We’re intrigued by its bright blue colour – and sustainability credentials …
We all love a cleansing balm, whether that’s an old favourite – such as Eve Lom’s unctuous classic, and Elemis Pro-Collagen – or a new recruit (I adore Rowse’s Tangerine cleansing balm, at www.rowse.co, which smells as gorgeous as it sounds). There are fantastic all-Irish ones too, from Nunaia’s exquisite all-natural Superfood balm to those by Voya and Ground Wellbeing.
Joining the ranks of skincare ranges that are both devised and made here with care, integrity and skincare expertise, is brand-new Doctrine, which has cosmetic chemist and experienced formulator Tracey Ryan behind it. Keeping the formulating in-house allows them to really zone in on the texture, scent and ingredients, and ensure it’s exactly how they want it, notes Ryan.
Kicking off with just two products, Doctrine is vegan and cruelty-free – it is all about sustainable, effective skincare that has transparency at its core. “Skincare doesn’t need to be complicated but, unfortunately, many brands make it so,” notes Caoimhe Donoghue, one of the trio behind the brand; she cites confusing language, greenwashing and scare tactics.
Doctrine’s Divinity Cleansing Balm (€42) is bound to grab attention, simply for its Instagrammable colour – it’s bright blue. We assumed this was due to blue tansy, usually used for its lovely colour, but Ryan explains that this isn’t sustainable to use, and so instead they’ve used yarrow, a plant that grows in Ireland like a weed, and spirulina, to create the striking blue shade.
It’s just one example of Doctrine’s commitment to using sustainably sourced ingredients. And the balm itself goes beyond any gimmick, being softly fragrant and gentle to use – a tiny bit removes make-up easily, without the need for hot or even warm water.
In its recyclable dark glass, Doctrine does look very like Seabody in appearance. But its naturally lovely scents give it a separate identity, and we look forward to seeing what they come up with next (a moisturiser is in the pipeline).
