For decades, excessive beauty packaging has been a critical component of marketing cosmetic products. ⁠ ⁠ However, as sustainability and plastic-free packaging becomes more of a priority for consumers, the days of traditional packaging might be numbered.⁠ ⁠ - What are the latest innovations in cosmetic packaging?⁠ ⁠ - What’s stopping / delaying change? ⁠ ⁠ - The problem with biodegradable plastics for skincare products.⁠ ⁠ Click on the link in our bio to read the full post.⁠

Ingredient Focus: Organic Cardamom Seed Oil⁠ ⁠ Cardamom is a herb that grows wild, up to 4 metres (13 feet) and is cultivated in India and Sri Lanka. It has long, green silky blades and small yellow flowers, with a violet tip. The oblong grey fruits that follow the flowers, contain many aromatic seeds. ⁠ ⁠ The glorious essential oil extracted from the seeds by gentle steam distillation has a spicy, slightly nutty aroma and the one we use at Whitfords is certified organic by the Soil Association, which means you can be sure that it has been produced to the highest ethical and environmental standards.⁠ ⁠ The Soil Association’s standards exceed the UK government’s minimum requirements for organic products in many areas, but particularly in animal welfare, GM and the use of pesticides. Standards are constantly reviewed to ensure they deal with current issues.⁠ ⁠ Follow the link in our bio to find out more about our Arnica & Cupuaçu Body Moisturiser.

For our second blog post, we make a start on the fascinating topic of our largest organ: our skin.⁠ ⁠ Did you know our skin is home to over 1,000 different species of bacteria, most of which live around our hair follicles?⁠ ⁠ Why is sebum so important?⁠ ⁠ What is sensitive skin and how do we deal with it?⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Click on the link in our bio to read the full post.⁠ ⁠ And remember to let us know in the comments below if you'd like us to cover any particular topics!

Ingredient Focus: Heptyl Undecylenate ⁠ ⁠ This palm-free skin softener is 100% plant-derived from castor oil. ⁠ ⁠ We use it as a natural alternative to synthetic silicones and mineral oil to achieve a luxurious, exquisitely soft and nourished feel.⁠ ⁠ You can find it in our 16-Oil Replenisher and our Papaya & Bakuchiol Gel Serum.⁠ ⁠ Follow the link in our bio to try them today!

We're really excited to be launching Whitfords' blog today and for the first post we're diving head first into a topic that is very close to our hearts and underpins everything we do (or not do!) at Whitfords: plastic waste. ⁠ ⁠ Did you know that under the new post-Brexit rules, the UK can continue to ship plastic waste to developing countries? We look at the problems and we also look at possible solutions and very exciting projects and initiatives.⁠ ⁠ Click on the link in our bio to read the full post.⁠ ⁠ Let us know in the comments below if you'd like us to cover any particular topics!

We've updated our website with beautiful images and lots of information on all our wonderful botanical ingredients. ⁠ ⁠ Can you guess the ingredient from this close-up photo? 🤔⁠ It's innovative, sustainable and it provides hydration and anti-inflammation benefits.⁠ ⁠ Click on the link in our bio to find out!

Whitfords has just been approved by Metal Packaging Europe to carry the mark "Metal recycles forever", designed to inform and help customers better understand the key role they have to play in keeping metal in the material loop by recycling their empty packaging.⁠ ⁠ Our aluminium jars ensure a closed material-to-material loop because metal recycles forever without loss of quality so please do make sure you repurpose and recycle your Whitfords jars!

One year on... .. and what a year! We could have never anticipated that two weeks after launching Whitfords we’d hear the first news coming from Wuhan.⁠ ⁠ As a new micro business in an ultra-competitive market, nothing could have prepared us for that and it meant we had to work much harder and come up with new ideas on how to bring sales and stay afloat. It has been incredibly challenging and we’re still very small, but we’re still very much here!⁠ ⁠ We’re full of plans for when the world goes back to a new normal; we hope it will be a kinder, more caring and responsible one, towards both people and to our environment.⁠ ⁠ The following code is only valid for the next 24 hs and gives you an exclusive 20% discount to treat yourself or a loved one at a very special price: Thefirst⁠ ⁠ Thank you for following our journey!

Did you know our entire range is 100% free of any known plastic ingredients? Wait a second, plastic ingredients?! Yes, we’re not just talking about plastic packaging or plastic microbeads (you might know plastic microbeads have been banned in the UK since 2018 and will be banned in the EU). ⁠ ⁠ We’re referring to ingredients that are synthetic, non-biodegradable polymeric plastics and are present in lots of skincare and makeup products. For example, polymethyl methacrylate, Nylon-6, polyethylene terephthalate, etc. ⁠ The thing is, they won’t necessarily be in a visible or solid form that you can easily spot. ⁠ ⁠ That’s why at Whitfords we don't include any of these ingredients and we are now also certified as 'Zero Plastic Inside', by the Plastic Soup Foundation, an independent environmental organisation based in Amsterdam, on a mission to prevent plastic from ending up in the environment. ⁠ ⁠

Our brand also received the Gold Award in the Eco & Green Category at the Free From Gift Awards!⁠ 🎉⁠ ⁠ The judges said: "In looking for a brand entrant deserving of the Eco & Green gift award, we were keen to look beyond those many brands avoiding petroleum and plastic towards those getting involved in additional initiatives or going the extra mile to be environmental in original ways. We found that with Whitfords, in particular!"⁠ ⁠ Thank you @freefromskincareawards. As we always say, sustainability is a moving target so rest assured we won’t be resting on our laurels!⁠

Our Christmas Gift Set (Body) won two Silver awards at the Free From Gift Awards earlier this week in the Vegan and Bath & Body Care Categories.⁠ ⁠ The Judges said: "Beautiful wooden box, in contrasting wood colours … the smell is just exquisite … Slides open to reveal two quite unusual products which I enjoyed trying … Products nestled in wood shavings added to natural and recyclable and eco / plastic-free appeal … thought seems to have gone into this in order to be green … love the muted colours on packaging too … Unusual and very appealing”⁠ ⁠ Thank you @freefromskincareawards!⁠ ⁠

Our Christmas Gift Sets are here!⁠ ⁠ You can now give the gift of 100% plastic-free, luxurious skincare in a handmade wooden box that is made to be repurposed, reused and last far beyond Christmas. We used beautiful wood offcuts including British natives like ash, sycamore and oak so no new timber was machined to create these boxes.⁠ ⁠ Choose either one of the ready-made sets with our favourite product combinations or pick any two items from our range and the beautiful, handmade box is free! We gift-wrap every box and you can include a message with your festive wishes - the next best thing to seeing them in person.⁠ ⁠ Limited run so hurry before they're gone!