Sarah’s #Lockdown Loves
Dr. Hauschka MED Mint Refreshing Toothpaste
Dental products are the Cinderella of cosmetics, which - considering what a key feature your teeth are – seems perverse. Having spent a deal of time investigating fluoride and synthetic chemicals such as sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate (SLS/SLES), which are common added ingredients in toothpaste, I‘ve always preferred natural products. And these products are the best I’ve ever found.
Already a longtime fan of the skincare and make up, I discovered the duo of natural toothpastes – Mint Refreshing and Saltwater Sensitive – and Sage Mouthwash some five years ago when I visited their headquarters and biodynamic garden in Germany. Since then I’ve been badgering Charles Beardsall, Managing Director of Dr. Hauschka in the UK, to launch them here. And finally – hoorah!!! – you can buy them here.
Why are they so excellent? Formula-wise, they count as medical dental care and were developed with experienced dentists. The big thing for me is how my favourite Mint Refreshing Toothpaste leaves my teeth feeling so smooth and clean, and looking bright plus my mouth is pepperminty-fresh.
A word about mouth ulcers; if you suffer from these, it’s worth trying dental products that don’t contain SLS/SLeS as they can make the problem worse. Mint Refreshing Toothpaste has an anti-inflammatory effect, which should help.
Saltwater Sensitive Toothpaste was created for people with sensitive teeth, exposed areas and bleeding gums; no peppermint and menthol as they might irritate the conditions. The Sage Mouthwash is wonderful any time, particularly when you’re feeling a bit jaded, post illness, or after a spicy rich meal.
Toothpaste/£6.50 for 75ml – buy here
Sage Mouthwash/£12 for 300ml – buy here
Guerlain Mitsouko
I have loved Mitsouko for more years than I remember. Like biochemist and perfume expert Luca Turin (who I’ve known for nearly as long) when I’m asked for my favourite scent I always end up – after some pondering and feeling I should be more adventurous – nominating Mitsouko. Now over a century old, Mitsouko belongs to the Chypre family, which is based on a ‘three-component accord of bergamot, labdanum and oakmoss… so perfect it remains unsurpassed,’ says Luca. ‘Jacques Guerlain added the peach note of undecalactone, quite a lot of iris and probably 20 other things we’ll never know about.’ For me, Mitsouko is simply my comfort blanket, my surety against whatever the day brings. The last few months have brought not just the scary strangeness of life under the rule of coronavirus but sadness with my brother’s last illness. Without thinking, I’ve found myself reaching for my flacon of Mitsouko every day; as I breath in the warm velvety veil of fragrance, I feel more peaceful and a little bit happier. Not so strange when you think of how closely our sense of smell is linked to memories and, for me, wearing Mitsouko has always spelt joy.
£96 for 75 ml – buy here
Jurlique Nutri-Define Supreme Conditioning Lotion
When I was first sent this to try as part of the recently launched Nutri-Define Supreme range, I was more than a bit ho-hum about the idea of yet another step in my skincare regime. Well, my mistake… Used am/pm after cleansing, this light, plant-based lotion really replenishes the hydration that my dry mature skin needs to stay looking plump and supple. I stopped using it for a bit and looked a vague relation of Lady Macbeth on a bad day (did she ever have good ones, come to think of it?). Couldn't just be not using the Conditioning Lotion, I thought, but abracadabra! when I added it back in, my face was noticeably that bit softer and fuller, with a more even tone, after a few days. So I’ve got the message now. (And the 100ml pump lasts for ages.)
£38 for 100 ml – buy here
Facial massage tools
Another face-enhancing must that I missed using at the start of lockdown is the Hayo’u Beauty Restorer, a jade facial tool that you work fairly vigorously up and down and side to side to restore colour and contours. I was looking peaky and pale until I went foraging in drawers and found this cool green toold. Stroke on a little facial oil, deploy the tool for a minute (that’s truly all it needs) and golly gosh, the difference! My skin looked perky and bright and rosy and just all-round better. The method is called gua sha, which means literally ‘scraping’ the skin, explains Hayo’u founder Katie Brindle. This brings oxygen and nutrients to the cells, boosts collagen and elastin, releases tension (you can feel it dissipating as you rest the cool jade on eyes and forehead) and helps de-puff. You can use on neck and body too. Small work of genius.
£38 - buy here
I also love the Jalue Facial Roller in amethyst, created by Jale Demirchi alongside her natural skincare line Jalue (which we’ve featured on Beauty Bible – you can find past coverage via the Search button). Developed specifically to help lymphatic drainage so it’s brilliant for de-puffing, this Facial Roller is more soothing than gua sha to us but also brings a glow and a bit of ‘lift’.
£27 - buy here
Aurelia Overnight Recovery Mask
This cult natural brand, one of the first to use probiotics when it launched in 2013, has been a Beauty Bible favourite since its first five products all won rave reviews from our testers, with every single one gained an Award. Wind on and this lovely collection has gone from strength to strength. I happily use any and all of their products but for life under lockdown I’m singling out Overnight Recovery Mask, which is brilliant for your face and also for hands. We’ve always advocated slathering a mask on your paws at the same time as your face but now I’m wedded to using a slender layer of this on my hands every night to give my many-times-a-day-washed hands (corona, horses, gardening…) some deep down TLC. And it so works. Not cheap but a pot lasted me two months.
£58 for 50g – buy here
