Sunday Riley Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil

Despite Sunday Riley facial oils being cult products, I tried Luna oil, which contains retinoids, and did not love it. So I had decided the brand wouldn't work for me. And then, Sandra of Cult Beauty suggested that I try Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil. "It is better suited for combination skin," she said. Here's how it fared.

Scroll down for the review of Sunday Riley Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil.

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Artemis, like all Sunday Riley facial oils, is stunningly packaged. The heavy glass bottle comes in a case that you wouldn't want to chuck.

The oil is a golden orange. The key ingredients here are lemon myrtle and lemon ironbark. This oil only contains a beautiful blend of seven essential oils and nothing else. Of these, Lemon Ironbark is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Lemon Myrtle is cleansing and purifying. Pink Grapefruit improves circulation and stimulates the lymphatic system. Pomegranate seed oil has linoleic acid and boosts ceramide synthesis and elasticity. Black Cumin Seed boosts immunity. Milk Thistle fights toxins while flax contains Omega 3. So much goodness.
Look at that perfectly harm-free ingredients' list:

Artemis is not as runny as I usually prefer, and is heavier than the oils I have used before. The natural fragrance is supposedly lemon. I don't know. No smell was apparent at first, but it made me wake up halfway into the night and decide that my air-conditioner had short-circuited. I switched it off and spent a couple of wakeful hours before realising that the smell was from my own face. Your mileage may vary. 

A little of this goes a long way - I apply a drop on my fingertips, rub them together, and press my fingertips into the skin. Speaking of which, WHY can't these things come in a pump? I'm not a fan of droppers! Despite the thickness, it isn't a grease-fest. I actually find I am less oily on waking up.
This thing makes you glow like no tomorrow. After applying it for three weeks in a row, I was thrilled when people actually said - for the first time in my life - that I have an "inner glow". 'Course, they've been asking me if I have something to tell them!

Verdict and where to buy:

If you have combination or oily skin, go for Artemis. It helps with sebum control, does NOT cause breakouts, and gives the skin a beautiful glow, which increasing smoothness. There is a plethora of powerful nutrients in here, and no harmful additives, or anything that will not nourish or protect the skin. This is a Holy Grail especially in dry weather.
Cons? Smell and viscosity. Especially the former. I wouldn't call it a stink, but the raw essential oil smell can feel weird to some.
At £60, this is on the more expensive side. But you need less of it than a runnier oil such as Caudalie Overnight Recovery, so a 30ml bottle will last well over a year.
Buy Sunday Riley Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil here - they ship worldwide and offer samples. Plus, if you are outside the UK, you save on VAT. If you prefer Luna, which contains retinol, buy it here.

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