Herbfarmacy organic skincare has been created with wisdom, using the knowledge and expertise of botanist Dr Paul Richards, who has been growing organic herbs in Herefordshire, for 30 years. Paul's in depth experience of formulating herbal oils and balms for problem and sensitive skin conditions, naturally inspired him to create this truly unique organic skin care range with key herbs from his organic farm especially selected for each product that provide sustained nourishment and protection for the skin tissue. Here we catch up with Paul, among the marshmallow roots!

-          What's your career mantra?

Spreading the word on how and why organic is best, it’s something I’m quite evangelical about in my own small way…

-          Who do you admire and why?

The people who inspired me in the beginning were mainly family – my uncle was a keen recorder of native plants and it was my father, Don, who first took me on hedgerow explorations in the lanes around Knighton, Radnorshire (on the Welsh Border).  Not quite a person, but later on, the legend of the Lady of the Lake and the origins of the Physicians of Myddfai in Carmarthenshire really fired up my interest in herbs and their amazing powers.

-          What 's your favourite spot in the UK?

Penbryn in Cardiganshire is a perfect beach resort where I spent many wonderful family holidays in my childhood – and later with my own family.

  Which cause would you fight for?

I feel very strongly about the Palestinian issue and the need for a 2-state solution.

  If you would treat yourself to one thing this month it would be...

A days swim and walk followed by a meal at Lakeside Country House Hotel near Builth Wells.

Shop here for: Herbfarmacy

Kjaer Weis Makeup

Kjaer Weis is the ultimate in eco luxury makeup. Its luxury organic refillable makeup system recognizes health and beauty equally by fulfilling the desire for colour cosmetics made with the highest quality safe, natural & organic ingredients without compromising on luxury or design. Created by Danish-born, New York based makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis, products are CCPB certified organic and free from animal testing. Here we catch up with founder, Kirsten.

So, tell us a little about the story behind Kjaer Weis?

I have worked for over 20 years as a make-up artist and throughout my carrier I have had woman after woman sit down in the chair, pointing out brands they were allergic to. That together with me seeing upfront for all these years, the short term effect on their skin from using products with synthetic ingredients, everything from rashes to red eyes, to allergies etc. It made me question things, if this is the short term effect, what is the long term effect of a life-long use. There was an obvious need on the market for a true certified organic line, that as well as having the highest quality ingredients which are actually good for the skin, it could perform at the same level or better as the conventional lines and hold its own design/packaging wise. I feel there was always the perception that if one wanted to do something great for one's health, that there would be a compromise somewhere in the mix, my mission and desire was to change that.

What do you think sparked your passion for natural and organic ingredients?

I grew up on a farm in Denmark, so the closeness to nature came in early, the realness of growing up harvesting most of our own food on the farm, that said I always dreamed of the arts and big cities:), but  I have always had a great interest in eating healthy food, feeling the purity of non processed food and as I grew to understand more about cosmetics/skin care and reading ingredients lists, it was obvious to me that natural was the way forward and I believe the future.

Are there any plans to expand the existing range?

Yes, we have a 99.8% organic refillable mascara coming out in May and organic foundations for Fall. The plan is to have a full organic make-up line, so a woman can be fully covered in her make-up needs, but I'm building it slowly brick by brick, it takes time to formulate and performance and quality are essential.

Where do you see the brand 5 years from now?

Available to women worldwide, they deserve a wonderful harm free choice.

What do you wish you’d known when you started?

Hmm, all is pretty good actually, not sure I would want anything much different.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

When starting up on your own and wearing all caps, it's a full time job in the true sense of the word, but it's also such a privilege seeing it grow and finding the right tribe to support the brands vision, the challenging part is to juggle everything but also eventually to hand it over.

What are your every day beauty essentials?

Green juices and water for the inside and natural/organic products for the outside. I try out different brands and love Tata Harper, (serum, roll on oil) Tammy Fender ( body oil), Rudolph Care, (Acai body balm), La Bella Figura,( facial oils). Rahua for hair.

If you could treat yourself to one thing this month it would be...

A facial with my favorite facialist here in NY, Gilah Gurowitsch, a true gem, there are great facialists and then there is Gilah, she makes my skin glow like no one else.

Shop here for: Kjaer Weis

Rahua Haircare

Rahua (pronounced ‘Ra-wa’) is a luxury organic haircare range based on the benefits of Rahua oil, used for centuries by the Quecha-Shuar tribe in the Amazon.  The women of the tribe credit the oil as the reason for their thick, lustrous hair and the aim of the range is to improve hair strength to enable growth with less breakage.  

The key to Rahua's outstanding performance is its molecular structure. Unlike other botanical oils that simply coat strands, the extraordinarily small Rahua oil molecule deeply penetrates the hair's cortex – bonding and repairing it – while simultaneously smoothing the hair's cuticle. There are no silicones in the formulations, no lauryl sulphate, no parabens, no synthetic ingredients, and all products are suitable for vegans.

