Beauty Goes to the Allotment

“allow me to take your hand and wander through our allotment ”

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Looking to nature is nothing new in the beauty industry, so let’s delve deep into the allotment or kitchen garden in search of solutions to our skincare needs. Take the logic of (minimum) five-a-day when it comes to fruit and vegetables as the best source of essential nutrients and it only makes sense that – used topically – this same harvest is going to yield benefits for our skin. If nothing else, this is one crop I promise you won’t struggle to digest.

I’m starting off with snails because if feels disingenuous to leave them until last or bury them (so to speak) in the mid-section. As living creatures, they are the bane of the gardener’s existence; as escargots they are a delicacy to be savoured at any decent French restaurant. Packed with iron and omega-3 fatty acids, these slimy little suckers are also a great source of protein. And, as K-beauty brands have known for years, their work doesn’t stop there. Snail secretion, or mucin, is the hero ingredient in the (now cult) Cosryx. I tried out the (happily fragrance-free) Power Essence which contains 96% active ingredient, derived without cruelty. Once I’d got over the ick factor, I found it absorbed easily into the skin and without doubt helped boost hydration levels. I certainly felt my skin looking more luminous and radiant but can’t speak to its claims to repair damaged skin and reduce scarring although I’ve heard great things from other people and TikTok certainly seems to be a fan.

Although suitable for all skin types, if you have particularly sensitive skin you may be wary. I always urge people to sack off any product that causes a reaction but, of course, tester samples aren’t always available. If you suffer with flare-ups, allow me to take your hand and wander through our allotment to the dark, damp place where mushrooms grow. You may already be ingesting mushrooms on the regular for any number of reasons – some of which I am legally obliged to make clear cannot be condoned or considered legal. However, they are also supremely effective in skincare as they are one of nature’s great humectants: they actively attract and bind water to the skin. They also calm down redness and provide instant succour to inflamed skin. REN's Evercalm range uses the magic of mushrooms in its milky Sensitivity Relief Mist – just the job.

Almost as bothersome as snails to any allotment owner is a preponderance of nettles, although true greeny types will recognise these ouchy leaves as a free source of nutrition (Nettle pesto? Nice cup of nettle tea? Anyone?), or even as one of nature’s great fertilisers. The benefits don’t end there. They are also something of a superhero when it comes to hair and scalp care. Danish company Urtekram is certified organic, and ingredients are completely natural in origin. They use nettle in their anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner, harnessing the weed’s anti-inflammatory and anti-seborrheic properties to soothe the scalp and reduce the dreaded flaking.

With Scandinavia in mind, let’s move over to the herb bed where we’ll find more fragrant forms of foliage to scent and soothe. Nordic brand Aevi’s Lumi Balm contains sage, peppermint, beeswax and extract of rose petal, and is one of those don’t-leave-the-house-without pocket-friendly sticks of solid balm. It can be used both to nourish parched skin and also to add a little glow-on-the-go to cheeks, lips, and anywhere else needing a little added moisture. While we’re here, we could take a moment to inhale nature’s sweet perfumes but if time doesn’t permit, cheat with a quick spritz of Hello Daise’s Raspberry and Mint Body Mist. Created by Monday Haircare founder, these ‘mood matching’ fragrances are catnip for Gen’s Z and A with their supercute packaging.

Ok, so we’ve dealt with pests, shrooms and herbs, now let’s get stuck in to the meat and veg of the patch. Well, the veg at any rate. With our greens, the darker the better as the more the chlorophyll, the more the vitamins. Kale and spinach are positively brimming with nutrients including some powerhouse antioxidants. Both list high in the ingredients of Youth to The People’s Superfood Kale cleanser and also Espa’s Clean & Green Detox Mask. The former adds green tea to a fresh gel which lightly foams on contact with water. It gently purifies and balances the skin, leaving even my dehydrated face clean, soft and supple.

Espa’s mask also incorporates broccoli seed oil to maintain moisture levels, and green kaolin clay which acts as an exfoliant. More botanics (sunflower, moringa, soya and grapeseed) work together in a blend to restore lipid levels, and – as with all Espa products – it is scented with essential oils meaning it smells heavenly. The instant effect is brighter skin, and it also works wonders on the texture. An added bonus (at this time of year) is the feel on the skin – as cooling and refreshing as a super-green smoothie.

Perhaps the most famous aromatic is lavender, and I have left this until last as I must confess I often find it tricky in scent. Perhaps because it is so familiar? It can probably be found in most homes in some form or other; from candles, syrups and shower gels to linen sprays, crafting components or first aid kits. Although I love the scent in its natural form, I find most fragrances either overly dilute its impact or allow it to make too stark a statement. There’s rarely a middle ground but in in Purple Memoire, Floris London have achieved a masterpiece. They’ve leaned into the three key qualities of the flower’s scent (herbaceous, floral and woody) and paired these perfectly at each layer. Coriander and bergamot as a green and airy first impression at the top. A deeply floral heart evokes nostalgia and romance, and as it dries down, the base comes through all in all its resinous, warm, woody glory. Inspired by Ivy Lodge and its sprawling gardens (the English country home of founder Mary Anne Floris) this worthy homage is a modern-day classic.

Cosryx Power Essence £27.99 lookfantastic.com