The Soil Association’s celebration of all things organic is back, helping to raise awareness of certified organic products and how they support our planet: better for wildlife, better for bio diversity, better for the soil. And this shows in the stats, with organic farms boasting 75% more wild bees and 50% more butterflies and other pollinators – all of which helps to reverse the 40% decline in insect species. The organic trend is going in the right direction, as 2020 saw a 13% growth in organic beauty and wellbeing products, resulting in a market now worth £120m. Last year in the blog post Organic Beauty Week I shared some of my favourite certified organic beauty brands, so this time round I’m focusing on certified organic products, branching out a little further outside of beauty, into home fragrance and food.

Odylique Calming Rose Super Tonic

I can’t believe I’ve nearly come to the end of this rose tonic already. Although I do spritz at least once a day so I guess this was to be expected. I discovered this facial mist – and the brand – thanks to natural and organic skincare destination Blomma Beauty, and since then have developed a bit of an addiction to spritzing it mid afternoon as a pick-me-up. I never tire of the beautifully floral refreshing scent, a true rose scent undiluted with water which means you get a pure unadulterated blend of rose flower water, rose otto essential oil and soothing calendula extract. All products from this Suffolk-based beauty brand are certified organic by The Soil Association which takes any second guessing out of the equation: if it’s Odylique, it’s organic. 50ml RRP £15.00

Upcircle Coffee Face Scrub

This brand has such an inspiring story: looking to give food waste a second lease of life, the team went round coffee shops around London collecting coffee grounds to make scrubs out of them. To date they’ve managed to secure 250 tonnes of it to incorporate into their sustainable skincare. They now repurpose 10 ingredients (including fruit stones) in their range and are continually looking to increase that number. Not only do they have a sustainable approach to their ingredients, they also offer a refill programme where you can post back your Upcircle container to be filled up again (after a good thorough cleanse that is). You can even choose to buy this face scrub as a cap-free option and reuse the one you’ve already got at home. Another deliciously smelling product (as long as you’re into coffee), the exfoliating is quite strong so best go easy on the rubbing, but with moisturising coconut, vitamin E-rich jojoba, apricot and rosehip oils, I’m left with super smooth and nourished skin. 100ml RRP £12.99

Neal‘s Yard Remedies Calendula & Oat Lotion

As an eczema sufferer this lotion is a lifeline. I used to rely entirely on Aveeno’s oatmeal-rich formulas to soothe my dry skin. Oats offer fantastic skincare benefits, from moisturising dehydrated skin to soothing sensitive skin and creating a protective barrier on the skin’s surface. All ideal qualities to keep eczema at bay. But then I discovered this certified organic alternative from Neal’s Yard Remedies. Gentle, lightweight, quickly absorbed and rich in essential fatty acids, I’ve come to rely on it so much that I get jittery if I don’t have a spare bottle waiting in the wings. I never thought I’d find a replacement for my Aveeno dependency but this organic swap is here to stay thanks to the beauty pioneer in all things organic and natural: Neal’s Yard Remedies was the first beauty and wellbeing brand to be certified organic back in 1991. 200ml RRP £21.50

Skar Organics Orange Spice+ Candle

Speaking of firsts, Skar Organics is the UK’s first and only brand offering certified organic candles. Handmade in small batches using organic beeswax, the certification ensures that ingredients are managed according to strict standards throughout the process. So what does that mean, concretely? As an example, the beeswax ‘requires a 3km radius around the apiary site where the pollen and nectar sources are principally from organic and spontaneous vegetation – where no pesticides, roads and other sources of potential contamination can be present’. This method not only protects bees but also the surrounding soils, rivers and wildlife. And if that wasn’t good enough, this candle smells incredible: orange, cinnamon and clove work together to create the perfect traditional Christmas scent that will permeate my home throughout the winter months. I instantly spot the candle jar’s simple, matt and unbranded finish as the perfect vehicle for reuse once the candle burns down. 150g RRP £35.00

Norlo Organic Caffeinated Coffee Tube

A bit of a side step to my usual beauty focus, I came across this brand through work as part of Organic Beauty & Wellbeing Week, so it seemed quite apt to highlight it here. A British brand inspired by Oslo’s coffee culture, Norlo’s certified organic coffee is sourced ethically and sustainably. The true coffee buff in the family is my husband so he’ll be the guinea pig testing this product. All I can say is that the sleek reusable tube (made from recycled FSC) gets my vote, and will probably end up living a second life as a pen pot – it just seems too pretty to hide away in a kitchen cupboard. 200g RRP £9.00

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