Beard oil is a hydrating and smoothing lubricant for both beard hair and the skin below. It helps hydrate the skin and smooth the beard, keeping it healthy-looking and well groomed.

Who uses beard oil? 

Many men think they don’t need to use facial products, or believe they will look over-styled. However, outdoor activities such as cycling and running can dry the skin, while city life exposes the face to a daily soup of pollution and toxic micro-particles. Organic skincare naturally supports the skin’s existing defences, minimising dryness and irritation, while promoting healthy skin.

Whether a man’s style is clean-cut, alternative or active, if he has a beard or stubble, he will benefit from using a beard oil.

Is it easy to use beard oil?

A quality beard oil is a moisturiser, facial hair conditioner and hair smoother all in one product. It’s very simple to use and takes less than 30 seconds to apply. 

Simply add a few drops of oil to the hands and smooth through the beard and gently massage in to the skin underneath. Less is definitely more when it comes to high quality beard oils and a premium formula should last for many months.

How do I choose a beard oil?

Selecting an all-natural, organic formula ensures that the skin stays calm and hydrated, without the risk of chemical irritants causing dryness or breakouts. 

High quality beard oils tend to be packaged in small bottles because it is concentrated and a little goes a long way. Beard oil is very economical to use as only a few drops are needed. Beard oil in a larger bottle, especially if it’s a similar price to smaller bottles, is often a cheaper formula made with synthetic ingredients and fillers, such as water. Fillers are inexpensive ingredients that help stretch profit margins by diluting the active ingredients that benefit the skin. Mineral oil, synthetic fragrances and various preservatives are often found in cheap beard oil. This is great for the manufacturers who have spent very little on the actual oil. But it isn’t the most nourishing oil for the beard and can block the skin and cause irritation and breakouts in many people.

A high quality beard oil contains natural botanical oils that are absorbed by the skin and ingredients that support the natural defences of the dermis, the deepest layer of skin, whilst allowing it to breathe. Looking at the full list of ingredients on the label or website should help you decide if a product is premium or cheap quality.

How do I choose a high quality beard oil?

Choosing a natural, organic oil means the skin will actively benefit from the ingredients. With daily use this leads to long-term improvements to the look and feel of both facial skin and beard hair.

Making ethical choices such as locally produced, cruelty-free and vegan brands with sustainable packaging and organic ingredients is becoming more important than ever. 

The variety of grooming products now available for men means that there is no need to compromise on quality when choosing an ethical beard oil. Vegan and environmentally conscious men in particular, appreciate cruelty-free, plant-based and recyclable products. Considering the environment and animal welfare also adds an extra dimension of thoughtfulness to a gift or personal skincare purchase. 

About our beard oil

Our Soft & Strong Beard Oil is 100% organic, with concentrated botanicals to soothe stressed-out skin and condition all types of facial hair and skin. We use sustainable, recyclable packaging, we’re free from animal ingredients and animal testing and our beard oil is certified vegan by The Vegan Society. It’s also fragrance-free, to complement aftershave and the stronger scent of other EarthZest Organics products for men. PLUS, our Soft & Strong Beard Oil doubles up as a nourishing and re-balancing facial moisturising serum, so is all that’s needed to care for hairy and not-so-hairy man skin!

Shop Soft & Strong Beard Oil here, or browse our organic, plant-based men’s skincare range here. Stock up early for Christmas and enter FORMEN for 15% off all men’s products and gift sets until 30th November 2019.

While we may think of Halloween as a holiday for children or horror fans, it’s actually an ancient festival celebrating the birth of a new year. Our ancestors believed that a new year began after the summer ended and they would enact rituals to scare away spirits that might bring bad luck to the start of the fresh year. While we may not be worried about warding off ghosts and spirits today, we do need to be aware of the change in seasons and how this affects our well-being and our skin. Halloween time is the ideal point at which to remember to make the transition from your summer to winter skincare routine.

When the sun is shining it’s easy to remember to protect your skin with an SPF. Darker mornings and earlier sunsets mean we’re exposed to less sunlight, but that can affect the skin in negative ways as well as positive. It’s important to get enough vitamin D during the winter months, as a deficiency can show up as skin conditions or even depression. If you don’t get enough vitamin D from being outdoors, you may want to consider taking a supplement from around early November time to see you through the winter.

Spending much of your time indoors during the winter can expose your skin to the drying effects of central heating and the many airborne pollutants present in workplaces, schools and even the home. Particles called free radicals, which are generated by the body in response to some types of smoke, certain chemicals present in cleaning and beauty products and even UV light, can all damage the skin’s natural barrier and cause skin reactions and ageing. If your skin behaves in the summer but you experience dry patches, eczema or a general lack of glow during the winter, it could be that your skin’s natural barrier is being affected.  Often this barrier is already compromised because of the harsh nature of commercially available cosmetics, making skin especially vulnerable. Because we tend to wear heavier makeup in the winter, it’s natural to want to scrub and strip away impurities from the skin.

By switching to a deeply nourishing regime that supports the skin’s natural barrier, it’s possible to protect the skin from the damaging effects of the winter environment. Choosing an organic, oil-based cleanser, soothing toner and nourishing, paraben free moisturising serum or balm will support your skin’s defences, making it less likely to break out, become dry or lose its glow. Longer-term, the lack of free radicals forming means that your skin is not ageing prematurely.

Finally, Halloween is the beginning of winter festivities for many of us, including the lead-up to Christmas and our own new year. By remembering to start our skincare regime at this time of year, we can also kick-start general winter wellbeing habits, which will benefit our skin and body as a whole. There may be skeletons and spooky bats hanging in shop windows, but beyond the novelty of Halloween is an ancient festival related closely to the seasons. It’s a time of new beginnings, of eating the natural and wholesome fruits and grains of the harvest to stay healthy during the winter, and of ensuring that we enter a brand new season fully prepared and protected from nasties – in this case, free radicals and dry air rather than ghosts and ghouls!

Shop our money-saving Daily Skincare Kit, Anti-Ageing Skincare Kit or Ultimate Daily Skincare Kit - all for normal, dry, mature skin - and save a further 10% when you enter HALLOWEENGLOW at checkout before 15th November 2019. Our 100% organic products have been developed for the most sensitive and reactive skin and are paraben, animal ingredient and synthetic free.

Commercial skincare formulas such as the common brands you see on the shelves of Superdrug or advertised on billboards and TV, are created with certain principles in mind – and these are not always what’s best for your complexion. Even high end and sensitive face creams can contain more filler than product and cheaper ingredients and preservatives are common, despite being low-level irritants. You may be using a high-end skincare regime, but are the ingredients actually serving your skin, or are you simply paying for the brand name and a small, label-friendly hat tip to science?

Many people wouldn’t label themselves as having sensitive skin, yet they experience regular breakouts, dry patches or a general dullness, because their skin is actually sensitive to certain ingredients in their skincare, or pollutants in the air. Popular skincare products tend to strip the skin of its natural oils and defences, meaning skin can become dry, flaky, sore, acne-prone or irritated.

