Seasonal eating makes a lot of sense to me. In our over saturated world full of choices,choices and more choices, what could be more simple than going back to nature and connecting with what our ancestors had to work with and feeding ourselves in this way? Annee de Mamiel has taken this concept and transferred it to skincare with her sublime facial oils. Four times a year she produces small batches of her ‘seasonal facial oils’ which are made only a few weeks before they go on sale ensuring that the ingredients used are fully in tune with what is abundant at that time of year. Annee originally studied Chinese medicine and all of her oils are based around Chinese medical principles of harmony and rejuvenation. Her Autumn oil has just been launched and I was given a sneak sample a few weeks ago and have been using it every second evening. I do wake up with remarkably smooth and nourished skin every time I use it. I spend the time applying it as almost a sort of therapy, I honestly believe that using ingredients like this on your skin have a larger impact on your soul when applied with love and thought. My ritual involves spending about half an hour massaging in the oil with my Sarah Chapman facial roller (which vigorously massages anything you put on your face deep into the skin and stimulates the lymph glands).

Annee says the following about her Autumn Facial oil.“Autumn is the time of harvest. It is a perfect time to enjoy the fruits of our labour and celebrate our accomplishments during the year whilst also reflecting and acknowledging the changes that have taken place over the past twelve months. It is the beginning of a turning inward; a time when we gather up our thoughts and ideas and put our lives in order. It gives us our sense of quality and value, and our capacity to look at what lies beyond ourselves. Autumn is associated with the Metal element, our inner disciplinarian and perfectionist. It evokes inspiration and reverence and a longing to find value and meaning in what we do. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Autumn is represented by the large intestine, lungs and skin. The large intestine takes vital nutrients and water from our food whilst eliminating the toxins and unnecessary matter. It represents our capacity to receive, let go, forgive and ‘move on’ to what is physically and emotionally more pure. The lungs take what is vital from the air to sustain life, releasing toxins through the breath, energising and revitalising the mind and body and ensuring a clear, optimistic outlook. The skin is viewed as the third lung so it is vital to strengthen and nourish it at this time of year.”