Why choose a natural skincare brand

Guest post by

Alice Smellie

Award winning journalist Alice Smellie has written health and beauty features for leading national media outlets including The Daily Mail, Marie Claire and The Daily Telegraph.

Author views are not our own.

Why choose a natural skincare brand

Guest post by

Alice Smellie

Award winning journalist Alice Smellie has written health and beauty features for leading national media outlets including The Daily Mail, Marie Claire and The Daily Telegraph.

Author views are not our own.

Natural beauty products have never been so in demand. We consumers have become far more knowledgeable about the science of beauty, and these days everybody wants to know where products are from as well as exactly how (and whether) they work.1

In 2017, a report found that there was a 13 per cent rise in natural skincare brands2, and trusted brands, such as Manuka Doctor, have readily available and clear information on their websites regarding ingredients. Just as clean eating has become a must-follow trend, so has clean beauty.

But what does natural actually mean? Well, there’s no specific definition when it comes to skincare, but it tends to mean that products don’t contain ingredients about which we have concerns, such as parabens.3

‘Natural’ ingredients are also generally thought to be more ethically sourced, less damaging to the environment, and found in nature itself. Again, Manuka Doctor firmly ticks all those boxes.

Firstly, the key ingredient in these products is the Manuka Honey, produced by the bees who feast on the Mānuka bushes of New Zealand.

Parts of this beautiful bush, bursting with brightly coloured flowers, have been used by Maoris for centuries. There’s no better tried and tested than hundreds of years of use, especially when refined (and proven) by modern techniques into delightful to use and effective skincare.

The Manuka Honey produced by the bees contains antibacterial ingredients, including an particularly incredible antimicrobial compound called methylglyoxal (MGO), which is unique to this honey. It heals, moisturises, boosts elastin production and is effective on spot prone skin.

Purified Bee Venom, a blend of enzymes, peptides and amino acids, has been shown to be effective at boosting collagen formation and treating wrinkles, as have other bee by-products. There’s also Royal Jelly, the substance secreted by worker bees, and which is fed to larvae - this has anti bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Or propolis, a compound made from sap, is proven to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. That’s a lot of effective ingredients from one - very natural - source.

Don’t think for one moment that natural is the soft option, or that it’s less effective than synthetically produced ingredients. The reality is quite the opposite. Natural needs to be treated with respect, and that’s why you need to trust that active ingredients are delivered in a responsible and proven fashion.

Natural is also thought to indicate that products are less likely to be harmful to the environment, and Manuka Doctor certainly proves this point. They look after the bees, don’t harm them when collecting honey or venom, and protects their environment.

The straight talking, no holds barred information given by such companies as Manuka Doctor not only ties in with consumer intelligence, but also signifies a new approach to looking after our skin and to growing older, which has been developing over the last few years.

As well as many of us wishing to use natural skincare, we’re aiming to look healthy, glowing and - obviously - natural, rather than frozen.

Natural skincare brands encourage a less invasive approach; they may contain some of the most effective and potent ingredients for skincare, but they’re topical, and whilst effective, they aren’t going to change the shape of your face compared to - for example - surgery or injectables.

Celebrities are also turning towards natural ageing and acceptance of our inner and outer beauty, and this trend is borne out by some reports even suggesting that we stop using the phrase ‘anti-ageing’!5

Oscar winner Kate Winslet has said: ’I'm baffled that anyone might not think women get more beautiful as they get older,’ and Michelle Obama pointed out: ”No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you are beautiful."5

So why not give your face a swift and effective makeover with the Manuka Doctor ApiClear Balancing Purifying Facial Peel, which contains Manuka Honey and Purified Bee Venom.

The Drops of Crystal Cashmere Touch Serum contains Purified Bee Venom, Manuka Honey and oil collected from the Pistacia Lentiscus tree, which has anti-ageing properties.

Or the Manuka Doctor ApiRefine Finishing Lip Enhancer makes lips look fuller in five minutes - naturally so, of course.

Sources
1. INFORMED CONSUMERS: https://www.nielsen.com/uk/en/insights/news/2019/mindful-cosmetics-consumers-want-beauty-with-heart.html
2. RISE IN NATURAL SKINCARE BRANDS: https://www.victoriahealth.com/editorial/is-natural-skincare-better-for-you
3. CHEMICALS IN BEAUTY PRODUCTS: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/18/17866150/natural-clean-beauty-products-feinstein-cosmetics-bill-fda
4. STOP SAYING ANTI-AGEING: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/aug/17/is-it-time-to-ditch-the-term-anti-ageing
REPORT BANNING ANTI-AGEING: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/anti-ageing-beauty-cosmetics-products-ban-ageism-royal-society-public-health-report-a8388291.html
5. CELEBRITY QUOTES: https://www.prima.co.uk/fashion-and-beauty/anti-ageing-and-skincare/g34351/inspiring-quotes-ageing-celebrities/ https://yourstory.com/2017/09/michelle-obama-quotes

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