Hi September! Our 2020 Awards kick off this week – we’ll reveal the UK, US and AUSTRALIAN Judges shortly – so in honour of our March 2019 winners I’ve filtered out 6 products we’ve tested and would 100% recommend – all of these six entries won with flying colours.
In today’s mix we’ve got two very different but equally hardworking and lovely to use cleansers, a spectacular nature-infused serum, a really good, really affordable day cream, a sprinkling of ultra-shine cruelty-free lip glosses and a lovely English peppermint and poppyseed soap. (Peppermint is an antibacterial so this one’s useful for those flu bug months and great in the shower).
Here’s the line up, with why I’ve chosen each product today.
TROPIC SKINCARE SMOOTHING CLEANSER
Gosh this was/is a joy to use! Tropic have formulated the perfect light creamy cleanser with an olfactory hint of eucalyptus (think surroundsound “clean”). If you use Liz Earle’s Hot Cloth Cleanser then Tropic’s Smoothing Cleanser is at least equal if not better retailing at £16 and it comes a free ultra-soft bamboo cloth.
Side note: I have run out of this cleanser (now using Jane Scrivner’s Nourishing Cleanser for about the 100th time) but I kept Tropic’s bamboo cloth, it’s the one I’ll always use and I’ll never even look at a muslin cloth again. This one is so much nicer to use!
How to use
Lightly massage over the face (including eyes) directly on to dry skin then rise off. If you have makeup on, it’s worth applying again for an extra deep clean.
The camomile flower, coconut and cassave extract along with eucalyptus, grapefruit seed oil (not grapefruit) and sugar beet lactic acid all work so well together – it’s antibacterial yet very gentle.
Highly, highly recommended! I’m so glad this product hit my radar. If you buy it or already have it, let me know how you got on with it?
Tropic Skincare is one of the fastest-growing beauty companies in the UK – not surprised!
You can buy Tropic’s Smoothing Cleanser HERE
INGREDIENTS
English:
Chamomile Flower Infusion, Sweet Almond Oil, Golden Jojoba Oil, Coconut and Cassava Derived Emulsifiers, Plant Glycerin, Probiotic Derived Peptides, Coconut Extract, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Soy Lecithin, Organic Grapefruit Seed Extract, Vitamin E, Green Tea Extract, Essential Oils of Rosemary, Lemongrass and Eucalyptus, Plant Derived Preservatives, Sugar Beet Lactic Acid
INCI:
chamomilla recutita flower infusion, prunus amygdalus dulcis oil, simmondsia chinensis seed oil, cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, glycerin, lactobacillus ferment, cocos nucifera fruit extract, persea gratissima fruit oil, butyrospermum parkii seed butter, lecithin, citrus grandis seed extract, tocopherol, camellia sinensis leaf extract, rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil, cymbopogon flexuosus oil, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, sodium anisate, sodium levulinate, glyceryl caprylate, lactic acid, limonene*, linalool* *component of natural essential oils
BODHI & BIRCH SUPER25 BOTANICAL SERUM
There’s a very big skincare blogger (not mentioning any names) who says there’s no such thing as active skincare. (What?!!! What would you rather put on your face, synthetic, cheap, skin-clogging, inactive silicon-based dimethicone which coats your skin in a smooth “veil” essentially so it may look smooth(ing) but it’s doing less than zero – or (option B for botanical) energising, healing extracts from 25 super seeds, fruits, nuts and berry oils derived from nature herself?)
This blogger works with some of the world’s biggest brands (paid) and she’s not into natural beauty so sadly she’s missed out on the potent game-changing effects of phytobotanicals designed by nature. But each to their own, and back to this powerhouse serum.
This Super25 Serum is part of the new-ish Superfoods launch by B&B (check out the Tomato Cleanser!) and it’s one of the best examples of a virtually perfectly formulated brand with lashings of integrity.
B&B calls it a “supercharged botanical fusion” of the 25 ingredients on the INCI on the list below.
Bodhi & Birch was one of the first ever recipients of a Beauty Shortlist Award and the brand has gone from strength to strength and beyond since then.
