#MPWR : Green skincare for teenagers

Last week I attended IBE (or Indie Beauty Expo), where I discovered many buzz-worthy brands that I’ll unveil during the rest of the week. I also was able to meet and greet the masterminds behind #MPWR, an organic and 100% natural cosmetics brand for teens. Certified organic by the USDA, this is also a vegan and cruelty-free brand that works wonders to treat oily, combination, and acne-prone skin.

#MPWR is a success story born from Maura Mandell, a mother who decided to create clean and safe products for her teenage children to use. Tired of the false “organic” and “natural” claims many brands unfortunately make (a practice known as greenwashing, which I personally stand against given it’s deceiving to consumers), Maura investigated on her own and very recently launched her own skincare line aimed to teenagers. Her first products include a cleanser, a toner, a moisturizer, a spot treatment and a lip balm, although she confessed to me she has amazing things in the works to be revealed very soon.

In general lines, #MPWR is one of the most budget-friendly organic skincare lines available. In this case, and because it has the USDA organic seal, the formulas contain over 95% organic-certified ingredients. #MPWR is extremely transparent and discloses all the ingredients in its website, and I have to say its formulas boast an impressive number of natural and organic elements and zero fillers. Their products also have a very subtle scent derived from the plant extracts used, which makes it ideal for both genders and an alternative choice for those allergic to synthetic perfumes.

 Although their line is more extensive, I was most impressed by three of their products:

Go Wash Your Face! ($22) is a gentle cleanser formulated to remove dirt and excess oil without disrupting the skin mantle. When I spoke with Maura, she was very passionate about this, because she believes many products available on the market make acne-prone skin drier, leading to more inflammation in the long term. Her solution is a soothing and calming formula with a myriad of organic ingredients that’s suitable for most skin types except for very dry. I myself cannot use it (I fall in the latter category), but I had someone else give it a try for me and my dignified guinea pig was pleasantly surprised with the results. 

Mist Off! ($18) is a deep cleansing mist chock-full of organic ingredients. Extremely agreeable to use alone or with a cotton pad, it was a favorite of my dignified guinea pig, who decided to put it in the fridge to have a quick treat after a hot and sweaty day in New York. Although it’s not the best formula for my extremely dry skin (nor it is intended to be) I was surprised to see how gentle it was on my skin (and how effective when removing dirt – yikes!)

Recharge! is a wonderful moisturizer designed for all skin types. With an extremely hydrating formula (the main ingredient is aloe vera, not water!) and a very subtle scent, it features over 16 organic plant extracts to nourish and protect the skin without using unnecessary fillers. Both my dignified guinea pig and I have fallen in love with this product, which also happens to have an extremely budget-friendly price ($28 for a full 2 oz. tube.) Hint: during the hot summer months, pop it in the fridge. Natural products don’t like extreme temperatures, and New York can feel like Hell in the summer!

I would like to encourage you to visit #MPWR website to educate yourself (and any teenagers in your circles) about why it’s important to make smart decisions concerning what you put on your body. They explain extremely well what it means to be organic and how to identify potential allergens in products meant for everyday use.

Please note that I’m also a cruelty-free supporter that stands for the rights of animals. My dignified guinea pig is a 32-year-old bearded man that hates using cosmetics yet volunteered for my little experiment. He loved the line and is still using the products.

Disclosure level 1: The author received NO compensation to write this article. The author received a sample of the products mentioned for consideration, which didn’t influence the decision to write about them nor the opinions expressed here. This article contains NO affiliate links; they are provided as information-only.