face care

15 April 2022

Nourish London Skin Protecting Daily Moisturiser SPF 25
(Gifted)

Nourish London recently launched their NEW certified organic and vegan Skin Protecting Daily Moisturiser with SPF 25. This anti-ageing moisturiser has natural mineral SPF non nano zinc oxide to protect the skin from daily pollution and environmental damage, whilst providing broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.

The formulation is full of great ingredients with antioxidants, including Turmeric, Bisabolol and Tocopherol. Hyaluronic Acid and Hexapeptide hydrate skin, whilst ceramide rich Argan, Kale, Pumpkin Seed Oil and Rose of Jericho protect the lipid layer. Soothing actives of Aloe Vera and Borage Oil calm redness and inflammation. For those who are sensitive to essential oils, the ingredient list doesn't list these allergens so I have been able to try out this moisturiser.

What do I think of Nourish London Skin Protecting Daily Moisturiser with SPF 25? To the touch it feels like a lightweight moisturiser but on contact with skin you can tell it contains Zinc Oxide. It takes a little more effort to massage into skin as you're trying to work with a noticeable whiteness. I have a fair to medium complexion and this may be more noticeable on darker skin tones. I'm finding it hard to put into words how I feel about the sensation this product leaves on my face. Whilst my skin feels smooth it has an almost dry texture and it doesn't feel dewy. As someone who experiences eczema and dryness it leaves me feeling a little stuck on the fence. This is also a feeling I've had with other natural sun creams so it's certainly not unique to this product.

If you are in the sun for extended periods of time then I wouldn't solely rely on this face cream. You are likely to want to top up throughout the day. Many of us will use moisturisers sparingly and you'll probably apply a pea sized amount however the recommendation for SPF is at least half a teaspoon. The British Association of Dermatologists has advised that moisturiser with an SPF will only help protect you against small amounts of UV exposure. Of course there is always the logic that something is better than nothing so a product such as Nourish London Skin Protecting Daily Moisturiser with SPF 25 can have a place in your routine so just be mindful about how you use it.

Nourish London’s New Skin Protecting Daily Moisturiser SPF 25 at the time of publication is priced at £28.00. It is also dermatologically tested (suitable for sensitive skin), pediatrician approved (safe for use on babies) and reef safe. You can purchase this product from nourishskinrange.com

Sarah x

25 July 2021

natural skincare routine for mature, sensitive, allergic, eczema prone skin type
(some of the products featured have been Gifted/Unpaid)

It has been a while since I took a snap shot of my skincare routine. Whilst my products do vary over time I try to stick to the same core principals - minimal (cleanse and moisturise), fragrance free and vegan friendly.

By Sarah London Raspberry Seed Cleansing Oil is a product I received back in April. I mention this because I want you to understand that I give products a lengthy testing before they get a write up. This cleanser is an oil that transforms into a light cleansing milk on contact with water. Long time readers will know these are my favourite types of cleansers. Oils are nourishing on my delicate dry skin and By Sarah cleanser promises to remove daily pollutants and makeup without disrupting the skin's natural pH balance. I would say that my experience would back up this claim as my skin always feels great and never stripped after using this cleanser. I'm more than happy to recommend this cleanser to anyone.

Green People Anti-Ageing Cream came back into my life in 2019 and it has pretty much been a staple ever since as I always have a back up in my drawer. Whilst I'm happy using this face cream during the winter months I do think it's a great summer addition. I find it provides the hydration I require without feeling heavy or greasy making it perfect for brief summer heatwaves. Green People have been around for years and I've been using them long before I established this website. I like the fact that they always have reliable scent free skincare and because of this I'm a loyal customer.

Wilde Fruit Bright Spark Enzyme Oil came into my life through judging for the Free From Skincare Awards. It went on to win Bronze in the Face Oils and Achievement categories. I was excited for their wins because I honestly felt so happy to have this oil in my routine. It's been a pleasure to test and I would purchase for myself. Wilde Fruit formulate with upcycled leftover ingredients from the food industry and this in turn helps to reduce waste. Bright Spark Enzyme Oil is suggested for oily, combination or blemish prone skin and my skin type is quite the complete opposite but it still works. Its formulated without essential oils, includes hemp, papaya, watermelon, cacay, tamanu with strawberry and blackcurrant seed oil upcycled from the production of jam and juice. I highly recommend giving this facial oil a try and I'm going to check out the rest of the Wilde Fruit product range.

I wasn't always successful in adding sun protection to my routine due to ingredient allergies. It's been a constant battle to find suitable products. You'll see that I recently reviewed Sukin SPF30 Sheer Touch face sunscreen and I've been using it daily since June. It doesn't smell great but it works and that's all that matters to me right now.

I hope you have enjoyed this little overview into my current skincare routine. If you have any questions drop me an email or message on social media.

Sarah x

3 September 2020

Free From Gift Awards New skincare awards for gift boxes and sets
(press release, not sponsored)

I have some exciting news to announce, readers and natural skincare brands should pay attention. We all love the buzz surrounding beauty awards and the team behind the Free From Skincare Awards have announced the launch of the Free From Gift Awards which will run from September to November.

23 April 2020

Clean Beauty Awards 2020 Caldera Lab winner of face serum category
(I received a parcel of products in 2019 so that I could participate in judging, it included the items pictured above)

Last year I once again participated in a judging round for the annual Clean Beauty Awards. A parcel of face serums landed on my doorstep and I set to work looking at formulas and putting products to the test. We're now at the point where the Winners have been announced in all categories and you can locate the full information here - www.cleanbeautyawards.com. The awards were launched by CertClean and recognises the best performing green beauty and personal care products from across the globe. This year there were 21 categories, 127 judges, 371 entrants and 146 finalists. Products were primarily evaluated based on overall performance and ease of use.

I'm delighted to see that two products I handled have succeeded in their category. The Winner of Face Serum is Caldera + Lab The Good. This brand was founded in the US by Stacy and Jared, they decided that there wasn't a green and clean men's beauty brand that stacked up against women's skincare. Their product is formulated with naturally superior ingredients backed by clinically proven results. Caldera + Lab is the first men’s skincare in the USA to be certified by both ECOCERT and MADE SAFE®.The Good is a lightweight all in one treatment designed to restore, nourish and protect the skin.

Runners up in the serum category were Immersion Botanica Rosehip Facial Serum for Dry/Damaged Skin and Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm Sensitive Skin Face Serum (the later was not in my judging parcel). Immersion Botanica was founded by Cydney who is passionate about nature and loves formulating herbal personal care products. The Rosehip serum is packed full of botanical ingredients which replenish and nourish. This is a face serum rich in antioxidants, vitamins and omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids. The clue is in the name with Okanagan, this is a family run farm on which they grow the plants and herbs used in their products. They compliment home grown ingredients with sustainably sourced, organic and Fair Trade oils, butters, essential oils and botanicals.

Participating in the awards process is always a delight. The awards are open to International brands but I think the large majority are based in USA and Canada so may not offer shipping to Europe and UK. If you have allergies please be mindful that labelling regulations are different outside of Europe. The biggest issue I personally come up against is many overseas brands are not detailing fragrance allergens however I saw an improvement on previous years when it came to INCI labels.

Congratulations everyone and I look forward to seeing what next year brings for the Clean Beauty Awards.

Sarah x

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