Sensiderma for sensitive skin joins forces with the Queen's pharmacy

If you live in London or are in the West End shopping for the day, you simply have to take yourself away from the madding crowds and head to Wigmore Street (turn right at Selfridges if heading towards Marble Arch!) where you will find the oasis of calm and expertise that is John Bell & Croyden, pharmacists to Her Majesty the Queen no less!

Not only are there products on sale here that you will not find anywhere else - Queen skin care being some of those - the staff are knowledgeable and there are in-store experts in osteopathy, trichology and everything in between.

Queen products have been stocked in JB&C for as long as we can remember and we have just cemented our longstanding relationship with a joint-branded range of beautiful products for sensitive skins, Sensiderma.

The range consists of five products: Sensiderma Rich Cleanser, Sensiderma Gentle Toner, Sensiderma Day Cream, Sensiderma Night Cream and our anti-wrinkle serum, Sensiderma Renew & Refine. They are developed for dry and mature skin sensitive skin types and will leave even the most jaded and dehydrated of skins feeling dewy and revived!

Along with our expert beauty therapists, the talented Susannah and Sue of Colour Confident, we have developed the luxurious Sensiderma Facial which you will shortly be able to try at JB&C.

Come and try the products for yourselves at John Bell & Croyden at 50-54 Wigmore Street (nearest tube Bond Street). You won't look back!

Pastel eyeshadows are hot this summer (and sensitive eyes you can be on trend too)

At Queen, we do pride ourselves on being classic and vintage rather than trendy. Sometimes, however, the two worlds do collide when one of our products suddenly finds itself (or themselves in this case) a la mode quite by chance.

This season, pastel eyeshadows are in. You heard it here (belatedly admittedly). Sky Living has carried out a review of pastel eyeshadows and we are featured! As you know, Queen make-up is developed for sensitive skins and eyes and so to find that we are reviewed among main stream brands is very exciting. And, for all of you with sensitive eyes, you now have all the proof you need that just because a product is for sensitive skin doesn’t mean it isn’t bang on trend! There’s a lovely lilac, light rose and baby pink and a soft blue and dove grey too. We haven’t ventured into the lime greens and yellows but, equally, if this is what you are after then always give us ring to see what we can do.

Anyway, if you wish to read our review and see what else is tipped, here you go: http://skyliving.sky.com/reviews/pastel-eye-shadow-reviews

Queen Cosmetics Eye Shadow

Queen Cosmetics Eye Shadow

Tested by: Suzannah Ramsdale, celebrity journalist

Verdict: I tried out the pinky tone out of the lovely Queen eyeshadow palette. The hint of colour was so subtle that I could barely see it. For daytime antics, this is perfect but it's probably too light for a night out on the razzle. Also, I tend to prefer my pastel eyeshadows to come with a bit of shimmer and this had a matt finish. Having said that, a hint of pink makes a nice change from the old faithful smokey eye.
Stockist: queen-cosmetics.com

Elsewhere, new website and soon-to-be-launched magazine Rookie wrote a lovely review of Queen at http://www.rookiemagazine.com/?p=1687.  Says the beauty editors:

“No fancy packaging, no over the top prices and no ridiculous gimmicks are what attracted me the most and when the kind people at Queen sent me a few products what I soon discovered was that they not only lived up to the PR but also to my extremely high expectations!

Having spent ten years trying to find the perfect skin care range, I’ve finally found it. This isn’t a sales pitch, trust me, I don’t secretly work for Queen…I’m just in love.”

We can confirm she doesn’t work for us, secretly or otherwise.

It’s back to the orders now, dragging ourselves away from crowing about our nice reviews and from coverage of Cheryl Cole’s sacking from X Factor USA. Poor Cheryl, we hope she emerges victorious elsewhere. I hope she knows too that she has the support of (the) Queen!

Have a great bank holiday weekend.

Technorati Tags: sensitive eyes,pastel eye colours,pastel eye shadows,eyeshadow for sensitive eyes,queen cosmetics,sensitive skin make-up

Unique cleanser for sensitive skin is “a delight”

We have had such a lovely letter from a customer this morning. She says:

“I enclose another order for some of your products. It is really helpful to be able to purchase trial sizes: you will see that my order is mainly for these trial sizes, but next time I will be ordering the standard size products.

“I just wanted to express my appreciation of your products and excellent service; I have never had any skin problems but a few months ago developed red patches and tiny blister-like spots on my face. I stopped using make-up and night creams which frankly I need to use. I searched the internet and came across your website and am so glad I did because since receiving my first order and starting to use your products my skin has returned to normal. So many thanks. I shall start building up my collection of Queen products and give all the other much-publicised products a miss!”

We also received two orders this morning which were from friends of existing customers – customer referrals, I guess they are technically known as! Certainly, word of mouth is currently our major source of new customers and it remains the most powferful with most referrals becoming regular customers. It is not really surprising – if you have sensitive skin, it can take some persuading to be convinced to try a new product and to see a friend - who you know has sensitive skin too – with great-looking skin is a powerful endorsement.

More good news came in the form of some great coverage for our Theatrical Cleansing Cream, a longstanding Queen favourite and ideal cleanser for super-sensitive skins and for anyone who needs to remove heavy make-up or stage make-up on a regular basis (as it won’t dry skin out or cause irritation).

Read it here at great beauty blog Confessions of a Beautyholic.

http://www.confessionsofabeautyholic.com/2011/03/queen-cosmetics-theatrical-cleansing.html

Let’s hope the good feedback continues to flow!

Find a skincare regime and stick to it!

This was the advice of one Queen customer yesterday when talking about how she manages her rosacea.

“In the morning, I wash my face with Cetaphil face wash as I like to use a wash-off cleanser. Next, I wet my face again (I know it sounds odd but it works for me!) and my hands then I put one drop of jojoba oil on my hands, rub them together then smooth the oil all over my face.”

She continues: “In the evening, I use your Sensiderma Cold Cream to take my make-up off (I don’t wear much) then I use your Skin Cream as a night cream. I have been doing this for years and it keeps my rosacea under control.”

