MuLondon: Organic Fragrance-free Foaming Face Wash Review

You've read about the two naturally fragranced versions of MuLondon's facial cleansers - the Organic Rose and the Organic Lavender variants. Now, we'll take a quick look at the MuLondon Organic Fragrance-free Foaming Face Wash.

I finished my bottle of the Organic Rose Foaming Face Wash recently (the big bottle of 150ml should last 6 - 7 months) and as for the smaller 50ml bottle of the Organic Lavender Foaming Face Wash, I've set it aside specially for travelling.

A couple of weeks ago, I placed an order for this fragrance-free facial cleanser and the MuLondon Organic Marigold, Frankincense and Myrhh Moisturiser. I took advantage of the very timely 15% off offer that MuLondon is having for June (coupon code has been in my sidebar the whole month). Boris was as efficient as ever. I placed my order on Friday morning, Boris got the package shipped out on Friday afternoon and it arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday. Like clockwork.

The cleanser bottle packaged in a zip-lock bag (and bubble wrap)

I actually have a couple of facial cleansers from other brands that are in the queue but I wanted to use Boris' fragrance-free version for a month or two first. And it certainly doesn't disappoint!

Note: I don't usually write reviews of skincare products after only a fortnight's use (doesn't make sense to me) but this post will be an exception as this cleanser has the same base ingredients as the other two versions I've tried. Also, this is simply a mini review of the face wash. Much of what needs to be said has already been said in my detailed review of the Organic Rose and the Organic Lavender cleansers.

I've been using this Fragrance-free version for two weeks - I literally started using it on the day it arrived. Everything about the Fragrance-free version is the same as the other two variants, except for the smell, obviously. It may be called "Fragrance-free" but it does have a scent which I associate with the unscented vegetable oil-based soaps that I've used - raw and earthy. Just like the rose and the lavender versions, this cleanser does not leave my skin tight and dry.

For more photos, please refer to my detailed review.

Ingredients:
Water, Saponified Sunflower Oil*, Saponified Coconut Oil*, Glycerin (vegetable, naturally occurring)*, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate (Potassium Salts), Jojoba Oil*, Rosemary Extract*
*certified organic

As you can see, the face wash contains certified organic ingredients, but as it doesn't contain any added fragrance or perfume, I would recommend it to those who have super-sensitive skin and/or are allergic to certain essential oils. The cleanser contains no SLS, detergents, alcohol, mineral oils, parabens, sorbates, silicones, emulsifiers or other man-made chemicals and certainly no palm oil.

Boris hand-makes these cleansers in London. Price: £13 for 150ml and £6 for 50ml.


The 15% off coupon code is valid for a couple more days. It expires 30th June.

Another event that ends on 30th June is the Big MuLondon Giveaway in which the grand prize winner stands to win MuLondon prizes valued at over £300, including 6 jars of custom-made MuLondon moisturisers! Oh, I envy the winner already!

For both, please refer to the sidebar.


MuLondon website
MuLondon moisturisers are also available through Etsy and eBay.

MuLondon: Organic Rose / Lavender Foaming Face Wash Review

Back in November last year, you had read my introductory post on the then newly-launched MuLondon Organic Foaming Face Cleansers. For the past few months, I've been religiously using the two sample bottles that I had received from Boris (of MuLondon) and I think it's time that I shared my thoughts on them.

Before I get on with my review, I should let you know how significant it is that I'm using these MuLondon cleansers. You see, other than having tried little samples of two new facial cleansers from another brand (only 10ml each), I had been a faithful user of the Sebamed Liquid Face & Body Wash. And when I say faithful, I'm talking about a period spanning 11 years. As some of you may already know, I have a bad history with acne. So, this change of facial cleansers is, in my books, major.

My Experience

Patch Test
I didn't switch cleansers from Sebamed to MuLondon overnight. Although I had a lot of confidence in MuLondon products, I still spent two weeks doing patch tests with these cleansers first - I just don't trust my skin. At the risk of sounding like a broken record: Always, always, always do a patch test first with any new skincare product, especially if you have problem/sensitive skin.

Scent
I was very pleased that my skin showed no bad reactions to the MuLondon cleansers. Sebamed gradually became a thing of the past. After using the same green liquid for more than a decade (mundane it may be but the Sebamed Liquid Face & Body Wash will always have a special place in my heart), my early experience with the MuLondon cleansers was like a breath of fresh air. Quite literally. Where it says Organic Rose Foaming Face Wash, it really smells of roses. Where it says Organic Lavender Foaming Face Wash, yes, it smells truly of lavender. Unadulterated. During lathering, I love cupping my hands over my nose for a few seconds just to take in the lovely scent. You should try it yourself.

