interview

8 April 2020

Seekology beauty and wellbeing
UPDATE - SEEKOLOGY HAS CLOSED 

In an effort to stay busy during lockdown, I've had a few brands reach out to me and I've uncovered hidden gems which I didn't know about before. Today I'd like to introduce you to Seekology and here is an interview with the founder Rebecca, I hope you enjoy reading!

Tell me a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start your store and website, Seekology?
I worked in retail for many years, including as the John Lewis Beauty Buyer. I was increasingly seeing amazing, innovative independent brands springing up with no outlet to reach customers, and at the same time real customer appetite to shop from small businesses. Hence the idea for Seekology was born, and I opened my first store in Richmond in November 2019. Over the four months this pop up was open we featured 70 independent, British brands, all with amazing stories to tell, from solid shampoo inspired by the desire to reduce plastic waste to sustainably created activewear made from recycled plastic bottles. Of course, we are only selling online these days, at www.seekology.co, but we hope to have more pop up shops in future! When I'm not working on Seekology I'm looking after my two young children and occasionally playing the violin.

Why is beauty & wellbeing important to you?
I've always been drawn to the wellbeing element of beauty, and how something as simple as a delicious smelling moisturiser or scented candle can lift someone's mood. There's always something new to discover in these areas and that keeps it exciting, especially with the innovation we're currently seeing around natural and sustainable products. And what's most important to me is creating a platform that supports entrepreneurs in this vibrant and innovative industry so that they are able to grow and thrive.

At Seekology I'm keen that beauty & wellbeing are inclusive and I recognise that these mean different things to different people. For some customers an indulgent vegan face mask is what they need, whereas we have others that are focusing on our sports offering with beautiful yoga mats from Willow Yoga. I aim to cater to conscious consumers that are interested in a more sustainable lifestyle, without compromising on style.

What five words best describe your brand?
Honest, collaborative, kind, innovative, inspirational

What is your top beauty "must have" product?
My latest "must have" is the Rosalena rose quartz facial tool. Rosalena was one of the first brands we launched Seekology with and this product is a real stand out - our customers seemed to think so too. It's small enough to fit in an overnight washbag and when used every day it not only improves drainage and circulation in the face, it also helps create a mini wellbeing ritual inspired by the brand's mantra of "Pause, Breathe, Be".

Seekology is a marketplace, what do you look for when choosing brands to work with?
I look for brands that have unique stories - whether from the founders themselves, the provenance of ingredients or a unique angle. A good example would be Heka Aromatherapy. The founder, Naomi, came into our store for a chat and we became one of her first stockists. Her products look and smell beautiful and she has fully immersed herself in a career change from PR to aromatherapy by becoming a real expert, training with Neal's Yard. As soon as I spoke to her I knew her brand would be a success.

If a brand is interested to work with you, how can they get involved?
Please get in touch via the form on www.seekology.co, although we have had such interest we are working through a backlog of requests and we are a very small team, so we'd appreciate your patience! Be clear on what you brand stands for and why it is different to the products we already sell, as well as being ready to sell - this includes testing, packaging and distribution.

How are you coping with the current situation and how can people support indie business at this time?
It's definitely been a testing few weeks and whilst running a wellbeing business I probably haven't been practising what I preach as well as I could have done! However I'm now settling into the new way of life and trying to make time for myself every day - even if it's just using a body scrub in the shower! I would love people to support indie businesses at this difficult time. Many of the brands we represent are very new to market and their founders are unable to benefit from the various government schemes available, so they need our support. Plus, their products are truly fantastic and I would urge everyone to think carefully about where they spend their money at this time.

end of interview

7 July 2016

*SPONSORED POST*

It's always exciting to discover new brands and Anna of Miss Organics connected with me on twitter. We decided an interview piece would be a great way to introduce her brand and products to readers so here we are.......

