I was thrilled recently when I was able to ask Liz Earle, founder of Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare, a few questions on her wildly popular UK line that’s quickly becoming a favorite here in the US as well.

Over the summer, I became addicted to her subtle, yet incedibly effective streak-free Sun Shade Botanical Self-Tan Spray as well as her best selling Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.

I asked her about the basics all women should use, what products truly change the skin, and how her best sellers came to be.

How did you come up with Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser? I love the way it makes my skin feel- all tingly and fresh!

When we launched the company in 1995, my business partner Kim Buckland and I really wanted to create a range which was a fuss free, affordable daily pampering treat which delivered outstanding results on all skin types. When we were formulating Cleanse & Polish we knew that we were onto a good thing when it gave fantastic results on my dry eczema prone skin as well as on Kim’s oily skin.

Cleanse & Polish is a plant oil rich formulation which means that it is very gentle and moisturising on the skin, it cleanses away dirt and impurities without stripping the skin whilst the pure muslin cloth swiftly lifts away dead skin cells, environmental pollution and all traces of make-up, instantly revealing fresher, smoother skin and allowing for better absorption of the products which follow. The great thing about our Cleanse & Polish is that it is suitable for all skin-types and shows visible results on normal, dry, sensitive and oily skins, which takes the guesswork out of choosing a skin type specific cleanser. After 13 years, it really one of the few things I honestly couldn’t get by without!

I’m a big fan of Sun Shade Botanical Self-Tan Spray and wrote about it this past spring. It’s literally the only self tanners that truly doesn’t streak and smells neutral on the skin. If this technology is available, why aren’t other companies using it?

When we formulated Sun Shade Botanical Self Tan Spray we wanted to create a self tan product which gave a natural colour using botanical ingredients to nourish the skin whilst having a natural fragrance. The formulation uses melanin from sunflower seeds and plant-derived DHA to give the face and body a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow.

The formulation also includes hydrating organic aloe vera and natural source vitamin E help to soothe and moisturise the skin to leave it soft and smooth, while a luxurious pure essential oil blend deliciously scents the skin. The colour from our Botanical Self Tan spray is golden and natural. Some tanning products have formulations which deliver an obviously ‘fake’ self tan’ colour overnight.

The great thing about Botanical Self Tan Spray is that it can build up gradually until you have a natural looking tan which is right for you. It is also very gentle on the skin as it is made to be suitable for all skin types and that means it can be used to create a warm glow on paler skins or a deeper colour for those with more olive skin tones.

What would you recommend to my readers who don’t use any skin care and want results without a lot of fuss?

Cleanse, tone and moisturise have always been the cornerstone for a good skincare regime. Following these three simple steps morning and evening will ensure that your skin is clean, healthy and beautiful. You can then add in other treatments, masks, exfoliators and oils according to your individual skincare needs as and when you feel necessary. Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare has always set out to be a fuss free straightforward skincare regime which delivers outstanding results on all skin types so it takes all the guesswork out of chosing a skincare line.

I would always recommend using products which have high levels of natural plant oils as they are more compatible with the skin. Begin your regime by cleansing. Use a creamy cleanser to gently cleanse away dirt and impurities. A cleanser which uses a hot cloth, such as Cleanse & Polish can help to remove dead skin cells and dislodge stubbon make up too.

After cleansing, use an alcohol free gentle toner and follow with a plant oil rich moisturiser such as the Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser, rich in natural actives including borage, avocado and echinacea. Formulated with antioxidant-rich natural source vitamin E as it helps to replace lost moisture and leave your skin soft and smooth.

What’s the most exciting new technology you’re using right now to give women hope for changing their skin?

Skincare really isn’t rocket science – I truly believe it should be simple. Essentially it is all about using the right ingredients in the right quantities to find the perfect balance. We use the finest quality ingredients from nature to give the best results to your skin – for me it is not about scientific jargon and injectables but rather ingredients which are compatible with the skin’s structure, which make a genuine difference to the appearance of the skin.

I have always believed in the power of natural active ingredients and we are always researching exciting new botanical plant oils and natural extracts which can make a genuine difference to the skin. One ingredient which has really got me excited lately is cranberry seed oil which contains a near one-to-one balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and a healthy mixture of antioxidants, including very high levels of tocotrienols and tocopherols. The oil has really only become available since cranberry juice and cranberry products have become popular. Typically the seeds contain 10 -15% oil but because cranberry seeds are so small many tons of cranberries have to be processed to yield commercial quantities of oil. We use this precious cranberry seed oil in our Superskin Moisturiser, our new botanical ‘wonder cream’.

We are hoping to use this wonderful new ingredient in future products we are developing at the moment – we are currently still in the trial processes but I’m already blown away by the results so watch this space for new exciting product launches for the face and body!

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