Those who swear by organic skincare have more choices now with the arrival of another top British brand, writes Syida Lizta Amirul Ihsan
ORGANIC skincare is a dime a dozen but really good ones are few and far between. Personally, I don’t believe organic skincare works better but I like the idea of going in line with Mother Nature. Beauty shouldn’t come at a cost to our planet.
One respected brand sneaked into the local market a few months ago, its quiet arrival causing hush whispers among regular beauty floor shoppers: “Did you know that Neal’s Yard is here?”
For its small but strong fanbase, British brand Neal’s Yard Remedies, with its flagship store in Covent Garden, London, is the yardstick of organic skincare.
Firstly, it is honest. Each product has a percentage of how organic it is, so customers are not duped. The ingredient list reads like a herb garden index — in scientific plant names. And where organic products are used, they are certified.
Secondly, the concoctions smell divine, of plants and essential oils, not synthetic, lab-formulated fragrances.
The brand was founded in 1981 by Romy Fraser when the awareness on natural ingredients in cosmetics was relatively new.
In 2005, Fraser sold the company to painter and calligrapher Peter Kindersley who owned Sheepdrove Farmhouse, an organic farm with enough land to plant the herbs used in the products.
BEAUTY INSIDE
Like Liz Earle and Aesop, Neal’s Yard Remedies is focused on ingredients and the minimal packaging attests to that. Inside are cocktails of rose, frankincense, berry, almond, geranium and lavender, depending on your choice.
The Frankincense Hydrating Cream looks and feel deceptively thick inside the blue glass jar. But once applied (take time to massage it in until it is fully absorbed), skin feels instantly soft and moisturised.
Made of frankincense and myrhh, its texture feels like a night cream but works well for day and doesn’t make the face glisten with oil on a hot and humid day.
Beauty Sleep Concentrate meanwhile, works for night but is light in texture. I had initial doubts about its efficacy. But with four pumps, the potion sustains moisture so you wake up fresh-faced. It is made with a blend of essential oils that smells calming and readies your mind to bed.
The White Tea Toning Eye Gel is what all eye ointment should be like — gel, not cream, clear, not white — so users don’t waste time dabbing the under eye and giving even more pressure on the delicate spot, defeating the idea of using an eye cream in the first place. The cooling effect delivered by the tea is a bonus.
Skincare products are definitely not quick fixes for great-looking skin. A diet dense with fruit and vegetables, regular workout, stress management, adequate sleep and a generally positive attitude remain the long road to overall well-being, including for the skin.
But at least for external assaults like erratic weather or casual indulgence like oily hawker food, there is help to calibrate the skin’s condition.
Treat this as a booster shot to your healthy lifestyle and your skin will reap the goodness.
Good deal
Neal’s Yard Remedies brand will have its Discover Organic campaign beginning July 15 where customers can bring other organic products to its counters in Isetan, 1Utama, Suria KLCC and Lot 10 for a 20 per cent off on their purchase.
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