1 year as a Weleda Well-being Advisor
and my favourite product discoveries so far . . .
In Spring 2023 I made the decision to step away from a part-time role I had held for over a decade (alongside hairdressing) with a leading, British beauty apothecary.
The decision to leave was the right one for me, the direction of the company was changing plus it felt like the right time to fully pursue my freelance career, but, ever the ingredients geek, I found the absence of education and regular product training left a gaping void that I missed.
I enjoy following Lisa Oxenham, Marie Claire’s Beauty & Style Director, on Insta and she did a piece with Weleda that caught my attention. It wasn’t a brand I had worked with before so I knew little about them, other than that they were one of the more ‘natural’ skincare ranges out there.
I landed on their website and I instantly felt like the universe was guiding me. I noticed that there was potential to work with them as a Well-being Advisor. A seed was planted in my mind but I was getting ahead of myself, I had never even tried the products. I placed my first order, “Let’s see how the products perform first” I thought, excitedly awaiting my delivery.
They didn’t disappoint, I loved them! and I soon found myself wondering how it had taken me quite so long to try them.
I generally gravitate to more botanical skincare brands, but I’ve never come across a company with quite so many credentials. From the ethical sourcing of natural ingredients to the Natrue seal guaranteeing the highest standards of naturalness. B-Corp status, Zero Plastic Inside, Demeter Certified, Living Wage accredited, Sustainable Beauty Coalition backed, and represented in the B Corp Beauty Coalition.
I was completely won over and by Summer 2023 I had officially signed up as a Weleda Well-being Advisor, was given my own web shop and was ready to go. I have spent the last year testing out products, sharing my favourites with clients and introducing some of the skincare into my holistic facials.
Weleda is a truly beautiful brand, one that I am incredibly passionate about and proud to be associated with . The products are a pleasure to use, kind to people and kind to planet plus they are very affordable.
They are probably more famously known for their Skin Food and baby care ranges than anything else but there is SO much more to discover beyond that, from facial care to body oils, scrubs and washes, bath milks, deodorants, dental care, pregnancy care and natural medicines plus seasonal retreats in the Peak District and open days at their biodynamic garden in Derbyshire.
I have put together a round up of all of my personal favourite Weleda products to date, the ones that have become staples in my own bathroom cabinet, that I now purchase on repeat!
I hope it provides some inspiration if you are interested in exploring the brand further.
FOR THE FACE:
I LOVE a cleansing balm or cleansing oil! They offer a thorough but gentle way to clean skin, break down make-up and SPF and provide the perfect opportunity to include a little facial massage into your everyday routine.
My non negotiable is that they emulsify on contact with water (which these two both do) turning the balm/oil into a milky emulsion for easy removal from the skin.
A face cloth is not essential but I highly recommend one as an additional benefit - holding a warm cloth over the face before removal will allow the pores to open for an even deeper cleanse. (Ideally buy 7 so you have a fresh one for every evening and then you can pop them all in the washing machine at the end of the week. They don’t have to be anything fancy, a basic cotton flannel will do)
Skin Food Nourishing Cleansing Balm, £12.95 or for the same price you can select the gift set which includes an organic cotton wash cloth.
Make-Up Removal Cleansing Oil, £13.95
To compare the two . . . The balm is a thicker texture and delicately scented with essential oils which gives more of a spa like experience but means you cannot use it around the eyes (I’ve tried, it stings)
The oil is more fluid in texture so easier to spread around the face, has no fragrance so feels a little more basic but is comfortable around the eyes.
For the times when I want a quick morning cleanse or when my skin is playing up with hormonal bumps and blemishes along my jaw and chest, I’m a big advocate of the Aknedoron Cleansing Lotion, £12.95 a milky liquid made with calming chamomile and calendula, it feels deeply cleansing and fresh but leaves skin comfortable and hydrated. I sometimes use this after cleansing with a balm/oil in the evenings too, almost like a toner. The scent is delicious, orange, rosemary and lavender essential oils provide a treat for the senses. Apply to a cotton pad and sweep across face, neck and chest or back (keep away from eyes)
This would be great for teen skin too as a gentler alternative to acid based formulas, especially in Summer when exfoliating acids can make skin more sensitive to sunburn.
My eye cream, serum and day cream of choice are all from the Blue Gentian & Edelweiss Contouring range, Weleda’s most advanced innovation to boost collagen and bring greater definition to facial contours.
Although this range is generally targeted to a more mature audience, my early entry into menopause means thats my skin’s needs wont necessarily be dictated by generalised age range. I already suffer with pigmentation and my collagen production will have begun to slow down due to lack of estrogen so anything that can help support this is a bonus!
The main reasons I enjoy using this range are due to the textures (I’m very particular about this!!) as well as the results.
