We use fewer ingredients so each one can be present in a meaningful amount and perform its intended function.
This reduces dilution, minimises unwanted interactions, and allows the skin to respond more clearly and comfortably over time - especially for sensitive or barrier-compromised skin.

Not at all. Effectiveness comes from precision, not quantity. By concentrating our formulas, each ingredient carries its weight.

We don’t believe effectiveness comes from trace inclusions designed to decorate a label. Our formulations are built around ingredients that work in harmony and in meaningful proportions - not trends or marketing claims.

“Natural” gets used loosely across skincare, often to describe a product that still contains synthetic emulsifiers or fragrance alongside a handful of botanical ingredients. At Artumé, every ingredient in every formula is a plant-derived oil, butter, hydrosol, or botanical extract - there are no synthetic fillers, emulsifiers, or fragrances anywhere in the range. We’d rather you check the ingredient list yourself than take our word for it, it’s the same list on the box as it is on the page.

Emulsifiers exist to stabilise a formula, not to benefit the skin. We formulate without them so the skin comes into direct contact with ingredients it recognises - without inactive coatings or unnecessary structural agents.

We don’t add water as a filler or diluent. Where you see rose or neroli flower water in a formula, that’s a hydrosol - a botanical distillate carrying its own actives, included for what it does, not to bulk out the product. Every ingredient in an Artumé formula is there on purpose.

Hydrosols are naturally water-based, and even on their own, before we do anything to them, they need to be preserved to remain stable, since untreated hydrosols have a short shelf life and would otherwise require refrigeration. The hydrosols we use arrive already lightly preserved for this reason. We use a small, well-tolerated amount of Sodium Benzoate, a naturally derived preservative, to keep these formulas safe and stable for use at room temperature. Our oil and butter-based products - moisturisers, body creams, serums, balms, contain no water at all and need no preservative.

Some conventional moisturisers include a small amount of alcohol (often listed as alcohol denat. or ethanol) because it evaporates quickly, giving an immediate matte, dry to the touch finish on application. It’s a texture choice, not a skin nourishing one - alcohol itself doesn’t moisturise or support the barrier, and for some skin types, repeated use can be drying. We formulate without it, which is part of why Artumé’s creams and serums feel different on application: there’s no fast evaporating ingredient creating that quick “dry off” sensation, just oils and butters absorbing at their own pace.

We use authentic steam distilled hydrosols rather than floral waters made by blending essential oils with water and solubilisers such as polysorbates. Although the INCI name for the hydrosol may be the same, the method of production and ingredient quality are different

Most conventional creams are water-based emulsions - water blended with oil using an emulsifier, along with humectants that draw moisture to the skin’s surface. This gives an immediate feeling of lightness on application, because the water content evaporates quickly.

Artumé’s creams and serums are built the opposite way: oils and butters, with no water and no emulsifier. On first application, this can feel richer and take around ten minutes or so to fully absorb, because the skin is receiving lipids directly rather than a fast evaporating water phase. This isn’t a fault, it’s simply a different way of delivering nourishment to the skin. Give it time to settle, and give your skin a few applications to adjust if you’re coming from a water-based routine. Most people find the feel becomes familiar quickly, and many prefer it once they notice how little product they actually need.

Often, yes. Skincare built without water, emulsifiers, or synthetic thickeners has a different texture and a different absorption rate to conventional formulas. It’s not better or worse in an objective sense, but it is different, and it’s common for skin to need a short adjustment period when switching from conventional to natural, oil-based skincare. We’d rather tell you this now than have you assume something’s wrong on day one.

Because our formulas are concentrated - oils and butters with no water or filler, a little goes a long way. For creams and serums, one or two pumps is usually enough for the full face. Using more than this won’t improve results; it will just sit on the skin’s surface for longer while the excess absorbs.

Our creams and serums are packaged in airless pump bottles. The first time you use a new bottle, you may need to press the pump a couple of times before product appears - this is normal, and simply draws the formula up through the pump mechanism for the first time. After that, each pump dispenses consistently.

