Everyday there seems to be a new it ingredient in the skincare world, and one of the up-and-coming stars? Cloudberry, the feature ingredient in Lumene’s products. Let’s see what the hype is about and if the Lumene Valo Glow range is really all it claims.
What is cloudberry?
From the same family as raspberries, this golden berry is common in Scandinavian countries. Due to the unique light cycles of the region (super long days and super long nights), the fruit contains an extremely high level of vitamin c (twice the level of oranges), beta-carotene (the highest among all berries), and ellagic acid (source), making it a sort of super-antioxidant fruit. We’re all familiar the vitamin c and beta-carotene, but what exactly is ellagic acid?
Ellagic acid is also an antioxidant, most commonly found in pomegranates. It’s been show to have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties, and recent studies also show that it can protect the skin against UVB + UVA damages (source, source) and promote wound healing (source). However most of these studies were done in vitro (ie. In a test tube or on a petri dish) rather than in vivo (on an actual living being – even better, a human), so more research is still required to truly prove its efficacy. But hey, it’s a good start!
In addition to antioxidants, the cloudberry seed oil is also rich in alpha-linolenic acid (source), which helps soothe and nourish the skin while strengthening our skin’s natural barrier. This makes cloudberry seed oil an excellent option for those with sensitive or inflamed skin!
So is cloudberry the next super-fruit ingredient? Don’t hold your breath, though it seems popular among natural beauty brands, maybe because it sounds nicer and more “green” than ascorbic acid? That’s not to say this is a trash ingredient, because clearly it has its benefits. However I’d make sure the product also includes ingredients that are well-backed by years of research. With that said, let’s look 4 products from the Lumene Valo Glow range that feature the cloudberry!
Lumene Valo Glow Reveal Peeling Mask
- Claims
- This radiance enhancing mask helps tired and dull skin to recover a luminous, smooth, and youthful glow instantly.
- Key ingredients
- panthenol, vitamin c, cloudberry extract, vitamin e, citric acid, rosemary extract (full ingredient list)
- Available At
- $14.99 at Target, CVS (wait for their 30% off sale); $22 at Birchbox
One of my favorite gentle exfoliating masks, and it smells like oranges! For me this is an affordable dupe of the Oskia Renaissance Mask with very similar texture and results – glowing and softer skin. Since this contains mostly antioxidants and soothing ingredients with just one exfoliant – citric acid, don’t expect it to deliver the same drastic results as your stronger acids. But if you prefer a gentle exfoliation while simultaneously nourishing your skin, this mask is a must try. ♥♥♥
Lumene Valo Glow Boost Essence
- Claims
- A super concentrated, miracle boosting serum for brighter-looking, intensely hydrated skin.
- Key ingredients
- cloudberry extract, vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, adenosine, urea (full ingredient list)
- Available At
- $23.49 at Target, Amazon, CVS (wait for their 30% off sale); $39.50 at Beauty Expert, Look Fantastic
Yet another vitamin c serum, but what sets this one apart is its use of the brightening Ascorbyl Glucoside vitamin c form (which my skin enjoys), its super lightweight texture that absorbs into the skin almost instantly, its gentleness, and its relatively affordable price. While I wouldn’t call this “miracle boosting” by any stretch, it does help maintain my skin tone and give my skin a healthy glow. Between the antioxidant + brightening + hydrating ingredients it contains, this makes a nice all-around serum for those with a limited budget or prefer a simpler routine. ♥♥
Read more: 7 types of Vitamin C compared – which one is right for your skin?
Lumene Valo Glow Reveal Moisturizer
- Claims
- Intensely hydrates and brightens the complexion with our radiance enhancing Nordic-C complex with berry extract from antioxidant-rich Arctic cloudberry and vitamin C.
- Key ingredients
- jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, cloudberry extract, cloudberry seed oil, vitamin c, niacinamide, vitamin e, sea buckthorn oil, panthenol, rosemary extract (full ingredient list)
- Available At
- $24.99 at Amazon, CVS (wait for their 30% off sale); $29.99 at Feel Unique, Look Fantastic
This is a medium weight cream moisturizer that’s got a great blend of emollients and antioxidants, including 2 forms of vitamin c – the more potent ascorbic acid and oil soluble ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate. For a drugstore brand, I’m impressed with the formula. Not only do they use well-researched ingredients, but the texture of this rivals high end creams. It’s silky, absorbs quickly into the skin, doesn’t pill under sunscreen, and keeps my combination skin hydrated throughout the day.