Contents

150ml

The liquid inside is caramel-coloured but we never get to see the liquid in our palms. The bottle - made of recyclable HDPE plastic, free from phthalates, bisphenol-A and PVC - comes with a foam pump dispenser, so what you pump out will always be fluffy, pre-lathered cleanser. That took some getting used to at first but, as was probably one of the intentions of the inventor of the foam pump dispenser, it's a time-saver. Just pump and slap the foam on your face.

OK, that's over-dramatised. Once in a while, you really should take the time to massage the face and simultaneously enjoy the gorgeous natural fragrance.

Cleansing
The cleansers do a good job of cleaning the face of dirt, grime and makeup, but don't expect it to work for waterproof makeup. That's what you have waterproof makeup removers for. After towelling off, the skin feels soft, fresh and clean.

The MuLondon facial cleansers come in two sizes: 150ml and 50ml. Based on my own experience, the following is all you need to pump out for each cleansing:

150ml bottle: three-quarters of a pump (I find one full pump to be too much)
50ml bottle: one full pump

Warning
I don't actually have anything bad to say about these MuLondon cleansers except this one thing: maaaan, it stings the eyes! To be fair, Boris does offer some advice on the label, which includes a warning:

"Work the foam between hands. Apply to damp skin. Rinse. Avoid contact with eyes."

However, you have to understand that, for 11 years, I had been using a face wash that never irritated the eyes, so out of habit, I often opened my eyes while working the MuLondon lather on my face/eye area. Oops.

Consider yourself warned.

Other Uses
Boris mentions on the website that the cleansers can also be used on the body. I did try it as a body wash once but it took around ten pumps to get the whole body lathered. I think I'll stick to using these cleansers on the face.

Boris also says that it can be used for shaving.

Basics
Just like the MuLondon Natural Organic Moisturisers, the MuLondon Foaming Face Washes are handmade by Boris with just a short list of ingredients. They are based on certified organic castile soap and contain

• no SLS
• no detergents
• no alcohol
• no mineral oils
• no parabens
• no sorbates
• no silicones
• no emulsifiers
• no artificial fragrance
• no man-made chemicals
• no palm oil

Boris vehemently refuses to use palm oil in his products. The reason is explained here.

Here is some basic information about the two cleansers that I've been using (gleaned from the MuLondon website):


Organic Rose Foaming Face Wash

• key ingredients: Jojoba oil, Rose Otto essential oil, Rosehip extract, Rosemary extract
• good for dry, irritated, sensitive skin
• the precious Rose Otto essential oil used is steam-distilled, not solvent-extracted
• goes well with the MuLondon Organic Rose Moisturiser (but of course!)

Ingredients
Water, Saponified Sunflower Oil*, Saponified Coconut Oil*, Glycerin (vegetable, naturally occurring)*, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate (Potassium Salts), Jojoba Oil*, Rose Otto Essential Oil*, Rosehip Extract* , Rosemary Extract*
* certified organic

Price
£15 for 150ml
£7 for 50ml (it's a great travel size)

Updated pricing
£16 for 150ml
£8 for 50ml

Organic Lavender Foaming Face Wash

• key ingredients: Jojoba oil, Rosemary extract, Lavender essential oil
• good for dry, sensitive skin, great for relaxation
• to complete the experience, try pairing it with the MuLondon Organic Lavender Moisturiser

50ml

Ingredients
Water, Saponified Sunflower Oil*, Saponified Coconut Oil*, Glycerin (vegetable, naturally occurring)*, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate (Potassium Salts), Jojoba Oil*, Rosemary Extract*, Lavender Essential Oil*
* certified organic

Price
£12 for 150ml
£5 for 50ml

Updated pricing
£13 for 150ml
£6 for 50ml

Note:
For those who have extremely sensitive skin and/or who are allergic to essential oils, there is the MuLondon Organic Fragrance-free Foaming Face Wash. It retails for the same price as the Organic Lavender version.


Conclusion
Another great range of products by Boris! They smell good, they work well and they contain simple, good ingredients. I consider these MuLondon cleansers good value for your money too. I've used the Organic Rose Foaming Face Wash (150ml) for three months and I've still a third left. I've used the Organic Lavender Foaming Face Wash (50ml) twice a day for four solid weeks and I've got a little under half left in the 50ml bottle.

MuLondon is registered by The Vegan Society and PETA. Its products do not contain animal ingredients and it does not test on our furry friends. If you're looking for another responsible, ethical brand to support, try MuLondon!