16 September 2015

Gorgeously Green Gathering Event September 2015
Left to Right: Caroline (Weleda), Olga (The Rose Tree), Rachael (Myroo), Rachel (All Natural Aspirations), Sarah (Sugarpuffish), Jen (Jen's Green Skincare), Elijah (Bodhi & Birch), Kim (Botanical Brands)

To be honest, I am not sure where to begin when it comes to writing about the Gorgeously Green Gathering event which I co-hosted with Jen and Rach. It was an amazing day and the brands we worked with are personal favourites. We are thankful to Elijah (Bodhi & Birch), Rachael (Myroo), Olga (The Rose Tree), Kim (Botanical Brands) and Caroline (Weleda) for giving up their Sunday to come and hang out with us. They were extremely generous and donated to goody bags and our raffle, which by the way we raised over £160 for our charity, Facing the World.

I thought I might take a different approach and write about my experience organising a blogger event. I'm going to be completely honest there were tantrums and tears. Working with two other bloggers who I admire and have become great friends with had its ups and downs. We are all strong minded and each had different ideas for the day but I think we made an awesome team and learned to compromise where needed. On a personal note, this was something I had never envisaged I would do when I began blogging. Organising this event is so different to what I do on a daily basis. We began our planning with many fears, What's the best location? What venue should we chose? Would brands give up a weekend to see us? Could we attract enough bloggers to fill our room? Would people be willing to pay for a ticket? Yesterday our fears were long forgotten when we saw everyone's happy faces and they kept smiling until the end of the day.

From my viewpoint, I dislike events where I have to approach a stand, then muscle for attention to get five minutes chat with a brand owner. I wanted to have the time to get to know more about the people who create the amazing products I love so much. Of course everyone wants to get hands on with skincare so that was the idea behind the makeup demonstration and the final networking session of the day. Natural and organic skincare is often an online purchase so to get stuck in with samples is a pure delight.


Gorgeously Green Gathering Bodhi & Birch Living Nature Lippy Girl Botanical Brands Weleda Myroo The Rose Tree Consider It Primal Pantry


During planning stages, a lot of bloggers were requesting a makeup brand to attend the day. I personally think this had us working the hardest. Natural and organic makeup is far behind its skincare cousins and majority of brands seem to come from the US. We set out to find a UK brand who was willing to participate and it was a struggle. Thankfully, Botanical Brands were able to help and that was a huge relief. We were so keen to make everyone happy and I think we achieved it judging from the feedback. I'd also like to thank Ailish (The Glow Getter) for stepping in as MUA for the afternoon and Amber (Amber's Beauty Talk) for volunteering as her model.

I asked our brands if they would like to provide a little quote about their day....

"My take on the day is that it was both fabulous and inspirational. Having the chance to share my passion for skincare with other like minded people was a pleasure, and in addition to that I got the opportunity to talk direct to customers and also learn from the other brands." - Olga, The Rose Tree

"it was such a lovely event and great that members of the green beauty community could come together. I really enjoyed meeting all the wonderful bloggers in person and putting a face to the blog" - Kim, Botanical Brands 

"I can never get over how social media brings the world together: how people I've never met before meet like long lost friends. And it has been both enlightening and inspirational meeting fellow brand owners too! Gorgeously Green Gathering has been a great success. It all boils down to great teamwork and organisation from Sarah, Rachel and Jen. Well done!" - Elijah, Bodhi & Birch

Aside from gaining a better understanding for the brands, I took away from the day (and this is where I get sentimental) that I have formed amazing friendships through blogging. I really feel that my fellow green bloggers are true real life friends. These are ladies who look out for one another and care about each other beyond our love for natural skincare.

I would also like to thank Consider It and The Primal Pantry for contributing to our bags. I am pleased I managed to get them onboard because they are personal favourites which I wanted to share with everyone. Also a huge thank you to Rach and Jen's friends and family for their enthusiasm to buy tickets and attend our event. It was a pleasure to have you there. We appreciated all your lovely feedback. I hope you enjoy your goody bag treats and find new favourite products. 

For all of you that asked for a GGG2. At this moment we're not sure, although it was fun it took up a fair amount of our spare time and personally with my wedding next year that currently feels overwhelming but we shall see, I'm not saying No just yet :D

Sarah x

Disclaimer - Gorgeously Green Gathering was sponsored by Botanical Brands (distributors of Living Nature & Lippy Girl) and The Rose Tree. Group photo credit to Rachel All Natural Aspirations.

