This startup helps you replace your skin-care routine with clean beauty products using a simple quiz - I tried everything it recommended

This Face Balm is a cooling jar of magic that makes my skin feel calm, soft, and hydrated. My one complaint is that it tends to ball up — though that could be from me simply applying too much of it.

The major players are witch hazel, sunflower seed oil, and myrtle oil in this formula. Witch hazel, with its natural ability to purify the skin and tighten pores, is probably a household name for anyone who has dealt with acne. Sunflower seed oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E that hydrates and prevents moisture loss, and myrtle oil acts as an astringent and antiseptic — another combatant against excess oil and acne.

This is quite simply a vial of squalane oil. Squalane oil, if you haven't already been introduced to skin care's new "it" ingredient, is a byproduct of squalene — something the body produces naturally. It's an emollient, so it'll lock moisture into your skin and work to reduce fine lines and pigmentation.

The vial I got is small — 0.34 fluid ounces — but a little goes a long way, as with most oils. It's lightweight, deeply hydrating, and I don't wake up with a grimy residue. My skin drinks this up — and it's more evenly balanced (not super oily, nor dry halfway through the day) when I use it consistently.

All in all, I was surprised by a few things.

Firstly, how great the products were. I forgot the ethos was clean beauty. It's great that they're non-toxic, but it's even better that you don't think of them as clean-beauty products — they're just great skin-care that you're excited to use.

Secondly, how well the algorithm worked. I was surprised by how truly personal the recommendations felt. I marked skin clarity as a concern in the Skin Quiz, and the cleanser and face balm both had clearly been designed to keep blemishes at bay.

All in all, I suggest giving it a try if you're interested in clean beauty but need some guidance. If you don't love a product, reach out to the customer service and let them make it right with a refund or return. Just prepare for the fact that you may end up liking every one.