16 July 2019

The 2019 Free From Skincare Awards Shortlist is Announced
This year judging for the Free From Skincare Awards was an interesting challenge for those of us around the table. In the mix of our usual considerations was the new EU Commission guidelines surrounding free from claims. According to Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013 claims on cosmetic products should conform to the following common criteria: 1. Legal compliance 2. Truthfulness 3. Evidential support 4. Honesty 5. Fairness 6. Informed decision-making.

19 June 2020

The Free From Skincare Awards 2020 Shortlist is Announced
Wow can you believe this is the ninth year in which I share with you the Free From Skincare Awards shortlist. I'm a long time supporter of these awards because I seek skincare which is free from certain ingredients because of multiple allergies and eczema. Of course this year the testing stage of the awards has taken place in lockdown which brings some challenges to the team but they have successfully pulled through and we now have an amazing shortlist of over 200 products from 120 brands. I'm always surprise that with my extensive knowledge of brands there are name on the list that are new to me. It's wonderful to see how much the marketplace for natural skincare has grown over the years.

The Free From Skincare Awards were founded in 2012 by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson – an expert in free from and director of the Free From Food Awards – and Alex Gazzola – a writer specialising in allergies and free from – to encourage and reward manufacturers of skincare products that are ‘free from’ many of the allergens, ingredients, additives and fragrances associated with skin sensitivities, health issues, as well as ethical, personal and environmental concerns. This year’s Awards are sponsored by Lyonsleaf, previous winners of twenty medals, including five gold, during the history of the Awards.

Awards director Alex Gazzola says “The soap bars in particular were put through their paces. It was especially challenging for our testers, some of whom were NHS workers, to adapt and manage their skincare routines, especially those with caring and home-schooling responsibilities. The pampering products, such as face masks, bath jellies and even a night cream for feet, were particularly valued, both for their skin benefits, and for their therapeutic ones.”

The soap category is the one where majority of the entrants are new to to me. Everyone is deserving of their place but you'll spot that Lily & Rabbit and The Kentish Soap Company were successful in getting three products each onto the shortlist.

Overall the leading brands with six shortlisted products each are Tropic – overall Champions back in 2014 for their Smoothing Cleanser – and first-time participant Codex Beauty. I'd also like to congratulate familiar brands who have recently featured on my blog - Balmonds, Skin Genius, Naturekissd, Odylique, LouLou Belle Skincare, Lucky Cloud Skincare, Lucy Bee, Pamoja, Solo Skin London and Nature's Kitchen.

The Shortlist can be viewed at the Free From Skincare Awards site - freefromskincareawards.co.uk - shortlist 2020 and Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will be announced online at the end of July or early August.

Sarah x

12 March 2014

Free From Skincare Awards & The Allergy & Free From Show 2014
Picture taken by me at The Allergy & Free From Show 2013 - click here to view blog post

Lets talk about the Free From Skincare Awards and The Allergy & Free From Show because my inbox is full to the brim with press releases about them. You know I love to brag about being a judge for last year Free From Skincare Awards. I was excited to hear that entries for this years awards have increased. Apparently a record number of products have been submitted, over 260 from 100+ brands. Who said natural and free from skincare was hard to find?

“The quality and breadth of this year’s entries has taken us all by surprise,” says Alex Gazzola, the FreeFrom Skincare Awards Co-ordinator, “and over half the brands are first-time entrants. Both the standard and volume demonstrate just how fast the ‘free from’ and natural skincare sector is growing and improving.”

The presentation of the winners of the Awards, which are sponsored by NATorigin and Spiezia, will take place at the Allergy & Free From Show in Olympia on the afternoon of the 4th July. The Allergy & Free From Show is no longer a standard alone event. It is run alongside V Delicious and this year the new Love Natural, Love Organic show. Basically, everything I blog about in one room - skincare, vegan/vegetarian food, allergies/intolerances and free from food. Now you can understand why I get so excited about it. Everyone makes fun of my old lady trolley that I take with me to the show but it's always full to bursting come the end of the day. Most the time you can get your hands on the items which you have been begging supermarkets and local stores to stock.