Your skin may be generally sensitive, or it may have become sensitised to certain ingredients or environmental conditions. Regardless of what is causing the sensitivity, it’s a sign that you need to treat your skin very carefully, to allow it to rebalance.

Why there are irritants in your regular skincare

If you’re using products with ingredients such as Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Paraben, or a cleanser with Sodium Laurel Sulphate in, then unfortunately you are rubbing cheap preservatives and foaming ingredients onto your face, rather than 100% nourishing ingredients.

While it’s possible for companies to fill your moisturiser pot with 100% plant-based, organic and natural ingredients, the sad truth is that these products are far more expensive to produce. Organic ingredients often cost three times as much as non-organic ingredients and many times more than cheap, synthetic ingredients and fillers. Because 100% organic products naturally have a shorter shelf life (as they contain no preservatives), they can’t be mass-produced, which is why most conventional brands won’t make them. Wastage is costly for large companies, who seek to squeeze every penny out of the crowded and competitive skincare market - sadly at the expense of your skin!

Synthetic colours and fragrances usually take the place of natural oils and botanical scents, which can also irritate the skin and strip its natural barrier. While the amounts present in popular skincare ranges is relatively low, over time the skin’s barrier is repeatedly stripped away and the skin is exposed to ingredients that aren’t designed to nourish the skin, but to keep the product looking and smelling pleasant for several years.

Doing skincare differently

If you dare to challenge the conventional wisdom of widely available skincare, then cleansing with oils could radically alter your relationship with your troubled skin. Oil cleansing dissolves impurities in the pores, nourishes the skin and leaves the protective barrier intact. Some women find that removing their makeup and cleansing the skin with an oil cleanser actually helps to control breakouts and dry patches, especially in troublesome combination skin types.

Skin that over-produces oil can be reacting to damage to the skin’s natural barrier. Oily skin sufferers may shy away from oil cleansing and a more heavy type of moisturiser, but many people don’t realise that pure botanical oils sink into the pores rather than sitting on top. It’s possible to oil cleanse, apply an essential oil-based moisturiser, and end up with less oily skin than when following a commercially available regime for oily skin.

By avoiding troublesome ingredients, sticking to botanical, plant-based formulas that don’t require heavy preservatives and embracing rather than avoiding natural oils, it’s possible to break the cycle that can cause some skin reactions within weeks, or even days.

While legs and arms are slathered in lotion and hair and nails are trimmed and coloured all year round, feet can start to feel neglected come October time. However, paying attention to your feet can help you to relax, avoid health issues in the future and ensure that you’re never ashamed of being caught with your socks off!

Regularly treating your feet with even the simplest of exfoliating and moisturising treatments once a week can alert you to potential health problems. Cracked skin can allow infections in and it’s all too easy to pick up a verruca at the gym or pool. All health problems related to feet can be dealt with before they spiral out of control, but only if you spot them first.

We all know how relaxing a foot massage can be, but did you know that a self-massage of your feet can also have a rejuvenating effect? While you might not be a qualified reflexologist, you’re in the unique position of knowing exactly what type of touch brings your tired feet back to life. Yoga instructors sometimes have their students massage their own palms and soles and if you use a foot balm or oil, it makes your feet smell gorgeous too.

If you’re cutting down on caffeine or simply need a boost to carry on when you’re tired, running your feet under cold water and then massaging a lotion or balm such as our award winning Heal & Foot Balm into the soles and toes of your feet, can be more invigorating than a strong coffee and more relaxing than a swim! Try it for yourself when you’d rather slump on the sofa than brave the cold.

People with jobs that require them to be on their feet all day need to take extra care of everything below the ankle. Aromatherapists believe that the soles of the feet are a particularly sweet spot for the absorption of potent botanicals. The pores of the feet are relatively large, compared with other areas of the body, meaning we can absorb oils more efficiently. While we can’t offer busy nurses and sales-people a shoulder massage as they work, anyone who’s on their feet a lot can use an essential oil-based balm to hydrate and nourish their feet and help them to remain balanced, even during a 12 hour shift.

Finally, certain essential oils can help to keep the feet naturally free from infections, inflammation and itches. We use high levels of shea butter and organic peppermint oil in our foot balm which protects and heals fungal infections, as well as giving your feet a tingly and refreshing boost!

It’s impossible to estimate how many thousands of miles the average person will walk in their lifetime. However, for many of those miles the feet will be entirely neglected. Paying attention to your feet can round out your health and beauty routine in just a few minutes a day, leaving you feeling rested and relaxed, and ensuring that your feet are healthy and looking good all year round.

Our Heal & Foot Balm has won GOLD in the prestigious 2019 Janey Loves Platinum Awards! Praised by judges including Zoe Ball, Janey Lee-Grace, Glynis Barber, Jo Wood and Carrie Grant, you can try it now for 15% off when you enter discount code SWEETFEET at checkout. Offer ends 31st October 2019.

Hypersensitive skin cannot tolerate certain ingredients in skincare, yet it requires moisture and care just as much, if not more, than other types of skin. However, there’s no need to miss out on essential skincare if your skin is deeply sensitive.

Synthetic ingredients

Parabens from the petroleum industry. Chemical preservatives that can keep a cherry looking fresh for a whole year. Do these things really belong on your face? Synthetic ingredients tend to benefit the manufacturer rather than the user. It’s cheaper to produce skincare with synthetic ingredients in and it makes the products more chemically stable. However, some skin simply will not tolerate these synthetic ingredients.

Solution: 100% pure products, with no fillers or preservatives. While this sounds simple in theory, a lot of otherwise natural products have either a synthetic filler or preservative added, to extend the shelf life or the profit margin of the product. Look for 100% organic products, rather than products with only a small percentage of organic ingredients added.

Animal ingredients

Animal based ingredients in skincare tend to slip through the net when sensitive skin sufferers examine what is causing their symptoms. This is because a lot of the time it isn’t the ingredients themselves that’s causing the problem – it’s the preservatives and fragrances necessary to keep for example beef-based ingredients in skincare and cosmetics from going off.

While it’s true that some types of animal-based ingredients can benefit skin (for example lanoline from sheep’s wool, or honey), those benefits need to be balanced against the preservatives and fragrances that also need to be included in the final product.

With so many 100% plant and mineral based ingredients now available, animal-derived ingredients have really had their day. They’re a cheap type of ingredient that are by-products of the meat industry, they are heavily refined before they end up in skincare and thankfully it’s relatively easy to avoid them.

Solution: vegan-certified skincare

While it’s now second nature to choose products free from animal testing, going further to avoid any type of animal ingredient also means you avoid the preservatives and other chemicals necessary to include them in skincare. Look for the Vegan Society logo to certify that your cosmetics are free from all meat by-products, as well as ingredients derived from eggs and milk.

