You know that saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’? I try to live by this when it comes to my skin and my body. Unfortunately, I was not blessed with amazing skin. I have highly sensitive combination skin on my face and highly sensitive dry skin on my body. Which means that I do go through multiple rounds of trying new products to find the best for my skin. I discovered Nécessaire through a luxury and aesthetics blogger, Jazmyn Anderson, and was intrigued by her experiences with their products.
It’s important to realise that unless you live in the USA and Canada, you cannot buy their products from their website. Luckily, I found their products via SpaceNK and was able to ship them to Switzerland. I bought their fragrance free Body Lotion and Body Wash for the first time in May 2023. Then, took the plunge to try out the Body Wash and the Body Exfoliator in eucalyptus in September 2023. I’ve nearly finished the exfoliator and thought it was the best time to write a review of these three products for any of my sensitive skin girlies, who are hesitating to try them out.
About Nécessaire Body Care: The Brand
“My dream was to make the Patagonia of beauty”
Randi Christiansen, co-founder of Nécessaire
Randi Christiansen, a former executive at the Estée Lauder Companies, and Nick Axelrod, co-founder of Into The Gloss teamed up together to create a skincare line. A line of products that was not only committed to doing clean beauty right, but was also born out of the wish of having body care products that worked great. Skincare was always focused on neck and above. A point often overlooked, Randi and Nick realised that there was nothing that catered to the body from the neck down. In short, that’s how Nécessaire was founded in 2018 because it was necessary. The product. The ingredient. The sustainable footprint.
Nécessaire is a favourite from beauty editors to people working a 9 to 5. By using facial-grade ingredients that are not only suitable for everyone, thanks to its fragrance-free formulas that adheres to the strict EU’s standards, but also included those with sensitive skin. The products themselves are not the only thing that stands out to the masses. It’s the look of the products. The packaging and the visual identity of the brand.
If you take a look at Nécessaire’s instagram page, you can see that their identity is very minimalistic, clean and gender-neutral based on the colours of the products. Men and women from their mid-20s onwards use these products. One of their instagram posts features a snapshot of an article from InStyle about a 71 year old woman using their products. Additionally, their branding makes it easier for both men and women to purchase their products enjoying a luxury experience in the shower.
Disclaimer: This post does include some affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I have personally vetted.
Nécessaire Body Care Review: The Body Wash
What Is It For?
The Body Wash is a daily multi-vitamin and oil based in gel cleanser for skin health with the purpose of balancing, nourishing and softening the skin.
What’s In It?
Nécessaire’s Body Wash has an extensive ingredients list with a few superstar and some rising star names. It has a variety of cleansers, humectants and antioxidants, which is always a highlight for me.
- Glycerin a natural moisturiser that keeps the skin hydrated and replenished.
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) helps with the fading of dark spots and improving skin texture.
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E) evens the skin tone, improves hyperpigmentation and can defend the skin from environmental pollution.
- Sugar Cane Extract helps the skin attract and retain water to reveal youthful skin.
How Do You Use It?
The Body Wash can either be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Initially, I bought it for my morning routine but I switch it around whenever I feel like. Once in a while, I want to be massaged well before work or before I go to bed. You don’t need to squeeze too much of this product as a little goes a long way. Honestly, it will be difficult not to use more than a quarter sized so try to restrain yourself. As you massage it into your skin, you will see the small bubbles forming as the scent of eucalyptus or a scent (if it’s the fragrance free one) is escaping. Once you finish with the product, you can either rinse off or apply a shower oil.
The Results & My Experience
At first when I used this product, I was slightly taken aback by the smoothness of the wash. Adding oils to my body or skin was something that younger me would never do. This was mainly because I never wanted my skin to look like it was oily. Eventually, Present me gladly welcomed how rich this multi-vitamin and oil/gel cleanser felt and glowed on my skin. My skin is not as dry as it was before I used this product. Although some areas are still drier than others i.e. my back, and I’m sure that will change in the next six months.
Nécessaire Body Care Review: The Body Exfoliator
What Is It For?
The Body Exfoliator is a weekly rinse-off multi-exfoliation, physical and chemical, treatment for skin health. By design, it prevents keratosis pilaris, removes rough and dry patches and releases ingrown hairs for smoother, softer skin.
What’s In It?
Nécessaire’s Body Exfoliator has some superstar ingredients that you would want in a body care product. They are a mixture of cleansers, humectants and exfoliants. The product was tackling my skin concern before I knew what was in them. This product includes:
- Glycerin a natural moisturiser that keeps the skin hydrated and replenished.
- Marula Seed Oil an emollient that improves skin hydration and smoothness and can reduce skin redness.