Because our oil and butter based formulas contain no preservative, keeping them away from repeated air exposure matters. An airless pump draws product from a sealed chamber rather than allowing air to enter the bottle with every use, which limits oxidation and helps the formula stay fresher for longer. It also means each pump delivers a consistent, hygienic amount - no fingers in the jar, no guessing how much you’re applying.

The skin barrier is responsible for hydration, resilience, and comfort. Our formulations prioritise gentle cleansing, lipid balance, and barrier compatible ingredients so the skin can regulate itself naturally over time.

Yes. Each product is formulated to complement the others, allowing you to build a simple, cohesive routine without overloading the skin.

All scent comes naturally from botanical hydrosols, essential oils, and resins. We do not use synthetic fragrance or artificial perfumes.

Our products are designed to be respectful of the skin barrier and are often well tolerated by sensitive or reactive skin. That said, skin is individual, and we always recommend reviewing ingredients carefully and patch testing when needed.

Every Artumé formula is listed in full on its product page, so you can review the ingredients against any guidance you’ve been given. As with any skincare change during pregnancy or breastfeeding, we’d recommend checking with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns, particularly around essential oil containing products.

The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face. We’d suggest checking the ingredient list of any product before use in this area, applying only a small amount, and patch testing first if you haven’t used the product elsewhere on your face.

Most of the Artumé range is free from nut derived ingredients - our facial oils, serums, mists, cleansers, and toners are formulated with seed oils and botanical hydrosols rather than nut oils. Our moisturisers, body creams, and lip balm contain shea butter, and our lip balm also contains coconut oil, so if you have a tree nut allergy, please check the ingredient list on these products carefully before use. If you’re unsure which products are suitable for you, reach out and we’re happy to help you find the right options.

Discontinue use and rinse the affected area with cool water. If irritation persists, we’d recommend speaking with a healthcare professional. We’re also here if you want to talk it through - get in touch any time.

Our serums are pure botanical oil blends - lighter in texture, designed to deliver concentrated plant oils quickly, and easy to layer under a moisturiser or makeup. Our moisturisers combine oils with plant butters, giving them a richer, creamier consistency that sits on the skin a little longer and is suited to daily hydration and protection. Many people use a serum in the morning under makeup and a moisturiser or cream at night, though either can be used at any time depending on how your skin feels.

As a general guide: cleanse, tone (if using a mist or toner), then apply serum, then moisturiser or cream - lightest texture first, richest last. This isn’t a strict rule, just a starting point to build your own ritual around.

We’d recommend applying serums and creams to slightly damp skin - straight after using a mist or toner, before it’s fully dried. This helps the oil spread thinly and evenly, and locks in the hydrosol’s hydration underneath. Applying to fully dry skin works too, but you may find you need to spend a little longer working the product in to distribute it evenly.

Yes, though our formulas are concentrated and free from synthetic stabilisers, so they tend to work best alongside other minimal, natural formulations. If you’re introducing Artumé into a conventional routine, we’d suggest replacing one product at a time so your skin can adjust gradually.

Every Artumé product is made in small batches, in house. This lets us stay closely involved in every stage of the process - from sourcing botanical ingredients through to the final formula, and keep tight control over freshness and quality in every batch we release.

Every Artumé product has a shelf life of 12 months from the date of manufacture. Although our formulas contain no added water, our hydrosol-based products (mists, toners, cleansers) include a small amount of water as a natural by-product of the distillation process used to produce the hydrosol itself - which is why these, like the rest of the range, are given a 12-month dated shelf life rather than treated as indefinitely stable. Our serums and creams are packaged in airless pump bottles, which limit oxygen exposure with every use and help preserve the formula’s freshness across that 12 month period.

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Once opened, we’d recommend using products within 12 months for the best experience, as natural oils and botanical extracts are more sensitive to oxidation than synthetic ones. Our airless pump packaging for serums and creams already limits air exposure during use, helping to slow oxidation throughout that time.