I touched on beauty from the inside out first post-Christmas via the loveliest products from Organic Pharmacy to Dose & Co. This month I have had a wonderful opportunity to review and revisit some of my favourites and some new products that are destined to make you feel better from the outside too.
Here are my first choice products
Winter nights and grey days call for hot baths and freshly moisturised skin; central heating and the elements do our skin no favours this time of year. So, on that note; let me start with one of my absolute favourite Vegan brands, which I’ve loved for a while, and that is The Organic Pharmacy. The past few years have been a wonderful learning curve for me in what we use on our bodies, our skin is a living breathing organ and up to 60% of what it absorbs goes into your bloodstream.
Their Detox Body Oil Detoxify has a gorgeous blend of juniper, grapefruit and rosemary oils, invigorating and deeply nourishing your skin. Use it on its own as part of your bath ritual or with their Skin Brush. It tones, invigorates and eliminates toxins, improves microcirculation and it’s also great for treating cellulite.
I used this with their natural Skin Brush, which is a perfect tool for everyday dry brushing. It sweeps away dead skin cells and improves the appearance of the skin. The natural fibres are gently smooth, while the long detachable handle makes for easier reach across the back.
Body brushing also has beyond the surface-level benefits, dry body brushing helps keep our body functioning well from the inside out. “Helping to boost circulation and increase blood flow, it also stimulates lymphatic drainage and detoxification.“
Moving on, if an invigorating outcome is not what is required; may I introduce Dreem Distillery. I was rather looking forward to receiving this; from the packaging to the scent, before you even use the product you fall a little bit in love with it.
I received two products, Among the Stars Body Oil and Into the Deep Bath Oil. Baths are a gift to dry winter skin. Not only do they provide the all-important relaxation to switch off those skin-damaging stress hormones, but baths are the perfect opportunity to hydrate skin, Into the Deep is the ultimate pre-bed aromatherapeutic soak, containing a potent complex of the most effective natural ingredients to induce sleep.
The deeply relaxing organic essential oils, finest quality broad-spectrum CBD and soothing arnica of Dreem Complex are enhanced with complimentary botanicals to boost its efficacy. The addition of organic sunflower oil disperses throughout the bath, providing skin and senses a luxuriously soft, hydrated finish. ‘The most potent sleep-inducing bath oil you can buy. There are relaxing bath oils… and then there is Into the Deep.’ Hayley Dawes, Dreem Distillery Founder.
I combined this with the ‘Among the Stars’ body oil described as the finest sleep-inducing body oil imaginable, and I can honestly say it lives up to this. A luxuriously lightweight conditioning natural base oil is infused with the Dreem Complex of aromatherapy oils, skin-absorbable CBD and calming botanicals, plus additional organic essential oils renowned for their soporific effects.
The result: seriously smoothed skin and a beautifully soothed body and mind. An unparalleled pre-bed treatment that takes the skin and senses somewhere starlit… ‘Leaves limbs as soft as my mind is melted; I never head to bed without massaging in this heavenly body oil’ Hayley Dawes, Dreem Distillery Founder.
Sleep is the best thing for your mental and physical health, I love being a creative freelancer but sometimes my mind is whirring late at night; I’m one of those people who take a notepad to bed and write things when I wake up in the night; I’m looking forward seeing how these products work over a longer period.
What most people don’t realize is that the hours we spend asleep are actually among our most constructive: certain areas of your brain work their hardest during sleep, and skin is best able to repair and regenerate itself at night. In short, quality sleep is crucial to both skin health and your overall health.
Levels of the stress hormone cortisol fall during sleep, which helps skin repair daytime damage, hence other than SPF and make-up in the morning I make a point of spending more time on my skincare routine at night so it can work.
To maximise these products’ key ingredients, it’s best to remove all traces of makeup and the day’s grime. The best way in my opinion is to decongest and deep cleanse skin with the multi-award-winning EVE LOM Cleanser. “The signature blend of four aromatic plant oils—clove, eucalyptus, hops and Egyptian chamomile—has changed the face of cleansing and continues to do so, being precisely balanced for every type of skin, any skin concerns and all environmental conditions”.
What I love best about the Eve Lom cleanser is that it deep cleanses without drying or stripping, removing the most stubborn makeup. Thorough cleansing and gentle exfoliation enable skin cells to quickly regenerate. Combined with the included muslin cloth, it exfoliates, tones and improves circulation.
I’m a big fan of JS Health supplements, and they have recently launched a skincare range, two products that caught my eye in particular are the Pro-collagen Vitamin Serum and the Luminous Vitamin Oil, perfect for newly cleansed skin just before bed.
Firstly, the Pro-collagen Serum, this brightening, hydrating and brilliance-inducing serum is formulated to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity and uneven skin tone using advanced age-defying ingredients. Secondly, the Luminous Oil. This is formulated with Bakuchiol, a natural retinol alternative, this face oil is designed to visibly transform your complexion for firmer, smoother, radiant and more youthful skin.
Rituals like the above are perfect for aiding sleep and encouraging health and beauty from the outside in, all you need lastly is a silk pillowcase from White Lotus Beauty and you are good to go!