Further reading:
Other general information on the MuLondon Organic Foaming Face Cleansers
All my posts on MuLondon (including its Natural Organic Moisturisers): Brand: MuLondon

MuLondon website
It ships internationally and its shipping rates are, in my opinion, very reasonable.

MuLondon: Organic Foaming Face Cleansers

MuLondon's facial cleansers are here!

You all remember Boris and his MuLondon natural organic moisturisers, don't you?

Of course, you do.

I mentioned last year that Boris was working on expanding his MuLondon range with products like cleansers, massage oils and a facial scrub. I've been eagerly awaiting the launch this past year and a half and finally, in September, Boris gave us a sneak peek of his Organic Foaming Face Cleansers via his monthly newsletter. These are cleansers that he himself has been using for a couple of years.

Well, the cleansers have now joined the official lineup and have been available on the MuLondon website since October. Congratulations, Boris! I'm so pleased that MuLondon is expanding and also to see MuLondon getting more and more mentions on beauty blogs. The brand totally deserves all this publicity.

Very seldom do I write posts along the lines of 'Look At What I Got In The Mail!'. It's like telling you what I had for dinner tonight. Let's face it. Nobody cares.

Today's post would be one of the few exceptions. I received these two cleansers from Boris end of last week. He has kindly sent me a 150ml bottle of his MuLondon Organic Rose Foaming Face Wash and a 50ml bottle of the Organic Lavender Foaming Face Wash to try. There is a third variant in the cleanser range, Organic Fragrance-free Foaming Face Wash (image below). All are 100% natural and plant-based.

Image courtesy of MuLondon

About The Cleansers
This is what Boris says of his cleansers (excerpts):
......contain a unique combination of certified organic ingredients, herbal extracts and essential oils that heal, balance and repair all types of skin, even the most sensitive.

MuLondon foaming cleansers are based on pure, certified organic castile soap. They contain NO detergents like SLS, no parabens, alcohol or mineral oils and are, as always, cruelty-free and vegan.

These cleansers are also free from palm oil and this is something that Boris would never compromise on. The subject of oil palm cultivation is a controversial one due to its impact on the environment and on wildlife. Boris told me emphatically that he does not want to support that and that he had worked hard to find an ethical and palm-oil free source for the ingredients.

The MuLondon cleansers are available in two sizes:

150ml for £12 (£15 for the Organic Rose variant)
50ml for £5 (£7 for the Organic Rose variant)

Updated pricing
150ml for £13 (£16 for the Organic Rose variant)
50ml for £6 (£8 for the Organic Rose variant)


They come in recyclable HDPE plastic bottles that are free from phthalates, bisphenol-A and PVC.

Why These Variants
I was curious as to why he chose a lavender and a rose variant for his cleansers. I already knew he is a huge fan of Lavender Essential Oil (he's been using it daily for the past 16 years) but I posed him the question anyway. This is what he told me:

I love Lavender and Rose, and what they do for the skin. Also, they complement my existing range of moisturisers perfectly, and are tolerated well by people with very sensitive skin, and even those with severe allergies and are safe to use on children and babies.

He created the fragrance-free variant for those whose skin are extremely sensitive to essential oils.

Boris, by the way, isn't ruling out expanding this range of cleansers in the future.

MuLondon Toiletry Bag

In the parcel, there was also a lovely MuLondon toiletry bag. Talk about branding! Look at the gorgeous flower prints. There is indeed beauty in simplicity.

Of course, I had to ask Boris about this toiletry bag. So, this is a heads-up to all MuLondon fans and those who have not tried MuLondon products yet but are curious. Boris plans to hold a competition on MuLondon in January and participants will have the chance to win "a toiletry bag and other MuLondon goodies, in addition to my skincare products".

Coupon Code
One last bit to share with you. This came in MuLondon's latest newsletter sent out just yesterday. For this holiday season, Boris is offering Free Worldwide Shipping on orders of 2 MuLondon products or more. Orders must be placed before 15th December. Coupon code: HO-HO-HO-11. Once entered, click "Apply coupon", go down to "Get Shipping cost", choose "Free Shipping" and update total.


I'll be using these cleansers in the coming months and when I'm ready, I will write a post or two on them.


Further reading:
My posts on MuLondon's range of natural organic moisturisers and why I support this brand wholeheartedly:
Brand: MuLondon
More details on the Organic Foaming Face Cleansers: MuLondon website

MuLondon: Organic Lavender Moisturiser Review

The lavender scent is known for its soothing, calming effect on people. Some people love the scent and some others don't. Personally, I'm not crazy about the scent but that doesn't mean that I go out of my way to avoid using products with lavender. After all, I have finished a whole tube of lipbalm that contained lavender essential oil and I am still using an exfoliating scrub that has organic lavender.

