Planted Oil Cleanser with Black Cumin and Raw Honey – A New Favourite for Sensitive Skin

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that I have dry skin with rosacea – a combination that demands a very selective and gentle skincare routine. Over the years, I’ve tested countless products, and it’s rare for something new to immediately earn a spot on my re-buy list. But the Planted Oil Cleanser from Planted Bioavailable Skincare? It's absolutely made the cut.

There’s something particularly reassuring about skincare created out of necessity – especially when it's born from personal experience. That’s exactly how Melissa Chartan developed Planted. Having battled eczema, psoriasis, and persistently dry skin, she sought solutions that worked where conventional products hadn’t. After finding relief through the use of plant oils, she created Planted – a brand rooted in efficacy, simplicity, and skin-kind ingredients.

First Impressions: Texture and Performance

The texture was the first thing that won me over – a dreamy blend that sits somewhere between an oil, a balm, and a gel. It’s officially described as a gel-to-milk hydrophilic cleanser, and that’s exactly right. Applied to dry skin, it glides on beautifully, melting away dirt, makeup, and the day’s residue. Add a little water, and it emulsifies into a light milk – not too thin, just enough to rinse away cleanly without leaving a film.

It removes every trace of makeup effortlessly, making it ideal as the first step in a double cleanse, if that’s your thing. But honestly? It performs so well, it works well solo which is how I use it. My skin feels thoroughly cleansed – something I can confidently say, as my LumiSpa never picks up any leftover residue or base in the morning. There’s no tightness, no dryness, and crucially, no irritation or dragging – a huge win if you’ve got sensitive or rosacea-prone skin like mine.The brand claims it works for all skin types, and I don’t see why that wouldn’t be the case. I haven’t tested it on oily skin yet, but in my experience, oilier skin types often respond well to oil-based cleansers. As always, it's worth checking the ingredients list in case something doesn’t agree with your skin.

Results

Since incorporating this cleanser into my routine, I’ve noticed a genuine improvement in my skin’s softness and comfort. I wasn’t expecting visible results from a cleanser, but this one has surprised me – in the best way.

Skin Type Suitability

The brand says it’s suitable for all skin types, and from what I’ve seen, I’d agree. While I haven’t tested it on oily skin personally, oil-based cleansers are often well tolerated by oilier complexions – they can actually help regulate sebum production. As always, it's worth checking the full ingredients list if your skin is reactive or acne-prone.

Ingredient Highlights

Now, onto the formulation – which is thoughtfully crafted and genuinely impressive. While I adore essential oils in daily life, I approach them with caution in skincare due to my sensitivity. That said, I’ve had no issues with this blend. Here’s a closer look at the standout ingredients:

• Raw Honey – A natural humectant that attracts and retains moisture. It also gently exfoliates, offers antimicrobial benefits, and helps protect against transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

• Macadamia Seed Oil – Rich in oleic and linoleic acids, this oil supports barrier repair, softens skin, and reduces inflammation.

• Black Cumin Seed Oil – Known for its potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it helps balance the skin and improve tone and texture.

• Apricot Kernel Oil – Soothing and vitamin-rich, it calms inflammation while deeply nourishing the skin.

Together, these ingredients create a formula that supports a healthy skin barrier, locks in moisture, and offers gentle but effective cleansing.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a cleanser that’s both effective and gentle – particularly if you struggle with dryness, sensitivity, or reactive skin – I wholeheartedly recommend giving Planted Oil Cleanser a try. It’s nourishing, thoughtfully formulated, and – most importantly – it works.

I was sent this and other Planted products to test but the choice to review them was mine and all opinions shared are true and I would happily buy this product myself

Rosacea Favourites

Having rosacea is one of the main reasons I wanted to learn about skin science and skincare. These products are ones I recommend to my clients, consistently use myself and rebuy when they run out. 

