Candelilla wax is a commonly used substitute for beeswax in vegan skincare. It has a high melting point and other similar properties to beeswax, which make it easy to swap into traditional recipes. So why don't I use it in my products? Well, there are two reasons. 

You've probably heard all the negative publicity around parabens and the like, and you may have been wondering whether preservatives are all bad. In this article, I'm going to break down what preservatives are, why we need them and which ones to look out for. 

A very well known moisturising ingredient, aloe vera is rich in polysaccharides and has become synonymous with after-sun treatments. Although its ability to heal burns is still debated by the scientific community, many people find it effective, and its history of medicinal use dates back at least to 2200 BCE, when it was detailed on clay tablets from Mesopotamia. The Ancient Eygptians were also fond of their aloe vera, using it as a standard treatment for burns and skin irritation. 

Phenoxyethanol: a terrible name to spell and maybe not so great for your body either. It's a preservative commonly found in cosmetics but has been linked to irritation, organ system toxicity and potential reproductive damage. 

You've probably noticed that there have been a few changes around here lately! As well as a brand new website, we also have a new name. I've been wanting to shorten the name to something more memorable and easier to type into a browser for a while now. I was thinking of just shortening it to Gaia Skincare, but I realised there's already a successful brand called that, so I needed a new angle. I played around with names for hours and hours, wanting something short and simple, but that also reflected the Welsh heritage of my brand. Eventually my mother came up with the solution. "Why don't you just call it Natur?" (That's Welsh for 'nature', for those not familiar with the language!) So simple, it simply hadn't occurred to me. 

The official name is Natur Cosmetics, just to make it clear what I'm actually selling. Now that I have a name for the long-term, I can go ahead with finalising designs for printed packaging, which was what sparked me off on this little introspection in the first place. But why incorporation? Well, since customised packaging costs a lot of money, it's important to protect the brand name that I'm having printed on it. But also, being incorporated as a limited company gives me access to new suppliers for ingredients, as many wholesale distributors will only establish relationships with registered companies. Being able to buy ingredients wholesale means I can buy in bulk for a lower environmental impact and also get better prices, which means I should in time be able to lower the cost of my products, benefiting you as a customer too. 

I'm pretty busy at the moment reviewing all my suppliers for ingredients and packaging, and seeing which I can switch to more eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives. Rest assured it will not affect the quality of the products, as I will never go for an option that does not meet my high standards just because it's cheaper. As ever, I'll keep you posted!