BEAUTY – The Natural Beauty products we covet

Posted by Editor on December 1, 2020 in Beauty, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

I first came across Dr. Hauschka products in the spa of Sandy Lane resort in Barbados. I fell in love with the gentle use of botanicals and oils, married with active ingredients for superb performance. Drumroll, they have a new haircare range, Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Tonic and Hair Oil.

I got fine curly and coloured long hair. And I am a fussy snob when it comes to products. I don’t like silicone or a strong scent. But I adore Dr. Hauschka Gentle Cleansing Shampoo and Conditioner.

The packaging is fuss-free pharmacy style and the 150ml tubes come with a handy twist cap.

The Shampoo lathers up nicely and filled my shower with subtle citrusy smell of bergamot. It cleansed my hair gently and my scalp felt refreshed with a touch of peppermint. Protein-rich chickpea extract and neem nourished my hair beautifully. Neem has been used in India for centuries for shiny strong locks.

The conditioner is a luxurious creamy treat; an all-star hero line up made of a formulation of neem, coconut oil and apple cider. Hello, shiny hair. The gentle scent of white blossom and vanilla turned my shower into a spa.

The Hair Tonic, an oil-free formula, focuses on healthy scalp and is packed with invigorating nettle, arnica and burdock root. Whilst the Hair Oil offers extra hydration. I rubbed a drop of this fine-smelling goodness between my palms and ran it through my ends.

My hair feels soft manageable and nourished, without weighing it down. What a lovely range!

Dr. Hauschka from £18

I have finally found my perfect tone matching concealer that covers my pesky redness around the nose. The Kalme Chameleon Concealer helps combat and hide the multiple symptoms of rosacea. It is dermatologically approved for use on sensitive skin.

At first the liquid appears bright green due to an extract from capers but then it magically adjusts to my skin tone. My skin is very fair, but the formula turns transparent whilst making my skin tone even and smooth. It makes a wonderful base for make-up. And the best part? It contains SPF20 to protect skin even further. This is a skin hero in a bottle.

Welcome to my make-up bag, Kalme!

Kalme Chameleon Concealer £19.95

I am someone who loves facials, but this year has turned me into a do-it-yourself pro. Tropic Clear Slate makes that easy. Let me introduce you to my favourite deep cleansing powder that turns my skin into silky smooth canvas and makes me look forward to washing my face. This 60-gram bottle is filled with finely milled formula of volcanic ash, bamboo charcoal and plant enzymes goodness.

After using my regular eye make-up remover, I mix half a teaspoon of this magical powder with a few drops of water. Tropic Clear Slate first seduced me with its Eucalyptus and Peppermint freshness. Then it made my face forget the London city grime by removing dirt and excess sebum. My skin was then gently but thoroughly exfoliated, and I emerged with smoothest cleanest visage of my life.

My skin is on the sensitive side and it breaks out, but Tropic Clear Slate leaves my skin soothed and hydrated. I now take this amazing deep cleansing powder into my shower as it is gentle enough to use on my neck and decolletage area.

This gorgeous natural product is also vegan, and you can buy a refill to be eco-friendly! This is one of the best products I have tried in years and I can’t wait to try the rest of the range.

Tropic Clear Slate £18 pounds

I like skincare that blends nature and science. Dermaquest Essential B5 Hydrating Serum is my new daily staple. It is super intensive yet lightweight hydrating serum, delivering instant and dramatic results. My skin feels taut as if I had a sculpting facial; face looks radiant and luminous. This powerful serum is my ultimate go-to and I look forward to applying it day and night.

It is no surprise why this formula is such a top performer. It contains Glutamine (a building block for proteins), Ferulic Acid (fights off free radicals) and Plankton extract (supports skin regeneration). Through liposome technology this serum penetrates the skin’s many layers.

For daytime, I layer it with Dermaquest Sheer Zinc SPF30. This mineral based sunscreen absorbs quickly and offers very natural finish without any residue. It is gentle even after retinol use or for acne-prone skin.

 I am so happy with the silky veil of this SPF and serum that I stopped wearing my foundation. Essential B5 Hydrating Serum makes my skin feel pampered and firm whilst Sheer Zinc SPF30 protects it from UVA and UVB damage.

This is such a mighty duo that I dearly covet!

Dermaquest Essential Hydrating B5 Serum  £68

Dermaquest Sheer Zinc SPF30 £49

Witch hazel extract has been used for its healing properties for centuries. I never go without Potter’s Herbals Distilled Witch Hazel in my bathroom cabinet. I use this skin tonic as a blemish treatment and to soothe my skin after shaving. Witch hazel is a fabulous astringent. It can also be used as a natural deodorant.

