At Safety in Beauty, we’re dedicated to letting you now about lots of beauty brands and products that have committed themselves to a safe ethos, and one that is also gentler on the skin. Allergy UK confirms that the UK has some of the highest prevalence rates of allergic conditions in the world, with over 20% of the population affected by one or more allergic disorder. (M. L. Levy, 2004)
A staggering 44% of British adults now suffer from at least one allergy and the number of sufferers is on the rise, growing by around 2 million between 2008 and 2009 alone. Almost half (48%) of sufferers have more than one allergy (Mintel, 2010), so now more than ever, the demand for gentler beauty is urgent.

This week, we love the fact that beauty products by Heathcote and Ivory are Paraben and Sulphate free. Parabens are a class of widely used preservatives in cosmetic products, Sulphates – or sulfates – have been steadily acquiring a fairly negative name for themselves. With speculation rife as to their cancer-causing capabilities (rumours which are, as yet, unsubstantiated), as a result many brands are offering sulphate-free formulas.

Established in London in 2000 by Denis Aaronson, who remains MD and passionate about creating beautiful products with wonderful ingredients. Originally a small family run business producing fine glycerin soaps and scented candles, Heathcote & Ivory quickly achieved success and has grown into a lifestyle brand near and afar, exporting around the world to over 35 countries.

Designed and formulated in London, the collections are a confident mix of bright colours, floral patterns in both vintage and modern styles; with attention given to every detail. The philosophy at Heathcote & Ivory is that only the finest ingredients, including essential oils and actives, are used. All formulations are free from parabens and sulfates. It’s a quirky collection, whether for you as a gift, I’ve found myself wanting to buy so many of their products to give away as gifts, only to selfishly keep them as they’re far to pretty to give away.

It’s good to know that something that looks good, and makes us feel good, can also be harmless, and we can’t really say that about everything, I mean just think of the calories in a chocolate eclair….

for more information visit Heathcote and Ivory

Rachael Knappier joins Safety in Beauty as a Public Safety Ambassador and vows to use her traumatic experience as a victim, to help make changes and stop other people suffering the same agony.

• Rachael Knappier has featured in world wide press over the last few months as a victim of a botched aesthetic lip treatment by a beautician with no training or experience in medical complications.
• Local MP of Leicestershire, Alberto Costa has supported Rachael Knappier and has raised the question of safety in the cosmetic interventions industry during Prime Ministers Question Time in Parliament
• Rachael has gathered over 3,000 signatures on a petition she created on line

Rachael Knappier is a legal professional and works as Head of Operations for a law company. Rachael made the media headlines in late 2018 and 2019 currently, for having undergone a lip filler treatment with a beautician who had no medical training or experience in resolving or dealing with complications. As a result of the sub standard treatment, Rachael suffered a horrific injury to her lips culminating in a trip to A&E and having to seek out urgent private medical care with The Consultant Clinic to address and rectify the damage her lips had undergone.

As a result of her traumatic experience, she has made the brave decision to publicly speak out to the press and media, in a bid to create awareness, her objective is to demonstrate to the public the dangers of poorly trained inexperienced individuals offering aesthetic treatments to the public.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRIME MINSTER QUESTIONED OVER LACK OF REGULATION IN UK AESTHETICS IN PARLIAMENT

Rachael contacted her local MP Alberto Costa, who has succeeded in bringing her case and the lack of regulation to the eyes and ears of the government, during Prime Ministers question time last week.

The government now more than ever faces intense pressure, and scrutiny for the serious lack of regulation in the UK aesthetics industry.

Rachael will provide a voice of support to the public that contact The Safety in Beauty Campaign, who have undergone similar experiences, she will also engage in public speaking roles on behalf of The Safety in Beauty Campaign, sharing her journey and experiences.

With a passionate dedication to her objectives, Rachael will also be training in Victim Support via Safety in Beauty during the course of her Ambassador role in 2019.

The Safety in Beauty Campaign is proud to support Rachael in her goal to influence change via her MP Alberto Costa in Parliament, and we are delighted to be proactively aiding her efforts throughout the process.

Allergen labelling confusion: Just 37% of Brits agree it’s easy to identify which allergens a product is free from by its label

• 39% of allergy/intolerance sufferers who have bought /used free-from products would like to see a UK-wide allergen labelling system on free-from products.
• 48% of Brits say that they, or someone in their household, avoid at least one food/ingredient – although only 20% do so due to an allergy or intolerance.
• UK free-from market valued at £837 million in 2018, growing by 133% since 2013.
• Allergen food labels are a source of confusion for today’s Brits according to latest research from Mintel, as only 37% of consumers agree that it is easy to identify which allergens a product is free from by its label.

While pre-packaged goods are legally required to highlight on-pack the presence of any allergens, almost half (48%) of Brits are unsure whether or not allergen labels are clear, and a further 15% actively disagree that this is the case.

Meanwhile, a UK-wide allergen labelling system on free-from product packaging appeals to 29% of those who have bought/used free-from products, a figure which rises to 39% of those users who avoid foods/ingredients because of an allergy or intolerance.