Heavy perfumes

The heavenly scent of some types of skincare can draw you in, but perfume is yet another potential irritant, especially when it’s merely a marketing tool rather than the scent of a genuinely therapeutic ingredient. Many sensitive skin sufferers are surprised when they think they are allergic to or intolerant of a particularly strongly scented plant such as Frankincense, but find that their skin accepts it in a pure and diluted form, such as an essential oil in a neutral carrier oil.

Solution: choosing naturally scented products

Naturally scented products are perfumed by the ingredients themselves, rather than having a natural or synthetic perfume added to them. A high quality plant-based serum or balm should smell strongly of the active ingredients, but won’t necessarily irritate your skin in the same way a strong-smelling imitation of a high quality balm will. Look for 100% botanical ingredients and essential oils on the label.

EarthZest products

Our 100% organic products were created for people with extremely sensitive skin, who can’t tolerate mainstream skincare. Using highly concentrated botanical ingredients, we create preservative and paraben-free balms and oils, with absolutely no synthetic ingredients or fillers. We're certified by The Vegan Society and used by models, actors and performers with sensitive skin, as well as customers the world over. We'll help you find the answer to your sensitive skincare issues, as we understand how demoralising it is to have highly reactive skin. You can check out our blog and follow us on social media for more sensitive skincare tips, or feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

EarthZest creator and CEO, Jackie Callow, who developed the range for her own super-sensitive skin, believes we need to listen to our skin:

“Sensitive skin is a gift. It took me a long time to realise this, as I suffered terribly with acne and allergies until my early 40’s. I have learned that a skin reaction is the only way your skin can say no! If you’re putting something on your face that disrupts your skin, your body is literally rejecting it in the only way it knows how. If you’re not 100% happy with your skin, chances are that your skin is not 100% happy with the ingredients in your skincare routine.”

It’s often difficult to pin down precisely what triggers a flare-up. Here’s how switching to organic and plant-based formulations might improve your chances of a good skin day.

The horrible truth about animal ingredients 

Most traditional, big brand skincare products - from designer to drugstore and everything in-between - contain at least one ingredient made from animals. These ingredients are often derived from the flesh, tendons and skin of an animal but can also come from their scales, internal organs or even glands. They are often called by their scientific or trade names on the labels which can make them hard to spot.

These substances (such as arachidonic acid from animal fat and lanolin from sheep’s wool) are believed to benefit some types of troubled skin. However, without heavy processing, the ingredients derived from the living tissues of animals would quickly start to decompose and become unpleasant and dangerous to apply to the skin. Therefore, it’s impossible to include most types of animal ingredients in a product without also using several additional chemicals, to clean them up and prevent them from decomposing. These chemicals are deliberately added to beauty products, to preserve them and improve their appearance and smell. Some people are sensitive to animal ingredients alone and others have skin issues triggered by these additional ingredients. Everyone’s skin is unique and any ingredients or combinations of ingredients can trigger flare-ups, breakouts and other adverse reactions.

Plant-based alternatives

For every animal ingredient used in traditional skin care formulas, there is a cleaner, kinder, plant-based alternative that will not decompose in the same unpleasant way that animal ingredients tend to do. Bleaching or cleaning agents are not needed for these natural raw materials and harsh preservatives are unnecessary. This results in a less complex formula, with fewer irritants and more room for active ingredients.

There are many reasons to choose vegan and organic skincare over traditional formulas and animal lovers often select them purely because of their ethical intentions. The good news is, you don’t have to compromise on a product’s effectiveness to be ethical. For sensitive skin sufferers, switching to a plant-based and organic beauty regime is often the key to smooth, untroubled skin and improving acne, psoriasis and eczema.

All EarthZest products are 100% natural, organic, certified vegan and specially formulated for very sensitive skin.

1. Ancient antiseptic

Rose water has a long history of treating wounds and skin problems, thanks to its antibacterial and antiseptic qualities. It helps skin to heal faster and can be used to gently treat and heal acne and other skin conditions.

2. Oil control

While rose water is hydrating for the skin, it also helps to control excess oil. This makes it the perfect ingredient for all types of skin.

3. Gentle anti-inflammatory 

Despite its impressive antiseptic qualities, rose water is a gentle type of anti-inflammatory. It can be used to treat skin irritation and helps to soothe rosacea.

4. Anti-ageing protection

Rose water is rich in skin-protecting and anti-ageing antioxidants. This helps protect the skin against the damaging effects of free radicals.

5. Ancient Wisdom

Rose water is one of the oldest cosmetic products in the world. The method of distillery in the rose fields of Iran has remained largely unchanged for over a thousand years. Our ancestors recognised the powerful healing and soothing properties of the fragrant distillation, while modern scientists are still discovering new applications and medicinal uses. Nowadays, rose water can also be extracted mechanically but our rose water is additive-free and still obtained in the original way.

6. Natural anti-depressant 

Science has confirmed what herbalists have known for thousands of years - rose water has an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effect upon the body and mind.

7. Bee kind

The large, organic rose fields needed to produce our pure rose water are a healthy banquet for bees and other insects. This benefits local wildlife by making food more abundant and reduces the amount of artificial pesticides in the food chain. 

8. Simple hydration

A basic but essential benefit - rose water has powerful hydrating qualities. It helps to lock moisture in to the skin, keeping it supple, smooth and healthy.

9. Inhibits elastase and collagenase

Scientists are working on neutralising these skin-ageing substances. The good news is that rose water is ahead of the game again as it inhibits the production of both of them.

10. Triggers immune system

Another scientifically documented property of rose water is its ability to prompt the creation of histamines in the skin. This allows the immune system to quickly begin to fight infection and heal the skin.

Organic rose water is a key ingredient in our 3-step Daily Skincare Kit for Normal/Dry/Mature Skin. Formulated to care for sensitive skin including eczema, rose water is just one of the 100% organic botanicals in our uniquely nourishing blends.

11. Anti-anxiety

Did you know that rose water can be used to treat anxiety too? Our natural and organic skincare has some surprising side benefits!

12. Sleep-inducing

Due to its calming effects on the nervous system, the scent of rose water can also benefit insomniacs and promote a restful night's sleep. 

13. Amyloid inhibitor

Scientists are exploring the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s with rose water, as it contains an amyloid inhibitor which neutralises damaging amyloids in the body. Who knows what other healing properties scientists will discover? 

14. Lowers cortisol

You may have heard of cortisol in the context of stress-induced belly fat. Could our Rosetorative Water help lower your risk of stress-related illness and bloating? A study shows that inhaling the scent of rose water lowers this stress hormone in our bodies.

15. Natural balance

Rose water helps maintain the skin’s PH balance. A slightly acidic complexion is healthy and rose water helps to re-balance the skin’s levels naturally.

16. Tightens pores

Another incredible skincare benefit - rose water naturally tightens pores. Unlike some treatments on the market, it can be used daily with no side effects.

17. Goodbye tired eyes!

The skin around the eye is delicate and dark circles need special care. Rose water gently hydrates and brightens dark circles, plumping the skin and refreshing the eye area naturally.

18. Fights infection fast

Histamines are the body’s warning signal to fight infection. Rose water can trigger histamines in broken skin, meaning faster healing time and less chance of infection. This is good news for acne sufferers and anyone with irritated, sensitive skin.

