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Beauty

Loved01 Skincare review

John Legend's new skincare line made my skin glow

Loved01 skincare products on a yellow background and John Legend's face as he applies cream to his cheek with his fingers. Credit: Reviewed / Loved01

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Everyone knows John Legend for his mesmerizing vocals and role as a judge on The Voice, but now he's branching out into skincare with his new line Loved01. Legend created Loved01 with melanin-rich skin in mind and all of the line's products aim to moisturize.

As someone with dry, melanated skin who struggles to find products tailored to darker skin tones, I was excited to test out Loved01. After using the products for about two weeks, I jotted down my thoughts. But first, let's dive deeper into what the line comprises.

Shop Loved01 at CVS

What is Loved01?

Loved01 skincare full line
Credit: Reviewed / Jada Kennzie

Loved01 offers affordable products that enhance melanated skin.

Loved01 caters to those with deeper skin tones, as "most brands are not formulated to address the unique skincare needs of this very diverse group," the brand states. Its second mission is to make the line accessible by keeping all products under $15. Those items include a Face & Body Wash ($10), Exfoliating Cleanser ($15), Face & Body Oil ($15), Toning Mist ($10), Face & Body Moisturizer ($10), and Shave Cream ($10).

All of Loved01's products have plant-based formulas that contain rosehip and sea buckthorn oils to provide moisture. Other ingredients you'll find in the line include coconut and jojoba oils, shea butter, and green tea to hydrate the skin and juniper and cypress oils to provide a light scent. The line is available for purchase in-store exclusively at CVS or online at CVS.com and Loved01.com.

Shop Loved01 at CVS

How I tested Loved01

I tested every product in the line for two weeks, applying them as the brand instructs or based on what I thought was best for my skin, in some cases. This meant using the face and body wash in the morning and at night, followed by the exfoliating cleanser only every other morning, as exfoliating beads can be harsh on the skin. After washing my face in the morning and at night, I applied the toning mist, followed by the moisturizer, then sealed both in with the oil. Lastly, I used the shave cream when shaving my legs and underarms in the shower every other day.

I also used the products along with some of my current go-tos to see how they'd mesh with my routine. For example, I mixed the Loved01 oil with Bio Oil, which I've been using for over a year. It's designed to help fade scars and hyperpigmentation, and I found the two oils worked well together to give my skin a nice glow. Also, on the days I went out, I applied Black Girl Sunscreen for added protection as a final step in my skincare routine. One of my favorite things about the sunscreen is how golden and moisturized it makes my skin look, and that effect was amplified when I applied the Loved01 products beforehand.

What I like about Loved01

Left image is my skin prior to washing it with Loved01's products and the right image is my fave after washing it with Loved01's products
Credit: Reviewed / Jada Kennzie

After washing and moisturizing my face with Loved01's products, I instantly noticed that my skin was glowing (right) compared to it being more dull before (left).

The products made my skin so soft

The first time I washed my face with the face and body wash, I was blown away at how soft it made my skin feel. Then, I used the exfoliating cleanser and my face felt even softer—it was almost like touching a baby's face. I typically use Cetaphil's Daily Facial Cleanser and always thought it softened my skin, but Loved01 beat Cetaphil by a landslide. When observing my face in the mirror, I noticed that my skin looked even cleaner than usual post-wash. That fresh look and feel was only intensified once I applied the moisturizer and oil.

The effect of Loved01's products also seemed to last throughout the day. When I'd go to wash my face at night, it still looked and felt as soft and clean as it did after washing and moisturizing my face in the morning, and the same could be said when I woke up in the morning after doing my skincare routine the night before.

The line gave my skin some much-needed moisture

Left image is the side profile of my skin before using Loved01 and the right image is the side profile of my skin after using Loved01
Credit: Reviewed / Jada Kennzie

My skin is a lot brighter and moisturized after (right) compared to it being drier before (left).

I have very dry skin that doesn't always retain moisture throughout the day, but I didn't have this problem while using Loved01. The moisturizer felt thick and extremely hydrating without causing my skin to look or feel greasy. The oil added even more moisture and gave my skin a beautiful glow. Plus, my face stayed feeling moisturized until I washed it again.

The products are very affordable

I find it hard to believe that every Loved01 product is $15 or less. The line gave my skin the look and feel that I've come to expect from more expensive, high-end skincare products. I've struggled with maintaining clear skin over the past few years, so I've experimented with several skincare brands and products on the recommendations of social media influencers and online reviews, but never fell in love with any of them. I even had a Curology consultation and kept a membership for over a year but saw no results. After using Loved01 for only a few weeks, I was already getting the moisture and softness that I was trying to find in products that cost more than double the price.

On that note, I love that John Legend made sure to keep the line at a low cost so that it could be more accessible, especially for people of color. As someone with darker skin, it can be very difficult to find skincare products that cater to our skin tones that don't cost a fortune, and even with a higher budget, the options are still limited. I also appreciate that the line is being sold at a drugstore like CVS as opposed to stores like Sephora or Ulta, which may not be accessible to everyone.

What I didn't like about Loved01

The face wash has a strong smell

The first thing I noticed upon opening the face wash was its smell. It has a strong plant fragrance, which is likely due to the various botanical oils in it. Luckily, the formula is meant to be washed off, so the scent didn't last on my skin. This could be an issue if your skin—or nose—is sensitive, but all of the other products were either unscented or had a very light, pleasant scent.

The face and body wash doesn't lather

Though I loved it for cleansing my face, the Face & Body Wash didn't work well as a body wash because it doesn't lather. I attempted to use it twice, but found it very difficult to actually distribute all over my body without any foam or suds to it. It only got the job done as a face wash.

Is Loved01 worth it?

Loved01 products in a box.
Credit: Reviewed / Jada Kennzie

Loved01 is singer John Legend's skincare line.

Yes, especially if you have a darker skin tone

I'm glad that I found a Black-owned skincare line that is not only tailored for darker skin tones but is also reasonably priced. For those with melanated skin, moisture is key so that our complexion doesn't look dry and dull throughout the day. Loved01 has left my skin looking and feeling moisturized, and the glow I've had since using it has been unbeatable. I've only been using the line for a few weeks, but I plan on continuing to see if I notice any long-term results.

Shop Loved01 at CVS

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