Glimpse Intuitive Skin Care

***Updated: Don’t miss the added information on how to try a sample below.***

Lately, I’ve been taking a good, hard look at the beauty products in my bathroom cabinets and drawers.

More specifically, I’ve been taking a look at the ingredient lists.

See, ever since I read this, I’ve become more and more aware that what I put on my body is just as important as what I put in it. Your skin, after all, is your body’s largest organ and tends to absorb whatever sits on it like a sponge absorbs water.

That means if I’m given the choice of an all-natural product loaded with antioxidants and ingredients I can pronounce versus a sythentic product full of parabens and petrochemicals, I’ll tend toward the more natural option.

I’m not fanatical about it. But, it’s just what makes sense to me.

It is becoming easier to find “greener” options for most makeup on the market today, but when it comes to all-natural cleansers, toners and moisturizers, the pickings are a little slim. That’s why I was so intrigued when I first heard about the Glimpse Intuitive Skin Care System.

Glimpse is a four-step system consisting of a cleanser, toner, serum and moisturizer, and comes in two formulations — one for normal to dry skin and the other designed for normal to combination skin.

Glimpse draws on the antioxidants found in the Asian mangosteen fruit (which claims to have 30 times the antioxidant power of green tea) to help calm inflamation and redness, stimulate collagen production, and repair and prevent skin damage. Glimpse products contain no synthetics, fillers or fragrances — an assurance that the company backs up by signing the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

The system is easy to use and, although it contains four steps, each step takes only a few seconds. The whole routine can literally be done in under three minutes. (I loved the fact that the toner could be applied by just spraying it directly on the face, as opposed to swabbing your face down with a cotton ball.)

I used the system for several weeks and, it left my skin feeling cleansed and refreshed.

Now, skin care systems are among the most difficult products to review. The reason is simple — no two “skins” are alike. My skin issues, might not necessarily be your skin issues. A cleanser, toner and moisturizer that work for my skin might not quite do the trick for yours.

And, admittedly, my skin can withstand quite a bit. I rarely experience sensitivity or breakouts (my skin issue is hyperpigmentation), so it didn’t come as a surprise that I liked the Glimpse system.

But, I wanted to see what the results would be with someone else. So, I recruited my sister Kelly, whose skin is 180 degrees from mine. Her creamy, alabaster complexion has nary a brown spot on it, but she does experience breakouts — particularly along her jawline.

I gave Kelly the Glimpse system on a Monday. When I saw her on Friday (after she’d been using the Glimpse for five days), I’ve got to admit, there was a noticable difference in the overall appearance of her skin. The breakout she had earlier in the week was completely gone. Her skin was clear and — dare I say — glowing. It was a difference she recognized, as well.

The only drawback to Glimpse is the price — it retails for a hefty (brace yourself) $200. The good news is you can sort of “try before you buy” by purchasing a smaller sample of the Glimpse program for $35 at the Glimpse site. It’s a more affordable way to see if the product will work for you before buying the whole system.

Granted, it’s still an investment, but if you’ve had difficulty finding a cleansing system that works for your sensitive skin, or if you’re searching for a greener skincare option, the investment might very well be worth it.