23 July 2015

Mia & Dom Organic Skincare for Pregnancy and Babies
Mia & Dom Organic Skincare is another one of my recent Twitter discoveries. They offer a range of products for pregnancy and babies. I reached out to the founder, Jennifer Feltham and asked if she would participate in an interview.

Tell us a little bit about how Mia & Dom began?
I have always had an interest in herbs, ​I am a qualified Medical Herbalist and a trained Aromatherapist so I knew quite a bit about there benefits and when our son Dominic suffered badly with eczema as a child, we tried many products natural and synthetic to try and heal him but nothing worked, so I decided to learn how to make it myself. Once I had a salve that worked, friends kept asking for some for their children and it grew from there.

Why is natural and/or organic skincare important to you
​Our Skin absorbs whatever we apply to it therefore we should be concerned about the products we use for ourselves and our children.​ Typically, commercial products contain mineral and other petroleum based ingredients like liquid paraffin. These oils are occlusive, they block the skins natural eliminative process for several days as well as drying out the skin.

What was the first product you formulated and why?
The first product was the Soothing Skin Salve for Doms eczema and is our best seller to date!​

What do you find most challenging when formulating products?
​Every ingredient is added for a reason, making sure the combination of botanical oils and essential oils is balanced correctly, and safely for delicate skin, whilst providing maximum benefit.​


Mia & Dom Organic Skincare for Pregnancy and Babies
Do you have a favourite natural ingredient and what makes it special to you?
Oh dear, I have at least three!! Rosehip Seed Oil, Calendula Oil and Tamanu Seed Oil would be the top three. They are all "super" oils in terms of their health benefits on the skin. A recent study in Canada stated "Tamanu oil has been thoroughly researched, and the conclusive evidence on its ability to heal damaged skin is overwhelming. Its benefits are notable for scarring, stretch marks, minor cuts and abrasions, rashes, sores, and much more"I recently wrote a blog about it click here.

What have been the highs and/or lows of establishing Mia & Dom?
The industry has very strict Cosmetic Regulations​, which is fantastic, but also quite daunting when you first start up. Getting your products cosmetically approved and registered is an expensive and quite slow process.

​The highs are the positive reviews I get for my products from people all over the world you have benefited from my products. Also, I have just been stocked in a national retailer Natures Purest ​which make organic childrens clothes and bedding.

What does the future hold for Mia & Dom?
​We want to increase our profile across the UK, Ireland and then take on the world!!​

Do you have any skincare tips to share with readers?
  • Avoid synthetic fabrics and opt for cotton clothing and bedding as it allows the skin to breathe and prevents overheating.
  • Use non-biological washing powder and avoid fabric conditioners and anything perfumed which may cause itching.
  • Keep the bedroom cool at night as heat can aggravate itching.
  • Take care at bath time – hot water is a major culprit at drying skin out. Keep bath time short use soap-free cleanser or pure natural soap.
  • Drink plenty of water, and limit sugar intake – sugar is one of the most important food substances to avoid, as it is often an eczema trigger
....end of interview....

If you would like to explore the Mia & Dom product line visit the website miadomskincare.com

Sarah x

Disclaimer - this is not sponsored & links are not affiliated

16 July 2015

The Green Woman and Fit Pit Deodorant
I love to support local companies and was thrilled to discover The Green Woman on Twitter. I know many of my readers are keen to discover natural deodorants (Fit Pit is Vegan & Organic) so I reached out and asked if they would like to be interviewed for my blog.

Tell us a little bit about how The Green Woman began? 
Our co-founder Eve left a career in Chemistry to focus on climate change work. She stopped using mainstream cosmetic products and began making her own natural alternatives for the basics she needed. 

Eve gave a selection of her products to her sister Suzanne (a Graphic Designer), who had been looking for organic alternatives since becoming a mum. She loved them so much and thought others would too, so after much discussion, a few hugs and a year of hard work The Green Woman was born!

