Spotlight on Skin & Tonic

We caught up with Sarah, founder of Skin & Tonic London, to find out everything you need to know about this organic, transparent brand!

What inspired you to start Skin & Tonic?

I was diagnosed with severe Endometriosis back in 2009, I was trying to manage my illness and my skin was in flare. I started to transform my lifestyle, I quit smoking & drinking, I started to eat organic foods & started to work out and really look after my body. I decided I wanted find some gentle, certified organic, minimal skincare that really worked. I couldn't find anything in the shops that fitted the bill, so I quit my job in television and retrain in skincare formulation & aromatherapy. Myself & my partner Josh launched Skin & Tonic back in 2014. with 'Less is more' as the core philosophy.

Where does the name come from?

Josh & I met at a party over a drink of Gin & Tonic, so it was a play on our favourite tipple!

What makes Skin & Tonic different?

We use a maximum of 7 organic ingredients in each formulation. So our customers can totally understand what they are putting onto their skin and the benefits of those natural ingredients.

What was the first product you developed?

Gentle Scrub, I was looking for a gentle facial exfoliant and brightening mask. I came up with the idea of creating a powdered exfoliant & mask (that was free from harsh preservatives and cheap fillers) that could be customised when mixed with floral water, yogurt or honey depending on what your skin needs. It could be used as regular exfoliant or a weekly mask. It's a soothing blend of French Pink Clay, Oatmeal, Rosehip Seeds & Geranium Rosat. It was our first hero product and we couldn't believe it when we saw it featured in Vogue a few months later as their beauty editors favourite new product.

Why is natural and organic beauty so important to you?

Firstly, for the health of my skin & body. Organic beauty can have incredible efficacy without the detrimental effects of some commonly used synthetic preservatives, foamers and fillers that we still see in mass produced brands. Time & time again we hear from customers who have made the switch to using natural skincare and they cannot believe how it transforms their skin's health. I also care about the provenance of my products, I want to know where the ingredients have come from, how they've been produced and who they've impacted through the supply chain. Having certification from the Soil Association ensures our supply chain is ethical and all our ingredients are of the highest grade.

What is your best beauty secret?

Switching to Beauty Oils rather than moisturisers. Beauty oils are rich in plant nutrients, omegas and antioxidants and are concentrated, rather than diluted with water and preservatives (like most moisturisers). They are incredible at helping to balance sebum levels, provide important nutrients directly to the skin and help to repair, heal, whilst keeping the skin hydrated and nourished. I massage the Brit Beauty Oil in each morning after cleansing and the Naked Beauty oil each night. I take them everywhere with me when I travel and can't go a day without them now.

How do you enjoy spending a pamper night in?

They are not as frequent as I'd like! (I have a two year old daughter so my life if pretty hectic at the moment and consists of running a busy business & being a mama) If I do manage to fit in some pamper time then I like to draw a bath and mix a scoop of our reviving Skin & Tonic Sea Salt Body Scrub with bergamot, lavender and rose. It smells incredible and helps me really switch off. I will apply our hydrating Coco Mask and leave it to work its magic whilst I have a bath. I follow that with our Rose Mist to tone my skin & Naked Beauty oil to help repair & nourish. Finally I massage the Calm Balm into my wrists, temples and my head and neck before bed. The soothing & sedating chamomile & lavender helps me sleep and chill out.

What does the future hold for you?

We are in the process of developing our skincare & wellness range, with some amazing new launches in the pipeline. Jodie Kidd has joined our board of directors a couple of months ago. She's passionate about organic beauty and wellbeing & I'm working closely to develop something really amazing. Watch this space.

You can purchase all the Skin & Tonic products listed in this blog here.