If you have dry skin, this might not be rich enough, but layering an oil over or under should help. The jar packaging is unfortunate as it can decrease the efficacy of the antioxidants, but high end brands are just as guilty of this as well. Overall, still a lovely moisturizer for the price. ♥♥
Lumene Valo Arctic Berry Cocktail Brightening Hydra-Oil
- Claims
- A replenishing blend of Wild Arctic Cloudberry and Cranberry Seed Oils with a vitamin cocktail of C, B3 and B5, omega fatty acids and Pure Arctic Spring Water, for perfectly hydrated, radiant and velvety smooth looking skin.
- Key ingredients
- jojoba oil, avocado oil, squalane, vitamin e, cranberry seed oil, sea buckthorn oil, cloudberry extract, cloudberry seed oil, vitamin c, niacinamide, panthenol (full ingredient list)
- Available At
- $19.99 at Target, Amazon; $22.99 at CVS (wait for their 30% off sale); $39.99 at Feel Unique, Look Fantastic
As the weather got cooler, the oil layer seems to have solidified a bit, hence the creamy pink color instead of the yellow. However a quick shake helps mix the 2 layers together again.
I adore this oil, and not only because the bi-phase layers looks gorgeous. The mix of oils and essence actually makes this feel lighter than regular oils, plus you get that extra boost of antioxidants and soothing ingredients along with the blend of skin-friendly oils. The results? Smooth, soft, and supple skin that glows.
This reminds me very much of my old favorite Naruko Supreme Rejuvenating Elixir Oil, but at a more wallet-friendly price. Seriously, this blows so many more expensive oils out of the water, and is definitely worth trying if you want the benefits of an oil (and then some) without the heaviness. ♥♥♥
Final Verdict
Lumene Valo Glow
- Packaging8/10
- Ingredients8/10
- Texture/Application9.5/10
- Performance8/10
- Price9/10
It's been a long time since I've tried drugstore brands but I was really impressed with what I tried from the this range. Granted I've tried more expensive products that have produced better results, but considering the price range of the products (everything is under $25 at Target and Amazon!), they look and feel just as luxe, and I find the value to be better than many high end brands. For those who are just starting their skincare routine or with a limited budget, this range is worth looking into!
One thing to keep in mind though is that their products are all fragranced. I personally enjoy the orange scent, but for those sensitive to fragrances, this may be a deal breaker.
I hope you all enjoyed this long overdue review! I’m going to go on a bit of a reviewing spree for the rest of the year since I’ve been testing out a lot of new products, so look for them in the upcoming posts. Also I know I haven’t been that active on this blog, so if you’re still reading, thank you for sticking around ♥
I have actually used Cloudberry before, in a neck cream and mask I tried for an online shop shortly after my son was born. And while I tend to roll my eyes at the ongoing and new claims every day, I do appreciate a good antioxidant.
Anne – Linda, Libra, Loca
I know what you mean, it’s kind of annoying when brands hype up new ingredients when often times there’s very little research to back them up
Oh I love the little cameo by Cooper in this post Jenny ;) I actually haven’t hear of cloudberry before and when I was reading your description of it I couldn’t help but wonder what does it taste like LOL. The antioxidant benefits of this range sound appealing and it’s certainly affordable. The hydra-oil caught my eye because it looks so pretty. Good to know that it worked well for you. The texture sounds lovely. I’ll have to see if I can check these out in person the next time I’m in Target or CVS.
Thank you! For once he was sitting nicely in the background instead of sniffing all my products, haha. I’m curious about the taste of cloudberry as well but I imagine them to be similar to raspberries! They’re also used in pies, so they can’t taste that bad!
Wonderful review here Jenny! It is nice to finally see Lumene in North America. As someone, who grew up in European/Russian culture, we are no strangers to Lumene or cloudberry (fun fact: my mom used to make her own cloudberry jams!). As you’ve mentioned it is a wonderful source of Vitamin C and has been used/loved in Scandinavian and other surrounding countries for generations now. P.S. your cat is absolutely adorable! xx
I am seeing this brand everywhere recently and I really like the packaging too. They are aesthetically pleasing and judging by your review, they are pretty good and I also love the budget friendly price. If there is one thing that I am most interested to try, it would be the Hydra Oil!
Oh the hydra oil is gorgeous and looks like an awesome combination of ingredients. I’ll definitely look out for this. Thanks for the review!
I have not tried this line from Lumene, but I have used their products some years ago and liked them. My sister used to live in Sweden so I am used to eating a lot of common berries from the Scandinavia areas, now I want to try this a couple items from this range. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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