Friday 30 August 2013

Britain. It's not all about big red buses and Prince Harry. We are also pretty damn good when it comes to beauty products. A few obvious brands come to mind such as Barry M, Rimmel & No7,  but i didn't want to talk to you about well-known brands as you most likely already have them in your make up bags! Instead, i've searched the UK (not literally) for some home-grown beauty brands that you really need to add to your wishlist...


Amie
Amie is a British skincare company which creates products with a youthful market in mind. Fiona Parkhouse is the brains behind the brand. Fiona originally created Amie for her own daughter, Samatha;  She had been experiencing oiliness and break-outs, but her skin was really sensitive and products already on offer only made it worse. As a result, Amie was developed with natural ingredients - none of the products contain parabens, mineral oils, sulphates or GM ingredients. As well as this the range is dermalogically tested. Their products are simple yet effective. I'm a fan of their Exfoliating Face Wash (pictured), which has a delicate scent and is gentle enough to use daily, as well as their Matte-Finish Moisturiser which keeps shiny skin away. I feel like not enough people know about Amie but they are really affordable and have a great range of products to suit different skin types.
Available online and in John Lewis and Waitrose stores.
ARK Age Aware Skincare
Unlike other skincare brands which target one particular age group, ARK skincare products are 'age appropriate' as they are divided into three age related categories: age prepare (teens to early 30's), age mantain (mid 30's to 50's) and age repair (50's plus). The range was developed over 4 years of research by ARK skincare founder Shula Starkey and Dr. Penny Kendall-Reed, a Nautropathic doctor and leading expert in preventative health and nutrition. I have been double cleansing with the ARK Pre Skin Cleanse and ARK Age Prepare Skin Clear Cleasner. The soap-free cleanser washes away impurities without leaving the skin feeling dry. Thanks to the natural ingredients such as Grape seed, Avocado and Kiwi oil in the Pre-cleanse, my skin is deeply nourished and protected against dryness.
Available from the ARK website here
Eyeko London
Nina and Max Leyking established Eyeko in 1999. Since then, Eyeko has become a firm favourite by make-up artists and celebrities such as Alexa Chung, Jennifer Lawernce and Gemma Arterton. The brand focuses on eyes, hence the name! Nina believes mascara "..is the one beauty product that can instantly transform everyone. We've got OCD when it comes to creating mascara - that's why we focus on the EYE in Eyeko". After 10 years of creating the best mascara brushes and formulations, these guys really know their stuff. I'm a huge fan of their Brow Gel and Skinny Liners.
Stocked in Sephora, Space NK, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and on the Eyeko website.
REN
Since launching in September 2000, REN has quickly become a cult favourite amongst consumers worldwide. REN's main aim is to apply the latest discoveries in bio active technology to produce skincare formulations that boost the skin's natural processes of protection,repair and renewal. They use only 100% natural blends of essential oils and plant extracts. REN products are also free from sulphates, animal ingredients, parabens and synthetic fragrances. I love treating my skin weekly to the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal mask. Did you know REN means clean in Swedish?
Available online here and in Selfridges, Space NK, Liberty and John Lewis.
LUSH
The first LUSH store was opened in Poole,Dorest in 1994. Mark and Mo Constantine founded the company initionaly in 1970 and they now have over 830 stores across the world. LUSH are known for making unique,handmade products such as their shower jellies, shampoo bars and bath bombs. LUSH products are 100% vegetarian, 83% vegan and 60% preservative free.
Available to purchase in LUSH stores and online.
A.K.A
A relatively new cosmetic brand which is based in the UK with the majority of goods produced in the UK. The name stands for As Known As and the concept behind the brand is an homage to the ritual of getting ready, putting your make up on and transforming yourself into a different person. I believe that the right make up can completely change your personality; it can give you confidence and has the power to change not only how you look but also how you feel. I love that A.K.A has managed to capture this in their collection. The range consists of good quality formulas in a wide variety of colours at affordable prices. I think you'll be hearing a lot more about this brand! I've fallen in love with their liquid eyeliner in grey blue.
Available online here
Viridian Nutrition
Viridian Nutrition is a UK based and family owned nutritional supplement company. Viridian are passionate about using the puriest ingredients , their products contain no nasty additives, no added sugars, colourings or artifical flavours ensuring their products are as pure and clean as they can be. As well as using organic, environmentally sourced ingredients, Viridian also has a charity donation programme. So far, �125,000 has been donated to charities such as NSPCC, Woodland Trust and Save The Children.
Available to buy on the Viridian website here
Beautyuk
Beautyuk is a family run business which started out five years ago. They are an affordable, on-trend make up brand with prices starting from just �1.99. Beautyuk is often launching new products to keep up with the latest trends, ideal if you like experimenting with different colours and shades. Have you seen their new Posh Palettes? They look amazing, 'Eden' is on my wishlist!
Available at selected Superdrug stores and online here.
Dr.Organic
If you're a fan of natural, organic skincare products you'll love Dr.Organic. They are committed to creating unique products, all of which contain no parabens, mineral oils or GMO ingredients. The range consists of a wide variety of products including face masks, shampoo, bath oils, toothpaste and deodorant. Each product comes in different versions to suit individual needs. Some of these include lavender, olive oil, royal jelly, rose otto and tea tree.
Available at Holland & Barrett
Have you discovered any new British Beauty Brands? What ones are your favs?!

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