Natural Skincare Guide

A comprehensive list of my favourite natural and cruelty free brands and my favourite products.

 

I have been using natural skincare for around 10 years now and I’ve been 100% cruelty free for 6 years. I’ve tried and tested many brands and have settled on what works for me and would shout about these brands until the moon comes home.

I’m very much a simple person when it comes to skincare and I do get a lot of compliments on my skin so I must be doing something right! Of course, it is about what you put in your body too but think good skincare can definitely aid it. There is something so luxurious about a well made natural product - botanics can have such a beautiful mood setting feel and can be a real treat so you look forward to using it.

I’m always open to trying something new so the odd thing comes and goes but everything you see in these pictures are all I own in my home. Everything else was given away to charity or friends when it didn't work for me. I have a capsule wardrobe kinda approach to my skincare, it’s one in one out.

I’ve been so grateful to work with some of these brands, creating their photography, so while some of this is gifted please know I only keep what I really love and what I probably would have bought already. For clarity I’ve not been paid in any way for this post.

I am also committed to updating this post as I use and find new products therefore there maybe some removal of information and/or brands especially if their cruelty free status changes. .

Skincare and luxury treats ~ NEOM Organics

Pioneers of natural home scents and skincare, NEOM Organics have been producing products for over 12 years and are available in John Lewis and many other luxury stores. Their products are 100% clean ingredients and based on aromatherapy. I am in love with all of their products, the scents are divine and I highly recommend their home fragrances, especially the diffusers. In terms of skincare I swear by the Great Day Glow moisturiser for the summer which has SPF30 - the blend of rose, orange and peppermint is so uplifting.

I also love their bath and shower drops, the Tranquility one is perfect for a nighttime bath or shower. I love to use right at the end and do the deep breathing exercise recommended on the bottle taking in the botanical fragrance that really does make me feel calm! I then just rub onto my décolletage before hopping out of the bath/shower. Pure luxury.

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There is nothing like their intensive skin treatment candle. I save this for one of those nights when I really want to unwind - a proper pamper night of Calm in the bath and this afterwards! It’s made of a blend of high quality oils and cocoa seed butter that melts as it burns and then when you’re ready to use you just blow the candle out, wait for the wick to stop smoking and then pour the oils into your hands and massage into your skin. Honestly - it is pure bliss, the smell is absolutely beautiful and you wake up with the softest skin. Heaven.

I also love their Great Day face oil for when I’m having a lazy morning in the house without make up - with a similar scent to the SPF moisturiser, it is uplifting and luxurious and feels beautiful on my skin.

Also, their home mists live by my loo!

Face ~ Cha Vohtz/Green People

Also pioneers of natural/cruelty free beauty and skincare, Green People have been on the scene for 23 years when founder Charlotte Vohtz was driven to create natural skincare for her daughter because she was reacting to chemical products on the market. I love their suncream so much I did a whole post about it and their Gradual Tan moisturiser is brilliant when you want to get a bit of a colour.

Their Cha Vohtz range is really wonderful - it’s their Age Defy range and it feels so luxurious and really gets results. Their sleep mask is mega, I wake up with beautiful skin when I use this which I do 2-3 times a week with a few drops of my Evolve face oil (see below) mixed in. The rest of the week I use the Hydrate & Renew serum. Finally, this Line Eraser Serum is the mutts nuts! It really works - I love how it smooths out lines and the skin around my eyes feels so firm after. It’s a small tube but it’s lasted me months with a daily usage!

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Face oils and serums ~ Wild Seed Botanicals

I have three oils on rotation - my Evolve one (listed below), the Pai Skincare (also below) and the Rana oil from Wild Seed Botanicals. The Rana is the earthiest of them all and I love it in deepest winter for nourishing my face.

General skincare ~ Evolve Beauty

I love this Hertfordshire based brand - I really love their packaging too, it looks so nice in my bathroom! All their products are made in small batches and are vegan and eco friendly. I love all of their products but one of my favourites is the Miracle Facial Oil which I mix into a serum every night - whether that be the Green People one mentioned above or the Hyaluronic Acid Serum - I oscillate between the two depending on who I’m putting an order in with.