You can find all these products in my rosacea favourites list

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Pads - LMB Cult 60

Why I think you should know about it? - easy to use, cruelty-free and won't break the bank

Avene Cicalfate - LMB 60 Cult Products

Evening Skincare Favourites

These are my current evening skincare favourites. I've tried to be really consistent with what I'm using at the moment and it's really paying off. My skin is completely clear and all residual marks from hormonal breakouts have cleared.

LimeLife by Alcone Make-off Remover Spray
LimeLife Quench Cleanse
Garden of Wisdom Vitamin C & Ferulic 
Skinceuticals Retinol 
LimeLife by Alcone Sotoks
Garden of Wisdom Prickly Pear Seed Oil 

Some links are affiliate links which means I will get a small commission if you click through and buy from them. There is no extra cost to you and if you are not comfortable with that then do feel free to open a separate window and google the product for yourself.

Come and join in the conversation on Facebook at the Corinna Harrod Beauty Group - just send me a request and I'll add you. Don't forget to sign up to my YouTube channel. 

Morning Skincare Favourites

My skin is looking the best it has done in years and I’m pretty sure these products are the reason why

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
Superdrug B. Multi Acid Pads
Garden of Wisdom Hyaluronic Acid
LimeLife Dew Date
LimeLife Perfect Sunscreen 

Some links are affiliate links which means I will get a small commission if you click through and buy from them. There is no extra cost to you and if you are not comfortable with that then do feel free to open a separate window and google the product for yourself

Come and join the Facebook group for more Live tutorials, tips and tricks - Corinna Harrod’s Beauty Inside & Out or send Corinna Harrod a friend request and I'll add you to the group. 

Skin Confidence

It's weird what life throws at you. I'm not superstitious (except for bloody magpies) but every now and again something will happen and I'll wonder if it's the world playing tricks on me. A really lovely friend of mine has seen the return of her cystic acne and I have been talking to her about it, wanting to get further into my skin science diploma to discover what I can to help her. Then, during the most amazing two weeks working at the Trinny London pop-up store in London where I met woman after woman with low skin confidence all of whom has lovely skin. Yes they had problems but around those problems they all had beautiful skin.

Skin Rehydration Favourites

Skin is a tricky mistress and even something simple like rehydrating dehydrated skin can be tricky. These are my favourites for when I'm doing a skin rehydration bootcamp but too much of a humectant (like hyaluronic acid) can draw moisture from deep in the skin towards the surface so if you have a dry skin type you may want to watch your usage on this.

All products and reviews are listed below. If you want to then come on and join the Facebook group.

Products:
The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
Indeed Labs Hydraluron
NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex
Origins Make A Difference Plus (for dry skin)
Origins Make A Difference Plus (for normal skin)
Origins Make A Difference Plus (for oily skin)
Epoch Glacial Marine Mud Mask
Gold Collagen Hydrogel Mask
Origins GinZing Tinted Moisturiser

Reviews:
The Body Shop Camomile Cleanser
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
Origins Make A Difference Plus (for dry skin)
Epoch Glacial Marine Mud Mask
Gold Collagen Heliogel Mask
Origins GinZing Tinted Moisturiser

Clarins Renew Plus Body Serum

People who have read this blog for a while (Hello and thank you) will know that I have Keratosis pilaris also known as 'chicken skin' (lovely) or as I call it, bumpy tops of my arms. I've always had, I was told I would grow out of it and never have. Nor have I found anything to get rid of it. I tried Environ Derma-Lac which helped a bit but as soon as I stopped using it, it was just as it always was.

I have been told by a couple of people that the Clarins Renew Plus Body Serum would help but I was dubious. It's not cheap and I have a lot of body moisturisers to work my way through. But in a fit of post-baby body loathing I thought I would give it a go and snuck it into an order with Euan the dream sheep and a bath thermometer.

March 2015 Favourites Friday Video

I'm away this weekend so I may not be able to embed this video before I go so please if it's not below then just follow this link... and you can also have a looky at my other videos.

