At the heart of Ella Mclachlan’s skincare brand Phoenix & Providence is the concept of mindful living and the desire to harness the nourishing benefits of seaweed and salt for skin. Lying 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, the beautifully clear waters of the Isles of Scilly are home to a rich and diverse marine life and one of the only places in the UK you can find seagrass beds – and alongside the seagrass, kelp and seaweed.

The island’s heritage of harvesting seaweed far predates Phoenix & Providence. Kelp was burned on the islands from around 1680 to the last recorded kelp burning in 1835, the ash from this was then used in glass and soap making. The brand is named after two shipwrecks – the Phoenix and the Providence – the Phoenix sank in 1680 when the kelp burning began and the Providence in 1833 as the kelp burning ended.  Providence means the protective care of nature as a spiritual power and Phoenix represents the rising from the ashes, quite literally in this case.

Ella now hand-harvests seaweed and turns it into beautiful skincare. Seaweed is packed with vitamins K, B, A, and E, that help improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity. High in Vitamin C, these natural antioxidants promote collagen production which help plump skin and smooth fine lines. Packed full of humectants seaweed is also beneficial as it helps skin hydrate and retain moisture.

By choosing a handcrafted approach, protecting our environment and choosing less chemicals, Ella promotes a more natural, kinder way of creating a product for a simple ritual, be it bathing, or moisturising.

We particularly love the bath salts, and range of bath and face oils, as well as the simple, environmentally friendly packaging – and that each parcel comes with a tip of simple self-care rituals.