The alcohol-free version makes a lovely skin cleaning toner. It leaves my face super clean and soothed. Witch hazel is also a secret weapon for making pores appear smaller.

It is a very hard-working multitasker.

Potter’s Herbals Witch Hazel £2.45

I used to get the odd hormonal pimple, but this pandemic has played havoc with my usually clear skin. I am so glad to have discovered Skin:Genius range for troubled skin. Award-winning Best Cleanse Forever is a gentle foaming face wash bursting with organic and natural botanicals, proven to control bacteria, soothe inflamed skin and reduce redness. It contains powerful Witch Hazel, Red Clover and Lemongrass, which deep cleanses without over-drying the skin. This is important as most spot-fighting formulas dry the skin and then it fights back with over-production of sebum. This clever cleanser leaves the skin clean and balanced and smelling super fresh!

For the next step, I apply All’s Well That Gels Well to target my pesky spots. Before discovering this range, I had an inflamed spot on my cheek for a month. Wearing my mask on the commute to work hasn’t helped. Once I applied this magical gel overnight, I couldn’t believe how fast this pimple admitted defeat. It packed its bags within two days and hasn’t returned. The fast-drying gel formula immediately reduced the redness and killed off the nasty bacteria. This natural product is loaded with Oregan Grape, Nettle, Roman Chamomile and Yarrow and isn’t tested on animals. If you want a compact and fast-acting pimple slayer, opt for a 10ml Hits The Spot purifying gel.

I end my night-time routine with Soothe Operator, which is as good as the name sounds. The calming potion is made of Witch Hazel, Babassu, Hazelnut, Nettle Extract and Macadamia. It is a beautifully creamy treat. Skin:Genius deserves its name. It delivers on the promise in every way. I am hooked.

Skin : Genius £66 for a 4-piece range

Bloom & Glow facial oil means luxury and self-care to me. I love its calming Geranium scent. I warm a couple of drops between my palms and press them onto my damp skin. I don’t forget to pamper my neck and chest. I even put a drop into my body lotion to be extra. My dry skin adores it. The formula wraps my sensitive skin in a protective veil of Sea Buckthorn and Olive Oil derived Squalane. The wonderful blend of vitamins and antioxidants improves skin elasticity and restores radiance. My skin has a lovely glow and is gorgeously hydrated. This natural oil is made in Britain and is 100% natural and cruelty free. No wonder it is selling out fast!

Angela Langford Bloom & Glow Oil £20.50

Bao Skincare knows how to make skin happy. Hydrating Rose Mist soothes my skin before any products touch it. It also smells amazing. Sometimes I just like to spritz it in my bedroom for the scent. It is completely natural and organic and comes in a handy 30 ml size.

I love Bao Nourish Urself Balm; it is a multi-tasker that can be used as a cleanser or a leave-on balm. It smells delicious (hello, Geranium and Neroli) and arouses many senses. A little of this vegan cruelty-free balm goes a long way. Shea butter makes it creamy, but skin fully absorbs it. It is surprisingly light yet potent. Camellia and Prickly Pear seed oil are skincare heroes. This balm is perfect for irritable winter skin. I even put it on my cuticles over-night.

Speaking of hands; Bao have a gorgeous Brightening Hand Cream with Avocado Oil and Sweet Orange. The little pump dispenser makes it very hygienic and I keep it on my office desk. It’s such a gorgeous pick me up. Bao indeed makes skin happy!

Bao minis from £5

There is a new face mask on the block. It is results driven and straight to the point. There are three to choose from, depending how your month is going. Tired, Sweaty and Period Faace help you combat whatever life throws at you.

I am currently using my Tired Faace Mask for my very tired sleep-deprived over-worked face. It’s bright orange toothpaste-like packaging offers a hint of ingredients – Sweet Orange, Pomegranate, Rosehip. This gel mask smells of Tea Tree and Peppermint which is invigorating for the senses and vitamin C kicks it into another gear. It is a pleasant cooling gel. In the mornings, I wash it off after five minutes, but I sometimes sleep in it (one can’t help it when tired). It can also be used as a moisturizer slash primer.

My skin loves this mask as it delivers on the promise. It ticks many boxes for me – We Are Faace don’t use parabens, synthetic fragrance, alcohol, palm oil. It is made in the UK and is vegan and cruelty free. With every mask purchased, you also support Period, a youth-powered, non-profit organization that is fighting to end period poverty in the US.

