I’ve wanted to share about this brand for months. I purchased my first products back in March, got overloaded with things, and had to shelf them for a while — but I’m here! And I bought more things and am ready to share about Phytosurgence, a BIPOC/LGBTQ-owned based in Canada that makes both hand-crafted skincare and makeup products. Today I want to share a few makeup items I bought from them based on pure drool-worthy images on their Instagram account.
When you visit their Instagram account, you’ll find delicious creamy swatches of their cosmetics against white backdrops that appeal to my artistic side. I love smears of cream color and products that gleam… for some reason that’s satisfying to me. But what you’ll learn about Phytosurgence is that this is a brand that puts an emphasis on inclusivity, diversity, and transparency.
Being members of a minority community, the owners make a conscious effort to include or share models of all skin tones. There is an emphasis to include those beauty lovers who have difficulty finding products that work well for them based on skin tone — meaning if you are light or light-medium toned don’t expect everything to work for you. They are trying to make something for everyone, and I’m totally here for it! There is space for everyone, right?
The best way to describe their makeup line is glowy, creamy nature-inspired products that are meant for anyone to use. So whether it’s a soft, dreamy, or bold you’re going for — Phytosurgence designed their products to be easily handled and applied.
Skin Spark Blush Balm
Each Skin Spark blush balm is housed in little glass pots and has a cream texture. I find that dabbing one fingertip into the cream is more than enough to dot onto my cheeks and blend out easily with fingers or a brush. I prefer a brush and this is one I usually use.
The cream is “wet” to the touch and quite pigmented when you use your fingers to pick up color. A good swirl of my fingertip in a pot produces a completely opaque shade that glides on like a smooth Kosas lipstick. I got Ember which is a coral tangerine color — something I LOVE for the Summer months, The finish is radiant but can be subdued when blending. This does NOT have a finish like Tower 28 tinted balms which stay “wet” on the skin, nor is it like Inner Beauty Cosmetics which is more muted and matte.
Unlike some other brands I use, these are truly meant for the cheeks. I see no recommendations to use on the lips and they warn about using in the immediate eye area.
They currently have eight shades of Skin Spark Blush Balm. I’m sure more will come out in the future. The brand did share some projects in the works on the Instagram account, but I think they stopped because teasers became too much for their beloved audience. In any case, I look forward to seeing what they create in the future.
Skin Spark Blush Balm is vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and essential oil-free.
The currently cost $21/ 4g pot of color
Flash Florescence Cream Eyeshadow
If you like cream shadows, Phytosurgence Flash Florescence Cream shadows are so prettyyyyyy! All shades in this line are pearlescent and can create a beautiful sheen on the skin. The actual product itself feels harder in the pot than the blush balms. I don’t want to press too hard into either one of them, but there is a difference in texture.
I got the shade Sun Stress, a copper with hints of rose gold in it — another choice I feel is perfect for Summer. Using a finger is easiest for me but I’m sure can create more defined looks with the help of brushes. I just like to pat it onto my lids and diffuse it out around the crease. Just try not to touch it for a few minutes while setting – they are not budgeproof, but they aren’t a mess at all, either.
It does seem to stay well through the day, although I still use a setting spray because the AZ heat can make anything melt off your face. But I do love these. They are easy to work with and I love a good reflective, eye-brightening look!
Love taupe shades? Take a look at their Weathered Woods collection! That Magnetic Maple is calling my name!
Flash Florescence Cream Eyeshadow is vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and essential oil-free. The currently cost $21/ 4g pot of color
Spectral Shine Radiance Balm
Okay, friends….THIS was the product that caught my eye first and made me purchase. The Phytosurgence Spectral Shine Radiance Balm is one of the most gorgeous things I’ve seen put on the skin. It’s a dry cream-to-powder formula and I hate to admit it, but it’s super hard for me to work with.
What’s unique about this highlighter (?) is that you won’t see it in regular light, but it will create that lit-from-within look when in direct light. They describe it as soft radiance and I agree with that description. If you are looking for luminosity, this is it. There is no sparkle or shimmer here!
I got the shade Divine Daylight, a peachy neutral beige shade that said it was super popular and I thought it would work for my skin. I tried and tried and it felt like the pan was super hard and nothing would really come off on my finger. And I press pretty hard! Not hard enough to crack the product, but hard enough where I thought I’d put a budge and really nothing.
This is obviously user error as I’ve watched their videos and looked at their photos, but what the heck was I doing wrong? This is actually what caused me to set this brand aside and figure out how I was going to use this product. Phytosurgence has a set of brushes they recommend for their products. So I went ahead and purchased one of their Skybuff brushes (the smaller dense one).
My biggest mistake when using this balm was never looking at it in any other light other than my bathroom. I just wasn’t seeing it at all. I was confused. Did I get a dud? Or what was I doing wrong? I wasn’t doing anything wrong other than forgetting to get in better light! It’s just got this really unique texture that seems to disappear in soft-lighted areas but warm up when direct light hits.
I need to apply this product when facing direct sunlight or I’m completely lost in its application and feel like such a noob! They do suggest if the pan is too hard, scratch the top with your nail to get it going. I will be applying this product in my downstairs living room where I can see better.
Once I did this, I got the results I was looking for. A subtle sheen. A glow from within. Skin that has the fainted hint of radiance that makes skin look healthy. I think this looks amazing on the skin — my only wish is that it was easier to work with. It’s a very hard pan that is different from anything I’ve touched before, but I appreciate the results so I’m going to keep using it.
Spectral Shine Radiance Balm currently comes in eight shades and is $32 each.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m very happy I found this brand. The colors and textures are unique to me and although I had difficulty with one product, it’s still something I will use because its so pretty.
I think the next product I’d want to try from them is their Verdant Forcefield moisturizer. The ingredients listed sound like something my skin would enjoy, especially when it’s angry and needs some nourishment.
Have you heard of Phytosurgence before? Would you give these a try?
These are absolutely GORGEOUS! Thank you for introducing me to this brand, Claudia! I need to go to their website and take a closer look!