RAVEN BOTANICALS: LET RAVENS FLOURISH – Guest blog

15th July 2024

Raven Botanicals is an intelligent skincare brand for ethical consumers. From their rural apothecary, sisters Arabella and Charlotte create a unique, cruelty-free range of cleansers, serums, oils, masks and balms to care for and nourish the skin – at every stage in life.

Our high-performance skincare recipes are inspired by the deep well of knowledge around plant extracts and their profound impact on human health and wellbeing. Thanks to Charlotte’s education in botany and herbalism, they are firmly anchored in science, and we receive excellent feedback from customers testifying to the efficacy of our formulations. Our products are made by hand in East Lothian in our rural-coastal studio, between the Lammermuir hills and the North Sea.

We spent a blissfully free-range childhood in the woodlands and on the riverbank beside our home in the Scottish Borders. Our mother had an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and devoted herself to an idyllic and bountiful garden where we invented magical potions and strange brews as children. This is undoubtedly where our passion for plant-based skincare comes from!

Experimentation led us to a simple collection of recipes for personal use and after our Mum passed away, we decided to start a skincare business that was inspired by her powerful ability to make people feel valued and cared for. Our brand name is a nod to a unique childhood, having grown up alongside a series of rescued corvids, retrieved from crow traps and brought home to recover and release. This quiet activism by our mother instilled in us a deep awareness of the need to coexist harmoniously with nature and so cruelty free is not ancillary to our brand, it is a core part of our purpose and mission.

We are not focused on halting the natural aging process, but on helping people to feel confident in their own skin. We want to liberate people from skin-related anxiety, so they feel their very best at all ages. Our maxim is Corvi Floreant – “let Ravens flourish”.

From Scottish sea buckthorn harvested on the ancient East Lothian coastline to Fife-grown hemp and nettles harvested from their own land, we are passionate about the ingredients we use, collecting plant oils and extracts locally and from small producers in the UK and abroad to create our alchemical products. We operate in a planet conscious way, using zero waste, ethically sourced and sustainable natural ingredients to create feel-good products for face and body. It is essential to us that none of the ingredients we use are tested on animals.

We see our customers as ethical consumers, who are conscious of the impact their choices have at distant stages in the supply chain. By taking an ethical stance on cruelty-free, we consider ourselves part of a powerful group that can effect meaningful change in the beauty industry. Cruelty-free beauty is not just a trend; it is a movement that reflects our values and demonstrates our belief that animals should not suffer for the sake of our beauty and self-confidence.

All consumers should be aware that as a collective, we hold the power to shape the future. By actively choosing cruelty-free beauty products, we can send a clear message to brands that animal testing is no longer acceptable in today’s world. The demand for cruelty-free options is colossal and has already prompted some mainstream brands to reconsider their practices and adopt more compassionate alternatives. Our choices have the potential to create a ripple effect, encouraging more companies to embrace cruelty-free practices.

In line with our mission of creating confidence and inner peace, choosing to be cruelty-free allows us to run our small business with integrity. By consciously selecting ingredients that reflect our compassion towards animals, we are advocating for and contributing to a more compassionate world – something we can all benefit from!

THE RAVEN BOTANICALS RANGE INCLUDES:

Skin Saviour Facial Oil with Scottish Sea Buckthorn

Skin Saviour Facial Oil is the luxurious staple in any routine. Our multi award-winning oil uses a host of bee-friendly British botanicals including lunaria, hazelnut and the first ever C02 extracted Scottish Sea Buckthorn, handpicked on the ancient coastline of East Lothian. Intensely concentrated with bioactive compounds that nourish and protect the skin, this vitamin-packed oil is rich in fatty acids and phytonutrients that have been revered for thousands of years.

Spellbind Serum

Step into a bewitching world of enchantment with magical Spellbind Serum, a powerful botanical treatment created to soothe and replenish the skin. This alchemical blend incorporates Yarrow, the “healing herb”, broad spectrum Scottish hemp and Bakuchiol, a natural alternative to retinol that won’t irritate the skin. Brimming with therapeutic compounds like amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants and phytonutrients, this silken serum deftly encapsulates centuries of botanical wisdom in a single bottle.

24 Carat Oil to Milk Cleanser

24 Carat Cleanser is a refreshing cleansing oil that efficiently removes make-up and exfoliates dead skin cells without the need for harsh scrubbing or dragging. A host of fruit extracts including circular raspberry and grapeseed seed oils gently dissolve impurities on the skin and reduce excess sebum while natural papaya enzymes exfoliate, giving a high precision cleanse. 

Green Goddess Botanical Clay Mask

Green Goddess is a refreshing blend of French Green Clay and botanical extracts that balance the skin.  The ingredients in this invigorating mask activate when mixed with water, oil or raw honey, deep cleansing, exfoliating and accelerating skin cell renewal to leave a bright, radiant and naturally fresh complexion. 

Skin Saviour Night Balm

Our luxurious Night Balm is an intensive treatment that works its restorative magic overnight to help skin repair and rejuvenate. Powerful ingredients including Hemp, Rosehip and Frankincense combine to balance and smooth; repair and rejuvenate; firm and hydrate.

Raven Botanicals products are handmade in small batches, are palm oil free and certified cruelty free. Packaging is reusable and recyclable and refills with aluminium lids are available. The full product range can be found at www.ravenbotanicals.co.uk

Written by Arabella and Charlotte.