We love (caps – LOVE!) Mel Millis’ plantable wild flower seed packaging – have Charlie Dimmock and Sarah Raven seen these? Tracey Foy, who founded this award-winning artisan skincare brand came up with the idea while gardening – she’s a keen gardener herself.
You simply plant the gift bags embedded with sprinkled seeds in the ground, then wait for your little crop of wild flowers to bloom.
An eco genius moment – plantable gift bags embedded with wild flower seeds
Mel Millis is still a young brand, but that hasn’t stopped Tracey picking up a Janey Lee Grace Platinum Award this year – and a Bronze FreeFrom Skincare Award earlier this year, as well.
There was a lot of love around from the green beauty bloggers in particular when her original capsule collection launched. A carefully edited collection of intelligently-formulated face oils/serums, body oils, tonics and cleansers, the original Mel Millis range features skin-reviving duos like Baobab and Immortelle (the “everlasting” flower with potent anti-aging oil that L’Occitane made famous) Jojoba and Evening Primrose and Rosehip and Pomegranate.
Everything in the garden is beautiful…Tracey has created skincare to “garden our skin” with
But it’s all about the new Phytonutrient Qi collection this week and before we dive into it, it’s worth noting that Mel Millis’ serums contain organic CO2 plant extracts which are the purest form and designed to feed the skin with exceptionally high concentrations of actives to maintain a healthy, well balanced structure. It’s not just about what’s in a pot, it’s how the ingredients are “delivered”.
Tracey intentionally created a range of rich, concentrated products which last a long time as a tiny amount goes a long way – think of them like cashmere blankets for the extreme weather conditions winter normally throws at us. Let’s not forget central heating, lovely to wake up to in our bath robe and slippers, but it’s a “hidden dehydrator”.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW PHYTONUTRIENT QI RANGE
Four new products have just launched for AW14/15:
Phytonutri Qi Plankton Skin Remedy Cleanser
99% organic, 1% natural with Hyaluronic Acid, Nutmeg, Sprulina, Green Tea Extract, Ginseng, Cocoa and Moroccan Laval Clay
Infused with Vanilla and Rose Petal Powder
A special blend of powdered ingredients, Phytonutri Qi Plankton Skin Remedy Cleanser works to restore brightness and increase elasticity and firmness, while actively reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
How to use: Sprinkle a small amount of powder into the palm of your hand. Add a few drops of water to form a paste, apply to skin, then rinse away.
The Ritual As A Mask: Mix as above, leave for 10 minutes, gently wipe away using an organic muslin cloth.
Phytonutri Qi Energising MM Face Peel
Designed to be used once a week, this remineralising face mask fortifies skin while glycolic acid allows the active ingredients of hyaluronic acid and plant extracts to penetrate cells, boosting collagen levels and skin’s natural density.
The new Qi Face Peel contains Mel Millis’ namesake ingredient, honey, alongside Glycolic Acid obtained from Muscovado Sugar, natural enzyme-produced Hyaluronic Acid, Amino Acid Peptides, Beta Carotene, Vitamins K and B, obtained from Sea Plant Extracts.
The Peel focuses on remineralising and strengthening the skin, plumping up fine lines and wrinkles with its protective and rejuvenating properties. Tracey points out that Glycolic Acid is the most important Alpha Hydroxy Acid, because it’s the most bioavailable. It allows the active ingredients of Hyaluronic Acid to penetrate the epidermis and act on the living cells, increasing both collagen levels and skin density.She also adds citrus oils to help optimise the results, so skin is left smoother, softer and feeling re-energised.
Best way to use: Apply to the face and neck and leave for 10 minutes. Using the organic muslin cloth provided, soaked in warm water, remove by gently wiping the skin, once removed, spritz the face with a mist tonic and apply moisturiser as normal.
Phytonutri Qi Enriching Sea Plant Jelly
Flooded with antioxidants, the new Phytonutri Qi Sea Plant Jelly is rich in Amino Acid Peptides and contains the beauty ingredient L’Occitane based a whole range on – Immortelle, the “everlasting” flower. With added Frankincense and Rose oils, the Sea Jelly is designed to restore and rejuvenate the skin’s elasticity. Pumpkin and Arctic Cranberry Seed extracts and Hyaluronic Acid reinforce its revitalising and moisture-retaining properties – and you just need a tiny amount – use it as concentrated ‘skin food’ base, before applying moisturiser.
How to use the Sea Plant Jelly: Apply a pea size drop to finger tips. Massage into slightly dampened skin after spritzing with a mist tonic, moisturise as normal.
Immortelle
.. and completing the new foursome:
Phytonutri Qi Enhancing Arctic Essence
Tracey chose 5 of the most effective skincare plant extracts known to (wo)man for her new facial elixir, including arctic cranberry and arctic blackcurrant extracts, with organic frankincense, patchouli and rose oils to stimulate cells and help repair any damage caused by the internal and external ageing processes.
EVERY product in the new Phytonutrient Qi range is 99% organic (or higher) and this facial oil tops the lot at 100% certified organic.
Seabuckthorn, camelia, pumpkin, lavender and rosemary oils and extracts add extra clout to what is an extremely concentrated formula – this is a very luxe formula and the high number of precious oils are reflected in the price. £85/30ml.
How to use: Add a couple of drops to your fingertips and work in, in gentle circular motions.
The new Phytonutrient Qi collection starts at £48 (Face Peel and Sea Plant Jelly) and you can delve deeper into this lovely launch at:
Melmillis.co.uk