The Green Woman and Fit Pit Deodorant

What does The Green Woman do to limit its impact on the environment and how does the company support a more sustainable future? 
Ethics are the heart of every decision we make, from our mission as a company right through to the day-to-day running of the business. Everything we do is made ‘with love and a conscience’ and is always ‘100% organic, vegan and earthkind’.

We never use plastic and our packaging is always reusable, compostable or recyclable. All our products are pure and organic so a little goes a long way, so we can use less packaging too. We use reclaimed materials wherever possible - our ‘mini’ glass jars are salvaged from a hotel and our packing boxes and materials are all reclaimed from local businesses. We also give money off for any jars returned to us in reusable condition. Change the business not the climate!

The Green Woman supports a number of ‘Green’ projects including ‘The Buzz Tour’ and ‘Reclaim Power’, and 10% of our profits will be given to projects supporting work against climate change.

Why is natural/organic skincare important to you? 
Your skin in the largest organ in your body and much of what you put on it goes in. If you look at the ingredients listed on the back of mainstream cosmetic products they are usually extensive and mostly unrecognizable. We believe that you shouldn’t have to be a chemistry expert to understand what you are putting on your body and what the long term effects might be. If there is less demand for these chemicals less will make it into our environment too. We believe in reducing the chemical loading on your body by providing simple organic alternatives that really work. 

The Green Woman and Fit Pit Deodorant

What do you find most challenging when formulating products? 
Finding organic suppliers for specific ingredients is often very difficult. There is currently low demand for organic ingredients in comparison to mainstream ones, so it’s not always cost effective for suppliers to offer organic. We want to help drive the demand for organic ingredients so that more suppliers will consider going organic in future and make it more accessible for other companies too.

What have been the highs and/or lows of establishing The Green Woman? 
Every time we get a 5 star review it’s a big boost for us and really makes our day. It’s a fantastic feeling to know that we made someone feel that way about us.

Probably our hardest point so far was during our testing phase. All our products have to go through a strict approvals process, which is reliant on third parties. It takes a lot of waiting and buckets of patience. But it’s worth the wait!

What does the future hold for The Green Woman? 
Following on from the success of Fit Pit, we are continuing our focus on basic body care needs and are now developing our next range of products. ‘Green Cream’ is a 100% organic, vegan moisturizer that will be ready in 2016.

Do you have any skincare tips to share with readers? 
We would say less is definitely more when it comes to products. Trust in your skin, let it breath and if you do need to use something use it sparingly. Coconut oil is a great all rounder and has many uses. As well as a great moisturizer it makes a great makeup remover too. 

The best skin regime of course is plenty of water, a good diet, fresh air and sleep!

.....end of interview....

Thanks so much to Suzanne for agreeing to take part in this feature. Check out the The Green Woman website to buy products (mini sizes are available) 

Sarah x

20 May 2015

Myroo Starflower Orange Blossom Skin Boost Facial Serum
UPDATE 2022 - MYROO ARE NO LONGER TRADING

A little recap for you in the "Meet the Brands" Interview Series so far we've covered Botanical Brands, The Rose Tree and Bodhi & Birch. I suspect that out of the five brands attending Gorgeously Green Gathering, Myroo is the one most of you are not familiar with. I have had the pleasure of knowing Rachael since 2012 when we bonded over twitter regarding allergies. I have also reviewed her Starflower Orange Blossom Skin Boost Facial Serum which I highly recommended. Jen, Rachel and I decided to have Myroo involved in our event because we wanted to share with attendees at least one brand that was perhaps "off the radar" with bloggers. 

What does 'naturally beautiful' mean to you?
Naturally beautiful is a woman who makes her own healthy (mind and body) choices, based on what’s right for her and not what society demands. A woman who loves her body for what it is and what it could be, not what the packaging is like. 

For me, it’s about helping women enjoy their natural beauty. We are sold such unachievable aims and ideals by the media. In the main, the beauty industry pumps out synthetic filled products and procedures aimed to help us conform to those unachievable goals.

Myroo is different, I want women to step back and stop worrying about what they look like so much. I want them to choose Myroo because the products work, they enjoy using them and they help them look and feel great as part of a natural, healthy lifestyle.