The Rahua shampoo, £27 is great for dry/damaged/frizzy/thick hair, while the Rahua Voluminous Shampoo, £27 is for all hair types and great for thin, oily and limp hair. One of stars of the range is been the Rahua finishingtreatment, £38. This is a great product to use after you blow dry and flat iron your hair. A little goes a long way and it provides a subtle sheen and helps keep the ends looking healthy and polished. This really felt luxurious. The Rahua range is a beauty favourite of Gwyneth Paltrow & Megan Fox!

Shop here for: Rahua

Kahina Giving Beauty

“I strongly believe in the possibility of connecting with people from other cultures and creating an environment in which the little things we do throughout or daily lives positively affect the lives of people around the world. Even in something as seemingly inconsequential as our choice of skin care, it’s about a consciousness of the decisions we make every day.”  
- Katharine L’Heureux, Founder of Kahina Giving Beauty 

Kahina Giving Beauty mission is to promote truly healthy skin and to support the wellbeing of women on a global scale. Its Argan oil comes from the South African Argan forests in Morocco and its harvested and pressed by Berber women in argan oil cooperatives.  In these cooperatives, women of all ages work together to make money.  Some of the women simply help bring in money to help their husbands, others are widows who must support themselves and their children.  

Kahina founder, Katharine Phillips L'Heureux, was inspired to start Kahina after a trip to Morocco where she discovered the effectiveness of pure argan oil and how these cooperatives work. Kahina Giving Beauty gives a whopping 25% of their profits to the Argan oil cooperatives for educational and women's right programs.  Many of the women are learning to read and write through these programs, including how to write their own name.

The Kahina boxes and bottles are recyclable and purposefully simple and modern, yet they have meaning.  The scrolly design on the outside of both are the actual signatures of Berber women who work in the argan oil cooperative in Morocco. 

THE KAHINA RITUAL

Step 1: Cleanse AM & PM

KAHINA FACIAL CLEANSER, £45: A gentle daily cleanser scented with neroli to eliminate impurities without stripping skin of its natural oils, and formulated with argan oil, willow bark extract, and papaya extract.

Step 2: Tone & Refine AM & PM

KAHINA TONING MIST, £38: A bioactive mist to tone, refine, and refresh, with antioxidant-packed white tea and argan leaf extracts, cleansing willow bark extract, soothing aloe vera, and alfalfa extract which encourages cell turnover and renewal. Rose flower water and aloe vera soothe and calm.

Step 3: Nourish (Argan Oil / Serum) AM & PM 

KAHINA ARGAN OIL, £74: A multipurpose, vitamin- and antioxidant-rich oil for face, body, and hair. Ideal for normal, combination, oily, acneic and sensitive skin types, argan oil hydrates, heals, calms, and nourishes. Argan oil absorbs easily to give skin a radiant glow.

KAHINA SERUM, £77: Ideal for mature, dry, and sun-damaged skin, our restorative and rejuvenating Serum is a blend of oils rich in antioxidants and vitamins including argan, coffee, pomegranate, seabuckthorn, and carrot to counteract the aging process and heal skin.

KAHINA BRIGHTENING SERUM, £65: A lightweight serum with seaweed, white lily, and spirulina to even hyperpigmentation caused by environmental exposure, aging, and post-acne marks. Apply Brightening Serum immediately after Toning Mist and follow with Argan Oil, Serum, and/or Facial Lotion as desired.

Step 4: Hydrate & Protect AM (& PM if extra moisture is desired)

KAHINA FACIAL LOTION, £54: Our light, daily moisturizer combines high concentrations of organic argan oil with hydrating sodium hyaluronate, beeswax, and organic shea butter.

Step 5: Treat & Firm (Eye Serum & Eye Cream) AM & PM

KAHINA EYE SERUM, £67: Revitalize and smooth the delicate skin around the eyes. Collagen-boosting peptides combine with botanical extracts and argan oil to stimulate blood flow and increase lymphatic drainage to minimize eye puffiness, and brighten dark circles. This lightweight solution is quickly and easily absorbed to optimize results.

KAHINA EYE CREAM, £67: A rich blend of botanical extracts firms and strengthens the eye area, enhancing moisture retention, combating loss of elasticity and softening fine lines and wrinkles. Antioxidant-rich argan oil and white and green tea extracts fight free radicals that contribute to contribute to cellular damage and aging. May be layered over Eye Serum.

Step 6: Detoxify, Revive & Renew

KAHINA ANTIOXIDANT MASK, £64: Moroccan Rhassoul clay, extremely rich in collagen-building silica and other trace minerals, is combined with healing argan oil to deep cleanse, gently exfoliate and hydrate, while superior antioxidants acai and pomegranate extracts blend to reverse signs of aging. For best results use 1-2 times weekly.

Shop here: Kahina Giving Beauty