If you would like to visit the show in London (4-6 July 2014), FREE tickets can be downloaded via the following link. No catch to this and it's not an affiliated link.

Sarah x

1 February 2021

2021 Free From Skincare Awards to open 1st February
(unpaid/press release)

Positivity is what we need for 2021 so let's celebrate the tenth annual Free From Skincare Awards will open to entries on 1st February. I support these awards because a "free from" lifestyle has been part of me since childhood. I need to avoid pesky allergens some of which are present in skincare. I assume many people probably don't look beyond the matter of food allergies and often forget that skincare can be problematic for some people. You may also fall under the "free from" umbrella for lifestyle choices e.g Veganism or Religion.

I recommend following The Free From Awards on social media as that's where you will locate general news, entrant introductions and eventually winner announcements (in June). The Awards pride themselves on their fairness, rigour and transparency, and have been running a #KnowYourAwards campaign on Instagram throughout January to answer in-depth questions about the Awards, offering ‘behind the scenes’ insights into testing protocols, judging, decision-making and much more.

"No brand should be in the dark about our procedures and processes, nor the principles underpinning them. There are many awards out there, and we feel it’s important that skincare brands, especially in these tough times, have full understanding of what ours actually stand for — and what the many benefits of participation will be - Awards’ Director Alex Gazzola"

There are sixteen product categories this year which includes two new categories for deodorants and toners, waters and spritzes.
 
Previous winners of the Best Overall Free From Skincare Product were:

* Uoga Uoga’s Intensive Care Day Cream (2020)
* Weleda’s Skin Food Body Butter (2019)
* Harborist’s Balm-Gel Cleanser (2018)
* Benecos’s Lip Balm (2017)
* Kinvara Skincare’s Absolute Cleansing Oil (2016) 
* Bloom Remedies’ Men’s Daily Moisture Care (2015)
* Tropic Skincare’s Smoothing Cleanser (2014)
* Barefoot Botanicals’ Face and Body Rescue Cream (2013)
* Qsilica’s Remove Make-up and Grime Cleansing Gel (2012)

Brands sold and distributed in the UK, Ireland and Europe are eligible to participate in the Free From Skincare Awards. The key dates you need to note are 

* Entries close 21st March
* Finalists revealed in May
* Winners announced in June

And for information on rules, terms, conditions and how to enter, visit www.freefromskincareawards.co.uk

24 July 2020

Free From Skincare Awards 2020 Winners Announced
I'm so pleased that the Free From Skincare Awards were able to go ahead even under difficult circumstances. This year I attended a socially distanced judging session and got my hands on the shortlisted products for Hair Care and Eye Care. I have supported these awards over others because it is not a popularity contest and allows entrants to win on performance rather than voting. Products are put to use and tested for a month and the tester feedback then helps determine a shortlist. Next step is to put the products in front of judges who look at every aspect of the product (including testers comments) and reach a verdict to help decide the medalists. Smaller indie brands can prove they are just as worthy as well known larger ones. Over the years I've seen brands gain a huge confidence boost from winning and they go on to grow and excel in their business. A perfect example of this would be this years sponsors, Lyonsleaf.

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.

6 June 2021

The 2021 Free From Skincare Awards Finalists are Announced
It's been a bumper year for the Free From Skincare Awards with around 250 products making it through to the Final stage. The Finalists were decided by a team of independent testers, each with sensitive or problem skin, or with an interest in non-mainstream skincare products, who have been putting entries through their paces.

I'm a supporter of these awards because they are dedicated to celebrating cosmetics 'free from' ingredients which consumers, such as myself, choose or need to avoid. You'll spot some familiar brands on the list of Finalists, their products often feature on my blog - Annwyn, Balmonds, BAO, Eden Days, Ermana, Lily & Rabbit, Lucky Cloud Skincare, Lyonsleaf, Maison Meunier, Minimalist Skincare, Odylique.

Never in ten years have we had higher average scores in the Awards than this year,” says Awards director Alex Gazzola. “The vast majority of products performed well or exceptionally well, and it has been an almost impossible task to narrow the field down. All finalists deserve their places.