19. Calms red skin

The soothing effect of rose water means it’s perfect for calming sunburn, rosacea and other types of troubled skin. 

20. 100% vegan

When skincare is vegan, you can be confident that no animals have been harmed to create it. Vegan products contain no animal ingredients and do not require large amounts of chemical preservatives - better for your skin and best for animals!

21. Environmentally friendly 

Rose water is relatively simple to produce and its waste products are biodegradable. It provides food for bees and other insects and uses less water than many other types of beauty ingredients.

22. Natural make-up setter

Rose water in spray form can be used as a luxurious setting mist or refresher spray for make-up throughout the day. The scent is a wonderful aromatherapy pick-me-up too, so keep a bottle in your handbag for when you need to look and feel polished and keep it chilled in the fridge to cool down during hot weather.

Shop our 100% organic Rosestorative Water. Suitable for every type of skin, including extremely sensitive and baby skin. Save 10% when you enter ROSE10 at checkout before 30th June 2019. 

Your actual skin type - oily, dry or combination - is mainly determined by genetics. The combination of a naturally oily complexion, plus skin that is stressed through being constantly stripped of its natural oils, however gently, can turn a slightly shiny face into an oil slick. You can’t change your genetic makeup, but you can calm and sooth your skin to a considerable extent, so that it doesn’t over-produce oil.

I feel as if I’ve tried everything - why isn’t any of it working for me?

When our skin reacts in a way we don’t like, we tend to treat it as if it’s misbehaving. What it’s actually doing is telling us where we’re going wrong. 

The temptation with oily skin is to avoid anything oily or greasy and to lean towards products that remove or soak up the oil and unclog pores. It makes sense on paper, but it’s not always what your skin is asking for.

It’s no accident that your skin is working hard to produce the protective sebum you see on your face - your skin is defending itself against a perceived threat in its immediate environment. We can often change that reaction by using products that are in harmony with the real needs of oily skin.

It’s a myth that oily skin is tough. It could be that you are sensitive to the preservatives or synthetic ingredients in most mainstream products, or that your current products have stripped away the skin’s natural barrier and not allowed it to fully return. You could be over-cleansing the skin or, alternatively, your pores could be clogged from using an ineffective cleanser. It could even be an ingredient in your primer or make-up that’s causing the problem. 

While it’s sometimes difficult and time-consuming to pinpoint the cause, a simpler solution is to remove all potential irritants and work with the skin’s natural processes. This is often the point that skin-issue sufferers switch to organic, plant-based and nurturing products and begin to notice a difference in their oil and acne levels.

Is the answer to my skin problem really more oil?

Whether your issue is clogged pores leading to acne, or visibly greasy skin despite careful cleansing, you may be surprised to learn that your secret weapon could actually be more oil!

Oily skin produces more sebum, which is the protective oil that keeps our skin supple. It’s an important part of the skin’s natural, protective barrier and your skin will often react if it is disturbed.

The right type of oil will gently loosen and dissolve make-up and unclog pores, without stripping the skin’s essential barrier. Undisturbed, irritant-free and properly cleansed, the skin no longer needs to produce excess oil to protect itself and over time produces less sebum and re-balances itself.

How long will it take for my skin to adjust to a low-irritant, organic product?

Some complexions take a few days to calm down; for others it can be several weeks or even months. But you are never damaging or stripping your skin by using high quality botanical oil products that are aligned with your skin’s needs. It’s always a nourishing experience for your skin, which helps it to function in a healthy and balanced way.

I don’t want to put oil on my face, in case it clogs my pores and causes acne!

If you have clogged pores or acne as a result of oily skin, try to resist the temptation to dry out spotty areas once you are using botanical oils. Instead, let the oil remove impurities from your skin and allow your skin to be soothed and healed over time and you may find that it stops producing a new pimple every other day, as it begins to re-build its protective natural barrier.

Any final tips for oily skin?

Try treating your oily skin as if it’s the most delicate, sensitive, fragile skin there is. Just because people appear tough on the outside, it doesn’t always mean that they are. I firmly believe the same philosophy applies to skin. Cut out animal ingredients, preservatives, fake perfumes, synthetics and cheap ingredients from your skincare routine, treat your skin with specialist products and consistent love and care and it will soon start glowing with health, rather than shining with excess oil.

What can EarthZest products do for my oily skin?  

All EarthZest products are formulated to support the skin’s natural defences, with 100% organic and plant-based ingredients and no artificial, synthetic or paraben-based ingredients to cause irritation. 

Our Normal/Oily/Combination range is specially formulated to meet the needs of excessively oily skin. These products won’t block pores or strip the skin’s protective barrier and they’re also designed to heal and sooth stressed-out complexions, allowing a return to their natural, rested state.

Try cutting out conventional products and switching to our Daily Skincare Kit or Ultimate Daily Skincare Kit for Normal/Oily/Combination Skin. Use discount code RESTORE15 and save 15% on any of our Normal/Oily/Combination range, plus FREE UK delivery, before the end of June 2019.

15% off our Ultimate Daily Skincare Kit for Normal/Dry/Mature Skin when you enter MOTHER15 before the end of March 2019.

Dermatologists are increasingly voicing their skin concerns of over-cleansing and exfoliating too much, which can leave skin with breakouts and even fine lines and wrinkles over time. If you’ve tried everything that the big beauty brands recommend to give you perfect skin and there’s still room for improvement, cleansing oils have the potential to rock your skincare regime, giving you smooth, flawless skin and that sought-after glow.

The Cleansing Trap

We all want spotless skin upon which to layer our products, from skincare to make-up. But the skin on your face isn’t like the surface of your dressing table or mirror. It was never designed to be stripped, disinfected and de-oiled. Skin responds to having all of its oil stripped away by trying to re-balance its natural barrier. For some people this means breakouts; others may experience alternating dry and oily patches and this can be a psoriasis and rosacea trigger for sensitive skin. Eventually your skin might get used to the cleansing/re-balancing cycle, leading to breakouts or dry patches - even if you don’t religiously cleanse it in exactly the same way every day.

While this skincare routine might sell a lot of foaming cleansers and special sponges, it’s not necessarily the best thing for your delicate facial skin.

Oil cleansing benefits in a nutshell

From the most dry to the most oily skin, oil cleansing tends to have a balancing effect on all skin types. Dry skin benefits from the surge of extra moisture, without being stripped by harsh cleansers. For both oily and dry skins, the old oils that have lain on the surface of the skin and in the pores can be gently dissolved and moved off the face, without disturbing the skin’s natural barrier. The less disturbance you cause your skin, the more it will repay you by being well behaved, including keeping down the amount of dry patches, breakouts, itches and bumps and turning up the natural glow.

