As someone who prides themselves in supporting independent British beauty brands it is easy to forget that there are some incredible natural products from around the globe; something which I recently discovered when shopping at Koti Lifestyle.
When the lovely people over at Koti Lifestyle asked me to select a few products from their online store to try, I was instantly drawn to Flow Cosmetics with their plastic-free jars and colourful yet simple packaging which reflects upon the incredible simplistic and ethical ethos of the brand itself.
Flow Cosmetics are a natural, organic and eco-friendly brand who pride themselves on their Finnish heritage, encapsulating the spirit of their culture with a passion for the natural world and high quality products that makes Flow Cosmetics certainly stand out in a crowd. The brand are dedicated to green beauty, striving to use organic ingredients wherever possible and ensuring that their product range meets the guideline set by both the Finnish Natural Cosmetics Association and COSMOS – meaning you can shop with confidence knowing that the products within your skincare routine meet the highest standard of organic quality.
Koti Lifestyle had a good selection of Flow Cosmetics products and have made it incredible easy to access a brand that was new to me. I selected three vegan-friendly products that were perfect for Winter skin including the plastic free Arctic Sun Repair Balm and Balm to Milk Facial Cleanser, and the Chamomile & Probiotics Facial Mist. These products were all reasonably priced and demonstrates that organic, plant-based skincare with environmentally conscious packaging and production methods doesn’t have to cost the Earth…
Flow Cosmetics: Balm to Milk Facial Cleanser
I am always looking for great cleanser balms and Flow Cosmetics Balm to Milk Facial Cleanser sounded like the perfect product for me. Firstly, I love the plastic free packaging which is modern and colourful with a yellow, frosted glass jar and aluminum lid that works perfectly and looks striking in my skincare stash.
The Balm to Milk Facial Cleanser has a unique texture which is actually more gel-like than a balm, spreading across the skin with ease removing all traces of SPF, dirt, impurities and even make-up. The gel emulsifies easily with a little water, turning milky in an instant and rinsing away all traces of cleanser with a simple splash of water (or damp cloth if you prefer).
The cleanser is formulated with beautiful skin loving organic ingredients such as jojoba, glycerin, castor oil, almond oil, orange flower water, virgin coconut oil, lemon essential oil, rosemary leaf extract and sunflower seed oil, alongside wild grown arctic bilberry oil and arctic blackberry seed oil to cleanse, soften, moisturise and brighten the skin.
After use, I have to say that my skin felt incredibly soft and smooth with absolutely no traces of cleanser left on the skin. My face didn’t feel dry or tight and my dry patches were greatly improved. I’ve been using this cleanser for a number of weeks and have been loving the results. The balm, with it’s citrus fresh scent, makes for a lovely cleansing experience in both my AM and PM routine and has given the same results as a cleansing oil and balm yet performs much like a facial wash. A small amount of cleanser goes a very long way and I cannot wait to see how it performs over a longer period of time – but as far as first impressions go, this is fast becoming one of my favourites.
Flow Cosmetics: Balm to Milk Facial Cleanser – £33.00/120ml
Flow Cosmetics: Chamomile & Probiotics Facial Mist
I absolutely love Chamomile water within my skincare routine as I find it is one of the best hydrosols to use when my skin needs a little more calming than usual. Flow Cosmetics have upgraded my usual Chamomile Water with probiotics so not only is it perfect for dry, irritated or stressed out skin but also has an added moisturising, anti-aging benefit too.
The organic chamomile water is joined by probiotic lysate, an antimicrobial ingredient derived from radishes fermented with lactic acid bacteria (which may sound weird but trust me, it makes for a lovely skin loving cocktail). The sensitive skin saviour is housed in a lovely violet glass bottle to protect the mist from sunlight and the monochrome labelling looks sleek and stylish on any skincare shelf or vanity.
Those who have utilised Chamomile water in their skincare routine will identify that it has a pleasant yet quite usual scent but Flow Cosmetics version with Probiotics has a more earthy, slightly grassy aroma that I’ve actually grown to love as both a facial mist, toner and even a water to mix my powdered face masks.
The mist has certainly worked well in my routine yet I cannot wait to see how it performs when my skin needs a little more TLC.
Flow Cosmetics: Chamomile & Probiotic Facial Water – £28.00/100ml
Flow Cosmetics: Arctic Sun Repair Balm
As someone who suffers from dry skin, balms are an integral part of my skincare routine as layering products, with intensive balms, is the perfect saviour of dry patches – and even more so for skin exposed to central heating and harsher weather conditions during the Winter months.
Arctic Sun Repair Balm is one of those products that instantly takes your skincare regime to the next level, with a balm that not only calms and revitalises dry, dull and irritated skin yet also forms a protective barrier that won’t clog pores. Formulated with a selection of organic ingredients including shea butter, castor oil, argan oil, rosehip, strawberry extract, lemon, orange, frankincense and rose essential oils, alongside sunflower seed wax and arctic sea buckthorn seed oil, the balm has a beautifully soft texture that is non-greasy yet intensely nourishing. The aroma is beautiful, with a fruity scent that makes it a joy to use.
I have to say that this multipurpose balm has been a dream to use in the cooler weather, especially on early morning dog walks that often leave my skin feeling sore and chapped from the wind. The Arctic Balm has kept the dryness around my nose at bay, prevented my lips from chapping and my hands intensely moisturised. It has helped soften my heels and even smoothed dry ends of my hair to combat frizziness – and that’s not all this balm can help as the list really is endless!
As the balm is so concentrated, i’m pleased to report that a small pea-sized amount goes a long way so even though i’ve been using it in a multitude of ways, I still have a lot of product left. I can see this balm taking me from season to season and aiding my skin when it is feeling stressed or very dry. I cannot wait to see the long term effects but as far as first impressions go, I have been blown away by the results.
Flow Cosmetics: Arctic Sun Repair Balm – £21.00/30ml
My first experience with Flow Cosmetics has certainly been impressive so far and i’m sure it will be the first of many. Each product i’ve tried has exceeded my initial expectations and demonstrates that by expanding your horizons you can find something truly special. As someone who 99% of the time uses British indie brands, it is nice to explore other products which feature some ingredients I don’t usually experience within my usual skincare.
Have you tried Flow Cosmetics yet? You can find a selection of their products over at Koti Lifestyle and if you shop before January 31st, you can get 15% off all orders!
Take Care,
Emma @ Beauty Folio x
*Disclaimer: These products were partially purchased with a store credit #gifted by Koti Lifestyle and my own money. This has not influenced my thoughts and opinions in this review as everything on Beauty Folio remains #triedandtested with honest feedback on each product. I will never give a positive review on a product I don’t believe in just because it has been #gifted, and each product i’ve received free of charge will be labelled as such.
Beauty Folio 