Green Beauty

Phew! No sooner had we arrived back from our exhilarating West Coast launch in LA then it was straight off to do three special beauty evening shows on QVC. Just in time for this I received a review copy of the new, much anticipated Green Beauty Bible  (available on our UK website), out today. Written by top beauty duo Sarah Stacey and Jo Fairley, this eco-edition of the best-selling Beauty Bible series records the feedback of over 1000 individual testers to uncover which of the ‘more natural’ and ‘eco’ brands score the highest. Not only covering ranges that include natural ingredients in their formulations (like us), but also those that try to reduce their carbon footprint, minimise packaging, print with ‘green’ inks, have a genuine commitment to cruelty-free and all the rest. You know, when Kim and I started putting our range together 13 years ago, we didn’t set out to be a ‘natural’ brand – we set out to be the ‘best’ brand. This included a heavy dose of potent plant ingredients, a strong commitment to cruelty-free, minimum fuss-free packaging etc. long before it was seen as fashionable and certainly before the words ‘green,’ ‘eco’ or ‘carbon-neutral’ had entered the beauty dictionary. Being a ‘greener’ beauty brand is only one part of what makes us tick, which also includes a genuine commitment to outstanding customer service, research into product safety and efficacy and always aiming to be an affordable luxury.

As a brand, we fared so well in the original Beauty Bible that I did wonder quite how we would compete now with many of the newer ranges to hit the shelves in recent years. After all, 13 years on and we still stick to our founding principles and our formulations are pretty much the same as they were when launched. So you can imagine the delight/relief to discover our multi-tasking Cleanse & Polish is still top of the Cleansers section (more than 80 were trialled). With 9.5 out of a possible 10, C&P as we affectionately call it, remains the number 1 highest scoring product of all time! WOW!  It was also rated one of the book’s ‘Star Buys’ because of its price and the fact that it lasts for ages.

Alongside the tester’s favourites of Cleanse & Polish and Skin Repair (which came tops again in Neck Creams) the book includes many of our as-yet unsung ‘heroines’; those Cinderella products that sometimes get overlooked yet give amazing, reliable results as well. Little gems such as Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion (UK , US), Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask, Energising Body Scrub and Energising Hip and Thigh Gel have all received their first ever awards. Eyebright is also a ‘star buy’ in the Treats for Tired and Puffy Eyes category as well as gaining 2nd place in the Eye Make-up Removers section, and really is fantastic for me at this time of year as I battle the annual onslaught of pollen-polluted eyes. One tester raved that it’s “a fab pick-me-up for mornings when your eyes are really sore and tired, also helped with moisturising dry under-eyes”. We receive good feedback from other hayfever sufferers who swear by it for reducing itchiness too. At this time of year, I always keep one in the fridge and a mini in my make-up bag for itchy-eye emergencies. 

Our moisture mask, Intensive Nourishing Treatment, is another of my seasonal essentials as it works wonders for rehydrating and restoring skin that’s feeling dry and tight after too much travelling, sun or simply over doing it…  With GLA-rich borage oil – one of my favourite natural oils which works both topically and internally to help keep the complexion supple and strong – plus moisturising shea butter and soothing St John’s wort. A thick layer of this replenishing cream is deeply nourishing and calming – a comfort blanket for poorly skins. If you’re looking for visibly velvety skin, one tester said her “skin felt like a soft, ripe peach”… and that’s good enough for me too.

With summer holidays and the promise of more warm weather approaching, I’m definitely beginning to become more conscious of my legs and arms once hemlines (and sleeves) start reducing. That’s why it’s such great news that two of our body energisers made the headlines too. Ideal for sloughing away dull, dingy and dry skin cells our invigorating Energising Body Scrub leaves skin smooth -and perfectly prepped for a spritz of golden self-tan. Massaged in afterwards, its partner Energising Hip and Thigh Gel – loaded with circulation-boosting botanicals such as ginkgo biloba, ivy, horse chestnut and butcher’s broom – really can help improve the tone and appearance of your skin. I’m also a big fan of dry skin body brushing, having first written about it in a book I wrote on cellulite nearly twenty years ago. I find the most effective way to incorporate this into my beauty routine is to use a natural bristle brush before I jump into the shower, always working upwards towards my heart with long, sweeping movements. Then I revitalise, slough and smooth with my Energising body trio. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find there’s nothing like it for helping to get mind and body going on those far-too-early mornings.

The whole area of ‘green’ beauty has grown and developed significantly over the last decade, with a panoply of new products and ranges to choose from, ranging in eco-shade from eau-de-nil to bottle green. It’s a complex and frequently confusing area. I wouldn’t say I agree with every aspect of the greenest eco-warrior’s footpath, but I travel pretty much in the same direction. To this end, the Green Beauty Bible book is a very useful addition to my bookshelves and well worth a read.

