Why is BY SARAH LONDON a cult favourite?

The multi award-winning skincare range was founded by sisters, Sarah and Lauren, in November 2017. Sarah first began formulating natural, effective skincare to revive and restore Lauren's post-cancer skin when she was recovering from leukaemia. After a life-saving stem cell transplant from Sarah, the sisters went on to launch By Sarah London together. Their skincare is now a multi award-winning collection, which is loved by press and customers alike. Read more about the award-winning reviews and press coverage.

I have oily skin, can I use your Hero Facial Oil?

There’s a common misconception that using a face oil will cause your skin to become too oily and lead to breakouts. But it's often synthetic oils, such as mineral oil found in many mainstream, conventional beauty products that typically either (i) strip your skin of its natural oils or (ii) have such a large molecular structure and sit on the surface of the skin as they can't be absorbed, leading to clogged pores and breakouts.

Using natural and organic, plant oils helps to prevent breakouts and acne due to the balancing effect they have on the skin; the small molecules resemble our own skin cell structure, allowing them to be very easily absorbed by the skin. These oils signal to the sebum glands to slow down sebum production and in turn leave your skin more balanced. 

Read more on the Journal: How to Use a Face Oil in Your Skincare Routine

Can I use the Facial Oil as my daily moisturiser?

Your moisturising duo is the Reviver Hydrating Mist and Hero Facial Oil. Simply spritz the prebiotic Reviver mist onto damp skin immediately after cleansing with our Balancer Oil-to-milk Cleanser, and follow with 3-4 generous drops of the Hero Facial Oil massaged into the face and neck.  

Read more on the Journal: 8 Reasons Why Our Face Oil is a Cult Favourite and How to Use a Face Oil in Your Skincare Routine 

Is your collection suitable for use during pregnancy?

The entire By Sarah collection is safe for use during and after pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

We detail a full ingredient list on the front label of each of our skincare products, so you can be reassured and empowered that you know exactly what you’re giving your skin. We use only the very finest all-natural and certified-organic, plant oils and extracts across our skincare collection. We do not formulate with any essential oils or synthetic fragrance, which can be skin irritants and expectant mums in particular look to avoid these. The Body Oil is loved by expectant mums, brimming with skin-loving omegas and vitamins to target dry, stretched skin.

If you have any particular skin sensitivities or medical concerns, we do always recommend checking with your doctor or test patching on a small area of the skin first. 

Is your packaging sustainable and recyclable?

We are committed to minimising our environmental footprint and choosing the most sustainable and eco-friendly packaging options. In July 2019, we were awarded the Eco Age Brandmark for recognition of sustainable excellence and in February 2022 we certified as a B Corporation. A couple of highlights are:

Our Glass Bottles and Jars.

We use amber glass bottles and jars for our skincare collection. To protect the integrity and nutrient content of the natural, organic, plant oils and extracts, we use amber bottles which help to keep out the deteriorating effects of sunlight. The glass is also fully reusable. You can upcycle the bottles as a single stem vase or use the jars as a home for kitchen essentials or jewellery. And when recycled, the glass breaks down and returns to its original state, mainly silica sand. A little reminder to take extra care with the glass in your home, we cannot be responsible if a bottle or jar is dropped or spilled. 

Our Eco-friendly Packaging.

Each order is hand-packed with fully recyclable paper and the smallest size box available is selected for each order. We only use cardboard shipping boxes which are fully recyclable and made from 100% recycled material. There is no single use plastic, bubble wrap or packing tape. 

Should I test patch a product before use?

If you have particularly sensitive skin, you can carry out a skin compatibility test by testing a small amount before incorporating a new product into your daily rituals. If you have specific health or medical concerns, we recommend you consult with your doctor before starting a new product.

Are your products fragrance-free?

The full By Sarah London skincare range is free from essential oils, limonene and synthetic fragrance that are known to irritate the skin. We source the finest, natural and certified-organic, plant oils and extracts, and choose not to mask them with any synthetic fragrance. That way you can experience the natural scents of the ingredients in our collection, including organic virgin coconut oil, organic apricot oil and organic sweet almond oil, which is both comforting and delicious.

Do your products contain preservatives?

Preservatives are essential for any water-based products. This is why synthetic preservatives are added to many mainstream, conventional beauty products that sit on shelf for many months (sometimes even years!) at a time. 