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream

I have spent the last decade (more?) looking for the perfect hand cream. And I have tried some really great ones, some terrible ones too of course, but some that are so close to perfect and yet, just not quite good enough. This isn't a big announcement that I've found the Holy Grail of hand creams but this is as close as I've come and teamed with the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula hand cream my poor over-washed, over-anti-bacterialed hands have been in pretty good shape for the past couple of months.

I use the Norwegian formula (review to come soon) during the day mostly because it is easier to come across and it is slightly more easily absorbed than the La Roche Posay. But every night I've been using the Cicaplast hand cream and it has made a visible difference. It says to use every 2 hours or as needed but I would be getting through tubes of the stuff and it does kind of sit on the hands for a little while which makes going in for the next nappy change/brush clean/dog wrangle a bit tricky - I don't want to waste it. But it is a protective barrier so probably that sort of thing is exactly what it's for. I should get a grip.

Neutrogena Norweigian Formula Deep Moisture Body Lotion for Dry Skin - Quick Review Friday Video

This has shot to the top my list of favourite body moisturisers. Helps the horrible itchy dry skin I get at this time of year and I feel moisturised for 24 hours. There is no need to spend all your money on a good moisturiser - this is £4-5 for 400ml

Friday Video - Quick Review - Embryolisse Rich Balm

I love this cream but only really need it when my skin is dehydrated and needing some full-on TLC...

Friday Video - Three Non-Glamorous Products I Wouldn't Be Without

YouTube is full of people reviewing glamorous designer make-up products so I thought... what are the three least glam things in my bathroom that I buy over and over again. And here they are...

Derma-Lac Lotion by Environ
In-Grow Go by Skin Doctors
JML Ped Egg

My original Ped Egg review is here

Origins Make a Difference +

Although I like to rotate my moisturisers depending on what I'm trying out, what time of year it is and what my skin is doing, Origins Make a Difference Cream is one of my top 3 favourite moisturisers of all time. It was the first 'grown up' moisturiser I tried having seen an interview where Kylie Minogue raved about it and have been using it on and off ever since. Now Origins have released the Make a Difference + range - Make a Difference + rejuvenating moisturiser (normal skin), Ultra-rich cream (for dry skin) and rejuvenating treatment (for oily skin) something for every skin type. After just one application of Make a Difference + your skins moisture levels are clinically proven to surge 75%, it retains continuous moisture levels for 24 hours and it shows a clinical improvement in visible
radiance (not sure what that last one means really).

I've been trying out the Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream (for dry to very dry skin) every morning for the last week and my skin does look better and I can still feel it working when I remove my makeup at the end of the day. I have to say that I think in terms of amount this cream is really good value - you don't need to use much and you get a really full pot that will last you some time. It also smells fantastic, not quite as good as the original Make a Difference cream but really lovely which is a great way to start the day. This is perfect for my skin at this time of year which almost seems more dry when the weather is changing from summer to autumn than in the proper cold of winter. I think it would also be a great night cream for those who like something really rich - it's thick but non-greasy so it works into the skin properly - although there is a Make a Difference Night cream available.

Embryolisse Baume Riche

I love Embryolisse. Their Lait Creme Concentrate, Hydra-Mat Emulsion and Lotion Micellaire are constants in my professional kit and now I've been trying out their new Baume Riche a rich cold cream that acts like a balm for very dry, sensitive skin.

The first thing you notice (apart from the lovely packaging) is the amazing smell - always a bonus with any product. You really don't need to use very much of this - a little goes a long way and you don't want to waste any of this as it's not cheap. Baume Riche is incredibly hydrating and sits on the skin for a while so I like to use it at night almost as a mask - I can still feel it on my skin in the morning. Having used it for a week my terrible skin has cleared up a lot; the redness has nearly gone and the spots are much less present.

I'm not saying this is a miracle spot-removing cream but I'm pretty sure that along with hormones, my bad skin has been caused by incredible dryness and this seems to be really helping. The dry, flaky skin on my chin which has been present since about week 6 of my pregnancy is gone and only a bit of easily-coverable redness remains. I will update this review if any of that changes over time when I'm using, or not using this product, it's hard to tell whether it's this or just bodily changes but I'm pretty confident that the incredible turn-around in my skin in the last week that I've started using Baume Riche is no coincidence.