This regime may not work for everyone but it does show that there are routines that can be found and followed with success. As this particular customer said, it can be a process of trial and error and that what she found so helpful about Queen when she was looking for products was our trial sizes.

“What is so good about your company is the fact that you can try things and that there is a decent amount in the skincare trial sizes – not just a sachet full which you would get from a beauty counter. This is essential for sensitive skin.”

We are always pleased to send one or two free samples to people who are genuinely looking for products for their rosacea or other sensitive skin condition. In addition, we do offer  a ‘FREE sample of the month’. Please visit our homepage www.queen-cosmetics.com or email us at info@queen-cosmetics.com to find out more.

Today, we had a returning customer. This is always a happy occasion! If customers have not bought products for some time, we assume they no longer wish to be on our mailing list and remove them. This lady, Mrs H, said she had tried other products but that “nothing had come close to Queen Enriched Moisturising Lotion” so she was returning to the fold. It is human nature to want to try other things, especially in today’s beauty marketplace where launches for new creams and lotions are a daily occurence and each product sounds more appealing, amazing (and perhaps too good to be true!) than the last. Mrs H is firmly back on our mailing list!

With the Royal Wedding just over a month away, we are busy putting together our Royal Skin Care Packs – well, with a name like Queen, what do you expect?!

The Queen Team

Reviews for Queen Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream for sensitive, dry, eczema-prone hands

The fame of Queen Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream is spreading with some lovely reviews on some beauty sites over the last few weeks.

With the continued cold weather and central heating still on full (well it is where I am!), hands have really been suffering and I for one have been slathering on our own handcream in a bid to keep them looking smooth and young (well smooth anyway). Well, it seems that we are not alone in our quest for a hardworking hand cream.

Says Confessions of a Beautyholic (www.confessionsofabeautyholic.com): ‘Queen Cosmetics have a variety of products from skincare, bath & body to make up. They keep the look and feel of uncomplicated beauty products that were prepared by a pharmacist, which is brilliant! They all look very interesting and the fact none of their products contain unnecessary ingredients, win big points with me. Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream is an unique hand cream that has one of the most nourishing formulation that I have ever tried……design to gently care for dry, irritated, inflamed and chapped hands, including those suffering eczema and dermatitis. Although my hands are not in such bad state, they were quite dry and instantly after using Sensiderma, I could see the difference……. I started to use this product and I must say it delivered incredible results!’ 

Another beauty site, Beauty Truths Not Ugly Lies (beautytruthsnotuglylies.blogspot.com), also likes this product. It says: ‘I know I posted a list of my favourite hand creams up a few weeks ago but my attention has been brought to a new one out and well it was so good I needed to include it. Queens Cosmetics are experts in sensitive skin but even if your skin isn't that sensitive you will love their products.’

She continues: ‘It’s a really rich formula without being greasy and melted into my skin quickly. Very useful for me as I am always putting on hand cream and having to waiting till it absorbs. Try picking up a pen and trying to write something after you have smothered your hands in something greasy!’

This is a really good point because, as well as being really effective at moisturising and soothing dry hands, Queen Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream’s other USP (unique selling point to those of you not familiar with marketing jargon!) is that it is really easily and quickly absorbs which, of course, is why it is so good at moisturising and soothing! With many handcreams, you can spend 10 minutes massaging the product in and yet still have to wipe away excess before you can actually resume whatever it was you were doing previously.

So, there is our trumpet blowing for the week. Queen Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream is just £9.35 for 50g (remember, a little goes a long way) and is excellent for all skin types but particularly hands which are very dry or scaly or suffer from eczema as it won’t further exacerbate these conditions. It is available from our website, www.queen-cosmetics.com or from Amazon or call John Bell & Croyden, London’s landmark pharmacy, on +44 (0)207 535 5620.

Moisture Soothe – great for rosacea, red sore skin and very dry skin

Our lovely moisturiser cream which has been called KT Cream for the last five years (KT are the initials of the customer we developed it for) is now on general ‘release’ and has its very own name and proper label (oh, the heady heights!):  Sensiderma Moisture Soothe.

KT has very dry, super-sensitive skin and came to us some years ago as she was at the end of her tether. The cream she had been able to use had been discontinued (a familiar tale) and she was desperate. After lengthy trials, we finally found a formulation to work for her and she has been using it ever since with great success. About 18 months ago, we started trialling the product among our other customers as we realised its soothing and cooling properties made it idea for rosacea prone skin or skin prone to redness or flushing. It is also ideal for those skins which do not respond well to very creamy moisturisers or lotions. It has an almost gel-like look and feel, meaning it is very easily absorbed and does not just sit on the surface of the skin.

Queen Sensiderma Moisture Soothe, 50g £14.95

We are also in the process of trying out a new mascara formulation as, while our Queen Mascara proves successful for many customers, there are some who still find they react to it. As we know how heartbreaking it can be to not be able to wear any make-up at all, we are always really keen to help try and find a solution. So, watch this space….

We have just had some lovely feedback about our Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream. A customer bought some for the first time last week and writes via email:

“…the rich hand cream has already proven to be a top product. Usually even sensitive hand creams make my skin red and sore and with patches where the skin splits and bleeds it stings and itches (attractive right!) but on my first few trials of the Sensiderma Rich Hand Cream I feel nothing but moisturised skin which is fantastic. It was also a pleasure to open the little tub and have no instant perfumed pong attack my nostrils – it smells of nothing, which I think is great. I am looking forward to rescuing my hands this winter!”

It is a great product and non-greasy which is essential. There is nothing worse than slathering on hand cream only to find you can’t do anything without casting oily fingerprints everywhere!

Well, that’s enough trumpet-blowing for one day. Today’s product of choice seems to be Sensiderma Rich Cleanser with one customer remarking while placing her order: “I do try other things from time to time (you know what we women are like) but I always come back to Queen.”

The Queen Team

Queen cream voted ‘Best for Sensitive Skin’

It has been far too long since we last posted but, with our move out of the way and everything working smoothly (famous last words!) at our new factory and office, it is high time we got back on the blogging bandwagon.

