The beauty world is awash with misleading claims, pretty packaging and reliance upon a paid-for celebrity face. So many brands are focused on chucking a few million pounds at an advertising campaign, that they forget about what the consumer really wants - a product that actually works. I recently had the pleasure of meeting MeruMaya founder Maleka Dattu over tea in London to discuss her skincare range and to get to grips with the astounding science behind each and every product. Maleka is a woman that knows what she's talking about, having worked with the world's top brands within the cosmetics industry over a 27 year career. She left to pursue her own dream and MeruMaya Integrative Effective Skincare was born. Described as 'an evolutionary range of evidence based skincare designed to help prevent, while reducing existing signs of skin ageing,' they believe it's never too early or too late to start addressing your personal skin ageing needs.
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Unlike many brands who choose to either sit on the scientific or 'organic' side of the fence, MeruMaya integrates clinically tested active ingredients and natural resources to ensure their products offer the best of everything. There's no need for their components to tell a story, or fit within a marketing brief - they simply want to make great skin attainable for all. MeruMaya also respects the fact that adult acne and skin allergies are increasingly prominent; they pride themselves on using ingredients that will not exacerbate blemish prone skins, integrated with spot reducing ingredients which will not undermine anti-ageing efforts either.
The range includes all the skincare products you need for a thorough routine: face wash, cleansing balm, skin peel, radiance mask, serum, eye cream and moisturisers. Basically, they're one of the best brands I've discovered in ages - and they're not even spectacularly pricey! Prices start at £12.50 and go up to £34.50, making the range extremely affordable. There's nothing worse than finding a brand you love, but discovering you can't justify their price points more than a couple of times a year. I've been using a few MeruMaya products over the past couple of weeks and have been pleasantly surprised with how effective they are.
The Melting Cleansing Balm has been formulated to remove makeup and impurities in the most efficient and effective way possible, whilst being extremely practical to use. Unlike most other balms which are packaged in tubs and require the 'finger dipping' motion that wastes product and often causes a mess, the MeruMaya version is in a tube and doesn't require any massaging motion between the hands to heat up the balm and ensure it's creamy enough to use. Their cleansing balm minimises wastage, is more hygenic and is super quick to use - you can apply a small blob to your hands and instantly massage into skin to lift away makeup in seconds. It leaves skin feeling cleansed and refreshed, with no tightness or dryness. Containing sweet almond oil, it's extremely pleasant to use and is light enough for the daily 'double cleanse' which can ensure a deep-down clean.
The Iconic Youth Serum has integrated itself seamlessly into my routine, working well beneath my moisturiser and makeup without leaving a heavy base to cover. Avoiding getting too complicated and scientific, the serum includes an exclusive complex of 10 active ingredients at maximum concentration (to ensure they deliver the promises they make,) to help skin appear youthfully vibrant and radiant. It's non-greasy and absorbs into the skin quickly to leave it instantly plumped, while it gets to work over a number of weeks to target deeper issues. I've avoided using serums and oils for so long because they just didn't work with my routine, but this provides the treatment I need in a format that works for me.
MeruMaya isn't just about skincare products though, as their new Skin Brilliance Supplements prove. Taken twice a day with food, the supplements are clinically proven to improve moisture, elasticity, radiance and collagen, whilst reducing lines and wrinkles after a six week period. I've seen the scientific studies and the evidence proves these really do work, but they have to be taken twice daily over a 45 day period before serious results can be seen. I've been taking these for a couple of weeks and I'm confident that my skin will look even more luminous in the next month! Whereas a lot of skincare specialists charge a fortune for their supplements, these are only £34.95 for 90 capsules - considering the level of active ingredients, this really is a great investment for your skin.
MeruMaya is a seriously effective range of products that is totally affordable too. It's been praised by beauty editors in the know, as well as my very own Mother Skin: Caroline Hirons. I love the fact that it combines the goodness of nature with science and all the money has gone into the ingredients, not fancy packaging. This isn't a brand that you'll necessarily showcase on your bathroom shelf, but it is a brand you'll share with your friends when they ask what your secret its.
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The MeryMaya products start at £12.50 and increase to £34.50. They're available from John Lewis and via their own website.![]()
Unlike many brands who choose to either sit on the scientific or 'organic' side of the fence, MeruMaya integrates clinically tested active ingredients and natural resources to ensure their products offer the best of everything. There's no need for their components to tell a story, or fit within a marketing brief - they simply want to make great skin attainable for all. MeruMaya also respects the fact that adult acne and skin allergies are increasingly prominent; they pride themselves on using ingredients that will not exacerbate blemish prone skins, integrated with spot reducing ingredients which will not undermine anti-ageing efforts either.
The range includes all the skincare products you need for a thorough routine: face wash, cleansing balm, skin peel, radiance mask, serum, eye cream and moisturisers. Basically, they're one of the best brands I've discovered in ages - and they're not even spectacularly pricey! Prices start at £12.50 and go up to £34.50, making the range extremely affordable. There's nothing worse than finding a brand you love, but discovering you can't justify their price points more than a couple of times a year. I've been using a few MeruMaya products over the past couple of weeks and have been pleasantly surprised with how effective they are.
The Melting Cleansing Balm has been formulated to remove makeup and impurities in the most efficient and effective way possible, whilst being extremely practical to use. Unlike most other balms which are packaged in tubs and require the 'finger dipping' motion that wastes product and often causes a mess, the MeruMaya version is in a tube and doesn't require any massaging motion between the hands to heat up the balm and ensure it's creamy enough to use. Their cleansing balm minimises wastage, is more hygenic and is super quick to use - you can apply a small blob to your hands and instantly massage into skin to lift away makeup in seconds. It leaves skin feeling cleansed and refreshed, with no tightness or dryness. Containing sweet almond oil, it's extremely pleasant to use and is light enough for the daily 'double cleanse' which can ensure a deep-down clean.
The Iconic Youth Serum has integrated itself seamlessly into my routine, working well beneath my moisturiser and makeup without leaving a heavy base to cover. Avoiding getting too complicated and scientific, the serum includes an exclusive complex of 10 active ingredients at maximum concentration (to ensure they deliver the promises they make,) to help skin appear youthfully vibrant and radiant. It's non-greasy and absorbs into the skin quickly to leave it instantly plumped, while it gets to work over a number of weeks to target deeper issues. I've avoided using serums and oils for so long because they just didn't work with my routine, but this provides the treatment I need in a format that works for me.
MeruMaya isn't just about skincare products though, as their new Skin Brilliance Supplements prove. Taken twice a day with food, the supplements are clinically proven to improve moisture, elasticity, radiance and collagen, whilst reducing lines and wrinkles after a six week period. I've seen the scientific studies and the evidence proves these really do work, but they have to be taken twice daily over a 45 day period before serious results can be seen. I've been taking these for a couple of weeks and I'm confident that my skin will look even more luminous in the next month! Whereas a lot of skincare specialists charge a fortune for their supplements, these are only £34.95 for 90 capsules - considering the level of active ingredients, this really is a great investment for your skin.
MeruMaya is a seriously effective range of products that is totally affordable too. It's been praised by beauty editors in the know, as well as my very own Mother Skin: Caroline Hirons. I love the fact that it combines the goodness of nature with science and all the money has gone into the ingredients, not fancy packaging. This isn't a brand that you'll necessarily showcase on your bathroom shelf, but it is a brand you'll share with your friends when they ask what your secret its.
The MeryMaya products start at £12.50 and increase to £34.50. They're available from John Lewis and via their own website.