Eternal Skincare
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Eternal Skincare, a botanical led luxury range formulated with high quality ingredients and an ‘all inclusive’ skin philosophy, launched back in 2009, but has continued to evolve with the changing landscape. With a focus on aloe vera as a base ingredient, hydration from deep within the skin epidermis, and sensitive skin; we caught up with founder, Fay Watt, on remaining true to their original philosophy, considered formulations and building an independent business by listening to their consumers.

‘In the mid-2000s, the skincare landscape felt quite polarised. On one side there were heavily fragranced, trend led moisturisers. On the other, more clinical style emollients that felt functional but not particularly nurturing. There was very little in between for people with dry, sensitive or maturing skin who simply wanted something gentle, comforting and beautifully made,’ explains Fay. ‘That gap is what led us to aloe vera. It has been used for centuries for its soothing and moisturising properties, and it felt like a natural foundation to build from. We began by formulating with dry, sensitive and maturing skin in mind, but the intention was always broader than that.’

Eternal Skincare – fragrance free, cruelty free – quickly attracted a loyal community of consumers since launching over a decade ago, who have remained throughout the exponential shifts in the beauty landscape and the ‘pivoting moment’ of the pandemic lockdown. In a time when skincare routines have become oversaturated, and trends are constant but fleeting, recommending too many different products for ‘skin concerns,’ the Eternal Skincare philosophy is back to basics: ‘Cleanse, Moisture, Protect.’ Fay continues, ‘Cleanse is about respecting the skin. We formulate our cleansers to remove daily build up but to comfort the skin rather than tighten it. Moisture is at the heart of Eternal skincare; aloe vera based formulations deliver hydration in a way that is soothing and supportive, particularly for dry, sensitive skin. We also add in additional botanicals with the aloe vera to enhance skin comfort. And Protect completes the ritual in both maintaining daily hydration levels, protecting the skin barrier against environmental aggressors and supporting the skin’s natural function rather than overwhelming it. Each step is designed to work harmoniously; the textures layer comfortably through the balanced ingredients and considered formulations.’

The first Eternal skincare product formulated was the Moisturising Cream, originally developed for dry and sensitive skin, it has remained a core product in the range. Created from Avocado Oil, Glycerine, Prebiotics and Vit E, the bestselling product works from the inside out to nourish skin, attract moisture, support the skin balance and to absorb antioxidants; as with the whole Eternal skincare range through precisely formulated ingredients.

As a sensitive skin sufferer who was experiencing ‘clogging’ of too heavily textured products but still wanted an ‘anti-ageing’ efficacy that many ‘natural’ brands weren’t providing, Eternal skincare piqued my interest. Indeed, the curated products have become part of my hero range: I have always understood the importance of a cleanser as the first step in a routine and that without thoroughly cleansed skin, nothing else would have effect. However, I struggled to find a texture that wasn’t too heavy, oily or just sat on the skin surface: the Hydrating Cream cleanser feels luxuriously formulated, the aloe vera combined with amongst others, sumptuous jojoba, avocado oils, camellia extract, prebiotics and more. As someone on the go, who doesn’t use toner, the Revitalising Cleansing Pads, are a new favourite product; they offer a quick, easy-to-use, all-in-one ‘exfoliate, hydrate, refresh, renew’ and are filled with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera goodness. Other versatile products include the Aloe Super Hydrating Moisturiser, which is a luxuriously rich hydrating skin cream designed for face, body and hands. Created from Aloe Leaf Juice, chamomile, green tea, shea butter, rosehip oil and calendula extract, the Aloe Super Hydrating Moisturiser takes away the fuss of remembering to buy a separate hand cream or equally nourish the body morning and evening. One of the more recent formulations is the Eternal skincare Facial Mist formulated with the unique Advanced Hypochlorous Technology. ‘It is an advanced technology that is centred around a molecule that the body naturally produces as part of its own defence processes. When the hypochlorous is produced in a purified cosmetic form it is a very gentle but transformative skin cleansing ingredients; it is so effective in a fine mist form largely because it is a very small water-based molecule so it spreads evenly across the skin, creating a light refreshing layer that supports skin hygiene without leaving residue,’ explains Fay.  I carry the Facial Mist in my bag so if mid-day, my skin feels dehydrated or aggressed, I can give it a quick layer of protection without disrupting any makeup.

Although Eternal skincare has expanded its product range over the years, the core brand philosophy has never changed; to formulate with restraint and intention. ‘A simplified routine that is consistent and thoughtfully formulated can deliver better long-term results than an overloaded one.’ The brand has continued to be curious and evolve in its approach to sustainable ingredients and transparent supply chains: working with local suppliers on ingredient sourcing and lineage. All Eternal skincare ingredients are dermatologically tested, safe through pregnancy, and meet the rigorous Leaping Bunny standards.

So, what’s the future for a brand that occupies an exciting, niche place on the beauty landscape?

Fay explains, ‘at Eternal skincare we only create new products in response to consumer feedback or demand rather than follow trends. So, we are launching soon a new Night Cream and Hydrating Serum,’ she muses, ‘we remain rooted in thoughtful formulation. Growth for us is about depth and loyalty not noise.’

Eternalskincare.com