The Contouring Eye & Lip Cream, £28.95 is nourishing but not greasy, and I do think fine lines have diminished since using it, plus it lasts for ages! The Contouring face Serum, £32.95 is milky, hydrating and plumping, the Contouring Day Cream, £28.95 almost gel like - is nourishing, but quickly absorbed leaving my skin feeling bouncy and supple. SPF sits well on top and my Make-Up glides on well over that, plus there is a brightness and luminosity to my complexion. I’m a BIG fan!
FOR THE BODY:
Body Washes
Multi award winning, mild and low foaming cleansers (naturally derived from coconut and sugar) with organic plant oils and high quality essential oils create an aromatherapeutic shower experience for mind, body and spirit.
I’m an advocate of the Refresh Citrus Creamy Body Wash £8.25 for the Summer months, a wonderful, zesty, morning wake-up call or refreshing end to the day.
I also love the Sport Arnica Energising Shower Gel £8.25 with an invigorating scent of rosemary and lavender, this one is particularly good for gym goers/runners/active types as the arnica is anti inflammatory and gets to work supporting sore muscles.
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Bath Soaks
The bath milks and soaks are highly therapeutic, bringing the serenity of a spa to your own bathroom, each one created with a specific experience in mind. They also double up as a great foot soak after a long day.
In Summer I find the Citrus Refreshing Bath Milk £16.25 so lovely with a tub full of tepid water while in Winter I’m all in for a steamy soak in a hot tub laced with Pine Reviving Bath Milk £16.25.
All year round I enjoy Arnica Muscle Soak £16.25 (scented with rosemary and lavender) after a day on my feet in the salon or post stretch after yoga class to soothe tired muscles and ease weary limbs.
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Body Lotions
If I’ve used citrus wash or soak then I enjoy the lightness and freshness of the matching Citrus Refreshing Body Lotion, £12.95
(You can purchase a boxed gift set of both Citrus body wash and body lotion for just £20, brilliant value and so good for gifting!)
In the colder weather when I want something a bit richer, I opt for Skin Food Body Lotion, £14.95. Scented with sweet orange and aromatic lavender balanced with the warm, comforting notes of benzoin resin. It contains a combination of skin-protecting organic sunflower seed oil and shea butter together with the botanical extracts of calendula, pansy and chamomile in a nourishing but non greasy, creamy formulation.
Body Oils
In the warmer months when creams and lotions feel too much, I adore the Skin Food Ultra Light Dry Oil, £15.95 shaken, spritzed into palms and smoothed onto shower damp skin to lock in moisture and create a delicate veil of comfort. It absorbs instantly leaving no residue behind.
Before and/or after a long walk/yoga class I like to work Arnica Massage Oil, £19.95 into my calves and around my ankles, knees and wrists. Sunflower seed and olive oils nourish the skin while arnica delivers deep muscle warmth and soothing relief. I find this helpful with menopausal joint pain too. (I’m still in my thirties (just) but started menopause early due to a surgical procedure)
FOR THE HAIR:
The longest standing product in the Weleda collection (since 1921!), a viral hit in the present day, Revitalising Hair Tonic, £14.95 uses natural extracts to tackle the causes of thinning hair to promote a healthy scalp and increased growth and body.
Stonecrop, horseradish and rosemary oil are the activating ingredients, and I think the biggest misunderstanding about this product is that it is not actually oily at all! - more of a watery texture. So it’s very easy and realistic to spritz a little into your scalp or around your hairline daily without the need to wash your hair afterwards.
It is sold as shown with a screw cap lid but it’s worth paying extra for the spritz pump £2.25, the first time around as it does make application easier (just remember to retrieve it before your empty bottle hits the recycling bin!)
The key to best results is consistency, twice a day is the optimum recommendation so I like to suggest application right after brushing your teeth! Apply to scalp and massage in.
I have personally seen noticeable results on the thinning areas of hair around my temples and increased density throughout the area on top of my head that suffered the most hair loss during chemo.
WELLNESS:
Stress Relief Oromucosal Spray, £12.50
I keep this little spray in my bag for the temporary relief of mild stress, irritability and tension. It’s made with tinctures of chamomile and pulsatilla from the Derbyshire herb gardens. A couple of sprays into the mouth and calmness resumes almost instantly. There are further sprays available to help symptoms of a wide range of common, everyday ailments including relief from digestion, cold, hayfever, muscular pain and dry skin and eczema.
*Please refer to individual products for restrictions and recommended use.
Natural Wellness Everyday, £20
By Emine Rushton, is packed full of insights, tips and recipes for a complete mind-body approach to well-being and draws on 100 years of expertise to bring specialist holistic advice to all – from soothing rituals and natural remedies to the powerful benefits of seasonal self-care. It makes a really lovely gift.
You can visit my Weleda Shop here. Please get in touch if you’d like any advice.
*purchases made via the links in this article will generate a small commission
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