I was first introduced to Evolve late last year through the lovely Swapna over at Beauty Motormouth and as soon as I decided I wanted to do a Best of British series, they were immediately at the top of my list of brands to feature. Evolve products are hand crafted in small batches in a little town just outside of London and are vegan and cruelty free. Founded by the incredibly talented Harvard Business School graduate Laura Rudoe (also founder of S5 Skincare and previously at NUDE skincare) along with Violaine Bargues (Production Development Management) and Freya Krauskopf (Studio Manager), these ladies have created a line of superfood focused, affordable, natural and organic products that are effective and beautifully formulated. Evolve only launched in June of last year but their small yet impressive lineup is well made, incredibly fresh and contains a high level of natural and organic ingredients. I have been so impressed with everything I have tried and I think Evolve is a great “little” brand doing big things in the green beauty world.

Gentle Cleansing Melt £18 for 200ml/£5 for 30ml

Ingredients: Glycerin*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) seed oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Oil*, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil*, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water*, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil*, Sucrose Laurate, Tocopherol. *ingredients from organic farming.

This is easily my favourite product out of everything I have tried and one that is such a pleasure to use. It is 100% natural, 99% organic and has the most amazing delicate orange creamsicle scent. It has a light, fluid but slightly sticky (although not hard to work with) gel-balm texture that turns in to an oil as you work it in to the skin and becomes a milk when you mix it with water. It washes away quickly and easily, leaving behind no residue or inducing any dryness or tight feeling. I love using this to remove makeup and as a morning cleanser when my skin is feeling a bit dehydrated. It is also works great as a quick mask as baobab is incredibly healing and rejuvenating and the mix of oils will nourish and hydrate the skin.

This is recommended for normal to dry skin types but I have combination skin and it works great on me and I see no reason why it wouldn’t work for all skin types. I think this product is amazing value for money considering the amount you are getting and the high quality ingredients, although it could use a pipette or pump bottle. It would be a great alternative to something like OSKIA’s Renaissance Cleansing Gel (£29.50 for 100ml) for those looking for something more affordable/plant based.

Daily Renewal Face Cream £24 for 60ml/£12 for 30ml

Ingredients: Aqua (water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Parfum (Natural Fragrance), Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil*, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Glycerin*, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil*, Cetearyl Glucoside, Mannitol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactic Acid. *ingredients from organic farming.

I was so surprised by how much I liked this product because moisturizers are not my thing but this one really impressed me. It has a medium consistency and the texture is smooth and easy to apply. It feels lovely and light on the skin and absorbs beautifully without causing any greasiness or excess shine. It has a delicate coconut scent that doesn’t linger and is wonderfully hydrating with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, argan oil and aloe vera juice. It is 99.8% natural and 31.9% organic and really reminds me of Odacité’s Oleosomes Time Release Delivery Crème but at over half the price.

I think this could work well for almost everyone, except those with very oily/acne prone skin. For those with combination, it would be great as a winter time moisturizer and for those with dry/dehydrated skin it would work really well in the spring/summer and then in the colder months paired with a facial oil for even more hydration. The only thing I don’t love about it is the jar packaging. I don’t think it’s particularly hygienic and it doesn’t protect the product from bacteria and contamination. I would love to see it in a pump bottle like the Fresh Face Wash but other than that it’s another excellent product at a great price.

Hyaluronic Serum 200 £28 for 30ml/£9.50 for 10ml

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Rosa Damascena (Rose) Water*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract*, Glycerin, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Sodium Dehydroacetate. *ingredients from organic farming.

When I first discovered Evolve, this was the product I was most excited about. I had been looking for a hyaluronic acid product for some time and I was so happy to find one that was almost totally natural (it’s 99.3%) and had some great organic (24%) ingredients. I used this a lot last year when extensive travel to cold climates left my skin extremely dry and dehydrated and it worked wonders for me. It has a light, watery gel texture that applies easily, absorbs quickly and leaves behind no residue. In the bottle it has a delicate rose scent but upon application it is not noticeable, which I think is a good thing.

I love the addition of ingredients like pomegranate extract and konjac root powder and think this would be a great option for those looking for a more natural alternative to products like NIOD’S MMHC or Indeed Lab’s Hydaluron. Those with very dry/dehyrated skin might not find it hydrating enough but I think layered with a hydrating toner and nourishing moisturizer it could really help with long term dehydration and the effects of that on skin health and apperance. It would also be a great option to use along side NIOD’s CAIS for a nice mix of synthetic and natural products.

Radiant Glow Mask £18 for 60ml/£9 for 30ml

Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Glycerin*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Shell Powder, Kaolin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Powder, Prunus Amygdalus (Sweet Almond) Seed Oil* Sucrose Laurate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Water*, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract, Tocopherol. *ingredients from organic farming.

This is what I would call an “all-purpose” mask because it does everything from purifying, exfoliating, nourishing and smoothing, all while smelling like the most delicious chocolate-y dessert that I have honestly considered eating on more than one occasion. I absolutely love the mix of coconut shell powder with the kaolin and cacao powder because this combination results in smooth and radiant skin that is hydrated and soothed. I would recommend applying this mask as usual, then when it’s time to remove it (before you add water), gently massage your face for a couple of minutes to get the most out of the exfoliating natural sugar extracts and coconut shell powder. This mask doesn’t dry like traditional clay ones do and it emulsifies with water so it rinses away very easily leaving skin balanced and glowing.