We moved back in the summer to our new premises in Uckfield in East Sussex where we have a little bit more room to manufacture our products and some road frontage. While our previous location on a rural industrial estate was divine from an aesthetic point of view, it was a nightmare to get to last winter with the heavy snow which really did hamper operations. Also, it wasn’t great for local customers wishing to drop in and buy or try our range of skincare and make-up products for sensitive skin. Now, we are in much more accessible location with good customer parking and a communal foyer/reception area where we can display and sell the products.

Our new telephone number is 01825 768 845 and our address is: 60-64 Framfield Road, Uckfield, TN22 5AR. We share the building with a fabulous campervan rental company called CJs Campers (www.cjscampers.com). They not only rent out VW campervans for holidays and weekends but also make bespoke fittings for them and offer servicing too. Our favourite camper is currently Gilbert although Kevin is running a close second. If you are interested in renting a campervan and live in Sussex the south east or even London (they will pick you up from the station!), get in touch with clare@cjscampers.com.

Aside from the move, the big excitement has been our appearance in Good Housekeeping Magazine’s November issue (out now!) in which they did a review of 100 moisturisers. Their panel of testers voted Queen Sensiderma Renew & Refine cream best for sensitive skin with tester Karen saying: “Usually I have red patches around my nose and on my cheeks that I have to cover with foundation but since using this product I’ve been leaving home without foundation for the first time in years.”

Sensiderma Renew & Refine is our anti-wrinkle cream for sensitive skin and has become a real favourite among Queen customers since its launch 18 months ago. Read the review for yourself – the article has recommendations for all skin sorts and conditions so it is worth getting a copy of the issue. The Queen review is page 146!

 

    

With Theatrical Cleansing Cream and our Moisturiser proving to be flavour of the day today, it’s time for us to get the orders packed up and shipped out.

Oh, one more thing..Queen products are now available to buy via Amazon. All of our skincare features and our trial sizes too so it’s a great opportunity to stock up on sensitive skin creams and lotions while doing your other shopping too! Visit Amazon.co.uk.

Have a great weekend!

Spring care for sensitive skin

With the harsh winter weather (hopefully) now a distant memory, it's very definitely time to turn our attention towards preparing sensitive skin for summer, helping it to fully recover from the onslaught it has suffered from wind and cold, central heating and heavy, rough winter clothes and shoes.

We have just launched our Spring offers with Queen Seaside Cream taking pride of place. If ever there was a product which everyone should own a jar of, it's Seaside Cream. Its thick, emollient formulation is deeply moisturising but also soothes and protects.

Catherine, one of our lovely customers said last week: "I just keep finding uses for it. Whenever I think I need something for a particular skin problem or issue, I try Seaside Cream and it does the job. It really is marvellous."

As the name would suggest, Seaside Cream was developed for use on skin which had been exposed to sun and wind, soothing that horrid dry, tight feeling and any sunburn and enabling skin to repair. Use before exposure to the sun, underneath sun protection, and it prevents skin ever feeling tight and dry. But there are many more uses: it serves as an intensive hand or foot cream, an intensive moisturiser, an eye cream, a lip balm, it stops itching caused by bites, can prevent chafing and blisters if you are a runner or sportsperson and can even be mixed with your make-up to provide a lipgloss or gentle sheen to cheeks. At just £10 for 50ml or £15.40 for 100g, it is great value and a little goes a very long way.

Why not take a look at it by clicking Seaside Cream - fabulous sensitive skin cream with a multitude of uses.

We are pleased to report that we have had a really positive response to our 'new' moisturiser. We day 'new' because it has actually been in production for four years but has been made for an individual client and has, to date, only been sold to her. Having had customers say they have very dry sensitive skin but that rich creams just don't sink in, we started to think about trialling this new cream more widely. It is very silky, has a very light almost gel-like look and feel but is deeply moisturising. We started sending out trial sizes in February and the cream is now in general production with many customers adopting it as their main moisturiser. "I love the fact it goes in really easily and feels very soothing," says one customer.

One small problem is it hasn't yet got a name so is going by the sobriquet 'Special Formulation Moisturiser' which doesn't do it justice at all. We are on the case brainstorming possibilities and hope to give it something fitting very soon. If you would like a sample or fancy suggesting a name, do let us know at info@queen-cosmetics.com.

With our recent little bits of press coverage and the fact we do seem to be moving up the rankings in terms of search engines, our fame is spreading slowly.

One new customer called to order this morning, having tried some samples last week: "I am so impressed with the range. The redness I have been suffering seems to be much better and my skin is just so much more comfortable. Thank you!".

Another longstanding customer who has recently returned from overseas has stated she is going to write to all the beauty press to tell them about Queen and that she is going to convert all her friends here in the UK. Her favourite story is one about a visit to a La Prairie consultant in Copenhagen. "They were offering free skin analysis and I had some time to kill so thought, why not?!," she says. "The consultant said my skin was excellent and that it was obvious I used La Prairie products. I was aghast and told her that no, I certainly did not and that I used a range which was made in the UK called Queen Cosmetics. She looked very shocked."

Time to get the orders out.

The Queen Team

France taking the lead in making sense of cosmetics claims

It's been a busy and hectic start to the year at Queen Cosmetics especially given the snow which made actually getting to our rural HQ nearly impossible (thanks must go out to friends of Queen for the loan of a Jeep which saved the day and meant at least two of us could keep things moving!). The combination of more online orders because people were holed up at home and had time to surf and shop and the fact that the postal service was seriously disrupted meant some anxious days wondering if anything was getting through to our customers. Like the rest of the nation, we've seriously had enough of extreme winter weather!

The beginning of the year coincided with a nice write-up in Good Housekeeping Magazine's Beauty News pages where our Medicated Cleansing Lotion was tipped. "Gentle cleansers are best and one I always recommend to sensitive-skinned friends is Queen Medicated Cleansing Lotion from little-known brand Queen Cosmetics". See below for the full spiel.