What has been your biggest challenge with your brand/products?
As a brand that started as a kitchen-table business the challenges have been many, not least the amount of legislation to tackle. I think though, the most challenging part is also the part I love the most, product development. Sticking to the Myroo values of natural, artisan and effective is a challenge (it can be so much easier and cheaper to develop products using synthetic ingredients and it’s frustrating when so many brands greenwash) but it’s a challenge I enjoy rising to and won’t compromise.

Which product(s) are Myroo's best sellers? 
My Geranium Hand Treat has been with me since the start and was always my best seller. Customers love it because it works. It’s a rich cream, very different to high street hand products, as it has no water, but it’s great for really dry, weathered hands. I have a lot of repeat customers for this product, that makes me really proud.

Lately however, my Starflower and Orange Blossom Facial Boost Serum is threatening to steal the crown of best-seller. Of all my products it’s the one I use the most, it leaves my skin so soft and nourished. It won a ‘Special Mention’ award in the Beauty Shortlist awards and customers love it too.

What does the future hold for Myroo?
This is such an exciting year. I’ve already relaunched www.myroo.co.uk so it’s easier to use, mobile friendly and offers more methods of payment. There are several new products in the pipeline. I’m tweaking some existing formulations to make the whole range vegan. And I’m working on revising my packaging so customers can easily identify which products are nut free, dairy free and gluten free, issues close to home for me.

What are you most excited about when it comes to attending the Gorgeously Green Gathering?
I can’t wait! I’m really looking forward to meeting lots of people who are passionate about Green Skincare, like me. It’s going to be a great opportunity to share ideas and experiences. I think we’ll be able to learn from and inspire each other. See you there. x

.......end of interview.......

A big thank you to Rachael for participating in our mini interview and we look forward to meeting in September.

Sarah x

Gorgeously Green Gathering is sponsored by Botanical Brands (distributors of Living Nature & Lippy Girl) and The Rose Tree and organised by Sarah (Sugarpuffish) Jen (Jen's Green Skincare) and Rachel (All Natural Aspirations)

3 May 2015

Gorgeously Green Gathering: Meet The Brands, Olga of The Rose Tree
As part of the build up for the Gorgeously Green Gathering, we want to help you get to know the people behind the brands involved in our event. Rachel has introduced us to Kim of Botanical Brands and now I present our second sponsor and speaker Olga, Founder of The Rose Tree. I am already a fan of their skincare having previously tried their best selling products so I am excited to have The Rose Tree participate in our day. I asked Olga to answer a few questions and I hope this will give you an insight into the brand.

What does 'naturally beautiful' mean to you? 
Healthy, radiant skin that leaves you free to tell your story, to face outwards into the world looking your best, with power and confidence. And also knowing that the ingredients are actually good for your skin and are not having a detrimental impact on our planet. 

What has been your biggest challenge with your brand/products? 
Definitely having to find the self-belief to keep going when things get tough – because there are always bad times, especially with a new business. In our early days, we went through 2 websites in the space of 6 months (a rather stressful situation that I don’t have have any desire to repeat any time soon!) and at one point before Christmas we ended up taking delivery of one thousand bath oil bottles with one thousand lids that did not fit. (The supplier did not seem to think this was a problem!) 

Which product(s) are The Rose Tree's best sellers? 
Our most popular product is our Radiance Facial Essence with Rose & Marula, Our award winning rejuvenating and nourishing oil based essence, for radiant and super soft skin, made with ten potent flower and plant botanicals. It is my go to signature product for radiant skin each morning, the one that is super hydrating, and works on all skin types. This is the one product I recommend to everyone - and is the one product I use every day without fail! 

Our Carrot & Mango Cleansing Butter is very popular, this is a super-charged, cleansing butter packed with potent botanicals will gently lift off makeup and dirt, to leave super hydrated, radiant skin. It is suitable for all skin types and customers find it brightens dull skin with the organic carrot extract while also being hydrating and antiseptic. 

Finally, we have range of best selling luxury candles. They are available with four different essential blends that I have created myself. I think what makes them so popular is that we focus on excellent quality and delivering an indulgent experience to our customers, both with the candles themselves and our exquisite packaging. Because the candles are made by hand they come with that artisanal feel with hand poured wax rather than the polished, impersonal look of a factory produced candle, and they have an incredible scent throw.