Amongst the familiar names are lots of 'new to me' brands which I've included in the photo above - Cacao Pow, Black Palm, Soft Paws Cosmetics, So Natural, The Natural Beauty Pot, Zero Soap

Finalists now go through to judging sessions, with panels made up of leading industry figures, including beauty journalists, bloggers, consultants, brand owners and formulators. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in all 16 categories — plus additional awards for Best Free From Skincare Brand, Best Free From Achievement, and of course Best Overall Free From Skincare Product — will be announced online at the beginning of July.

If you'd like to browse the List of Finalists it can be viewed at the Free From Skincare Awards site.

Sarah x

14 March 2019

The eighth annual Free From Skincare Awards are now open
The eighth annual Free From Skincare Awards are now open with plenty of changes!

As you may know I'm a long term supporter (and judge) for The Free From Skincare Awards so I'm always happy to shout about it to readers and brands in the hope it catches your interest. For those of us who manage skin conditions, allergies and ethical choices 'free from' skincare can make all the difference to our lives. Speaking from an eczema prospective, after years of suffering, a switch in body wash and shampoo changed my skin and made my daily routine manageable.

The Awards – which celebrate products 'free from' some of the allergens and other ingredients many consumers now avoid – feature fourteen categories, including new categories for Lip Care, incorporating both lipsticks and lip balms, and for Eye Care, incorporating eye make-up and eye creams.

7 July 2018

Winners announced in seventh Free From Skincare Awards
Thursday afternoon I was in London for the Free From Skincare Awards Winners Announcement and Networking Event. Long time readers will know this is an award I'm very passionate about and for the past six years I've assisted with judging. I'm not a full time blogger so I book time off work every year to take part, that's how enthusiastic I am about the Awards. Also may I just say I declare any conflict of interest if a brand I have worked/working with ends up on the judging table.

3 April 2022

Free From Skincare Awards 2022 are now open for entries
(Press Release)

Did you know that the eleventh Free From Skincare Awards opened to entries on 21st March?

Over the years I've been a judge on these awards and I've seen many brands expand and improve under the guidance and feedback they receive from participating. Previous winners of the Best Overall Free From Skincare Product were:

* Holos’s This is More Get Better Butter (2021)

* Uoga Uoga’s Intensive Care Day Cream (2020)

* Weleda’s Skin Food Body Butter (2019)

* Harborist’s Balm-Gel Cleanser (2018)

* Benecos’s Lip Balm (2017)

* Kinvara Skincare’s Absolute Cleansing Oil (2016)

* Bloom Remedies’ Men’s Daily Moisture Care (2015)

* Tropic Skincare’s Smoothing Cleanser (2014)

* Barefoot Botanicals’ Face and Body Rescue Cream (2013)

* Qsilica’s Remove Make-up and Grime Cleansing Gel (2012)

What's it all about? The Free From Skincare Awards celebrate the best cosmetic products ‘free from’ some of the allergens and other ingredients many consumers wish to or need to avoid. This year there will be sixteen product categories, including a special awards for Best Brand, for Free From Achievement and a new award for Best Labelling.

Awards’ Director Alex Gazzola says “A Best Labelling Award is long overdue. We’ll be looking for brands and products which demonstrate excellence in labelling — be it in communicating ingredients, instructions for use, suitability, and any allergen guidance or ‘free from’ statements, if used. Those with sensitive skin or who avoid certain ingredients rely on clarity in labelling, and we’ll be rewarding the very best.”

Who can participate? These awards are open to brands sold and distributed in the UK, Ireland and Europe. Entries close 3rd May. The Finalists are revealed in June, and the Winners are announced in July. For information on rules, terms, conditions and how to enter see freefromskincareawards.co.uk

25 June 2023

‘Little Bottle of Italian Magic’ wins 2023 Free From Skincare Awards
As many of you know I decided to retire the blog at the end of last year. So why am I posting again? well I thought it was only right that perhaps the final blog post should go to the one skincare awards that I have supported since 2012. 

