The Olverum range is one that I have not reviewed before however, I have chosen to review it out of the many releases I get sent daily as I liked the ‘purity’ and at a quick glance on the press release also liked the sound of the ingredients!
Before I begin, a brief synopsis about the company. I do love a good heritage background and Olverum certainly doesn’t disappoint. Its first ‘oil’ was made in the 1920s by Franz Otto, who was an experienced winemaker, and his wife Edith a pharmacologist. Sourcing the finest essential oils they produced a blend that would later on become so in demand, it was used in a spa. Unfortunately during the war, it became impossible to source the essential oils however, by chance it was was discovered and eventually acquired by Michael and Betty Hawksley (founder of perfumery Les Senteur). In 2015 the oil was rebranded and today Olverum is a successful product range stocked in places such as John Lewis and Space NK.
Alpine Revive Cleansing Balm 100ml RRP £55
I have been testing cleansers for the last 20 years as a Beauty Writer and, once in a while, one tops my list of must-haves. For me a cleansing balm must have these two things. The ability to easily remove make-up and an aromatic smell that makes the ritual of removing makeup a pleasure. This has both and more.
The buttery soft texture, melted immediately into my skin, making it effortless to massage my sinuses and pressure points. It dissolved my makeup instantly however, the fragrance was just incredible, that beautiful spa, aromatic fragrance that makes you breathe a little bit clearer.
- Jojoba Seed Oil - has anti-microbial properties so helps protect the skin from bacteria, also calms irritated skin.
- Squalane - mimics the skin’s own oil, helps plump the skin and prevents moisture loss so skin is left feeling supple.
- Rosehip Fruit Oil - helps reduce scarring, brightens dull, dehydrated skin types, is anti-inflammatory so ideal for those with acne. Has a high vitamin C content which helps with brightening the skin and gives radiance.
- Clary Sage Oil - stimulates cell renewal, repairs the skin and protects it from bacteria.
- Eucalyptus Oil - helps soothe conditions such as acne and eczema due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps prevent blemishes due to anti-bacterial properties.
- Rosemary Leaf Oil - rich in carnosic acid, this helps protect the skin from environmental aggressors such as pollution. It also stimulates circulation so helps improve the condition of skin as well as getting nutrients to the skin.
- Juniper Fruit Oil - anti-inflammatory so again helps with redness and skin conditions such as psoriasis. It also has strong astringent properties so ideal for oily and acne prone skin types.
- Green Tea Extract - contains an anti-oxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which helps protect the skin against UV aggressors. Green Tea is often used in eye creams as it also helps reduce puffiness and dark circles.
- Geranium Flower Oil - skin balancing this helps calm the skin especially if you suffer with hormonal flare ups.
- Astaxanthin Extract - reduces hyper-pigmentation, sun damaged skin, regenerates tissue and gives elasticity. It is an incredibly powerful anti-oxidant giving maximum protection against pollution, UV rays and other environmental elements. It is so strong that it can repair DNA damage such as brown spots in 2 weeks.
- Reishi Mushroom Stem Extract - contains compounds that protect skin care health by promoting collagen production. It’s anti-aging, skin soothing and ideal ingredient for hormonal skin types especially menopausal.
- Cica Leaf Extract - full of amino acids and beta carotene that help protect the skin from environmental stressors.
- Cardamom Seed Oil - brightening, gives dull skin radiance.
- Lavender Flower Oil - calming, soothing and ideal if you suffer from any redness.
- Cacay Seed Oil - rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, which help with scarring and restoring the skin. It’s a natural retinol which gently eradicates wrinkles and ideal to use if retinol is too harsh for your skin type.
- Rose of Jericho Extract - also known as the ‘Resurrection Plant’, due to it’s ability to thrive in dry conditions, it’s an ideal extract to help prevent moisture loss, keeping skin hydrated and supple.
- Xanthophyll Extract - these carotenoid pigments are derived from plants, algae and fish that help protect the skin from pollution, wind, sun etc. It is often called Lutein which is used for its protection against sun damage.
- Spirulina Platensis Juice - a blue/green algae that helps reduce inflammation and improves skin tone and texture. It is rich in the anti-oxidant ‘phycocyanin’ that helps protect the skin from free radicals.
- Melatonin - helps reduce redness, irritation and skin inflammation, whilst also repairing and improving skin cell regeneration.