Skin science vs marketing

Although we’re conditioned, particularly in our teenage years, to believe that oil is the enemy, the correct facial oils actually bind to dirt and bacteria, allowing them to be easily removed from the pores. Oil is excellent for removing make-up, dissolving and thinning everything from the lightest BB cream to waterproof mascara - again without disrupting the skin’s natural barrier. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of oil cleansing is that it can really help with acne. If you think back to the acne product campaigns of your teenage years, oil cleansing goes completely against the message of these ad campaigns, which often heavily promoted the idea of blasting all oil from the face to prevent spots. For many people, that approach unfortunately doesn’t work.

Botanical oils contain antioxidants, which help to neutralise the damaging free radicals that cause premature ageing. By using a plant-based oil rather than commercial skincare products such as a foaming gel, we’re bombarding the skin with helpful rather than irritating or drying ingredients, even at the cleansing stage. The skin never needs to start reacting to harsh chemicals or sudden temperature changes, or the drying effects of water and there is little disruption to deal with.

Not only does oil cleansing act as a perfect make-up remover, but it also replaces the harsh stripping effect of commercial cleansers with a nurturing, balancing cleansing experience. This supports the skin’s natural defences and promotes healthy, happy skin. Say hello to natural cleansing oils and you may even banish your skin woes for good! Plus, all our cleansing oils are organic and vegan products! For a full range of our vegan beauty products, including women's, baby and men's skincare ranges, visit our online shop.

Try our oil-based organic cleansers and save 15% when you enter PURECLEANSE15 at check-out before 31 March 2019.

Lanolin, made from sheep’s wool.
Cochineal, a red dye made from crushed beetles.
Tallow, which is another name for animal fat.
Gelatine, which is made from the boiled bones, tendons and skin of animals.
Honey, which is extracted from bee hives, causing stress and starvation to bees.

Vegan make-up uses plant and mineral based ingredients instead.

No animal testing

The beauty industry has a history of testing cosmetics and ingredients on animals, to ensure that they are safe for humans. These procedures can involve animals being clamped or chained into position, shaved, having products squirted into their eyes, being force fed or forced to inhale cosmetics, or having irritant chemicals applied to their skin. The experiments are cruel and distressing for the animals, and consumer backlash against these experiments has inspired manufacturers to explore animal-friendly ways of testing their cosmetics. Some companies still test on animals. For example, to sell in China, animal testing is required by law. By buying vegan cosmetics, you can be certain that you are not accidentally supporting any type of animal cruelty.

Other benefits of vegan make-up:

All vegan products are naturally animal free and many are gluten-free, meaning they are more suitable for some people with sensitive skin and allergies.

Vegan make-up doesn’t require the type of heavy processing or preservatives that are required to make ingredients like animal fats and gelatine suitable for cosmetic use. This means that less of the product is made up of chemical preservatives and other synthetic ingredients that have nothing to add to the health of your skin, or the quality of the product, beyond stopping the product from going bad.

Certain ingredients like lanolin can clog pores and trigger acne. If cosmetics cause your skin to break out in spots, itchy or dry skin patches or rosacea, you might find vegan cosmetics are gentler and don’t irritate or clog your skin.

Vegan cosmetics tend to have fewer and more organic ingredients than traditional blends, making it easier to identify and track the ingredients you are using on your skin.

An unexpected benefit of vegan cosmetics is that they are kinder to the environment. Animal-derived ingredients take a heavier toll on the environment than plant based or mineral substances.

Why is vegan make-up important?

Every time we buy a product, we are telling that company that we are happy with the product. If we buy products made from animals or tested on animals, we are promoting animal cruelty and exploitation, by funding it financially.

By choosing vegan-friendly beauty brands, we can support a crueltyfree company that avoid exploiting animals. It can be better for our skin, especially if we have sensitive skin or allergies, and vegan make-up ingredients are on balance, kinder to the environment as well as to animals.

Where can I find vegan make-up?

Some well known vegan make-up brands are Inika, which has a large range of products, B Beauty, a budget range from high street retailer Superdrug, and E.L.F. cosmetics, whose entire make-up line is vegan. Even some of Urban Decays eyeshadow palettes and other make-up are now certified vegan. Other vegan brands, including exciting boutique, holistic handmade and hip micro-brand vegan make-up manufacturers, can be found on Instagram using hashtags like #veganmake-up and #crueltyfreemake-up.

Don't forget, once you find your perfect makeup products, we have the great complimentary vegan and crueltyfree makeup removers that are suitable for all skin types. We offer a range of women and mens grooming products. Our 100% organic, Certified Vegan skincare products have been meticulously made here in the United Kingdom.

Whether you’re exposed to the smog in the city of London or other greenhouse gases across the country, toxic air is a global issue. Improving air quality may be a little a little optimistic, however, there are natural ways in which you can protect your skin from pollution.

Nature has given our skin a natural barrier, to help tackle pollution and protect us against harsh chemicals, heavy metals and most damaging of all, the tiniest pollution particles that invisibly bombard and penetrate the skin.

Eat your antioxidants

While antioxidant rich foods are good for your heart and help to prevent some forms of cancer too, they are also an essential part of maintaining skin health. Minimise the impact of pollution exposure on your skin by ensuring a high antioxidants diet. There are many types of antioxidants found in foods, so eating a range of fruits, vegetables and nuts every day will ensure you are getting a healthy range. They are also found in dark chocolate!

Respect your natural defences

Using artificial chemicals, an excess of hot water, rough flannels and harsh exfoliating products can strip away your natural skin barrier against pollution and other toxins. A change to your skin care routine can minimise effects of pollutants and promote healthy skin. Cleanse your skin gently and only use deep-cleansing products that work with your skin’s natural defences such as our 100% natural Face Envy Mask.

Using a moisturising cleanser to remove makeup and pollution is gentler to skin than dragging a chemical-infused makeup wipe over it. The contemporary way to clean the skin is to remove layers of beauty products with a loosening botanical oil-based cleanser, gently wiping the residue away and nourishing your face at the same time. This is very different to the old-fashioned feeling of splashing hot water onto the face, or rubbing it with a wipe or cloth and it can take some getting used to. However, skin will often appear more rested, glowing and less irritated within a few days of starting a gentler skin care cleansing routine.

Give your skin a head start

If you could see the pollutants bombarding your skin, would you give it extra synthetic chemicals to deal with too? Of course not – but that’s essentially what you’re doing, if you are using a commercial product from a regular beauty brand. Nearly all commercially available moisturisers and serums contain parabens, mineral oil, artificial preservatives, fragrances and colours so be sure to check your skincare labels and take control of what you're putting on your skin- and in to your body.

If you start with a moisturising base that only includes natural botanical ingredients that complement your skin, then you are beginning from zero, as far as pollutant levels and chemicals are concerned. Your skin is an amazing part of you and what it needs most is calming, nourishing products that allow it to naturally shield itself from the invisible hazards of modern life. Organic compounds of botanical oils, essential oils and unperfumed and uncoloured products are far less likely to add to the chemical load that your skin already has to deal with every day.