Here at HQ, we are working on developing a number of new products, including a night cream for dry sensitive skin, and on a general launch of a cream which  we make for an individual client who has been using it for three years. We have trialled it over the last six months with other customers and it is proving excellent for those with very dry sensitive skin which doesn't respond well to rich, heavy creams. It's very light and easily absorbed but provides excellent moisturisation and protection. Do call us and ask about our Special Formulation Moisturiser on 01342 312 739 if you want to sample the cream.

Elsewhere in the cosmetics world, we were really interested to read in SPC Magazine (see it online at www.cosmeticsbusiness.com) about some new rules being brought in in France regarding the claims that cosmetics' manufacturers make for their products. The ARPP, a non-governmental body that enacts and enforces rule governing advertising professionals in France, has validated a set of rules which means that a product claiming to be natural will have to have no less than 95% natural or naturally derived ingredients and can only be called organic if 100% of ingredients are from organic farming.

Says SPC: "What's more it's going to put a stop to the infuriating free-from culture that has stigmatised so many cosmetic materials. Phrases like 'paraben-free' or 'without silicones' will be out and perhaps such ingredients may even be able to hold their heads up high again."

Whether or not other countries will follow suit is not yet known but let's hope so.

Late Winter offers will be launched soon so visit www.queen-cosmetics.com to keep up to date!

The Queen Team

Spreading the 'Queen Glow' to the local community

It's been another busy Friday down here at Queen HQ in sunny West Sussex. Our fame is spreading due to a little local word of mouth and we are now getting a steady stream of visitors to our little factory. It's not always convenient as we might just have a batch of something on the go or it's filling time but it's always fun as people really do like to get stuck in and have a try of everything. We've now labelled up a load of samples as testers as we've learned that the one thing you think people won't ask to try (colourless foundation cream, for example) is the one thing they will.

We've never really focused on marketing the products locally before because we've always felt that women don't really choose their cosmetics on the basis of them being made locally - its seems to take away from the glamour and mystique perhaps. However, as people have started sourcing their food locally and have become aware of  - and interested in reducing - their carbon footprint, we have definitely seen an increase in local interest. We love it and people seem to be really taken with our history and track record.

So, what else is new? We received a nice write-up in the salon magazine, a key trade publication for beauty therapists and hair salon. They featured our Sensitive Skin Oil which really is a fabulous product - suitable for massage, for moisturising, as an after-sun, as a body lotion etc etc. It's a blend of three very gentle oils perfect for sensitive skin. I am currently slathering it on my legs to prevent that horrid dry itchiness which can strike as the weather turns colder and we have to crank up the central heating (is anyone else suffering with dry lips in the middle of the night? My Queen Skin Cream is back in it's rightful place on my bedside table to stave off this scourge of winter).

 

the salon, October 2009

Other than that, it's just been a question of cracking on with the orders. Our Mascara for sensitive eyes is on offer currently and is proving really popular. It's ideal for even very sensitive eyes and for contact lens wearers and is just £6.50 at the moment. Try it here. It's fab!

Right well, it's time to put the stirrers to bed and to re-stock the shelves for next week. Don't forget to come and visit us at www.queen-cosmetics.com. We've got some great 'starter pack' offers for every skin type.

Have a great weekend

The Queen Team

Women's Fitness says revive and rehydrate skin with Queen Skin Cream

Just a quickie to say that October's edition of Women's Fitness magazine features a lovely review of our Skin Cream.

Writes Rachael Gibson: 'No handbag is complete with a multi-tasking balm, and this soothing cream is one of the best. Perfect for sunburn, wind burn and chafed skin, you can also use it on bites, blisters, jogger's nipple - the list is endless!'

We've got to admit we are always going on about how fabulous this product is so it's nice to hear someone else back us up.

It's also an absolute life-saver for itchy skin conditions such as eczema or urticaria or for nappy rash, soothing the itch and helping skin to repair. I have managed to keep my feet in shape all summer with nightly use - no cracked heels or scaly bits at all. And, many of our clients use it as their staple moisturiser. As with all our products, it's formulated for even the most sensitive skins.

To read more about Skin Cream, clicke here. Just £14.95 for a 50g jar and £23.00 for 100g.

See you soon at www.queen-cosmetics.com.

The Queen Team

Technorati Tags: queen cosmetics,queen,www.queen-cosmetics.com,women's fitness magazine,review of skin cream,balm,soothing cream,cream for sensitive skin,cream for jogger's nipple,cream for blisters,cream for eczema,cream for urticaria

Sensitive Skin Oil and reviews for Queen Shampoo

It's been a busy few weeks here at Queen Cosmetics which means blogging has rather taken a back seat. We've launched a lovely new product, Queen Sensitive Skin Oil (left),  a blend of three oils which have fabulous moisturising properties and which are known to be gentle and non-irritating to sensitive skin. Sensitive Skin Oil has has a multitude of uses - as a body or face moisturiser, as a massage oil, as a hair oil or a bath oil or just to give skin a lovely light sheen for a night out. It's been a really popular product in the last few weeks and is on offer for just £12.00 until Monday 31st August so do give it a go at www.queen-cosmetics.com.

We had a great Summer Event evening at our major London stockist, London's landmark pharmacy John Bell & Croyden (JBC) in Wigmore Street, the week before last. The store was the busiest I have ever seen it and shoppers were in a relaxed mood - happy to stop, chat, sample and learn more about our range of skin care and make-up for sensitive skin. These evenings are well worth attending if you are a regular visitor to the West End. A short walk from Oxford Street Debenhams, John Bell & Croyden stocks an amazing array of products you won't find anywhere else from surgical instruments to beauty products to vitamins and with in-house osteopaths, nutritionists and a host of other experts. They hold two events a year, in Summer and at Christmas, when there is 20% off all products (excluding prescriptions and some baby products such as nappies) from 4-9pm.

The store has recently re-launched its website so do take at look at www.johnbellcroyden.co.uk if you have a moment.