This is recommended for all skin types and I can definitely agree with that, although those with sensitive/delicate skin would have to be careful when it comes to application and removal as it is quite grainy and that might cause some irritation. I can see this working well as just an exfoliator for a quick skin pick-me-up but I think it’s lovely to use as mask, if only to prolong the mood boosting and uplifting effects of the chocolate scent.

Lip Treat £10 for 30ml

Ingredients: Helianthus annuus seed oil,* Butyrospermum parkii butter*, Theobroma cacao seed butter,* Glycerin, Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed oil*, Citrus aurantium dulcis oil*, Sucrose laurate, Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit water*, Tocopherol *ingredients from organic farming.

Thank God this product is 100% natural because it is ridiculously delicious. It smells exactly like Terry’s Chocolate Orange and I have to really restrain myself from taking a spoon to the pot and eating it like a dessert. Despite the beautiful scent and excellent ingredients there are a couple of issues with this product, unfortunately. Firstly, it comes as a very thick, stiff balm that is hard to get out of the pot and because it doesn’t contain any wax, it turns in to an oil that feels quite slippery on the lips and ends up disappearing too soon. Also, the 30ml pot is quite a large amount for a lip product and would take a very long time to use up. At the moment I much prefer to use this as a body balm on any dry patches and for that it has worked extremely well. I would love to see this come in a 10-15ml size pot or even in a stick form, with the addition of some sort of wax to make it stay on the lips longer or be repackaged as a “multi-purpose balm” because it really is a lovely product – it just isn’t working for me as well as my other lip products.

Tropical Blossom Body Polish £20 for 180ml/£3.50 for 30ml and Body Butter £16 for 120ml/£4 for 30ml

Ingredients: Body Polish – Sucrose*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Fruit Oil*, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water*, Sucrose Laurate, Tocopherol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Eugenol, Linalol, d-Limonene. *ingredients from organic farming. Body Butter – Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Glycerin*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Sucrose Laurate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water*, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopherol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Eugenol, d-Limonene, Linalool. *ingredients from organic farming.

I have been loving these two lately as the extremely cold and harsh European weather has left my skin more dry and flaky than I’ve ever had to deal with before. Thankfully, the Body Polish is quite gritty and coarse (but not in a bad way) and easily removed any rough/dry patches, leaving my skin soft and smooth again. It smells absolutely incredible but is not overpowering at all, just delicate and relaxing. Those with sensitive skin might what to apply this to damp skin to make sure it’s not too abrasive but if you want something that’s going to do the job then this is it.

After using the Body Polish I apply the equally beautifully scented Body Butter to soothe and hydrate the skin and lock in moisture. It has a rich, buttery texture that instantly turns in to an oil when applied to the skin and sinks in quickly without being greasy. I have been really enjoying this lately and love how soft and smooth it has made my skin despite the weather here. Both products are 100% natural and the Body Polish is 93.3% organic and the Body Butter is 92.82% organic, which I am really happy about. I can see why these two are loved by Nic and Sam over at Pixiwoo.

Satin Leg Gloss £20 for 100ml/£6 for 30ml

Ingredients: Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Bisabolol, Fragrance (Parfum), Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide CI 77499, CI 77891, Tocopherol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Farnesol, d-Limonene, Eugenol, Linalol. *ingredients from organic farming.

Even though this is marketed as a leg product I have been happily using it all over. It’s a dry oil that absorbs beautifully and contains subtle mineral derived shimmer to give the skin a satiny sheen that I think will look beautiful come summer time.  It has the same lovely, delicate Monoi scent as the Body Polish and Body Butter and I love using it to add even more hydration when my skin is feeling particularly dry. This product is 100% natural and 96.6% organic and would be an excellent option for a year round body oil. The picture above was taken in natural light and left unedited/filtered so you can see exactly how shimmery the oil is but don’t be fooled by how it looks. Once the oil has been applied to the skin, the “sparkle” is barely noticeable and more than anything it just gives the skin a very natural, healthy glow.

Overall Evolve is an amazing brand with so much to offer. I love their focus and commitment to high quality natural and organic ingredients and really appreciate the fact that they sell samples of every product – it made it so easy for me to try the brand and without them I don’t think I would have tried as many products as I did, as soon as I did. Their website and packaging are informative and easy to understand, which is so important because customers should know as much as possible about what they are buying and Evolve share everything they can. On the packaging it even lists who made the product along with a specific “Best Before” date. I haven’t tried everything yet but I definitely plan on it and will absolutely be getting the full sizes of all the products here because they are just that good.

Even if you’re not “in to” green beauty these products are effective and affordable and very well made, which is why I have teamed up with the lovely ladies over at Evolve to offer FIVE of you the chance to win a kit containing three of their best selling products pictured below.

All you have to do is head to my Instagram page here to enter. Good luck!

Arly

Evolve is available here and they have excellent worldwide shipping rates. Currently you can get a free 30ml Radiant Glow Mask with any order over £20 and if you sign up for the newsletter you get 25% off your first order. For additional international stockists please click here.

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