I have been using Juice Beauty skin-care products for three months and already see an improvement in my dark spots and fine links

Juice Beauty/Instagram

• I was introduced to this line by a holistic esthetician, and I can already see a huge difference in my skin tone, texture, and clarity.
• I deal with hormone-related dark patches and the beginning of fine lines and wrinkles from spending tons of time outside in the sun. Juice Beauty's Green Apple Age Defy Serum ($58) makes my skin brighter almost instantly.
• I also use the Green Apple Peel Full Strength Exfoliating Mask ($48) - it's like a facial in a jar.

I've dealt with various skin issues my entire life - nothing terribly serious, but frustrating nonetheless. It began with acne in my teens, which I combated with products and over-the-counter zit creams.

Now, in my 30s, I'm more concerned about the overall tone of my skin. Lately, I've been dealing with dark spots, aka melasma, which is a type of hyperpigmentation that's usually hormone-related. I have also started to notice fine lines appearing around my eyes. Plus, I spend a ton of time outdoors in the sun, so I know that taking good care of my skin is more important than ever.

These days, I'm all about a holistic, safe, and nontoxic approach to skin care. I've been trying to "clean up" my skin-care routine, and that means avoiding products with harsh ingredients that I've used in the past, such as parabens, sulfates, and petrochemicals used for fragrance.

But I'll be honest: With all the "clean" skin-care products out there claiming to be the best, I felt pretty lost during my research. That's when I discovered Christa Jutras of Everly Grace Whole Beauty, an esthetician in Park City, Utah.

As an esthetician and yoga instructor, Jutras takes a holistic, whole-body approach to skin care. Her facials start with breathing exercises, almost like a mini meditation session. She's also passionate about using organic beauty products free of chemicals and harmful ingredients that are found in so many products these days.

During our session, Jutras told me about the Juice Beauty products she was using on my skin to improve tone and texture - and why she loves them. Juice Beauty formulates their products with organic juices as the main ingredients. Jutras said we should think of skin care as akin to taking care of our bodies in other ways. "When we eat food we look at the nutritional value, and I feel we need to do the same with our skin care," she said. "After all, our skin is our largest organ of the body - what we put on it can in turn affect our overall well-being."

Juice Beauty meets her high standards and more. Keep reading to learn more about the products I tried, and my results after using them.

The products

Juice Beauty/Instagram

To combat my dark spots and help brighten my skin, Jutras recommended two Juice Beauty products: the Green Apple Age Defy Serum ($58) and the Green Apple Peel Full Strength Exfoliating Mask ($48). (Before we go any further, please note that Juice Beauty does not recommend its Green Apple products for people with very sensitive skin or rosacea due to the alpha and beta hydroxy fruit acids.)

The Green Apple serum, made from a potent mix of malic acid from organic green apples, peptides, alpha lipoic acid, CoQ10, and vitamin C, claims to help correct uneven skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots and discoloration - which is exactly what I needed.

In addition to promoting a more even skin tone, the serum also helps fight signs of aging thanks to powerful antioxidants. Juice Beauty says that in an independent clinical laboratory study, 59% of users saw a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles in four weeks, though they note that results may vary.

The Green Apple peel is one of Juice Beauty's signature products. It's a bestselling formula, which the company patented back in 2009. With a combination of alpha hydroxy acids, including malic acid from organic green apples and glycolic and lactic acids, and salicylic acid from willow bark, the peel is said to reduce the appearance of dark spots as well as fine lines.

When I bought the products, I also did some digging into the company. Juice Beauty was founded by Karen Behnke, a veteran wellness entrepreneur based in California. During her first pregnancy at the age of 40, she developed a passion for personal care products as she began to deal with hormonal changes and the appearance fine lines.

Karen wanted to find healthy and clean skin-care products that were actually effective, but she wasn't able to find many products that truly worked for her. That's when she set out to create her own company that formulates high-performance, effective skin care that's good for your skin as well as the planet.

My experience

I started using the two Juice Beauty products in late May (it's now late August). The first thing I noticed with the serum was how smoothly it went on my skin. I applied it in the morning under a moisturizer with SPF and evening under a deep moisturizing cream. It soaked into my skin and gave it an instant glow. Plus, you only need a little bit to go a long way. Three months later, I'm still not even close to running out - so much bang for your buck.

The peel may have been a bit less soothing, but as the saying goes, no pain, no gain. When I apply the peel, it does sting a bit. After my first few applications, I got used to it and even started to crave the tingling feeling because it leaves my skin absolutely glowing.

And indeed, the gains are well worth the pain. It's truly feels like a facial in a jar. I'd even go as far to describe it as my Botox in a jar, since it makes my fine lines far less visible and smooths my skin's texture instantly. But it's a lot more cost-effective than Botox. After three months of using the peel, I'm only halfway through the first jar.

The bottom line

Within the last three months of using these products, I've seen a noticeable difference in the tone and texture of my skin. My hyperpigmentation has slowly started to fade, and I feel like my skin is a little brighter each morning after using the serum. The only potential drawback is the stinging that you might feel after using the peel.

Plus, I can rest easy knowing that the main ingredients in the products I'm using are certified organic and gentle on my skin, and the company is cruelty free. Doing good for myself and animals? That's a win-win in my book.

Buy Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Full Strength Exfoliating Mask at Juice Beauty, Ulta, and Amazon for $48

Buy Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Serum at Juice Beauty and Ulta for $58

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