RMS Beauty

RMS Beauty is about natural ingredients, makeup trends and overcoming the challenges of natural makeup that performs. Founded by makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift, RMS Beauty can compete readily with conventional cosmetics, boasting flattering shades, lush textures but also natural, non-toxic ingredients. 

RMS Beauty: The Story

Rose-Marie Swift, a 20-year makeup veteran, found toxic levels of heavy metals in her blood, and was told that her job could have contributed to her health problem. That news inspired Swift to help other women embrace healthier beauty, an idea embodied in her makeup line, RMS Beauty.

After years in the fashion and makeup industry, Swift was very aware of the impact of daily exposure to chemicals in beauty care products. She has seen what works and what doesn’t live up to its promises, the results of taking a quick-fix approach to looking good. She also knows first-hand the price our health can pay in the pursuit of beauty. She realized that women need a cosmetics line that is as pure as possible; one that creates a solid foundation for anti-aging and long-term beauty.

The Range

When creating RMS Beauty, Swift wanted the textures to be moisturizing and allow the skin to breathe and not look dry. The products need to feel like a second skin and blend beautifully. She wants them to feel real, not feel like synthetic slippery silicones. Swift hates textures that dry and matte the skin. Dry, over-powdered skin and dry-looking mineral foundations (mostly on mature skin) suck the life out of skin and age it terribly.

The Ingredients

Swift wanted to create a cosmetics line as pure and healthy as possible; one that creates a solid foundation for long-term beauty. She is a major raw coconut oil advocate. In its purest state, it contains lauric acid (also found in human breast milk) which is antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial. It helps heal the skin and is one of the healthiest oils on the planet. Also a huge oil fan when products contain the right oils. Cheap, inferior oils that go rancid quickly are a big no-no. Plus she avoids chemicals. Some of them are actually toxic to the system and can raise havoc on one’s hormones. 

The Look

Dewy, glowing skin is ruling, paired with big-impact, brightly coloured lips. Use a little RMS Un Cover-up for beautiful, natural, glowing skin, and a hint of RMS Living Luminizer over the lid and cheek bones for that light-reflective glow. Then a light wash of the new RMS Lip Shine in Sacred. It’s the most perfect, innocent red and can be used on both lip and cheeks. You can't go wrong. For a night out, do the above but add the RMS CreamEyeshadow in Karma for a sultry and smoky dark eye.

Shop here for: RMS Beauty

Lucy Annabella Organics

Colleen Harte was inspired to create Lucy Annabella Organics when she realised that 'being organic' is as much about what we put on our bodies as what we put into them. She has been an organic health enthusiast for a long time and her aim is to provide a completely healthy indulgent experience that invigorates the mind, soothes the body and nourishes the soul by blending only the most beautifully organic, aromatic essential oils presented in beautiful high-end glass. Here we catch up with founder, Colleen.

So, tell us a little about the story behind Lucy Annabella, and how you chose the name?

The story behind Lucy Annabella is very simple!  I decided to create the brand when I realised that ‘being organic’ is as much about what we put on our body as what we put into it. I am a Complementary Therapist and a Clinical Aromatherapist and I have been an organic health enthusiast for years.  Through my work I lived by the ethos that ‘Our health is paramount to our happiness’. 

So in 2011 after travelling all over the world in search of knowledge and the finest ingredients from organically dedicated farmers I felt the time had come to actively combine all aspects of my life’s loves and pursue my passion to formulate and blend beautifully organic ingredients and share them with the world.

The beautiful name Lucy Annabella was my sweet grandfather’s fond pet name for me. ‘Lucy Annabella’ has great sentimental attachment for me and it sits close to my heart therefore I knew it was the perfect name for my cosmetics.

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

I think my organic beginning sparked my passion for organic and natural ingredients.  Between my childhood in the country and growing up with a grandmother and mother who made all our food from scratch with no preservatives or harmful chemicals I was surrounded by a pure way of living and eating and this simply followed through into my career and clinic.  Working with clients for years reinforced to me the need for ‘chemically clean’ cosmetics and I knew I could achieve this by using the best organic ingredients sourced from authentic organic farmers.

Where do you see the brand 5 years from now?

In five years I hope to be shipping Lucy boxes to passionate organic girls all over the world. I want our ‘Lucy lovers’ to have a vast array of choice ranging from treatment oils to lip balms, bath treats, aromatic candles to organic sleep aids.

Are there any plans to expand the existing range?

Yes, I am currently working on two new treatment oils and two antioxidant body moisturisers as well as body scrubs to complement our organic bath milks and 100% organic lip balms which we will start launching this summer.  We have lots of ideas for our ‘Mum and Baby’ and ‘Home’ range which we hope to launch in 2014.  I am happiest when formulating so the ideas are endless.

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

Everything!!! I have learned many lessons to date and I view every day as a learning day. Over the last two years I have built professional relationships with other women in the cosmetics industry. I am fortunate to have access to great mentors who openly part with their pearls of wisdom for the good of Lucy Annabella Organics and myself. 

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The boring stuff is the most challenging. Raising finance and managing cash flow is the most challenging but even the boring stuff is important and needs attention.

What are your every day beauty essentials?

I use our Argan and Bergamot Organic Treatment oil every morning to awaken my skin and senses and I use Papaw ointment throughout the day for. Once per week I use OGARIO London hair mask for conditioning and shine and lastly Trilogy Rosehip Oil for my facial oil, this really is an amazing product, so pure and unadulterated. 

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

A body scrub and full body massage with beautiful organic essential oils.

Shop here for: Lucy Annabella Organics

Kentish Cobnut Scrub

The luxurious Kentish Cobnut Body Scrub, £36 from British brand, Mitchell &Peach is our latest body indulgence. It leaves the skin softened, cleansed and invigorated. Formulated with ground shell from the Mitchells’ cobnut ‘plats’, it gently exfoliates, and sugar which is crammed with glycolic acid, moisturises the skin and protects it from toxins.

The Mitchells have been farming the same land in Kent, England, for five generations. Continuing in the family’s tradition, Ian and Jod Mitchell planted fine lavender on the estate. The quality of the essences distilled from the plantation inspired them to create a bath and body range of uncompromising quality. Mitchell and Peach was born.

All Mitchell and Peach products are hand-blended in England using the finest natural ingredients, including matured essential oils from the family’s fields and honey collected from hives on the estate.

Shop here for: Mitchell and Peach

Lily Lolo Pressed Cosmetics

Say hello to ‘pressed’...the new Spring/Summer’13 collection by Lily Lolo. Initially launched as a loose mineral powder collection, Lily Lolo naturally effortless beauty is now available ‘pressed’. Still the same performance and ethos: cosmetics that treat skin well and give gorgeous, fresh-looking coverage; ethically-sourced, natural and free from toxins and animal testing and also very affordable: most items are under £10. Lily Lolo’s award winning mineral cosmetics tick every box.

Named after my two sisters Lisa and Lorraine, Lily Lolo is a true family business built with love, respect and the latest in mineral makeup technology. Lily Lolo is created on the premise that women are more demanding of their makeup today. Lily Lolo t has given customers, makeup artists, celebrities and beauty editors all over the world that 'Eureka!' moment - finally a skin-friendly, non-clogging, natural range that's easy to apply and perfects even the most troubled of complexions.  

Lily Lolo is made in the UK from the finest natural ingredients, with no animal testing (BUAV approved) and clear of all the harmful and totally unnecessary chemical nasties found in a lot of cosmetics and most of all, affordable for every woman. Effortless beauty... naturally.

Shop here for: Lily Lolo

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