What does the future hold for The Rose Tree?
We are all about effective luxury, synergistically created, and want nothing more than to show people how beautiful and powerfully effective our luxurious organic skincare and candles can be, all the while taking a responsible attitude to our planet’s resources. 

What are you most excited about when it comes to attending Gorgeously Green Gathering? 
Meeting your bloggers – no doubt about it! Having shared snatched conversations over Twitter and via their blogs, I am hugely excited to meet the group face to face! We are a community, and I can’t wait to talk, learn and share stories!

.......end of interview.......

Thank you very much to Olga for participating in our mini interview and we look forward to meeting in September. 

Sarah x

Gorgeously Green Gathering is sponsored by Botanical Brands (distributors of Living Nature & Lippy Girl) and The Rose Tree and organised by Sarah (Sugarpuffish) Jen (Jen's Green Skincare) and Rachel (All Natural Aspirations)

31 March 2015

An interview with the founder of Itha
I recently discovered Itha and they made a great first impression so I asked Kelly (the founder) if she would like to introduce herself and products to my readers.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how Itha began? 
A few years ago, Itha’s founder Kelly from South London decided to make a career change from the fashion industry to beauty & cosmetics. She embarked on a series of training courses and now plans to create a range of organic and natural cosmetic products, starting with tinted lip colour and lip care. 

Kelly has been a vegetarian for over 10 years and has always been interested in a natural organic life style. She suffered from chapped lips in winter, and found it hard to wear various chemical based lip balms, or lip colour due to the dry condition of the lips. After a long period of preparation and planning which involved help from a lot of creative people, countless trial and errors, and feedback from friends / families, Itha’s first organic lip collection was born. 

So far, Itha has launched 5 organic lip glows and lip care in the UK, all vegetarian friendly. The organic lip glow offers moisturising benefits and a subtle sheer colour that is the perfect balance of lip balm and lip colour. The philosophy behind the London based brand is understanding all of the ingredients behind the products and formulating them with the purest and finest organics to achieve an effective result. 

Itha is an interesting brand name, can you explain if there is a story behind choosing the name, does it have a special meaning to it? 
When Kelly was considering a career change, she hit the road and visited a delightful vineyard in Ithaca, New York. The landscape was picturesque, green, and inspiring and it was here that she made the decision to create a line of organic, green beauty products. On returning to London it was decided that a name with a subtle reference to that place should be created, so she decided to call the brand itha. 

Why are natural/organic cosmetics important to you? 
Skin is the largest organ of the body and it is important that we take good care of it. Natural / organic cosmetic products are not only good for you, but also minimize the chance of getting irritation on the skin. 

What do you find most challenging when formulating products? 
100% Concentration and dedication. When formulating and testing new products, it can be a very long process, and needs a lot of attention. On a typical day like this, I will switch off my phone and try not to be interrupted by the outside world until the work is ready to move on to the next stage. 

What have been the highs and/or lows of establishing Itha? 
Highs- when you see your initial thoughts transition from a piece of paper into a finished product and then being passed to customers, not to mention their happy reactions, it makes all the hard work totally worth it! Lows- when testing new products or formulas, things can always be tricky as you are looking for flaws within these products and need to find ways to overcome it. Sometimes when there are no better solutions you know you have to drop it and move on. It can be a bit frustrating at times. 

It's great to see your products are cruelty free and Vegetarian friendly however many of my readers are Vegan, may I ask if in the future you might look to formulate some products suitable for Vegan customers?
There is a plan for expanding the organic range, and my initial thoughts will be to produce vegan lip products but everything is still at an early stage. Like other Itha products, the new vegan range will still be organic and 100% natural. We will post updates on our social medial sites, and hopefully release a vegan line in the not too distant future. 