The entire range is free from added water. The high quality, natural and organic plant-based ingredients we use have naturally-preserving qualities. And to maintain their stability, we also add vitamin E to the Hero Facial Oil and Body Oil to prevent oxidation. Our entire collection has been safety and stability tested by leading industry assessors so you can be assured that our skincare meets the strictest industry standards.

Why does my product look different?

We use the highest quality, cold-pressed natural and organic, plant-based ingredients. Each of our products is hand-blended in small batches in the UK. This means there is always some natural variation in colour, scent and texture between products due to seasonality of the ingredients. You might notice this with the Lip and hand balm. This is totally normal and to be expected: we don't use any artificial ingredients, including preservatives or additives. It’s a bit like picking up the wonky organic veg at the supermarket; just as nature intended.

Do I need to use an SPF?

Our skincare does not contain SPF so you can use your SPF of choice on top. We recommend opting for a natural, mineral-based SPF that contains zinc oxide as an active ingredient (it sits on the surface of the skin, forming a barrier against UVA and UVB rays) and to avoid SPFs that contain any parabens or fragrance.

Are you a B Corp?

Yes! As a purpose-led business, we've committed to people and planet from the very beginning and it's why we are delighted to be a certified B Corp.

It's taken many months of rigorous assessment and we are so proud to be the first UK independently-owned and female-founded skincare brand to have achieved B Corp status. 

To become a B Corporation is the gold standard in sustainability. To now have the B Corp seal of approval validates everything we've been saying for many years - and gives you the extra confidence in our commitment to making the world a better place.

Are your products suitable for vegans?

Our vegan products are registered with The Vegan Society.

The Lip and hand balm is vegetarian as it contains beeswax which is 100% organic, ethically-sourced and produced without harming animals in any way. Look out for The Vegan Society logo on the product page and label of the vegan products in our collection.

Are your products cruelty-free?

We are approved cruelty free with Cruelty Free International - you'll spot the Leaping Bunny logo across our collection.

We believe that beauty products should be cruelty free. We are proud to be Leaping Bunny approved. A global programme, Leaping Bunny requires cruelty free standards over and above legal requirements.

All of our brand beauty products are approved under the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, the internationally recognisable gold standard for cruelty free products. We adhere to a fixed cut-off date policy and proactively monitor our suppliers to ensure that our products continue to adhere to the Leaping Bunny criteria. Our supplier monitoring system is also independently audited. For more information about Cruelty Free International, Leaping Bunny and Leaping Bunny criteria, you can visit crueltyfreeinternational.org.

Are all your ingredients natural or organic?

Yes, we only use natural and organic ingredients. Our plant oils and actives are either COSMOS-certified or certified organic by The Soil Association. Vitamin E cannot be obtained via organic farming methods, but is 100% natural, GM-free and derives from the soy bean. We do not use any palm oil in any of our products.

How do I know if a product is truly organic?

According to The Soil Association, for a product to be labelled as "organic" and certified as Cosmos Organic (a worldwide standard), at least 95% of its ingredients must be organic; i.e., these are ingredients that are grown without the use of GM ingredients, no parabens or phthalates and no synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances. The product must also only contain sustainably-sourced ingredients and never have been tested on animals. 

What are the key benefits of natural and organic skincare?

Our mission and purpose is to empower you to make more conscious choices, starting with your skincare. We do this by creating natural and effective skincare using the very finest ingredients. There are so many benefits, but here are our top three:

1. Richer nutrients for your skin - organic farming ensures the quality of every ingredient grown is not compromised, helping to preserve all its nutrients

2. Kinder to the planet - organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides, artificial chemical fertilisers, herbicides and GM crops, which helps to protect the soil, respect animal welfare and minimise pollution

3. Supports organic farming communities - who are working hard to protect our future generations by minimising our exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals

Where can I learn more about switching to more natural products?

We're passionate about helping you live your most conscious life yet, by making skincare choices that are better for your skin and the planet. Choosing sustainable ingredients and packaging is core to our brand and you'll read many articles about this on our Journal.

 

I have more questions, can I contact you directly?

Absolutely! We love speaking to our customers and are always happy to help answer any questions. You can contact us directly by sending an email to hello@bysarahlondon.com and we'll get back to you.