The scent of lavender will always remind me of one person. I used to board with a lovely, elderly lady who religiously took a lavender oil bath every night just before going to bed. The smell of lavender would linger in the bathroom after she was done and long after she had gone to sleep. She had been doing it for years and I'm pretty sure she still practises the ritual to this day. Of course, I could put it down to her nature and not necessarily the lavender effect, but I always found her to be such a cool, calm and collected lady. She actually drove herself around town in her car right up to age 83. Except for some problems with memory loss, she is still in good health to this day. Mary will be 87 this year.

I ramble, but I think you see my point.

This jar here is MuLondon's Organic Lavender Moisturiser. It was a sample jar that Boris (whom you all should know by now) sent to me together with my online purchase some months back.

Here's how Boris describes it on the MuLondon website:

Lovely 100% organic face moisturising cream with Shea and Coconut Butters, Jojoba Oil, Rosemary Extract and Lavender Essential Oil - to relax your mind and your skin.

This is a rich, creamy balm that is packed full of certified organic oils and herbal extracts, with the classical relaxing and balancing fragrance of organic Lavender oil.

Great for everyday, all-over face, hands and body use. Ideal for dry and sensitive skin.

I remember asking Boris last year what made him choose the five variants in his pioneer range of moisturisers, including Lavender. For Boris, the lavender variant was a no-brainer. He told me that he had been using the lavender oil every day for the last 15 (now 16) years and he never travels without it. He calls it a miracle oil – a healer for cuts, bites, bruises, burns, headache and more.

Ingredients
Shea Butter, Coconut Butter, Jojoba Oil, Rosemary Extract, Lavender Essential Oil
(all certified organic)

That's what I like about MuLondon moisturisers - the ingredients are pure and simple. They contain no fillers, no nasties and not even water.

Scent
Open the jar, hold it close to your face and take in the lavender scent. It may seem strong initially and in the first minutes of application on the skin but the smell eventually dissipates. So, really, it's not such a big issue for those who don't fancy the lavender scent much.

Application
As with all the other four MuLondon moisturisers, the Organic Lavender variant is thick and concentrated. The consistency is like butter, so remember to melt the moisturiser in the palm of your hands first before attempting to apply it on your skin. This method is the best way to get an even application.

I have been trying the Organic Lavender Moisturiser on different parts of my body but I like it best on the neck and sometimes the face. I have not experienced any skin break-outs as a consequence. You won't end up with an oily face, unless you put too much on. You only need to apply a small amount and the moisturiser will be absorbed, leaving the skin supple and soft. As a guide, you can start off with a pea-sized amount and with experience, you can eventually adjust the amount accordingly.

For an extra calming effect, try rubbing it near the nostrils for the full effect of the lavender scent. I do that sometimes when I'm stressed.

Price
The MuLondon Organic Lavender Moisturiser retails for £13 for a 60ml jar and £7 for 30ml.


In the ongoing MuLondon Giveaway, three lucky participants will win a jar of MuLondon moisturiser of his/her choice. Choose from the following moisturisers:

• Organic Hemp
• Organic Rose
• Organic White Chocolate Truffle
• Organic Marigold, Frankincense & Myrrh
• Organic Lavender

Giveaway details can be found here.


Further reading:
Background information on MuLondon and Boris
My reviews of the MuLondon moisturisers
MuLondon website

MuLondon: Organic Marigold, Frankincense and Myrrh Moisturiser

.....and the three wise men knelt down and paid baby Jesus homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Okay, let’s leave the gold out, but how quaint is it to have marigold, frankincense and myrrh all together in one moisturiser?

This Organic Marigold, Frankincense and Myrrh Moisturiser contains:

Shea Butter, Coconut Butter, Jojoba Oil, Rosemary Extract, Blue Chamomile Extract, Marigold Extract, Frankincense Essential Oil, Myrrh Essential Oil.
Contains naturally occurring Limonene from Frankincense Essential Oil.
All, except for the frankincense and myrrh essential oils, are certified organic ingredients.

Frankincense and myrrh come from sap obtained from the trees of the genus Boswellia and Commiphora respectively. The resin has been used for millennia for religious and medicinal purposes and that was why Boris (of MuLondon) made a moisturiser with these. I was told that marigold was added into the mix because the flower is “amazing for problematic, inflamed skin.”

This cream smells like incense. It smells almost like mass in church. It has a spicy sweet fragrance, invigorating, but quite unusual for me to be able to smell this from a jar, instead of in church.

