In 2021 you’re not someone until you have beauty line. Across makeup, skin care, and hair care, celebrity brands have become a dime a dozen. And while most of them are exceptionally good, the space is starting to get crowded. Alicia Keys’s skin-care line, Keys Soulcare, cuts through the noise, though.
In the simplest terms, it’s a skin-care line, yes. But her brand, which launched this month, is also a reminder to take care of your mind and spirit. In the wrong hands it could be a message that elicits some strong eye rolls, but from Keys it’s a lesson that comes from the heart.
“We talk about skin care, hair care, nail care, and all those cares—but we never talk about soul care,” Keys previously told Glamour about the line. “We never actually talk about how to go deeper with yourself and to be unafraid to sit with yourself.”
The line consists of elevated skin-care basics including cleanser, moisturizer, balm, mask, exfoliant, and mist; as well as a scented candle and obsidian roller to enhance your skin-care rituals. All the products—which Keys calls “offerings”—are cruelty-free, clean, and cocreated by dermatologist Renée Snyder, M.D. Despite coming in luxe (and sustainable) glass packaging, everything clocks in at under $38, with the candle being the most expensive offering. The entire line is available at Ulta.
Alongside the line Keys also launched a content site, where she and her community discuss what she calls the Keys to Soulcare—body, spirit, mind, and connection.
While I’m always here for some good self-care and empowering messaging, what I really want to know—and I’m sure I’m not alone here—is, Will the line make me look like Alicia Keys with no makeup on? I’ve been testing it for a few weeks. Read on to find out.
Keys Soulcare Golden Cleanser
I generally find cleansers kind of lackluster—they do their job, but not much else for me—but this might be my favorite from the entire line. The heavy bottle makes it feel special, and the honey-like texture removes all my makeup without irritating my dry-ish skin, despite the fact that it has a slight foam. When I rinse it off, it almost leaves a moisturizing hug behind, but doesn’t feel greasy or filmy.
The smell is incredible. It’s the subtlest whiff of oats and honey, and as it turns out, Manuka honey is one of its star ingredients, alongside turmeric and chamomile. The latter two are great for soothing and calming, which explains why my skin doesn’t feel stripped afterwards. They also make this cleanser a great choice for sensitive skin. Manuka honey is one of my all-time fave ingredients, so I love to see it in here. It’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which helps dry and acne-prone skin like mine, which is a hard balance to strike. I’ll definitely be sad when my bottle runs out.
Keys Soulcare Be Luminous Exfoliator
This is a powder exfoliant that you mix with water to become a gentle exfoliating paste. It uses Hojicha powder (an antioxidant-rich green tea) as well as mung beans and oats for physical exfoliation. In addition, it has lactic acid for some gentle chemical exfoliation.
I found this product nice to use, but it’s not the best for me. Again, the packaging and experience are really lovely, and it’s super easy to pop on in the shower. My skin did feel smoother and glowier after using it, and it got rid of some winter flakes I’m dealing with. I just tend to prefer stronger chemical exfoliation. This is nice to have on hand for flakes, but it won’t be replacing my usual exfoliators. If you have very sensitive skin or are new to exfoliating, though, it could be a great option.
Keys Soulcare Reviving Aura Mist
This is a really nice, basic rosewater mist. It smells amazing and fresh—not that artificial “grandma” rose smell. I don’t think it made a huge difference in my skin (like most rose mists, tbh), but it’s pleasant to use and feels nice as a midday pick-me-up. I also love that it sprays in a superfine cloud, not an aggressive stream.
Keys Soulcare Skin Transformation Cream
To be honest, I had a bad feeling about this one (no reason, just a gut thing), but I was happily proved wrong. The texture of the Transformation Cream is incredible; it’s like a thick, cushy gel-cream hybrid that feels deeply hydrating but not heavy. I often find gels too lightweight, but this one quenched my skin all day long.
That hydration is because of the hyaluronic acid in the formula, and the ceramides which help lock the moisture in and replenish your skin barrier. There’s also malachite in the formula, which according to the brand “has been used for thousands of years to cleanse, purify, and calm the spirit as well as the skin,” and bakuchiol, which is a plant compound often compared to retinol. I haven’t noticed any of the texture or tone benefits of the backuchiol yet, but I definitely look very glowy when I wear this.
Keys Soulcare Harmony Mask
I also really enjoyed this product! (Are we sensing a theme here?) The name says it all—it’s a great mask for balancing your skin. Generally charcoal masks are a little too drying for me, but paired with Manuka honey, this was super comfortable to use. Afterward my skin felt clean and fresh, but still moisturized, and I definitely had a glow going on. It has the same yummy scent as the cleanser as well, which is a plus in my book.
Keys Soulcare Comforting Balm
I feel similarly about this one as I do the mist: It’s nice if you’re in the market for that sort of thing, but not life-changing. It has a lovely light vanilla scent, and thanks to camellia oil, avocado oil, and shea butter, it’s nice and moisturizing on your lips and cuticles.
All in all, I’m pretty impressed with Keys Soulcare. If you have major skin concerns like antiaging or acne, you’ll definitely want to incorporate some stronger actives, but I think it does exactly what Keys wanted it to do: It feels good and brings a moment of peace. And we could certainly all use as much of that as we can get right now.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacaicciatore_.
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