Talking of JBC, after a very poor few months on the star/famous faces spotting front, my visit there yesterday turned up a bumper crop of homegrown talent. I say a bumper crop - I spotted three faces I recognised: newsreader David Suchet, Shadows frontman Hank Marvin and Matt Lucas of Little Britain and Shooting Stars (soon to be back on our screens) fame. I wasn't sure if it was Matt Lucas as he has lost so much weight. I last saw him sitting outside a pub in the West End with David Walliams and he was virtually unrecognisable from then. In baseball cap and with his new slimline look, I had to get confirmation from one of the John Bell sales assistants. 'Yes, definitely him. I had a chat with him and asked him how he'd lost so much weight,' she said. Sadly, no great secret was revealed. 'He'd been on a diet', she told me. Tell us more Matt....

We've also been busy making some improvements to the Queen website. The drop down menus were proving really hard to use so we've fixed that and we have also tried to streamline the ordering process. There's still work to do and this is ongoing so do drop us a line at info@queen-cosmetics.com if there's anything you want to see improved. We are also going to see our skincare range featured on the John Bell & Croyden website so we've been working with them on that with a view to bringing our fabulous products to the attention of an even wider audience!

Oh, lastly, we've had a nice review of our Shampoo which is great for sensitive scalps. Says online salon news site, Findasalon.co.uk, which publishes best-selling hair magazines Hair & Beauty, Perfect Hair and Hair Now: "We were excited to hear about Queen's new soothing Shampoo, £9.80. The mild formula contains no perfume, essential oils or fragrance whatsoever but still leaves locks squeaky clean." To read more click here.

Theirs is a sentiment echoed by our customers, one of whom emailed recently to says: "I tried the Shampoo sample this morning and found it delightful!  Just the right amount of lather and left my hair feeling soft and clean.  Seriously!  Thank you. I will be buying some with my next order."

It's now time to replenish our packaging stocks as our summer offers have left the shelves looking rather bare. We're also low on labels and product stocks so the stirrers need to get going.

Have a great bank holiday weekend!

The Queen Team

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Mascara for sensitive eyes? It was on my doorstep.

Technorati Tags: sensitive eyes,Queen Mascara,mascara for sensitive eyes,Queen Eyelash Cream

We have just run out of stock of our black Mascara which has rather taken us by surprise as there were plenty on the shelves just last week.

A quick look at our Google analytics revealed that mascara for sensitive eyes has been a very popular search term for us in the past few weeks. I have no idea why. Perhaps the new mascaras on the market which can lengthen, curl, thicken and goodness knows what else are causing irritation to sensitive eyes. Or, perhaps it's just that people have been extra patient and have trawled through the search results on Google and found Queen and decided to give us a go (having tried all those other companies who come at the top of the Google rankings!).

Queen Mascara really does have a good success rate among our clients with sensitive eyes. Its very gentle formula means it does not irritate and it is easy to remove (particularly with Queen Eye Make-up Remover). For a long time, I have been a fan of super-thick, waterproof mascaras and so have not used Queen. Until just recently that is. At Christmas while buying a very expensive mascara as a gift (it had been requested!), I ended up buying one for myself. I was really fed up with the high street brand I was using as it kept clumping on application then flaking so, having been assured by the sales assistant that the same thing wouldn't happen with this one, I bought one. But, the same thing did happen. By lunchtime I would have lots of tiny dry flakes under my eyes and, by evening, would have the typical panda-eyed look. I persevered, using Queen Eyelash Cream at night as I thought it must be my eyelashes, but this made little difference and the mascara got steadily dryer and clumpier so that eventually I couldn't even get the lid of the very glamorous bottle to click closed properly.

A few months ago I decided to give the Queen mascara a go and have been amazed. I thought the fact it was for sensitive eyes (which I don't have despite wearing contact lenses) meant it wouldn't define my lashes enough as it would be too thin or would come off too easily. But it's fantastic - really dark, goes on easily, separates my lashes so they don't clump and comes off without ten minutes of rubbing at night time. I am a convert. Given it's half the price of the expensive brand I tried, I am better off too!

Queen Mascara - brown or black. Just £10.50 from www.queen-cosmetics.com

My favourite quote from one of our customers about our Mascara is:

"I've been delighted to be able to wear your mascara without any
problems and am looking forward to ordering other items. For the last 20 years I've had this eye sensitivity problem and unfortunately have the sort of eyes that need a little help with make-up. The best I've been able to find up to now was (a very expensive brand - we've removed the name!) but this caused a problem with redness and soreness after about an hour so I am very grateful to have found you! I'll probably be going round the village now with eyes far too dramatically enhanced for my rural lifestyle!" Mrs Rose, Dorset

How to get rid of those odd dry, sensitive skin patches which just won't go

I've had this small, dry, scaly patch of skin on the outside of my left nostril just where it joins my face (or upper lip if that helps you visualise it!) now for a good six months. It's been one of those things that I do notice when scrutinising my face in the mirror (I don't do this often - it's not good for morale) but which I am mostly aware of through touch as I seem to have developed an annoying habit of checking it's still there every day. I am not sure when it appeared or why but it just wouldn't go. It hasn't been particularly itchy or sensitive but has been sore when I've had a cold.

I had resigned myself to living with my lizard-like skin when I thought I would try our very own Queen Skin Cream. There's nothing like first-hand experience and, guess what, it's done the job. I put it on every night for a couple of weeks and the patch has gone. I did get a bit complacent last week while on holiday (although still religiously massaging the Skin Cream into my heels) and noticed that it had started to come back but a couple more nights of application and it's gone again.

Now, I know this just sounds like bragging but it is backed up by the comments we repeatedly get from our customers about this product.

An email today from Mrs Golder in London, which prompted this self-congratulatory post, said:

"And by the way, I must just tell you how brilliant your Queen skin cream is!  I had a sample for my toddler's face which worked miracles.  Then I had a dry patch on my face for months.  I tried everything including a hydrocortisone and was beginning to think it was skin cancer (you know the mind works!) when I suddenly thought about your cream and it's absolute magic!  The mysterious patch has disappeared!".

