From handmade soaps on a local market stall, to a full range of cruelty free skincare products in a boutique shop, the last four years have been quite a journey.

Back when I used to make soap bars as fun little Christmas presents, I never dreamed I’d turn my hobby into a successful business. Yet here I am. My little family company has grown into our very own shop - Portsmouth’s home of natural skincare, with its own workshop and treatment room.

How did we get here?

Since 2015 I’ve developed all kinds of products for face, hands and body - scrubs, oils, balms, moisturisers, cleansers… whatever your skin needs. We still make everything ourselves, by hand, on the premises. That’s rarer than you might think. The norm is for small and midscale producers to hire big companies to make their products and put a label on. That wasn’t for us. I want us to be accountable and connected to our products. Not just because of what we want them to do for your skin, and the sensory experience of using them (both of which take real attention to detail), but also because I want us to know everything about the environmental impact - from where and how each ingredient was grown, to how the final product is packaged. All our packaging is recyclable. Every product is refillable at our Southsea shop. And everything is cruelty free, right the way through the supply chain.

I feel so lucky to work with beautiful, high quality ingredients. It’s lovely to be surrounded by herbs and botanical extracts at work, including those I’ve picked myself - from juicy blackberries and perfect rosehips, to aromatic rosemary and the wonderful, conditioning seaweed we harvest. Our products have always been inspired by where we live, which is why I like to use seaweed and other coastal botanicals in products including our international award winning, premium organic facial range, the Pure Marine Bio Essence Collection.

We’re totally natural, with nothing to hide. That’s why our workshop is open to view from the street. If you’re passing, stop and watch us at work. If you want to go a step further, you can book onto workshops and spa parties in the same space - or have a luxurious private treatment. These are all fun and fulfilling experiences, but also enlightening and inspiring. Few purchases are more intimate than skincare. It pays to be educated and think about your choices holistically - how are they made, why are they right for you, how do they compliment your lifestyle? You can consider the impact of your skincare - not just on yourself, but on the world. In our apothecary on Southsea’s Albert Road, we’re always happy to help you do exactly that.

By Samantha Worsey, founder of Southsea Bathing Hut