Go wild in the country

Foraging for food is no new pastime, but foraging for skincare? Our beauty editor Armand Beasley makes some naturally wonderful discoveries

- Armand Beasley

Gazing into the distance, perched high on a Welsh hillside in a sea of purple heather, the wind flicking at me while a fine mist of rain adds a soft-focus lens to the view, I feel as if I’ve stepped into a Brontë novel. My eyes survey the thousands of acres around me, seeking, seeking… Like Heathcliff, I am determined to find my passion and won’t be distracted, but materialising at my side is not Cathy, it’s not even Kate Bush, it’s Richard Prideaux.

Survival expert and Rhug Estate head forager, Richard is a great big bear of a man, the love child of Queen Boudicca and Brian Blessed. “That’s it!” he bellows and thrusts plant matter in my face. “Gorse. Latin name ‘Ulex’. We use two species of gorse flowers in Rhug Wild Beauty, both are in the Ulex genus.”

I’ve been invited to the stunning Rhug Estate in Corwen, North Wales, to forage for some of the ingredients that go into the new organic skincare brand, Rhug Wild Beauty.

There are currently 10 face and body products in the collection, but more will be added soon. I’m a big fan of certified organic products, as independent certification bodies such as the Soil Association and COSMOS keep producers on their toes, doing spot checks and establishing criteria for people to adhere to, assuring high production standards with excellent environmental and animal welfare.