I have experimented with several Neal's Yard moisturisers over the years with varying levels of success. The products themselves are always of lovely quality, with organic, non-chemical, non-yukky ingredients that you know aren't in any way bad for your skin. My skin in particular, while approaching the need for anti-wrinkle products, is sensitive and spot prone, more so in my thirties than ever before. It is probably the various things I slap on to paper over the cracks, but with this cream I have never experienced any breakouts or irritation.

This cream is meant to be quite the anti-ageing wonder and was very highly ranked in the Handbag Beauty Bible a few years back, which is pretty impressive for a natural product that doesn't boast of intergalactic biospheres cooked up by scientists in a Swiss lab somewhere as most of these anti-ageing creams do!

It has a lovely, subtly sweet spicy smell (no doubt the frankincense or myrhh but it reminds me of nutmeg). I mostly use this one as a night cream as it is relatively rich and I tend to stick to light moisturisers in the day. That said this is a fairly light, easily absorbed cream that never leaves my combination skin with any greasiness, in fact it does seem to have a slight toning/de-greasing effect if anything. So it might not be rich enough for dry skin types.

As for anti-ageing, well I do think this helps minimise fine lines. Frankincense oil is apparently the mack daddy of natural products for its anti-wrinkle/restorative benefits, among many other holistic uses. This product also contains myrrh which is also known for its healing qualities. I honestly am not too bad for wrinkles yet, even at my ripe old age of almost 38! But I do think this smooths and makes my skin tone look more even, and generally just glowier. And crucially for me, no breakouts or oiliness. This cream is part of a line of other Frankincense products, including a richer Nourishing cream, face wash, serum, toner, etc.

Neal's Yard Remedies is a very successful brand that began as as small Covent Garden shop in 1981, basing their products on Apothecary/plant based natural, organic skin care. They support organic farmers and the environment according to their website, which is jolly nice of them. The products are bottled in heavy blue glass that preserves them for longer as they are not full of artificial preservatives like most (and they look rather pretty as well!). They sell everything from face to body and hair care, as well as homeopathic oils and such (which I have never tried but am sure smell lovely if their creams are anything to go by).

Unlike some other organic brands, I don't find the scents of their products overwhelming, or remotely fusty as these sorts of things sometimes can be. They smell and feel luxurious. They are not particularly cheap, this cream retails at around £21 for 50ml but I do think it is value for money, there are probably many more actual beneficial ingredients in here than other more expensive creams.

I for one would be very happy to find some Neal's Yard in my Christmas stocking, not holding my breath
though as hubby doesn't stray far from The Body Shop! Their products are sold in stand alone shops and selected other shops including Boots and John Lewis. Also they have a website, of course - http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/



Ingredients list:

Aqua (Water), Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil*, Glycerin*, Cetearyl alcohol, Alcohol denat.*, Calendula officinalis (Marigold) flower extract*, Cetearyl glucoside, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Almond) oil*+, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) kernel oil*+, Borago officinalis (Borage) seed oil*, Daucus carota (Carrot) fruit oil*, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice powder*, Glyceryl stearate, Cetearyl olivate, Sorbitan olivate, Levulinic acid, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Potassium sorbate, Sodium hyaluronate, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) oil, Commiphora myrrha (Myrhh) oil, Limonene.

*Organically produced ingredient. +Nut/Seed-based ingredient. Natural constituent of essential oils listed. Made with 91% organic ingredients. This is a vegan product.