The Free From Skincare Awards 2025 has drawn to a close and what an amazing year it has been! As a product tester, judge and all-round FFSA fan, I have loved seeing so many incredible brands get the recognition they deserve. From effective formulations and informative packaging to engaging digital marketing and dedication to free-from beauty; the 14th FFSA really did have it all!
The coveted top prize was won by Laponie of Scandinavia, a Finnish brand who always excel in the awards. This year, they were the overall champion with their Mild Milk Cleanser, which also picked up Gold in the problem skin category.
The stand out winner across multiple categories in this year’s awards was the formidable, Estonian brand Lumi. They won gold in the Best Brand category, as well as Innovation, Free From Achievement and Face Care (Leave On). They also celebrated various silver and bronze awards too, including the digital presence award which I had the honour of judging again this year.
British brands did fantastically well too, with Lyonsleaf winning yet another gold for their foot balm; making them the first brand in FFSA history to get 10 gold medals in total! Life Happens Skin Rescue, Husk and Seed Skincare, Balmonds and Drought Secret also did exceptionally well across multiple categories.
I’d also like to give a special mention to the newly launched Hux+Mū, who in their first FFSA, picked up an impressive 5 medals!
You can find the full list of winners over at www.freefromskincareawards.co.uk and their social channels.
Beauty Folio’s tried and Tested Favourites
(In Alphabetical Order)
Awake Organics: Caffeine + Rosemary Shampoo Powder (Haircare, Silver)
Awake Organics make plastic-free haircare easy and effective, with a powder formulation that lathers well and leaves hair feeling clean, fresh and full of life. What I love most is how long it lasts, with a little going a very long way.
Balmonds: Skin Salvation (Free From Achievement & Problem Skin, Bronze)
Skin Salvation is a staple for anyone who suffers from eczema, psoriasis and a compromised skin barrier. The gentle, fragrance-free formulation is calming, reduces itchy skin and helps to calm and soothe irritation. It is unlike any other products i’ve ever used.
Datsit: Nut Free Organic Whipped Body Butter (Problem Skin, Silver)
I fell in love with this body butter from the consistency alone, as the whipped texture applies to the skin beautifully, with a little going a very long way. It melts into the skin, which is perfect on particularly dry or irritated areas, and after just a few days of use, my skin always feels incredibly moisturised and softer to the touch.
Dr Organic: Skin Calm Probiotic Protection Serum (Problem Skin, Bronze)
This serum leaves my skin feeling comfortable and hydrated after use, with dry and dull patches feeling smoother to the touch. It reduces the redness and irritation from flaky eczema patches, leaving my compromised skin calmer after a few days of use.
Drought Secret: Drops of Thirst (Haircare, Silver)
What I love most about this hair oil is how easily it washes from my hair and scalp, leaving my hair feeling softer after use, but not weighed down in any way. My scalp is less dry and flaky, and any irritated patches of eczema at the nape of my neck are less itchy and soothed after use.
Gem’s Natural Skincare: Gem’s Dry Skin Balm (Problem Skin, Bronze)
This balm is perfect for incredibly dry, chapped skin as the texture melts onto the skin and feels incredible protective. It leaves eczema patches and areas of irritation feeling soothed thanks to the nourishing ingredients that ensures even the driest skin stays intensely moisturised for several hours.
Herd & Elder: Oats & Goats (Problem Skin, Silver)
Herd & Elder’s Oats & Goat’s lathers easily and leaves skin feeling clean and soft after use. This didn’t leave my hands feeling stripped, no matter how many times I washed my hands throughout the day, and the gentle exfoliation from the oats left my hands feeling incredibly soft and smooth after use.
hux+mū: Sow Prebiotic Cleansing Jelly (Face Care (Rinse Off) Gold) & Cultivate Active Facial Serum (Face Oils, Silver)
hux+mū;s dynamic duo are game changers when it comes to sensitive skin. These beautiful products have the most heavenly textures that makes your skincare routine feel like a spa-like experience with each application. Sow, with it’s silky, gel-like consistency turns to a soothing milk that never leaves skin feeling dry of stripped. Cultivate, with it’s lightweight yet nourishing formulation, leaves skin feeling intensely moisturised yet never greasy.
K A Naturals: Rose Face Cream (Face Care (Leave On), Silver)
A stunning face cream with a light, whipped texture that leaves skin feeling soft and nourished all day long. It doesn’t feel heavy on the skin despite it’s more whipped texture. The rose scent is perfectly balanced and offers a spa-like experience with each use. What I love most is how a little goes a very long way.
K A Naturals: Rose Face Cream – £24.99 (15% off code: BEAUTYFOLIO15)
Life Happens Skin Rescue: Skin Relief & Renewal Body & Scalp Oil (Problem Skin, Silver)
When used as a body oil, my skin feels nourished all day long and I loved that despite it being so moisturising, it was still incredibly light and absorbent. When used on my scalp, the dryness and flaky areas on my scalp are greatly improved after just one use. It also never leaves my hair feeling heavy or weighed down at the roots.
Life Happens Skin rescue: Skin Relief & Renewal Body & Scalp Oil – £47.99
Lisana Organics: Clarifying Face Polish (Face Care (Rinse Off), Bronze)
This face polish combines gentle exfoliation and nourishing ingredients for a more radiant complexion. The minty aroma treats the skin and senses alike, providing a fresh scent with each use. The polish then transforms into a milky emulsion on contact with water, rinsing from the skin in an instant and leaving behind a soft, smooth and brighter complexion.
Lisana Organics (formerly Pretty Special Beauty): Clarifying Face Polish – £46.00
Lyonsleaf: Calendula and Marshmallow (Hand, Foot and Nail, Silver)
This balm delivers on it’s promise to help relieve very dry skin and soothe problematic skin concerns. It is a jar that is perfect to keep at hand for any skincare emergency and seems to tackle any skin concern with ease. It never fails to dramatically change the appearance and feel of my skin in a short space of time.
Odylique: Lipstick #15 Praline (Lip Care, Silver)
This lipstick has great staying power and does not bleed at all. The texture is nice, and my lips feel softer and moisturised after application with no drying effects. It lasts well while eating and drinking, and the shade is flattering on a wide variety of skin tones.
Oliphenolia: Face Cream (Face Care (Leave On), Silver)
This cream has the most glorious texture, with a rich, silky consistency that absorbs into the skin beautifully. A little goes a very long way, and it always leaves my dry skin feeling nicely nourished after use. My skin feels softer to the touch and looks dewy in its appearance after application, an effect which lasts all day long.
Picobello: Lavender, Rosemary and Basil Deodorant Balm (Deodorant, Silver)
Picobello’s Lavender, Rosemary & Basil Deodorant Balm has a beautiful texture that is easy to apply, with a little going a long way. It keeps my under arms feeling fresh all day, with no dryness, irritation or stickiness after use.
Picobello: Lavender, Rosemary and Basil Deodorant Balm – £10.85
Skin Formulas: Oatfoliant (Face Care (Rinse Off), Silver)
I love the way Skin Formulas’ Oatfoliant gives the ease of using a facial wash with the benefits of using a physical exfoliator. It easily lathers with water, thanks to the ultra-fine powder, and never leaves my face feeling irritated or over-exfoliated.
Weleda: Wild Rose & White Tea Smoothing Day Cream (Face Care (Leave On), Silver)
The beautiful Smoothing Day Cream from Weleda is a lightweight face cream that deeply nourished and soothes the skin without leaving behind any greasy residue in its wake. It has a lovely sweet, delicate, rose aroma that is a treat for the skin and senses alike.
Have you tried any of the winning products from this year’s Free From Skincare Awards? Let me know in the comments below.
Take Care,
Emma @ Beauty Folio x
Beauty Folio 