We are thrilled to have recently discovered Esse Organic Skincare – a fair trade, sustainable and vegan-friendly cosmetics company with amazing products.
Hailing from South Africa, Esse products are based on plant ingredients that use nature to sooth, protect and preserve skin. The range includes toners, cleansers, exfoliators, moisturizers, masks, targeted treatments (ie: repair oil), eye and lip products, body creams, oils, and travel kits.
Instead of “quick fixes” or “short term results,” Esse’s products are designed to give you long-term benefits. Esse explains it well: skin is like an ecosystem. While human skin is adapted to living organisms, it’s not used to synthetic chemicals. As a result, these are more likely to have unintended consequences when applied to skin.
Reading the ingredients is a delight; instead of alcohol, chemicals and other unpronounceable additives, you’ll find extracts direct from nature – things you might have even eaten today! Rooibos, flax seeds, chamomile, grape seed, spearmint, rosemary and coconut are just a few of the ingredients you’ll see on labels.
All Esse products are safely, ethically and sustainably harvested – mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa, which has more than 20,000 species of flowering plants. As a result, they smell fantastic (think yummy, earthy scents) and are safe for all skin types.
Esse’s Ecocert certification means that ingredients and packaging are safe for the environment; its PhytoTrade Africa partnership means that a portion of sales are given back to women’s cooperatives in Africa. Products are packaged in recycled glass; all products are biodegradable and free from parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances and synthetic colourants. This is undoubtedly, 100 per cent safe and eco-friendly skincare!
Text: Lydia Parafianowicz