For many, buying gifts for friends and loved ones can be a stressful time. Christmas is just around the corner and this year, despite the uncertainty and worry we’ve faced this festive season, is a year when we can really make a difference by shopping consciously, locally, and supporting small or independent businesses with our purchasing.
Black Pound Day is an all-year-idea, and an easy chance to make a small change in your shopping habits to support the growth of Black-owned businesses in the UK. It doesn’t take long to research an alternative for something you need online, or on social media, so we challenge our followers in December to substitute 3 of their regular purchases with products from Black-owned businesses on Black Pound Day - the first Saturday of each month. An upcoming online platform everyone in Beauty should check out is Black-owned businesses: Candour Beauty. Founded by Jacqueline Kusamotu, an agile, tech-driven entrepreneur, online beauty platform Candour Beauty is the UK’s first multi-brand Beauty and Personal Care retailer for Black women and women of colour. Co-founder Jacqueline is also the creator of The Black British Census; a survey designed to uncover insights and aspirations of Black consumers in the UK, to better serve these underrepresented customers. So, in summary, by supporting her mission with Candour Beauty, shoppers can also support the voices of Black consumers to larger brands and organisations, and get their concerns and opinions heard.
Another great way of supporting British brands is finding small brands you love, and sharing them. One of our favourites platforms who curates an offering of independent (and organic) brands is BLOMMA Beauty. Founded by Karen MacDonald, ex-buyer for Fenwick, World Duty Free and QVC, BLOMMA Beauty was created as a platform for shoppers to explore organic, all-natural beauty and wellbeing options by independent brands, with a sustainable and ethical ethos. As well as shopping on the BLOMMA Beauty website, customers are also invited to join experiences, pop-ups (when possible!), live-streams and online consultations, to ensure they find the right products for their skin, or for their friends or family. These, alongside their curated offering, set BLOMMA Beauty apart from the crowd.
We know It can get a little bit tricky when it comes to shopping for guys. But not to worry, SCRUBD, most-loved British men's brand, will help you get your hands on the best male all-natural skincare gifts. Naturally effective and made in England, SCRUBD was founded in 2017 by Mark Helvadjian, out of his passion to craft effective, all-natural products specifically designed for men’s skin. This Christmas, to guarantee you have the right gift for your partner, shop SCRUBD.
No matter the year, winter and the start of each year is always the season for bugs, colds and the like to be spread around. We, like many others, are pre-empting this by reinforcing our defences and strengthening our own immune systems with natural and vegan-friendly supplements from Youth & Earth. This British independent science-lead company was started in 2019 by expert bio-hacker Ed van Harmelen, and has gone from strength to strength. Their variety of targeted Delayed Release Capsules, Powders and Liposomal Liquids are now stocked in Planet Organic and John Bell & Croyden; a testament to the efficacy and strength of their ingredients. For immunity and detox qualities we recommend their Preservage capsules, as its abilities to delay the ageing of cells, ultimately giving more energy for recovery and boost Sirtuin activity. For children we recommend their Liposomal Vitamin C liquid, as this has a delicious orange flavour, and the Vitamin C molecules are delivered exactly where the body needs them, because of their new Liposomal delivery method.
Photographer: Matt Munro
And we know as well as you how many sets of fingers are crossed that travel barriers will be lifted in 2021.. In fact, we’re already packing our suitcases with HEINRICH BARTH, a luxury, organic range of bodycare designed to soothe your skin, and the planet (all ingredients are organic, and biodegradable, even the packaging is made from PCRP and is 100% recyclable). HEINRICH BARTH’s ingredients are sourced from local flora from specific locations worldwide (e.g. Mykonos and Dakar) to recreate the feel of a destination to linger on as a souvenir. Produced in Italy, and designed to make you feel comfortable in the surroundings you are in, anything from the HEINRICH BARTH ranges is the perfect lux gift to give a moment of calm and self-care to those you love.
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