Check out our Daily Skincare Kits for Normal/Dry/Mature or Normal/Oily/Combination Skin which contain everything you need for your 100% organic and completely synthetic-free skincare routine. We meticulously make all our products using organic natural ingredients here in the United Kingdom. Suitable for all skin tones and types. Enter WINTERDETOX at checkout for 15% off these key products until the end of December 2018.

Have you managed to improve your skin with a change of routine? We’d love to hear from you. Please join in our conversation in the comments below.

Set in the beautiful surroundings of The Three Rivers Golf & Country Club, here in our home county of Essex, we had the opportunity to meet Gok, speak to him about our products and treat many of his 300 guests to EarthZest mini-treatments, courtesy of Courtney Smith, owner of The Beauty Shop in Southend.

The theme of the day was one of positivity and self-love, with Gok promoting the ethos that every woman deserves to feel good about herself - something that we feel equally strongly about. Gok follows a mostly-vegetarian diet and was really excited about the vegan-friendly, organic ingredients within our products.

He told our team that he’s been using and loving our award-winning best-selling facial product, Makes Frankincense Anti-Ageing Balm. This highly concentrated organic balm renews moisture and re-balances and rejuvenates skin and was also the best-seller of the day amongst buyers. In the fast-paced world we live in, it’s so easy for people to feel bogged down by day-to-day life, forgetting to take care of their mind and body. Events like this show us how important it us to support and lift one another up, making ourselves and others feel good in the process. 

This year’s  tour (which includes a 3-course brunch, fashion show and workshops with Gok) is now sold out across the UK, but we’d highly recommend grabbing a ticket if he takes his show on the road again next year. Every woman we spoke to on the day was buzzing with confidence and feelings of well-being and knowing that we were able to be a part of something which has nourished so many people’s souls means the world to us.

Thanks so much to Gok for having us and for his continued support of small UK businesses and quality, ethical products.

If you’d like to try our best-selling Makes Frankincense Anti-Ageing Balm for yourself, we’re offering 15% off this amazing product when you enter GOK15 at checkout before the end of October 2018.

Korean women take their skincare super seriously. The beautiful glowing tones of “Honey Skin” – no filter necessary - are visible on thousands of Instagram pages. But how do they get such healthy glowing skin and might it be possible that your own skincare regime could be holding you back? Read on to discover the micro-level secrets behind supermodel-sleek skin.

While naturally perfect skin is rare, those of us that have ample beauty sleep, eat well and drink a lot of water often have a head start when it comes to radiant skin. The beauty of a trend like Honey Skin is that it can elevate already good skin to near-perfection, but it can also help to open up and brighten any face, even without makeup. It’s also a nourishing rather than purely cosmetic approach, so it’s really a treatment for your skin that just happens to look incredibly natural and radiant from Day 1. So what are the secret beauty tips?

Small pores, a smooth surface and a plumped-up appearance all give the impression of health and youth and that is exactly what a Honey Skin routine is designed to achieve. Everyone’s skin is different and all the Korean beauty bloggers and celebrities have their own special skincare menu, made up of specialist products that cleanse, tone and moisturise in such a way that the skin appears plumper, brighter and smoother.

Here we look at how your daily skincare routine might be dulling your skin and how you can easily swap it for a more nourishing regime. Armed with the facts, it’s possible to choose products to achieve skin that is much more Honey than Waste of Money.

Your current cleanser

Did you know that your current cleanser could be stripping away the uppermost protective layer of your skin, leaving it microscopically rough, patchy and looking dull? Facial oils like phospholipids occur naturally in your skin, and these can be damaged by artificial cleansers. Skin has its own in-built protection and swapping your current cleanser for a product that respects and supports this is often the first step to restoring that beautiful, youthful glow.

Harsh cleansers can sometimes cause the skin to break out when they are first applied, leading many people to cling to their current cleanser for fear of a breakout. But a cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin really shouldn’t cause breakouts. If fear of a fortnight full of spots is holding you back, switching to an all-organic cleanser will rapidly clarify and refine your skin. Our cleaners will removes dead skin cells and leaves your skin with a natural glow.

Why you need a toner

Toner goes in and out of fashion and skincare companies have been accused of over-hyping this stage of skin care in order to sell more products. But, an effective toner is a vital step in achieving rested-looking beautiful skin.

While it’s important to ensure that the skin is not stripped of its protective layer, it is equally vital to rid the skin of all traces of impurities, including foundation, eye makeup, oils and pollutants from the air. This is where applying an organic toner can help to brighten up the skin, by sweeping away those last little specks of dirt. 

Alcohol-based toners harshly strip the skin of its protective layer and can disturb the skins natural PH balance. A more natural and nourishing base for a toner is a hydrolat, or floral water. Rose Hydrolat, for example, has been used in skincare for thousands of years, most famously by Cleopatra, because of its soothing, antiseptic and tightening properties.

It takes thousands of organic rose petals to make one small bottle of Rose Hydrolat, so many cosmetic companies use water for their toner base and merely add a small amount of rose oil or synthetic perfume afterwards, just to make it sound good on the label.

Our luxury toners  contain a perfect combination of floral hydrolats and essential oils to gently wipe away residual dirt and build-up on the skin, while minimising pores, hydrating the skin and leaving the protective layer intact. This is the second stage in achieving “Honey Skin” – wiping away anything that might dull the skin’s natural glow, soothing the skin naturally, and minimising pores.

Serum

Any serious skincare aficionado is now using a serum as well as a moisturising cream or balm.  To achieve the elusive “Honey” look, gently layering your moisturisers and serums is the way forwards. 

To achieve an almost ‘inner’ glow to the skin, several layers of smoothing and nourishing product are more effective than one thick layer. Gently massage serum to moist skin to draw microscopic beads of water deep into the top layers of the skin. This will help the skin to appear plumped up and naturally beautiful, in exactly those areas that were looking patchy or dehydrated before.

A serum is a concentrated product, designed to deliver effective ingredients to deeply cleansed and toned skin. The idea of a serum is to penetrate the skin with nourishing and balancing ingredients that can get to work immediately, delivering hydration and nourishment to the parts of your skin that need it most.

Moisturising Balms

Dry skin is the enemy of glow, so it’s important to top off your skincare regime with an all-over intensive, non-greasy moisturiser. If this contains additional skin nourishing ingredients, then it’s a double-plus for glowing skin. Supporting and adding to the skin’s natural barrier, which we looked at earlier, is the main purpose of a good moisturiser.

EarthZest moisturising balms contain pure, natural and organic ingredients, to ensure that every single speck of product is delivering active care and support to the skin, with no fillers, preservatives or other ‘dead’ ingredients. This final step of applying a super hydrating, rich and creamy balm seals in the glow created by the previous hydrating steps and draws further moisture into the skin from the air.

Why Honey Skin?

Finally, honey skin is achievable at any age, for any skin type. It compliments any colour of skin or style of hair and goes with every outfit and any shade of lipstick. Having the confidence to show the real you is true beauty and wouldn’t the world be a more beautiful place if we all wore our natural radiance as easily as we wear our favourite lipstick? EarthZest's home remedies were originally formulated to bring skin back into balance and a very welcome side effect of nourished, calm skin is – you guessed it – enviable and authentic glowing skin.

