Simplify your skincare routine: Manuka Floral Water and Apricot Kernel Oil

Manuka Floral Water and Apricot Kernel Oil

Following my recent visit to the Dermatologist I have been rethinking my skincare routine. I decided I needed to simplify things in order to bring back control and then I will re-introduce my favourite products. I previously mentioned looking for antibacterial ingredients and I chose to include manuka in my routine. It’s always been a firm favourite for me but I forgot how good it is despite always recommending to others. Essential oils can be potent (which may irritate skin) so I think floral water is a nice compromise. Floral waters make great toners so that is exactly how I intend to use this Manuka Honey water. I have patches of seborrhoeic dermatitis on my face and the idea is that sweeping over floral water could help calm skin and impart antibacterial properties. 

I also bought Apricot Kernel oil which initially I thought I would use in a DIY for moisturising, cleansing or both. I chose Apricot as it is light oil, absorbs easily and should work well on my sensitive skin. According to the information I have read, it is rich linoleic acid, oleic acid, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B17 and Vitamin E. Apricot oil has a faint smell of marzipan which I adore and at the moment I enjoy using this plain (without mixing with other ingredients) as a cleansing oil.

I bought both products from Naturally Thinking, a site I have not used for quite some time. They sell a wide variety of items for DIY projects - carrier oils, floral waters, essential oils, cosmetic bases and bottles/jars. They also have their own skincare and haircare products. One word of warning is I found order processing slow and they have failed to reply to a query. I placed an order on 6th January, I received a packing noticed on the 9th, shipping noticed on the 12th and my parcel arrived on the 14th January. The question I asked was relating to the manufacturing process of the Manuka Honey floral water. The product description suggests this is derived from manuka oil (from the tree not honey) which would make it suitable for Vegans and the name misleading. To date my request for clarification has gone unanswered.

Whilst I may not be impressed with the website, the products are (to the best of my knowledge) reasonable and good quality. I will have to update you with my progress but for the time being these serve their purpose and I am happy to incorporate into my routine. Have you ever considered stripping back a skincare routine? Which ingredients do you like using to target skin problems?

Sarah x

Update 12/02/15 - finally had a response from Naturally Thinking after contacting them again.

"Honey water is extracted from the Leptospermum scoparium plant and therefore is 100% plant derived., I will get the website clarified a little to stop the ambiguity. Please be aware the honey water does contain a preservative (as per the MSDS on the site) of Sodium benzoate Potassium sorbate in order to conform to current EU regulations. We have just been testing a new preservative, which is a protein from fermented Lavender, really natural and really kind to the skin which we will be replacing as a preservative in all the floral waters in about a month time (it has not scent of Lavender)."

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