I’m desperately passionate about children’s skincare (and my own). It’s a love passed down to me from my mum, and a genuine fascination with skincare ingredients. Being so in tune with my children’s skin means I notice the slightest change to the smallest patch of skin and whip out any one of a number of products to correct it. Yet when Dexter came down with bronchitis recently and came out in an epic rash, I took to Twitter in a panic. Here’s the hastily-taken iPhone pic I sent live on social media:

Following the advice of many, we rushed him down the GP in a bid to get some answers. Yet in all-too-familiar fashion, we were casually dismissed with “He’s just a bit run down“. I could rant about my doctor’s surgery all day but I won’t. Needless to say, it was a small UK based skin care business that came through for us; Botanic Health Care. Emails were exchanged and a lovely lady called Phyllis bundled some goodies in the post to try and calm his irritated skin.

Who are Botanic Health Care?

It was founded in 2010, by Ghanian born Phyllis Nsiah. She was brought up in a culture where maintaining the skin’s equilibrium through the use of herbs was the norm, and skin care was made with 100% natural ingredients.

Growing up as a teenager in London, Phyllis’s career path started with a degree in Applied Biology and human skin cell research. This scientific knowledge combined with the natural health wisdom laid the foundation for the future creation for Botanic Health Care.

Moving into motherhood and out of the laboratory, Phyllis went back to nature’s basics to tackle the varied skin health needs of her family; a mixed bag of eczema, sensitive and normal skin types, all in need of nourishment and hydration. In her kitchen, Phyllis created body washes, moisturising skin lotions and healing balms using pure botanicals that replenished thirsty skin throughout the day.

We need to maintain our body and skin health in the same way we use food for energy. With the process refined, every drop of herbal extract and precious oil has a tried and tested purpose in the Botanic Health Care range Phyllis Nsiah

So what were we sent?

We were very kindly sent the samples above - all of which contain a raft of active ingredients to calm and protect delicate skin.

And what did we think?

The NESSkin Therapy Support Skin Wash is so mild it froths up lightly and rinses away in seconds. If you’re bathing a baby it’s therefore ideal if you worry about residue left on hypersensitive skin.

The scent of tea, geranium rose, lavender, nettle, chamomile and tea tree hits you immediately and is wonderfully calming. Yet this is a departure from the usual heavy lavender-based skin washes you find for babies. It’s a nod to all the old wives tales you hear about oats at socks & teabags. The scent doesn’t linger, it’s there to relax and cleanse baby, then its job is done.

The foaming action is 100% natural using soapwort, and there’s regenerating panthenol and pure essential oils of yarrow and chamomile for soothing itchy skin. Tea tree and nettle are fab for their naturally occurring antimicrobial properties, whilst geranium rose and orange flower boast astringent, tonic and antiseptic effects (as well as providing relief from common colds). There are no mineral oils, genetically engineered ingredients, or preservatives, and this (and all skincare products) are cruelty-free.

Weighing in at a reasonable £14.00 for 200mls, there are also 30ml samples also available for trialing the wash on your family’s skin.

The NESSkin Therapy Support Nourishing Dry Skin Balm is also a little bit special. A shea butter and cocoa butter blend deliver intensive moisture to dry chapped skin, whilst beeswax and carnauba wax give the balm a greasy sugary texture that needs warming in your hands before applying to the skin. It’s also packed with evening primrose oil and horsetail acting as hero ingredients to soothe and heal irritated skin, and also restore its elasticity.

Heidi’s dry patches and rough skin on her face have really improved, and it delivers continual hydration that lasts until morning. I’ve also been using this on my elbow and knees which take a real battering crawling after the kids after day - they’re now softer than they’ve been since my teenage years. It smells of herbs, lemon and chamomile and that sugary gritty mixture dissolves to a greasy balm when rubbed into the skin.

Finally the NESSkin Therapy Support Skin Cream reminds me a little of Hope’s Relief’s offering. Grey brown in colour and unattractive to look at, it’s an ultra mild light cream that dries quickly to a matt finish. Normally I hate quick-drying creams (other than those I use on my face) as I like to feel constantly hydrated throughout the day, but this is leaves skin impossibly soft and healthy-looking.

Made with soothing chamomile, natural vitamin E and avocado oil, it sinks in with ease leaving an inoffensive tea tree scent on the skin. Heidi’s eczema is now far less red and raw-looking, and this really helped Dexter’s skin when antibiotics and industrial central heating were drying it out in hospital. I love how Phyllis has balanced moisturisation and hydration with antiseptic and astringent properties to really correct skin ailments long-term, as well as delivering instant relief from the symptoms of problem skin.

This is £19 for 200mls which edges it up into premium territory. I’m not suggesting this isn’t worth the money, but recommend investing in a sample bottle for patch testing before buying a full-sized one. The bottle could also benefit from being a little prettier given the price tag (but this is such a minor point, I feel a little silly even typing it!).

Check them out for yourself on BotanicHealthCare.com, or find out more on Twitter and Facebook