As with all the other moisturisers from MuLondon, this one can be used on the face and on the body. It's also good to know that all of MuLondon's moisturisers are now rated 0, ie very low hazard, in the Cosmetic Safety Database.

I seem to always sing praises about MuLondon and it didn’t escape the notice of one lovely reader of mine. She commented recently that MuLondon doesn’t seem to have any disadvantages. I’ve thought hard about it. Well, if I must, here are a couple of things I can say:

• Just like any moisturiser from any brand, a jar of MuLondon cream will not last forever. I know, because it’s super concentrated, you don’t need to use a lot each time, leading you to hope that it might last forever. However, if you use it diligently on a daily basis on your body and limbs, you will see the bottom of the jar in three months, more or less.

• You need patience when applying any MuLondon moisturiser. The creams are thick and quite hard, like butter that’s been kept in the refrigerator. We’ve become so used to applying (diluted) creams straight from tubes/bottles to the skin. With MuLondon creams, you would need to first ‘scrape’ some cream out (but if you live in a warmer climate, the cream would of course be softer), put it in the palm of your hand and rub it till it melts (just like butter). And only then, apply on skin. So, you see, it takes more effort.

Well, those aren’t quite disadvantages, are they? They are just facts, the reality of a cream that is hand-made and highly concentrated.

The choice is yours.

Note: As with the Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser, this cream was also my own purchase. It is prized at £13 for a 60ml jar and £7 for a 30ml jar.

Just a couple more days to take advantage of the 20% off offer at MuLondon. Coupon codes: MUXMAS or ORGANZA20 (20% off plus an organza bag). Ends Monday, 20th December.

MuLondon: Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser

This decadent moisturiser contains:

• Shea Butter
• Coconut Butter
• Jojoba Oil
• Rosemary Extract
• Bourbon Vanilla Extract
• Cocoa Extract

.....and nothing more. Not even water. All, except for the Cocoa Extract, are certified organic ingredients. Shea butter together with jojoba oil form the basis for all five MuLondon moisturisers.

According to Boris (the founder of MuLondon), this cream had taken him a long time to formulate as he had issues sourcing exactly the right ingredients that he wanted to make this particular moisturiser.

Well, well, hasn’t he just done a fabulous job with this moisturiser in the end! It is like dessert for the skin, minus the sugar.

The scent of rosemary must be very subtle here as my olfactories weren't able to pick it up. However, the smell of cocoa and sweet vanilla hits me whenever I hold my nose close to the open jar. It's intoxicating, to say the least. You’ve got to love the scent! It’s no wonder that this moisturiser in particular is a hit, especially among women (says Boris). Don't worry about smelling too much like a candy bar though. On the skin, the overall scent is subtle.

I’ve used this moisturiser on the body, the hands, the face and even on the lips. All the ingredients that are used in MuLondon moisturisers are food-grade ingredients.

Shea butter, besides being a wonder butter for the skin, is edible and has been used and consumed in Africa for centuries. Boris makes reference to Mungo Park, a young eighteenth century Scottish explorer who wrote about shea in his book, Travels In The Interior of Africa: .....the butter produced from it, besides the advantage of its keeping the whole year without salt, is whiter, firmer, and, to my palate, of a richer flavour, than the best butter I ever tasted made from cow’s milk.

In Boris’ own words: I would not put anything on my skin that was not safe enough to eat. And eat he did! Once, he actually tried his White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser on a piece of biscuit and “it was fab!”

WARNING: Decadent contents. Resist temptation to consume orally. For topical application only. Melt well before use.

Skin dessert, anyone?


Note: This moisturiser was my own purchase. The Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser is available in two jar sizes: 60ml (£13) and 30ml (£7).

For detailed information on MuLondon and the various uses of MuLondon's moisturisers, please read my extensive write-ups on the Organic Hemp Moisturiser and the Organic Rose Moisturiser.

MuLondon is currently having a 20% off offer on all orders. Coupon code: MUXMAS or ORGANZA20 (if you want the 20% discount plus an organza bag with your jar). Fortunately, MuLondon ships worldwide. Offer ends 20th December.

I Love Thee: MuLondon

Ladies, I know that you know of many good moisturisers out there that are natural and organic, but have you ever tried the moisturisers from MuLondon?

Back in April and May this year, I had written quite extensively on MuLondon: about the brand, about Boris the founder a.k.a. Head Cream Whipper (in Boris’ own words, not mine!), and there were reviews on two of MuLondon’s moisturisers, Organic Hemp Moisturiser and Organic Rose Moisturiser.