I've given my time to the Free From Skincare Awards because they have always encouraged and rewarded manufacturers of skincare products that are ‘free from’ some of the allergens, ingredients, additives and artificial fragrances. I'm the type of consumer that these awards help. Many of you know I have been managing eczema and allergies since childhood.

So this year it's an Italian skincare brand by the name of OliPhenolia that has been crowned overall champion and awarded Best Free From Skincare Product 2023 for their Intensive Serum.

“Became a go-to product,” said one delighted product tester. “It was soothing, comforting, anti-inflammatory, and helped calm areas that were irritated, red and patchy. Kind to the skin and a pleasure to use.”

The hypoallergenic formulation — dubbed “a little bottle of Italian magic” by another tester — is based on polyphenol-rich ingredients produced from olives grown at Fattoria La Vialla, a Demeter-certified biodynamic farm in Tuscany, with added skin-beneficial compounds such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
The Best Free From Brand Award was successfully defended by 2022 winners, North Wales’s Rhug Wild Beauty
The Best Free From Brand Award was successfully defended by 2022 winners, North Wales’s Rhug Wild Beauty, who repeated their feat of last year in winning two golds and three silvers in the individual product categories.

Free from fragrance, animal-sourced ingredients and food allergens, OliPhenolia’s winning serum beat stiff competition from other category winners, including products by first-time participants Plantopia and Latvian brand Etide.

“It is rare for a few-ingredient product which is essentially allergen-free to perform quite as strongly as the Intensive Serum did,” said Awards Director, Alex Gazzola. “One of the highest scorers with testers and with some of the strongest ‘free from’ attributes across the entire competition … Judges felt it was the clear champion.”

All winners and medallists can be seen at www.freefromskincareawards.co.uk

23 February 2017

2017 Free From Skincare Awards - Open for Entries

Shout out to all the brands ever featured on my blog......Have you entered the sixth annual FreeFrom Skincare Awards? 

Those of you who have been reading my blog for years will know I enjoy supporting these awards. I'm passionate about celebrating skincare which caters for those of us with concerns about what we put onto our bodies. The Free From Skincare Awards seek out products with strong natural qualities, formulated for skin health, or which are suitable for people with sensitivities and allergies. They reward beneficial ingredients, the absence of undesirable ingredients, and clear, accurate labelling – as well as strong performance.

This year there are fourteen categories, including Family Skincare (sponsored by longstanding supporters NATorigin), and a new Lip Care category. In addition, there are also special awards for Free From Achievement, as well as for Best Brand, and Best Overall Free From Product.

Previous winners of the Best Overall FreeFrom Skincare Product were:

Kinvara Skincare’s Absolute Cleansing Oil (2016)
Bloom Remedies’ Men’s Daily Moisture Care (2015)
Tropic Skincare’s Smoothing Cleanser (2014)
Barefoot Botanicals’ Face and Body Rescue Cream (2013)
Qsilica’s Remove Make-up and Grime Cleansing Gel (2012)

The 2017 Awards opened for entries on 1st February and close on 17th March. Month-long testing of all entered products takes place during March and April. Final panel judging sessions are in May, with presentations to winners taking place at the Love Natural Love You Show, Olympia, on 7th July.

The FreeFrom Skincare Awards were founded by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, director of the Free From Food Awards, now in their tenth year, and Alex Gazzola, deputy editor of SkinsMatter.com and a writer specialising in allergies and sensitivitiesThe Awards will be run in association with partners, The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible, The Love Natural Love You Show and Formula Botanica.

Details of categories, rules, entry criteria, sponsorship, publicity and previous years’ winners are at www.freefromskincareawards.co.ukTo be added to the mailing list for entry forms, or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact the team on awards@skinsmatter.com

10 June 2017

Shortlist for the 2017 Free From Skincare Awards

I was absolutely delighted to be asked back for my 5th year assisting with judging for the FreeFrom Skincare Awards. Blogging isn't my career so I get in early with holiday forms and book the day off from work. Not only is it a fun day hanging out with everyone but I also learn so much and as part of the process I get to slather myself in lots of products (although we are not judging on performance at this stage but perks of the job!). I always have my eye out for skincare that meets my high standards and requirements as a consumer with multiple allergies and skin issues.