Mainstream skin care companies spend more money on marketing than they do on ingredients, or even packaging. These skin care products generate millions of dollars in the space between the retail price, and what they cost to make.  

There’s nothing wrong with selling high volumes of popular beauty products, but this does mean that some questionable ingredients find their way into many pots of mainstream skincare products, from basic hand creams to high end moisturising serums. Here are three ways in which cosmetics companies turn a fat profit from low-end ingredients.

Aqua 

Water isn’t bad, right? Keeping your skin hydrated is vital of course. The trouble is that many products contain water as a filler, to dilute the more expensive ingredients. Just because something contains essential oils or peptides, it doesn’t mean it’s mostly made from that.  

Water is not harmful by itself, but introducing water to a product means it will degrade and go off much faster. You don’t want to open a pot of anti-aging cream, to discover it’s got a crop of exotic fungus growing in it. A preservative is needed to keep it stable.  

Synthetic preservatives are a lot cheaper than natural ones, and storage and handling for naturally preserved skincare is more complicated, harder to control and more expensive than synthetically preserved cosmetics. There is more waste and the products have a much shorter use by date. The profit margin goes down and the companies make less money.

All of this means that instead of 100% active ingredients on your face and body, you’re getting a cocktail of cheaper, synthetic chemicals in a pot of water. You're paying over the odds for the privilege of having a celebrity advertise it to you. Water in skincare is not as wholesome as it sounds.

Even organic skin care products can contain fillers such as water. So, make sure you read the label! We don’t use any type of filler, including water, or any synthetic preservatives in any of our products - and we’re up front with our customers about why!

Fragrance 

In mainstream skincare, it is rare for the product to smell like the ingredients used. Fragrance is carefully added afterwards, in a very controlled and scientific way.  

While making something smell of flowers or coconuts might seem completely innocent, a lot of skincare products have over ten hidden, potentially harmful ingredients in the perfume alone. Some of these can trigger allergies, asthma and migraines in sensitive individuals, while others are bio-toxins and harmful to wildlife. They also have zero positive effect on your skin, and add to the ‘filler’ ingredients in a pot of cream, they are far cheaper to manufacture than products that use natural, potent organics instead.

Just as junk food is filled with flavour enhancers, junk cosmetics contain artificial fragrance enhancers. Diethal phthalate or DEP is one such chemical that has been investigated by the European Commission on Endocrine Disruption.

While the jury is out on a lot of the long-term effects of synthetic and unnecessary fragrance chemicals in skincare, the only reason that they are added to beauty products is to make you buy them.  

Our products smell incredibly beautiful and that is 100% because of the pure fragrance of active ingredients including organic and natural essential oils, rather than an artificial blend with no benefits whatsoever. The natural fragrances work with your body chemistry to become a kind of light perfume on your skin, giving you a gorgeous invisible, all-day glow and eliminating the need to pile on the artificial chemicals and scents.

Mineral Oil 

Technically – and this is really pushing the definition – mineral oil is plant-based. This is because it’s made from petroleum, which is formed from fossilised forests.

By the time it’s millions of years old though, this by-product of fossil fuel is not the best ingredient for your skin!

It’s very cheap to buy, and because it is so heavily refined and processed, it doesn’t smell of anything. This makes it an ideal filler for high-volume cosmetics.

Mineral oil works in a very similar way to petroleum jelly, forming a barrier to keep out drying elements such as wind or salt water, and keeps moisture inside or close to the skin.

It's a very basic, bland ingredient, with no benefits to the skin (although it gives the illusion of instantly softening the skin because it coats the skin like plastic). It can block pores, cause or exacerbate acne and it’s only included in skincare products for bottom-line reasons: it’s cheap, it’s colourless, it takes on perfume very easily and it can be stored for a long time. This has got very little to do with the health of your skin, and everything to do with producing cheap products.

We only use the highest quality, organic botanical oils in our products - never cheap, refined mineral oil that we believe has no place on our skin and on the skin of our children (did you know that mineral oil is the main ingredient in conventional Baby Oil?). All of our ingredients are selected for their effectiveness and synergy, regardless of how expensive they are to buy, or how easy they are to ship or store.  

Reading the ingredients 

You don’t have to be a scientist to understand the basics of what’s in your moisturiser. Even if you never buy our organic skincare products, we’d like consumers to be aware of the delusion that occurs when you purchase most mainstream skin products. The words Aqua, Parfum or Fragrance and Mineral Oil on an ingredients label often tell you that profit has been put way ahead of skin benefits, when really you shouldn’t be spending more than a couple of pounds on that product.

Our natural and organic products are created with you in mind and not profit. So, whether you're looking to get rid of adult acne or reduce fine lines, our range has something for everyone. Our products are suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

If you've found this article helpful, please share it with your friends on social media. We’re a small, ethical company, we’re dedicated to animal welfare and high quality skincare and we would really appreciate a share - thank you

 Photo - courtesy of Cheryl at Toulouki & Simone

Dark, Leafy Greens

A diet high in greens such as cabbage, spinach and kale will give your skin a healthy glow, as well as being a powerful antioxidants (to prevent cell damage, which is one of the causes of fine lines and certain diseases).

If you don’t fancy feasting on piles of cabbage, you can make green, home remedies in your blender or Nutribullet. The easiest way to do this is to use frozen veg such as spinach, cabbage, or even Brussel’s sprouts if you’re feeling brave! The green smoothie doesn’t need to be big, half a glass should do it. Simply add a handful of greens to some cold water and whizz up in your blender. While fruit smoothies may taste better, a pure green smoothie daily will have your skin looking and feeling healthy skin in no time.

Bags of baby spinach are a great staple for glowing skin and can easily be added to many meal plans to create healthy recipes. You can add the leaves to dishes such as stews and curries for the last 2 minutes of cooking, or use spinach instead of lettuce in salads.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are excellent sources of anti-aging nutrients, and protect the skin against sun damage. They contain Lycopene, which helps form a barrier against sunlight, and are a rich source of Vitamin C, essential for skin health.

Cooked and raw tomatoes contain slightly different health properties, so make sure your diet contains both. Fried or baked tomatoes on toast make a great vegan breakfast or snack, and most soups, stews, curries and chillies benefit from a handful of chopped tomatoes during cooking. Baby tomatoes are a great snack food that can take the place of crisps or nuts if you are watching your weight. But however you eat your tomatoes, make sure you get a daily dose!

Pumpkin Seeds

The last food for glowing, healthy skin is the humble pumpkin seed. It is rich in vitamin and minerals essential to keep skin healthy. This includes omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin E. Increasing collagen production and speeding up healing while reducing inflammation is just a fraction of what these tiny seeds can do when eaten on a regular basis.

Help boost collagen levels and therefore skin elasticity by having a jar of pumpkin seeds on your kitchen counter and sprinkling them on top of your regular meals. They go particularly well with salads, or try diced onion, grated carrot and pumpkin seeds as a crunch raw soup topping. You can also sprinkle them onto porridge and spicy dishes for added crunch.

