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The Organic Pharmacy
Who and what are The Organic Pharmacy
Founded by Margo and Francesco Marrone, their shop in Kings Road, London opened in 2002. Thanks to a passion and dedication for all things truly organic, their very high standards have not changed since that very first day. All their products are hand made in small batches to ensure quality is never compromised.
They Say:
"Every ingredient is checked by Margo to ensure it meets with our strict criteria. Our products have been developed using the purest cold pressed oils, the best essential oils and therapeutic levels of extracts expertly formulated by Margo, whose background in pharmacy and homeopathy has resulted in some of the most effective products in the world."
We Say:
"Hand-made, organic products inevitably come with a hefty price tag. The Organic Pharmacy is no different. However, we loved some of their products so much; we thought they were well worth every penny... Ok, every pound."
The Organic Pharmacy Products - What have we tried?
Rose Plus Marine Collagen Complex 35ml, RRP £95
Single Spy:
This stylish thin glass bottle with a silver pump contains a light, beige cream, more akin to a serum than a traditional moisturiser. The anti-ageing "complex" contains 85% organic ingredients, and the packaging proclaims that it is free from artificial preservatives, colourants, fragrances and petrochemicals. Even so, the list of ingredients is, nonetheless, extensive and sometimes mysterious: ceteryl alcohol, acmella oleracea, marine chondroitin… Although the main ingredient is "aqua" (water).
Whatever magic the ingredients work together, I certainly went through this product in record time. My skin absorbed it very quickly, and I found myself patting on a second layer. I couldn't see many signs that my skin had been "protected, lifted or renewed", but my face did feel a little tighter after I had applied the cream, and a little tingly. I noted, checking the packaging, that I was supposed to follow my marine collagen complex with antioxidant serum and Rose Plus face cream.
A rather more complicated regime than I was bargaining for, but maybe complexity is the secret for getting the most out of this complex.
Verdict: Worth the price if you take your skincare seriously and are prepared to use this complex with its complementary products.
Collagen Boost Mask 50ml, RRP £59.95
Sedate Spy:
This is an organic mask packed with antioxidants designed to "lift, tighten and brighten the skin". I loved its understated elegant packaging. Its simple white box houses a heavyweight transparent glass bottle with easy to use pump applicator.
It's an easy, fuss-free mask to apply and is left on the skin so you don't need to clean it off. It has a strong clean, citrus smell which is somewhat over powering but its lightweight texture meant that it was easily absorbed by my skin. My face felt instantly tighter and revitalized but when I added the moisturiser, as per the instructions, ten minutes after the initial application, my skin still felt dehydrated.
It's recommended use is twice a week or as a pick-me-up before, or after a big night out. Whilst it certainly lifted and tightened my face it was too dehydrating for my combination skin, however for those with other skin types or busy lifestyles this could be a new best friend.
Verdict: Not quite right for me.
Carrot Butter Cleanser 75ml, RRP £29.95
Sassy Spy:
This famed carrot butter cleanser is completely natural with 95% organic ingredients like shea butter, (anti-oxidant) carrot, rosemary, chamomile, and lavender. I couldn't wait to try it.
Inside the classy, unfussy packaging, I found a clear tub filled with orange-y butter, sealed with a shiny silver lid. It also comes with a small white plastic spatula to ensure the precious ingredients remain germ-free.
I scooped out a penny sized amount and massaged it over my face and neck with my fingertips. The carrot butter glides on smoothly and made me look positively glossy. Then I left it for a minute to work its magic, "dissolving any make-up (including stubborn eye make-up) and grime". I admit I was sceptical about this product, but with a muslin cloth it removed it all. (This does leave the muslin quite patchy and black so you'll probably want to wash it quite often).
What I was left with day after day was a silky soft and beautifully clean face! Another bonus is that it's for all skin types. The price of this cleanser may make you think twice about buying it. So, think twice and then purchase it because it works so well.
Verdict: Brilliant cleanser, worth every penny.
Firming Body Cream 200ml, RRP £150.00
Sybaritic Spy:
This is supposed to "firm, tone and revitalise" your skin. It has plenty of revitalising ingredients, guarana, horsetail, green tea and pine bark among them. It's also got the slightly less attractive sounding bladderwrack which is supposed to drain toxins from your body.
The texture is lovely ...a very smooth cream that sinks into the skin easily, but its a rather unattractive brown shade and the combination of ingredients gives it a strong smell- not unpleasant, quite invigorating - but not one I looked forward to smelling when I used it. The pack advises targeting areas like décolleté, buttocks, thighs, neck, tummy and arms twice a day. How old do you have to be for your cleavage to become your décolleté?
I'm not sure I really noticed any difference. My rather flabby arms were a little brighter and tighter I think, but my thighs and buttocks are sadly beyond all hope. Maybe this is a long term treatment, combined with vigorous skin brushing and exfoliating it may just do the trick...
Verdict: Not a quick fix.
Anti-oxidant Face Gel and Anti-oxidant Face Firming Serum 35ml gel, RRP £43.88, 35ml serum, RRP £66.36
Salubrious Spy:
I was given these two Organic Pharmacy products to trial in combination. Only ever having used, and loved, Organic Pharmacy's Carrot Butter previously, I was curious to see how these products would fare. The instructions said to apply 4 drops of the antioxidant gel with 2 drops of serum every night after cleansing.
Both products come in smart clear glass jars with pump dispensers - the gel is off-white and the serum a rich amber colour. Having cleansed my face, I pressed the pump dispenser four times to get the required 4 drops of gel. I loved the sweet orangey scent and the smooth non-sticky texture of the gel - and the way it was absorbed into my skin seemingly without trace. Next, I applied four drops on the serum, which seemed like a lot in serum terms, and massaged the oil into my thirsty skin. The serum doesn't have a strong scent, but it felt good and left my skin glistening - which is fine before going to bed, though I wouldn't recommend it for day use (presumably why The Organic Pharmacy don't either).
I liked both the products - particularly the divine-smelling gel, and they gave a touch of spa and luxury to my night time skin routine. Over the two-week testing-period, which took place in the winter, my skin tone looked more even and less dry than it sometimes does during the colder months.
The only slight downside was that the serum seemed to make its way into my hairline when I was using the suggested 4 drops so I reduced it to 2, which also meant that I was using the serum at the same rate as the gel, so wouldn't be left with half a bottle of gel when the serum ran out. Oh, and the price - at £43.88 and £66.36 for the 35ml of the gel and serum respectively, this luxury skin combo doesn't come cheap.
Verdict: Expensive but effective.
Where can I buy The Organic Pharmacy products?
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