I really recommend splashing the cash (£21.95 for 40ml is quite steep) and trying this out if you have dry skin - this could really turn it around. It also makes a lovely present for a girlfriend.

What You Need to Know - Embryolisse Rich Balm

•  £22
• 40ml
• Available from Guru Makeup Emporium,
• Watch my Quick Review of it here

Cetaphil Restoroderm

I really wasn't sure about these Cetaphil products when I first started using them. The name isn't very memorable and the packaging doesn't blow me away and the moisturiser was fine but with my incredibly dry skin on my legs during winter it takes a lot for me to recommend a body moisturiser that actually keeps my itching under control. Cetaphil Restoraderm Moisturiser really does reduce dryness and has made my eczema so much more bearable.

Using advanced ceramide and Filaggrin technology these Restoraderm products are specifically designed to help dry, eczema prone skin. Filaggrins are proteins normally found in the outermost layer of healthy skin that help hold it together, people who suffer from eczema are often missing filaggrin or it's not working properly so these products help rebuild this barrier and so far they've been working for me.

I've been applying in the morning and evening and have been itching much less and the red patches on my legs have started to go down. Behind my knees gets particularly bad at this time of year and I spend half my day itching them through my jeans - so far I've been resisting that urge and in fact haven't thought about it. It's suitable for toddlers and children and is non-greasy and easily absorbed.

Cold Snap

Now I'm not a weather woman but I knew a while ago that we were expecting this cold snap. Not because I'm a genius but because the skin on my legs has been unbearably itchy and sore. I've been moisturising twice a day and (grossly) shaving as little as possible (we have a puppy... husband is having no chance to look at my legs) but it's still driving me mad. Most moisturisers I've used have stopped the itching for about 5 minutes and then it's back with a vengeance. I got desperate enough to search my cupboards which are full to bursting with different things I've bought on a whim and to my joy found a full bottle of Dove Intensive Body Lotion for extra dry skin and it's been working wonders.

It combines oil and cream so it's non-greasy, easily absorbed and hydrating. My skin had been feeling so tight and scaly and no feels soft and well, normal, hours after I've applied it. For me in winter this is unheard of. Even old favourites like Nivea Soft which I usually can't live without just weren't working. If you too are suffering then please try this. I'm a massive fan of This Works Dry Leg Oil too but a) it is oil so you really need to give it time to be absorbed - not ideal for using before work or bed b) it's much more expensive (around £30 for 120ml). This is a great, non-pricey fix to that horrible winter skin itch xx

Dry Skin Rears its Ugly Head

I've mentioned this before I have terrible trouble with dry skin bumps on tops of my arms and thighs. Thus far I have tried most kinds of exfoliators, oils and moisturisers to get rid of them and although I have succeeded in softening them up a bit after one day of lapsing they are back in force. I mentioned this whilst having a pedicure at Essence Beauty Rooms in Hammersmith and was recommended Environ's Derma-Lac Lotion. I nearly didn't get it as I have tried so many products that haven't worked and it is around £32 but I need to get this sorted out before I get married so I'll give it a go. I work close enough to the Essence Beauty Rooms to go in and complain if this doesn't work.

Its designed to treat rough, dry skin specifically feet and elbows and so far (fingers crossed) it really seems to be working. I've been using an exfoliating cloth in the bath and then applying the Derma-Lac with cotton wool. Although it was pretty pricey it should be used within 6-8 weeks so I feel that that's a fair trial period. After that I'm going to leave it for a week and see if they come back just as bad as they ever were. If they are reasonably fine still then I'm going to continue using this because so far the results have been fantastic. xx

Business as Usual

I'm sorry there's been another hiatus with the old blogging. I was rather shocked about the murder of a teenager near where I live. At the risk of sounding a bit like everyone's grandparents, what is the world coming to.

