BRAND: GINGER STONE


I love discovering and trying out new beauty and cosmetics brands and hearing how and why they started especially in their early days. A lot of beauty brands claim to be natural and pure but when they are so massed produced it is sometimes hard to believe those claims.

Ginger Stone was born from a desire to create natural, organic products that are suitable for sensitive skin. It is an micro-artisan skincare business based in Dorset, England and I have never used products that feel so natural.

I have tried a few Ginger Stone products and have loved them - the cleansing oil is amazing and feels so nourishing. My other favourite is the moisturiser which again made my skin feel so soft and smooth, I really loved it and hadn't tried anything like it before.

 



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NAME OF BRAND/COMPANY: Ginger Stone

DATE IT WAS FOUNDED: November 2016

BY WHOM IT WAS FOUNDED: Elly Layfield

WHY WAS IT CREATED: Ginger Stone has been a long held dream of mine. The reasons behind this are very personal to me. I have had the great honour of having two very important people in my life, my very dear friend Bec and my Mum. Both underwent treatment for breast cancer and until I shared some of their journey with them I was not aware of the risk they would face in using everyday skincare products. Also my daughter has eczema and I began by experimenting with a moisturising cream made from natural butters and oils because I found off the shelf products to be ineffective.

The first time I became aware of the risk with the use of essential oils in skincare was when a group of friends, including Bec, went on a spa day to help her escape the treatment and all that went with it, to feel pampered and spoilt. It wasn't until we went together for our super luxurious massage that we learned that the beauty therapist could not use the oils that smelt so heavenly as they were not allowed to use essential oils on Bec due to the treatment she was going through. This moment came as a bit of a shock to us although we didn't allow it to spoil our day

Tragically Bec lost her battle with cancer in her early thirties.  It wasn't until later when my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer that the fragranced skincare issue came up again. I had bought my mum some luxury creams to help her pamper herself whilst going through treatment, in the hope they would help her feel a bit better in difficult times. During a phone call home she explained she was very sorry but she wasn't allowed to use the creams. Her consultant had explained it wasn't safe and sent her home with a prescription of E45, not quite the luxury, pampering skincare experience I had hoped for!

These experiences got me thinking and talking to friends: what can you use if you are someone with sensitive skin or undergoing some kind of treatment?  What if you have allergies but still want to have luxurious products for your skin? The answer, I found, was there didn't seem to be a huge range of choice out there. Having started out with a homemade cream for my daughter’s eczema, coupled with my Mum and Bec’s experience, this led me to want to learn more about natural skincare products and the idea go Ginger Stone was born.  I undertook formal study with Formula Botanica, an award winning school of organic cosmetic science and gained a Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation and I continue to study with them, currently studying for my Advanced Diploma in Organic Cosmetic Science. In November 2016 after a great deal of research, study and trials, Ginger Stone was launched.



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WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BRAND: Many people are seeking a cleaner lifestyle and looking for alternative ways to care for their skin as part of this. As part of this, chemical and toxin free skincare products are becoming increasingly popular. Ginger Stone creates luxurious, fragrance free, skincare products. We want people with the most sensitive of skins to be able to use products that leave them feeling pampered and spoilt every time they use them. All our products are made from natural, botanical ingredients and they are handmade in small batches to ensure that the precious nutrients are preserved and protected.  When applied, skin feels rejuvenated and nourished. We only make 100% natural products so of course no nasties are allowed. We don’t use fillers, we are totally chemical free and no artificial anythings are allowed in. We don’t test on animals, only willing family and friends. 

All our ingredients are hand picked by us to ensure the highest of standards. Not all natural skincare ingredients are the same and it is important to us that we can trace the origin of our ingredients.

Our organic shea butter, found in our #4 Body Balm,  is one of the superstars in natural skincare and has been used for centuries to moisturise and soften skin.  This butter is rumoured to have been used by Ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti.  Shea butter is packed with Vitamin A which is known to improve a number of skin conditions including eczema, dermatitis, stretch marks, skin allergies and acne. A study by Akihisa et al 2010 found that Shea butter had anti-inflammatory properties.  Shea also aids skins natural collagen production and contains Oleic, Stearic, Palmitic and Linolenic acids.  These prevent dehydration and nourish your skin, helping strengthen and reduce wrinkles.

Our red raspberry seed and camellia oils are amongst my favourite oils, not only do the conjure up images of beautiful sunny days red raspberry seed oil is a lipid barrier providing protection and moisture retention for the skin. It has a high content of alpha linolenic acid (the highest in any fruit seed oil) and phytosterols therefore helpful for eczema and psoriasis and camellia oil has been renowned for anti-ageing properties since the dawn of time. It has been used in Japan for centuries to moisturise and condition the skin, hair and nails.

Camellia oil is rich in Oleic acid and a rich source of Omega 3, 6, 9, Polyphenols. Camellia oil contains vitamins A, B and E as well as phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium. The green tea extract, found in our #3 Daily Moisturiser, is naturally rich in antioxidants, it has a cell-protecting function and a strong antioxidant effect that protects the skin from the damaging effect of free radicals.

Green tea extract also contains Methylxanthines that stimulates skin microcirculation and therefore positively influence the tone and health of your skin. I love the idea of using tea in skincare products and will definitely be something you see more of in the future. 



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WHAT WE SHOULD BUY FROM YOU:  I started the brand with only a small range of products (although I am currently developing a couple of new ranges to be launched soon!) and I use them all regularly. Personally I would recommend a trio, #1 Cleansing Oil #3 Daily Moisturiser and #2 Night Rejuvenation Face Serum. I use this trio everyday, the cleansing oil helps to lift the dirt and makeup off my face whilst exfoliating with the muslin cloth, moisturising in the morning leaves my skin feeling rejuvenated and ready to face another day, I hate the tight skin feeling you have when you forget to moisturise on a morning!  I apply the face serum just before bed, because it is made from oils that have a slightly slower penetration rate. I know that as I sleep these are working hard to moisturise, plump and regenerate my skin and work to erase the challenges my skin has been put through during the day.

For ease of use, the#4 Moisturising Body Balm for Extra Sensitive Skin.  The stick applicator is so convenient, balms can be difficult to apply from a jar or tub. As they don’t contain water like other body creams they are firmer in texture, the stick allows you to directly apply the balm to you skin - my 7 year old daughter loves using it! 

We are very keen to learn about our customers experiences with our products. Products can be bought via our website at www.gingerstone.co.uk and we love to get feedback from our and to learn more about their skincare journey. There is also a blog which tells more about our story so far and offers hints and tips about skin care using natural ingredients.  We are active on FaceBook and Instagram and you can follow us @gingerstone.skincare