Don’t quote me on this, but I’ve heard a rumour that the sun is readying to put his hat on. If you’re stocking up on a fresh batch of suncare, let me point you in the direction of the latest vegan sunscreen by Yaoh of Bristol.
Founded in 2002, Yaoh is one of the UK’s original hemp companies. They produce a range of hemp bodycare and food products which are all 100% vegan and not tested on animals.
The brand is based in Bristol, though the products are made in various specialist organic factories. The lip balms come from the USA, and the bodycare comes from London. The packaging is plastic, but it can be recycled. It’s a very affordable range, with nothing above £11.99.
The scents veer firmly towards the tropics, including watermelon, coconut & lime and tropical fruits. Perfect for summer. All of them have a refreshing hint of mint in the background, thanks to the inclusion mentha arvensis leaf oil, or wild mint as it’s better known.
All of the moisturising products I tried, including the hair conditioner, are quite rich and full of natural moisturising ingredients including hemp seed oil. This is definitely one for you if you have dry skin or hair.
Scent-wise, the only product I wasn’t keen on was the Tropical Fruits moisturiser. The scents which work very well for body products were, I felt, a bit much in a facial product. But then my teenagers liked it so maybe it’s just a question of personal preference. They do an unfragranced moisturiser too and I think I would go for that one next time.
Watch out, the sun’s out
Yaoh’s vegan sunscreen runs from SPF 15 to 30. They offer broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays (always look out for this when you are buying sunscreen). It’s suitable for all skin types, especially children and anyone with sensitive skin.
I’ve been trying out the SPF 25 sunblock. It applies with enough of a white cast so that you know where you’re applying it, but that disappears very quickly and doesn’t linger. The presence of non-nano zinc oxide means that whilst it will protect you from the sun, it’s oil free and won’t clog your pores. Non-nano means that the particles are large enough not to enter the bloodstream. Like the rest of the Yaoh range, it’s a lovely fresh product that aims to be kind to the environment and skin.
Product details
You can find Yaoh products in a variety of outlets, especially health food stores and vegan festivals. If you’re in Brighton you can find them at Infinity Foods.
For the full range, check out the Yaoh website. RRPs range from £2.95 to £11.99. Check out the current offer – free watermelon lip balm with orders over £30; £3 off all body butters in June.
*PR samples
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