For my new readers, here’s a quick recap on MuLondon.

There are just five products in MuLondon’s product offering:

Organic Lavender Moisturiser
Organic Marigold, Frankincense & Myrrh Moisturiser
Organic Hemp Moisturiser
Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser
Organic Rose Moisturiser

All the moisturisers come in two sizes: 60ml and 30ml. The 60ml version costs £13 (Organic Rose £19) and the 30ml version costs £7 (Organic Rose £10).

The moisturisers:

• are hand-whipped by Boris (in fact, it’s a one-man show at MuLondon)
• are made with just a few ingredients, many of which are certified organic
• contain pure shea butter and jojoba oil
• do not contain added water
• do not have chemical preservatives
• do not have artificial colouring
• do not have artificial fragrances
• contain 100% active ingredients
• are vegan and vegetarian

MuLondon

• does not test on animals
• is registered by The Vegan Society and PETA Worldwide
• has excellent customer service (and that’s Boris again!)

So, you can imagine how excited I was when I read that MuLondon was having a 20% off offer in December (some of you may have already noticed the coupon code in my sidebar in the last few days). There’s no better time to buy than now and so, out came my credit card. I placed my order on Thursday last week, Boris had it shipped on Friday and the package arrived here in the Netherlands on Wednesday. That was pretty quick.

The glass jars were nicely and securely packed. In it, there were also two MuLondon business cards with very beeeeautiful photos of its products (image above) and a letter from Boris which explains more about the moisturisers (it’s especially helpful for first-time customers).

These were the moisturisers in the box:


Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser
Organic Marigold, Frankincense and Myrrh Moisturiser
Organic Lavender Moisturiser

I wasted no time in opening the jars one by one, just to take in the fragrance. The White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser, especially, has such a heavenly scent! I kid you not.

I will be featuring each of these in the coming weeks. They will just be mini reviews as much of what I had written before on the Organic Hemp and the Organic Rose Moisturisers applies for all MuLondon moisturisers.

MuLondon ships worldwide at reasonable rates. I paid £3.50 in shipping for my order. You can very easily check the shipping rate for your country on the MuLondon website by adding a test item in the cart. There is no hassle with pre-registration.

If anyone’s interested, the offer ends on 20th December. The coupon code is MUXMAS for the 20% discount. Or if you'd like an organza bag with your jar and the 20% discount, it's ORGANZA20 (as per MuLondon's Facebook).

My previous reviews:
Organic Hemp Moisturiser
Organic Rose Moisturiser

MuLondon: Organic Rose Moisturiser Review

You’ve read my introduction on MuLondon which included a review of the Organic Hemp Moisturiser. Now, let’s take a closer look at its Organic Rose Moisturiser. I will also share with you here other bits of information about MuLondon that I couldn’t squeeze into that previous article.

Image courtesy of MuLondon

Product
Volume and Price: 60ml / 2oz for £19 (30ml versions will be available soon)
Contents: Thick, beige/yellow-coloured cream housed in a glass jar. If you’re one into rose scents, you would love this.

This sample jar was sent along with my purchase of the full-size Organic Hemp Moisturiser.

According to MuLondon
Luxury 100% organic face moisturiser with Rose otto oil, Rosehip Extract and Rosemary. This amazing trio will pamper, balance and nourish dry, irritated and sensitive skin.....Great for everyday, all-over face, hands and body use. Ideal for dry and sensitive skin.

Ingredients
Shea Butter, Coconut Butter, Jojoba Oil, Rose Otto Essential Oil, Rosehip Extract, Rosemary Extract.
All are Certified Organic Ingredients.

About some of the ingredients:

Coconut Butter
When absorbed into the skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple.

Rose Otto
Recommended for healing severe skin problems. It moisturises, firms and soothes the skin without irritation. Balancing for all skin types - including oily, dry, mature and sensitive skin.

Rosehip
Proven to reduce scars and wrinkles. It repairs damaged skin cells and rehydrates dry skin.

This Organic Rose Moisturiser is the newest of the five moisturisers currently available at MuLondon. Boris, whom you’ve read about before, added this variant to his product range because rose oil is an amazing healing and balancing oil. The rose otto essential oil that he uses is certified organic. Rose otto oil is extracted through steam distillation, a process through which a single drop of rose otto is yielded from thirty roses and that is why it is one of the most expensive essential oils in the world.

By the way, rose otto is not to be confused with rose absolute which is obtained through solvent extraction. Solvent extraction involves use of petrochemicals and as we all know, that goes against the ethos of MuLondon.