Its founder Elijah is one of my favourite people in this industry: big-hearted, incredibly creative, a brilliant formulator with a deep love for nature.
INCI
°*Prunus Domestica (Plum) Kernel Oil, °*Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Oil, *Vaccinium Corymbosum (Blueberry) Seed Oil, *Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, *Coffea Arabica (Green Coffee) Seed Oil, °*Rosa Affinis Rubiginosa (Rosehip) Seed Oil, °*Opuntia Fiscus-Indica (Prickly Pear) Seed Oil, °*Passiflora Incarnata (Maracuja) Seed Oil, °*Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil, °*Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, °*Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, °*Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, °*Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, °*Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, °*Camellia Oleifera (Camellia ) Seed Oil, °*Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Seed Oil, °*Brassica Oleraceae (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Squalane (Olive), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), °*Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Nut Oil, °*Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, °*Nigella Sativa (Black Seed) Oil, °*Plukenetia Volubilis (Sacha Inchi) Seed Oil, °*Calodendrum Capense (Yangu) Seed Oil, °*Caryodendron Orinocense (Cacay) Seed Oil, °*Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Berry Oil, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10)
°Certified Organic *Cold-Pressed
100% Natural Ingredients of which
75.5% is Certified Organic
Suitable For Vegans
Not Tested On Animals
Read the reviews – it’s staggering what a difference this oil can make. £70/30ml
Discover Bodhi & Birch’s Super25 Botanical Serum HERE
NUDE BY NATURE MOISTURE INFUSION LIP GLOSS
We love natural Aussie brands!! And Nude by Nature’s one of them (also loved by red carpet, cruelty-free makeup artist Justine Jenkins (Fearne Cotton, Eleanor Tomlinson, Miranda Richardson, etc).
Justine is on our 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards panel again this year and she’s an ardent campaigner for cruelty-free beauty, as well as an ambassador for the Humane Society.
This lush lip gloss is heaven in a tube if you love a more natural lip gloss formula with 100-watt shine in varying shades of “nude” – I tend to have two of these on the go in different shades at any one time.
Yep, we eat our lipsticks and lip glosses so if you’re using a non-natural brand (which also tests on animals) it’s time to switch to a cruelty-free brand like Nude By Nature. (There are still a LOT of brands, mainly the big ones in dept stores, that test on animals. There is no reason whatsoever to do this kind of cruel testing! (Or ingest ingredients that your health and body will not thank you for).
The best time to throw a cruelty-free brand away (for good) is yesterday. The second best time is TODAY.
You can find Nude by Nature’s Moisture Infusion Lip Glosses are HERE
£19 each, lots of shades
JANE SCRIVNER SKINCARE NOURISHING CLEANSER
Wot?! If you don’t have at least one of British facialist Jane Scrivner’s stellar products in your bathroom, get one – you’ll be in for a complete treat.
Jane’s Nourishing Cleanser comes with a free cotton cloth
Legendary product and firm beauty insider favourite, Jane’s Nourishing Cleanser is a firm but soft to the touch golden balm full of divine things.
9 skin-nourishing oils go into this golden “all skin types” balm, and here’s why it’s so efficient at keeping skin hydrated. I use it as an overnight balm from time to time because you wake up with fresher, more plumped skin in the mornings.
INCI
Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Canarium Luzonicum Gum Nonvolatiles, Eucalyptus Radiata Leaf/Stem Oil, Olibanum, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Citronellol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool.
*naturally occurring in essential oils.
It also contains a tiny scoop and an ‘extra fluffy’ cotton mitt.
As Jane points out:
“Around 30% of our skins sebum is a natural wax ester, helping to kill germs and bacteria whilst creating a barrier for locking in moisture and protection. We start to lose this natural wax ester over time leaving our skin looking dry, tired and dull.
Jojoba Oil is a golden liquid wax that mimics the skins natural wax production and can penetrate deep into the skins layers to replenish and restore the Barrier Function”
At its heart is collagen and elastin promotion, and although this is essentially an “all ages” product if you are 40-ish I think you’ll love it. If you’re 50-ish you’ll adore it. And if you’re over 60 isn’t a must-try.
