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What happens to skin in hot weather (and what to do about it)
Last week, the UK weather reached new highs and it made for a strange week for skin. Hot enough that my lotion bar needed the fridge, my lip balm became a puddle and I had a few messages from people whose skin has gone a bit haywire...more breakouts, redness and an...
Storing lotion bars and lip balms in warm weather
It’s been extremely hot this week. I know because I’ve spent most of it at my desk thinking about melting point data, which is not a typical person thing to think about but is extremely relevant when your bestselling products are made almost entirely of butters and...
How Marine Biology Shapes the Way I Formulate Natural Skincare
I didn't set out to make skincare. In fact, I went to university to study Marine Biology. My degree taught me to understand ecosystems: how organisms interact with their environment and how small changes in one place ripple through everything else. Fundamentally,...
Why Your Skin Feels Tight After Washing
You know that sensation? That slightly uncomfortable, too tight feeling after you've washed your face. Most people assume it means their skin is clean, but it might mean your skin is sending you a signal that something needs attention. Here's what's happening beneath...
Dry Skin vs Dehydrated Skin: How to Tell the Difference
Dry skin vs dehydrated skin is one of the most common mix-ups in skincare and the fix is different for each one. Using the wrong one can make you feel like nothing works, which is demoralising and expensive. Dry skin is a skin type whereas dehydration is the condition...
What Causes Dry Facial Skin…And How to Fix It
Understanding what causes dry facial skin is more useful than any moisturiser recommendation because the fix depends entirely on which part of the picture is wrong. Dry skin sounds simple but it’s rarely straightforward. What starts out as tight, occasionally flaky...
Why Some Natural Products Irritate Skin
When natural products irritate your skin, the frustration is completely understandable. You switched to natural skincare because it was supposed to be gentler. Fewer harsh chemicals, simpler ingredients, less of the stuff you’d been quietly suspicious of for years....
Vitamins in skincare explained: What they do and how they work
Vitamins in skincare are everywhere - Vitamin C serums, Vitamin E balms, niacinamide treatments, B5 moisturisers. But what are they actually doing? And is their presence on a label a sign of a better product or mostly marketing? This guide covers the vitamins you'll...
Damaged Skin Barrier Signs: How to tell & repair it simply
If your skin has suddenly changed - reacting to products that used to be fine, or feeling tight, stingy or more sensitive than usual - that’s often your first clue your skin barrier needs support. The good news? In most cases, a damaged skin barrier is simple to fix...
Preservatives in skincare: why they’re essential (and when they’re not)
Preservatives in skincare are one of the most misunderstood - and often controversial - aspects of skincare formulation, particularly when it comes to natural skincare. They’re often seen as something unnecessary, or even something to avoid. In reality, preservatives...