Introduction
This post contains my impression of the Furtuna Skincare line. If you are looking for a luxe, ultra-hydrating skincare line that is a treat to apply, Furtuna Skin may be for you. Below, I provide a thorough review of my experience trying the line. I also share my favorites. Read to the end to find my exclusive Furtuna Skin promo code for a discount on your purchase.
Rituals
Our favorite rituals can be incredibly healing. The moments I spend each night applying serums and creams to my face has become something I look really forward to. I’ve crafted a pretty solid skincare routine over the years, but I am always open to trying new products. Enter Furtuna Skin. A new clean skincare line, Furtuna Skin is formulated using botanical ingredients grown in the rich volcanic soils of Sicily. As part of Sakara Life’s Eat Pretty campaign, I was gifted three products from Furtuna Skin’s skincare line. I have also tried their eye cream and their recently-launched cleansing balm.
In the past, I tried to make sure I had a 100% clean skincare routine. Now, I have a few “dirty” products in the mix. However, where I can still get great results, I definitely opt for brands that are plant forward and use fewer harmful chemicals. I’ve found that for hydration, Furtuna Skin products work just as well if not better than many “non-clean” brands. I have struggled with acne and still experience the occasional breakout, so I have a few more “intense” products in my routine such as prescription tretinoin and various acid-based products. It’s super important to me to balance out the skin resurfacing with hydrating products so I’m not left with irritation and pesky skin flakes. I’ve found that Furtuna Skin products are gentle and non-stripping, and help my skin maintain its moisture.
The Furtuna Skin Story
Furtuna Skin was founded by two women, Agatha Relota Luczo and Kim Walls. Agatha previously worked as an internationally-renowned model and co-founded the Bona Furtuna olive oil brand. For co-founder Kim, clean beauty is a family affair. Her father suffered from vitiligo, which inspired him to start a natural skin care line based in their native LA. Kim received firsthand insight into the skincare business by following him to trips to the lab and reading research materials he kept around the house. Her life with her mother on their ranch in Idaho also served as inspiration. In an article posted by Insider’s Guide to Spas, Kim reminisces: “We foraged food, collected eggs, and rode horses to school.”
A Promise
Launched in November 2019, the brand truly represents a marriage of mind and heart: it was founded on pioneering technology as well as family heritage. Steve Luczo—Agatha’s husband— made a promise to his grandmother at age 10 that he would find and revive the land of her youth in her native Sicily. Thirty-five years later, Agatha and Steve purchased land on the island in the hope of keeping this promise. With the help of an acclaimed botanist, they revitalized the land and created the La Furtuna Estate, an organic farm that produces the wild-foraged ingredients used in Furtuna Skin products.
La Furtuna Estate
The La Furtuna Estate sits on over 800 acres of land and boasts over 12,000 olive trees. Some of these trees are centuries old. The Luczos view their farm as not only home to Furtuna Skin and Bona Furtuna, but as an opportunity to give back to the local community. The estate is currently the site of an archeological dig which will shed light on the region’s history. Agatha states in Forbes:
When it comes to everything my husband and I do […] we always think about how the companies that we set out to build are going to help others and help a community. There has to be a bigger picture to it. We’ve even begun our first archaeological dig in the area, in partnership with the University of Palermo — we have these amazing scientists and archaeologists come to the farm. So all the work that’s happening on the farm is exciting.”
Almost everything that goes into each Furtuna Skin product is produced on La Furtuna Estate. Per co-founder Kim Wallis:
“From an ecological perspective, 80 percent of the farm is a bio-reserve and must be protected. As for the plants, they are all hand-harvested. Everything is happening in Italy, and mostly on the farm. For example, the olives we use are hand-picked and brought to our olive mill to avoid huge transportation pollution.”
Regenerative Business Practices
It’s clear that the founders care quite a lot about the broader impact of their business practices. Here are some of the sustainability highlights per Forbes:
- The Estate uses sustainable farming methods, including solar energy, crop diversity, and a natural fertilization system based on bacteria, not chemicals.
- Furtuna Skin has a zero-waste policy and utilizes every part of its plants so that no nutritious active part of the olive goes to waste.
- Harvesting is done by hand, with great attention paid to preserving the plant itself, and providing employment stability to the workforce.
- Furtuna Skin participates in creating seed banks and reviving nearly extinct species of flora, protecting bird species and biodiversity.
Pioneering Technology
It’s easy to be enthralled by the romantic story of a family estate in Sicily. But the products themselves are no slouch, either. They represent the cutting edge of skincare tech. Furtuna Skin utilizes an innovative extraction processes called the Soundbath™️ method that retains the essence of the active plant ingredients.
In an effort to avoid extraction methods using harsh chemicals or high heat, the founders searched high and low for an alternative before coming across a pioneering method utilizing sound waves. They worked with a lab in Italy to refine the sound extraction process used to create their skincare ingredients and trademarked it the Soundbath™️ method.
