Tried and tested: ARK natural skincare.
I’m a sucker for natural skincare but also like to use products that really work and I have found that it can be hard to find products that combine the two things. I was sent some La Prairie skincare years ago and I’ve been a fan ever since as it really works for my skin. What I don’t love about La Prairie however, is that it’s not particularly natural and smells a bit too ‘chemical’.
What’s interesting about ARK is that they are a British brand making serious, effective skincare but with natural ingredients. I’d spotted the bright and airy ARK shop quite near me in Haslemere (below) so was happy to give the products a try when they asked me to.
I went for the Pre Cleanse & Make-Up Remover, £30
Skin Protector SPF 30 Primer, £36
and Hydrating Beauty Mist, £25
I decided to take them with me on holiday to Cornwall last week to try them out properly there (and also to get some nice photos by the sea hopefully!).
I started with the Pre Cleanse & Make-Up Remover. I tend to use Simple face wipes on holiday but they aren’t great at getting all my mascara off at bedtime. I hadn’t realised that this product is more of an oil than a lotion, so I did use too much of it the first time and when I sloshed it around my eyes, everything went cloudy for a few minutes! Once I’d got the hang of it, I realised what a great little product this is. It really dissolves away all traces of make-up ready for the quickest cleanse and tone. My skin felt really clean and in the morning there were no panda eyes when I rubbed them, for once. Active ingredients include grape seed, avocado oil and kiwi oil. As well as Zi Cao, which is apparently an Ayurvedic herb valued as a soothing ingredient for sensitive skin.
I decided to use The Skin Protector instead of sun cream on my face and neck. I find that most sun products formulated for the face can be a bit too clogging. This product has such a lovely, natural fragrance and went on very easily, leaving no sticky trace at all. Active ingredients include Shea Butter, Vitamin E, jojoba, mimosa and sunflower. I can honestly say I have never had a more lovely, golden and even light tan on my face – without any burning or dryness whatsoever.
My absolute new favourite though, is the Hydrating Beauty Mist. I am hooked on the minty, herby fragrance and how cooling it feels when you spray it on. Active ingredients include Wild Water Mint, Aloe Vera, Allantoin and goji berry. It dries to leave your skin feeling more moisturised and fresh than before. I kept it in my bag throughout the holiday to cool myself beside the beach, whilst walking or cycling coastal paths… Love it. I am back at my desk and this is going to sit beside my computer to keep me going through the working day. If I spray my face and close my eyes, I am back beside the sea in Cornwall for a second or two…
ARK skincare is listed in our directory. Discover more about their full range of age-specific skincare, and get all the contact info you need for them here.
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