* Bristol & Sussex have generously provided a discount code for 15% off their entire website *
enter code: ‘BLOOM’ to your order at check out
I have been in the green beauty industry as a blogger for over 3 years now and I have tested SO many beauty and skincare products. Some really tend to stand out and the one product I am most strict on are serums and facial oils. They are a potent and important step in a skincare routine.. this is where you will get the MOST nutrition, hydration and vitamins into your skin. Not every serum or oil is made at the same level of quality however, and there are so many on the market that it can be difficult to discern which are the best fit for your skin. I have recently found one that has been added to my list of top recommendations and I wanted to share all about this little gem today. I have been using it for about two months now and have been loving it.
* This post includes some affiliate links. This means that any product purchased from my links will generate a small commission (At no extra cost to you). As always, I will only recommend brands that have passed my seal of approval and that I truly love.. these commissions help to cover Bloom + Clementine’s fees so that this website can stay alive and I can continue sharing my green beauty passion with you all. Thank you for supporting my little green space on the internet. *
Founders + How Bristol & Sussex Began
To start off, I always love to hear the backgrounds of the companies in green beauty and this one is no exception. Bristol and Sussex was started when a Chiropractic Doctor wanted to try and help treats her husband’s psoriasis which was not responding well to conventional medical treatments. She decided to lean into more natural options and began creating her own products which helped reduce and eventually eliminate his psoriasis. Together, they decided to put their products out onto the market for others to try and spent years testing and formulating to ensure quality, safety and efficacy.
I truly relate to this story as I spent years trying many different forms of conventional and medical skin treatments which either didn’t work or made the problem worse. My love for green beauty was developed through healing my own skin through natural methods and products. I am a firm believer that natural healing is key when it comes to our skin. It matters what we put inside and outside of our bodies. Our skin is our largest organ and everything we ingest and apply is filtered through the skin in some capacity. Its important to ensure that what we consume and use as skincare products are really working to better the underlying health of our skin and bodies, otherwise skin conditions and irritations will begin to develop over time. I am really excited to share this company as their vision seems to fall in line perfectly with my own when it comes to how I care for my skin and body. This is something I always look for when vetting products and deciding what to share with you all on my blog.
Behind the Ingredients
As many of you know, I am a true believer of face oils. They are the major reason behind my skin clearing up and I make the suggestion to drop dehydrating toners and cleansers and opt for nutrients dense oils to replace a skincare regimen. So I was incredibly excited to try Bristol and Sussex’s Face oil. The face Oil is packed with nutrient dense and powerful ingredients, some of which have been my absolute favourite in skin care (can never get enough rosehip oil). The serum is Squalane based, which is an emollient and works as an effective antioxidant for the skin. You may have read articles citing the use of shark livers for extracting squalane in many skincare and cosmetics, however, due to much controversy many companies have avoided this and opt to use plant based options instead . Bristol and Sussex, of course, use a plant derived version which is clearly listed in the ingredient deck. Their values behind their products including being cruelty free, their testing and sourcing are things you should look for when decided to use a companies products. Their facial oil also includes an impressive active ingredient list including the following superfoods for your skin:
Squalane (plant based)
CoEnzyme Q10 (plant based)
Argan Oil
Jojoba Oil
Sea Buckthorn Oil
Rosehip Oil
Safflower Oil
Castor Oil (plant based)
Vitamin C (plant based)
Vitamin E (plant based)
Full Ingredients List:
Squalane**, Argan Oil*, Jojoba Oil*, Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil*, Rosehip Seed Oil*, Safflower Oil*, Castor Oil**, CoEnzymeQ10**, Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate)**, Vitamin E (Tocopherol)**, Chamomile Essential Oil*, Lavender Essential Oil*, Rosemary Essential Oil*
*indicates organically sourced ingredient
**indicates plant derived ingredient
Company Ethics + Standards
As you can see, all ingredients that are not actually plants themselves are plant derived and therefor this facial oil is suitable for vegan consumers. In fact, Bristol and Sussex have been given the leaping bunny certification and do not endorse any sort of animal cruelty within their business or products. This is something that rings as a constant throughout my blog as I too choose to only endorse cruelty free beauty products, so I am happy to add Bristol and Sussex to my family of beauty recommendations. They have a long list of standards they adhere to when developing their oil. As a company, they maintain the following:
Doctor Developed Formula
EWG Score: 1
Clinically Proven Ingredients
Organic Ingredients
Plant Derived Vitamins
Increased Bio-availability
Hypoallergenic
All Natural
Vegan
Cruelty Free
Paraben Free
Gluten Free
Silicone Free
Sulfate Free
Made in USA
As someone who is pretty savvy in oils and how they benefit the skin, I was happy when I read that Bristol and Sussex only uses organic oils which are cold pressed to help reduce any loss of nutrients/integrity of the oils. As you can see, the oil maintains a golden orange colour which comes from rosehip oils and sea buckthorn oils that are not overly processed and closest to their truest plant form.. this is a good method or indicator to use when purchasing products with those two oils listed as ingredients. Bristol and Sussex states that they sourced and chose the oils in the blend by their fatty acid profiles to ensure your skin will benefit fully from nutrient dense oils, rather than cheap filler/carrier oils. They also ensure that none of their formulas contain cheap fillers or water which can degrade effectiveness of a product and cheapen them. This oil is pure as pure can get.
My Personal Experience + Review
As I mentioned above, I have been using this face Oil for about two months now both at morning and at night. I maintained my regular oil cleansing and toning regime while adding this oil. The face oil is lightweight and absorbs really quickly and well into the skins surface. It can be used on its own or can sit beneath a moisturizer, SPF cream or face balm. It didn’t have a slick feeling which means applying makeup was easy. It’s consistency and how it sits well into the skin may create a great canvas for Makeup and so it could help Makeup sit nicely over the skin.
As I mentioned above, I love the oils used in this particular blend. When I first began healing my skin, Rosehip oil was suggested to me by a holistic esthetician as an organic option for hydrating my skin and helping it to regulate its natural oil production. Not only does it do that, but it has potent antioxidants and natural resurfacing properties which aid in restoring skins brightness and reducing dullness. This also makes it ideal for aging skin. Since then, I have come across all other oils and ingredients used in this particular face oil and they are all stand out ingredients with powers that will help transform your skin. They have been carefully chosen for specific reasons and blend together beautifully in this bottle of skin care magic.
I have continued to use this oil in my skincare regime following my standard testing period and have continued to notice the benefits. Soft, smooth, hydrated skin that doesnt feel too greasy upon application.
Where to find Bristol + Sussex
Bristol and Sussex has generously provided a discount code for anyone who would like to try them out, simply add the discount code “BLOOM” at check out for 15% off your entire order. You can check out the Hydrate Deep Conditioning Face Oil by Bristol and Sussex HERE.
** This post was sponsored by Bristol & Sussex, as always, all opinions and comments are completely my own. **
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