Says Mrs Cliffe, also from London:

"Queen Skin Cream is just wonderful. I suffer from eczema and find it really soothing and it has got rid of dry, scaly patches that I have had for years. I use it on my face, on my feet, on my lips and in areas of eczema on my ankles and face.  It's better than the stuff the doctor has given me. At night, if my legs or ankles start itching, I rub some Skin Cream in really well and it soothes it immediately. It's brilliant, I can't praise it enough."

This product, called Skin Food many years ago when it first came to market, is a miracle cream and every dressing table or bathroom cabinet should have some, whether you suffer from sensitive skin or not.

For sensitive and very dry skin it's great as a moisturiser but it's also brilliant for a whole host of other things, including:

• dry heels and dry elbows
• itchy skin caused by eczema, psoriasis etc
• to repair dry lips (or to keep lips soft and moisturised)
• taking the heat out of minor burns
• it can be used to soothe and repair skin suffering from sun burn, chapped skin and wind burn, making it perfect for the beach, ski slopes or out at sea.
• to soothe itchiness caused by bites or allergic reactions
• to prevent or soothe chafing caused by clothing or shoes. Prevent blisters by rubbing it into areas which are likely to be affected  or cover the blister (or even rub it into the leather of your shoes/boots to soften it!) with the cream to prevent further injury.

I could go on....but that's enough of the advertising spiel. It is fabulous though and great value too as it lasts for ages. Visit www.queen-cosmetics.com to find out more. You won't look back!

Have a good weekend.

Tamiflu mayhem at John Bell and sensitive skins praise Queen

We were up at our main stockist, John Bell & Croyden, in London's Wigmore Street, yesterday and it was absolute mayhem.

John Bell is known to be the top pharmacy in the UK, serving the likes of Harley Street and all the private medical practices in the West End and beyond. There were long queues at the pharmacy counter as people took in their prescriptions for Tamiflu, the anti-viral swine flu drug. Needless to say stocks had run out some days ago and stocks of face masks were also running low, with staff members dashing around bringing up the remaining boxes from storerooms below. Quite how you get your hands on a prescription for Tamiflu, I don't know. I can only assume it's via one's private medical practice, should you have one. The chaos at John Bell just gives a taste of what we can expect if swine flu does take hold in the UK. Terrifying.

On a lighter note, it was a good day for meeting people, both existing users of Queen products and potential customers. One woman who had tried some samples a few weeks ago and had subsequently bought a jar of our Skin Cream told us she was delighted with the product. 'I've tried all sorts of brands and this is the best. It's perfect for my skin.'

That's not the only glowing report we've had.  We have had some lovely emails this week.

Wrote a lady from Northamptonshire: "Hello there. I am delighted to say that of the Queen samples received I have found 3 products already that have not upset my sensitive skin and make it feel actually moisturised!  Woohoo –I have not enjoyed comfortable skin for some considerable time so I am very grateful to have discovered you!"

She continued:

"I am 47 and in recent years my naturally rosy face has become more and more intolerant.  I found a cream which was soothing but within minutes, especially in the winter, my face still felt as if it had been sandpapered and then stretched like a drum skin.  I am sitting here now with my face smoother and soft to the touch and comfortable to boot.  Since receiving the samples I have identified the ones that suit me and I am actually able to cleanse my face twice a day when before I used to dread even touching it.  The Sensiderma Foundation Cream is also a real find as it is making my own foundation sit smoothly whereas before while it was not upsetting my skin it would almost immediately flake and dry out and close up looked horrible. Many, many thanks!  Order to follow!"

And another received today said:

"Thank you for my order and thank you also for such immediate service. I'm delighted with my light night cream! That's what you call a free gift! It's amazing. Full size no less! I'm also impressed with the tinted foundation. A lovely creamy peachy tint and it stays put all day. That's no mean feat with my sensitive skin as the only other foundation to do that has been Kanebo which is very expensive and now only available in the U.K  from Harrods!

"I'm trying to convert my daughter who is 29 & still very prone to acne. I bought the light moisturiser sample for her to try. She already likes the medicated cleanser which she regularly purloins from me!
Thank you once again."

The free Light Night Cream refers to a two-day offer we ran last week. So glad we did it now!

Hmm, was just reading this month's SPC (Soap, Perfumery & Cosmetics - www.cosmeticsbusiness.com) magazine reports that, in France, two thirds of cosmetic products marketed as 'bio' (French for organic) and described as being preservative-free contained traces of preservatives.

The findings come from an investigation carried out by two French agencies, the AFSSAPS which is responsible for health product safety and the DGCCRF, the agency responsible for competition, consumption and fraud focused on 28 bio-cosmetics, of which 22 carried the Ecocert or other natural accreditation.

Of the 28 products, 12 claimed to use no preservatives and 16 claimed that they did not use phenoxyethanol. However, 19 products were found to contain traces of preservatives. The investigators said that it was impossible to conclude whether there had been a deliberate intent to deceive.

Isn't this still rather worrying news though?! If products are certified by a body like Ecocert then surely they should be what they claim to be otherwise the reputation and existence of these bodies should be called into question. Green, natural or organic cosmetics are marketed as being whiter than white and purer than pure yet, in this instance, this is clearly not the case.

SCP reports that the AFSSAPS says that the traces of preservatives could result from the raw materials, especially those coming from a vegetable origin.

I don't know how people are supposed to navigate their way through all this stuff. We always advocate that consumers learn to read ingredients' labels but what's the point when this sort of thing is going on?

This post is already far too long and there's orders to despatch. Enjoy this weather and have a good weekend.

The Queen Team
www.queen-cosmetics.com

Technorati Tags: Sensiderma Foundation Cream,flaking foundation,Ecocert,SCP,phenoxyethanol,sensitive skin,Queen Skin Cream,light night cream,tinted foundation cream for sensitive skin,Queen Cosmetics,www.queen-cosmetics.com,medicated cleanser,light moisturiser,smoother skin,flake and dry out

Samples for sensitive skin available now!

