Indoor indulgences: the best botanical skincare
A select few brands have raised the bar in botanical skincare, offering state-of-the-art, plant-based solutions for dry, dull or ageing skin.Slow down and be kind to yourself with these sensual cleansers, healing masks and luxurious overnight
Tata Harper
Tata Harper launched her botanical skincare brand in 2010 from her flower-strewn farm in Vermont and has amassed fans including Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosie Huntington Whiteley for her innovative and groundbreaking use of natural oils and botanicals. Her 40-strong collection arrived in the UK in 2019, recognisable by its minimalist green packaging. Harper does not scrimp on ingredients and her bestselling Crème Riche is testament to this, brimming with no less than 43 natural actives (a typical moisturiser uses two or three). Harper’s niche ingredient is natural sugar, which boosts hyaluronic acid in the skin and works alongside a host of fatty acids to lock-in moisture for a plump, healthy complexion.
Chantecaille
Olivia Chantecaille founded her botanical-rich skincare brand in 1997, during a decade when natural skincare amounted to little more than a homemade banana and honey facemask. She challenged the cosmetic industry with her commitment to natural botanicals and antioxidants, and it remains a privately-owned family business. Chantecaille classics include the oil-free Future Skin Foundation (£70), which comes in a hulking great pot and is as much a serum as it is a foundation, packed full of skin-quenching nutrients. The ultra-decadent Chantecaille Recovery Mask is super-charged with 24-carat gold, extolled for its tightening, brightening and healing properties. Blackcurrant seed oil soothes and reduces irritation, while a clever cocktail of peptides and probiotics accelerate the skin’s natural recovery. Gently coat your face in a thin layer of this velvety-smooth cream and leave on for the duration of your next Netflix binge, or wear overnight for maximum effect.
Aesop
The ultimate tonic for dehydrated skin, Aesop’s new Sublime Replenishing Night Masque does exactly what it says on the tin – or rather, trademark brown jar. It took five years to develop this clever combination of heavy-hitting, revitalising vitamins to soothe, heal and deeply hydrate. This is what you reach for when your skin has been dried out by travel, harsh weather or central heating, or apply once a week as a sensual treat. The gelatinous formula has a calming, woody scent, which helps send you peacefully to sleep.
Votary
London-based Votary was founded in 2015 by British make-up artist Arabella Preston, upon discovering the transformative effects of using oil-based cleansers on her clients. Her 100 per cent natural products will change the way you cleanse, removing stubborn dirt and make-up without stripping or clogging your skin. This elegant facial oil comes with a pure cotton cloth for a sublimely enjoyable cleansing ritual. Gently massage the face, allowing essential oils to slowly absorb into the skin and relax the mind.
The Drug Store
The Drug Store opened in Marylebone in 2019 as London’s first CBD-dedicated boutique. As well as selling luxury natural cannabidiol (CBD) products, it stocks an indulgent selection of crystal facial tools, made using semiprecious stones like jade and rose quartz. Permanently cool and soothing, this facial roller massages the skin and stimulates lymphatic drainage, as well as being pleasingly tactile to touch.
Read more: Why Clé de Peau Beauté is the ultimate luxury indulgence
Photography by Gareth Williams