This year almost 200 products from more than 100 brands have made the shortlist. Five brands lead the way with four shortlisted products each – AA Skincare, Bloomtown Botanicals, Feisc, Gaia and Neantog (The Irish Nettle Company). The shortlist follows a period of intensive testing of all entries by a 90-strong team of dedicated Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible and Skins Matter testers, each with sensitive or problem skin, or with a keen passion for natural and ‘free from’ skincare.

I'm of the opinion this is a very tough award so everyone who gets to this stage should be very proud of their achievements. We scrutinise every product for ingredients and labelling. Alex's article on some of the issues we faced this year makes for interesting reading. I'm often disappointed when you see fantastic feedback for a product but the brand lets themselves down on labelling. I've mentioned many times about the importance of cosmetic regulations for INCI, fragrance allergens and marketing an eczema cream with borderline medical claims but still people are making mistakes.

This year’s Awards are supported by sponsors NATorigin (Family Skincare category), Beauty Kitchen (Men’s Grooming), Bare & Beyond (Face Care (Leave On)) and Green People (Lip Balms). Winners and runners-up in all 14 categories – plus additional awards for Best FreeFrom Skincare Brand, Best FreeFrom Achievement, and of course Best Overall FreeFrom Skincare Product – will be announced at a presentation at the Love Natural, Love You show at Olympia on 7th July 2017, with special guest Janey Lee Grace.

"Half the brands on the Shortlist are first-time entrants to the Awards, and many are new and small start-ups,” says Kirsty Mawhinney, Awards Administrator. “This reflects the degree to which ‘free from’ and natural skincare is constantly growing and improving."

"It’s great to see this sustained growth,” adds Alex Gazzola, Awards Co-ordinator. “These products are invaluable to consumers with allergies, problem skin conditions, religious sensibilities and ethical or environmental concerns. The judges have had a tough time deciding on winners!"

The Shortlist can be viewed at the Free From Skincare Awards site.

I look forward to seeing you all at the awards ceremony in July. 

Sarah x

22 May 2012

Winners of the Free From Skincare Awards 2012
(not sponsored, from press release)

I mentioned the Free From Skincare Awards in my post about the Allergy & Free From Show. The awards launched this year and are run by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson editor of FoodsMatter.com and Alex Gazzola, deputy editor of SkinsMatter.com and a health writer specialising in allergies. The idea behind the awards is to encourage and reward manufacturers of free from skincare.

Q Silica Remove Make up and Grime Cleansing Gel was announced as the Best Free From Skincare Product 2012.  This is a brand I am not familiar with so I am keen to learn more about this product.  I am delighted to hear that Q Silica is an Australian brand, we all know how much I adore skincare from Down Under.  Q Sillica products are not tested on animals and free from parabens, sulphates, petrochemicals and synthetic additives. 

Category Winners 

Body Care and Hair Care Products
Gold award - Spiezia Calendula Ointment
Silver award - Barefoot SOS Face and Body Rescue Cream & Salcura DermaSpray  
Bronze award - Gentle Green Ecz-tend Soothing Cream, Miessence Organic Foaming Hand Soap & Salcura Zeoderm Skin Repair Moisturiser 

Make up
Gold award - Fresh Therapies Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover 
Silver award - Essential Care Eye/Lip Liner 
Bronze award - Bellapierre Mineral Eye Shadow 

Face care Products  
Gold award - Q Silica Remove Make up and Grime Cleansing Gel
Silver award - Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream & Faith in Nature Intensive Moisturising Cream 
Bronze award - Borealis Organic Skincare Calendula Daily Defence Cream, Inlight Ecz Easy Calendula and Plantago Soothing Balm, Salcura Antiac Acne Clearing Spray & Sukin Moisture Restoring Night Cream

I am pleased to see some of my favourite skincare brands winning an award. I have reviewed products from Barefoot SOSSalcura,  Borealis  and  InlightWhen people ask me for product recommendations for eczema I always tell them to start with Barefoot SOS and Salcura. Other brands on the winner list are familiar to me – Antipodes, Faith In Nature, Sukin, Gentle Green, Missence and Spieza.  

