Reviews 1What You Should Know
| Product | Star Rating | 2 or More Patented Ingredients | Less Than $5 Shipping | Testimonials | Trial Offer |
| Nue Science (2013 Editors Choice) |
 (4.8)
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| Facial Toner |
 (4.6)
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| IQ Derma |
(4.0)
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| Dermitage |
(3.7)
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| Strivectin |
(3.6)
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| Juvederm |
(3.6)
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N/A |
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| Valana |
(3.3)
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| Meaningful Beauty |
(3.2)
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Valana is a independent line of vegan cosmetics produced exclusively by Valerie Reed for women of color, recently picked up by a local Seattle company and covered by several news stations because of its unique, natural formulation. Their mineral foundations are extremely popular with consumers and she claims these animal-free foundations will seamlessly cover every blemish and fade fine lines for a smooth, rich appearance. Reed states that there are few vegan cosmetics designed for people of her skin type, and she developed it herself to better serve people with similar issues. Although her cosmetics are not popular enough to be featured in retail stores, it can be found online on her official site, which includes smaller sample sizes and starter kits. Most foundations are available for under $20.00 per tin.
More and more independent companies are popping up on the internet to offer unique formulations not found anywhere else; in this case Reed offers vegan cosmetics she has tested herself to help enhance skin for women of color. She also openly states what sort of ingredients are utilized in her ingredients, and combined with her online presence (many positive testimonials and application videos are available on Youtube and on her official website) this may interest some consumers. Vegan products may not necessarily indicate a complete, coverage-intense product however.
Product Details
According to her official website, her Valana mineral foundations contain Bentonite Clay, Carnauba Wax and other minerals. Bentonite Clay has recently been utilized in acne washes because of its ability to expand and absorb over twice its volume when wet, and studies show it does clean pores when applied in this fashion. However, it is not really clear how this offers any benefits when used as a foundation. Carnauba Wax also has questionable benefits — although its benefits as a thickening agent are well known, it does not appear to offer other benefits. There is evidence it may contain antioxidants, however, although this is a trace amount, and it does have hypoallergenic properties, lessening the risk of allergic reaction when used topically. These ingredients only appear to offer minimal benefits to the look and feel of the product, and because she does not specify what types of minerals are utilized in her products, it is impossible to conclude if these have any benefits to the skin. It does not appear her ingredients help cover blemishes and wrinkles, although they may lessen the allergic reaction to the product and help enhance its ‘feel’. These products appear to be typical mineral foundations — more information about the ingredients contained would ensure customer satisfaction.
The Good
- Only offers environmentally-friendly vegan cosmetics.
- Offers small starter kits and sample tins.
The Bad
- The ingredients cited on her website provide only minimal skin-related benefits.
- Does not appear to contain any ingredient which help cover fine lines and wrinkles.
- Is a new company with some online presence; some consumers may wish to try a company with more stability.
The Bottom Line
More and more people are seeking vegan products as a natural way to deal with aging skin issues, but this does not mean it is 100% effective. In fact Valana contains few ingredients which differ from other mineral foundations on the market. Valana does offer smaller kits and samples to try out before purchasing a full foundation, however, and the price easily rivals other vegan cosmetics available today. This may be an ideal line for those seeking cheaper vegan cosmetics.
I never found a match in this foundation and the customer service from this line was the worst I have ever received. Monave minerals has much better quality and customer service. I will never purchase from Valana Minerals again.
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