Application
Again, extracting the thick cream from the jar and directly applying on the skin would not work – you’ll end up with uneven patches of moisturiser on your skin. Trying to dilute the cream by applying it on wet skin is not the answer either (been there, done that, didn’t work). Remember, Boris has deliberately left out water from the formula. It is simply a thick cream with 100% active ingredients, so why would you want to go against the grain by diluting it?

So, the best thing to do is to first melt by rubbing the thick cream in the palm of your hand, then massage on moist (not wet!) skin just after a bath or shower. Your skin pores are open and will absorb the moisturiser more easily.

Uses
As with all the other variants, this one is an all-over moisturiser too. It may by 100% concentrated but it’s actually very mild. I had rashes (could have been eczema) on my skin a few weeks ago. I had hoped that this Rose Moisturiser would get rid of the rashes but because it was so mild, it didn’t. What it did do was calm the skin.

With the mildness in mind and seeing that it was a small sample jar anyway, I decided to use it for other purposes.

• Face – I know some of you might think it may be too rich for facial skin. I have acne-prone skin and I was sceptical too. However, I gave it a go anyway with first a patch test in my jaw area. Over the course of ten days, I did several patch tests on different parts of my face and there were no adverse reactions. Presently, I still use my regular facial moisturiser (also one without parabens and mineral oils, but not organic) and once every three-four days, I use this MuLondon Organic Rose Moisturiser. I apply very thinly and the skin will just suck in all that nourishment. I haven’t experienced any greasiness on the face from using this cream and it's lovely have the rose scent lingering near the nose for a little while.

• Lips – As it wasn’t stated on the label, I asked Boris if this moisturiser could be used on lips. He said yes. In fact, he and some of his friends do use the MuLondon creams on the lips. I have too many lipbalms to last me several lifetimes but I did apply this on my lips, just to try. Just a tiny bit and it kept my lips moisturised for a couple of hours.

• Nails and cuticles – This moisturiser works great for my nails and cuticles. Just rub a very teeny tiny amount on your nails and cuticles and let the cream get absorbed. I find using this cream much easier than using nail and cuticle oils which are so oily and messy.

Remember to always do a patch test first. I always advocate that and Boris also includes this reminder on the jar label.

Other Information
Storage
There is a “best before” date on the label and it is recommended that the cream be used up within six months from the time it was made. I think six months is an achievable time period. The cream may be highly concentrated and you wouldn’t need to use much each time but I won’t tell you that it will last forever. If used diligently on the body daily, a jar of 60ml could last about three to four months. That was my experience anyway with the Organic Hemp Moisturiser. I reached the bottom of my jar in about three months.

Whatever it is, it is best to store the jar in a cool, dry and dark place. According to Boris, if necessary, the cream may be kept for longer than six months (when stored properly).

Where To Buy
Here’s some additional information. Besides its own online store on the MuLondon website and on Etsy, MuLondon products are available at health food stores: Greenlands in London and Cocoya in Denmark, and in several stores in Latvia.

Final Words
Boris is currently busy working to expand the product range of MuLondon. Cleansers, massage oils and a facial scrub are in the works. I read on his blog that one of the items is an all-natural detergent-free cleanser. By the way, he shares skincare tips and tricks there too.

I found out that he also makes custom blends, so if anyone has any special requests for a certain cream, you could get in touch with him through his website.

MuLondon: Organic Hemp Moisturiser Review

Natural, cruelty-free, vegan, 100% active ingredients, free of chemical additives and organic. This is what you would get in these jars.

Image courtesy of MuLondon

I remember stumbling upon the name MuLondon while doing a search on Google for natural and organic skincare about half a year ago. Sure, natural and organic skincare products aren’t a novelty anymore but what drew me to MuLondon in particular was the simplicity of it all. There were (and are) only five cream moisturisers available from MuLondon. Such a small product offering, you might think, but wait till you read what they are:

Organic Lavender Moisturiser
Organic Marigold, Frankincense & Myrrh Moisturiser
Organic Hemp Moisturiser
Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser
Organic Rose Moisturiser

Don’t they all sound heavenly? After deliberating for a long time (a couple of months!), I finally placed an order for the Organic Hemp Moisturiser. It was almost a random choice, actually. I had to end the indecision at some point!

So, no, this product was not sent to me for review consideration. It was simply purchased with my own money and I’m writing this article on my own initiative. The package did however come with a sample of a second cream that I will review soon.

Now, let’s first meet Boris. Boris is the one and only force behind MuLondon which, as the name suggests, is London-based. He officially started MuLondon in 2008 but actually, he’d had a great interest in natural and organic ingredients and products for many years already. He’s a vegan and has always embraced alternative and holistic therapy. He spent time at the Rudolph Steiner Centre in Sweden which became a huge turning point for him. There, he learnt about organic and biodynamic gardening, and using those wholesome produce in cooking.