Congratulations to all the award winners. I am pleased that Free From Skincare is finally getting the recognition it deserves and I look forward to trying your products for myself.

Sarah x

7 June 2013

Free From Skincare Awards 2013 Winners
Do you remember me mentioning that I was asked to assist in 
Judging Stage 2 for the Free From Skincare Awards? Well, products were put through a testing stage and now the time has come to announce the winners.

2013 WINNERS

Overall Winner – Best ‘Free From’ Skincare Product
Barefoot SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream
(for Hand and Body Care ‘Leave On’ Category) 

Runners-up
Eve of St Agnes Nourishing Cleansing Cream
Gentle Green Soothing Cream
Suti Rejuvenate Organic Face Oil
Thea Age Revival Dream Crème Exfoliator

Best ‘Free From’ Skincare Brand
Gold: Neal’s Yard Remedies
Silver: Suti
Bronze: Green People / Botanicals

Category Winners

Babies, Kids and Mums
Gold: Neal’s Yard Remedies Mothers Balm
Silver: Green People Mother and Baby Rescue Balm 
Bronze: Inner-Soul Organics Mum’s Special Breast Soothing Oil
Bentley Organic Mother & Baby Hand Sanitizer

Men’s Grooming
Gold: Live Native Head to Toe for Men Remedial Moisturiser
Silver: Bathing Beauty Up Close Men’s Shave Oil
Bronze: Spiezia Organics Nourishing Face Balm

Hair Care
Gold: Essential Care Gentle Herb Shampoo
Silver: Suncoat Natural Hair Calming Serum
Bronze: Fushi Wellbeing Really Good Hair Oil

Hand and Bodycare (‘Leave on’)
Gold: Barefoot SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream (Overall Winner) 
Silver: Alison Claire Mango Body Butter
Blend Collective Unwinding Hand Cream
Organic Surge Lavender Meadow Hand & Nail Cream
Bronze: Elixirs of Life Gardeners Life Hand Cream
Mary Elizabeth Spearmint and Tea Tree Nurture Balm

Hand and Bodycare (‘Take Off’)
Gold: Le Belle Skincare Detoxifying Body Polish 
Silver: Dr Bronner’s Magic 18-in-1 Hemp Almond Pure-Castile Soap
Bronze: Pevonia Ligne Tropicale De-Ageing Papaya-Pineapple Saltmousse
Buddha Beauty Lemongrass & Bergamot Organic Body Scrub

Oils and Oil Serums
Gold: Suti Rejuvenate Face Oil 
Silver: Laidbare From Dusk til Dawn Vitamin C Serum
Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil
Bronze: Green People Anti-Ageing Facial Oil
Inlight Daily Face Oil

Make-up
Gold: Herbfarmacy Nail and Cuticle Oil 
Silver: NATorigin Pencil Eye Liner
Neal’s Yard Remedies Lipstick (Pomegranate)
Bronze: Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain
NATorigin Lengthening Mascara

Face Care (‘Take Off’)
Gold: Eve of St Agnes Nourishing Cleansing Cream
Thea Age Revival Dream Crème Exfoliator
Silver: Botanicals Rose and Camellia Cleansing Melt
MuLondon Organic Fragrance-Free Foaming Face Wash
Saaf Pure Face Cleanser
Suti Cleanse Facial Cleansing Balm
Bronze: AEOS Cleansing Oil de-Maq
A’kin Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One
Angela Langford Clean Sweep Cleansing Balm
Circaroma Skin Gentle Cleansing Drops Rose Otto and Aloe Leaf

Face Care (‘Leave On’)
Gold: Barefoot SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream
Silver: Antipodes Natural Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream
Green People Scent Free 24-Hour Cream
Bronze: Sukin Sensitive Facial Moisturiser

Problem Skin
Gold: Gentle Green Soothing Cream
Silver: Botanicals Lavender and Camomile Botanical Balm
Herbfarmacy Skin Rescue Balm
Bronze: Live Native Everybody Every Day Low-allergenic Moisturiser

........................................

