Dr Dawn Recommends: September

Common SENSE Candles

We always have candles in the house on dark nights or even winter afternoons and a few years ago I started making our own scented candles, but I love the concept behind this company. The collection isn’t just about creating something that sits on a shelf looking and smelling pretty. SENSE of self uses 100% essential oils, while SENSE of somewhere combines essential oils with carefully selected paraben- and phthalate-free fragrance oils, all in coconut and rapeseed wax so proudly paraffin free. Even the wicks are dipped in veg oil, not paraffin. There are also guided breathwork practices from meditation and yoga professional Francesca Jolly or immersive soundscapes beneath the lids – pure bliss!

My favourite is irini, which combines fig, rosemary and bergamot.

To find out more visit www.commonsensecandles.co.uk

Sunday Riley

In July I was kindly invited to a wonderful event at the Rosewood hotel in London hosted by Sunday Riley to showcase her amazing products. 

There is a lovely story behind Sunday Riley, the skincare brand founded in 2009 by its namesake. Her idea was to combine the best of modern skincare science with the benefits of botanicals – an approach the brand calls “Green Technology”. Rather than choosing between natural ingredients and scientifically proven actives, Sunday Riley set out to bring the two together. 

Quality is clearly central to the philosophy. Products are made in small batches, ingredients are carefully vetted for purity, and suppliers are assessed for good manufacturing practices. The formulations combine clinically proven ingredients with botanical extracts.

What particularly impressed me, though, is that sustainability seems to extend well beyond the packaging. Sunday Riley has been B Corp certified since 2020. The company is also Plastic Neutral, recovering as much plastic from the environment as it uses, and offsets the carbon emissions associated with its products.

And for anyone who cares about animal welfare, Sunday Riley has been cruelty-free since its launch and is certified by both PETA and Leaping Bunny. 

I think my favourite is the C.E.O 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum.

Visit www.sundayriley.co.uk to find out more 

John Lewis: 20% off beauty during Members’ Week, 25 September–4 October

Zing Toothpaste

Many years ago, I filmed a TV series called “Who’ll Age Worst”. In the show we took two friends, siblings or partners in their twenties and analysed their lifestyles and then drew up computer images of how they might look in their forties. The prospect of ageing, stained teeth seemed to cause more angst than weight gain or wrinkles. 

So, I was interested to find Zing toothpaste. Zing uses quality, clinically-proven ingredients to safely whiten, repair enamel and stop sensitivity without any of the chemicals that you might expect to find in such a product. Zing dissolves tea and coffee stains using an enzyme called papain. It comes in four flavours, original mint, apple and kiwi, soft lemon and soft peach. I am something of a traditionalist so original mint is definitely my favourite. 

To find out more visit www.zingtoothpaste.com

Please use the code MYBOX for 40% off a first order.