky me got to try both the Glow Mask and the Beauty Oil in the range.
Products from the CannaCell® range pride themselves on the use of hemp stem cells and hemp seed oil. So what are they anyway?
What are hemp stem cells?
In simplest terms stem cells are cells that have the ability to differentiate (grow to specialise) into different cell types. Hemp stem cells are cells extracted from the stalk of the hemp plant. I think that the term "stem cell" is really just a buzz word. The cells are killed and extracted before they can be bottled into skincare products - cells which are dead do not have any "stemness" - they need to be alive in order to "differentiate". That said, the cell extract contains a good cocktail of antioxidants which is good for the skin. In short, I would decode "hemp stem cells" into "plant extract with antioxidants".
What's the fuss about hemp seed oil?
Hemp seed oil is gaining some traction lately. It is the oil extracted from the seed (not the plant), so it is legal and non-psychoactive (is it good news or bad news?!). Hemp seed oil is packed with nourishing and soothing ingredients such as vitamin E and essential fatty acids (e.g. ALA, a form of omega-3, and GLA, a form of omega-6). Importantly, it has a high linoleic: oleic acid ratio (if you have read some of my previous skincare posts you would know that I am obsessed with this ratio) - it means that it does not clog pores!
Andalou CannaCell® Glow Mask
Claims
Discover your pure, natural beauty with this exfoliating enzyme, botanical jelly mask with CannaCell® hemp stem cells, organic hemp seed oil, and pure plant essential oils for a complexion that glows.
What's in it?
Apart from hemp cell extract and hemp seed oil, the first few active ingredients are glycerin (humectant), bromelain (an exfoliant, also referred to as the pineapple enzyme), papain (exfoliant), panthenol (vitamin B5), magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP, a vitamin C derivative) and resveratrol (antioxidant). It is very extensive and I really like the look of the formulation.
My experience
Texture - the texture of the mask is a standout for me. I like that it has a refreshing gel texture, yet it feels thick and concentrated. It is very smooth, easy to apply either a thin or thick layer onto the skin. It stays on quite comfortably for 15 or 30 minutes. The mask rinses off completely clean with water.
Scent - the smell of citrus oil is pretty strong, especially for the first few minutes. But it is a scent that I like.
Sensation - this needs a particular mention. The mask causes a very strong tingling sensation every time I use it. Even though I have been using it on consecutive days, the tingling sensation is just as strong as first use. To be honest there is a level a discomfort, particularly for the first 3 minutes, but it is not unbearable. Usually the tingling sensation signals to me that something is working. But this mask is particularly strong.
Results
Apart from the tingling sensation, I did not experience any adverse reaction. On my skin, this mask actually does what it claims. It gave me a nice noticeable glow after using it for just 4 days. I like it so much that I was using this mask daily for 3 weeks, with only a few days break in the entire trial period. My skin looked more radiant and also looked healthier at the end of the trial. I still use this mask 1-2 times a week. It is one of the few masks that gives me such a significant result and probably the only radiance boosting mask that works for me at this price point ($22.99).
Caution
As I said this is a very strong mask and I read that some people have experienced redness and reaction from it. If you are going to test it out, start with a patch test or perhaps build up tolerance by starting with a thin layer.
Full ingredient list
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Purified Water (Aqua), Vegetable Glycerin, Bromelain, Papain, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil*, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Cell Culture Extract, Resveratrol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Chlorophyll, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil*, Citrus Aurantium (Petitgrain) Flower Oil*, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil, Limonene**
*Certified Organic Ingredient **Component of Essential Oil
Anadou CannaCell® Beauty Oil
Claims
Discover your pure, natural beauty with this nourishing botanical beauty oil with CannaCell® hemp stem cells, organic hemp seed oil, and pure plant essential oils for a complexion that glows.
Made with bioavailable vegan ingredients to be gentle and effective FOR ALL SKIN TYPES.
What's in it?
The predominant carrier for this oil is sunflower seed oil, followed by Dicaprylyl Carbonate (an emollient), hemp seed oil, MAP, hemp cell extract and resveratrol. Sunflower seed oil is high in vitamin E and linoleic acid, Again, the formulation looks very good.
My experience
Usually, two types of packaging are worth mentioning - excellent, and very poor. In this case, it's the latter. The pump is very difficult to control, it is impossible for me to pump out any amount less than one full pump, and it squirts everywhere. The lid easily cracks.
Although the oil feels quite light, I found that it is difficult to get absorbed into the skin. I never managed to use it successfully during the day, because whatever I layer on top (tinted moisturiser or makeup) would just swim around in the oil. I did not mind using it overnight. I thought it worked well as a skin nourishing product... until my skin started to feel congested with quite a few small white bumps after a week's use. I haven't been able to use it for more than 10 days so I can't form an opinion as to results.
Looking at the ingredients, I'm puzzled. None of the main ingredients seems to be comedogenic. Even the carrier (base) which is sunflower seed oil has a high linoelic to oleic acid ratio (non-comedogenic). As much as I wanted to be scientific, I just have to accept the fact that an ingredient list is not always a good predictor of user experience.
Full ingredient list
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil*, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Cell Culture Extract, Resveratrol, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil*, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil*, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil*, Citrus Aurantium (Petitgrain) Flower Oil*, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil, Limonene**, Linalool** *Certified Organic Ingredient **Component of Essential Oil
About me
Makeup artist and hair stylist based in Sydney. Founder of the well-known award-winning bridal specialist team Faces Makeup & Hair. Beauty junkie with an obsession for skincare.