It’s no secret among my friends and family that I’m something of a makeup and skincare junkie. My mother always brought me and my sister up to take good care of our skin and invest in high quality products. Make-up remover wipes were almost a dirty word in our household, and the thought of going to bed with make-up still on was abhorrent!
Since I’m not #blessed with perfect skin, finding products that really work for me has always been a priority, and whilst I have gone through stages of trying anything and everything (I think it’s partly a compulsion to shop!), I have finally settled on the resolution that less is often more. Nowadays I try to keep it simple, educating myself about the product and how best to use it, and allowing enough time to see how my skin reacts. Although as a family we have always loved natural products, since adopting a plant-based lifestyle I have been more acutely aware of the issue of animal testing, and whilst my bathroom cabinets still probably contain a few dubious products, I’m always on the look out for cruelty-free beauty essentials. Luckily, for the main part of my skincare routine (i.e. the cleanse and moisturise), that need has been fulfilled by the wonderful Emma Hardie, and the probiotic skincare brand, Aurelia, both of which are available from Space N.K. In this post I’ll talk you through why I love these products and how to use them.
Emma Hardie: for those of you who don’t know (and if so, you really should ask yourself why not), Emma is a facialist and skincare expert who has developed her own range of natural, paraben-free products that feature many botanical ingredients (hence why they smell so divine, think neroli and mandarin extracts!) Her Moringa Balm has become a favourite among beauty bloggers, and for good reason. It is essentially a cleansing balm, but can also be used as a face mask, leaving your skin both wonderfully clean and radiant. Whilst there are dozens of blogs touting the benefits of the balm, namely the way it leaves you looking plumped and radiant (yep, and yep), what I find particularly interesting is the way Emma recommends using it. I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of facials with Emma, experiences which left me glowing both on the inside and on the outside. As well as using healing techniques such as Reiki, she also talks you through how best to use your skincare, often highlighting two key processes. Firstly, the importance of facial massage – whatever balm you are using to take off your makeup, really work it into the skin, kneading the sinews in your face with both your fingertips and your knuckles – the weirder you look, the better! This is because beneath the skin are a number of channels, and these can become congested (leading to spots, for example). The second, which is linked to the first, is the process of ‘polishing’ the skin using (her) microfibre cloths. Having applied the moringa balm all over the face, you hold one section of the skin (the forehead, for example), and pull the cloth over the face in little strokes. Together, these processes stimulate the lymphnodes and help clear and tone the face (in terms of spots, this is because the actions stimulate a kind of detox for the skin).
The best thing about this product for me, in addition to the fact that it leaves my skin soft and glowing, is the fact that it provides a kind of at-home spa treatment. Every week during my university finals I would spend about half an hour doing this facial massage, almost working out my stress on my own face! Not only is the action itself soothing, but the scent of her products is exquisite. After my last facial I also learnt that a great combination is to use the Foaming Wash (pictured above) together with the balm, since the balm softens the skin whilst ingredients in the face wash kind of ‘nibble away’ at the dirt, lifting away the dehydrated, dull skin.
Aurelia: With my skin wonderfully cleansed, I always follow with the Cell Revitalise Moisturiser from British brand Aurelia. Although I have only tried the moisturiser so far, the ethos of the brand is brilliant, using organic formulations with probiotic technology to manage inflammation (again, a key concern for those of us with spots!) Whilst it is unlikely on its own to transform your skin, it is a great simple step in your routine that will leave your skin looking plump and dewy. Having briefly read the reviews on other websites, I’ve noticed that many people complain of it sitting on top of the skin. Although I am perhaps biased, since I believe in really massaging your moisturiser in order to boost circulation, this is not a problem I have noticed. I would say, in fact, that the product is rich without being heavy, and is again beautifully scented (naturally, I might add). The brand has won several awards since it’s launch in 2013, and I’d definitely recommend checking out some of their other products (I have my eye on the serum!)
Together with my plant-based diet, I really feel like these products have helped me achieve quite a consistent glow, both with and without makeup (it’s always worth remembering that using good skincare helps your makeup to apply smoothly!)
Let me know what you think if you have tried these brands, and look out for more cruelty-free product reviews in the near future!
Ruth x
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