OUR Body Butter INGREDIENTS

SUCROSE

Aqua is basically just sugar! We use standard granulated sugar as this creates an exfoliating but not too coarse consistency. The sugar we buy is produced from UK grown sugar beet wherever possible but is sometimes a mix between beet and cane plants depending on regional UK, European and domestic agricultural yields. We whip our sugar scrubs which creates a light, airy texture that spreads easily and feels less abrasive than dense oil-and-sugar scrubs. Whipped sugar scrubs typically provide a dual benefit of gentle exfoliation and light moisturising without leaving a heavy, slippery oil layer behind.

OLEA EUROPAEA FRUIT OIL

This is olive oil. Our olive oil is sourced as a commodity blend of EU extra virgin olive oils, typically bottled from mixed harvests in countries like Spain or Italy. In our sugar scrubs, the olive oil acts as a rich, natural moisturiser packed with antioxidants and vitamin E that lock in hydration and soften dry skin.

HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OIL

This is sunflower oil and it’s not just used for cooking; it is great for your skin and hair too. Because of its high fatty acid concentration, sunflower oil has great emollient benefits. Emollients provide a protective barrier to moisturise, soften and smooth the skin. Sunflower oil is also rich in linoleic acid, which helps to strengthen the skin barrier. This means it will help limit water loss and protect your lips from environmental stressors. The body's natural oils are enhanced by sunflower oil, which is high in vitamin E.

RICINUS COMMUNIS SEED OIL

This is castor oil; extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, a native to tropical areas of Asia and Africa. The oil is usually extracted from the seeds before going through the heating process. This heating process deactivates the toxic enzymes within the oil, allowing it to be used safely.  The castor oil we use is 100% pure and hexane free. Castor oil is rich in the monounsaturated fatty acid ricinoleic acid, a known humectant. Humectants help retain skin moisture by preventing water loss through the outer layer of your skin.

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

This is shea butter; a solid oil that is produced from the nuts grown on the shea tree. It is native to Western Africa and has been used for centuries to nourish and moisturise the skin. We use refined shea butter in our formulations because it is odourless. Shea butter is a great ingredient for skincare products due to its intense moisturising, anti-inflammatory, and barrier-repairing properties. It is rich in fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, stearic, palmitic) and vitamins A and E, making it deeply hydrating. It helps to soften the skin, and protects against environmental damage, making it ideal for dry, sensitive, or aging skin.

THEOBROMA CACAO SEED BUTTER

This is cocoa butter; a hard, brittle oil that is solid at room temperature. It is derived from the fat from cacao or cocoa beans. Cocoa butter is highly prized for it’s moisturising properties and the cocoa butter we use is food grade and unrefined. Cocoa butter can soothe skin irritation and smooth dry skin, wrinkles, scars and other marks on the skin. Additionally, it known to help heal rashes from conditions like dermatitis and eczema. Cocoa butter is also rich in phytochemicals; these are natural plant compounds that improve blood flow to the skin and slow aging by protecting the skin against harmful UV rays.

BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULPHATE

This is a plant based emulsifying wax that is naturally generated and often abbreviated to just BTMS. Despite the name, behentrimonium Methosulfate is a non-sulfate. The BTMS we use is palm free, derived from rapeseed oil and no GM products are used in the manufacture. It is completely vegan and serves as a conditioning emulsifier in our skincare products. We chose this ingredient primarily as it creates stable, creamy, and nourishing formulations. It creates a very fine conditioning coating on the skin and offers long-lasting moisture and a silky skin feel.

BRASSICA ALCOHOL

Brassica alcohol is the fatty alcohol derived from brassica oil. It is a palm free and vegan-friendly natural thickening agent and viscosity adjuster. This is an ideal alternative to palm derived emulsifiers typically used in personal care. We use it to help with our whipped sugar scrub as it is brilliant at being an emulsion stabiliser: it helps mix oil and water, ensuring products like lotions and creams do not separate. In our sugar scrub formula, it also smooths and hydrates the skin, creating a breathable, non-occlusive barrier that reduces dryness.

STEARIC ACID

Stearic acid is a fatty acid found in plant fats. Our stearic acid is palm free and comes as fine white flakes. It is derived from European rapeseed oil and is often used in skincare as a thickening and hardening agent. We use it in our sugar scrubs as it acts as a thickener and hardener, turning a loose, oily mix into a rich, creamy, scoopable product that doesn't separate or leave a greasy mess on the skin. It is also quite effective in moisturising and hydrating the skin. It protects the skin by forming a barrier from moisture loss and keeps skin hydrated for longer.

GLUCONOLACTONE, SODIUM BENZOATE & CALCIUM GLUCONATE

These ingredients are combined together to create a white powder used as a natural preservative in products like creams, lotions, moisturisers, shampoos and conditioners. It is formally known as Geogard Ultra. It is approved by the Soil Association and conforms with ECOCERT and COSMOS standards. It provides broad spectrum protection against bacteria that grow in water based cosmetic creations. This blend of ingredients has an added skin moisturisation benefit, making it ideal for products like creams, shampoos or moisturisers. Geogard Ultra is widely considered to be one of the most natural preservatives available. Our supplier considers Geogard Ultra to be 80% natural. It is suitable for vegans and vegetarians and is free from palm oil.

Essential oils

We only use essential oils to scent our sugar scrubs. Using essential oils are a more natural way of scenting products, as opposed to synthetically created fragrance oils. Sugar scrubs that are scented with essential oils have a more natural scent, however some do still contain allergens which naturally occur within the essential oils themselves. These allergens are all listed on our packaging.

The difficulty we find is essential oils can only be taken from certain natural ingredients such as plants and some citrus fruits. The scents are also not as strong and do not last as long as synthetic lab-made fragrance oils. Whilst it is a shame we do not have the range of choice and longevity of synthetic scents, we much prefer the more natural option.

The essential oils we currently use in our sugar scrubs include: Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Oil), Bergamot (Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil), Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil), Sandalwood Amyris (Amyris Balsamifera Oil), LemonEucalyptus (Eucalyptus Citriodora Leaf Oil), Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil), Peppermint (Mentha Piperita Oil), Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil), Red Mandarin (Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil), Pink Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil), Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea Oil) and Cedarwood (Cedars Atlantica Bark Oil).

Some essential oils have allergens that naturally occur in the oils. These allergens are in all our sales listings and on our labelling included in the packaging of every purchase.

COLOURANTS

We only use natural, plant or clay derived colourants to colour our sugar scrubs. Natural colourants do not offer the same range of colour choices and are sometimes difficult to work with but they are far better for the environment and the skin. Our natural colourants include colours derived from dried botanicals, clays, spices, herbs, fruits, vegetables and plants. We do our utmost to make sure all ingredients, including our colourants are ethically sourced, leaving the smallest footprint on our planet as possible.

The natural colourants we currently use in our sugar scrubs include: Blueberry Powder (Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Powder), Annatto Seed Powder (Bixa Orellana Seed Powder), Alfalfa Powder (Medicago Sativa Sprout Powder), Spirulina Powder (Spirulina Platensis Powder), Indigo Powder (Indigofera Tinctoria), Beetroot Powder (Beta Vulgaris Root Powder), Indian Madder Powder (Rubica Cordifolia Powder), Kaolin Clay (CI 77004), Fullers Earth (Calcium Bentonite), Turmeric Powder (Curcuma Longa Root Powder), Alkanet Root Powder (Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract).