meet lauren from by sarah london: a brand with an empowering mission

We love discovering incredible, pioneering brands that share our ethos of sustainability, transparency and simplicity. So, we were delighted to have the pleasure of speaking with Lauren, Co-Founder of multi award-winning skincare brand By Sarah. Not only do their plant-based oils, salts and clays have incredible superpowers, but they’re certified organic and carefully curated from ethical sources. They’re certainly making waves in the industry.

Tell us about the ethos behind By Sarah and what inspired you to start on this path?

My sister and co-founder, Sarah, developed plant-based skincare blends to soothe my sensitive skin when I was recovering from leukaemia 7 years ago. She took her childhood hobby more seriously at that point and created natural and organic blends that nurtured my skin—and they worked! We launched the brand together in November 2017 and we’re so excited to share Sarah’s blends with our customers all around the world! And unlike other natural beauty brands, we don’t use any essential oils or fragrance, making our skincare totally universal and suitable for all skin types and both men and women. We detail a full ingredient list on the front label across our collection too, bringing greater transparency, simplicity and authenticity to skincare!

What are the benefits of your organic plant-based ingredients over synthetic or artificial ingredients?

We believe in the transformative benefits of organic, plant-based ingredients which are rich in vitamins, minerals and omegas to keep our skin healthy. Much like the food we eat, we need to feed our skin with the nutrients it needs to promote a radiant, glowing complexion. We are nature and our bodies recognise and benefit from natural ingredients—unlike many synthetic or artificial ingredients which are petroleum-derived industrial chemicals, that are not kind to our planet and often provide no function for skin health but rather act as fillers or preservatives (to keep products on shelf for many, many years in some cases).

What does your night-time routine look like?

I remove my make-up with our Green Clay Cleansing Balm and Organic Muslin Cloth, enjoying how clean and nourished my skin feels! I apply a few drops of the Organic Facial Oil to my skin (which is slightly damp to lock in that extra moisture) and then use our newest product: the Rose Quartz Gua Sha. It’s such a beautiful tool and it’s a cue to myself to let my shoulders relax, take three deep breaths and feel the tension melt away from my jaw, cheeks and forehead with each sweeping motion.

And what does your morning routine look like?

I like to start with some yoga (I have 3 asanas that are essential to my day!) and then splash my face with some cold water before applying a few drops of the Organic Facial Oil to set me up for the day ahead.

Do you have any beauty secrets you swear by?

Water! I drink so much water and green tea—keeping hydrated is one of the quickest and easiest ways to feel more refreshed and keep our skin cells plump and hydrated.

Most of us are juggling so much in today’s fast paced world. What is your favourite self-care ritual to boost your emotional wellbeing and keep you balanced?

There’s a few that I come back to depending on what I need in that moment. If I’m feeling like I need a boost and need to increase my energy levels, then nothing beats putting on my favourite song and having a 3 minute dance break— seriously, it works! If I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, then nature is my anchor—taking a walk and really noticing the trees, the colour of the sky and sounds of the birds helps me to feel grounded again.

Do you have an effective mantra that you always come back to?

“Live life as if everything is rigged in your favour” – Rumi. I discovered this in Arianna Huffington’s book Thrive—it’s a must-read.

You’ve been on an incredible journey so far. What are you hoping to achieve over the next few years?

Sarah and I are so incredibly grateful for all the support, kind messages and love we’ve received since launching By Sarah and we can’t wait to continue growing the brand! We have big dreams for making organic, plant-based skincare more accessible and sharing how to incorporate it into your self-care rituals. We’re running workshops at Mortimer House this spring, I’m travelling to New York this month and we have some exciting projects in the pipeline—stay tuned at bysarahlondon.com and @bysarahlondon on social!

Images © 2019, BY SARAH LONDON