Although not designed as a multipurpose balm, I use it on my cuticles, lips and face when I’m travelling. I decant a little into a small pot, it almost always comes with me.
Getting cleansing right – finding the optimal cleanser for YOU – is the pillar of effective skincare. A great cleanser should leave your skin feeling super clean but not tight or squeaky or stripped, balanced, calmed, energised and ready for the day.
I can’t recommend this cleanser enough. Probably one of my top 5 or 10 skincare products – of all time.
TWO SIZES
£33/50ml
£46/100ml (this’ll last ages)
SHOP
Jane Scrivner’s Nourishing Cleanser in the UK here
USA – now available at BEAUTY HEROES
If you’re reading this in the States, you can now find Jane’s Nourishing Cleanser at Beauty Heroes (founder Jeannie Jarnot is celebrating 5 years this year and she’s on board as one of our USA judges this year for the 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards).
Beauty Heroes have just opened a brand new store in Novato, Marin County (SF) in California and if I could beam myself over, I’d spend about half a day swooning my way through the shelves. Jeannie has curated a beauty edit that is just superb – the store itself is light, calm, beautiful and very, very tempting!! If you’re heading that way, don’t miss it.
And from California…we’re heading to Ireland now.
KINVARA ACTIVE ROSEHIP DAY CREAM
I’ve followed this Irish brand for years now, during their re-branding (packaging) and new launches and hands down Kinvara’s a cert if natural formulas with pleasant price tags float your boat.
This is Kinvara’s version of the perfect day cream and pretty near perfect is it.
Sharing the Kinvara awards love with Rude Mag…
Texture – superb. Fresh, light but rich, and very hydrating, it’s a joy to use. I actually gave this product to a 25 yr old friend (one of the prettiest women I’ve ever known – men stop in the street and literally gawk at her). Great way to feel invisible! She’s a beautiful soul, too.
She’d tried a lot of moisturisers but wasn’t that happy with them – texture being one of the bugbears – and she texted me and said “Finally, I’ve found my perfect moisturiser. For life. Thank you Fi xx”
So!
The beauty of this one is it’s velvety and “plumping” but it sinks in, making nice base for makeup or a primer.
INCI
Aqua, Rosa rubiginosa (Rosehip) seed oil*, Sodium stearoyl lactylate, Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) seed oil*, Glyceryl stearate, Cetyl alcohol, Glycerine*, Tocopherol ( Vitamin E)*, Citrus limon (Lemon) peel oil*, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender)* oil, Sodium hyaluronate (Hyaluronic acid), Benzyl alcohol, salicyclic acid, sorbic acid, (Citral, Geranoil, Limonene, Linalool in essential oils). All plant based food grade emulsifiers & preservatives. *ORGANIC
I have a deep love for rosehip in skincare. It’s such a healing star. It calms, it helps fade scars, and its glowy orange oil is so pretty. Rosehip is precious.
I’ve had a shoulder problem so I think I’m cutting it short here (sorry!)
Prices vary slightly if you Google the product but it’s around the £23-26 mark for 60ml – definitely affordable and a treat worth trying if you’re in the mood for a new moisturiser.
DISCOVER Kinvara’s Active Rosehip Day Cream HERE
Last but not least (before my shoulder seizes up) is The Little Soap Company’s delicious Peppermint and Poppyseed Artisan Soap.
Artisan soaps are on the up and up at the moment, they’ve eclipsed their former Saturday fair status and are the new darlings of the beauty industry: lovely natural ingredients, long lasting, affordable and eco-friendly (note the packaging!)
I’ve started using soaps in the shower although it’s ages since I’ve had this one in the bathroom, but I still remember how good it smells (English Peppermint Oil) and the poppyseeds are a lovely body exfoliator while the coconut oil makes this soap so silky.
£3.99 – organic – lasts for ages – lathers nicely – lovely ingredients.
I think the man/men in your life would like it too.
SHOP: The Little Soap Company’s Peppermint & Poppyseed artisan soap HERE
If you haven’t tried any of these yet and decide to, let me know how you get on… x