- Salicylic Acid a gold standard ingredient that exfoliates the skin both on the surface and in the pores. Also, it’s a potent anti-inflammatory agent that is very effective in treating blackheads.
- Glycolic Acid an exfoliant that gently lifts off dead skin cells and helps the skin’s production of collagen for firmer and youthful skin.
How Do You Use It?
As with any exfoliant, you want to use it no more than 2-3 times a week to avoid stripping your skin from its natural oils. I tend to use the Body Exfoliator as the second step of my body care routine after cleansing my skin. You need a small amount of the product to get it working. I prefer to use it with my exfoliating gloves or my hands, depending on my mood, and massage it all over my body. I also use this as my feet exfoliator and I can vouch that it can get rid of the most stubborn dry skin underneath there.
The Results & My Experience
Given that I have been using the Body Exfoliator for nearly six months, my experience with it has not changed. It’s even better than the first time I tried it. The scent of the eucalyptus diffuses throughout the entire shower which makes an already pleasant experience more luxurious. It keeps me calm. The effects that this product has on my body is softness. My skin feels so soft after I use it. As always, I’m usually hesitant trying a new product but I was ready to remove the seal just like that. If you are looking for exfoliant that is simple, does a great job and soothes both your body and mind, buy this one. You won’t regret it.
Nécessaire Body Care Review: The Body Lotion
What Is It For?
The Body Lotion is a daily multi-peptide and -vitamin moisturising treatment that nourishes and strengthens the skin filled with facial-grade oils that delivers continuous moisture.
What’s In It?
Nécessaire’s Body Lotion is jam packed with so many great ingredients. It is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and essential oil free. I feel that essential oils are put into everything lately, so it’s refreshing to see one that doesn’t have it. This product includes:
- Glycerin a natural moisturiser that keeps the skin hydrated and replenished.
- Jojoba Seed Oil has anti-inflammatory properties that help in skin repair and damage control by taming chaffing.
- Ceterayl Olivate a natural emulsifier that repairs the skin barrier, soothes and moisturises the skin.
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) helps with the fading of dark spots and improving skin texture.
How Do You Use It?
Despite what the instructions on the product says, I disagree with this wholeheartedly. A small amount did absolutely nothing for me. I had to use a lot of the product to feel it sink into my skin and it didn’t do that. My body felt dry within a few hours of using it and I had to question myself whether I applied any lotion after I stepped out of the shower. I’m a Black girl okay. If my skin feels dry after a few hours, best believe that my legs are looking like Casper the friendly ghost!
The Results & My Experience with Nécessaire
Last but not least, the Body Lotion was my least favourite product out of the three. I kept on buying it again hoping that I would enjoy it with either another Nécessaire product or an existing product on my shelves. Unfortunately, the enjoyment never came around. Personally, it doesn’t have what I want in a body lotion and I know others love it. In sum, there were three problem areas for me.
Firstly, it was unscented. There is a difference between unscented and fragrance free. I want to smell good when I leave my bathroom and I can’t do that with this product. It felt boring to use and I refused to use it after a while until it was the last lotion in my bathroom.
Secondly, it was the cap. The other products don’t have this issue, there is no need for me to screw off and screw on the cap. I don’t understand why this particular product doesn’t follow the same standard as the others.
Thirdly, it doesn’t absorb well as it was marketed. For me, a post shower body lotion and body oil seals the entire experience of a shower. So it was very disappointing that such a ‘so and so’ product ruined that experience for me.
Nécessaire Body Care Review: The Final Judgement
My final judgement? I believe that these two products from Nécessaire: The Body Wash and The Body Exfoliator would benefit:
- People with sensitive skin
- People with dry and dehydrated skin
- Those who want a simple and effective product to build their body care routine.
- Those who want a spa treatment in the shower
Above all, I love products that are simple, come with an experience and do exactly what they were intended to do. Romanticising my shower time is my moment to dream my wildest dreams. With the eucalyptus inside of these products, I can do that with ease. They all get the sensitive skin stamp of approval from me.
Will I be buying these products again? Only the Body Wash and The Body Exfoliator, they hold permanent spaces on my shower shelves.
For this purpose, Nécessaire needs to improve the packaging, add a scent like eucalyptus or bergamot, and the experience of the Body Lotion for me to even consider trying it again. For these reasons, I’m not recommending this product.
Finally, no matter where you live around the world, you can enjoy these products by buying them through SpaceNK. Fortunately, they deliver worldwide!
That’s it from me! A sensitive skin approved review on the Nécessaire Body Care products. If you are looking for effective, beginner- and affordable-friendly body care products, give them a try and let me know if they work for you.
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Until next time,
Folakemi
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