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Every morning before walking the dog I have a spray of the Daily Defense Moisture Mist, it really wakes me up and helps against wind and/or sun.

I haven’t used it but did buy my Mum the Multi Peptide 360 Moisture Cream and she was over the moon with it, said she hadn’t used anything as lovely before.

The Sunless Glow self tanner body cream really works - I’m brown AF! It also smells of papaya and I’m slightly addicted to slathering it on before bed.

Aromatherapy ~ Tisserand

The ultimate aromatherapy brand! I love their Sleep Better bath oil (especially when made into bath salts, post coming soon) and their Happy pulse point roller ball.

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Body oil and scrub ~ Made By Coopers

A recently discovered this brand through work but I can’t get enough! They are super reasonably priced considering everything is handmade from high quality botanics and natural ingredients. These products make beautiful gifts. The Comforting Face & Body Oil is delightful for working from home and top up during the day and also slathering on after a shower, especially after exercise - it feels like such a treat to use with the roses and bergamot, patchouli and orange essential oils.

Their Coffee & Mint Body Scrub is something else! You can definitely see it’s got coffee in it as you use it but it’s so worth the extra bath rinse - it’s uplifting, awakening and leaves your skin soft and smooth.

I also love their Calm essential oil blend for my diffuser, have become quite fond of it whirring away throughout the day, I’m sure it makes the dog more chilled out!

Face cream ~ Pai Skincare

Pai was created for people with sensitive skin - it’s a gorgeous brand and again, everything is natural. I use the Geranium and Thistle balancing day cream in the winter under makeup - the bottle lasts forever, it’s seen me through all of winter and I’ve still got half a bottle left!

I also massively dig their Rosehip Oil and used to love using it - it’s heavier than the oil I’m currently using from Evolve and I kept forgetting to put it on an hour before I went to bed (otherwise it stains the pillow) so stopped using it but if you’re less forgetful than me it really is worth it. Best for autumn when you start putting the central heating on.

Face wash ~ Antipodes

I swear by the Juliet Brightening face wash - I’ve been using it for about 5 years and every time I deviate my skin just simply isn’t as nice! It’s made from Manuka honey and other goodies and is just beaut.

Nails ~ Beauty Without Cruelty and A Weathered Penny

I searched high and low to find a plant based, cruelty free nail polish remover and was overjoyed to find this one. It’s 100% bio sourced and so kind to my nails, I really love it! Their nail polishes and make up are really good too.

Scent ~ Maya Njie

I discovered this brand when I bought a used tester of Nordic Cedar in a shop in Lewes and fell in love with it - I got so many compliments on it too. It’s woody, musky and earthy - everything I love in life! Maya does refills for your bottles (mine’s currently empty and I’m going to get it filled after lockdown poorness!).

Mask ~ Yellow Gorse

This brand is based in Swanage and creates beautifully crafted potions and balms that also make great gifts. I swear by their Clay Mask.

Menstrual ~ Mooncup

Ok, it might not be skincare but I can’t finish this post without mentioning that although you might see tampons in the cupboard they are there for guests and my Mooncup is my old faithful and deserves to be in everyone’s home!

 
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Deodorants ~ Wild Deodorant

I’ve tried a load of natural deodorants and while I’ve always used the Urtekram one in the past am I currently all about Wild. The scents are beautiful, it really works, it feels luxurious, there’s no single use plastic and the subscription is really good value (clocking in at £12 for 3 months worth). Use this link to get a free case when you start a subscription.

Toothpaste ~ Truthpaste

Again, I’ve tried all sorts of natural toothpaste but this one wins hands down, in fact I prefer it to any toothpaste ever, leaves my teeth and mouth feeling super clean.


I hope this post has been useful - keep an eye on my Instagram for more shares on natural skincare and beauty.

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