Love your skin the natural way
Nature intended us to have clear, healthy skin. We are all becoming more environmentally aware lately and many of us are slow to put sulphates or parabens near our face and body.
With that in mind, I have assembled some of my favourite natural cruelty-free products that are free of nasties.
By using natural plant-based formulations that are rich in vital skin nutrients and antioxidants, you can help nourish the skin and help it repair itself. Rather than over cleansing or stripping away the skin's natural oil balance with chemicals and synthetics, organic skin care products work in harmony with the skin, thus being more suitable for certain skin types.
Rain Africa has just launched a whole range of skincare. Already well known for its body care and home scents, it has launched a decadent range recently that is swoon worthy.
Serum is sometimes seen as an extra step, but the Night Serum (€49) is easily absorbed and silky in texture. The ingredients that are both natural and active are aloe ferox which is calming, soothing, wound-healing and anti-inflammatory.
Cubanelle is soothing, moisturising and protects and increases hydration and elasticity while baobab oil is moisturising, conditioning, nourishes and softens dry skin. Jojoba oil is humectant, protects the skin, prevents moisture loss and has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
The night cream (€41) is a natural relaxing night-time moisturiser, formulated with probiotics and botanicals known for skin conditioning. It is naturally fragranced with lavender and grapefruit essential oils.
This calming night cream has an ultra-rich and luxurious texture, that hydrates without a greasy residue. After applying this moisturiser, the skin will appear noticeably more radiant and even toned, with fewer signs of stress. African oils such as baobab, marula, kalahari melon and moringa will leave skin feeling moisturised and conditioned.
For cleansing I recently discovered Inner Zen Organics Cleansing Balm (€16.50). This smooth silky balm is made with nourishing almond oil, moisturising cocoa butter and pomegranate oil rich in vitamin C which is an anti-inflammatory and anti-aging.
Brightening sweet orange essential oil and purifying neroli all make this beautiful balm the perfect way to melt away makeup and the grime of the day. I use tepid water and a facecloth as part of a double cleanse.
The Indulgent Body Butter (€16.50) is a gorgeous product, too, and is a luxurious whipped body butter made with nutrient rich oils and shea butter, scented with mood uplifting essential oils. Melting on contact with your skin, this heavenly butter will leave your skin deeply moisturised and glowing.
Holos is a brand I have written about many times and its products remain in my top ten of natural recommendations. Many of its products do more than just one job. For example, its Blossoms Body Oil (€17.50) can be used for massage, as an oil and a bath oil. It is hydrating and helps with dull skin, mature skin, stretch marks and it is softening, antioxidant rich and suitable for all skin types.
Green Angel Seaweed and Aloe Eye Gel (€22.95) is a unique product that Green Angel has especially formulated combining four hand harvested organic Irish seaweeds with natural aloe vera. The vitamins, minerals and amino acids in seaweed help your skin to plump up, and in turn helps to smooth out fine lines with its anti-aging properties.
Aloe vera is one of the oldest known therapeutic herbs and renowned worldwide as a miracle plant. This cooling eye gel will help to nourish, moisturise, soothe, calm and increase circulation, help reduce swelling and firm the delicate sensitive skin under the eyes.
It is important that this ultra-thin skin under the eyes should be treated very gently and kept supple and hydrated. Keep it in the fridge for extra depuffing action.