Here’s Why I’ll Be Using Ayesha Curry’s Sweet July Skin Year-Round
Sweet July Skin.
Most of the world knows Ayesha Curry as being married to Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Steph Curry. But she has titles outside of wife and mother to three beautiful children that prove why she’s a force of her own. Actress. TV personality. Author. Philanthropist. Just to rattle off a few.
Now that Ayesha has added skincare to her portfolio of businesses, I was curious to know what exactly sets it apart from other celebrity launches on the market. I took just one whiff of Sweet July Skin to know that she tapped into her Caribbean roots to create a beauty line that is simple, sensorial and seriously sexy.
Sweet July Skin launched July 2023, of course, with an essentials collection including three products: a cleanser, toner and face oil. Since then, it has expanded with a vitamin C serum and stylish cleansing accessories from a spa headband and face towel set to reusable face rounds.
When I get gifted beauty products, especially skincare, I take time to really access the ingredients and determine if it’s a good fit for my needs and concerns. If you’ve been following my blog posts and reviews here at Beauty for Breakfast, or even my expert features across the different media outlets I’ve worked as beauty director, then you know that my skin goals include maintaining a supple, smooth complexion.
What I immediately liked about Sweet July Skin core essentials were that they seemed easy enough to incorporate into my daily or weekly routine without wreaking havoc on the clearness and calmness I’d established. As a native southerner who eats a predominantly plant-based diet, I also deeply appreciate the use of extracts from superfoods like papaya and guava, plus anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and exfoliating ingredients such as neem seed oil, turmeric root, squalene, glycolic acid and salicylic acid. Ayesha tells me in an exclusive interview that this was part of the secret sauce to Sweet July Skin.
“I think what’s really exciting about this line is that I too come from a food background, so we approached this line from a food perspective first. Considering things that are nourishing inside your body and then we did the research from there to see what was most effective outside of the body. We worked with incredible, clean labs and chemists to formulate the most effective yet gentle and safe formulas possible.”
After eight weeks of consistently testing the products she’s whipped up, here are my thoughts on Sweet July Skin…
It’s deeply cleansing. Because I do not have acne-prone skin, I stick with gentle, hydrating cleansers that help to balance my pH and remove the day’s dirt, sweat and debris from my face. However, I like to use a physical exfoliant at least one to two times a week, especially on those days when I’ve worn makeup. And when I used the Pava Exfoliating Cleanser, I felt like my skin was telling me, “You ain’t cleaned me like this in a minute, Dana!” The gunk that accumulated along my nostrils from wearing glasses or foundation was lifted and my occasional maskne stood no chance to the papaya extract and lychee seed powder that scrubbed the surface without stripping. I love that a little goes a long way with this product. Seriously. All I needed was a nickel-sized amount to take care of my face and neck.
When choosing the much-gentle exfoliant, Ayesha says: “I remember growing up using cleansers, that I loved by the way, but ended up being extremely harsh for my skin because of the way the product was formulated and what the scrubbing agent was within the cleanser. I wanted something that gave me that essence that I experienced when I washed my face. That cool, minty tingle, but in a natural way and also that exfoliation in a very gentle way, so using that lychee skin and dehydrating it and turning it into a fine powder, we were able to ensure it was gentle, but still effective.”
My skin definitely feels lighter in touch and appearance, and that cool burst she talks about is so refreshing to my cleansing routine. When paired with the Pava Toner, it removes any lingering oil or debris and again, not drying at all. I find that it’s always touch and go with toners. Most of what’s on shelves, leaves your skin worse off than where you started. Healthy and hydrated skin were the results I was given and I couldn’t be happier. This combo will do extremely well in the colder months, too, once all the layers come off and I’m a sweaty mess.
Sweet July Skin founder Ayesha Curry.
It’s deeply relaxing. Ayesha and I both agree that when it comes to skincare, patience is key. She says, “Things don’t happen overnight, but it’s well worth the wait and in this case efficacy meant time for us. I’m glad we did our due diligence and took the time we needed because the product will speak for itself when it comes time to see how effective it is.”
I’ve become more intentional over the years with not only the products I use, but with the time I dedicate to self-care. The Irie Power Face Oil is meditation in a bottle. Its skin protecting and healing oils create the most soothing aroma. I warm it up in my hands, inhale and exhale for a few seconds and massage it on slowly. Now that the temps are much colder, I find it really helpful to layer this with a rich moisturizer that’ll carry me through the entire day. So when you see me outside, just know this is likely why I’m glowing.
