The FreeFrom Skincare Awards 2013 Shortlist has just been announced, so put your feet up, get a cuppa (not necessarily in that order of course) and choose some new products that myself and the other judges think are the best non-toxic, allergy-aware effective products in their class..
Here’s the detail from the awards press release for you. Enjoy, and, whilst reading it, think of me wading through all those Latin names for you and all the tutting, cogitating and general chin-scratching we all did on your behalf!
Almost 80 products from over 50 skincare manufacturers have made the shortlist of the second annual FreeFrom Skincare Awards, which has been announced today. Five brands lead the way with three shortlisted products each – Barefoot Botanicals, Botanicals, Green People, Neal’s Yard Remedies and Suti.
With 10 categories, including Problem Skin, Men’s Grooming and Hair Care, as well as last year’s popular Make up, and Face and Body Care categories, entrants flocked to submit their products to the Awards, with entries rocketing by over 30% on last year.
Hand creams and skin cleansers were very much in evidence, hotly pursued by therapeutic oils, and assorted balms and butters. Entries came not only from long established natural skincare brands such as Spiezia and Inlight, but from newer, more niche or one-woman/one-man producers such as Live Native, Bathing Beauty, Aedos and MuLondon. Well represented too were the Antipodeans (QSilica – 2012’s overall winner – Sukin, Antipodes and Australian Bush Flower Essences, for example) and this year’s sponsors, NATorigin.
As in 2012, assessing the range of products entered proved a challenge for judges.
‘It’s always difficult, as there are many criteria for our judges to consider,’ said Alex Gazzola, awards coordinator and deputy editor of SkinsMatter.com. ‘For instance, their natural and ‘free from’ qualities, the level of beneficial ingredients, their effectiveness, functionality, innovation, ease-of-use, value for money and packaging. We are also always particularly concerned about clarity of ingredient information, especially in conveying the presence or absence of allergens or other additives which many seek to avoid.’
As last year, judges awarded ‘Commended’ honours to products they thought to be well-made and that sat well in the ‘free from’ skincare market, but which, in an exceptionally classy field, they felt were not quite potentially award-winning. Commended products are listed on the FreeFrom Skincare Awards site here.
The ‘Shortlisted’ products will now go forward for in-depth month-long assessment by testers from Award partners, The Beauty Bible, and their detailed feedback will be used to draw up lists of winners and runners-up in all ten categories – plus an additional award for Best FreeFrom Skincare Brand, and of course Best Overall FreeFrom Skincare Product – to be announced at the Allergy and FreeFrom Show at Olympia on 7th June 2013, and presented by Janey Lee Grace.
The full shortlist in the ten entry categories is printed below and also on the awards site here.
THE SHORTLIST
1. Babies, Kids, Teens and Mums-to-be
Bentley Mother & Baby Hand Sanitizer
Faith in Nature Humphrey’s Corner Natural Baby Lotion
Green People Mum & Baby Rescue Balm
Inner Soul Organics Mum’s Special Breast Soothing Oil
Neal’s Yard Remedies Mothers Balm
Niki’s Organic Balms Baby Bottom Balm
Vital Touch Prenatal bath soak organic vetiver and lavender
2. Men’s Grooming
Bathing Beauty Shaving Oil
Borealis Post Shaving Balm with Eucalyptus & Rosemary
Live Native Head to toe for men remedial moisturiser
Spiezia Organics Nourishing Balm
3. Hair care
A’Kin Lavender Conditioner
Essential Care Gentle Herb Shampoo
Fushi Wellbeing Really Good Hair Oil
Suncoat Natural Hair Calming Serum
TIANA Fair Trade Organics Ltd 100% Organic & Fair Trade Argan Fresh Coconut TLC
4. Hand and Body Care (‘Leave On’)
Aedos Italian Bergamot and Grapefruit Hand & Body Balm
Alison Claire Natural Beauty Mango Body Butter
Barefoot Botanicals SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream
Blend Collective Unwinding Hand Cream
Conscious Skincare Soothing Hand Cream for Hardworking Hands
Elixirs of Life Gardeners Life Hand Cream
Mary Elizabeth Spearmint & Tea Tree Nurture Balm
Mary Jean Vitamin Rich Body Cream
Organic Surge Lavender Meadow Hand & Nail Cream
Qsilica Pawpaw Rescue Ointment
Seascape Island Apothecary Soothe Body Butter
5. Hand and Body Care (‘Take Off’)
Bakewell Soap Beekeepers’ Delight Goat Milk & Honey Soap
Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap 18-in-1 Hemp Almond Pure-Castile Soap
Buddha Beauty Lemongrass Bergamot Scrub
le belle skincare Detoxifying Body Polish
Pevonia Ligne Tropicale De-Ageing Papaya-Pineapple Salt Mousse
6. Face and Body Oils and Oil Serums
Fushi Wellbeing Really Good Cellulite Oil
Green People Anti Ageing Facial Oil
Inlight Daily Face Oil
Kelly Edwards Skincare Florence Selina Rejuvenating Serum
Laidbare From Dawn to Dusk Vitamin C Serum
Naturaleve Nourishing Therapy Oil
Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil
Suti Rejuvenate Organic Face Oil
7. Make Up and Nail Care
Bellapierre Compact Mineral 5-in-1 Foundation
Bellapierre Eye Shadow Palettes
Essential Care Concealer
Herb Farmacy Nail & Cuticle Oil
Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain
NATorigin pencil eye liner
NATorigin lengthening mascara
Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Lipstick – Pomegranate
Suncoat All Natural Nail Polish Remover Gel
8. Face Care (‘Take Off’)
AEOS Cleansing Oil De-Maq
A’Kin Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One
Angela Langford Skincare Clean Sweep Cleansing Balm
Botanicals Rose and camellia cleansing melt
Cherylin Daily Cleansing Balm
Circaroma Skin Gentle Cleansing Drops Rose Otto and Aloe Leaf
Eve of St Agnes Nourishing Cleansing Cream
Inlight Organic Face Cleanser
Moa Daily Cleansing Ritual
MuLondon Organic Fragrance-Free Foaming FaceWash
Qsilica REMOVE
Saaf Pure Face Cleanser
Suti Cleanse Facial Cleansing Balm
Thea Age Revival Dream Creme Exfoliator
9. Face Care (‘Leave On’)
Australian Bush Flower Essences Soothing Firming Eye Neck Face Gel
Antipodes Natural Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream
Barefoot Botanicals SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream
Botanicals Rose and camellia facial balm
Green People Scent Free 24-hr cream
Sukin Sensitive Facial Moisturiser
Twelve Beauty Ultra Revitalising Elixir
10. Problem Skin
Barefoot Botanicals SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream
Botanicals Lavender and chamomile botanical balm
Gentle Green Gentle Green Soothing cream
Herb Farmacy Skin Rescue Balm
Live Native Everybody every day low-allergenic moisturiser
Niki’s Organic Balms Organic Lavender & Chamomile Balm
Suti Purity Organic Balm
I thought you may be interested to know that I tried one of the products listed above, Essential Care’s gentle herb shampoo. It isn’t TGF (containing citric acid) but I thought I’d give it a go. At first it seemed O.K. then I realised it was causing a tremendously itchy scalp, though this could have been – and probably was – on account of the herbs rather than the citric acid. However I’ve discovered Therapeutics Shampoo and Body Wash – with only 5 ingredients, so fewer possibilities of a reaction – and as far as I can tell, with all the fancy long names, it’s TGF. Here’s a link
http://www.therapeuticsskincare.com/sensitive-skin-shampoo-body-wash/
Therapaeutics also do a good TGF lavender and tea tree shampoo but I prefer the above. I’m now looking for a suitable hair conditioner.
Looks hopeful, Anthony, doesn’t it? I have no idea the derivation of the phenoxyethanol nor the Piroctone, which is a new one on me. Worth checking with the manufacturer maybe to be sure. Do let us know if it appears safe – fingers crossed! I will add the company to my list to check out when I get back to TGF toiletries, thanks.
I’ve heard from Essentially Yours, makers of the Therapeutics range. Here’s the reply from John Hamilton, plus a bit of blurb describing exactly who he is and what he does. Ignore the fact that he can’t spell or punctuate – a typical product of our malfunctioning educational system. Anyway, both shampoos are TGF – but Therapeutics don’t do a conditioner, unfortunately. I’ve been using the Shampoo and Body Wash (only on my scalp and face) and find it excellent.
“Hi no your safe with us nothing from grain or wheat, sorry no hair conds
John Hamilton
Cosmetology Dermatologist & SKIN ANTI-AGEING BIOGERONTOLOGIST
http://www.essentially-yours.co.uk tel 01299 253994
Biogerontology is a sub-field of gerontology studying the biological
processes of ageing. It is composed of the interdisciplinary research on
biological ageing’s causes, effects, and mechanisms in order to better
understand human senescence. … Biomedical gerontology, also known as
experimental gerontology and life extension, is a sub discipline of
biogerontology that endeavors to slow, prevent, and even reverse ageing in
humans. Curing age-related diseases is one approach, and slowing down the
underlying processes of ageing is another”.
Hi Anthony, that sounds good. However, I get nervous when people give a very simple answer of ‘no grains’! The cynic in me and the proof will be in how you get on with it, of course, so do keep us updated but I would want to know what they ARE derived from then.
I forgot to copy my email to Essentially Yours.
“I have non-coeliac gluten sensitivity and don’t tolerate grains or anything made from grain. (At some point, if not immediately, I always react.) Can you confirm that the Therapeutics shampoo (http://www.therapeuticsskincare.com/shampoo-for-people-prone-to-eczema-psoriasis-dermatitis/) and shampoo and body wash (http://www.therapeuticsskincare.com/sensitive-skin-shampoo-body-wash/) don’t contain anything derived from grain? The shampoo and body wash has ingredients I’ve not encountered before and I’ve no idea what they’re derived from.”
So I take the somewhat ambiguous reply to be confirmation that the shampoos contain nothing derived from grain.