What does the future hold for Itha? 
Itha has been accepted as an entrant for the Free from skincare awards 2015, and is going to exhibit in this year’s Love natural love organic show in Olympia London in 3-5 July. All products are handmade in London and currently available online. We are working on having the Itha products available through more beauty retailers / boutiques and reach out to more people who are in pursuit of natural beauty. The brand is new, fresh, and lively, and we are happy to engage with our customers / online followers / bloggers, and receive their ideas and feedback. From time to time, there will also be product giveaways via our social media and website! 

Do you have any skincare/makeup tips to share with readers? 
Beauty comes from within, and your face mirrors your body and health. A healthy lifestyle is the key to maintaining a beautiful appearance. Having a balanced diet and exercising regularly are just as important as having a good skincare routine. When your body sweats, your body detoxes which helps to make your skin glow. 

Opt for tinted lip products rather than lipstick in winter to help reduce the dry lip conditions. When removing lip colour, use balm / oil based cleansing and gently massage it to remove any remaining colour. Avoid using makeup removing wipes, or any harsh rubbing on the lips as it might cause them to wrinkle. Keeping your lips moisturised and hydrated all through the year will make you look young and fresh, it looks a million times better than having chapped lips with colour on. My best tip however for beautiful looking lips would be to stay healthy, and use good quality lip products together with a smile. 

........End of Interview........

If you would like to connect with Itha visit their website

26 February 2015


Pink & Green Organic Skincare
Twitter has once again proved to be an amazing networking tool and I recently discovered Pink & Green Organic Skincare. This brand made a great first impression so I asked Carol (the founder) if she would like to introduce herself and products to my readers.

Tell us a little bit about how Pink & Green Organic Skincare began? 
Pink & Green came into being in April 2014 when holistic therapist Carol Aplin, from Swindon in Wiltshire, UK, decided to create a range of natural, organic oil-based skin care products. Carol has been an holistic therapist for seven years when she identified that many of her clients were becoming increasingly stressed which had a physical effect on their skin. 

Some years earlier, she’d learned how to formulate skin care products when she completed a course on using natural ingredients for the skin and body. At that time she toyed with the idea of creating her own skin care brand but didn't take it any further at that stage.

At the beginning of 2014, she started running workshops showing people how to enjoy the benefits of essential oils and carrier oils. She identified the fact that many people simply didn't know plants had benefits for the skin – something Carol had known and taken for granted throughout her life. Carol also realised people didn't know that oils can be used to clean your face and they didn't realise there are lots of chemicals and alcohols in facial cleansing which strips the skin and can actually lead to more skin problems. Natural oils cleanse the skin and provide balance. 

Last year, she came up with the idea of providing high quality, ethical, natural and organic skin care products by post. Overnight the idea for Pink&Green came into being. Pink was chosen to represent women, and green for the environment. Carol then conducted extensive market research including surveying women, creating focus groups and sending out samples for people to try the products and test the look and feel of the brand Pink&Green. It was officially launched in November 2014. 

Five words to describe your brand/products
Affordable, ethical and natural skincare

Why is natural and organic skincare important to you? 
We bombard our bodies with chemicals, not only inside but outside in our toiletries. Having grown up in the countryside I have a passion for the landscape and its beauty. What better way to combine the two. Respect for our planet and ourselves.

Pink & Green offers customers a skincare subscription box, what made you decide to offer this unique service?
Through my holistic work, I noticed a growing anxiety amongst my clients. They didn't seem to have quality time for themselves. Many were stressed, some had skin allergies or irritated skin. I thought that by providing a beautiful box of organic facial skincare products that arrived every six weeks through the post, would offer customers the opportunity to feel “hello gorgeous” every day. They also didn't have to rush to the stores to purchase new products as these would arrive as their previous skincare ritual ran out. 

What do you find most challenging when formulating products?
My impatience!! I listen to my customers and what’s important to them. I translate these ideas into my own thoughts; then in to the products I create. It takes time. I guess I am childlike and get very excited about a new formulation. I have to be patient with the process of testing it; gaining feedback from focus groups; designing packaging etc. It is always worthwhile!

What have been the highs and/or lows of establishing Pink & Green?
It’s very exciting once you have your formulation; you've had it approved and registered – then you can bottle it and package it – the pretty bit of the journey. Also, my customers reactions to what I have made. Love it!!