Furtuna Skin’s approach to seeking out technological advancements to utilize plants reminds me very much of the story behind Sisley, a French skincare line. Sisley is also famed for its use of plants. I have a copy of Boundless Beauty, a book published by one of the Sisley founders Hubert d’Ornano. In it, d’Ornano describes how he worked with French labs in the emerging field of phototherapy, which is the science of extracting and conserving natural plant extracts and essential oils. This science was developed in the 1970s. d’Ornano invested in a small research laboratory outside of Paris to extract plant molecules to include in the Sisley product line. Products like Sisleya Global Anti-Age include over fifty active ingredients sourced from plants found all around the world.
Product Reviews
The moment I opened the package, I knew I was in for a treat. From the weighty glass and metal vials to the iPhone box-esque outer packaging, it was clear that this product line is meant to evoke luxury. As part of the Eat Pretty launch, I was invited to attend a virtual facial demo of the products hosted by celebrated L.A. facialist Candace Marino (aka “The L.A. Facialist”).
At Home Facial
We began by cleansing our skin with the Acqua Serana Micellar Cleansing Essence. The essence quickly removed residual dirt from my skin, leaving it bright and refreshed.
Next, we used the Porte per la Vitalità Face and Eye Serum. I loved the idea of a two-in-one face and eye product. It took a few pumps to fully cover my face and eyes. The serum soaked into my skin with little manipulation
For the third step, we applied the Due Alberi Biphase Moisturizing Oil. The golden color is due to a mixture of organic olive oil and organic olive leaf water sourced from centuries-old olive trees on the grounds of the Estate. I shook the bottle vigorously before removing a dropperful of oil. The aroma was intoxicating. I inhaled deeply as I patted the oil into my skin.
Already glowing and moisturized, I almost forgot that there was one more product left to try. Candace directed us to scoop a generous amount of Rinascita delle Olive Replenishing Balm into the palm of our hand. Also beautifully scented, the balm melted into my skin on contact. We massaged the blue-hued oil (spirulina extract gives it its color) into our faces using various facial sculpting techniques. The balm does contain beeswax, which I typically avoid putting on my skin. However, so far I have not experienced any breakouts. Candace confirmed that all of the products in the line are noncomedogenic.
Acqua Serana Micellar Cleansing Essence
Rating: 9/10
The Micellar essence is probably my favorite Furtuna Skin product. I would give it a 10/10 if it didn’t leave my skin feeling slightly tacky occasionally. That being said, it cleans my face better than any other Micellar water I’ve ever tried, and it smells amazing. It’s not drying, and it looks pretty sitting on my countertop. I try to cleanse thoroughly with a balm each night, but this is a perfect solution for those days when you are just trying to do your best haha. I also use it as a refresh post-workout. Depending on your budget, it might seem a bit pricey for a Micellar water. Thankfully, you have access to my exclusive discount code below 🙂
Porte per la Vitalità Face and Eye Serum
Rating: 6.5/10
I love that this serum is designed for both the eyes and the face. However, I do expect quite a lot from my eye creams and face serums, given that I get hyperpigmentation and dryness around the eyes. I can’t say that this one is better than the other products I use for those purposes, but I do feel like it helps boost the overall radiance of my skin. It’s also a bit tacky-feeling for me.
Due Alberi Biphase Moisturizing Oil
Rating: 9/10
This is probably my favorite Furtuna Skin product. It smells incredible and its super hydrating while having the richness of the olive oil to help seal in moisture. Somehow, it’s lightweight while still giving me enough slip to allow my fingers to glide across my skin for my facial massages.
Rinascita delle Olive Replenishing Balm
Rating: 8/10
This product is perfect for the winter and those nights when you really want to seal in all the products you’ve applied before going to bed. It smells amazing —a common feature with Furtuna Skin products—and generates great slip for facial massage. The blue color is due to the spirulina, which purportedly imparts antioxidant benefits to the skin. Living in Miami, it’s a bit heavy for every night, but I love it for those nights when I need a bit of extra moisture or plan on doing an extended massage.
Visione di Luce Eye Cream
Rating: 6.5/10
As I mentioned, I hold my eye creams to a very high standard. My go-to eye cream is La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe eye cream and whenever I try other products, I usually go back to La Prairie. While I love the Visione di Luce eye cream, the formula is pretty thick and doesn’t penetrate the delicate eye skin quite as much as you’d need to really get amazing moisturizing benefits. It’s a great cream, but my fave is still my La Prairie.
Furtuna Skin Promo Code
The packaging, experience and efficacy of Furtuna Skin products are in line with what you expect for a luxury skin care brand. The wildcrafted ingredients and clean formulations make it a must-try for any skincare lover. If you’d like to try this line for yourself, use my Furtuna skin promo code for 20% off your first purchase.
To try Furtuna Skin yourself, shop my Shoplist below:
Use Furtuna skin promo code AZEEZAH20 to save 20% on your purchase.
Have you tried Furtuna Skin? What is your favorite clean beauty skincare line? Let me know in the comments!