I am really pleased to see Barefoot SOS as overall winner, as I highly recommend it for eczema. There are many wonderful products and brands on the list that I enjoy using - Essential CareDr BronnerSuti, Alison Claire. I recently wrote a post about my experience judging for these awards so please do go and have a read of that. If you'd like further information about the Free From Skincare Awards then visit their website - www.freefromskincareawards.co.uk

This weekend is the Allergy & Free From show so you can expect a few more posts relating to this topic. It is the highlight of my year as the show (and these awards) are catering to consumers like me and bring more awareness to living with allergies.

Sarah x

7 February 2020

2020 Free From Skincare Awards opens 3rd February
(photo from 2019 FFSA judging panel)

Time has flown by and here I am announcing that the ninth annual Free From Skincare Awards are NOW open for entrants. I think I say this every year but I love these awards as they celebrate the best cosmetic products which happen to also be free from some of the allergens and other ingredients many consumers now wish to or need to avoid. *jumps up and down, waves hands* People like me are their intended target audience. My long list of allergies (to include Linalool and Methylisothiazolinone) and throw in living with Atopic eczema, Seborrhoeic Dermatitis and Urticaria are what lead me to explore the world of natural and organic skincare. I had a period in my life where I felt I was reacting to every mainstream brand and sometimes prescription creams.

12 July 2021

Winners announced in 2021 Free From Skincare Awards
My first big adventure this year was a joyful trip to London to once again participate in judging for the Free From Skincare Awards. Last Wednesday the winners were announced and it's a fantastic and well deserving group of brands across all categories.

Irish handmade skincare brand Holos Skincare has scoped the winning Best Free From Skincare Product for This is More Get Better Butter. “Scoring an average of 9.6 out of 10 with our product testers, Get Better Butter deserved the overall title this year,” said Awards director, Alex Gazzola. “The wonderful texture was admired by all, and the results reported were exceptional.”

Free from artificial fragrances, colours, animal-sourced ingredients, palm-oil derivatives and food allergens, Holos’s Get Better Butter was up against other successful category winners, including first-time participants Scence, Grace & Blumë and Made on the Chalk, and Award regulars Hairy Jayne, Weleda and Fiini Naturally.

The Best Free From Brand Award was shared between Lyonsleaf, winners of almost 30 medals in the history of the Awards, and Australian brand Eco by Sonya, who received a Gold and two Silvers with their three entries this year.

As a judge and blogger there are of course entrants to the awards that I cross paths with. Some of them I have suggested give consideration to participating each year. I don't always get to judge the categories they enter so when I see them scoop awards it's a lovely feeling. Congratulations to Minimalist Skincare, Wildefruit, Ermana, Lucky Cloud Skincare, Bowe Organics, BAO Skincare and Lily & Rabbit.

In honour of Plastic Free July, I would encourage you to explore the winners list because many of the brands have minimalistic and eco-friendly packaging. If like me you have an interest in Vegan skincare then several Vegan trademark holders are also on the winners list - Hairy Jayne, HAERScence Skincare, Queenie Organics, Crystal Spring, Bowe Organics, BAO Skincare, Little Soap Co, Beauty Kitchen and Rhug Wild Beauty.

A list of all Gold, Silver and Bronze winners can be found at freefromskincareawards.co.uk

Sarah x

23 June 2018

The Free From Skincare Awards 2018 Shortlist is Announced
Can you believe this is my sixth year participating in judging for the Free From Skincare Awards? Where has the time gone? I was honored to be invited back and had a interesting day seeing old favourites and discovering new brands. At the point where I become involved, products have already been put through intensive testing. Alongside tester feedback we then consider matters such as product innovation, practicality, free from and allergen awareness, labelling, ingredients, environmental and ethical awareness and value for money.

Almost 200 products from over 100 brands have made the shortlist of the seventh annual FreeFrom Skincare Awards. Leading the way with six shortlisted products in the 14 product categories are Bloomtown, followed by Lyonsleaf and Rosalena with five each, and Green People, Eminence Organic Skincare, Urban Veda, Bare Faced Skin and Kinvara Skincare with four. 

