Mary Kay Botanical Effects Skincare review

Mary Kay is a world renown beauty company that has been around 49 years, since 1963. So they've had time to build up quite the reputation on their skincare and make-up line. I've tried a couple of their products, but have limit myself to only a few such as the "Satin Hands kit" and "Eye makeup remover"  (which I'll eventually review) because honestly I find their prices waaaaaay to expensive for my taste. So I am extremely selective as to what I'll try out from them. 

But recently they released a new "Botanical Effects" skin care line which caught my eye because it is: 

• Formulated for sensitive skin
• Hypoallergenic
• Fragrance free
• Rich in antioxidants 

It comes in three different formulas:

1. Dry: with flaxseed  and sea kelp extract for that extra moisture the skin needs. 
2. Normal: with frangipani extract which protects the skin from environmental stressors and water lily extract which provides antioxidants and minerals.
3. Oily: with white tea tree for purification and guava extract for exfoliation and provides salicylic acid. 

It has four steps:

1. Cleanser (4 oz. at $14)
2. Freshener (5 fl. oz. at $14)
3. Moisturizer (4 fl. oz. at $16)
4. Mask (4 oz. at $14)

I purchased  all four steps of the Balanced Formula

Steps and thoughts:

1. Cleanser (4 oz.) - It is a very light cream that does not lather up or create any foam. Personally, I am not liking this. I don't feel it cleanses my face properly. So I end up using a large amount of product to feel like is actually washing away some dirt. Because of this, I will run out of product in two months. And for $14 a pop, I find it is not worth the money.  Also, I know it doesn't clean up well because after I use the freshener, the cotton ball picks up a lot of dirt the cleanser left behind. I won't be repurchasing this.

2. Freshener (5 fl. oz.) - It is alcohol free so it does not dry up my skin. I love this. It feels like water, with the added bonus that it moisturizes the skin and leaves it feeling fresh and smooth. It also does a great job picking up any dirt left behind from the cleanser. I find it to be much better than a toner, which all that I've tried had alcohol in them and there for dried up my skin. This freshener is a keeper.

3. Moisturizer (4 fl. oz.) - It's very light and watery. A bit thicker than the freshener. So a little goes a long way. It does not have sun protection (so a sun lotion is advised) but can be used at night. Even though it does its job, I am not loving it for the price. So I will continue searching for something better.

4. Mask (4 oz.) - This is my favorite of them all. It is a deep exfoliate mask. You can either use it to exfoliate your skin in the shower and quickly wash it off, or leave it on as a mask for 10 minutes for a much deeper cleanse. This will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and shine free. It left my face looking clearer after the first use. I also noticed that my cheek pores seemed smaller afterwards. This is another keeper.

Please let me know if you've tried any of these or any of their other skincare products and what has been your thoughts and experiences with them.