A Christmas Tree Farm, a Green Echinacea and Farmacy Green Clean

Mark Veeder says he grew up on a Christmas tree farm in upstate New York. That is where he came across a green-blooming echinacea, which he patented as Echinacea GreenEnvy. Farmacy, born in 2015, grew out of that discovery, and Veeder teamed up with farming expert Robert Beyfuss and lab-owner David Chung to build it into a brand. I find the story more convincing than most, because the plant came first and the brand followed. I went deeper on a related idea in The Christmas Outfits Edit: Five Lessons for Looking Festive Without Dressing as the Tree.

Farmacy Green Clean is the line that most people meet first. The Cleansing Balm is the original idea: a farm-grown super greens blend of upcycled moringa, holy basil and arugula, plus sunflower oil and papaya extract. The sunflower oil is the part that helps break down long-wear makeup and SPF, and papaya extract does the cleansing. When I use it, the balm turns from a solid scoop into an oil the second it meets warm fingers, and it rinses without leaving a film.

The Whipped Foaming Cleanser is the second wash after the balm, or the only wash on a lazy morning. The Gentle Creamy Cleanser is the softest of the three, and I would pick it if your skin gets tight after washing.

Massage the balm on dry skin for a full minute before any water goes near it, paying attention to the sides of the nose and the hairline, where sunscreen tends to hide.

Cleansing is only the first half of what this brand does, and the second half is more interesting than people expect. The farm idea carries through to a small run of moisturizers, toners, masks and even a lip balm, and I use several of them together.

Honey Halo is an ultra-hydrating ceramide moisturizer, the one I would pick for a dry winter face. Honey Milk is a hydrating essence with chamomile and ceramides, which goes on right after cleansing and feels a little like a lotion in a lighter form. Lip Smoothie is a vitamin C and peptide lip balm that I keep in a coat pocket.

Then there are the targeted products. Brighten Up is a 3% TXA toner with azelaic acid, made for the look of dark spots, and Deep Sweep is a 2% BHA pore cleaning toner with moringa and papaya. I would not use both in one night. The 10% Niacinamide Night Mask is the leave-on for evenings when skin looks dull.

A simple way to use them: cleanse, use the Honey Milk, then whichever toner your skin needs that evening, and end with the Honey Halo. Rotate the two toners on alternate nights, and start with two nights a week if your skin runs sensitive. Farmacy was acquired by Procter & Gamble in November 2021, and founder David Chung said the brand needed a company of that size to grow further.

Balms are their own category, and I like how each one has a personality of its own, from the very oily to the almost creamy, so it is worth thinking about your skin before you choose. What they share is the same trick as Green Clean: a solid that melts into an oil, lifts sunscreen and makeup, and rinses off.

Yepoda's Calm Balm is a K beauty oil cleanser with olive and coconut oil, and it is one to try if you like an oil cleanser. Tatcha's Indigo Cleansing Balm is a moisturizing makeup remover. Lion Pose's Pep Melt is a cleansing barrier balm with peptides, ceramides and colloidal oatmeal, and it is the one I would try on a tired face. IT Cosmetics' Bye Bye Makeup is a three-in-one melting balm that suits people who wear a lot of makeup. KORA Organics' Active Algae balm is calming and made for makeup and SPF removal. innisfree's Green Tea Ceramide balm is the double cleansing balm of the group.

What I would skip: rubbing hard around the eyes to get mascara off. Let the balm sit on the lashes for a moment, then wipe gently. Also skip going straight to a foaming wash without emulsifying the balm with a little water first, because the oil will not rinse as cleanly. If you have very oily skin and any of these leaves a film, use a second cleanser afterward, and if your eyes react, stop using it and ask a doctor.

My evening routine is short. Balm on dry skin, a splash of warm water to turn it milky, a rinse, then the creamy cleanser only if I wore sunscreen and makeup that day. On days without makeup, I skip the balm and use the creamy wash alone.

Pat the skin dry, put on an essence, and finish with a moisturizer. Sunscreen has already done its work by then, and the balm has removed it, so nothing is left behind on the pillowcase. That is three or four steps, and it works whether I am tired or not. If you are new to balms, try one for two weeks before you compare it with anything else, and choose the texture you will actually reach for.

Fragrance, clay or exfoliating steps can wait for another night. If your skin feels irritated or looks red after cleansing, take a break and see a doctor or dermatologist.