Julia and Alex were just a couple in Seattle making skincare in their kitchen. No labs, no chemists — just a blender and a belief that plants could work.
The real magic? They launched with just four products. No focus groups, no corporate playbook. Just what they wanted to use.
Lapis Facial Oil, $72. The claim? That a single oil could calm angry, breakout-prone skin without feeling heavy. I was deeply skeptical.
The Color
It’s a stunning, opaque cobalt blue — from the azulene, not a dye.
The Scent
Earthy and herbal, like crushed plants. Not “spa-like” at all. An acquired taste.
The Feel
Sinks in completely in under a minute. No greasy film. That part is legit.
Photo: Viva Luna Studios / Unsplash
It’s shockingly simple. No filler oils, no fragrance oils. Just four key players that target inflammation — the root of most redness and angry breakouts.
- Blue Tansy Oil: The star. Azulene calms flare-ups on contact.
- Jojoba Oil: Mimics skin’s sebum, so it doesn’t clog.
- Kukui Nut Oil: Lightweight hydration that doesn’t feed bacteria.
- Squalane: Plumps and reinforces your skin barrier.
Photo: Clarissa Watson / Unsplash
The texture is a revelation — silky and water-light. It disappears. You’re left with a soft, matte finish, not a glow.
By week two, my reactive skin stopped throwing tantrums. A red spot from a rogue retinol? Soothed overnight. But it’s not a zit-zapper. It’s a preventer.
Photo: Jocelyn Morales / Unsplash
Measurable change: way less random redness. Fewer under-the-surface bumps. Zero change: blackheads on my nose. This isn’t a pore cleanser.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
It’s a specialist, not a multitasker. For calming angry skin, it’s quietly brilliant. For anything else, look elsewhere.