Lows – sometimes an idea takes a while to make it on to paper. Things whirl around for a long while at times before they become workable. Creativity is a journey that has many facets; it is so part of yourself and your own personality.

What does the future hold for Pink & Green? 
Already Pink & Green Skincare is finding it’s way on to the shelves of health stores and organic farm shops, as well as customers purchasing the skincare ritual by post. It is my ambition to sell through Liberty’s, John Lewis and The National Trust.

Do you have any skincare tips to share with readers? 
Treat your body to nutritious food, hydrate well and use natural skincare products. Avoid harsh chemicals by checking labels and asking questions of shopkeepers about their products’ ingredients.

Feed your skin from the inside with healthy produce. Feed your skin from the outside with natural products. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and receives the liquid you drink last. So, to ensure your skin is in optimum health it needs feeding too, from the inside as well as the outside.

.....end of interview.......

30 October 2013

autumn leaves

The lovely Tania of
Bow Tied Beauty and Nicole of Eco Chic Beauty Diva tagged me in this I Love Fall Tag.

Favourite Fall lip product?
You all know I don't do make up so my answer to this one is Crazy Rumors lip balms. 

Favourite Fall Nail Polish? 
Another tough one for me as I only wear nail polish on my toes in summer. I'm someone who likes girlie colours, I would wear pink and glittery all year around. The Zoya PixieDust Fall collection looks very pretty (I saw them on a blog but I can't find the post to give you credit, sorry) - EDIT it was Amber's Beauty Talk

Favourite Starbucks Fall Drink?
It doesn't have to be Starbucks but I love hot chocolate (dairy free of course!)

Favourite Fall Candle?
I fail miserably at this one as I only own two candles but my Boujies Cranberry & Nutmeg definitely has an Autumn/Winter/Christmas scent.

Favourite Fall Scarf or Accessory?
I always have a scarf, recently I picked up a lovely one from Dorothy Perkins which I can't stop wearing. 

Haunted house, haunted hay ride, or haunted corn maze?
I don't do scary, I hate ghost & witches and horror movies. 

Favourite Halloween movie?
My answer is identical to Tania and Nicole - Hocus Pocus 

Favourite candy to eat on Halloween?
I like candy/sweets all year round :-) 

What are you dressing up as for Halloween?!
I'm boring so this ain't going to happen!

What is your Favourite thing about Fall?
I have to say I'm a Summer baby but I do think the leaves changing colours on the trees can be very beautiful. 

I tag....

Bright Town Girl
Make Up Etc
Hello Purple Clouds
Small Bits of Loveliness

and anyone else who would like to take part.

Sarah x

7 June 2011

I thought I would take a day off from product reviews and focus on something else, so I opted for a Q&A. I figured you might like to get to know me a little better.

Your favourite bag that you own - I'm not really a collector of bags but over the years I've always gravitated towards Nica handbags and have owned a few of them. 

Anything Hello Kitty - Yes, sorry but I'm totally guilty of owning a few Hello Kitty trinkets

Your Favourite animal - Dogs and Rabbits, both of which I have/had as pets 

Music you like - My collection is very varied but my favourites at the moment Diane Birch, Lissie, Samantha Shelton, The Mummers. I have also been a long time fan of Ben Lee

Your favourite beauty guru - I'm a follower of vloggers and bloggers alike but I don't have a stand out because everyone is a guru in this community, we all have our unique qualities.

Your favourite lip stick - I only have a few lipsticks but I'd probably say Red Apple Secrets 

What makes you happy? - Travel, food, Family, friends and blogging

Place where you want to live - Melbourne Australia, I was lucky enough to spend a year in OZ and I feel in love with Melbourne

Your favourite food - Thai, Ice Cream, Toast with Vegemite, Sticky Toffee Pudding is my go to dessert.

Your favourite skincare product - so many to choose from but anything from Odylique is a winner with me, I adore the Creamy Coconut Cleanser, Gentle Herb Shampoo and Superfruit Concentrate. 

Your favourite drink - Ice Tea and Mojitos

Your favourite nail polish - I actually rarely paint my nails so this question I can't answer, in terms of colours I like natural and delicate tones

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