Beauty

Plant power: Bakuchiol has been referred to as Retinol's natural gentler sister, achieve retinol like results without the harsh side effects. 

There’s no self-care moment that’s too big or too small, every minute we dedicate to ourselves is important. There’s only one you remember! This week we are celebrating mental health week, and the small self-care treats we can give ourselves at different times of the day that will impact our wellbeing positively. These tips have come straight from our team, and are all the ways we try to relax, and take a moment to breathe… 1. Clear Your Head with Fresh Air We all probably increased the amount of time we spent outside through lockdown (what else was there to do!) but it allowed us to cope and deal with isolation, and we absolutely recommend this as our number one tip to unwinding! Spending more time within nature allows us to notice it more and take in the beauty of our surroundings - casual stroll in your local park. Walking is something a lot of us take for granted. The next time you’re out, try to notice more and engage with your surroundings, the smell of the forest, the rustling of leaves, the wind in your hair. 2. Write it Down Whether it’s keeping a journal or documenting your goals and achievements - writing can be a healing way to express your current thoughts and release the stresses from your day, as well as highlight the positives. You could even try to jot down the things you were grateful for today so you can focus on the little things that made smile. The next time you’re not feeling quite yourself, just flip through this list for a heart-warming moment. We love making a note of all the places we want to visit and explore too when the time comes for something to look forward to. 3. Embrace Mindfulness Yoga is a form of gentle exercise and self-care that can be enjoyed by everyone of all fitness levels and abilities, even in the comfort of your own home to clear the mind. It’s a practice that goes way back over 5,000 years…there’s a reason why it’s stuck around for so long! Meditating is also a healthy way to embrace a positive mindset. We love following mindful apps like Headspace and Calm. 4. Taking Time for Self-Care with Skincare An act of self-care doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming; it can be as simple as taking a few minutes out of your evening routine to listen to your favourite music or caring for your skin. We completely recommend having a moment of “me time” at home. A skincare routine can provide a moment of stability too. Look out for relaxing essential oils such as lavender and ylang ylang, like in our Seahorse Plankton+ skincare that can create a soothing aromatherapy moment. With spa-like essential oils, you can add a bit of calm to your day-to-night routine. Run the bath, light a candle, dim the lights…and prepare to unwind. We can guarantee you’ll be ready for that early night sleep! 5. Put the Kettle On As humans, we crave connection and a feeling of being understood. Taking some time to be alone with your thoughts is important, and so is surrounding yourself with positive people - whether it’s your family, your best friends, or an old colleague that you haven’t seen in a while. Our connections are the cornerstones of our life and it’s important to invest time in developing them to support ourselves every day. Trying to maintain a social life in this day and age can seem like a full-time job in itself, so keep it nice and easy by catching up over a steamy cuppa. Having a natter with your nearest and dearest is one the best forms of therapy in our opinion. Or perhaps you just don’t feel like being social for the day - that’s okay too! This is the perfect time to pick up that book that you’ve been meaning to. It’s important to take some time out for yourself, but also encourage others to do the same. We are all interconnected and mental health is an integral part of creating a sustainable future - something we are hugely passionate about advocating!

Sustainable. Natural. Compostable. The Konjac Sponge is making a huge impact in the beauty industry as the eco-friendly cleansing tool. The notorious 'wet wipe' is the queen of convenience right? However…these little skin saviours are perhaps not as innocent as they seem. Due to their popularity, the UK goes through a staggering 11 billion wet wipes in just one year and often, aren’t being disposed of properly; causing 93% of blockages in UK sewers. The single use nature of wipes leads to many of us simply throwing them out, but this is causing a detrimental effect on our environment. In fact, there has been a 400% increase in the number of wipes found on beaches in the UK, with 80 of them being found for every mile of beach we cross! Okay...so what about cotton face pads, they're versatile and plastic free right? On one hand, they may be a step up from face wipes, however they are still single use. When cotton isn't organically sourced, the chemicals used in the farming of cotton can impact our ecosystems and pollute the environment. In fact, the cotton farming industry uses almost one quarter of the world's insecticides. It also takes a huge amount of water to produce regular cotton (one kilo can take more than 20,000 litres of water to make). This excessive amount of water taken from natural habitats can impact on the surrounding wildlife. Not only that...the chemicals contained in the finished product will eventually leach into our environment once the pad is disposed of.  Here at Beauty Kitchen, we want to try and eliminate waste all together so that it's easier for you make sustainable decisions in the first place! So as an alternative to single use wipes and cotton pads...say hello to the Konjac Sponge! Vegan, cruelty free, all natural and no added colouring's in sight. The colour of our Konjac Sponges come from charcoal, red clay and blue chamomile we add for extra skin benefits. Pronounced Kohn-Jack, these little cleansing tools last a good 2-3 months and once finished you can simply throw them in your compost bin. They are 100% compostable, from the sponge itself to the packaging it comes in. Compared to a single wet wipe which could take up to 100 years to breakdown… “To make the sponge, we take the roots and grind them to a powder before placing in moulds and re-hydrating with a small amount of water. We then dry them in an oven to avoid adding any chemicals. Sea sponges are often considered as the go-to natural sponge, but with over harvesting and no way to repopulate what has been taken, they’re not necessarily the most sustainable. With konjac sponges, we can keep replanting the vegetable to create a more sustainable supply and so, a more sustainable sponge” - Jo, our Founder These miracle sponges work on even the most sensitive of skins, cleansing away dirt and impurities whilst gently exfoliating skin to leave it feeling soft and glowing. Simply rinse and hydrate the sponge in warm water (your sponge will get silky soft and grow to around twice the size), squeeze out any excess water and prepare your skin for a cleanse like you’ve never experienced before. Pair with a light natural cleanser like our Seahorse Plankton+ Revitalising Gel Cleanser or if you’re needing something a bit more nourishing, our Abyssinian Oil Prime Time Cream Cleanser adds extra hydration to your routine. Our larger Body Konjac Sponge is perfect for using the shower with your favourite Beauty Kitchen Body Wash too! Abyssinian Oil Facial Cleansing Konjac Sponge Infused with rose and red clay. Shop Abyssinian Oil Facial Cleansing Konjac Sponge Seahorse Plankton+ Facial Cleansing Konjac Sponge  Infused with chamomile and blueberry. Shop Seahorse Plankton+ Facial Cleansing Konjac Sponge  Fragrance Free Body Cleansing Konjac Sponge  Infused with bamboo and charcoal. Shop Fragrance Free Body Cleansing Konjac Sponge