Meet the Maker: Nourish London

INSPIRATION

I was head formulator for Neal’s Yard for over 20 years and am very proud of all the award-winning products I developed for them as they grew from a niche brand to a high street name. Eventually I wanted to formulate with more freedom and to develop a new generation of products. To achieve this I set up my own brand, Nourish London. We have a certified organic factory in London where we formulate, perfect and make all our products. Having the whole business based at the factory gives us complete control of every part of the process and enables us to produce in small batches, reducing waste and ensuring freshness. The whole range is vegan, cruelty-free, organic and ethanol free without any compromise on effectiveness.

BEST BEAUTY ADVICE

To believe in yourself and do what feels right for your own skin and to use a natural oil daily to protect and replenish the lipid layer. This year we are an Official Partner of Walk the Walk, the UK’s largest grant making breast cancer charity, who organise the MoonWalk in London and Scotland. Drawing on that great beauty advice, we have launched a Limited Edition of our Radiance Firming Facial Oil which is a blend of omega-rich oils like Macadamia, Borage and Pumpkin seed together with a marine extract to lift and firm the skin.

DESERT ISLAND PRODUCT

Nourish London’s new Antioxidant Multi-Tasking Super Balm. For a desert island it is perfect because it really is a multi-tasker: a cleanser, a mask, a soothing balm. The blend of antioxidants will provide protection and the blend of omega-rich oils will nourish my skin.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BRAND?

The biggest issue facing us now is the premature ageing arising from airborne pollutants. This is something I have been working on for a few years now because we do need to develop products which can protect the skin against the daily onslaught of pollutants. Innovation underpins the Nourish London brand and our organic Kale range is an example of this; kale applied topically has recently been shown to play a key role in helping to reduce the effects on skin of air borne pollutants causing ageing of the skin. It contains an enzyme system that helps to breakdown pollutants and protect the skin.

TAKE ACTION AT HOME

• Avoid phenoxyethanol - check the ingredients list in your products– this is frequently used as a preservative in place of parabens and occurs in a wide range of products. It is an unpleasant chemical to have contact with in the manufacturing process and it can have an irritating effect when applied on the skin.

• Commit to the 2 minute max shower but get maximum benefit from your shower. Set a timer or consider a water meter - these are used in Australia to encourage water saving. Enjoy the benefits of regular dry brushing prior to showering to boost the circulation and improve the texture of the skin. Then switch to a shower gel that contains shea butter and enriching oils to save the skin from drying and looking dull. And don’t forget toturn down the temperature – overly hot water might feel good but it is better for your skin to use tepid water.

• Switch your lights over to LED – they are a win win. These bulbs give a great light and cut your energy usage. The added bonus is the long life of the bulb. I think mine might outlive me!

MORE INFO

nourishskinrange.com