Estimated to be worth £837 million in 2018, the UK free-from market has seen stellar growth over 2013-18 with sales growing by 133% over this time period.

Emma Clifford, Associate Director of Food and Drink at Mintel, said:

“Potential changes to allergen labelling has received a lot of high profile media coverage recently, with speculation that the Government is planning to introduce new changes following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret baguette. Given the perceived lack of clarity and the dangerous health implications that ambiguous allergen labelling can have on consumers, there is a real need for companies to make the presence of allergens very obvious on labelling.

“While current regulations require allergens to be listed in bold on the ingredients list, many companies choose to highlight certain free-from credentials on the front of packaging as well. At the moment this is not regulated and as such, there is no uniformity between the labelling used, which can fuel confusion among consumers, particularly given the huge amount of other product information on packaging. There is strong demand for a UK-wide labelling system for allergens which would unify the way in which companies communicate this information on packaging.”

Allergy or intolerance is the least likely reason for avoidance

According to Mintel, just under half (48%) of consumers say that they, or someone in their household, avoid at least one food/ingredient, with 16-24-year-olds (61%) the most likely age group to report household avoidance of foods/ingredients. Overall, there has been no significant change in the share of UK consumers that avoid certain foods or ingredients over the past year.

Perhaps surprisingly, only 20% of consumers (or other members of their household) avoid certain ingredients due to an allergy or intolerance, which is on a par with those who do so as part of a healthy lifestyle (22%). Of those who have eaten/drunk free-from foods, 28% do not avoid any foods/ingredients.

Meanwhile, three in ten (30%) Brits avoid certain foods/ingredients for other reasons (eg ethical, vegetarian) rising to 38% of under-25s and 41% of females in this age group.
While dairy is the most commonly avoided food/ingredient (17%), avoidance of dairy has remained unchanged over the last three years. Soya (16%), fish or shellfish (16%), red meat (15%) and lactose (15%) make up the top five foods/ingredients which Brits avoid.

“Allergies or intolerances aren’t the main reason that consumers are avoiding certain foods or ingredients. Healthy lifestyles and ethical and environmental concerns are also boosting the appeal of these products, with young consumers in particular most likely to be driven by these factors.

“The fact that as many as a quarter of free-from purchasers do not avoid any foods/ingredients reflects that the pool of free-from users is far wider than just those who fully avoid certain ingredients, either due to allergies/intolerances or for other reasons.”

Gluten-free is most commonly bought free-from food

Gluten-free products remain the nation’s most popular type of free-from food with 27% of consumers having purchased or eaten these over six months, despite only 12% of consumers reporting that they or somebody else in their household avoid gluten.

Meanwhile, a quarter (23%) of consumers have purchased dairy substitutes, while 19% have bought dairy-free foods.

A quarter (26%) of consumers say free-from diets are good for digestive health, but 44% say that it is hard to know whether they have health benefits for those without an allergy or intolerance. A further 40% worry that following a free-from diet puts you at risk of missing out on certain nutrients.

“The idea that following a free-from diet could potentially put people at risk of missing out on certain nutrients is a concern for a significant number of consumers. Gluten-free products carrying nutrient fortification claims are not widespread in the UK market, suggesting a missed opportunity. While highlighting the absence of allergens is vital, spotlighting nutritional credentials is also important for free-from products, particularly to appeal to those opting for these products as part of a healthy lifestyle. Concludes Emma.

Hands up – who finds it downright irritating when you can’t work out if the ingredients in a beauty product are suitable for your skin type (or even understand the ingredients!?) For everyone who has their hands raised high right now – you’ll be pleased to know that there are some skincare and beauty brands that get it, and at Safety in Beauty we like discovering them and presenting them to you.

This month we met Evolve Organic Beauty: They totally understand that no two skins are the same, in a society constantly fuelled by allergies and intolerances, many consumers are now seeking out the ingredients in food, drinks and no less: skincare and beauty ingredients, it’s a simple right to be able to know what on earth is in the products we are using.

Understanding ingredients in skin and beauty products does not mean you have to have a degree in science or be a skincare formulator or  beauty therapist, you just need a simple kind of transparency that will make you feel confident about the natural beauty choices you are making especially if you have sensitive skin, or you have made lifestyle choices that merge into your skin and beauty products too.

The brand Evolve launched in 2015, but they’ve recently enjoyed press attention and wonderful awards:

• Evolve Organic Beauty won the 2018 Beauty Shortlist Award for best natural/organic skincare brand in the United Kingdom.
• Evolve Organic Beauty Daily Renew Facial Cream won the best moisturiser for normal skin in the 2018 Beauty Shortlist Award.
• Evolve Organic Radiant Glow Mask also won the best face mask for all skin types, at the same 2018 Beauty Shortlist Awards.
• The brand also won best cleanser for their Evolve Organic Beauty Gentle Cleansing melt.
• And finally Evolve’s Hyaluronic Acid Serum was runner up for best daily serum age 30+ at the 2018 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

We like to describe Evolve as a grown up, sleeker alternative to LUSH fresh beauty products. The ethos of the brand prides itself on hand made, hand blended beauty product with fresh ingredients, Evolve Organic Beauty products last for 12-18 months and every label tells you when the expiry date is. Freshness guaranteed.

