Rest and repair
As our bathroom shelves groan under the weight of products promising everything from a new face to a new you, what better time to discover
the brands who do more by using less?
By Claire Brayford
THE MIRACLE OIL
Universal Oil, £39, Lixirskin
Formulator for many of the most coveted beauty brands of the past 20 years, Dr. Colette Haydon knows a thing or two about ingredients. Lixirskin is founded on the principle that more is not necessarily more when it comes to a good product. Her latest all-in-one solution is a body, hair, bath and shower oil that hydrates skin and hair, stimulates the scalp and dry ends, and works on heavy legs. Blending hydrating squalane with invigorating camellia, evening primrose and omega-rich raspberry oils, it takes multitasking to the next level.
THE SOOTHING STICK
Magic Beauty Balm Stick, £20, Honest Beauty
If you are looking for good, clean, ‘honest’ multitasking beauty, look no further than Jessica Alba’s wholesome range. A great way to simplify your regime is with the Magic Beauty Balm hybrid stick, which feeds the skin with hydrating, nourishing ingredients while light-reflective pigments ensure a healthy glow. It’s brimming with rich, potent sunflower seed, coconut and olive oils – skin can drink it in.
THE TWO-STEP REGIME
Barrier Culture Cleanser, £30, and Moisturiser, £50, The Nue Co.
A barrage of active ingredients has been proven to significantly damage the important protective barrier of our skin. That’s why The Nue Co. created a two-step cleanser and moisturiser to halt our skin’s overconsumption. A potent blend of squalane, niacinamide and pre, pro and post-biotics, they work to rebuild our skin’s delicate microbiome – sealing in moisture, supporting immunity and plumping appearance. It’s time to simplify but still see real results.
THE AT-HOME CRYOTHERAPY
Ice globes, £95, Fraîcheur
The hottest beauty tool is ice-cold. Fraîcheur’s new ice globes are a rejuvenating therapy to enjoy at home. Keep them in the freezer, then roll over your face to prompt blood vessels to contract, reduce inflammation, dark circles and swelling, improve circulation, shrink pores and calm your skin – all without a chemical in sight.
THE HEALING CONCEALER
Hyaluronic Hydra-Concealer, £35, By Terry
Part makeup, part skincare, By Terry’s cult hyaluronic concealer makes caring for our delicate under-eyes a breeze. Formulated by Terry de Gunzburg (the makeup pioneer behind YSL’s Touche Éclat), the hydrating, crease-free formula contains horse chestnut seed extract to soothe, de-puff and stimulate micro-circulation, instantly brightening the area. It blurs imperfections and plumps out fine lines. The auto-adaptable shades conceal dark circles seamlessly and last all day too.
THE NATURAL SCENT
Natural Deodorant, £26, Corpus
With luxurious scents and sleek packaging (made using renewable energy), Corpus are redefining what a natural deodorant can be. Omitting aluminum, talc, parabens and phthalates, the plant and mineral-based formula blends essential oils to form fresh, unisex fragrances. From The Botanist, reminiscent of a walk through a cool, damp forest, to Cedar Flora, with notes of cedar, white musk and jasmine, they’re scents that you will love to have lingering all day.
THE HAND SAVOUR
Hand cream, £18, Grown Alchemist
After a year of intense handwashing, this chicly-packaged, non-greasy hand cream has quickly become a personal favourite. Formulated with antibacterial and soothing ingredients – including tea tree extract, cedarwood and ylang-ylang – it deeply hydrates hands and cuticles, while leaving them softly scented. A handbag essential for our time.
THE NATURAL NAILS
Nomad kit, £69, Manucurist
The first to bring clean beauty to your fingertips is French-based Manucurist’s at-home gel kits. The only LED-cured vegan gel formula is made up of 84 per cent natural ingredients, making it a toxic-free alternative that is kind to the environment and to your nails. Available in 30 wearable shades, the finish is polished and durable with no telltale thick plastic effect.
THE CLEAN HAIRCARE
Pitta Shampoo, £18, Pitta Conditioner, £20, Champo
Taking an entirely minimalist approach to beautiful hair is Champo (pronounced shar-pour). The brand is founded on ancient Indian holistic Ayurvedic principles, including soothing and massaging the head and hair. Modern trichology and active botanicals – extracted using steam-distilling, cold-pressing and water extraction to ensure they are at their most natural – really transform the hair. Simply identify your hair’s dosha (its Ayurvedic character trait) and enjoy the result.
THE FLAWLESS FOUNDATION
Super Serum Skin Tint, £46, Ilia
Keen proponents of natural, ethical cosmetics and sustainable packaging, Ilia has many multitasking products to clean up your makeup bag. One of our favourites is the versatile, weightless cream pigment that brings either a wash of colour or an intense pop to cheeks, lids and lips. And the brand has extended its bestselling Super Serum Skin Tint and concealer to 30 shades, fusing clean makeup, active skincare and sun protection.
THE MAGIC CREAM
Zi Cao Shui Gao Nourishing Cream, £42, Dermatology M
Its packaging may be understated, yet its results are anything but. Underpinned by traditional Chinese medicine and developed by world-renowned dermatologist Mazin Al-Khafaji, Dermatology M is the go-to for restoring balance and calm to a host of skin conditions. Free from irritating synthetic ingredients (95 per cent are natural), the bestselling Nourishing Cream – rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories – harnesses aloe vera, chamomile and safflower oil to soothe sensitive skin.
