It’s blotchy, red, dry, and, admit it, maybe even a little flakey—it’s your winter face. Luckily, we’ve discovered a local, organic skincare line you can find at your nearest New Seasons Market. We sat down with Essance Skincare founder Jasmine Tran to get the low-down on her new lines. 

Born in Vietnam, Tran moved to the US as a young girl. Her childhood was steeped in herbalism—she recalls her mother and grandmother infusing their cooking with botanical herbs and vegetables, because, she says, “food is medicine.” To this day, this mentality informs her work, which emphasizes local, natural, and organic ingredients. 

Tran’s skincare ethos is simple: a minimal routine is often all you need, anti-aging propaganda is a marketing tool, and natural oils like Argan, vitamin E, and jojoba trump any chemical-laden, paraben and fragrance-rich goop often peddled as skincare. Essance currently offers two lines of skincare products: one for oily or mature skin, and another for dry or sensitive skin. (Tran eschews the term “anti-aging” for being problematic and deceitful, and instead prefers “mature.”) Here’s part of what you’ll find in the sensitive skin line: 

Revitalizing Facial Cleanser: A gentle cream cleanser made with Rooibos and Chaga Mushroom tea enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients to gently cleanse and refresh your skin.

Revitalizing Facial Serum: Made with argan oil rich in omega 6 & 9 fatty acids, natural vitamin E, squalene, and carotene to improve skin’s texture and provide deep hydration. 

Revitalizing Facial Moisturizer: Packed with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid to firm, tone, and hydrate the skin while combating against free radicals that cause aging.

3-in-1 Antioxidant Eye Crème: Made with jojoba oil, ginseng and aloe juice, this eye cream soothes puffy eyes, relieves dark circles, and minimizes fine lines.

 

A photo posted by Essance (@essancellc) on Nov 22, 2015 at 12:46pm PST

Tran also offers a line of body products, which incorporate more viscous ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa butter. The Happy Blend, Peppermint Shea, and Lavender creams are rich and luxurious, and sink in effortlessly for instantly plump, hydrated skin. 

And it’s not only about aesthetics: At the request of one of her clients, a radiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital, Tran created the Aloe Therapy Crème for cancer patients to soothe the skin after radiation treatment. Tran says it can also be used for burns, psoriasis, and severe dryness.

Each time Tran meets a new client, she observes their face in an effort to make specific suggestions to address their unique skin concerns. (Tran told me I am dehydrated and need more rest—spot on!) For skincare novices, Tran recommends a gentle cream cleanser and a light moisturizer. “A lot of people want a quick, extreme solution, but I take a gentle, balanced approach to skincare,” she says. It shows: her skin is supple, even-toned, and radiant. Her holistic approach to skincare is compelling—and drinking more water has certainly improved my parched complexion.