Quite simply this week’s post brings you five short stories of five brands The Stylish Stuff loves. You may know them already, you may not. The beauty companies can all lay claim to a pedigree of naturalness and kindness. They are cruelty free and dedicated to sourcing ingredients that only put the good stuff back in. The chosen jewellery line, Daisy London, has collaborated for a second time with the free-spirited Laura Whitmore. The collection is delicate, beautiful, well made and above all affordable. I’m quite the fan. Without further ado…
Truth is Skyn ICELAND found it’s way into my life c/o a most excellently curated beauty bag when I left Cosmopolitan. Beauty Director Inge van Lotringen, knowing my penchant for natural and kind products, popped in a jar of the ‘Pure Cloud Cream‘ and it soon became my daily fix. It’s as light as marshmallow and yet hydrates and totally plumps the skin. I enjoyed noticeable improvements and people actually commented that I was looking ‘well’. What’s so special about the brand? Founded by Sarah Kugelman, Skyn ICELAND was the first skincare developed solely to combat the stubborn complexion problems caused by stress, and as a severe sufferer herself Sarah took a leave of absence from the corporate world in which she worked and spent months researching the impacts of what stress actually does to skin. Whilst travelling in Iceland she “was struck by the country’s cleanliness, abundance of natural resources and inhabitants with flawless skin” and thus the brand was born. Containing the purest ingredients such as; glacial mineral water, arctic super fruits and pure oxygen, the products are designed to work gently to improve the external signs of stressed-out skin; breakouts, excess oil, dehydration and irritation. The packaging is witty and clever and draws attention to the fact that we DO sweat the small stuff.
Witty en pointe packaging, saying it like it is. Stressed skin has a nbff. Hydro Cool Firming Face Gels £30
From Iceland to Greece. Korres is a brand that had been bubbling under my radar for quite some time – I’d clocked the prettily packaged products in the ‘natural’ section of my local Waitrose but hadn’t quite made that transition to picking up a face oil with my weekly shop. This soon changed after Beauty Editor, Kate Turner selected the Wild Rose Moisturiser as a hero for a previous Stylish Stuff beauty feature and I found myself swooning over yet another moisturiser that delivered more than the modest packaging suggested. No big boasts, just 100% natural & organic ingredients that bring a re-jeuvenated glow to your skin. Brainchild of George Korres, the brand began life when George, still a student, started creating natural remedies and products in Athen’s first ever homeopathic pharmacy. This was back in 1996 when the story started with an aromatic herbal throat syrup and rapidly grew to over 400 certified organic products currently in the Korres portfolio. With celebrity fans including Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie and Mr Beckham, it’s definitely worth a test drive.
Korres Black Pine, £45, fêted as being quite the skin firming wonder this natural oil is not only nourishing but proven to reduce deep wrinkles and brighten the complexion.
Korres Almond Cherry Shower Gel £8
When contemplating the dehydrating effects of long haul flying, founder of Lanolips and beauty industry veteran Kirsten Carriol got to thinking about her childhood spent at her Grandparent’s sheep-farm in Australia and the ‘wonderfully moisturising feel of the lanolin on the sheep’s wool’. Growing up it was the only thing her parents used on her lips and skin, since then nothing else had come close. Thus her passion to create Lanolips using lanolin it it’s purest most natural form was born. To her credit, every beauty editor I’ve asked about favourite products has cited the balm as an essential in their in-flight make up bag.
And just in case you’re as worried as I was about the procurement of the grease this is the company’s cruelty free mantra;
“Lanolin is . . . a natural product of the wool industry. It is a substance extracted from the fleece once it has been removed from an unharmed sheep once the sheep have been shorn. It’s vegetarian-friendly. Lanolin is no more cruel to animals than drinking milk, using beeswax, eating honey or even wearing wool. Lanolips is proudly animal cruelty free”
New to the range is Lano Rose Hand Cream £10.20 which will sit neatly in your bag next to the Lanolips Rose Lip Ointment £8.16
If you aren’t familiar with Daisy London jewellery and love a little whimsy and delicacy in your jewellery life, now’s the time to get cosy. Founded in 2009, the brand focuses on fashion and wellness in their collections and the covetable ‘Chakra’ bracelet launched in 2011, became a must have for celebrities, exotic travellers and festival goers. After the raging success of the first collaboration, the second collection with tv presenter Laura Whitmore again showcases the pretty plectrum motif and overall nod to Laura’s love of music and festival style. All celebrated in 18ct gold, rose gold vermeil, sterling silver and ‘happy stone’ turquoise. The collection prices range from £25 to £125 and launches this Thursday online.
Laura Whitmore for Daisy Jewellery. (launching Thursday 23rd June)
I have such nostalgia for Malin+Goetz – discovered whilst staying at Morgans Hotel in New York, it reminds me of long showers after longer days in heels schlepping around endless catwalk shows and presentations. I would squirrel the products into my bag in the hope that room service would generously replenish them. Imagine my excitement when an email plopped into my inbox regarding the opening of two UK stores in London’s Covent Garden and Islington! Founded in 2004 by Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz, the first store in their Chelsea neighbourhood was reminiscent of a traditional apothecary, the boys waited on customers themselves getting a feel for the needs and wants of their loyal following and identified a niche in the market for specific skincare conditions such as Eczema and Rosacea.Today the brand is still family owned and true to their ideals of simplified luxury, all natural ingredients and no animal testing. Helena Christensen is a fan and well, she obviously looks good on it…
Best sellers; the body tingling joy that is Peppermint Body Scrub £24.50, unisex and subtly sexy Moroccan Fig eau de toilette £110, and simply delicious Bergamot Body Wash £31.50
Fashion & Style Director Shelly Vella
Photography Shelly Vella (using the Olympus Pen EPL7)