[unpaid/sample] I think it’s very obvious that not all beauty oils are equal, although I realise that I’ve probably tried more than most. Most oils nowadays will feel comfortable on the complexion – maybe a bit heavy or a bit light or even just a bit non-descript, but few have that immediate skin-fit hit when your face just says, yes and thank you! I’m currently using a facial oil for review that doesn’t have that instant seamlessness which makes me worry I’m shoving my skin about for no good reason. A good oil should just glide and soften as you massage – it should leave your skin feeling happier for having it there and then be able to forget that it is there at all.
What makes Tea & Tonic different from your average skin care is that the formulas are based around adaptogens – specifically adaptogen herbs. What’s an adaptogen? In short, a plant or herb that can help to rebalance skin’s stress response (or, in the case of edible adaptogens, rebalance the body’s stress response). Thinking about skin stress – there’s often no one catalyst that sends your complexion into free-fall, but more a build up of things like not sleeping well, burning the midnight oil or daily stress. Using adaptogens in skin care is thought to help the skin be more resilient to aggressors and therefore look and feel more healthy. Well known adaptogens are ashwagandha and maca which you will have seen crop up in the form of supplements, if not skin care.
I’ve focused mainly on testing out High Spirits Body Oil and The Meadow’s Secret Cleansing Balm. The latter is easily one of the most lovely cleansing balms I’ve ever used and as the name might suggest, uses meadow flower and seed oils boosted with adaptogen herbs. It’s made in small batches (in the UK). Top of the ingredient list is Abyssinian Oil, responsible for the blend feeling so cushiony on the skin, but the list is one sumptuous oil or extract after another as well as responsibly sourced beeswax (you can request a vegan alternative). If you like a cleansing balm, this feels like a snip at £28 especially as a little goes a long way.
High Spirits Body Oil is packed with vitamins C & E, omega fatty acids, phytosterols and antioxidants and in this version is a wonderful after exercise reviver. I did a lot of yoga over the weekend so the menthol kick and herbal notes were very welcome after a hot bath – I felt like I got the smell I deserved after stretching myself into next week in the same way that I think marathon runners might feel when they rub up with liniment … it just smelled of achievement! High Spirits also has the wonderful skin compatibility feel to it – it’s no chore to oil up when you know your skin will feel positively bouncy. Body oils are £38.
Lastly, the tea part of Tea & Tonic. I am a very recent convert to anything other than a mug of Tetley and the occasional fresh mint brew but with my newly opened mind I have tried The Tonic Ginger Turmeric Wellness Tea (£18) which is great for when you feel achy or a bit run down. The thing about wellness teas is that they tend not to have any sweetness to them so can be a bit of palette challenge. I’m afraid I need sweeteners in any such teas (you can add honey if you recoil at the idea of sweeteners or sugar) although I enjoyed the ginger in this turmeric, ginger and lemon myrtle blend. The tea also contains adaptogens (including ashwagandha and shisandra berries – in fact most of Tea & Tonic’s products contain up to 8 different adaptogens) but in all honesty, I’d probably rather have a supplement :-). The thing is, adaptogens aren’t easy to explain in one simple blog post – they link to our immune and adrenal systems – and are complex in the way that they work. That this brand is brought to you by an elite athlete and biologist (Helen Hall), a medical herbalist, aromatherapist and anthropologist (Jane Wallwork) and a facialist and body trainer (Stephanie Oliver) means you can cut through the surrounding complexities knowing you’re in safe hands.
Tea & Tonic is a luxury brand addressing wellness from both out and inside and yet, it’s priced for approachability. The packaging is premium (and I am sure has potential to be refillable), the formulas are authoritative and generous and the concept is sound. If you like the idea of any of this (I will review the facial oil separately when I’ve finished on the one I’m using) you can use BBB25 at check out for a 25% discount until the end of May 2021. Because products are made in small batches, you may have to wait-list for some. Head HERE.
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