“We were excited by the innovation in products this year,” says Kirsty Mawhinney, Awards Administrator. “Among them were spirulina and beetroot-coloured kids’ bath bombs, solid shampoo cubes, an eyelash oil, a scalp hydrator for men, and a probiotic deodorant.”

“Every year the diversity of entries delights testers and judges,” adds Alex Gazzola, Awards Co-ordinator. “But this year the standard excelled, which is terrific news for those consumers with allergies, problem skin conditions, religious sensibilities and ethical or environmental concerns who rely on free from skincare products.”

This year’s Awards are supported by sponsors NATorigin, Bare & Beyond, Organii, Organyc, Lavera and partners Formula Botanica. Winners and runners-up in all 14 categories – plus additional awards for Best FreeFrom Skincare Brand, Best FreeFrom Achievement, and of course Best Overall FreeFrom Skincare Product – will be announced at an invitation-only awards presentation and networking event held in the Pillar Room, London Olympia, on 5th July 2018. 

Sarah x

8 July 2017

Winners announced in sixth Free From Skincare Awards

I'm taking it easy at the moment so forgive the laziness of relying on press releases but my brain isn't properly back in gear following my surgery. My goodness it was a trip on the pain medication but I'm off them now and feeling a lot better.

So anyway, I'm here to give a shout out to my favourite awards. Yesterday the winners were announced for the Free From Skincare Awards, finally I no longer have to keep that secret as I knew the winners in some categories from helping with judging. I dragged my bum off the sofa put on some proper clothes (jeans not pajamas) and roped in my hubby to drive me up to the Love Natural, Love You show so I could see the presentation.

Benecos’s Classic Lip Balm won the Overall Award for Best Free From Skincare Product which might be a little surprising to some but I was on the panel judging this category and my thoughts mirror those of Alex Gazzola, Awards’ Co-ordinator “Judges were impressed with the product’s free from qualities, it has no beeswax, essential oils, nor food allergens, making it a great choice for vegans, allergy sufferers and those looking for fragrance free options.”

Cornish body and skincare brand Bloomtown took the prestigious Best Free From Brand Award, while Honesty’s Protect Nourishing Cleanse Balm won the Free From Achievement Award.

Among the 14 category winners were Rosalena’s Beauty & The Beast Face Oil, Green People’s Scent Free Shampoo, Living Naturally’s Oat Milk & Calendula Soapnut Soap, and Nyasa London’s Pure Glow Cleansing Balm.

A full list of all Gold, Silver and Bronze winners can be viewed on the wesbite. I definitely recommend taking a look as I regularly use it as a shopping list for finding new products. I already have my eye on a few!

I won't be writing up about the Allergy & Free From Show this year as I only spent about half an hour there before closing. My hubby did a whizz round and stocked me up with some of my favourites. I didn't want to push myself plus I'm suppose to be careful about lifting things, like I said it was my first day off the sofa exactly a week from my operation.

As always I love your comments, let me know if you visit the shows over this weekend or if you have spotted something on the winners list to buy.

Sarah x

31 January 2013

2013 Free From Skincare Awards
The Free From Skincare Awards 2013 is something which I am keen to support. I did cover the 2012 awards 
as they run alongside The Allergy & Free From Show.

These awards are important to people like me. They bring about awareness that consumers have concerns for the ingredients in their personal care products. It's not just about avoiding the synthetic ingredients, there are major allergens to consider. This year the awards have twelve categories including Babies, Kids, Teens & Mums-to-be, Men’s Grooming, Make up & Nail Care, Problem Skin and an award for Best Free From Skincare brand.

If you make free from products and would like to enter you need to hurry as the deadline is 15th February 2013. The Awards are run in association with The Green Beauty Bible, The Allergy & FreeFrom Show and Janey Lee Grace. For more information visit www.freefromskincareaward.co.uk.

If you are interested in attending The Allergy & Free From Show, it is being held at Olympia, London from 7-9 June 2013. Free tickets are available, no catches or affiliation, this is how I obtain my tickets for the show.

Sarah 

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