Fab Find of the Week: The Natural Africa skincare
Even after nearly three decades of trying new products there’s still a thrill when we discover a truly brilliant new brand.
And so it was when The Natural Africa, an innovative, eco-luxe, capsule skincare collection, landed on Sarah’s desk recently – then whizzed straight on to her bathroom shelf. ‘I absolutely love it,’ she says. ‘It ticks all the boxes: delicious consistency, smells gorgeous, four products that cover all your daily needs - and from the first couple of days I looked in the mirror and thought “Hoorah! This is really working for my tends-to-dry, sensitive, older skin.”’
No prizes for guessing the country where the main super active plant ingredients – all indigenous medicinal plants, organic and sustainably sourced – come from. Co-founder Catarina de Avillez, who we met recently in London, explains: ‘Growing up visiting the Cape every year, I knew about the calming, healing and anti-ageing properties of rooibos – better known in the UK as a herbal tea. My family are descendants of the original rooibos farmers and that was the original inspiration for the brand. Together with my business partner Andrew Franks, who also has strong roots in Africa, we started exploring the skincare potential in Africa’s phenomenal natural medicine cabinet.’
Formulated by an expert team to ensure ultimate efficacy, purity and quality, The Natural Africa launched in the UK this Spring with four key products suitable for all skin types, vegan friendly and cruelty free, and packaged sustainably. They’re made in small batches so this will always be an exclusive range.
Soft and creamy Rooibos Cleansing Cream really does the biz in terms of cleansing and freshening (including eye make-up Sarah found) and is also a natural exfoliant. As well as rooibos, it contains anti-inflammatory aloe ferox, marula oil and African immortelle.
Catarina recommends sealing in moisture after cleansing with Cape Aloe Serum, leaving skin soft, supple and, Sarah finds, also toned. Aloe ferox obviously but also devils claw, jojoba oil (the most similar to skin’s natural oils) and a fragrance feast of rose geranium and grapefruit. (Men love this product, by the way, Catarina says.)
New to us, there’s actually a Resurrection plant, which gives this truly fabulous moisturiser its name. Resurrection Moisturiser positively pullulates with vitamins and omega essential fatty acids to hydrate skin perfectly and, as a bonus, speeds up skin cell production (which, a bit boringly, s-l-o-w-s down as the years go by).
Sarah says: ‘I use Resurrection Moisturiser on its own in the morning then add a couple of drops of Rosehip Oil before bed for an overnight skin treat.’ Rosehip oil is rich in vitamins A and C, which really do rejuvenate your skin.
At the moment, you can take advantage of a big discount on The Natural Africa x Sealand Gear Collection, currently on sale at £200 – click here – which offers a saving of £85. All four products in a travel size washbag from Sealand Gear, handmade from nylon waste.
A great intro to a fab range.