Technical issues and illness (poor us) have meant it's been a while since we last blogged. Actually, I did write a marvellous blog about how companies/individuals use ingredients' Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to scare the public into avoiding perfectly safe ingredients. Sadly, as I went to post it, my computer crashed (not poetic justice so don't even think it). As it took quite a lot of research (including finding MSDS's for the ingredients these people love to promote and showing that, taken out of context, even the most innocuous can sound horrific), it is going to take me a few days to rewrite it.

It would have been timely as I have just had a long telephone conversation with a customer who suffers from contact dermatitis on her hands and whose skin becomes sensitised to most cosmetic products instantly or within a few days or weeks of use, leaving her with dry, itchy patches on her skin.

'I have found that all the products which claim to be natural and fantastic for sensitive skin are the ones I have most problem with,' she said. I tried not to climb onto my soapbox but did have to have a quick rail against those writers/companies etc which claim that natural is best for sensitive skin. As I said to her, it means many people suffering from a sensitive skin condition are not finding products which work because they have been terrified into avoiding anything with demonised ingredients such as mineral oil and lanolin.

Colds and flu (oh, how we've suffered) aside, we've had quite a good few weeks. John Bell & Croyden, the pharmacy in Wigmore Street in London, has just taken on some more of our extensive range which is great news for us and, more importantly, our customers who enjoy their trips there but who have found it frustrating that they couldn't buy essentials such as their Queen Skin Cream for dry, sensitive skin or Shampoo for sore, itchy and sensitive scalps when buying their Theatrical Cleansing Cream (classic cleanser for sensitive skins) or Eye Make-up Remover for sensitive eyes. This week when we were promoting the products, there were so many people who came up to compliment us on them. 'I'm moving back to the States soon and am worried about what I'm going to do without my Queen Medicated Cleansing Lotion and Moisturiser', said one American woman. We reassured her that she can order online at www.queen-cosmetics.com and that we WILL get her her products by hook or by crook (or airmail anyway).

Having been keen to find a way to offer free samples without getting inundated by people who have no real interest in the products, we have followed the advice of those nice people at www.inasoapnutshell.com and have levied a small charge to at least cover the cost of postage & packaging. By the way, do visit In a Soap Nutshell if you find washing detergents are a problem for your skin. Soapnuts are unscented and gentle (yet somehow manage to really clean your washing) and they're amazing value to0.

Anyway, if you do want a FREE sample of our product of the month for sensitive skin (this month it's our Moisturiser) do visit our News and Special offers page and find out how to get your hands on one.

Lastly, I am pleased to tell you of our most recent star spot (they've been a bit thin on the ground of late): Bruce Forsyth. Brucie was browsing around John Bell last week and I have to say he looks fantastic - not a day over 45. He was tanned, relaxed and had a very good wig on. An inspiration!

Have a good weekend.

The Team at Queen

Technorati Tags: sensitive skin,samples for sensitive skin,www.queen-cosmetics.com,Queen Medicated Cleansing Lotion,Theatrical Cleansing Cream,contact dermatitis,Eye Make-up remover for sensitive eyes,classic cleanser for sensitive skin,dry,Skin Cream,Shampoo for sore,itchy sensitive scalps,sensitive eyes

Telegraph Beauty News recommends Queen

We're very excited this week after Queen received a little mention in the Saturday Telegraph (Kate Shapland's Beauty News page).

We kept getting emails on Saturday from people saying 'I read about you in the Telegraph magazine' and assumed they must be referring to the Sunday Telegraph Stella magazine where we did do some advertising a few years ago (we still do get people writing in having seen these in doctors' waiting rooms or the like so it wasn't inconceivable!). The penny eventually dropped when we kept getting online orders for the same product, Light Moisturising Lotion, and we were delighted to see a little write up under the heading 'The Comeback'.

For the full thing, do rush out and find a copy (or turn to the relevant page - p17 - if you have one but STILL haven't read it) or you can find it here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/beauty/4903579/Beauty-news-new-hair-cuts-perfume-scents-and-more....html

Says Kate Shapland at the end of it: Queen Light Moisturising Lotion is perfect for delicate skins.

Hooray, we couldn't have put it better ourselves!

Well, as a result we've had lots of enquiries and interest in Queen and Light Moisturising Lotion is proving very popular. It's a really lovely cream - non-greasy, easily absorbed and ideal for sensitive skins which tend to be normal-oily or acne-prone or for young skins. It is also designed for face and body and is therefore very good value as it's two products in one. So, if you or anyone you know is searching for a moisturiser or body lotion for their sensitive skin, tell them all about Queen and point them in the direction of The Telegraph if they won't take our word for it!

Visit www.queen-cosmetics.com to buy (Light Moisturising Lotion is £14.55 for a 250ml bottle).

Back soon.

The Queen Team

Technorati Tags: Queen Cosmetics,Telegraph,Kate Shapland,Light Moisturising Lotion,www.queen-cosmetics.com,sensitive skin,normal-oily skin,young skin,Beauty News

Sensitive skins should avoid mineral oil?

I was just reading through my Google alert daily bulletins which contain cosmetics industry news and point me in the direction of interesting articles or blogs about beauty products in general and about sensitive skin in particular.

Imagine my delight when I found one entitled 'When “Natural” Skin Care Products Can Be Bad For You' (see http://www.kelseypub.com/blog/healthfitness/beauty-healthfitness/2009-02-24/when-natural-skin-care-products-can-be-bad-for-you).

As you know, we advocate people being able to buy whatever products they feel suit them. There are some lovely natural and organic products out there and we are developing some ourselves here at Queen (our first trial moisturiser has had an excellent response and feedback). What we don't agree with is cosmetics' companies or journalists or bloggers pushing natural as the best alternative for sensitive skins. At Queen Cosmetics (www.queen-cosmetics.com), we have been making skin care and make-up products for sensitive skins for more than 80 years and we know which ingredients are the least sensitising. As a matter of fact, we don't just use mineral oil but a number of others too, including sweet almond and wheatgerm.

