Created by the team behind Glow Recipe, Sweet Chef Skincare is a vegan and cruelty-free skincare line that was inspired by all things natural, healthy, and fresh-pressed. The products are formulated with vitamins and vegetable extracts because the brand believes vegetables are one of the best ways to nourish and detoxify your body and skin.
What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2023?
Key products
Made in Korea and inspired by the popular K-Beauty trend of layering serums aka ‘double-seruming’, the brand launched with three different plant and vitamin Serum Shots: Ginger + Vitamin C Serum Shot, Beet + Vitamin A Serum Shot, and Kale + Vitamin B Serum Shot.
The Sweet Chef Ginger + Vitamin C Serum Shot is a brightening serum that is said to help with hyperpigmentation and acne scars, as well as give the skin a glow. After cleansing and toning, the serum shot should be applied on the face with a gentle tapping motion until absorbed. You can follow with a moisturizer, if desired. The Ginger + Vitamin C Serum Shot can be used every day and every night.
The Sweet Chef Beet + Vitamin A Serum Shot is a lightweight gel essence that is said to smooth skin texture, refine pores, and help minimize signs of aging. After cleansing and toning, the serum shot should be applied on the face with a gentle tapping motion until absorbed. You can follow with a moisturizer, if desired and SPF if using in the morning. The Beet + Vitamin A Serum Shot can be used every day and every night.
The Sweet Chef Kale + Vitamin B Serum Shot is a milky essence that is said to hydrate and soothe skin. After cleansing and toning, the serum shot should be applied on the face with a gentle tapping motion until absorbed. You can follow with a moisturizer, if desired. The Kale + Vitamin B Serum Shot can be used every day and every night.
Sweet Chef also offers sheet masks that contain the same key ingredients as the Serum Shots. These masks can be applied to cleansed skin and left on for 15 to 20 minutes. After removing the mask, gently pat in remaining serum (no need to rinse). Sweet Chef recommends to use 2 to 3 masks per week for best results.
The final two Sweet Chef Skincare products include the Superfood + Vitamins Moisture Boost and Ginger Kombucha + Vitamin D Chill Mist. The Superfood + Vitamins Moisture Boost is a daily moisturizer that actually combines all three key ingredients that are in the Serum Shots (ginger, beet, and kale), and also incorporates vitamins A, B, and C to leave skin visibly softer, smoother, and energized. The Ginger Kombucha + Vitamin D Chill Mist hydrates and cools skin to promote a dewy complexion, while probiotic-rich kombucha nourishes the skin barrier while improving texture and tone.
Key formulation
All Sweet Chef Skincare products are free from parabens, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrance, and mineral oils. Below we’ll discuss the formulation details behind the key products in the Sweet Chef Skincare line.
The key ingredients in Sweet Chef Ginger + Vitamin C Serum Shot include ginger root extract, ascorbic acid, and turmeric root extract. Ginger root extract provides excellent anti-aging benefits due to its ability to inhibit collagen degradation. Ginger root extract also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ascorbic acid is pure vitamin C, which functions as a potent antioxidant. Vitamin C also has the ability to stimulate collagen production, brighten the complexion, and fade dark spots. Turmeric contains an active component known as curcumin, which provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
The key ingredients in Sweet Chef Beet + Vitamin A Serum Shot include beet root extract and vitamin A (retinol). Beet root extract is rich in vitamins, boosts your moisture levels, and leaves skin feeling softer and visibly smoother. Retinol is well known to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, restore skin firmness, and shrink the appearance of enlarged pores. After application, retinol is absorbed into the skin and converted to retinoic acid (the active form). Retinoic acid interacts with receptors to increase the production of collagen and promote healthy cell turnover. Increasing cell turnover is important to prevent excess dead skin cells from accumulating on the surface, which can cause a dull complexion and clogged pores. Once these dead cells are removed, new healthy cells are revealed. In addition, retinol is a potent antioxidant that can protect the skin from free radical damage.
The key ingredients in Sweet Chef Kale + Vitamin B Serum Shot include kale leaf extract and panthenol. Kale is excellent for the skin because it is loaded with vitamins A, C and K, lutein, iron, and antioxidants. In fact, kale is one of the best sources of vitamin K. Vitamin K helps reduce dark circles under the eyes, tighten the skin, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Panthenol, commonly known as provitamin B5, is a highly effective humectant. A humectant is a hygroscopic substance that has a molecular structure with several hydrophilic (water loving) groups. This structure allows humectants to attract and retain the moisture in the air nearby via absorption, drawing the water vapor into or beneath the surface. Humectants improve moisture retention and may also help other topical skin care ingredients to perform better.
Reviews
Sweet Chef Skincare reviews on the brand’s website are overall very positive. After 100 customer reviews, the Ginger + Vitamin C Serum Shot has received an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Many reviews mention that this Serum Shot helps to brighten and smooth skin, and that it is safe to use on acne-prone and sensitive skin. The Beet + Vitamin A Serum Shot has only received 2 customer reviews so far, but both are 5 stars. Both reviews for this Serum Shot mention that it helps to minimize the appearance of pores. After 51 customer reviews, the Kale + Vitamin B Serum Shot has received an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Many reviews say that this Serum Shot helps to improve skin hydration, make the skin feel softer, and improves skin texture.
What Are Alternatives to Sweet Chef Skincare?
There’s no need to compromise when it comes to finding skincare that is effective and safe. Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare, perfectly balancing the power of plants with cutting edge science. Not only is Carrot & Stick good for your skin, it is also good for the environment as the formulas skip harmful chemicals commonly found in skin care products.
