The best personal-care products earn their place in your daily routine. They feel pleasant to use, perform a practical job and turn an ordinary moment—washing your hands, caring for tired feet or preparing for sleep—into something quietly enjoyable.
That philosophy led us to Pure Lakes, a family-run maker of natural skincare made in the Lake District. Its small-batch approach, plant-led formulations and essential-oil scents make the range a natural companion to the useful, well-made homeware found at Byard’s.
A Lake District Skincare Company with a Real Sense of Place
Pure Lakes was founded in 2006 by trained chemist Sandra Blackburn and her husband, Iain. Sandra began developing skincare after searching for something suitable for her own sensitive skin, bringing together her scientific knowledge and an interest in plant-based ingredients.
The company was later taken over by Claire and Gareth McKeever, who had already been customers of the brand. Today, it remains an independent family business, with its products made by a small team in Far Sawrey, close to Windermere in the Lake District National Park.
This is not simply a Lake District-inspired brand. The skincare is genuinely produced there, by hand, in the company’s purpose-built workshop.
Making everything within its own workshop gives Pure Lakes close control over its recipes, production and finished products. It also allows the company to provide year-round employment and support its local rural economy.
You can read more about the people and place behind the range in the Pure Lakes story.
Why Pure Lakes Belongs at Byard’s
We choose personal-care products in much the same way as we choose pieces for the home. They need to be useful, pleasing to live with and made with care.
Pure Lakes shares several qualities that matter to us:
- Products are handmade in small batches.
- Formulations use natural and, where possible, organic ingredients.
- Scents come from carefully chosen essential oils rather than being created simply to smell fashionable.
- Packaging is developed with recycling and refilling in mind.
- The range is made for genuine everyday use.
- Production remains in the UK, within the company’s own workshop.
There is also an appealing honesty to the products. They are not made to sit untouched on a bathroom shelf; they are there to be pumped, poured, rubbed in and enjoyed.
Plant-Led Formulations with a Scientific Foundation
Natural skincare should still be effective skincare. Pure Lakes combines botanical ingredients with properly developed cosmetic formulations, and states that its recipes are tested and approved by cosmetic experts.
Across the collection, you will find ingredients such as:
- Shea butter and coconut butter for rich, nourishing balms
- Aloe vera for lightweight hydration and soothing care
- Calendula and chamomile in gentle skin products
- Plant oils including sunflower, avocado and safflower
- Hyaluronic acid in selected moisturising formulas
- Botanical extracts and pure essential-oil blends
Pure Lakes says its ingredients are ethically sourced from sustainable origins and that organic ingredients are used where possible. Its formulations avoid parabens, sodium lauryl sulphates and synthetic ingredients, according to the company’s natural ingredients policy.
Individual recipes vary, so it is always worth reading the full ingredient list for the particular product you are considering—especially if you have sensitive skin or a known allergy.
What Does “Essential-Oil-Led” Care Mean?
Scent can change how an everyday product feels to use. A fresh citrus hand wash can brighten a sleepy morning, while lavender and chamomile can help create a gentler atmosphere at the end of the day.
Pure Lakes uses essential oils not only for their natural aromas, but also as part of the character and purpose of each formulation. Different combinations create very different experiences.
Sweet basil and orange feel fresh, green and uplifting. Lavender, geranium and ylang ylang have a softer floral quality, while grapefruit and lemongrass bring a sharper, more invigorating note.
Because the fragrances come from recognisable botanical oils, they tend to feel at home in a bathroom, kitchen or beside the bed. They complement a daily routine without making the room smell like a perfume counter.
Natural Still Requires Sensible Use
Natural does not automatically mean reaction-free. Essential oils are concentrated botanical ingredients, and skin can respond differently to them.
Always follow the directions on the product, avoid applying undiluted essential oils directly to the skin and carry out a patch test if you are particularly sensitive. Anyone who is pregnant, has a medical condition or is buying for a young child should check the relevant guidance before use.
Pure Lakes Products for Everyday Rituals
One of the reasons we like the Pure Lakes range is its practicality. These are products that fit readily into real homes and established routines.
For Hardworking Hands
A good hand wash should cleanse effectively without turning frequent handwashing into an uncomfortable experience. Pure Lakes hand washes use plant-based cleansing ingredients and essential-oil blends to bring fragrance and pleasure to an everyday necessity.