Anyway, my delight was due to the fact there I thought I had someone who was prepared to put forward a balanced view. In fact, this blog was very sensible and had some good advice. Until, that is, I noticed a line which said:

"...learn which ingredients to avoid in a skin care or beauty product. For your own protection, know why you should not use a face cream or body lotion that contains substances such as perfume or mineral oil. By arming yourself with this knowledge, you are better able to find natural beauty products you won’t have qualms using and recommending to others."

Perfume yes? But mineral oil???? Where on earth did the writer get this from? This is yet another myth. Cosmetics-grade mineral oil and petrolatum are considered the safest, most non-irritating moisturising ingredients around (Source: Cosmetics & Toiletries, January 2001, page 79; Cosmetic Dermatology, September 2000, pages 44–46).

I don't want to get into the debate about how natural mineral oil is but it does come from a natural source. Yes, it's refined and treated but then so is every other oil. How would it be safe to use otherwise?

Mineral oil is an excellent emollient, it has no smell or colour (did you know that many oils have to be deodorised because they have an unpleasant smell?) and it doesn't go off or become rancid like many vegetable, plant or fruit oils do. It is ideal for sensitive skin.

If you have sensitive skin, don't be put off by these scaremongers and don't avoid trying products which contain mineral oil. You might find they are the answer you've been looking for!

Back soon.

The Queen Team

Technorati Tags: mineral oil,sensitive skin,queen cosmetics,www.queen-cosmetics.com,sensitive skin blogs,perfume

Multi-functional skincare products to help you beat the recession

In these difficult times, I have been musing about multiple uses for some of our individual products.

What has prompted this musing is that today, as well as slathering my eyelashes with Queen Eyelash Cream (conditionning, protective, makes them glossy, etc etc and, of course, suitable for sensitive eyes), I have been using it on my lips which are really dry this winter (due, I'm sure, to non-stop in-car and central heating).

I usually use Queen Skin Cream but had my Eyelash Cream to immediate hand. Skin Cream is already super-multi-functional and should be a bathroom cupboard or dressing table staple. For £14.55, you can buy a 50g jar which will last you for ages, even if you do use it for all of the following on a daily or nightly basis:

Queen Skin Cream: The sensitive skin supercream

Soothes sore dry lips
Repairs cracked heals, dry feet, elbows
Soothes itchy skin
Soothes and gets rid of eczema patches
Banishes very dry skin on face and body
Works as an eye cream staving off wrinkles
Makes a great intensive moisturiser
Soothes minor burns
Soothes nappy rash and protects babies' bottoms
Soothes and repairs sore cracked nipples on nursing mums
Moisturises nail beds when massaged into finger nails
Protects against the elements - great when used before sailing, running, gardening

I could go on but that's enough for now. Eyelash Cream, for its part, is also great on eyebrows as it makes them look glossy and keeps them neat.

Enriched Moisturising Lotion is not only a great face and body moisturiser but also makes a super cleanser for dry skin. It's a marvellous after sun lotion and soothes sore legs and other body parts after hair removal. Queen Theatrical Cleansing Cream is not only a make-up remover but is also used by some of our professional clients as a massage cream.

There's more but I haven't got time to detail them all today so do come back next week!

Just had a very nice email from a journalist who uses our products. "I will definitely recommend your products to anyone I know. I've sung your praises to my friends in any case because I love your stuff - my skin can't handle many products and yours seem to be the only one it likes at the moment. Congratulations on a really good brand."

Oooh, we do love it when Queen products get feedback like this.

No star spots this week at John Bell & Croyden, our stockist in London's West End. I think we must just choose the wrong day to go there as we used to see all sorts of stars of stage and screen. Still, sales are going well with lots of women I recognise from handing out samples coming back to buy. Fingers crossed it continues.

Hope to see you again soon.

The Team at Queen

Technorati Tags: sensitive skin,skincare for sensitive skin,Queen Skin Cream,Eyelash Cream,soothes ithcy skin,Enriched Moisturising Lotion,Queen Theatrical cleansing cream,recession,suitable for sensitive eyes

Sensitive skin product recommendations abound

Queen's HQ has been battered this week variously by deep snow, ice, gales, driving rain and, today, just freezing temperatures and grey skies. The wind has been whistling through our draughty office and even my Gumbies boots (have you seen these - sort of Croc with a moc-Ugg attached - without which I would now have trench foot) have been tested to the max. Cup after cup of green tea is keeping me going though as have some lovely comments from Queen customers.

Says a longstanding customer: "Queen Skin Cream is just wonderful. I suffer from eczema and find it really soothing and it has got rid of dry, scaly patches that I have had for years. I use it on my face, on my feet, on my lips and in areas of eczema on my ankles and face.  It's better than the stuff the doctor has given me. At night, if my legs or ankles start itching, I rub some Skin Cream in really well and it soothes it immediately. It's brilliant, I can't praise it enough."

Another called to order some Sensiderma Cold Cream and said how it was the only product she could use. "I think I could be your oldest customer," she said, meaning longstanding as opposed to most elderly. I asked her how long she had been using Queen products and she was disappointed to hear that her 30 years fell a good 20 years short of many of our other customers!

The results of our Sensiderma Renew & Refine, the new anti-wrinkle cream for sensitive skin, are beginning to show. Repeat orders are coming in and its users are getting compliments from their friends and families. A new customer ordered today based on seeing her friend (a longstanding Queen client but who has recently started using Renew & Refine) with a glowing complexion. "I said you look amazing, what do you use and she told me Queen," she recounted, before saying that she used Clinique but was ready for a change!

I have to balance all of these compliments by saying it's not all been sweetness and light over the last week or so. Parcels have gone astray (customers were kindly very patient) presumably because of the weather and there have been a few criticisms about our hand cream tottles (a cross between a bottle and a tube). We do need to look at finding some better ones but it's hard to find things - particularly from suppliers within the UK which we prefer to use - which are lightweight enough to go in the post, which preserve the cream well and which dispense the product quickly and easily.

Ah, can I just say a customer has just ordered a brown Mascara, declaring it "marvellous" for her sensitive eyes. Sorry, bragging over.

Time to get back to the orders.

The Team at Queen