[unpaid/sample] It’s very often the cleanser that leads me to want to try more from a brand I don’t know. It’s the easiest thing to test, even as a surface test, and it was the Amina Cleansing Oil from Eko Botanicals that piqued my curiosity about the rest of the range. While I’ve been seeing off this bug, I’ve had the chance to read up properly on Eko Botanicals and it’s such an interesting story. It’s aimed at mid-life plus so is formulated to tackle pigmentation, dehydration and suppleness and as the founder, Apinke Efiong, hails from Africa, features plant oils from both African and British farms.

By chance, I was reading this morning about a brand called 456 Skin which is formulated for melanin rich skin and I think we’re going to see more and more melanin specific skin care enter the market. Apinke formulated to suit her own skin – maturing and darker – because there was nothing. Having a great grandfather who was a botanist at Kew Gardens (one of my favourite places) was an easy source of inspiration to fill this gap in the market.

Ingredients are sourced for their skin loving nutrients – think papaya, tamanu, moringa and kalahari melon oils amongst many – the serum alone contains over 30 botanical extracts. They’re the kind of products that lend themselves to pleasure – you actively want to make a ritual of them and spend time massaging. They’re naturally fragranced but I didn’t find them overly so; in fact, I’d say they’re pleasantly so. As an example, because there is so much to say when products are this ingredient rich, the Nefertiti Radiance Botanical Serum uses aloe vera for hydration, green tea oil as an antioxidant, red algae, blue algae and green algae as hydration and anti-inflammatory, lactic acid, plant based hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid for skin renewal, niacinamide…. and on it goes – all the things you recognise and know as hard workers combined with omega rich oils.

Other touches that I like so much are the violet glass that preserves the contents and is a nod to the ancient Egyptians who stored their valuable essential oils in gold or violet vessels, and that the name of each product comes from ancient African warrior Queens. It’s a strong brand, named for strong women and I hope is one in a long line of skin specific care that talks to a market that has not had its fair share of products. Prices start from £42 HERE. Hopefully normal service will resume next week – thank goodness for the Commonwealth Games that have kept me entertained from the sofa. I’m better but just completely stripped of energy :-).