Each bottle, pot or container is hand made and you’ll find out which special human someone actually hand-blended the product for you. It doesn’t get more lovingly personal that that!

Evolve Organic Beauty prints the name of the person that created your one-of-a-kind product on the label. Speaking of packaging… as an artisan brand Evolve Organic Beauty are big on recycling. All plastic bottles are 75% post consumer plastic bottles. This PET plastic, unlike PVC is fully recyclable. You can reuse your bottle at home or simply remove the pump, clean the bottle and pop it in the recycling bin – once you are all out of product of course! Evolve bottles come in plain, brown cardboard that is also recycled.

(We know it’s not a deal-breaker – but these products look great on any bathroom shelf!)

Is Evolve Organic Beauty cruelty free and vegan friendly?

All Evolve Organic Beauty products are cruelty free and vegan friendly, not only to animals but also to our incredible planet to reduce pollution and waste, and that can’t be a bad thing, right? Here’s a quote from the brand:

“We [Evolve Organic Beauty] care about our world and this reflects in all our principles: we use recyclable glass and card packaging, our PET bottles are made of 75% recycled plastic and are recyclable, our products are 100% vegan, our ingredients are 100% cruelty-free and we buy natural and organic ingredients from as close to home as possible and from fair-trade and sustainable sources.”

How does Evolve Organic Beauty compare to brands like Dermalogica?

There’s been a lot of debate over the years about natural skincare. Evolve Organic Beauty believe that healthy skin must be nourished in the exact same way as a healthy body – and with exact same ingredients. Whereas Dermalogica have partnered with scientists over the years and do produce synthetic ingredients, noting that these are safe.

Simply put – Evolve Organic Beauty have a passion for creating hand-blended products with organic ingredients.

Dermalogica have a passion for using the best of both science and nature – so they will develop formulas in a lab.

It’s as simple as this – if you like to know exactly what is in your products Evolve Organic Beauty can help, Of course, as this brand is a lower price point you will be able to make a happy saving, too

Is this brand for a specific age group?

Evolve Organic Beauty is for all ages – in truth, it seems vegans, activists and those who know nothing about skincare feel totally at ease using this brand, regardless of age.

Will Evolve Organic Beauty suit my skin type?

After reading through stellar reviews, we’ve concluded that mature and sensitive skin types are particularly in love with Evolve Organic Beauty. But there’s a little something for everyone.

For more information check out https://www.evolvebeauty.co.uk

Safety In Beauty Rating

Product Type: Skincare

Pricing: Low to Medium

Features: Organic, Cruelty Free, Handmade, Natural, Vegan

Rating: * * * * * (5/5)

Last week millions of British viewers tuned into to watch another episode of popular Soap Emmerdale, however what they didn’t expect was a story line which was quite unlike any which had been previously aired before.

Bernice Blackstock, a long running character of the soap, fell into a coma after suffering an allergic reaction to Botox injections, the episode followed the shock storyline which culminated in Bernice being rushed into A&E, where a doctor explained to Kerry and Liam’s daughter that Bernice had suffered an allergic reaction to Botox injections,

Fans on social media welcomed the story line with one viewer stating on Twitter: “Love that #Emmerdale is hitting the nail on the head with these topics recently!

Soap carachter Kerry later admitted to her dad that Bernice had purchased “rip off filler” online and “wanted” her to perform the procedure. Spoilt teen Leanna showed remorse for encouraging Bernice to get the cosmetic procedure.

The Safety in Beauty Campaign welcome the story line as ‘perfect timing’  as the raging debate of unregulated dermal cosmetic fillers, and cowboy cosmetic injectors continues to dominate the aesthetic industry, fuelling the medical community with concern and outrage.

Mr Faz Zavahir, Founding Director of MATA Aesthetic Training Academy currently collaborating on a joint campaign with Safety in Beauty named #InjectAbility says “As this storyline shows, it is crucial to carefully choose your practitioner when it comes to Botox or Dermal Filler treatments, as in the wrong hands it can result in dangerous complications. My advice for people seeking out aesthetic treatments would be to: First of all,

• Ask who will be doing your treatment.
• Check your practitioners qualifications and experience in this field- are they highly trained or have they simply done a one day course?
• Try to see some before and after photos of their work if possible and do an online search of any reviews on Google or Trustpilot.
• Any doctor, nurse, dentist or other recognised health care professional carrying out these treatments will be registered with a body, for example GMC for doctors or NMC for nurses, so do check online to ensure they are a registered professional.
• It is also wise to check which products are being used and research the brand names so that you can be sure it is not a cheap product bought online.

The storyline also highlights the pressures of looking younger, in a culture filled with social media pressure.