In a continuaton of our series asking industry insiders their Five Favourite Smells – because really, is there any better way to know someone? – we caught up with the founders of Balance Me, sisters Clare and Rebecca Hopkins, and got them to reveal all…
Balance Me was created by British sisters, Rebecca and Clare Hopkins in London back in 2005. Their honestly natural, botanically active formulations – at the heart of what makes Balance Me unique and effective – have been truly pioneering.
And thanks to the huge advances in natural chemistry in recent years, this has allowed Balance Me to push the boundaries on what is possible to achieve in natural skincare, without compromising on results. The brand’s mission from day one has been to solve concerns and bring skin into balance and advocates self-care through skincare with their sophisticated and easily absorbed textures so using them is a pleasure.
Of course, because of their high-quality ingredients, much of the range happens to smell incredible as an added bonus. We’re of the opinion that when products you use for a daily beauty routine smell good, they make you feel even better, and so you are likely to use them more frequently while gaining the benefits of some much-needed me-time: something we all need to be more mindful of in these ever-busy, troubled times.
As well as their innovative natural ingredients such as Vitamin C, peptides and Hyaluronic Acid, each aromatherapeutic Balance Me fragrance is blended on three levels: for its unique, natural aroma; for skin benefits and mood-boosting properties through the sense of smell.
Rebecca:
Lemon – ‘I start my day with a glass of warm water and lemon as I find it really hydrating, aids digestion and it’s a natural body cleanser! early mornings, start to the day. I love mornings and find it’s when I have the most energy and excitement for what lays ahead of me.
Hyacinths – I would have them in the house year-round if I could! They evoke lighter, warmer spring days and just boost my mood.
The Atlantic sea in North Cornwall – My happy place! We spend long, early summers here surfing, coastal walking and just hanging out with family. The sea air is always a huge natural tonic.
Roses – We grew up near to the Peak District and our parents garden was always full of flowers, in particular roses. Our parents had a lovely rose bed and I remember spending long, lazy summer days outside in their garden making an array of fragrances that I insisted my mother spritz on her skin!
Neroli – I find neroli such a beautiful, calming fragrance. It is in Balance Me’s Super Moisturising Body Oil that one of our formulators created for me when I was pregnant with my first daughter. It conjures up such happy memories and I continue to benefit from it daily, not only in our oil but in our Hyaluronic Plumping Mist that I carry everywhere with me. I think I am a bit obsessed!
Clare:
Mountain flowers in Crete – This is where I learned Ashtanga yoga all those years ago and I remember not only being blown away by the fabulous yoga there, but also the beauty of walking to the yoga shala with a view of the sea, goat bells tinkling in the background and the gorgeous smell of the mountain flowers. They use the flowers to make tea.
Roses – Just like Rebecca I remember our parents Rose beds in our garden. They were full of beautiful pink and white English roses with soft petals. They smelt gorgeous and we used to pick them to make potions and perfumes.
Pine forest – On our first camping trip as a family we stayed in France and our Father spent the whole holiday commenting on the smell of pine forests – it reminded him of growing up in his childhood in Virginia Water. I now always think of him when I walk through a Pine forest.
Sea air – I love swimming outside in the lido but nothing beats a trip to the seaside and a swim in the sea. Like Rebecca, our Cornish holidays have made a big impact on me and we now go back yearly with our children. The seaside village is packed with families who have been going there for generations. It is such a relaxing and happy place, partly for it’s beauty and partly for the slower, simpler pace of life (I love the fact the mobile reception is really patchy and it is faster to walk to the beach across the cliffs than take the inland road).
Mountain Air – We live in London, and although I love the buzz of the City and our work and many of our friends live here, it is great to get away. We have started taking the children skiing each year and it’s been fun to learn again with them. I love the smell of the fresh, clean mountain air.
