Niche Beauty Bits 'n' Bobs
I get a lot of brands on my desk that I have never heard of before. Many are new, some just new to me. In the last couple of weeks I’ve been having a look at products from four brands that I’m not familiar with. A change is as good as a rest, my mum always says, so why not?!
First up is Prevasore (£6.95, prevasore.co.uk), a lip treatment which targets not only dry and chapped lips, but those pesky cold sores. The HSV-1 virus is one of the most common human viral infections, and research shows that as many as 45% of the population is reported to suffer from recurrent cold sores which can last two weeks – and let’s face it, no one wants that.
The formulation of this product is designed to encourage healthy lips using emollient and moisture preserving ingredients, in a pale green gel base, that forms an effective barrier when it comes into contact with the lips.
The blend of protective ingredients rebalances the moisture levels within the skin, restoring softness, suppleness and encourages healing when lips are chapped and sore. By forming a barrier, Prevasore increases the amount of moisture retained in the lips and protects against harsh environments. I’ve been using it for a week, not on a cold sore, which I am lucky enough not to suffer from, but on my lips, which at this time of year so get chapped, and dry, and it definitely keeps things at bay. It’s not essentially a lip balm, which shouldn’t be used all the time anyway, and once the chapping/dryness has gone, you don’t need to continue using, but it is called ‘everyday lip therapy’ so if you want to keep using it, there’s no harm in that. I just find constantly applying lip balm when your lips don’t need it, pointless.
Next up, Yours Truly Organics, a range developed by skincare expert Kelita Bignall, which consists of four products, which are formulated using active organic and natural ingredients to care for your skin. The range includes Take it away! Gel Cleanser, £22, Balancing Toner, £19, Fix Me! Repairing Serum, £28, and Face Base Face Balm, £25.
I’ve been trying the Balancing Toner. I don’t usually use any toner, so it is a bit of an odd one for me, and this is actually better suited to combination to oily skins. Cleansing pores and returning skin to its optimal PH level, this toner is formulated with witch hazel and Aloe vera, as well as pomegranate oil to aid cell regeneration. I have to say, the smell of this toner is really strong, and not one that I am overly keen on, but that’s just me.
“When developing the Yours Truly Organics range I wanted to use natural ingredients that balance the skin and enhance natural beauty without the use of harsh or aggressive ingredients,” says Kelita. “All products are made in the UK and approved by Ecocert, meaning they’re at least 95% natural and free of GMO’s, parabens and synthetic chemistry.”
The products are available at Whole Foods stores.
Eloquence (which I have to admit is not my favourite name ever) are a brand using Peru’s omega 3 superfood, Sacha Inchi Oil. This oil comes from an exotic seed popular as a premium health food and now as a skincare ingredient. Eloquence use it, they say, because it contains a unique combination of Omega 3 to restore skin’s elasticity, Omega 6 to combat dehydration, and Omega 9 which helps against premature ageing through nourishing and protecting skin from environmental stress.
The brand consists of four core products, all helpfully numbered to ensure you use each one correctly, which I like.
Start with Purifying Facial Cleanser (£8), which is enriched with the Sacha Inchi Oil, as well as Coconut Extract and soothing cucumber. it’s sulphate free, so doesn’t foam up, but it does give the skin a very cleansed feeling.
Next up, the Firm & Tone Serum (£20), which contains everyone’s favourite, Hyaluronic Acid. So, it hydrates, and peptides, vitamin A and that oil again help improve tone, texture and balance. Use the Firming & Moisturising Eye Gel (£26) next, a cooling cucumberand aloe based gel to fight fatigue, bags and dark circles.
Of course it also contains the oil, as well as Hyaluronic Acid. You really only need a little of this, it goes a along way.
Finally, Protect & Repair 24 Hour Cream (£21). This shea butter based cream is lightweight, but nourishing, and contains the Sacha Inchi Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, and has UVA and UVB protection. You can use at night as well as in the day. My skin felt hydrated and fresh after using all of these products for a few days.
There is also a Nourishing Treatment Oil (£50), which does seem pretty expensive, but it is actually a bit of a multi-tasker and then some. It’s for skin, nails, body and hair. So, you can use it alone, or mix it with shampoo, conditioner, or your moisturisers to give them a super nourishing boost, with Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, and of course, Sacha Inchi Oil.
I do love this oil, actually, and have particularly enjoyed using it on my nails, which can always do with a nourishing boost. You can buy the products at eloquencebeautycare.com and find more about the brand on social media @EloquenceBeauty
The four-step core skincare collection + the Nourishing Oil can also be purchased as part of the Pure Luxury Collection (£99) which is a great moneysaver AND you can save even more with this 5pm exclusive discount code. Use 5PM40%OFF on checkout to get 40% off the Pure Luxury Collection with free P & P. Go right here to purchase!
Finally, this toothpaste arrived last week, from Curaprox, who have launched two new charcoal based whitening pastes, Black is White and White is Black . The former is mint with citrus, and the latter a mild mint. Each pack comes with a limited edition CS 5460 ultra-soft toothbrush.
So, why charcoal? Well, apparently, unlike typical whitening toothpastes that contain abrasive particles and bleaching agents which erode the enamel; Black is White and White is Black use activated Carbon to gently adsorb and remove stain particles that discolour teeth, without wearing enamel away, leaving you with healthy, natural white teeth.
Add to that that activated Carbon has a positive effect on the teeth and gums without drying out the mouth, and a blue optical filter reduces yellow discoloration, adding to its whitening effect this toothpaste seems miraculous. Enzymes in the formula enhance antibacterial and antiviral function as well, maximising oral hygiene and preventing tooth decay. Oh, and Hydroxyapatite, a mineral form of calcium which makes up the basic matrix of the tooth is another hero found within the products formula.
HOWEVER, using black toothpaste is odd, and the foam you spit out is a weird grey, and whilst this is not unpleasant to use at the time, the aftertaste it left made me physically gag! Horrible. But, I do love the littke toothbrush, which is not rough in any way, and gets right into all the little nooks and crannies. But please still floss, my dentist is watching!
Curaprox Black Is White and White Is Black, available from curaprox.co.uk, and professional dentists, £19.95 per set.