Born on the shoreline
- Hannah Tapping
- Sep 16
- 4 min read
Words by Hannah Tapping
Small-batch skin care created from natural and ethical recipes which works in harmony with your body.
My daughter has spent years battling with hypersensitive skin, inflammation and eczema. As a competitive swimmer, chlorine wreaks havoc with her body’s natural oils, stripping it dry to leave parched skin that no manner of products can rectify. Add contact dermatitis into the mix and you have a dermal skin storm that no teenager wants to have to deal with. So-called ‘natural’ products from the chemist, and even prescribed emollients, either don’t work or exacerbate the problem. Ever-eager to find something that might actually help, a stay at Watergate Bay Hotel in Newquay introduced us to land&water, a British bath and body brand whose roots lie deep in the shoreline.
Founded by Pix Ashworth in 2020, after two years of research and development, land&water was born from a life lived between coast and mountain. Pix has long embraced the rhythm of the outdoors whether striding into a headwind along a cliff path, plunging into cold water, exploring the French Alps, or sinking into an evening of restorative calm. “Relaxation doesn’t have to mean slowing down,” she reflects. “It can be the quickening of your heartbeat if that’s what resets your headspace. Time outside makes us feel better inside.”
A philosophy of invigoration entwined with stillness lies at the heart of the land&water collection. Working in close collaboration with perfumer and apothecarist Richard Howard, Pix has distilled this spirit into natural, small-batch skincare and home products. The formulations marry fruit, flower and plant essential oils with innovative botanical actives, drawn from nature’s hardiest survivors: samphire, spike moss, sea buckthorn. These plants, which flourish in some of the planet’s most unforgiving environments, bring with them a resilience that translates into skin vitality, hydration and radiance.
Howard describes the process as one of both science and emotion. “It’s all about efficacy,” he says. “We select plants for their ability to thrive where others cannot, and oils that not only nurture the skin but lift the spirit. It’s about bringing the body’s vitality back to life.”
There is samphire, whose extract helps skin retain water and resilience; spike moss, the so-called resurrection plant, which rehydrates with remarkable speed; and sea buckthorn, abundant in vitamin C and antioxidants, a natural rejuvenator. Alongside them are carefully chosen ingredients such as hyaluronic acid for elasticity, and blackberry seed oil, bright with vitamins and antioxidants from the hedgerow. The result is a range of products designed to awaken the senses, whether used after wild swimming, a windswept walk or simply a long day.
I was captivated by the thoughtfully sourced glass jars and bottles made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, intoxicated by the truly wonderful smells emanating from within and intrigued as to whether we might have found a product that might help. My daughter normally reacts fairly quickly with reddening and itchy skin, so she tentatively applied a small amount of soothe and nourish face oil to some angry contact dermatitis caused by goggle wear.
We watched and waited… there was none of the tell-tale prickly heat that comes with a reaction, no redness, just skin that felt nourished. While it is an oil, it wasn’t cloying or over greasy. Another hour in and no reaction, we were hopeful. It felt like a small miracle, as by morning her skin was clear of both redness and dryness.
With new-found confidence we have both changed our beauty regime to include the face wash, toner and cleanser. Again, no reaction, just fresh feeling skin that smells divine. The face wash, when lathered with plenty of water, feels like the most luxurious whipped cream on your face. I particularly like the eye cream, which feels light yet nourishing and the daily serum far outshines my usual brand. But perhaps best of all is the salt scrub – sea salt and Himalayan pink salt combine to create a detoxifying vegan body scrub. Moisturising Kukui and Argan oil and a calming rosemary, lavender and ylang ylang scent bring balance alongside healing sea buckthorn. Not only does it leave your skin feeling incredible, it makes your bathroom smell like your very own spa.
Pix’s family hotel, Watergate Bay uses land&water treatments and products to elevate their offering. “Our roots in hospitality and hands-on experience at Swim Club, Watergate’s refreshing take on a spa, give land&water an insight and industry understanding that can take decades to develop,” explains Pix. “We know how spas work – and what it takes to make them shine – from the different treatment needs to what guests want from spa products.” A customisable treatment menu is available to all spa partners for use with land&water products, plus training and support to implement the treatment offering. Building on over 50 years in the industry, Pix’s hospitality roots give land&water an insight that can take years to develop: “We understand hospitality’s day-to-day practicalities; how guests interact with products in these spaces, the differing requirements, and pain points hospitality teams can be up against,” explains Pix. “From wellbeing welcome gifts (like our pulse point oils), to bespoke powder-coated wall mounts, to hyper-responsive customer service and short lead times, we can anticipate what’s important to hospitality operators.” With refills available, self-care with land&water, whether at home or in a hospitality setting, is not only sustainable but also kind to your wallet.
The land&water range includes products for bath, body, hands and hair, a full facial range, as well as candles and reed diffusers that bring the scent of the shoreline to your home.