Follow with a hand and body lotion or a richer hand balm when skin needs more attention. The Sweet Basil and Orange pairing is especially lovely beside a kitchen or bathroom sink, offering a crisp botanical scent without feeling overly sweet.
For Hair and Shower Routines
Pure Lakes shampoos and conditioners bring botanical ingredients and essential-oil fragrance into regular hair care. Blends such as geranium, lavender and ylang ylang give washing your hair a more sensory, relaxing quality.
The range is intended for regular use rather than occasional pampering. That distinction matters: good products should improve the routines you already have, not create extra clutter around them.
For Tired Feet and Active Days
Foot gel is one of those products that can quickly become a household favourite. It is useful after a long walk, a busy shift, a day in the garden or simply an afternoon spent standing.
Pure Lakes also produces products suited to holidays and time outdoors, including after-sun and anti-insect lotion. Together, these make practical additions to a walking bag, caravan, camping kit or holiday case.
For Evening Wind-Down Time
A sleep and room spray can become a simple signal that the busy part of the day is over. A light mist around the bedroom or over suitable bed linen helps create a calmer setting without adding another complicated step to the evening.
Essential oils such as lavender and chamomile are frequently used in Pure Lakes’ more restful blends. The effect is less about promising instant sleep and more about building a familiar, comforting bedtime routine.
For Small but Useful Gifts
Hand wash and lotion sets, body-care collections and practical outdoor products make excellent presents because they can be enjoyed immediately.
They work particularly well for:
- Housewarming gifts
- Birthdays
- Thank-you presents
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
- Host gifts
- Walking and gardening enthusiasts
- Small seasonal care packages
A useful product can still feel special—particularly when it has been made in small batches and carries the scents of herbs, flowers and citrus fruits.
Made in Small Batches in Far Sawrey
Small-batch production allows Pure Lakes to make and bottle its skincare within its own workshop rather than outsourcing production to a distant factory.
This hands-on approach is visible throughout the range. The products feel personal without being homespun, combining the character of an independent maker with the care expected from professionally formulated skincare.
The location adds something meaningful, too. Far Sawrey sits within a landscape associated with lakes, woodland, gardens and Beatrix Potter’s nearby Hill Top home.
Pure Lakes has even created a Beatrix-inspired collection using rose and geranium essential oils, produced just a short distance from Hill Top. It is a genuine local connection rather than a decorative story added afterwards.
Packaging That Can Have a Longer Life
Packaging is an unavoidable part of personal care, so we value businesses that are working to reduce its impact in practical ways.
Pure Lakes states that its packaging is recyclable and its mailing bags are biodegradable. Selected products also use refill pouches, reusable containers or alternative materials such as sugarcane-based biopolymer bottles.
Most notably, Pure Lakes operates a proper refill service. Customers can return eligible original containers to the workshop, where they are cleaned and refilled with the same product rather than simply replaced.
The service offers savings of up to 30% and helps a good-quality bottle remain useful for longer. Details and eligibility can be found on the Pure Lakes refill service page.
This practical approach appeals to us. Recycling has its place, but reusing an existing container can be an even simpler way to reduce unnecessary packaging.
How to Choose the Right Pure Lakes Product
Begin with the purpose of the product rather than choosing by fragrance alone.
Ask yourself:
-
Where will it be used?
A hand wash and lotion suit the kitchen or bathroom, while a foot gel belongs beside the bed or in a walking kit. -
How rich does the formula need to be?
Lightweight gels and lotions suit quick daily use, while balms and body oils provide a richer feel. -
Which scents do you naturally enjoy?
Citrus and herbs feel fresh and uplifting. Lavender and chamomile are softer, while rose, geranium and ylang ylang provide a more floral character. -
Is the product for you or a gift?
For presents, choose an accessible scent and a product that fits naturally into the recipient’s routine. -
Are there any sensitivities to consider?
Check the complete ingredients and usage information on the individual product before buying.
Thoughtful Products for Daily Life
Our homeware and personal-care collections may appear different, but they are chosen according to the same principle: everyday objects should work well and bring a little pleasure to the task at hand.
Pure Lakes turns familiar necessities into products worth reaching for. A bottle beside the sink, a balm in a drawer or a sleep spray on the bedside table becomes part of the rhythm of home.
That is why the range sits so comfortably at Byard’s. It is natural, useful and made with a clear connection to the people and place behind it.
Explore our Pure Lakes collection and find plant-led care for your bathroom, bedside, travels or next thoughtful gift.
