Pamoja

Award-Winning Natural Skincare for Changing Skin. Made by Sarah in Newcastle.

Pamoja was founded in 2019 by Sarah Taylor — a Sunderland-born, Newcastle-based skincare formulator who started making products for herself after developing severe skin sensitivities while taking a break from her career to be a full-time mum. She could not find products that worked, so she trained as a natural skincare formulator, researched the ingredients properly, and made her own. Pamoja is the Swahili word for "together" — a nod to Sarah's Tanzanian heritage and to the brand's central conviction: that women should not have to face changing skin alone, or without good products to help them through it. In 2025, Pamoja was named one of the UK's 100 most inspiring small businesses by the Small Business Saturday campaign — one of only four businesses from the North East selected nationally.

Every product is handmade by Sarah in small batches in her Newcastle laboratory, in Miron violet glass that protects the ingredients and extends shelf life. The formulas are built around ethically sourced botanicals — sacha inchi, sea buckthorn, rosehip — and science-backed actives including hyaluronic acid in double and triple molecular weights, ceramides and essential fatty acids, all chosen to support a damaged or changing skin barrier rather than fight it. The range covers a cleansing balm in two versions (with and without essential oils for sensitive skin), a radiance booster facial oil, a hydrating serum, and a multi-action face cream — a complete, unfussy ritual designed around fewer products and better results. Packaging is either recyclable or biodegradable throughout. Return three or more empty glass jars and receive £5 off the next order, as Sarah reuses them in future batches. Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free. Vegan. Palm oil free. As seen in Women's Health, Top Santé, Natural Health Magazine and Vogue.

For more independent women-led brands doing things properly, explore our Women-Led Brands directory, or discover brands chosen for their values through Sustainable Brands and Shop by Purpose. For considered gift ideas, browse our Gifts for Her guide, or discover more independent makers through our Small Batch Artisans edit.