Natural Skincare

If you’re paying attention to what you put into your body, then you might want to browse our range of 100% vegan and organic skin products. Our range supports healthy diets by offering plant-powered nutrition for your skin, with no fillers, synthetics or added water. Suitable for all skin types even sensitive and dry skin. Our Makes Frankincense Anti-Ageing Balm is a best seller! 

The beginning of a new season always puts us in a reflective mood. Here are seven simple suggestions to help improve your physical and mental wellbeing, even if you’re super busy.

Let go of your phone

Appreciate your quality of life in person, not through a phone. We’re all guilty of holding our phones far too much, especially when we go to bed. Try only picking your phone up for essential calls and text, and not browsing social media for a couple of days. 

Use the time before you go to sleep for a moisturising wind-down ritual instead, to soothe your skin and help you sleep. Give your hands some attention with a massage, as a change from holding the smart ‘phone all day!

Changing Hands Balm

Eat Fresh

We’re all guilty of grabbing a bagel, pizza or chocolate bar when we’re starving or in a rush. Why not reverse that trend and take the time to buy yourself the best, juiciest fruit you can find? The age-old ritual of searching for that perfectly ripe peach or lush bunch of grapes can reconnect you to the real purpose of food – to nourish you and support your physical health and wellbeing.

Turn Up

It’s easy to stay behind a computer or telephone screen, and sometimes we can lose touch with the real-life people that make life so rich and interesting. Whether you’re tempted to cut a gym class to go see a band, or force yourself to pop to a book launch when it’s raining outside, live a little! Build social networks and hang out with people that share your interests and ideals to reconnect with your values and goals.

Use Aromatherapy

The smell of fresh coffee, baking bread, clean sheets or even a cute baby can have a positive psychological effect on stress and anxiety. Focus on your mental health and take an aromatherapy bath to shift the stresses and tensions of the day. But, make time to smell the roses – literally – and savour the fragrances of your everyday life to reconnect with the little things that make life beautiful.

Connect With Animals

Whether it’s feeding the ducks in the park or an unhurried walk with the dog, a sure way to feel more grounded is to make a connection with an animal. Even appreciating the beauty of wild animals on a Youtube video can put us in a different state of mind.

It’s easy to forget that we are animals too, and shifting our focus wild creatures or pets can recharge our batteries and take us out of our modern stress-bubbles for a while.

Grow Something

While the world seems to move so quickly, it’s hard to rush a houseplant or bed of flowers! If you have a neglected houseplant, take a week to tend to it and bring it back to life, or grow something from scratch on your kitchen or bathroom windowsill. Giving attention and energy to a living thing and watching it blossom is a positive antidote to the hectic ways of the world outside.

Help the birds

Giving selflessly is shown to have a positive effect on the emotions, and this time of year the birds are getting ready to lay eggs and tend to their young. 

A simple bag of bird seed scattered on your lawn or windowsill is a lovely way to help local wildlife.  If you have cats, then you can scatter seed in the park or anywhere away from hungry kitties. 

Dry grass clippings and straw left in your garden (place on top of a hedge to keep them out of reach of cats) can also help birds by providing natural nesting material.

ABOUT US: We are a vegan, organic cosmetics company.  We believe in kindness to animals and natural skincare.  All of our products are certified vegan, organic and contain no synthetics, fillers or water.

I've now launched 2 money-saving daily starter kits that allow you to cut out all synthetic chemicals and streamline your daily facial routine. All our natural skincare products are suitable for vegans and use only organic ingredients. These kits will super-charge your skin and I believe you will see visible results almost immediately - although it will take up to 3 months to see the full effects (as this is how long it takes for the lower layers of the skin to make their way to the surface).

Each Daily Skincare Kit contains a hand-blended Cleanser, Toner and Moisturising Serum 30ml, which have been painstakingly formulated over the past 6 years to achieve the best results for each skin type. Your skin will finally be able to detoxify, re-balance and regenerate in a way you never thought possible! I know we are all different and it's impossible to create a range that will suit absolutely everyone; however, I believe these unique products are perfect for the vast majority of people - even those suffering with skincare problems like eczema, psoriasis, acne, dermatitis etc. The ultra-pure organic skincare products are packed with essential oils, natural vitamins, essential fatty acids, omegas and anti-oxidants which are proven to work in synergy with the skin to re-balance and replenish it in a totally natural way.

Daily Skincare Kit for Normal, Dry & Mature Skin - choose this kit if your skin is ageing, dry, sensitive and dull.

Daily Skincare Kit for Normal, Oily & Combination Skin - choose this kit if you have problem skin and are prone to break-outs, acne and blocked pores.

I will now run through the 3-step routine which should be done twice daily for optimum results:-

Step 1 – Moisten & Cleanse

Because I never add water to any of my products, moisten your face first with warm water and then apply 3 pumps of the Cleanser to a piece of moist cotton wool (or apply to the fingertips, if preferred). Gently cleanse your face, using upward, circular motions and repeat, if necessary.

Daily cleansing is needed as a makeup remover and to remove dirt and dead skin cells that can build up and cause blocked pores and dull, sluggish skin. Moistening the skin first will improve absorption of the Cleanser and make it easier to use.

Step 2 - Hydrate & Tone

Spritz some Toner on to a new piece of cotton wool and apply to the face, again using upward, circular motions. 

Toning your skin will complete the cleansing process and remove any remaining dirt, excess oil, makeup and dead skin cells. My toners will also hydrate your skin as they are made from the steam distillation of organic plants and flowers and contain lots more highly beneficial skin properties and NO alcohol (which is often found in conventional - and even organic - toners).

Step 3 – Moisturise

While your skin is still moist from applying the Toner in Step 2, apply 2-4 drops of the Moisturising Serum to your fingertips and gently massage in to your face and neck, using upward, circular motions.

My hand-blended moisturising serums are very different to conventional facial moisturisers which are usually made of water, synthetics and very little else! Earthzest moisturising serums are 100% organic and natural and contain NO added water or cheap fillers and. This makes them ultra-concentrated and extremely effective.

Moisturising will complete your daily routine and give your skin a deep surge of organic hydration, which will not block the skin, even if you have oily, problematic skin. This is because the oils I use in my serums are not mineral oil, which is a petrochemical. Instead, I use botanical oils that are all 100% organic and very similar to the structure of our own skin. Making it the perfect skin food to naturally re-balance sebum production and give the skin a soft, natural glow.

My Daily Skincare Kits offer savings on the cost of buying the 3 products separately and come with a free, natural cotton drawstring bag. Give yourself some TLC time or show someone how much you love them by purchasing an organic skin gift set. We don’t just offer natural skincare for face, there’s something for everyone at EarthZest as our range covers everything from lip care to stretch mark and beard oils.

Get your skin ready for Spring and go 100% organic today!

Order here: https://www.earthzest.co.uk/collections/for-face

Jackie Callow
Founder, EarthZest Organics