While living in Sweden, he had really dry skin. In his effort to find a natural solution for that, he developed a deep interest in ingredients and began poring over books to learn more. All that research and testing bore fruit finally in the form of self-made natural products for the skin. At first, it was only for himself and his family and friends, but two years ago, he decided to make them available to the wider public with the establishment of MuLondon.

Here’s what I think you should know about MuLondon’s moisturisers:

• Hand-made by Boris, the self-professed Chief Cream Whipper himself
• Made in small batches
• Made with just a short simple list of ingredients
• Very highly concentrated as no water is added
• As much as possible, the ingredients are from organic sources
• Not tested on animals
• Vegan and vegetarian
• Registered by The Vegan Society in the UK and PETA Worldwide

There are two common ingredients across all five moisturisers and they are organic Shea Butter and organic Jojoba Oil. This is what Boris says about them on the MuLondon website:

Shea Butter
Research has shown that Shea is effective in treating and alleviating the symptoms of dry and sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis. It is naturally moisturising and readily absorbed by the skin.

Jojoba Oil
Increases the overall health of the skin, particularly its elasticity and strengthens the epidermis.

However, MuLondon moisturisers contain:

• no mineral oils
• no silicones
• no chemical preservatives, ie no parabens
• no petrochemicals
• no artificial colouring
• no artificial fragrances

Image courtesy of MuLondon

Review of the MuLondon Organic Hemp Moisturiser
The Basics
Volume and Price: 60ml / 2oz for £13 (30ml versions will be available soon)
Contents: Thick, light-beige coloured cream housed in a glass jar

Ingredients:
Shea Butter, Hemp Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Rosemary Extract, Hemp Essential Oil, Black Spruce Essential Oil, Vetivert Essential Oil, Cedar Wood Essential Oil
Except for the Hemp Essential Oil (a rare and exclusive essential oil) and the Black Spruce Essential Oil, all are certified organic ingredients.

I don’t think I have ever tried a skin product with hemp (a herb with so much goodness) before, so it was an interesting discovery for me when I first opened the jar. It has a masculine scent: green, earthy and woody.

Application
Because it has not been diluted with water, the cream is super-concentrated and extremely thick in texture. I received my jar back in the cold month of December and the cream was solid! It was as solid as butter that has been kept in the fridge.

This was how the hand-made cream looked like when I first opened the jar

The advice given was to best apply the cream after a bath or shower, when the skin is still moist. For quite a while, my lack of experience with a cream this thick was an issue. Because it was solid, I had trouble getting the cream out of the jar. And when I got some out, I had difficulty spreading it evenly on my skin.

And so, after some hesitation and swallowing my pride, I wrote to Boris for advice. The solution was simple of course (Duh!), and Boris has now included this bit of ‘instruction’ on his website.

This is what I now do after a shower: I get a pea-sized amount of cream and place it on my palm. I rub the cream between the palm and my fingers. The cream will melt and look like melted butter. I then pat the melted cream onto the required parts of the body and massage. The process may take slightly longer than what you’re used to with commercially produced body creams, but trust me, it’s worth the effort.

Because it’s highly concentrated, it should be used sparingly. For me, a pea-sized amount is enough to moisturise both legs, for example. You’ll learn as you go along. You only need to apply a thin layer on the skin and from my experience, the oils are absorbed into the skin in about five minutes. Boris says that if the skin feels greasy after application, then you’d know that you’ve applied too much.

The cream can be applied anywhere on the face and body and even on the lips. I use this cream on the body, mainly the arms and legs. I absolutely love how soft and moisturised my skin is from using this cream.

Where To Buy
The creams are available primarily through the MuLondon website and on Etsy. It does offer international shipping at reasonable rates. As an indication, for one jar, shipping is £2.50 to Europe and £3.00 to other parts of the world. Do check the website by using the shopping cart for specifics (no registration is necessary, by the way).

Final Words
Frankly, the most impressive aspect about MuLondon is the excellent customer service. It is, without a doubt, first-class. Boris is knowledgable about skincare and is very approachable and helpful. Well, let me share with you what he said to me:

I personally fill every jar with my hand-made cream, I put the label on and I sign the note that comes with every parcel that I send out. I want to give first-class, personal service.

Do you know what that’s called, ladies?

That’s called Passion.

Here's my subsequent post on its Organic Rose Moisturiser. More information can also found on the MuLondon website.