Sarah's Health Notes: Free From Skincare Awards 2022

Ta-dah! It’s always exciting when we’re sent the results for the Free From Skincare Awards, which we had a bit of a hand in helping when it launched in 2012.

Our old friends and colleagues Michelle Berriedale-Johnson and Alex Gazzola, the joint founders of the Awards, asked if we would canvas our Beauty Bible testers to see who would like to test products that are ‘free from’ some of the ingredients including allergens, additives and artificial fragrances, which consumers with skin sensitivities or particular health concerns would like/need to avoid. (Whenever I can I join the judging panel for the Awards; I couldn't this year mainly owing to puppy duty in Dorset…)

We’re very happy to see that the Best Free From Brand Award was won by Rhug Wild Beauty, which is also a multiple Beauty Bible Award winner. ‘Rhug Wild Beauty gained an unprecedented two golds and three silvers,’ Alex Gazzola says. You’ll find the top Awards below (with links to order, should you wish). Oh, just have to say that one of the Golds is for my favourite Exfoliating Body Scrub with Rosemary & Rhug Honey – I could literally do with vats of this delicious skin-smoothing concoction.

Fascinating too, that the overall champion is SenSpa Relaxing Talc Free Body Powder. Both a brand and a product that we’re very attached to – a true classic. It’s free from artificial fragrances, animal-sourced ingredients and food allergens. One tester commented that it ‘leaves an amazing silk-like feel to skin and the fragrance oozes relaxation. Gave an extra elegance to my daily routine.’

For this 11th Free From Skincare Awards, Alex notes that brands from outside the UK won over half the Gold medals, including Irish brands – Blumain, Palm Free Irish Soap and Mother Soap Co – and the first Gold medallist from Jersey, White Moon Skincare. Also, a mainland Europe trio of minimalist, low allergen, fragrance-free brands, all first time entrants, did incredibly well: Merme Berlin (Germany), Laponie of Scandinavia (Finland), LUMI (Estonia).

Congratulations to all the winners. Here are all the Gold gongs:

Overall Winner – Best Free From Skincare Product 2022

SENSPA, Relaxing Talc Free Body Powder

Best Free From Brand Award

Rhug Wild Beauty

Free From Achievement Award

Laponie of Scandinavia, 2-in-1 Hydrating Face Mask & Cream

LUMI, MEN Aftershave Toner

MERME Berlin, Facial Powder Cleanser with Purple Carrot

Oak and Stone Organics, Activating Face + Body Polish

Best Labelling Award

Odylique