We Are Faace £30

The Cornish know how to slow down and enjoy the fruits of nature. Soothe and Nourish Lip Balm is a calming treat for my winter, London-city lips. The eco 10 ml tin contains a lush blend of Coconut Oil and Beeswax. Grapefruit, Rose Extract and Lemon Peel Oil are a dream for the senses, whilst Cinnamon Leaf naturally plumps the lips.

Made For Life Organics know how to pamper our skin. Their 100% organic Soft Touch Intensive Hand Balm smells heavenly of Lavender, Geranium and Sweet Orange. I apply this at night as an aromatherapy treatment to help me sleep and pamper my dry hands. The Beeswax is a fab softener and doesn’t leave hands greasy.

This Cornish brand has an extensive skincare and body range with travel friendly sizes to get you hooked. Natural products at its best!

Made For Life Organics from £7

Ishga translates from Gaelic as water. The Hebrides has some of the cleanest water in the world. This natural skin and body care rangehails from Scotland and its hero ingredient is Organic Seaweed Extract (used in high concentration).

The Regenerating Face Serum is an impressive product. My skin felt instantly lifted and taut. The formula sinks in super-fast and leaves my face smooth and soft to the touch. There is no icky fragrance, and the serum is completely oil free. Ishga products are pure and full of organic goodness.

I am also a huge fan of their Hebridean Sea Salt Body Scrub that comes in an eco-friendly glass jar. The Sea Salt is extracted from the clear Hebridean waters and is blended with Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba and Thistle. I love how silky soft and smooth my skin feels after using this in the shower. No need for a body lotion after.

Using this scrub is therapeutic too; the salt retains over 60 naturally occurring trace elements, such as Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc, and will leave you energised, inside and out. It helps me sleep and relax (I use this scrub at night as I got more time than in the morning). This scrub is so pure and effective.

Ishga got this natural range right. The Organic Seaweed Extract is full of antioxidants and has anti-ageing properties. It is excellent for treating Psoriasis and Eczema. Your skin will thank you.

IshGa Organic Seaweed Products   £36

Dry, itchy or sensitive skin? With Bioskin DermaSerum and FaceWash, I am in good company. The serum is designed to hydrate and soothe dry, atopic skin. I was pleasantly surprised by its potency and that is left my skin smooth to the touch. I expected sticky but got the perfect primer like feel. With Sea Buckthorn, my face felt soothed and balanced thanks to the Tea Tree Oil. I use this serum day or night. It is very gentle. In fact, so gentle that it can be applied around the delicate eye or lip area. The gentle facewash didn’t disappoint; it left my skin hydrated and clean, without feeling stripped. It is rich in Omegas and contains Green Tea Extract. I take this wash with me in the shower and use it on my body too. It is very invigorating, and I prefer it to a shower gel or a soap.

Bioskin products are vegan and cruelty free and affordable. Win win!

Salcura Skincare £13.99

I am a fan of multi-purpose beauty products and I can’t get enough of Lyonsleaf 100% Natural Calendula and Marshmallow Balm. Made with love, Calendula, Beeswax, Avocado and Rosehip Oil, this balm is a delight for dry skin (even sore nipples). I use it on my elbows, cuticles, as a lip balm and even as an over-night brow treat. I also rub this into my feet before putting on cotton socks. This is a great nighttime foot ritual for soft feet.

It is scent and cruelty-free and cold-pressed in the UK. The 30 ml balm sits pretty in its glass jar. A true multi-tasking, roaring hero.

Lyonsleaf Calendula & Marshmallow Balm £10.95

I am thoroughly impressed by Nereus London hair shampoo and conditioner gift set. The recyclable black and gold box screams premium. The 100% natural, award-winning Australian Buddha Wood Shampoo is suitable for all hair types and offers luxurious lather (this is where most natural shampoos fail). My hair feels shiny, clean and healthy. And I adore the scent of Organic Bergamot.

The Australian Buddha Wood Conditioner is vegan, gluten and silicone free. The Coffee Seed Extract, Green Tea and Lactic Acid make gentle yet powerful formula. It leaves my unruly curly hair smooth and manageable without weighing it down. And the scent is lush, my friends.

The founders, James and Diana, have done a wonderful job with their sustainable offerings. Finally, a plastic free natural beauty brand that hasn’t compromised any of its ethics, aesthetics or product performance.

Available at Nereus London Shampoo £25