With all things botanical as the theme, I was able to spend a rare few minutes of tranquillity amongst the hustle and bustle of London’s King’s Road when I stopped inside our Duke of York Square store earlier today. As part of the ‘Sloane In Bloom’ competition, run in homage to the nearby Chelsea Flower Show, shops in the Sloane Square area (of which we are one) are invited to transform themselves with a floral theme. Our inspiration came from a traditional English garden and so I caught a few moments outside on a weathered wooden bench and breathed in the sweet scent of early lavender and headily-scented climbing roses. Put together for us by the wonderfully talented Jane Packer, who Kim and I worked with twenty or so years ago – even before she had her first shop - it’s well worth a visit if you’re in town, as the whole area is bedecked in stunning spring flora. I finished the evening by giving a talk on some of our botanical ingredients to complement the surrounding theme, soon to be available as an audio download on our website. I hope you enjoy.

Comments

[Sue]

Dear All
As a sufferer of hayfever (which I suffer from all year round). I find my eyebright to be invaluable, my personal comforter. So pleased it made it into the top awards. I don't know what I would do without my Liz Earle products. At the moment the energizing hip and thigh gel is helping me with my neck problem and the superbalm concentrate has cleared up a really bad rash on my husbands hands caused by latex gloves. The moisturiser is sheer heaven as is everything. I think Liz Earle products are simply the best.

[carol Cunningham]

dear Liz, just a little note to let you know that we visited your shop after being at the flower show and we thought you flower display outside was fantastic, better than some at chelsea, i always visit your shop when down from Scotland it is always the best part of the trip
thanks for making such lovely good products
carol
xx

[Elizabeth]

Dear Liz, so pleased to hear eyebright won an award have been using your products for well over 10 years now started off with instant skin repair originally for my son who was a really bad excema sufferer so much that it used to bleed- cleared his excema up and doctor wanted to know what i was using (as we stopped getting his prescriptions of steroid creams) so he could recommend it as a holistic remedy instead of the usual steroid creams but will not be without eyebright as both me and my son are hayfever sufferers definitely reduces the need to itch and calms swollen eyes keep up good work

[b tortolano]

What a lovely surprise I got with my usual delivery .The free gift of Cleanse and Polish,this really was a treat.Thank you so much as really enjoy all your products.

[Lizzie]

Hi Liz

I just wanted to thank you for making such wonderful, natural products. I suffer from psoriasis and your products are so kind to my skin. I am so pleased with everything I've used that I've been ordering from you for friends and family as they make such lovely gifts.

Many thanks and best wishes,

Lizzie

[Christine]

I'm not surprised C&P is still number one as it is simply brilliant. I even noticed Gok was using it on his programme the other week. I love eye bright as it makes your eyes feel so Bright and sparkly.. and gets rid of make up too. However one of my new favourite products is the smoothing line serum as it really does work. I've just ordered superbalm because i haven't tried it yet but i hear it is great. I know it's going to be true. I'm a true Liz Earle product fanatic and recommend you to all my friends and then they are converted because the products always produce results. :0)

[Fiona Mackinlay]

I am eagerly awaiting my copy of the Green Beauty Bible, and am not surprised that so many of Liz Earle's products have been given awards! They are all truly fantastic. Having been a fan for years I simply can't be without them.

One thing that has disappointed me though are the comments left by some people on amazon.co.uk about Liz and her products (these are in the reviews for the Green Beauty Bible). It is sad to see that there is still a mis-understanding of what goes in to many products and some people have not been particularly kind about Liz's products. I for one think these individuals have got their facts completely wrong. I just hope that the majority of people who read the reviews will realise that these sort of comments are very much in a tiny minority!

Keep up the great work Liz Earle!

[Beverley]

Hi Liz & co

Green Beauty Bible has been so useful and it is great to be reading about our 'trusted' skincare from LE :) I hope others will start on this range and find out why it is addictive!

I also want to congratulate the site on the fact sheets especially the one about Preservatives. I have been back to refer to this over and over again, whilst online although have also downloaded my pdf copy of it.

Refreshing to read and learn from this sheet as other ranges/beauty advice can be confusing but when I come to LE I know I can read and trust the skincare range. I hope the fact sheet is read by others as it has helped me a lot. Thank you :) the range and clear advice are unique in 2008.

[margaret]

Hi Liz i have just purchased my first ever products i would so love it if you were to open a shop here in Liverpool.As i have neck problems and feel tired all the time i could really do with pampering.

[Bridget Cake]

Congratulations to Liz and her team for a fantastic Liz Earle presentation on QVC. I have ordered the TSV and am so excited awaiting delivery of my most favourite skin care products. This is my Christmas present to myself so that I can look fantastic for the big day, but friends do not worry I will be tuning in again to Liz Earle on QVC in November to get your pressies ordered as well. I love Liz Earle and I love my skin.