Pregnancy Product Review: Basq Rebalancing Facial Cleanser

What They Say: As your hormones change during pregnancy, your skin is naturally affected. While you need an effective cleanser for break outs and blemishes, many contain ingredients that should be avoided during pregnancy. Basq created this whipped cleanser with micro exfoliators, rich emollients, ylang ylang and imported oak root extract to rebalance and refine the appearance of your skin. It cleans and gently moisturizes the face to leave skin looking clear and smooth. The exotic ylang ylang flower blossoms also give this scrub a wonderfully calming scent. Use mornings and evenings to gently clarify your skin.

Polina’s Experience: Frankly, I have not been a big user of scrubs since my teen days. Back then, I used what I would now consider some pretty rough stuff – huge granules of ground apricot kernels…yikes!! Rather quickly I figured out that maybe I was being a little too abrasive on my face and began using a variety of drug store facial cleansers instead most of which have served me well. I’d say that it’s been a good 10-12 years since my last experience with a facial scrub so I was definitely curious to see how Basq Rebalancing Face Cleanser would agree with me.

If I had been concerned about the scrub being too rough on my skin, I needn’t have worried. The tiny granules buried in the thick, white creamy cleanser felt really good against my face. At first, I was using the product at my bathroom sink, but noticed that when I would rinse my face, some of the granules would invariably make their way down my neck and I’d have to spend extra time rinsing them off. Not a big deal, but I thrive on practicality and time management so I began using the product in the shower – it made for a quicker, cleaner rinse.

I enjoyed the creamy texture of this cleanser while using it, but I was a bit nervous at first because it didn’t leave me with that squeaky clean feeling like the “soapy” cleansers. My nose and the area around it are somewhat oily and prone to breakouts and I wasn’t sure if this product was just too rich for my skin. I needn’t have worried. After cleansing, my skin felt smooth and soft – not squeaky, but still clean and refreshed. I did not have any strange breakouts while using this product. I can’t say that there was any noticeable improvements to my skin either, but I have quite decent skin, so I wasn’t really battling any issues other than the day’s grime.

As far as scrub cleansers go, this is definitely a very gentle product. If you tend to have dry skin, yet would like to incorporate a “scrub” into your regimen, this may well be the answer. If you tend towards the oily spectrum, I’d say that this is still a worthwhile product, especially if you follow it up with a lighter moisturizer than you would typically use.

Retail Price: $34 for 2.0oz (at basqnyc.com or go here for retail locations)

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Pregnancy Product Review: Basq Soothing Foot Relief

What They Say: "Now more than ever your tired, swollen legs and feet need relief! With its cooling, soothing feel, this lotion provides the perfect lift after a long day. Basq blends green tea, eucalyptus, cucumber, lavender, aloe vera and menthol to energize and soothe fatigued feet and legs during pregnancy. Perfect after a long walk or gentle workout. The refreshing lavender aromatherapy and gentle tingling make putting your feet up a pleasure. Smooth it on and relax, you’ll feel the difference immediately!"

Polina’s Experience: I love the fresh fragrance of this lotion! It is both refreshing and soothing . Application is easy – the lotion is light with an almost gel-like quality and glides onto feet and legs with a delicious, cool tingle. It absorbs quickly and leaves no residue, just soft, fragrant skin. Very, very nice! Slather your tootsies, elevate and aaahhh!

Retail Price: $19.50 (basqnyc.com or go here for retail locations)

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Pregnancy Product Review: Basq Resilient Belly Oil

What They say: "Enjoy a little TLC for your gently expanding belly. Basq stretch mark oil hydrates and nourishes the skin to help soothe itchiness and prevent stretch marks. Formulated to promote skin elasticity and resiliency during and after pregnancy, it leaves itchy skin feeling soft, smooth and replenished. This rich golden aromatherapy blend perfect for caring for stretch marks includes Hazelnut, Rosehip, Grapeseed, Wheatgerm and Sweet Almond oils plus Vitamin E, all known to help tone and regenerate the skin. Perfect for the needs of your growing belly during pregnancy. These hand-picked essential oils absorb quickly leaving skin feeling wonderfully silky and smooth. Using the traditions of aromatherapy, essential oils have been carefully blended for your delicate nose to soothe your body and mind during pregnancy. Massage this rich, fast absorbing stretch mark oil onto your belly, chest and thighs morning and evening."

Polina's Experience: I've always been a fan of essential oils and aromatherapy. And where some women crave certain foods during their pregnancies, I have discovered that I crave smells. Yes, I know - quite weird! I have yet to meet another woman who has been stricken with the same pregnancy affliction, but I know you gals are out there somewhere. Anyway, apart from craving the smell of leather and industrial items such as rubber and gasoline, I practically swoon at the mere hint of either euculyptus or lavender. Basq Resilient Belly Oil has a proprietary blend of aromas including euculyptus, geranium and patchouli, so you can imagine that just opening the sophisticated, glass bottle and sniffing it endears this product to me.

The wonderful aroma aside, I do have one bone to pick. The presentation is nice but Basq should have come up with a better way to dispense this product. The bottle has a screw top that when removed leaves nothing between you and the very runny substance within. During my first attempt to use the product, I spilled a bunch of it all over the sink and floor as it came gushing out. I've gotten better at dosing, but it would be nice to have either a smaller opening or some kind of a pump mechanism to get that stuff out. Nuff said.

I started using the oil and enjoyed the texture, the smell and the soft, smooth skin I got as a result of using it. Only problem is that about a week into it, my belly broke out in a mutlitude of small pimples. I'm guessing that the combination of oil, hot weather, sweat and a t-shirt rubbing on my bump produced the unsightly blemishes. I stopped using the oil and the pimples went away. Bummer. Still, I loved the product enough to continue using it on other parts of my body like by butt and thighs and it has been wonderful with no breakouts or other weird side effects.

Overall, a quality product that probably works flawlessly in the colder months when the skin tends to be much dryer and the sweating is at a minimum. Basq just needs to rethink packaging to make the use more convenient and less wasteful.

Retail Price: $36.00 (at basqnyc.com or go here to find retail locations)

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