I’ve written a lot about Australian skincare products in the past. I always like to buy locally for so many reasons- environmental impact, supporting local companies, and obviously (and hugely importantly) accessibility.

When I moved to London this summer my skin almost instantly started to break out, as well as looking really dull. I have dry skin so this is uncommon for me and I was not happy! I think there is so much more pollution here, and my current cleansing routine wasn’t cutting it. I decided to research local cleansing products, with an emphasis on natural and powerful ingredients.

And then I discovered Oskia London. They’ve won too many awards to count and have been dubbed ‘The Best New Brand out of Britain’ by Vogue.  I was dying to see what all the fuss was about. Oskia was founded by Georgie Cleeve when she decided to harness the power of MSM into natural and largely organic beauty products. MSM is a natural form of organic sulphur compound that is found in all living organisms. It is the purest and most bio-available form of sulphur, one of the essential minerals crucial to life and the regeneration of cells. For more on MSM read here.

The first product I tried is their Renaissance Cleansing Gel. It’s absolutely packed with vitamins and enzymes, and suited to all skin types, but particular normal, dull, or dry. Given how dull and dry my new London skin was, this was music to my ears.

It’s a beautifully rich pink gel that immediately turns into a silky oil when you rub it on your dry skin. The first time I used it I fell in love with the texture. And THE SMELL! It’s so beautiful. It’s Chamomile & Rose and such a treat every morning to put on my face and inhale. From first application my skin was brighter and softer, and over the past few weeks it’s really cleared up too. I’ve been massaging it onto my face for about a minute and then washing off with a warm face cloth and water. every morning and night. It’s totally effective at taking makeup off as well as brightening up skin first thing. It’s a divine treat for the senses, but more importantly my skin is feeling deeply cleansed while staying hydrated and soft. This is a very hard combination to achieve! I really, really recommend this cleanser. It’s the best one I’ve ever used. I don’t say that lightly. At £27 it’s pricey, but a little bit goes a really long way, and given the quality of the product it’s so, so worth it.

These are some of the (many) highly active ingredients in the gel, but for the full details read all about it here.

Vitamin A Palmitate improves the appearance of sun damaged, dry and mature skin to reveal soft, supple texture.Vitamins C & E, known for their restorative properties, help fortify and protect the skin against free radical & environmental damage. Lactobacillus/Cucurbita Pepo Ferment Extract (Fermented Pumpkin Enzymes) deeply cleanses pores and thoroughly removes dull skin cells without irritation for a balanced complexion. MSM, the most bio-available form of the mineral sulphur, known for its detoxifying, collagen boosting and anti-inflammatory properties, helps soothe and calm. Starflower Oil, a powerful source of gamma-linolenic-acid (Omega 6), Vitamin B² & Magnesium lift out impurities and help improve elasticity & firmness while restoring and enhancing the lipid barrier to soften and nourish.

After loving the cleansing gel so much I decided to take the plunge and try out their Renaissance Mask. This mask is for all skin types, and has the same delicious smell as the gel, with a smooth texture.  It’s deeply cleansing, but also brightens and freshens skin. It’s such a treat to put on. It doesn’t feel like a traditional mask. The colour is the same pink as the gel initially, then turns white once properly massaged into the skin.

This mask is amazing! My skin feels so soft after I use it, and looks instantly brighter. Given I am currently commuting over 3 hours a day on London train it’s absolute heaven to put this on and erase all the damage from daily life. I really love it and even though it’s expensive at £48, if you’re looking to improve your complexion this mask is so powerful you’ll see results the first time you use it. Given the potency of the product, the price tag is justified. Some of them are listed below, but for the full low-down click here.

Natural Fruit Acids (AHA’s), including passion fruit, lemon, grape and pineapple fruit acids exfoliate by gently unbinding cells in the top layer of the skin to activate renewal. Enzymes from papaya remove excess and tired skin, cleansing thoroughly and clearing congested pores. Lactic Acid reduces the appearance of fine lines by increasing cell turnover while softening skin. Ribose increases cell respiration and reloads the skin with new energy by stimulating ATP (cell energy) levels to revitalise and illuminate. The natural anti-histamine Butterbur soothes irritation and aids healing. Swiss Garden Cress Liposomes leave the complexion balanced, even and bright by reducing melanin production by 47%. Prebiotic Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide prevents bacteria colonisation and keeps skin healthy.

I know this is an uncharacteristically long review for me! But I really wanted to talk through these two amazing, amazing products. Try them.