But whilst I was ruminating on the state of the world, and this country, the celebs continued their lives in a delightfully typical and outrageous fashion. Britney is out of rehab, getting primary custody of the boys but joint custody with K-Fed, with whom she is now getting along! Bloody typical. They are pretty hormonal as couples go. Naomi Campbell not only turned up for her community service but was nice to the people she was working with. And Angelina Jolie has adopted another child. This time Pax from Vietnam. I'm sure that it is better to give an orphan the opportunity to have a good life. However, with the hectic schedules of major celebrities, it must be hard to have time to pay enough attention to their own children. Let alone integrating a family of adopted children into a totally different country, culture, language and lifestyle.

Now I know this is gross but something has to be said. For all of you who have maybe a little bit of a shoe problem and go for looks over comfort be warned. I love shoes, the pointier and higher the better. For years I have spent more money on shoes than anyone of a sane disposition but I can't help it. But oh boy am I paying for it now. It's official - I have a bunion, and it hurts. I am now relegated to the faithful ugg boots (which I resisted for so long) and a toe separator in a vain attempt at stopping it getting worse. So here are some ways to prevent being doomed to a life of lumpy feet (I'd like to point out that my feet are the best part of me. I wouldn't change them and now...)

Most large pharmacies have whole sections of weird and wonderful things dedicated to feet. There are literally hundreds of foot soaks, scrubs, moisturisers and 'accessories' out there so really the best thing to do is go and have a look. But where to start? Here are a few products I like and suggestions on how to keep your feet fancy free (because we call know we aren't going to give up the shoes) But before I start if you wear pointy high heels you can get toe separators from Boots which you can wear in trainers and stops your big toe moving.

Before you can do any proper foot maintainance remove your nail varnish, your nails need help too. Then, and believe me this is good, get a bowl and fill it full with hot water and foot soak, plonk it in front of your favourite chair, insert feet and say 'ahhhh!'. Seriously, unless you splash out on a foot spa, not many things can be better than this. Boots Soothing Foot Bath which is medicated with witch hazel and mint and is a really great deal at £2.99. The Sanctury do a Relaxing Foot Soak with Lavender, Tea Tree and Green Seaweed which smells great and again amazing for £4.00 (also available in sachets). For something a bit more special Origins Foot Rest is no snip at £16.50 but this well last you a while and worth treating yourself with.

Once your feet are all soaked and smooth you can do your nails and the skin around your nails (it'll be easier now they are softened). If you have dry skin investing in a foot file is gross but necessary and now would be the time to get filing. Scholl's Dual Action Foot File is a good choice. For something with a little less elbow grease why not use a foot scrub? The Sanctuary's Foot Salt Scrub not only exfoliates but contains essential oils so its not too abraisive and only £5.95 for a big pot. But, as always, Origins have something a little more pricey up their sleeves, and its a goodie. Sole Searcher is a soothing foot scrub with Lava Rock (!) and worth its £16.50.

Now when it comes to moisturisers even I don't know where to begin. For me there is only one thing for really, really dry cracked skin. Flextol Heel Balm doesn't look special but my god it's a miracle worker. For £5.50 its a real must for those be-flip-flopped feet. Scholl's Deep Moisturising Cream is a permanant fixture in my bathroom and its only £3.99. This not only works a treat it smells amazing. For a more intensive treatment they do an Intensive Night Treatment, this comes with socks so you don't even have to walk like a tipsy penguin after application!

Best value for money for a non-intensive moisturiser is Badger Foot balm 21g is £3.89 for a big pot. Or Garnier's Body Cocoon Foot Cream is just 10p more. But I for one am never likely to do things by half so for something a little more fancy (again with the Origins...) Reinventing the Heel is a thick cream with tingling Menthol and Shea Butter to smooth the cracks. But the be all and end all in footcare for me, is L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream 150ml. Its cheaper than Origins and oh my goodness its pretty unbeatable. For £14 its thick, soothing and smells incredible. I really recommend this for any feet!

So ladies, remember you can have the aesthetic pleasure without the pain, but you have to look after your feet because there's no glamour in hobbling. xx